Schumacher Fusion build #1 From .21 to .28 conversion

[Defiant]

Here is the car when I first bought it, just a standard Fusion 21 with the Subaru WRC body. Brand new condition, never driven. What’s notable about these cars is the powerful Thunder Tiger .21 that’s mated to the factory 3 speed transmission powering all four wheels using a single belt.

Managed to scour the internet and sourced a new fusion 28 chassis, upper deck, X28 cooling head and X28 block

The Schumacher X28 is based off a Picco P3-28

I later located a brand new X28 Turbo piston and sleeve, flywheel, 3 speed clutch bell with upgraded larger tooth count gears, Schumacher filter, roto start assembly, and Turbo head button. The mounts are .28 specific

[[CONTINUED]]

Finally fitted the engine into the chassis, fits pretty tight in there. I also upgraded the front and rear bulkheads to these rare purple alloy ones

Hard to tell but I also upgraded all the CVDs to chrome steel, the factory plastic ones are fragile. Later, all the hinge pins were replaced with purple titanium, all the upright knuckles were upgraded to alloy, and the diff mounts replaced with alloy

Decided to add some polish to the tuned pipe and change out the fuel lines

[[CONTINUED]]
Here’s how it looks today, quite a bit has been changed

-Centro dual intake
-New fuel lines
-Fuel line clips
-Purple servo horns
-Foam tires
-Purple washers
-X28 header pipe
-Novarossi exhaust coupler
-90 degree pressure fitting
-Tuned pipe holder
-Alloy upper arms
-Full shock rebuild
-Threaded shock collars
-Alloy shock seal housings
-Schumacher “blue” springs
-Correct orientation of cooling head
-Added correct head shims: .2 + .2 + .1
-Later model foam bumper
-Purple titanium turnbuckles
-Black transmission gears
-Purple antenna
-New wheel nuts
-Decals

I believe (unless I’m proven wrong) that I have the most heavily upgraded Fusion in the world. All parts used were brand new, most are Schumacher catalog parts. I have a few ideas for some custom parts which will be coming next

 

[Greywolf74]

Here is the car when I first bought it, just a standard Fusion 21 with the Subaru WRC body. Brand new condition, never driven. What’s notable about these cars is the powerful Thunder Tiger .21 that’s mated to the factory 3 speed transmission powering all four wheels using a single belt.
View attachment 158088
View attachment 158090
View attachment 158087
View attachment 158086

Managed to scour the internet and sourced a new fusion 28 chassis, upper deck, X28 cooling head and X28 block
View attachment 158089
The Schumacher X28 is based off a Picco P3-28
View attachment 158091
View attachment 158092

I later located a brand new X28 Turbo piston and sleeve, flywheel, 3 speed clutch bell with upgraded larger tooth count gears, Schumacher filter, roto start assembly, and Turbo head button. The mounts are .28 specific
View attachment 158093
View attachment 158094
[[CONTINUED]]

Finally fitted the engine into the chassis, fits pretty tight in there. I also upgraded the front and rear bulkheads to these rare purple alloy ones
View attachment 158096
View attachment 158097
View attachment 158098

Hard to tell but I also upgraded all the CVDs to chrome steel, the factory plastic ones are fragile. Later, all the hinge pins were replaced with purple titanium, all the upright knuckles were upgraded to alloy, and the diff mounts replaced with alloy
View attachment 158099
View attachment 158101
View attachment 158100
View attachment 158102

Decided to add some polish to the tuned pipe and change out the fuel lines
View attachment 158103
[[CONTINUED]]
Here’s how it looks today, quite a bit has been changed

-Centro dual intake
-New fuel lines
-Fuel line clips
-Purple servo horns
-Foam tires
-Purple washers
-X28 header pipe
-Novarossi exhaust coupler
-90 degree pressure fitting
-Tuned pipe holder
-Alloy upper arms
-Full shock rebuild
-Threaded shock collars
-Alloy shock seal housings
-Schumacher “blue” springs
-Correct orientation of cooling head
-Added correct head shims: .2 + .2 + .1
-Later model foam bumper
-Purple titanium turnbuckles
-Black transmission gears
-Purple antenna
-New wheel nuts
-Decals
View attachment 158105
View attachment 158106
View attachment 158107
View attachment 158104
View attachment 158108


I believe (unless I’m proven wrong) that I have the most heavily upgraded Fusion in the world. All parts used were brand new, most are Schumacher catalog parts. I have a few ideas for some custom parts which will be coming next

Car looks great!

Side note, I thought Picco went out of business? I loved Picco engines back 10+ years ago when I ran more nitro but I could have sworn they went out of business.

 

[tudordewolf]

That's a gorgeous bit of work.

