Reproduction vintage shells

[DanB4]

Hi Guys,

As most of us have, I've made many purchases from Marwan, TBG and a few from Kamtec and PenguinRC.

What I'm wondering is, does having an original OEM bodyshell really matter?

I have a brand new original Procat shell and undertray mould, not cut out at all....is it for instance more desirable than, say, a TBG Procat Shell? Should I keep it and just fit a repro to my Procat once restored?

Out of my 12 or so vintage shelf queen buggies, only the Super Astute, YZ10 and Lazer ZX have original shells on them.

Cheers,

Dan

[lllyf]

If you want to run them, repro body may be good choice, if you want to keep them shelfqueen, try to find the orginal bodies will be better.

[brian s]

even when most of the `now vintage` cars were in production many people ran them with non original shells. i used to run my procats with racecraft and parma shells back then.

[BORMAC]

While it seems there are some repro companies knocking out some very high quality molds (some nicer than OEM items) I think you'll find most reproduction (if not all) shells will be slightly smaller and tighter fitting. Some even too tight.

Rerpo's certainly fill the appetite of those enthusiasts who have nothing else and god bless these companies for making and selling them-BUT-I think you'll be far more inpressed with a shell that fits as it was designed from the factory than a repro that is stretched over your buggy.

To each his own but this is what I have noticed on my own models that have both OEM and repro items.

[HKS_TRD]

Whilst I am yet to complete a build with a repro shell I would have to concur based on a couple trial fits I have done with a LWB Mid Metal chassis in a repro undertray and a genuine undertray, the chassis is a very tight fit in the repro undertray.
Also, the repro body is a tight fit over the genuine undertray as opposed to the repro undertray.
The difference seems to be small enough to not be visible to the naked eye but does make itself known fittment wise

[Crashtest33]

The important Q is; once painted, which of us could put their hands up and tell the difference?
Just put my Marwan Inferno 4wd shell up against and it's perfect!

[isobarik]

I have the zxr from bluegrove and i can say its smaller and very glossy atleast what i think of it and not very detailed.

i have the zxs from kamtec and since the original is very thin it got "buldge" when he me made an mold from it so its not sleek like the original its thicker but very un even dough.

mvh Isobarik

[Crashtest33]

TBG must have improved things cos I have two ZX-R shells now seperated by a year and my new one is very good. Hard to destinguish from my original ZX-Sport shell.

[isobarik]

Originally Posted by Crashtest33

TBG must have improved things cos I have two ZX-R shells now seperated by a year and my new one is very good. Hard to destinguish from my original ZX-Sport shell.

Is it long ago you got it ???

mvh Isobarik

[Crashtest33]

First one I got was May '11. New one was delivered last week.

[DerbyDan]

I've got three shells from Mr Lexan, & I must say his quality is 1st class, two of those bodies have been painted & fitted to cars - I have original shells for both of the cars (YZ-10 & JRX2) for comparison & I would say that the repros are as good (if not better) than the originals, but I would say that there is some evidence of the shell being slightly smaller - the JRX2 especially, as the indents that indicate where to cut holes for the body mountings seem too close to each other (front to back) luckily I checked before drilling the holes! The 3rd shell is a 'Mirage' for the RC10 - & is as nice a moulding as a Viper shell that is still available from Associated.

Being into this 'Vintage scene' for quite a while I was aware of the varying quality issues with TBG... but having recently aquired a TopCat that needed a new shell TBG was my only option aside from finding an original (needle/haystack) So I was somewhat wary about ordering one... I am pleased to say that it looks great - certainly comparable with an original. I have yet to cut it out & fit the shell (the car is currently in bits) so I cannot comment for its size & fit over the chassis.

[Crashtest33]

I take it all back. Just got another zx-r shell and I'm not too happy :-(
Anyone got an uncut real one? (Cough)