tim - thanks for the tip on the dx7. they aren't that much more expensive...and while i have no plans for a chopper in the near future, it can't hurt to be prepared... i have looked pretty seriously at a blade before. who knows.
2fast - it definitely gets a good report so far! i forgot how much i love kits - then again, i'm someone who has to tear a pre-build RTR down just to see what parts are in there and how they all work together. this kit went together extremely well - i didn't have a single problem. even better than my clod went together, and i'm a big fan of tamiya b/c of their well made kits.
this thing has enormously beefy parts - it'll be difficult to get the scale in photos, but i'll try. this truck will be tonka-tough. i'm very impressed with both trannys - i was worried about plastic gears, but the composite used for all the parts almost seems like it's infused with something else other than plastic. not brittle at all. i was impressed. and the 2 solid axles connect together, making one long metal axle from end to end - which undoubtedly makes it much tougher than the stock clod axles. it sure won't be light though, but that's okay.
neil - yep, i think the stops are coming off...
more to come after i finish it up this weekend...