Colinb17's kinda sorta build thread - now with 4-link and long travel

I've accepted the fact that anything that moves and doesn't need a paved road to do so, is going to be expensive..... covers anything air, water, and off road.

 

I was looking into them again today. I would like a crawler just to play with but don't really want another hobby to dump money into. Haha The Redcat Rockslide seemed alright having front and rear steer already but everyone seems to drool all over axials. When I checked them out the wraith seemed like a good choice although unless it has a low range it might be a bit fast for intense crawling.

 

I was lucky enough to have a boss at the shop i worked at all through college who was into the same hobbies as me. he used to weld and fabricate, he has a jeep that hewheels, and he got into RCs the last year or so that i worked with him. He got the 1/10 scale redcat crawler right at the same time i got my Exceed 1/10 scale crawler (the camo body one). The redcats come loaded with a ton of features right out of the box, like the multiple steering options, but they also have some shortcomings. their axles are a little too narrow for how tall they are, and for what they weigh. their wheelbase is also a little short, which can make up and downhill crawling more difficult. and while it did come with a dual motor setup, like my Exceed, they were a smaller series motor, even though it was the same scale vehicle.

with the motors being mounted to the axles, thus eliminating driveshafts, it's easy to build a custom set of links to lengthen the wheelbase, but to solve the other issues, you'd need new axles and bigger motors. I'd say it was underbuilt, but that was just a product of the smaller axles. a more properly sized axle will fit stronger links, steering, etc.

if i had to buy again, i'd still chose the exceed over the redcat. axles that come on the exceed are identicle front and rear, it jsut has braces bolted to the rear axle and no servo, to make non turning. all you need is a steering link, tie rod, and servo, and you have yourself 4 wheel steer.

the axials are awesome machines. for they air on the side or more realistic looking. if you want the most travel, go with a full on buggy. if you like the scale look, axial is a great place to start. also check out the KOH buggy for a very realistic truck that has crawl and high speed gear settings.



here's a review on it. the guy that reviews them has driven just about everything RC, and really doesn't give good reviews on anything RTR, so this is actualyl a really positive review by his standards lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76cJjLyskkY

 

Since I saw yours was an Exceed that is where I started looking and pretty much came down to comparing the Mad Torque and the Max Stone since both are 1/8th scale. But like I said, everything I seemed to find on forums was everyone just ranting that they both suck and to get an Axial.

Kind of sounded like dropping in here and everyone telling you to just get a TRD Offroad because it can Offroad. haha

 

nothing axial makes is anything close to the purpose of the exceed crawlers, and vise versa.

for bells and whistles, go redcat, for scale looks and bolt-on upgradability, go axial, for out of the box capability, go exceed. the exceed is very upgradable, but other than the wheels/tires, and motors, most of the upgrading will require a little custom work, or adapting of aftermarket parts for other vehicles.

the 1/8 scale stuff from exzceed is pretty cool, and they actually released a giant 1/5 scale crawler not too long ago

unless the vehicle you are looking at comes with a brushless motor, plan on replacing it with one, and budget acordingly. not as important for pure crawlers, but you'll likely outgrow the brushed motors pretty quick. the longer run times are also nice.

 

The bolt-on features were the biggest reason why everyone recommended axials. I think I might be hooked on that Twin Hammers you showed me though. Didn't get a chance to look into it much yet though. I had to go to my Electrical Machines class and take a test and the fire alarm went off 5 minutes into it so now I have that test on Friday. haha

 

I've found that RCs are very similar to these trucks. everyone has a different use, and after the first few bolt-ons, you realize that what you really want/need has to be custom made. look at the adaptability and versatility of the platform more than just how it does out of the box.

That same boss i mentioned got the twin hammers a couple of months before i graduated and left, and i got to drive it a few times. incredibly fun truck, and the suspension is amazing. Eric actually has one on here (owns a SWB truck and a matching FR-S). hop into the RC thread and ask him about it. i know he's made some modifications to his already.

 

I think I am sold! I just watched about 8 minute of this vid and Twin Hammers basically walks all over the SCX10. He did add the front locker to the Vaterra (which I would do) and he said it was even stuck in high since he fried the shifting servo. haha. Either way the video basically showed me that it can do what I would intend for it to do. This video looks like a blast to me. haha

http://youtu.be/30zp33hv0ts

 

I just realized that video was shot in the town I live in!!!! One of the guys I wheel with works at Dapco hobbies and I was just checking out their facebook page and realized I saw their shop sign in that vid. haha That is right in front of their shop. I'll have to talk with him and see what they sell the Twin Hammers for.

Hmmm... Looks like the same price as Amazon. I wonder if my wife will kill me if I do it... haha Although it will include tax while Amazon has free shipping for it.

 

yeah, i never had a bad experience driving my bosses. i think if youwant an RC that good at just abotu everything, and isn't styled like a monster truck, that's the way to go. the IFS fron and solid axle rear is what makes it. kinda like how out trucks can crawl and fly.

Again, talk to eric about his. i think he had the gear servo go out too. sounds like a common problem. luckily a servo for that purpose is cheap.

 

well, i now own a DJI Phantom......

stopped into the hobby shop down the road to pick up some little things, and after talking to one of the co-owners (he owns a tacoma and was asking all kinds of questions about mine), he said he'd give me $50 off the phantom if i wanted to take one off their hands today. $430 instead of $480 is a deal you aren't gonna see on these too often

picked up an extra battery and some blades as well.

white is a stupid color to be flying overhead though. gonna be really hard to see on a bright day, so it's already in pieces getting some fresh paint.

 

I had to look it up. Now I have to get one. With the Fat Shark system...
Dang it, Colin...

 

Cool... Have fun and be careful...

 

I know man, i want a fpv system. might have to buy Mike's system when i go back to houston though

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FPV-Grounds...WPlfhjiaSekwfjKPSoRDU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

Make sure you balance the props (important for vibe free video) and find a good anti jello mount for the gopro.

 

very careful

don't want to be breaking it, or worse, breaking people.....

 

i have a balancer and better mount in my Amazon cart, but can't order them yet. the unofficial word (received today) is that i have another week here before i head back to houston. without the items being prime eligible, there's no guarantee they'd be here before i had to leave.

 

Ahh that sucks...

 

for the time being i may just run some fishing line through each prop and pull it real tight (and level) to at least get a half way decent balance.

 

How's that going to work Mr. Engineer? It needs to be balanced from the center of rotation...