Minor POC VAMP upgrade Codename: Project SLUGGER

[gordtherogue]

I decide the combine 2 of my favorite hobbies with this custom: GIJoe and r/c cars. I was looking for a new r/c a while back and noticed that some of the new 1/18 scale stuff was pretty close to joe sized. After a little research I found that the wheelbase of the Team Associated SC18 is the exact same as the new POC Vamp... Three weeks and several hundred dollars later... I give you: Project SLUGGER. Enjoy.

[gordtherogue]

And a vid of it running:

MOV01564.mp4 video by gord_the_rogue1 - Photobucket (http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff442/gord_the_rogue1/?action=view&current=MOV01564.mp4)

[Unclassified]

was bout to say, vid or it didn't happen.... where the wheels from?

[skinny]

I like this for more reasons than one

[Unclassified]

that thing cruises, man.. real nice..

[gordtherogue]

The wheels and tires are from a Helion Animus r/c truck. Right now, the only place to get them from is Hobby Town. They were $16 or $17 a set. I was thinking about getting a set for my non r/c Vamp 'cause I think they're that cool.

[evopete]

Very Cool Bro..

[sjames90]

First off, awesome mod. Love the wheels, the computer station setup in the back seat, and the gun mod.

Second, it being RC is AWESOME. That little sucker really jets.

Great work!

[Tracker]

that thing sure dose go fast and seem to turn on a dime

well dose

[storm-shadow-md]

Very cool man... that thing moves!

[Daver]

I like what you did there,but after seen the video I think you oughta slow the speed limit down a bit to be realistic to the vehicles real-life speed...

[citizendan1st]

i miss my 18ts i had..i went through a stampede,rustler, emaxx, erevo, 4 choppers, and i just put up my slash 4x4 for sale yesterday. I was contemplating doing a vintage vamp some how with 1/18th scale electronics, but just couldnt pull it off...
Thats on awesome mod!!!does the battery ride in the seat, i noticed the plug hanging out...

[citizendan1st]

I like what you did there,but after seen the video I think you oughta slow the speed limit down a bit to be realistic to the vehicles real-life speed...

i second that......but cool none the less...

[Echo7Solo]

And a vid of it running:

MOV01564.mp4 video by gord_the_rogue1 - Photobucket (http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff442/gord_the_rogue1/?action=view&current=MOV01564.mp4)

hot damn that thing moves fast!

[Echo7Solo]

I like what you did there,but after seen the video I think you oughta slow the speed limit down a bit to be realistic to the vehicles real-life speed...

oh hell no.... dude that would loose some of the fun of it. I want it!

[GI Guppy the third]

I'd hate to be passenger in that thing. I'd be puking within the first 30 secs of the ride.

[Keenan]

Sweet. I did something similar to an original VAMP. But this looks much nicer. And yours is faster.

[Lt. Faceless]

That is sick!!! Holy hell that thing is fast. I don't know why hasbro hasn't looked into the RC market.I need one of these and a POC HISStank stat...

[gordtherogue]

citizen dan: No the battery is under the passenger seat. I'm using a 7.4 volt li-po. The wires just happen to be under the dash and are hanging kinda low in the pics. both front seats, and the back seat are functional. I had a 25th Clutch in the driver seat for the video. Right after my wife shut the camera off, I hit the speedbump there in the street... truck did endo's and launched Clutch about ten feet from the truck.

[Gatchaman]

If Hasbro mad the Vamp look like that I would have several instead of none. :o)

[Malcolm]

That has some decent speed on it for a RC, love it.

[Marine-73]

what is the team associated sc18 and can it be picked up at any store or only at hobby shops.

[gordtherogue]

Marine: Team Associated is the manufacturer (ie Hasbro) and sc18 is the product (ie vamp). You can only get it at hobby shops or online at places like tower hobbies or ebay. Just do a search for sc18. Be warned though, it's considered a "real" r/c car so the price is pretty steep. $150 for the lower end model and 200 for the top one. I ended up using one of the top versions for this project just 'cause that's what the local hobby shop had and I prefer to support local businesses any time I can.

[citizendan1st]

That has some decent speed on it for a RC, love it.

