Team Associated Hoonicorn

[Armysolo]

So disclaimer: I just found out that the latest Hoonicorn Builders kit comes with majority of the stuff I've already done. Including getting rid of that trash brushed motor and ESC for brushless. Good to know TA finally removed their heads and started to put quality parts into the Hoonicorn.

Decided to build up on my neglected Hoonicorn. I wanted to upgrade the shocks on it but the shocks were $70. So instead of just doing the shocks I went with the Team Associated Apex2 Rally conversion kit because it was only $90. The kit came with a number of goodies:

• Carbon fiber shock towers allow for taller shock mounting positions
• Lower +3 arm mounts widen the lower suspension by 3mm
• Aluminum threaded shock bodies with larger oil capacity
• Longer shock shafts
• A taller set of ball studs allows for more clearance and movement
• Updated chassis includes chamfering for added down-travel and suspension capabilities
• Center differential
• Front CVA Drive Shafts to replace the dog bones

Besides the kit I also did:
Team Associated Apex2 FT Front and rear sway bars
Team Associated Apex2 FT Aluminum Turnbuckle set
Team Associated Apex2 FT carbon fiber top plates

Electronics:
Sidewinder4 ESC
Castle Sensored 3800KV motor
Amazon special 20kg HV servo
Radiolink Receiver
Hoovo 3s 4200mAH battery
Traxxas receiver box

After finishing the platform I felt I had to do something about that generic body they sold with the kit. Took me less then a weekend to do it and a few hours was spent on planning and thinking and some more thinking. Thanks to my sister in laws cricut I made some vinyl sticker templates.

Used a $25 Harbor Freight spray gun to lay down the liquid mask. Some Pro-Line airbrush paint for polycarbonate for my air brush.

Stickers came from the UK which killed me having to wait for. Instead of the plastic side skirts I made some out of 2mm carbon fiber. Still need to get the gold D rims for it and it'll be completely finished but I'm pretty happy with it now.

This is what Team Associated should've done for the Hoonicorn release.

 

[Littlemotor]

Nice work! Looks tremendous man!

 

[Speed Chaser]

i would love a crawler body to be painted just like that

 

[Littlemotor]

i would love a crawler body to be painted just like that

That was literally the first thought that went through my mind when I saw it lol… I have one on the bench as we speak.. He killed it with this one imo..

 

[Speed Chaser]

That was literally the first thought that went through my mind when I saw it lol… I have one on the bench as we speak.. He killed it with this one imo..

I have an old, brand-new Axial Hardline Crawler body that would look amazing painted like that. Sadly, I can’t paint to save my life.

 

[Doom!]

Looks great!

 

[Armysolo]

I have an old, brand-new Axial Hardline Crawler body that would look amazing painted like that. Sadly, I can’t paint to save my life.

The painting was actually the easy part. The hard part was getting the vinyl stickers in the right spots and making sure they stuck to the body. once they were in I sprayed a few coats of liquid mask letting them dry in between. Using a sharp X-acto to cut the lines were I wanted to peel off the liquid mask and a small pair of tweezers to grab the dried mask and slowly pulled it up making sure not to pull up any of the liquid mask I wanted to stay on the body.

I chose airbrushing because I already had the paint and I didn't want to go out and spend $60 on rattle cans. Plus I didn't have to wait long in between coats.

 

[WickedFog]

Awesome paintjob. Boy, those tires have been to hell and back huh? We have a concrete parking lot outside. My boy wants a drifter, but I am afraid it's going to chew through tires every pack. How long do those hard drift tires last you?

 

[Armysolo]

Awesome paintjob. Boy, those tires have been to hell and back huh? We have a concrete parking lot outside. My boy wants a drifter, but I am afraid it's going to chew through tires every pack. How long do those hard drift tires last you?

Those are the first set I got with the car over a year and a half ago. I mostly run it on asphalt which is why the tires look so bad. But even with them that beat up I don't have any issues hooning about.

 

[WickedFog]

Those are the first set I got with the car over a year and a half ago. I mostly run it on asphalt which is why the tires look so bad. But even with them that beat up I don't have any issues hooning about.

Thanks for the reply. My kiddo has been wanting a drift car, and this just might fit the bill.

 

[Armysolo]

Thanks for the reply. My kiddo has been wanting a drift car, and this just might fit the bill.

Depending on his age I would recommend one of those 1/18 $80 amazon specials AWD drift cars. They really cheap and it'll teach him how to drive it before you spend the money on a much better one.

 

[WickedFog]

Depending on his age I would recommend one of those 1/18 $80 amazon specials AWD drift cars. They really cheap and it'll teach him how to drive it before you spend the money on a much better one.

He drives our 6s Kraton around ok. And these Hoonicorns are pretty cheap.

 

[Armysolo]

He drives our 6s Kraton around ok. And these Hoonicorns are pretty cheap.

Well pin it to win it