TOPIC:

Not vintage yet, but as the Berserk came on the market in 2004 it is 22 years ago.
Think it is the closest topic for it, or else Lars will move it 

My buggy was sold at Biltema here in Norway from 06 ish just as a 1.8 nitro buggy, no name.
This was gifted to me many years ago as the owner had no use for it and he was fed up with nitro.
Last time I fired this up was at least 6-7 years ago and since then it has collected dust above my tv.

A week ago I fired it up.
Servos had gone bad, very slow and sluggish and when it finally fired up it was temperemental.
But when it was working it was rapid!

Sometimes it will acclereate and sometimes it just made brumming noices so I changed over to the Force 4.1 from my second Savage X 4.1.
Luck had it both carb necks were 13.9 something millimeter.
Fired it up again and it was still with issues but now it would idle after some adjustments.
First one front tire exploded, not exactly a surprice as it`s over 20 year old.
Then the steering servo quit and my session stopped.

So today I cleaned it and removed the servos.


Other side looks like this


New servos fitted and adjusted.
For now I`m using a old Losi 2.4 system to control this as this was given me without a radio system.


I changed out these chinesium motor mount bolts with 12.9 HPI 5X8 Pan head screws.
Two of the old ones had to be removed with torx bits and power drill.




If it was not for this exploded tire it is now good to go


This has run less than 10 tanks in its life so there is a lot life left in it and the engine is very fast to be a basic 3.5cc with single speed.
But I have noticed very rapid slope in the suspension ball ends so I suspect the old plastic is stretching so the slope gets worse.
No Idea what ball ends fits but as it`s M5 I know Revo rod ends does not fit as they have M4 thread part.

I only want this to be a cheap way for me to have some 1:8 fun so I don`t want to invest too much in it.
Will try to see if some locals have secondhand wheel sets laying around. Every cheap option is sold out. Only 30 quid par + left at LHS.
My first choice would be Louise B-Rock but that is out of stock evetywhere.

Oh and I made a handle for the pull starter and a mount for it.
Orginally there was a ring that looks like a key ring but bigger, but not big enough for 2 fingers.
Due to the high comp, I got flesh wound trying to start it.
I have received tips on using golf gloves next time.

Edit: Just received a message from a mate that have loads of 1:8 wheels I could get for free! Awesome news. Test not far in future I think.

Looks an awful lot like my Ofna 1/8 scale buggies from the same time period. 

Wouldn't be surprised to find lots of the same stuff going under multiple names.

Yeah very similar to Ofna.

Smartech Beserk  Smartech Berserk - # 083421 • (Radio Controlled Model Archive) • RCScrapyard.

But I found the Duratrax Raze to be exactly the same, but with different engine than mine.
Duratrax Raze - DTXD76** • (Radio Controlled Model Archive) • RCScrapyard.

Same tires, same wheel, same chassis plate, same blue shocks, same shock towers, same blue plate over the steering, same tank, same battery holder, same transponder mount, same spoiler, same motor mounts.
Best part is there is a manual for Raze and even spare parts!
I think Duratrax bought that buggy from Samartech. But RCScrapyard don`t mention this at all.

In the 80's 90's there are a lot of rebadged brands for example graupner sold traxxas and kyosho under graupner brand, and t2m sold the pirate 1/8 and pirate 1/10 wich were rebadged. The serie 5000 was the same as the yankee from the same period. And several models had different brands. 
(It's only french samples)

RC Scrapyard comes in handy sometimes.... Good site.

My mate came with box of wheels and something else earlier today...

Now it`s ready!


Haven`t noticed this bit missing on the body before...
For now I will repair but needs a new body really...


Not only came he with wheels, he also gave me this buggy completly for free!
This was something our LHS had as demo cars many years ago, that did not work out.
No idea what it is! All I know it looks a lot like a scaled down version of HPI Baja 5B, uses 17mm hexes, stock wheels are beadlock and it`s in 1:8 - 1:10 scale range.


Only thing I`ve found is some numbers on the ball ends which reads R7.8S , which is a Ansmann number.
But I cannot find the buggy under Ansmann.

Not only I got one buggy, but I got a parts car as well! Both with brushless motor installed.


Don`t know what to do with them, but the first one only needs esc and servo to be driveable.

Found the strange buggy after a lot of googling.
Name is Nutech NR 8BE. Not a lot info to be found..

Very interesting freebie!!!

Found a RC Driver article about my twin, the Duratrax Raze: manuals.hobbico...review.pdf

25C (77F) and after fuel tubing change it started very easy after I primed it a bit longer than usual. Think I did not prime it long enough last time...

In the PDF with tips the first recomendation is to use thread lock on the steering knuckle bolts.
Guess what happend, yep, lost one of the knuckle screws because I did forget to locktite them....
I see in the Raze exploded view that it uses a bushing like Axial trucks and a normal bolt. Might be lucky to have something that work.

Also fitted the new backplate and the roto starter on my second Savage X 4.1 yesterday so if I`m a little better tomorrow I might complete refitting the engine.
Had to buy a spur adapter to fit the new steel spur.