by goosenapper » Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:49 am
Wow, the old model sure is different from the new one. I think that the engine detailing and roof scoops look more like the 1:1 car than the new mold. I like how they solve the problem of illuminating multiple headlights, but can see where it could get in the way of getting the body back on. The new version has a similar issue where two tiny clips stick out on the rear of the chassis to enter holes in the body, then it swings in place. But they were so small that I didn't immediately see them and struggled a bit to reassemble the car the first time I had it apart.
And bad news Kurt, only the two front screws actually make it to the body. The two main rear posts terminate just below the engine detailing that is visible through the rear window. There is no way that they could continue on through the interior tray and attach directly to the body as there simply is no body above where they attach! Looking more closely, the tray is held in place by that clip in the front that you pointed out, but is held in the rear by a single protruding stud that mates up to a groove that is cut in to the inside of the rear body of the car. It's not a perfect fit, as I can wiggle it with effort from side to side.
Now I see why they also screw the interior to the chassis with those two little and seemingly superfluous screws in the middle. They act as extra support, perhaps even as an insurance policy for keeping the interior in place, and as such also keep a bit of stress off of those rear posts. Getting body float in this thing would be no easy chore. It's basically a rolling brick, as all of those screws and clips make the chassis and body one solid unit. The more I look at it, the more it seems that the production of this model came down to covering up poorly designed components with even more shoddy ideas.
But even with all of those negatives, it's still a fun car to drive on Sport. On wood, well that might be a different story...