Soze's HoBao DC1 Kit Build

[soze]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

Last week I ordered over $400 in stuff from Tower and it got here in 3 days. So I think they are back to normal with some stuff.

The shocks on this also look great. Hopefully they're as smooth and leak free as they look.

I'm also interested to see the axles. So far the chassis is really cool.

That's good to hear (Tower).

The shock bodies are really sturdy looking. These shocks are more akin to the type of quality you see in the shocks of racing dirt buggies than the type of quality you see with the Axial Icon shocks if you know what I mean...

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by soze

That's good to hear (Tower).

The shock bodies are really sturdy looking. These shocks are more akin to the type of quality you see in the shocks of racing dirt buggies than the type of quality you see with the Axial Icon shocks if you know what I mean...

They do look really solid!

I know exactly what you mean! I pulled my dad's shiny new SCX10 II RTR out of the box and the cardboard looked like a Harley Davidson had been sitting there.

[OSRC]

Very stout looking truck. Almost overbuilt (that's a good thing imo) - I used to bash Ofna buggies back in the day, they were tough as nails for sure.

Can't quite tell from the pics, but look like 4mm threading in the links ilo the usual 3mm?

[soze]

Originally Posted by OSRC

Very stout looking truck. Almost overbuilt (that's a good thing imo) - I used to bash Ofna buggies back in the day, they were tough as nails for sure.

Can't quite tell from the pics, but look like 4mm threading in the links ilo the usual 3mm?

3mm.... 3x12mm screws.

[soze]

Steps 14-15: Shift linkage, Panhard, and Steering Servo mounting

Here's a look at the shift linkage




Shift mechanism mounted up




Panhard mount






Using the HoBao HB-5518MG 18.6kg servo my friend threw in. Not sure what rebranded servo this is... maybe another JX.




Servo mounted up




I'm using a Boom Racing 25T Low profile aluminum clamping servo horn for now, but the length of the hole isn't quite right when compared to the stock plastic one. The hole on the stock plastic one is in between the 2 holes on the Boom Racing horn. I'll take a deeper look when the steering rod and axles are mounted up.

[2mtech]

That shift linkage is the first somewhat sketchy looking piece so far. Will be interesting to see if it functions properly/consistently.

[soze]

Originally Posted by 2mtech

That shift linkage is the first somewhat sketchy looking piece so far. Will be interesting to see if it functions properly/consistently.

Those were my thoughts at first too. Then I hooked it up and was surprised. It actually works. I'll try to make a video of it working sometime soon.

The nice thing is that there is adjustability as far as those bushing/spring/brackets are concerned, and you aren't stuck with having servo adjustment only.

[JatoTheRipper]

Shift linkage looks fine to me. They setup 1/8th scale buggy and truggy linkages like that.

The metal plate on the outside of the plastic panhard mount for reinforcement is awesome. This truck impresses me more each time I see it.

[soze]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

Shift linkage looks fine to me. They setup 1/8th scale buggy and truggy linkages like that.

The metal plate on the outside of the plastic panhard mount for reinforcement is awesome. This truck impresses me more each time I see it.

That explains it. They have a background with 1/8th scale buggies after all.

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by soze

That explains it. They have a background with 1/8th scale buggies after all.

I should have added the word "nitro" to my previous statement, of course.

[hillbillyrc]

Very interesting. Wonder if or when individual parts will be available.

What is the height of the chassis rails?

[Ninomaniac]

In Europe they're widely available and priced lower or near Axial kits. But this looks so much better. The parts quality, I mean.

[mond]

Will aftermarket SCX10 bumpers fit easily enough? I assume it will take most bodies with the right length posts.

[soze]

Steps 16-25 - Axles

Alright, we're getting to the fun part and some "different" ways of doing things.


Two bags for the axles.




So here's the first "different" way of doing things.... axles use 3 piece housings.




Parts for the gears, locker, and a diff gear mount/carriage?




One side of the axle put together






Diff assembly is a little different from others




Diff assembly mounts/carriage




The mount/carriage does make it easy to slide and secure the diff gear in there. Also if you look at the housing, you could easily swap the direction of the gear.






Axle housing bolted up




Front CVDs






Steering knuckles. The steering link mount is a metal plate screwed into the knuckle.




Steering knuckle, CHUB and CVDs all put together




All mounted up to the axle housing




Steering links added




Rear axle put together




Front axle mounted up to chassis




Rear axle mounted up to chassis

[2mtech]

That's some solid looking parts. If you break anything on this one you are truly hardcore. Interesting that they did a separate punkin and diff cover, I've never seen that.

Please continue, Sir

[soze]

Someone on reddit mentioned that these axles would look perfect for a 6x6 or military vehicle setup.

Now that I think about it even more... I know we all scratch our head when it comes to that link mount on the axles... but you know.... that link mount may make it really easy to convert that over to some type of mount for a leaf spring setup. Imagine that!

[soze]

Steps 26-28 - Shocks

So again, we see some different way of doing things....at least as far as crawlers are concerned. Overall the shocks seem like good quality with a minor issue as far as the piston goes. The piston was a little too "sticky/snug" on two of them. I could probably fix it by sanding down the sides a little.

Here is the instruction step showing what goes into building these shocks. I particularly like the bottom end with the flanged washers and o-ring setup. I think it'll help prevent leaks. The part I don't like as much is the piston. The piston is a disc with two cuts at the edges opposite each other rather than piston holes.



Here's the body of the shock. Good material and metal caps.




Ugh, I forgot to take a picture of the piston... but it's basically a disc with the edge chopped off on 2 sides.


1 shock put together. I feel like the springs are way too hard. I'll use them for now as they may compensate for a heavier body since the DC-1 has a body with a bunch of scale details on it.



All 4 shocks put together.



Alright... another different way of doing things. The shocks are mounted like a buggy. They're mounted from the front rather from the side like most crawlers do.




Notice the front to rear mounting at the shock mount and the axle




Same thing in the rear

[2mtech]

I like the shock mount methodology, seems more natural to the action of the shocks.

I also think the edge-relieved pistons may not be such a bad thing, especially if they foresaw holes being blocked by the e-clips and impeding flow, like in the case of stock Ascender shocks, that generally require the outer perimeter to be modified to allow flow.

[soze]

Originally Posted by 2mtech

I like the shock mount methodology, seems more natural to the action of the shocks.

I also think the edge-relieved pistons may not be such a bad thing, especially if they foresaw holes being blocked by the e-clips and impeding flow, like in the case of stock Ascender shocks, that generally require the outer perimeter to be modified to allow flow.

True, the pistons might actually be ok. I just gotta figure out why 2 of them are more sticky. Maybe I didn't trim it well enough? Shouldn't be the case though since the side-cutters shouldn't leave any flash.

I'll have to take them apart later on and check it again.

[Frank211]

That shock mount is different, i wonder what the advantages are ? More sturdier perhaps? Coming out great !