I have to ask, ever going to take it past first gear? I wouldn't blame you for keeping it pristine, it would be pretty nerve-wracking to get it to full speed with nearly irreplaceable parts...

Also, what's the fuel endurance like? That looks like a standard 75cc 1/10th scale tank, seems like enough for two runs with a .28 before it needs refuelling, although you're probably barely on the throttle most of the time so it might not be so thirsty.

 

[Doom!]

That is a real beauty!

 

[Defiant]

Car looks great!

Side note, I thought Picco went out of business? I loved Picco engines back 10+ years ago when I ran more nitro but I could have sworn they went out of business.

I think you’re right but am not totally sure. Sometimes I see new engines for sale but definitely not anymore old production parts sadly.

That's a gorgeous bit of work.

I have to ask, ever going to take it past first gear? I wouldn't blame you for keeping it pristine, it would be pretty nerve-wracking to get it to full speed with nearly irreplaceable parts...

Also, what's the fuel endurance like? That looks like a standard 75cc 1/10th scale tank, seems like enough for two runs with a .28 before it needs refuelling, although you're probably barely on the throttle most of the time so it might not be so thirsty.

Honestly it won’t even make it to first start up, I built this to be the crown jewel of my collection, and parts were next to impossible to find. Most parts came from other countries with the help of foreign friends that helped me after searching the internet every single day. It would’ve been less work to buy used but I wanted a brand new show piece and it costed me quite a lot of money to do this, and as it turns out there are a lot of guys out there hoarding cars/parts unfortunately.

There is definitely a risk of crashing and breaking parts though when I used to drive my previous Fusion I found the plastic CVDs to be the weakest point next to the tires always blowing off by 3rd gear making it virtually uncontrollable. And that was with a .21 engine!

Yes you’re correct about the fuel consumption, my experience with the .21 was that the 75cc tank drains quickly, and requires constant fill ups if you want any real drive time with it. Half the time you’re fighting for control so throttle input needs to be met with care. But even at idle it’ll drain the tank lol!

I have to admit the last time I drive one was before I had a modern tx/rx setup with stability control and such. But after driving countless nitros, Arrmas and several Xmaxxs I find more fun in aviation. I have a collective pitch heli and a 63” airplane that I enjoy practicing flight with more-so than car driving. Building vintage nitro cars is therapeutic in a way and that’s mainly why I do it, and is why I’m perfectly happy to keep them on a shelf. Sorry for the long response.

That is a real beauty!

Thanks!!

 

[tudordewolf]

as it turns out there are a lot of guys out there hoarding cars/parts unfortunately.

I've noticed this too, I make an effort now to only buy what I plan to run, initially I wanted a spare of every part for every car I had, but I found myself vacuuming up the last couple items/parts stocked and keeping them on my shelves.

I'm still at a point in my nitro career where I want to run everything I own, which has helped me avoid buying things I'd covet too much to risk running - like a Schumacher Fusion.

To that end, I find myself getting pretty good at engine swaps to create unique configurations, I may yet create my own big-blocked 1:10 onroad.

 

[Defiant]

I've noticed this too, I make an effort now to only buy what I plan to run, initially I wanted a spare of every part for every car I had, but I found myself vacuuming up the last couple items/parts stocked and keeping them on my shelves.

I'm still at a point in my nitro career where I want to run everything I own, which has helped me avoid buying things I'd covet too much to risk running - like a Schumacher Fusion.

To that end, I find myself getting pretty good at engine swaps to create unique configurations, I may yet create my own big-blocked 1:10 onroad.

I get where you’re coming from and I do wish I could run them all. The other day I fired up one of my nitro drift cars to test it on the bench and I did miss the smell haha. I have a bunch of RS4 nitros that I’ll be selling off, maybe I’ll keep one to run for nostalgia.

 

[Greywolf74]

I think you’re right but am not totally sure. Sometimes I see new engines for sale but definitely not anymore old production parts sadly.

Oh was that engine "new old stock"? It was so shiny I assumed it was new

 

[Defiant]

Oh was that engine "new old stock"? It was so shiny I assumed it was new

Yes I built it piece by piece using new old stock, heck of a challenge to find the parts.

 

[Defiant]

I gave the car a little more attention today by polishing up the tuned pipe and manifold. Gotta keep her lookin pretty

 

[DeathMetal Junkie]

Looks great. I own two of the .21 Fusions. I ran one pretty much into the ground but hold on to it for spares. I bought out a bunch of parts from US hobby shops so when I have that brain fart out running it, I can still fix it. I'm looking for a Wolf Pack Radical chassis they made for these. Doubt I'll find one. If you ever want to see a highly modified Fusion, look up Nitrohead5300 on the Schumacher site. I think it's still available to see..

