it's DAKAR time

[PR19_Kit]

South America??? It's not the Dakar rally then, is it!?

Don't go there.....

They've had pages of comment on that in Autosport on that subject for ages. It's something to do with the 'security situation' in Africa and the 'Spirit of the Event' so I understand.

[Hobbes]

Just remembered that Revell has another Dakar kit: a 1:32 VW Touareg.

[raafif]

well, I didn't expect this much responce so quickly 

Before I posted the thread I had dismissed tracked vehicles like the T-72 because of their speed limitations .... but maybe a Scorpion would be appropriate

I have a crappy Revell Luchs 8x8 A/car that should do good

continue the mind-raging .....
                  then start the model building -- Group Build anyone ?

[martinbayer]

Alvis Stalwart

Oshkosh HEMTT

Foden IMMLC

Martin

[simmie]

Alvis Stalwart

Oshkosh HEMTT

Foden IMMLC

Martin

At last!!!!

I knew I wasn't mad in my thinking on the Dakar.  My thinking is simple,

Bikers = Very mad
Quads = mad
Car drivers = slightly mad
truck drivers = sane.

The bigger the truck the better, thus I plumped for:

Rosenbauer Simba 8x8 airport fire tender.

But also the following would form my team (I have far too much time on my hands!!)
Supercat 6x6.
Subaru Impreza (WRC/Gp A Safari spec)
and in the quad class......Snowmobiles!!!  replace the ski's with quad tyres.

[chrisonord]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Revells Unimog, perfect Dakar rally fodder, dump the over torquey diesel engine and shove an AMG 6.5 litre supercharged V8 in there. I am sure I have seen them compete in some of the earlier Dakar rallies, at least they shouldn't need armour on them now they are in South America. Tamiya did a 1/12th Honda NXR Dakar bike, if I remember correctly, it had a 750 V-twin in it. Would be a bit more whatif if you shoehorned a CBR 1000/Fireblade engine in it :wacko:Military Hummers with a more substantial engine would be good too, Detroit or CAT diesel engine, pinched from a truck or a big block Hemi maybe??
Chris.

[Zaskar24]

How about an M18 Helccat?  Take of the turret and use the weight savings to add extra fuel capacity.  You could also enclose where the turret was with some kind of low slung enclosed area.  Add a big honkin' spoiler on the engine deck.

[simmie]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Revells Unimog, perfect Dakar rally fodder, dump the over torquey diesel engine and shove an AMG 6.5 litre supercharged V8 in there. I am sure I have seen them compete in some of the earlier Dakar rallies, at least they shouldn't need armour on them now they are in South America. Tamiya did a 1/12th Honda NXR Dakar bike, if I remember correctly, it had a 750 V-twin in it. Would be a bit more whatif if you shoehorned a CBR 1000/Fireblade engine in it :wacko:Military Hummers with a more substantial engine would be good too, Detroit or CAT diesel engine, pinched from a truck or a big block Hemi maybe??
Chris.

Hummers have been run in the past, both as cars and as trucks.  The problem is they are just too slow!!!!

LOORRS trucks were fast, but only 2 wheel drive.  They did sound gorgious thou!!!!

How about the XR311??

[jcf]

Gordon's Hummer is currently in 4th overall, and Al Attiyah made up amazing time on Stage 2 to win the stage and is
currently in 8th overall. So this year the Hummers aer doing much better.

[Daryl J.]

OK.....just do it.    
Spontaneous unmoderated and untimed Theme Build?  

[Hobbes]

Gordon's Hummer is currently in 4th overall, and Al Attiyah made up amazing time on Stage 2 to win the stage and is
currently in 8th overall. So this year the Hummers aer doing much better.

Those aren't really Hummers. They're purpose-built spaceframe cars that just look a bit like a Hummer.

The Ginaf Rallypower team runs trucks that have a Caterpillar C18 diesel originally intended for ships (18 litres, 950 bhp).

Unimogs are still used in Dakar. You don't see much of them in the TV reports, since they're mostly in the standard truck class and a lot slower than the T4 rally trucks.

The Faun SLT would make an interesting desert vehicle. Maybe as a support truck...

[McColm]

I've got the DAKAR 1/24 RangeRover in my stash.
Ford made rally versions of the Capri (got the 1/24 in my stash as well), Escort and Focus. I think Airfix make the Escort and Focus kits.
The Airfix Dodge Charger from the Dukes of Hazard, although tyres are an issue.
Maybe a rally version of the Ford 3 door Sierra
I've got the a FAB1 6 wheeler 1/43 from Thunderbirds fame in my stash.
Modelzone do a series of R/C monster trucks and 4x4.

[Mossie]

Airfix's up & coming 1/48 Jackal & Coyote would be ripe for conversion.  It's pretty quick with all the armoured plate & weapons mountings, remove it, replace some of the body with carbon fibre, mod the Jackal 2's 6.7 litre engine for rally & it should be pretty nippy.

We could go the other way too.  Browsing Supacats website, I found out they're offering the Bowler Wildcat for military applications, I guess Squadies are lining up to be Richard Hammond.  There's a few of the more specialist vehicles that could have similar uses.

[Weaver]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Revells Unimog, perfect Dakar rally fodder, dump the over torquey diesel engine and shove an AMG 6.5 litre supercharged V8 in there. I am sure I have seen them compete in some of the earlier Dakar rallies, at least they shouldn't need armour on them now they are in South America. Tamiya did a 1/12th Honda NXR Dakar bike, if I remember correctly, it had a 750 V-twin in it. Would be a bit more whatif if you shoehorned a CBR 1000/Fireblade engine in it :wacko:Military Hummers with a more substantial engine would be good too, Detroit or CAT diesel engine, pinched from a truck or a big block Hemi maybe??
Chris.

Also, Tamiya do a BMW R80G/S in Paris Dakar trim, which actually won it in 1985. There's a version with a useful off-road riding figure too.

You could cross-kit it with the Honda CX500 Turbo kit to really confuse people  (I have seen a pair of homemade CX500 off-roaders before now... ) or the Guzzi Centauro...

[martinbayer]

I think an updated Carmichael Commando would be neat too...

Martin