"decent speed"? Those things can go 50 or 60 mph. I could get my slash to 50-55ish..and its twice as big..but after 45..it just isnt fun anymore....

[flash70]

I love joe fans who bring out brilliant customs!!!!

You r cool brotha!!!

[arch2b]

has anyone looked at the losi 1:24's for vintage vamp or awe striker? i've thought about it many times but never seem to find a used rc for a good buy to chop it up. the kyosho half eight jpn self defence force is a cool shell but not anything you could get a figure in. i'd love to get a functional figure friendly version of this rc.
http://www.kyosho.com/common/image.php?id=101142

[gordtherogue]

I might have to take a look at the 1/24th stuff. Main problem I can see is you almost have to have a 2 wheel drive pan car style chassis to work with. The sc18 is a 4 wheel drive. I was just lucky that the wheelbase was spot on for what I needed. Now if I had a machine shop... Every joe vehicle I own would be r/c. I'm still trying to figure out how to r/c the new hiss.

[arch2b]

the 1/24 stuff is mostly 4wd. i had always assumed a new chassis would have to be made vs. finding something to fit under the joe shell.

i'm sure there are some tamiya tank parts that could be used for a hiss project.

[esg2145]

Nice job :) I was into RC for years in the 80s myself, I too had always envisioned a Joe sized RC car but never had the resources (or $$ ) as a kid to do it.

One thing I did have that was kind of cool was one of the first RC cars I got was this -

RC Street Source: Tamiya's New Buggy Will Attack, Fast! (http://rcstreetsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/tamiyas-new-buggy-will-attack-fast.html)

It was cool back in the day, and my Pop got it for me b/c he knew I wanted a RC car at the time and also knew I was into Joe and military stuff also. The original kit in the early 80s was a real POS, I guess they are re-releasing it according to this, but updating it a little. Regardless it's still too big for Joes, and as you know there are MUCH better RC kits out there now. :)

I always wanted to do a Mauler tank too back in the day. Who knows, I still have a lot of my old gear, who knows...............

[stknrobert1071]

hasbro did have a RC gijoe ride years ago...i forgot what driver came with it...

[Mercenary696]

That is a really cool vehicle! That thing can move.

[mrfu]

Thanks for doing the research on that man. I was into rc about 10 years and slowed down but I have a lot tamiya 1/10 stuff and thier rc tanks are just too dam expensive. nice proJect. I think I'll tackle one myself. Battery and speedo specs & config would be sweet. Thanks for the show.

[gordtherogue]

mrfu,it's just a straight-up, out of the box Team Associated sc18. they make two different types though. This is the one with the brushless motor. It has quite a bit more power and runtime than the brushed. I had to modify the chassis a little to get enough clearance for the Animus (Hobby Town brand 1/18 scale truck) wheels to fit. I can take some pics of the chassis in the morning if you'd like.

[mrfu]

That would be sweet man thanks

[Jericho Noleski]

The Joes have Gauss Technology, Awesome! Nice Job on the conversion.

[Sgt Humpty]

Fantastic work!

[NIKOLAI]

You need to post a video. I need to see this in action.

[NIKOLAI]

Just found the video. My bad.

That is awesome.

[Crimson Gord]

so cool man, thanks for sharing.

[SDawg]

Nice job

[Gatchaman]

If this is how the toy looked when it came out I would have a whole bunch instead of none. Awesome job!!! Looks fantastic!!!

[Kroenen]

Pretty darn cool. It reminds me a lot of the Warthog from the Halo game series.

[Redredly]

that is a masterpiece

[tkprime]

Slugger....NA........CROSSFIRE 2.0!!!!! AWESOME!!

[jpnX]

dude that awesome ,any way you could do a how to for us less tech savy folks

[gordtherogue]

I've been meaning to take some disassembled pics, but one of my daughters misplaced my camera. If I can find it, I'll get some more pics.

[UMAN]

holy shit that thing is fast! and nice work too!! i've always wanted to try something like this.

[Daver]

That's one hell of a VAMP you made there !
Those wheels look way better then the originals,as does the colors.
One question,where did you get the canon in the back from ?

[thealleyviper]

How did I miss this thread from the original posting date???

I've been teetering on the idea of getting an r/c. And I believe, I've just been pushed over to the dark side.