 

[Defiant]

Looks great. I own two of the .21 Fusions. I ran one pretty much into the ground but hold on to it for spares. I bought out a bunch of parts from US hobby shops so when I have that brain fart out running it, I can still fix it. I'm looking for a Wolf Pack Radical chassis they made for these. Doubt I'll find one. If you ever want to see a highly modified Fusion, look up Nitrohead5300 on the Schumacher site. I think it's still available to see..

That Wolfpack radio box is impossible to find, I’ll be making a custom one myself

 

[Defiant]

Thought I was nearly done with upgrades but I found some more purple titanium turnbuckles that I needed and an alloy brake hub ratchet

Had to disassemble quite a lot of the car just to get to the gears

Stock plastic vs metal upgrade

Once it went on everything went back together smoothly. Here are a couple glamour shots

 

[cbaker65]

Drop dead gorgeous!..

 

[NitroR/C]

Truly a spectacle!

 

[gandalfnz]

Man, we wanna see these go?

Amazing looking cars!

 

[Defiant]

I haven’t posted this car in a while but I have been doing some things in the background. This is what it looked like today it had a purple tuned pipe and wide wheels which are going to have foam on them

But I wanted to address some problems. Ever since I had this car the shocks leaked, I even rebuilt the shocks with new o-rings, pistons, seals etc new alloy parts, everything was factory Schumacher brand new and it STILL leaks. It’s frustrating that it doesn’t move from a shelf, yet when I go to pick it up I find the suspension all greasy.

So I gave up on Schumacher shocks all together. I’m not a fan of that, and also the shock caps are a poor design, among other things.

So I had (you guessed it) Phoenix shocks laying around and seeing as the quality on them is superb I had no choice but to ditch the stock shocks for these

While working on the shocks I wanted the car to look less tacky… so I remove quite a few unnecessary purple washers, ditches the purple pipe for a polished chrome one, put the stock servo turnbuckle back on it and ditched all the body pin stuff

I think it’s not as cheesy lookin now eh? Am I crazy? Eh. Probably both are true.

 

[NitroR/C]

pure madness.. i think its the coolest nitro rc i've ever seen on the forums and elsewhere. really my compliments for this work of yours. this is what i like most about this hobby. Hi buddy.

 

[WickedFog]

Its just freakin' SICK!

 

[Coyotedog1]

Here is the car when I first bought it, just a standard Fusion 21 with the Subaru WRC body. Brand new condition, never driven. What’s notable about these cars is the powerful Thunder Tiger .21 that’s mated to the factory 3 speed transmission powering all four wheels using a single belt.
View attachment 158088
View attachment 158090
View attachment 158087
View attachment 158086

Managed to scour the internet and sourced a new fusion 28 chassis, upper deck, X28 cooling head and X28 block
View attachment 158089
The Schumacher X28 is based off a Picco P3-28
View attachment 158091
View attachment 158092

I later located a brand new X28 Turbo piston and sleeve, flywheel, 3 speed clutch bell with upgraded larger tooth count gears, Schumacher filter, roto start assembly, and Turbo head button. The mounts are .28 specific
View attachment 158093
View attachment 158094
[[CONTINUED]]

Finally fitted the engine into the chassis, fits pretty tight in there. I also upgraded the front and rear bulkheads to these rare purple alloy ones
View attachment 158096
View attachment 158097
View attachment 158098

Hard to tell but I also upgraded all the CVDs to chrome steel, the factory plastic ones are fragile. Later, all the hinge pins were replaced with purple titanium, all the upright knuckles were upgraded to alloy, and the diff mounts replaced with alloy
View attachment 158099
View attachment 158101
View attachment 158100
View attachment 158102

Decided to add some polish to the tuned pipe and change out the fuel lines
View attachment 158103
[[CONTINUED]]
Here’s how it looks today, quite a bit has been changed

-Centro dual intake
-New fuel lines
-Fuel line clips
-Purple servo horns
-Foam tires
-Purple washers
-X28 header pipe
-Novarossi exhaust coupler
-90 degree pressure fitting
-Tuned pipe holder
-Alloy upper arms
-Full shock rebuild
-Threaded shock collars
-Alloy shock seal housings
-Schumacher “blue” springs
-Correct orientation of cooling head
-Added correct head shims: .2 + .2 + .1
-Later model foam bumper
-Purple titanium turnbuckles
-Black transmission gears
-Purple antenna
-New wheel nuts
-Decals
View attachment 158105
View attachment 158106
View attachment 158107
View attachment 158104
View attachment 158108


I believe (unless I’m proven wrong) that I have the most heavily upgraded Fusion in the world. All parts used were brand new, most are Schumacher catalog parts. I have a few ideas for some custom parts which will be coming next

Wow that thing is bad ass all the way, what are the 3 speed transmission gears made out of .