new toy, a crawler!
08-16-2008, 01:51 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
new toy, a crawler!
anyone here into rc crawlers? i just picked up an axial ax10 artr last night. can't wait for it to break in all the way, it just doesn't flex well at all out of the box.
funny, i thought rc crawlers were silly when i first saw them. now i'm hooked!
sorry, no action shots yet (too dark last night in the rock garden)... so here's some poser shots at work. hey, its still dirty from last night.
tomorrow i'm taking the woman to the beach for the day, i figure a perfect spot for the crawler up on the rocks at cape kiwanda. just gotta keep it out of the drink.
specs:
axial ax10 w/ 30 degree bent rear links
integy 65t motor
novak rooster speed control
futaba servo
futaba control/rcvr
long life 6-cell batt
hammer tires w/ memory foam
i think i'm going to pick up a new body for it also, probably a k5 blazer.
Al
funny, i thought rc crawlers were silly when i first saw them. now i'm hooked!
sorry, no action shots yet (too dark last night in the rock garden)... so here's some poser shots at work. hey, its still dirty from last night.
tomorrow i'm taking the woman to the beach for the day, i figure a perfect spot for the crawler up on the rocks at cape kiwanda. just gotta keep it out of the drink.
specs:
axial ax10 w/ 30 degree bent rear links
integy 65t motor
novak rooster speed control
futaba servo
futaba control/rcvr
long life 6-cell batt
hammer tires w/ memory foam
i think i'm going to pick up a new body for it also, probably a k5 blazer.
Al
08-16-2008, 10:36 PM
#4
Cape Kiwanda would be a cool spot. I might just have to look into one of these things...how much?
I suppose if I forget about the driveshafts I need I might be able to get one...
Can you get a 1st Gen body for one?
edit: looks like you need to fix your pinion angle
I suppose if I forget about the driveshafts I need I might be able to get one...
Can you get a 1st Gen body for one?
edit: looks like you need to fix your pinion angle
Last edited by dropzone; 08-16-2008 at 10:38 PM.
08-16-2008, 11:55 PM
#5
Registered User
Thread Starter
they are fairly expensive, this ARTR kit was like 259. you can build it yourself for 219 or so, only has a few worse components. you'll need the electronics (controller, receiver, speed control, motor and servo) and the most expensive part is the speed control. usually over 100 bucks, and the nice ones you can over double that. the other parts are fairly cheap.
i'm only in it about 300 so far, borrowing my cousins extra speed control and got some parts off some parted rc cars i had at work. only needed a battery (35) and a motor (25). so i'm in it about 300. but i'm already planning on grabbing some softer rate springs and 2 more bent links. its sooo easy to get carried away....
oh, and tamiya makes a gen 1 body. i'm not sure if you can get it without their kit though, that runs almost 400 bucks! ouch...
and if you do get one, you'll have to stop by my cousins place in wilsonville once we build a decent course in his back yard. some rock, some dirt, and maybe some water...
Al
Last edited by Al's Chop Shop; 08-17-2008 at 12:00 AM.
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08-17-2008, 11:43 AM
#8
Registered User
08-18-2008, 12:30 AM
#9
Registered User
Thread Starter
alright, here is a couple videos from today's fun out at cape kiwanda. turns out i just don't have enough weight on the crawler to dig into the hard packed sand, so it was tough to get traction on anything but the few rocks up there. its hard to tell by the camera angle but it is all pretty steep terrain. i've also decided that the springs are waaaay too stiff. i'm going to pick up the ultra soft springs tomorrow and see how they do. if they end up too soft i can always use spring spacers to up the spring rate. the spring rate on the stock springs are so tight the only articulation is compression (no down travel)... and i don't have near enough weight on it to flex it well. on my cousins rig we taped two lug nuts on each axle to help.... but it doesn't change the fact that there is no up travel. its really going to take some tweaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNkyFfBYnMY
**sorry about the shakey camera, my girl hasn't video'd anything before.
another thing i noticed, the amount of torque twist these things get with the torquey motors. you can see the difference by the amount of front axle flex it gets depending what tire i put on this rock on approach. the torque shoves the drivers front tire down, almost removing all flex.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qYFFNbfgW4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mveh6AOqb4A
Al
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNkyFfBYnMY
**sorry about the shakey camera, my girl hasn't video'd anything before.
another thing i noticed, the amount of torque twist these things get with the torquey motors. you can see the difference by the amount of front axle flex it gets depending what tire i put on this rock on approach. the torque shoves the drivers front tire down, almost removing all flex.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qYFFNbfgW4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mveh6AOqb4A
Al
08-18-2008, 12:33 AM
#10
Registered User
Thread Starter
dirtoyboy, if you want to compete id first start by dumping the rock lizard tires. the hammer tires with memory foam grip so much better!
btw, what are the specs on your rig?
oh- and your hi clearance links are on backwards.
