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  • Building the Blitzer Beetle

Building the Blitzer Beetle

Building the Blitzer Beetle



The Blitzer Beetle is a unique vehicle, with the Volkswagen Bug body sitting on top of a truck chassis. It's wide stance, is sure to stay on all fours. If you do lose it, the round top of the bug can flip you right back on all fours.

This article will take you step-by-step through the build process, and as usual we will toss in a few mods to make it our own.

Sit back and enjoy the ride...

Bearings


The first production run of this kit includes 8pcs of 1150 ball bearings. This is enough to outfit your rear hubs and front wheels. If you want your transmission to have ball bearings, you will need to pickup an additional four 1150 ball bearings, else you can use the included plastic bearings for the transmission.

For this build we will be using the additional 4pcs of 1150 ball bearings.

Lets Get started!



Step 1
Assemble Differential Gear, Apply grease where instructed.









Step 2
We will install 3 of our extra 1150 ball bearings during the spur gear assembly. Note direction of (A2) before installation.




Step 3
We use the last of our extra 1150 ball bearings while adding the differential gear to our gear case. Make sure you add grease to the differential gear.







Step 4
Use (D5) to give you proper placing of the pinion on flat side of motor shaft. Do not forget to remove (D5) after the pinion is tightened.



Step 5
Note correct bolt holes on gear case and add grease to pinion before installation.

Step 6
Add grease to (BA15) while assembling rear arms.

Step 7
Add grease to (BA19) rear axles and use the 1150 ball bearings.

Step 8
Attach the rear upper arms. Add grease to (BA16 - 17) splines and (BA12) o-rings before inserting them.





Step 9
Before attaching rear arms to gearbox add grease to dogbones and (BA14). After assembly arms should swing smoothly with no binding.





Step 10
While attaching front damper stay, please note the direction of (B9) and add grease to upper arm step screws.



Step 11
Assembly of the front axles, notice there is a proper assembly for <> and <>.



Step 12
Assemble front arms and make sure you are building a proper <> and <>. Add grease to (BB12).



Step 13
Attach your front arms and add grease to (BA14) and (BA6). Arms should swing smoothly with no binding.



Step 14
Setting up your steering servo can be done in two simple ways.

#1 (per instructions, it can be a good pre-test of radio system)
  • Wire up complete radio system
  • Plug battery into ESC
  • Make sure steering trim is neutral
  • Turn on radio system
  • Servo will auto center
  • Turn off radio system and install servo saver in correct direction
#2 (if you do not want to go through wiring the radio system)
  • Servo only has about 180 degrees of travel
  • When you know where the ends of the travel are (A - B in image below) you can then set your center.




Mount your servo-saver.

Step 15
Setup servo for mounting in chassis. Use manual to accurately measure steering linkages.

Step 16
attach receiver plate and servo to chassis.

Step 17
Add (D2) plates and ESC to chassis.





Step 18
Attach rear damper stay to chassis, note direction.



Mount gear-case to chassis, with upper screws only.

Step 19
Mount rear skid-plate, which will finish the mounting of gear-case to chassis.



Step 20
Mount the front body mount to damper stay.







Step 21
Mount front bumper

Step 22 - 27
Assemble dampers and mounting. Assemble front dampers

Assemble rear dampers

get the air out using a Tamiya "Damper Oil Air Remover" or follow manual directions.

Install caps

Install springs and spacers



Install dampers


Steps 28- 29
Glue and mount tires.

Body
The rest of the manual takes you through the steps on assembly, painting, glueing and stickering the body pieces. I will take you through what i did on the body.

Getting started
Since I will not be making this box stock looking I wanted to do some mods to the body.

  • Closed Sunroof
  • Painted
  • Remove Mold lines
  • Fill unused holes
  • Front and rear lights


    Remove nose cone seam. Screwed and glued for no movement.


    Glue sunroof closed.


    Remove mold lines, sanded front and rear fenders.


    More sanding, sanded complete body


    Patch Sand Scorcher body mount front hole.


    Patch Sand Scorcher body mount rear holes.


    Fill sunroof seam.


    After filling all the seams and holes, doing a complete sanding I sanded two more times with a super fine grit paper. Then it was time for two coats of primer.

    • Tail lights come solid, but lenses are included.


    Using a dremel cutoff remove solid lens.


    Remove primer where tail light mounts and glue.


    After glue has set, sand and primer area.

    What it looks like mounted on chassis.


    I applied two more coats of primer and sanded with super fine grit between each coat. Painted Lens red.


    Driver
    Started painting the body with XF paints.


    Added some detail to body.


    different angle.


    Painting helmet white w/ black trim.


    Masked and ready to paint face.


    First coat of flesh.


    head mounted


    Body continued...
    First coat of white on body.


    Adding some color and stripes.


    Adding some color and stripes.


    Adding some color and stripes.


    Headlights are ready for LED's.


    I look from upfront.


    Chassis Styling
    used some silver wheels from the TRF-15T, for more style.


    Wanted to give the rear a baja look, so I made a carbon Fiber Mount for attaching a rear cage.


    Rear cage from the Scrocher/Baja Champ has been added.


    Body on
    Shots with the body on.




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