Tamiya Schnitzer BMW M3 Sport Evo restoration
Discussion
This is the original 1992 TA-01 version, the re-releases were all based on the TT-01 chassis.
I owned and built the original in ‘92 and sold it some years later. I’d always wanted to replace it, but the prices were getting daft. I slept on the re-re’s and then they went daft too!
I managed to find this one by luck on Facebook marketplace listed for £120. I got it down to £90. I was expecting it to be quite rough, but it’s mainly cosmetic shell work that’s needed. The chassis is in excellent shape, with hardly any scrapes underneath, it clearly didn’t get used much.
That will get stripped and cleaned, ball raced if it’s not already, a period motor upgrade , new electrics, and maybe a few period hop ups.
The shell will be stripped of paint and decals, the rough cutting out tidied up (mainly the rear lower valance area), repsrayed and a new set of decals.
Today I’ll just post an overview and some close ups showing the body.
Yellowed and cracked paint from inconsistent thickness, poorly applied decals, badly painted mirrors and spoiler. Black marker front grills, and part of the windscreen surround in marker due to missing decals.
Hopefully it will all come off easily enough, some Carson Paint Killer should do the trick.
I owned and built the original in ‘92 and sold it some years later. I’d always wanted to replace it, but the prices were getting daft. I slept on the re-re’s and then they went daft too!
I managed to find this one by luck on Facebook marketplace listed for £120. I got it down to £90. I was expecting it to be quite rough, but it’s mainly cosmetic shell work that’s needed. The chassis is in excellent shape, with hardly any scrapes underneath, it clearly didn’t get used much.
That will get stripped and cleaned, ball raced if it’s not already, a period motor upgrade , new electrics, and maybe a few period hop ups.
The shell will be stripped of paint and decals, the rough cutting out tidied up (mainly the rear lower valance area), repsrayed and a new set of decals.
Today I’ll just post an overview and some close ups showing the body.
Yellowed and cracked paint from inconsistent thickness, poorly applied decals, badly painted mirrors and spoiler. Black marker front grills, and part of the windscreen surround in marker due to missing decals.
Hopefully it will all come off easily enough, some Carson Paint Killer should do the trick.
The paint is on borrowed time now!
I stripped some most of the chassis, it was nice to find it’s already fully ball raced, and judging by the colour of the grease it’s hardly ever been used.
The decals all came off easily, and thankfully didn’t leave any glue behind, so that was a quick process.
I then tried some Carson Paint Killer I already had to see how easy it was going to be. It won’t take long to have it fully stripped now.
My next step is to decide which motor/ESC combination to fit.
Someone wanted the electrics and radio, so that’s helped offset the price of the car, which reduces it to an utter bargain £60!
I stripped some most of the chassis, it was nice to find it’s already fully ball raced, and judging by the colour of the grease it’s hardly ever been used.
The decals all came off easily, and thankfully didn’t leave any glue behind, so that was a quick process.
I then tried some Carson Paint Killer I already had to see how easy it was going to be. It won’t take long to have it fully stripped now.
My next step is to decide which motor/ESC combination to fit.
Someone wanted the electrics and radio, so that’s helped offset the price of the car, which reduces it to an utter bargain £60!
Edited by Stussy on Sunday 17th October 01:58
Here's a bit of a nerd fact: I wrote the review of this car in Radio Race Car magazine in the early '90s. It added to my beer money while I was a student. Payment was either per page as it appeared in the magazine or we got to keep the car. Looking at how much they're going for now I should have kept it...
Stripping the shell is proving to be annoying!
It appears that the previous owner used two different types of paint at some point. Looking at the inside, it looked like one had been used as a touch up in later life.
I have a horrible feeling it was proper car paint that was used instead of polycarbonate stuff, as it is like trying to remove concrete!
The rest came off very easily, but has revealed some marks.
I may shelve the shell for now, as I have just ordered a new one to use too (not e30). You can buy reproduction e30 shells, so I’ll probably get one of those in the future.
The chassis is all sorted, new motor installed, and electrics ready to go in. Just waiting on some double sided tape for them.
I need to find some suitable wheels to go with this body
https://landlmodels.co.uk/collections/opel/product...
The spoiler will be installed with shorter mounting posts, and of course a very dark green/black colour.
I had some photos to add, but it won’t upload them at the moment or some reason
It appears that the previous owner used two different types of paint at some point. Looking at the inside, it looked like one had been used as a touch up in later life.
I have a horrible feeling it was proper car paint that was used instead of polycarbonate stuff, as it is like trying to remove concrete!
The rest came off very easily, but has revealed some marks.
I may shelve the shell for now, as I have just ordered a new one to use too (not e30). You can buy reproduction e30 shells, so I’ll probably get one of those in the future.
The chassis is all sorted, new motor installed, and electrics ready to go in. Just waiting on some double sided tape for them.
I need to find some suitable wheels to go with this body
https://landlmodels.co.uk/collections/opel/product...
The spoiler will be installed with shorter mounting posts, and of course a very dark green/black colour.
I had some photos to add, but it won’t upload them at the moment or some reason
Took it out for a run today, it’s fast enough to be great fun, without putting the vintage chassis through much stress.
It was happily sliding and drifting on a damp road.
I ordered some paint and magnetic body mounts today.
The shell with concrete paint! (blue is tv reflecting)
Soon as L & L models have some E30 shells in stock Again I’ll get one. In the meantime I can’t wait to get the Carlton one on.
It was happily sliding and drifting on a damp road.
I ordered some paint and magnetic body mounts today.
The shell with concrete paint! (blue is tv reflecting)
Soon as L & L models have some E30 shells in stock Again I’ll get one. In the meantime I can’t wait to get the Carlton one on.
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