Panther6834
Active Member
Disclaimer:
Technically, this isn't my first speed run car...but, it IS what I'm considering to be my first "true" speed run car. The first iteration of a speedrun car was built on a Traxxas 4Tec 3.0 Corvette, and (specifically) retains the Corvette body. The 'purpose' of this build was/is to try and get the stock 4Tec 3.0 chassis, with original body, to exceed 100mph (obviously, without crashing...100+mph, while the body is inverted, mid-air, doesn't count). Thus is the reason I'm considering the Limitless V2 to be my first "true" speed run car.
Ok...enough of that...on with the show..........
I liked the Limitless when it was initially released, but have kind of been "on the fence" since then. I had been wanting to build a speed run car, but had absolutely no knowledge, or understanding, of what would be involved. So, I bided my time, watched videos, and read up on other people's builds. About the time the 4Tec 3.0 was released, simultaneously, I decided that this would be a perfect "test run" vehicle for a future 'true' speed run car, while my buddy Richie (aka Driftomaniacs on YouTube) came up with the idea of seeing if this platform could break 100mph. Unfortunately, he & his family moved not to long after we started the project (and, by "started", I mean, I had only gotten a few of the parts from him), so I, alone, have worked on it ever since.
Moving forward to approx 2.5 weeks ago, I decided it was finally time to pick up a Limitless (now V2) chassis. Thanks to a combination of my LHSs Labor Day sale, and my accrued LHS rewards points, I picked one up for less than $300 (including sales tax). Whether I'm building an off-road/on-road race vehicle, crawler, Tamiya kit, or anything else I'm going to include upgrade parts in while doing the initial build, the first thing I almost always do is create as complete a list as possible of all potential upgrade parts. This doesn't mean I will be purchasing/installing all of these parts (sometimes, the list contains multiples of the same part, from different aftermarket manufacturers)...it's just a list, with URLs, of everything available that I am 'of interest' in. Step 2 of the list process is working through the list, narrowing down my choices, and deleting items no longer being considered. Eventually, I end up with a list of parts that WILL be purchased/installed. The third, and final, step of this process is to break the list into 'phases' (typically 2-4, with 3-4 being my most common), with anything being a part of "Phase 1" needing to be purchased before starting the build.
Truth be told, I haven't actually started the Lim V2 build. Most people (myself, included), whether building a speed run car, a crawler, or anything in-between, tend to build up their chassis first, then paint the body. Unfortunately, due to recovering from knee surgery a little over a month ago, followed by work being a little slower-than-usual the past few weeks, my bank account would seriously scream at me if I were to start buying the electronics, and other upgrade parts, for at least another 2-6 weeks. So, guess I'll be doing this build 'differently'.
Since I can't start purchasing anything for the build, I decided to paint the body first...so, consider this a 'teaser' of what's to come. Unfortunately, that's where I've run into my first 'problem'. Honestly, it's not so much a 'problem', as it is a 'screw-up' on my part. In deciding how to paint the body, I decided to attempt my first-ever 6-color rattle-can paint job (as I will be moving soon, my airbrush, compressor, and airbrush paints are all boxed up). In deciding on the colors to be used, I couldn't make up my mind between two choices, thus, it has turned into a 7-color. The 'problem' is that, in my excitement, I rushed the job more than I should have, forgot to recheck/reapply painters tape, and ended up with...uh...'mistakes'. No worries...it's more as if I was looking for "perfection" in the paint job. For those understanding the phrase, "Good enough for government work", know that this is MUCH better than "government work"...lol
As of right now, the main body is approx 25% finished, and only the nose is complete...well, 'maybe' complete (I'll get to that in a sec). Below is the completed (?) nose piece...let your imaginations run wild, and see if you can guess what direction the rest of the body is going in. As for the 'maybe' part, this is where I'm interested in some "input" from others. I like "glossy" bodies just as much as everyone else...but, I also like bodies with a "matte" finish. Just because this is a speed run car, that doesn't mean the body 'needs' to be "glossy". So...based on just what you see here (consider this a voting opportunity), what is the thought of others - glossy or matte?
That's all I have for now. Next update will probably be nothing more than the completed paint job...but, then again, one never knows.