Al
btw, what are the specs on your rig?
oh- and your hi clearance links are on backwards.
Al
Last edited by Al's Chop Shop; 08-18-2008 at 12:35 AM.
08-18-2008, 04:34 AM
#11
Registered User
What kinda memory foamdo you think is good?
08-18-2008, 08:49 AM
#12
they are fairly expensive, this ARTR kit was like 259. you can build it yourself for 219 or so, only has a few worse components. you'll need the electronics (controller, receiver, speed control, motor and servo) and the most expensive part is the speed control. usually over 100 bucks, and the nice ones you can over double that. the other parts are fairly cheap.
i'm only in it about 300 so far, borrowing my cousins extra speed control and got some parts off some parted rc cars i had at work. only needed a battery (35) and a motor (25). so i'm in it about 300. but i'm already planning on grabbing some softer rate springs and 2 more bent links. its sooo easy to get carried away....
oh, and tamiya makes a gen 1 body. i'm not sure if you can get it without their kit though, that runs almost 400 bucks! ouch...
and if you do get one, you'll have to stop by my cousins place in wilsonville once we build a decent course in his back yard. some rock, some dirt, and maybe some water...
Al
i'm only in it about 300 so far, borrowing my cousins extra speed control and got some parts off some parted rc cars i had at work. only needed a battery (35) and a motor (25). so i'm in it about 300. but i'm already planning on grabbing some softer rate springs and 2 more bent links. its sooo easy to get carried away....
oh, and tamiya makes a gen 1 body. i'm not sure if you can get it without their kit though, that runs almost 400 bucks! ouch...
and if you do get one, you'll have to stop by my cousins place in wilsonville once we build a decent course in his back yard. some rock, some dirt, and maybe some water...
Al
I could see myself getting carried away too...if an RC breaks though it won't take up the whole driveway or garage...
if i get one will have to head down to wilsonville...Looks like a nice, typical day at the coast...it was hot saturday in PDX, down there would have been awesome there...
forgot about the tamiya, i posted this one last year...but way too much $$$$
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...thread-122405/
http://rcdriver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205
Awesome detail put into an RC...I just hope my '81 flexes as well when I am done....
Last edited by dropzone; 08-18-2008 at 08:52 AM.
08-18-2008, 09:23 AM
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
rob- it was about 30 degrees cooler at the coast. weather reports said it was going to be sunny, but we had a little thunderstorm when we first got there. after playing around with the crawler for about an hour we hiked to the very end of the cape. scrambling up the last ledge i noticed my forehead tickled. figuring it was my hair i ignored it for a few minutes. then i realized my whole head was tingling. i asked the girl if her head was tingling too... she agreed then i noticed her hair was standing on end!! i quickly realized we could become lightning rods with no trees around, so we hauled ass back inland. scary!!
Al
08-18-2008, 09:24 AM
#15
Registered User
price isn't actually too bad in the whole scheme of things, just need to start stashing some cash...pick up stuff here and there. Heck I bought 2 cars and a ton of parts off craigslist, maybe I will get lucky
I could see myself getting carried away too...if an RC breaks though it won't take up the whole driveway or garage...
if i get one will have to head down to wilsonville...Looks like a nice, typical day at the coast...it was hot saturday in PDX, down there would have been awesome there...
forgot about the tamiya, i posted this one last year...but way too much $$$$
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...thread-122405/
http://rcdriver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205
Awesome detail put into an RC...I just hope my '81 flexes as well when I am done....
I could see myself getting carried away too...if an RC breaks though it won't take up the whole driveway or garage...
if i get one will have to head down to wilsonville...Looks like a nice, typical day at the coast...it was hot saturday in PDX, down there would have been awesome there...
forgot about the tamiya, i posted this one last year...but way too much $$$$
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...thread-122405/
http://rcdriver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205
Awesome detail put into an RC...I just hope my '81 flexes as well when I am done....
oh my god.
thats sooo amazing, i want it lol
08-18-2008, 09:26 AM
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
Al
08-18-2008, 12:58 PM
#17
the one I went to is Rc Modeler Northwest, just off 170th and TV Hwy (technically Shaw Street).
