Bad Day or a Blessing?

[johnboy72]

Ok, so I've managed to get some fuel out here in Ramadi, Iraq. So after wiping off about a quarter inch of dust, the old Drake1 saw some daylight! Jason even brought out his RC10GT. Well neither one of us thought about bringing a temp gun when we shipped our trucks. What the .... were we thinking? "Iraq=Hot, might want to bring a tempgun!" So anyways, on to spitting on heads. Well I'm still fairly new to the nitro tuning thing myself but that's not really an excuse, call it a mixture of show boating and laziness....I snapped the connecting rod and there went my old Pico XP. Not to mention I broke a rear control arm, rear shock tower, and bent a driveshaft. This was all just hanging it out behind the barracks in the rocks. So I figured "this sucks!"
Then my inner voice kicked in saying, "Hey, you just re enlisted and got a bonus!" So on to TowerHobbies, CheapBatteryPacks.com, and Horizon Hobby. I picked up well over $600 of what I consider "Much Needed" parts and equipment! And get this, the wife only made one comment saying "John, you've spent over a grand on RC since deploying!" What a supportive wife. No B________es, gripes, complaints, etc. So that's my long story of how a bad day turned into me realizing I have a blessing in disguise waiting at home! I'm out like a fat kid in dodgeball....gotta charge up some packs and go run! Late

[Greg B]

Are you referring about your re enlistment or the money you received.
A word of wisdom to the younger folks. Don't throw your money away. A hobby is good but do not neglect to save. We are all going to need it one day.

Greg B.

[DavidB]

I have to say that I would be spending it the same way... Given that he is far from home in a less then pleasant place I think it's a worthwhile investment that provides a means of escape.

Having a wonderful wife who supports you from home is indeed a blessing!

[Greg B]

I agree with him using RC as an escape from the rigors of war.
Do you have a current want list of items that you need ?


Greg B.

[FrankM]

Johnboy,

Hit me up on e-mail (frankm@rcdriver.com) when you get a chance and give me a wish list for a care package (and where we should send it).

As for the nitro thing, start with the high end and make double-sure that the engine pushes a bit of blue-gray smoke at all times. What's it get up to there, about a buck-thirty? I will also try to get you a bunch of Outerwears filter covers and such, the best thing for the type of small-particle dirt you have there.

[SK3Racin]

I also have some things I could throw in. A Brand new PE1 temp gun, possibly ( not mine, gotta ask a friend ) even an RC10 GT. Ive also got many 6 Cell battery packs which aren't great for pure racing, but still take a charge and will be good for bashing around and Im sure there's other odds n ends.I Will let you know...

[johnboy72]

well I completely forgot about this thread. I have picked up a temp gun. Thanks to the mag, I chose the O'Donnell temp gun. We're doing alright right now but wouldn't turn down stuff sent our way! As far as things we could use? Well I just got some extra control arms for the T4 in since they seem to be fragile. I brought a Nitro Rustler that was going to be pulling "Newbie" duty. I've been putting it back together piece by piece since I parted it out to help other troops. I think with another $100 I would have it solid. It needs either a CVD kit or Traxxas outdrives and the outter most drives (where the wheel mounts to). I have the centers. Also, I let a reserve soldier borrow my pull start for my 2.5 and never saw the soldier again. I was thinking since newbies will be running it mostly (trying to get new people hooked on RC) I could use RPM arms. Also the tie rods are all left overs from other kits.
Oh, if anyone has the battery box for a XXXNT, that would be great. I cut up one for Jason's RC10GT and not a day later, my broke. So it's zip tied and keeps falling off.
I ebay most of my stuff. I have two parts trucks for the XXXNT minus front arms and that battery box. The front arms went quick to soldiers with the XXXT. I'm always working on somebody's stuff and now have to tell them I can't supply them with parts because I'm taking away from my stash for my stuff. Heck, I've got a soldier's Emaxx in right now and trying to get a parts list together for him.
If anyone wants to send stuff, that would be great. I don't ask for handouts but I won't turn down free stuff. Here's a list of trucks we have running around here.

Traxxas Rustlers (I have a bunch of chassas parts already)
RC10T4's
a couple of XXXTs (at least two of these)
Traxxas Emaxx's
a couple of HPI E Savages
one Tmaxx

My stuff
XXXNTAD1
RC10T4
Traxxas N. Rustler
Cobra Nemisis

Jason (our other go to guy and head nitro guru here)
RC10GT
RC10T4 (needs rear t plate (where the rear arms mount to), wing mount, diff rebuild kit)

[johnboy72]

there's also some of these running around too
Tamiya 4wd buggy electric
CEN 4wd nitro truck 1/10th scale stadium truck
two Jato's that I know of
a couple of Bandits
one electric Evader ST

[johnboy72]

Ok, if I had to make a wishlist, this would be it. I just picked up a parts truck Emaxx. The driveshafts are missing, rcv'r missing, motors, body mounts, etc. I'm sure no one has an Extra Brushless system laying around. :)

CVD's
RPM arms
Body mounts

I think everything else will be hop ups so I'm not going to ask for that. Electronics, I'll not beg for them either. Unless you have "Take off Stock parts" laying around collecting dust. Other than that, the truck looks brand new. Bearings look great, tranny spins freely. It was an EOD truck that didn't get blown up! Sgt Major and the BC got three trucks with Spectrum DX3.0 radios. Must be nice! At least I got a near complete chassis! :D