Z4, Z2 & COP on the rocks... er concrete chunks

[zBigBadWolf]

Finally got out to test some of my recent mods on two of my crawlers along with my friend Kevin's (kevinglongisland) highly modified Zilla2 crawler.

There were some pleasant surprises, dissapointments and downright carnage.

The concrete chunks are hard on the trucks. Jagged edges are totally unforgiving and dig gouges out of the aluminum.

Good things
--------------------------
Kevins modified Z2 chassied Clod did VERY well. His mounting method for the Savage shocks offered him articulation and stability.

My Z4 did better than expected and the cut Clod stockers performed reasonably well once they got chewed up a little. I am going to cut some chunks outta there for more lateral stability.

4 wheel steering... today I learned that having 4WS is important in some places. Even more important I learned that 4ws on a seperate channel is better than syncronized steering.

Disappointments
----------------------------
My shock setup on the Clod-O-Pint offer plenty of articulation but the geometry was horrible. AND, once my limiting strap broke, as you'll see, turned COP into a disfigured inchworm. Back to the drawing board on this one!

The JPS bumpers on the Z4 turned out to be a huge PITA as they got hung up frequently. So I scratched up $90 worth of bumpers and cursed them while doing it.

Carnage
----------------------------
My prototype body mounts for the Z4 broke on the second roll off the unforgiving concrete.

Kevins threaded rod links bent like pretzels several times

Good servos can prove damaging. Several times I ripped the steering links right off. The stock ballends couldn't handle the pressure. Time to put the Kyoshos on there.

On to the pictures:
-------------------------------------
Trucks await the thrashing they know is coming.

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-01.jpg

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-04.JPG

Ooooo... looks nasty
http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-02.jpg

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-03.JPG

Clod-O-Pint suffers a debilitating breakage and turns into something that looks like a deformed inchworm.
http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-05.JPG

Kevins Z2 navigates some rough stuff
http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-06.JPG

The Z4 performing reasonably well although my busted prototype mounts (used plastic to test before I went and made aluminum mounts) fell short in the durability dept.
http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-07.JPG

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-08.JPG

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-09.JPG

Kevins Zilla demonstrates articulation
http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/crawl_022004-10.JPG

VIDEOS

Here are some vids... I use MP4 format (quicktime) as it's nice and small. I've included a few other formats of some for those that can't do the MP4s.

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/cop_climb1.MP4

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/cop_fall2.AVI

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/cop_fall2.MP4

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/kev_crawl1.MOV

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/kev_crawl2.MOV

http://www.richardf.com/RC/02_2004-crawling/kev_crawl3.MP4

[skyjacker_rc_club]

looks sweat i aways like seeing crawlers in action. it seems that i build too much drive too little. :lol:

[jugg_crawler]

Looks great! That looks like a perfect course but you guys keep forgetting bodies. :?

jugg_crawler

[Phantez]

I never drive without a body. I just dont like the way it looks, plus, with out it on my emaxx, it just means trouble if i roll. SCRUNCH goes the EVX

[zBigBadWolf]

Guys... did any of you read the part of the post where my experimental body mounts broke??? I even added it to one of the pictures. I almost always run with a body except when there is no way to mount it.

[jugg_crawler]

Yeah I red that but Kevin didn't have any at any of the time. I didn't mean to be rude.

jugg_crawler

[firstumustcrawl]

is that walker st wow i live like a bloack from that lol

[zBigBadWolf]

jugg.. don't sweat it dude. I am usually the one picking on people for not having a body. :D

first... let's do it dude! We live very close.

[firstumustcrawl]

hell yeh im finished with the gecko so we just need to get a good nice day and we can go out ther with kev tooo it will be so damn awesome I/M me teamlosidork
*rubber side down*
first

[kevinlongisland]

is that walker st wow i live like a bloack from that lol

yup, thats walker. about 5 minutes from me (i'm right next to massapequa high school) and about 10 mimutes for zbigbadwolf.

(PS greetings from atlanta georgia. my f'in flight outa here on friday was full and i got bumped off, and saturday too, and i'm not even trying tonight. i was told tuesday looks good, so i guess i'm stuck here till then. rented a car today so i could at least get around. still SUCKS though!!!!!!!)

[firstumustcrawl]

haha i go to the MHS thats so cool we must meat up one day and hope yah get back

[kevinlongisland]

i'll give you a buzz when i get back and we can do some crawling

[firstumustcrawl]

yeh definetly