They had one for $289 complete just need to provide battery and charger...
pretty good selection of tires, control arms, motors etc.
this deal on craigslist might be worth calling about but I am broke
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/tag/801415457.html
my wife said to tell you thanks
Sounds like you and your wife left just in time...I was working saturday night and was watching the Natural fireworks about 2AM, it was awesome
Guess I need to concentrate on getting one toy running first before I think of another one
They had one for $289 complete just need to provide battery and charger...
pretty good selection of tires, control arms, motors etc.
this deal on craigslist might be worth calling about but I am broke
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/tag/801415457.html
my wife said to tell you thanks
Sounds like you and your wife left just in time...I was working saturday night and was watching the Natural fireworks about 2AM, it was awesome
Guess I need to concentrate on getting one toy running first before I think of another one
08-19-2008, 01:27 AM
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
tell your wife i'm sorry. well, not really.
yeah... it was a close call on the cape. it was a humbling experience. my brother asked if i had st elmo's fire over my head... a dig because i'm tall and skinny. :p
so you live in aloha or beaverton then? never knew there was another hobby store near here. tammies hobbies is next to video only on canyon.
anyhow... i just found a great place to play... summer lake. just 3 blocks from my house.
here is a couple videos from sunday's fun out at cape kiwanda, before the near death experience. turns out i just don't have enough weight on the crawler to dig into the hard packed sand, so it was tough to get traction on anything but the few rocks up there. its hard to tell by the camera angle but it is all pretty steep terrain. i've also decided that the springs are waaaay too stiff.
**sorry about the shakey camera, my girl hasn't video'd anything before.
another thing i noticed, the amount of torque twist these things get with the torquey motors. you can see the difference by the amount of front axle flex it gets depending what tire i put on this rock on approach. the torque shoves the drivers front tire down, almost removing all flex from the front axle.
today i picked up some softer springs. i was giong to go with the axial ultra soft but the guy at tammies suggested the losi white's, as most of the competition guys use them. they are shorter, and about half the spring rate of the stock springs. i had to use spacers to keep them on the spring plates. also i had a problem with the lower links hitting the bottom spring plates and knocking them off so i switched around the springs and lower links so the links are on the outside of the springs.
and now it settles much lower....
but it flexes like mad. i figured a softer spring would mean less predictability and more rollovers as well as more torque twist... but i found the opposite to be true! torque twist is still apparent under some circumstances but i found just blipping reverse drops the front end and i can continue normally.
i tested it out on the rocks (the new spot) and it does amazing now.
Al
yeah... it was a close call on the cape. it was a humbling experience. my brother asked if i had st elmo's fire over my head... a dig because i'm tall and skinny. :p
so you live in aloha or beaverton then? never knew there was another hobby store near here. tammies hobbies is next to video only on canyon.
anyhow... i just found a great place to play... summer lake. just 3 blocks from my house.
here is a couple videos from sunday's fun out at cape kiwanda, before the near death experience. turns out i just don't have enough weight on the crawler to dig into the hard packed sand, so it was tough to get traction on anything but the few rocks up there. its hard to tell by the camera angle but it is all pretty steep terrain. i've also decided that the springs are waaaay too stiff.
another thing i noticed, the amount of torque twist these things get with the torquey motors. you can see the difference by the amount of front axle flex it gets depending what tire i put on this rock on approach. the torque shoves the drivers front tire down, almost removing all flex from the front axle.
today i picked up some softer springs. i was giong to go with the axial ultra soft but the guy at tammies suggested the losi white's, as most of the competition guys use them. they are shorter, and about half the spring rate of the stock springs. i had to use spacers to keep them on the spring plates. also i had a problem with the lower links hitting the bottom spring plates and knocking them off so i switched around the springs and lower links so the links are on the outside of the springs.
and now it settles much lower....
but it flexes like mad. i figured a softer spring would mean less predictability and more rollovers as well as more torque twist... but i found the opposite to be true! torque twist is still apparent under some circumstances but i found just blipping reverse drops the front end and i can continue normally.
i tested it out on the rocks (the new spot) and it does amazing now.
Al
08-19-2008, 08:02 PM
#19
i am in aloha...i might check out Tammie's for comparison. I appreciate you testing and finding out what works and what doesn't work, saves me some time and money before i get my RC
From the vid it looks like the new springs work great..Now it makes me think I need to go Minimum 37's on the Trekker..
From the vid it looks like the new springs work great..Now it makes me think I need to go Minimum 37's on the Trekker..
08-20-2008, 12:39 PM
#20
Registered User
Thread Starter
well since you are so close you should stop by sunday when i'm back at summer lake park. my cousin is meeting me there with his. you are welcome to try mine out too.
i picked up driveshaft retainers last night, hopefully i won't blow out any more u-joints.... and saturday night i'm painting a new body. you guys might not like it much, but i don't care.
Al
i picked up driveshaft retainers last night, hopefully i won't blow out any more u-joints.... and saturday night i'm painting a new body. you guys might not like it much, but i don't care.
Al
