first off I'm referring to the visible engine model kit. I bought one off eBay ($16.50) because the company that normally sells them online refuses Canadian customers ("Your dollars aren't worth as much" they complain. "I pay in US dollars" I explain. "Well... we can't take Canadian credit cards. We don't know the brands" they counter. "It's a Mastercard." I offer. "Shipping is impossible", they argue. I give up.)

So the package arrived today from some model store (Model Rick's Mania). The kit box was torn but the outer US post box was fine, so I'm guessing Rick, in his mania, tore it. No matter, the interior bags were (mostly) sealed. Half the parts were already snapped off their plastic trees, but all were there and seemingly okay.

So I assembled the kit, carefully lubing gears, soldering circuits, etc. before I finished it I decided to test the electrics. I put in the batteries, and the thin plastic battery tray bent (the metal spring tabs to hold contact with the battery ends were stronger than the plastic tray) and it was impossible to close the circuit.

So I rigged wires to the batteries directly and tied the other ends to the two posts of the motor.

Nothing.

I removed the motor from the circuit and tested it on its own (undoing 3 hours of careful measuring, cutting, stripping, and soldering in the process)

Nothing. The motor is fuxxed.

So maybe it'll at least make a lame *** static display, right? Thing is, to make it function as a motorized model they deleted a lot of detail and threw the proportional scale of items like plug wires, etc. all out of whack, and for some reason moulded the rotors and inside of the rear housing in flat red, with reflective tape on the sides of the rotors, so as a static model it looks crummy.

When will I learn that buying off eBay is like running through a field strewn with cow patties from The Devil's own herd..

 

At least it was only $16.50.

Have you considered a motor transplant?

 

Still, even if it wasn't really to much it's really annoying. To me at least.

 

What about a new electrical motor??? They aren't that expensive are they??? And, let me give you tip ( learned the hard way too): test electrical stuff BEFORE you put it in a model

 

I received mine also, although from Edmonds, and I've yet to assemble it. After reading your post, I'll certainly pretest my motor before I do assemble it. Thanks

 

I bought one of those models last year off eBay, but I made sure it was mint in the box, not opened before he sent it. Mine works perfectly, so I guess I lucked out with the motor. But the motor looks like a standard small electrical motor, so finding a replacement might not be hard.

FYI: with the batteries in my model, its a PITA to get the door closed, there is a way, but you have to fiddle with it a while. (so your not alone on that department.)

 

i would go ahead and port it. bridge. maybe go ahead with a turbo also.

 

I bought mine about a year ago and still haven't assembled it yet. This guy on the parts trader had 2 for sale and I bought both of them, $70. Both boxes still had the plastic seal on them. It's not exactly the same as what I had as a kid, I'm just happy I was able to find another one. But like the previous post stated, I will pretest the motor.

 

I've always wanted one but I remember quite clearly (LOL) the horrid quality of the Visible V8 kit I assembled as a kid. There wasn't a lot of compression in that POS! The fun part was when the "special" oil my dad had broke some of the glue bonds and the block fell apart. It might still be in a box in my parent's attic.

Grab a cheap motor of appoximately the same size and power input, Manntis, it'll turn it.

Also, I agree with jeremy: port & turbo!

 

 

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~T.J.

 

I guess you understand what I was talking about when I mentioned the AA batteries don't quite fit right. Maybe without the tabs they do, LOL. They also forgot a few pieces of the gear reduction assembly.

The red rotors suck, but I don't think I got reflective decals. Maybe a light coat of silver paint would help.

I'd say the model itself is cool, just the quality of construction is POS.

Right on.

 

Yea I didnt get no cheapie silver tape for mine either.

And on the coolness factor despite the low quality

 

Are you talking about the "Entex" kit? I probably have a motor for it. -Mike

 

If anyone else is interested in getting one of these kits, http://www.speednation.com use to sell them; perhaps they still do. Very cool guys as well. I got one a while back and haven't put it together yet, still in the plastic. Good luck.

Kyle

 

Double post

 

Yup, it's the Entex one - if you've a working motor, how much would you want for it?

The difficulty with finding a replacement is getting one with the same shaft length & diameter, output rating, etc. and there's not a mark on it to use for reference

 

Just pay for shipping and it's yours. I'll let you know how much it'll be to ship, probably not much. -Mike

 

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