Lexan RC Body of Bellett

[JT191]

http://www.hgd-spice.jp/blog101001131418.html

Looks like a new product as of October 1, 2010.
It says not Mini scale but 1/10 scale, and shows a width measurement of 198mm.
The title states "1600GT" graphic lower shows 1964, but the body shows the hood vents and has the driving lights cast into the lexan ready to be trimmed out and attached to the outside of the body.
http://ameblo.jp/isogai77/entry-10667259465.html#main
This is an October 5 blog entry which seems to say that the body is actually a GTR. It also shows the sticker sheets with the hood and rear vents and also the DOHC and Type R emblems and stripes.

It looks like they changed the scale sizes from many years ago when Tamiya was the big company and a couple little companies like Team Associated and Team Losi were making buggies. The other bodies on Spice's website, which have been available longer, show accurate proportion and high detail. And a lot of their tires and wheels are aimed at the drift market. It looks like this fits the modern chassis.

[2ldohc]

JT, is there any way we could order one of these or are they just a once off?

[RobSA]

JT, is there any way we could order one of these or are they just a once off?

Ditto if any chance

Cheers
Rob

[JT191]

JT, is there any way we could order one of these or are they just a once off?

Just looking around at hobby websites for an afternoon, it looks like Spice is a medium sized RC parts maker. They do a bunch of drift wheels and tires, and a small number of bodies. The way the information is presented, the Bellett body will be a regular item in their product line in mid November. But looking at the hobby retailer websites, it looks like most have chosen to carry only the wheels and tires from Spice, and not the bodies. One company is offering their Starlet body, for around $35 (very reasonable). That's a niche item, but maybe not as deep a niche as Belletts.
The problem in all this is that if the Bellett body is only available in Japan, the cost of shipping a special order for a 2 ounce piece of plastic that is 18 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches, is going to be about $100. Maybe not that bad from Japan to the rest of the world, but shipping from here to Japan is that bad.
After figuring that out, it looks like a drift chassis is $250+... And I doubt if it would be easy to build a tiny little swing axle rear suspension...

[redback]

I have a drift car (Losi XXXs 1/10th Brushless RC) that it will fit on nicely - I'll have one too thanks.

Neil

[2ldohc]

So do you think it would be possible to order a batch directly from Spice? Not speaking Japanese I'm not sure where we would even start.

As for the swing axle rear... I might leave that for someone else to dream up a way to make that work

Thanks for the update JT,

R.

[JT191]

So do you think it would be possible to order a batch directly from Spice? Not speaking Japanese I'm not sure where we would even start.

Best case would be to buy retail in Japan and ship a stack of bodies together. Even at that, the cost plus shipping would realistically be $50 per body without anyone who is doing the work being compensated or motivated to do any of the work.
Basically no way to get it done without loosing money or ending up with a raw cost of double the retail price when it hits the shores of Australia. I don't know, some of your peers over there say they are flush with funds to spend...

A more reasonable idea would be to wait for the body to go into distribution, and check the big hobby shops to buy one retail.
This Australian shop lists Spice wheels:
http://genkihobbies.com/index.php?main_ ... ce&x=0&y=0
Chances are there are another half a dozen big mail order websites in Australia.

Running a search for the Starllet body in Australia, they are listed on Ebay Australia.

This does not look like something that needs a lot of money thrown at it yet. If we get to January or so and they aren't on the shelf for retail or on internet auction within your country, then start throwing money at the problem.

[2ldohc]

Cheers for the thoughts on the bodies JT. I'm not in a position to throw money at anything but it might be something for the new year.

I do still like the idea of a drift GTR remote controlled car

R.

[JT191]

It's available for order as of today.

http://www.hgd-spice.jp/blog101101222642.html

The time period between their posting the photos of the clear body vacuum formed and untrimmed from the sheet, and releasing the body for sale, probably has a lot to do with how long it takes to paint, trim, and shoot some pretty pictures so people will know what it looks like.











It says it was approved by Isuzu Motors Ltd., so they may have had to ask permission to release it for sale.

3,800 Yen, 3,990 Yen with tax. By the time it works through the distributors and overseas hobby shops, around $40 USD retail.

It says the fender mirrors are "not attached", which probably means not included.
It says it's on an ABC Hobby's car, but I thought their stuff was all 1/10 scale Mini, and this body is a 1/10 scale Regular with a 198 mm body width. It looks like it's just sitting with the wheel wells resting on the tires. I see no notice of the wheel base or suggestion of which chassis it fits.

CORRECTION: The sentence probably says that the fender mirrors are not included and that the fender mirrors are from ABC Hobby, and does not relate to the chassis the car is displayed on.

[redback]

hey JT - yeah it looks like the body is just sitting on the wheels - the body mount "post hole dimples" are in the back window as little dents in the lexcen - and the front ones should be about half way between the mirrors and the bonnet vents.

Still looks great though - and for $40 usd plus shipping is still pretty good.

Cheers
Neil

[RobSA]

That is really cool.
That will be on my shopping list for the new year.

Thanks JT for letting us all know.

Cheers
Rob

[JT191]

Banzai Hobby has posted a message to a radio control car forum stating that they are selling the Bellett body:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/banzai-hobb ... 00gtr.html



The page on their website is at:
http://banzaihobby.com/index.php?main_p ... ts_id=8823
$42.98 USD.
They look like a Japanese hobby shop specializing in exporting or mail ordering Japanese items to customers outside Japan.

Their website or website server has some issues and is running extremely slow. I am not finding a shopping cart icon or any way to calculate the shipping without placing the order. The weight says 1.25 kg. I think that is above the 453 gram Japan-to-US airmail restriction (which does not affect anyone outside the country where people do not feel safe unless some flunky rent-a-cop security guard gropes them or takes naked pictures of them before they get onto an airplane).
So I have no idea of the shipping cost.

[JT191]

http://www.hgd-spice.jp/

They painted up another one in single color.











The rest of the information is the same. Available November 12. 3,800 Yen. Includes decals, masking, front and rear bumper, fog lights. Fender mirrors by ABC Hobby.

[2ldohc]

I'm really keen for one of these to take to the nationals next year

They look fantastic!

[redback]

I have just received my Lexan Bellett Drift Body from Banzai Hobby - it took 6 days to get here from Japan - WOW how awesome is that.....

It was well packaged too.

Cost was $79.43 total including shipping to Darwin Australia.

Looks great too - I will post pictures once I paint it up.

Cheers
Neil

[2ldohc]

Now I'm jealous!

[pearcesnr]

Nearly looks like they have been Foosed !

[JT191]

Someone is selling a finished body.
http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b118342846




I may be seeing things, but the headlights look many times more three dimensional than the stickers on the kit. I think someone set this body up with LED headlights, and possibly tail lights and turn signals.

[redback]

Damn,

Makes my job look absolutely rubbish.......




The bumpers and the spotties come separately but dont look as good as what this person has done for sure.
Top quality job they have done.

[JT191]

I noticed what looks like yellow turn signal lenses. Someone in Japan did Australian tail lights.

From the description it sounds like someone bought this from a professional body painter for a display of some sort.
I never have been able to figure out how they do the window trim.