Technically, this isn't my first speed run car...but, it IS what I'm considering to be my first "true" speed run car. The first iteration of a speedrun car was built on a Traxxas 4Tec 3.0 Corvette, and (specifically) retains the Corvette body. The 'purpose' of this build was/is to try and get the stock 4Tec 3.0 chassis, with original body, to exceed 100mph (obviously, without crashing...100+mph, while the body is inverted, mid-air, doesn't count). Thus is the reason I'm considering the Limitless V2 to be my first "true" speed run car.
Ok...enough of that...on with the show..........
I liked the Limitless when it was initially released, but have kind of been "on the fence" since then. I had been wanting to build a speed run car, but had absolutely no knowledge, or understanding, of what would be involved. So, I bided my time, watched videos, and read up on other people's builds. About the time the 4Tec 3.0 was released, simultaneously, I decided that this would be a perfect "test run" vehicle for a future 'true' speed run car, while my buddy Richie (aka Driftomaniacs on YouTube) came up with the idea of seeing if this platform could break 100mph. Unfortunately, he & his family moved not to long after we started the project (and, by "started", I mean, I had only gotten a few of the parts from him), so I, alone, have worked on it ever since.
Moving forward to approx 2.5 weeks ago, I decided it was finally time to pick up a Limitless (now V2) chassis. Thanks to a combination of my LHSs Labor Day sale, and my accrued LHS rewards points, I picked one up for less than $300 (including sales tax). Whether I'm building an off-road/on-road race vehicle, crawler, Tamiya kit, or anything else I'm going to include upgrade parts in while doing the initial build, the first thing I almost always do is create as complete a list as possible of all potential upgrade parts. This doesn't mean I will be purchasing/installing all of these parts (sometimes, the list contains multiples of the same part, from different aftermarket manufacturers)...it's just a list, with URLs, of everything available that I am 'of interest' in. Step 2 of the list process is working through the list, narrowing down my choices, and deleting items no longer being considered. Eventually, I end up with a list of parts that WILL be purchased/installed. The third, and final, step of this process is to break the list into 'phases' (typically 2-4, with 3-4 being my most common), with anything being a part of "Phase 1" needing to be purchased before starting the build.
Truth be told, I haven't actually started the Lim V2 build. Most people (myself, included), whether building a speed run car, a crawler, or anything in-between, tend to build up their chassis first, then paint the body. Unfortunately, due to recovering from knee surgery a little over a month ago, followed by work being a little slower-than-usual the past few weeks, my bank account would seriously scream at me if I were to start buying the electronics, and other upgrade parts, for at least another 2-6 weeks. So, guess I'll be doing this build 'differently'.
Since I can't start purchasing anything for the build, I decided to paint the body first...so, consider this a 'teaser' of what's to come. Unfortunately, that's where I've run into my first 'problem'. Honestly, it's not so much a 'problem', as it is a 'screw-up' on my part. In deciding how to paint the body, I decided to attempt my first-ever 6-color rattle-can paint job (as I will be moving soon, my airbrush, compressor, and airbrush paints are all boxed up). In deciding on the colors to be used, I couldn't make up my mind between two choices, thus, it has turned into a 7-color. The 'problem' is that, in my excitement, I rushed the job more than I should have, forgot to recheck/reapply painters tape, and ended up with...uh...'mistakes'. No worries...it's more as if I was looking for "perfection" in the paint job. For those understanding the phrase, "Good enough for government work", know that this is MUCH better than "government work"...lol
As of right now, the main body is approx 25% finished, and only the nose is complete...well, 'maybe' complete (I'll get to that in a sec). Below is the completed (?) nose piece...let your imaginations run wild, and see if you can guess what direction the rest of the body is going in. As for the 'maybe' part, this is where I'm interested in some "input" from others. I like "glossy" bodies just as much as everyone else...but, I also like bodies with a "matte" finish. Just because this is a speed run car, that doesn't mean the body 'needs' to be "glossy". So...based on just what you see here (consider this a voting opportunity), what is the thought of others - glossy or matte?
That's all I have for now. Next update will probably be nothing more than the completed paint job...but, then again, one never knows.
Lookin' good so far 
