My son's GC1 AX-10

[Nova's Ark]

My son's interest and skill in crawling seems to keep growing. He also wants to get involved in building more. He wants to try competing in 2.2 so we felt it was time to upgrade his rig. His original build thread is here:
My son's AX-10

We decided upon a GC1. He wanted to have the same chassis as the current 2.2 national champ. I PM'd GateKeeper and bought this:


I ordered the GC1 with the skid undrilled. I wasn't sure if we were going to use his Axial trans or a RC4WD R2D. We decided to stick with the Axial and will be picking up the Visionary Fabrication dig unit for it. I drilled the skid to mount the trans as far forward as possible to leave room for the VF dig:


You still need a few items to complete a GC1 build:
TLT link mounts:


You'll need Traxxas #5318 revo push rods, 102mm length for upper and lower links:


With the skid drilled it was time to attach the trans to it:


Next was the TVP's:


On came the lower links:


Then the link plates to the axles:


And this is how far he got before his bed time:


I had his blessing to go ahead and finish it up because we were planning to go out crawling the next day. After my son went to bed, I figured the rest of his GC1 build would be a simple bolt together. Once I attached the upper and lower links along with the Traxxas Big bore shocks we were using to his axles, it was clear it was going to be anything but that. The pinion angles were way off. No problem, I moved the TLT link mounts to the second set of holes more inboard on the link plate. Wrong. That didn't work either. The second set of holes are drilled at an angle and the suspension was bound up.

So to the computer and RCC I went. I searched the AX-10 section and TLT section for every GC1 build to read up and see what was going on. As it has been stated before on RCC; If you give 20 people the same chassis, they will build it 20 different ways.

Problem numero uno for us was the 100mm shock length of the Traxxas big bores for E / T maxx. The GC1 chassis for an AX-10 axle needed longer shocks. Also, if I wanted the upper TLT link mounts in the front holes on the GC1 link plates, I was going to need longer upper links. If I used longer upper links, they were going to hit the upper link plate and not articulate. The other problem in all this was pinion angles. Frustrated I went to bed to ponder and think about what to do next.

[Nova's Ark]

After some time to think and having talked to Pariah (a local RCC member) I came up with some ideas.

1. Move the TLT link mount to the outside holes
2. Trim the upper link plate for clearance
3. Swap out one side of the 5318 revo end links for jato (which are longer)
4. Modify the traxxas big bore shock caps to get the needed length
5. High clearance the lower links (Not really a problem, but might as well do it now)

Those were the modifications needed for my son's GC1. I also custom fitted two 6 cell sub c packs for it. It hasn't been on the rocks yet. Just some testing in our back yard on our obstacle course. Once this rig has dig installed, it should be very capable.

Side shot


Almost 3 inches of belly clearance. We could get more if we move the shocks to the lower mount holes on the chassis, but then we raise center of gravity. We are still testing, so this could change.


Modified T/E Maxx receiver box to house and protect the ESC.


Side shot


6 cell custom fitted sub c battery pack. I am trying to keep the weight as low as possible and as far forward as possible. The GC1 doesn't offer to many battery options and neither does the Novak Rooster Crawler. I would like to upgrade my son to a Mamba Max, CC BEC and 3S lipo (that is what I use on my rigs) but I am concerned he will break parts then. We'll see how he does with this and go from there.


The lowest sub c is sitting slightly below the upper link plate and right on top of the pinion output housing on the axle.


Taped up and ready to hit the rocks.


5 pounds 13 ounces is what it weighs right now. Too heavy to be lite, not heavy enough to be heavy. I think we will be adding weight to it.


This is pretty much maxed out on the flex. Not a whole lot, but just enough. Too much flex is a bad thing.


That a 40 series XTM thorn rim with Losi tires to give you an idea of size.

[Nova's Ark]

Heres the current specs:
GC1 Chassis
AX-10 axles
AX-10 trans
Axiom 55 turn
Novak Rooster Crawler
Tower Pro MG946 steering servo
Futaba 3PM-FM TX &RX
6 cell sub C's
Axial Beadlocks (weighted with stick on lead weight)
Losi Rock Claws
ACE Doughnuts

We are still tuning the suspension. We started with Losi yellow springs in the rear with Losi whites up front. The yellows were to much and went to whites in the rear. We also changed out the front shock oil. This link configuration is very nice. Articulation is so smooth. It is very easy and smooth to drive. It's unlike any of the other chassis designs we have owned.

Not sure what body is going on it yet. His Betty Body needs paint and he still hasn't really decided on a color. He wants another bug body. We'll see.

[papasnachez]

Great build thread. Like the details given about problems ya'll encountered. Good to see young interest in a "slow" sport.

[TEDROCKZ]

Jam up post, planning on a GC chassis myself. Also like to see kids get hands on experience. (Ralph Earnhardt quote " Can,t put in in you cant take it out").

[O.C.D.]

Great build! Above all great that you involve your son in this hobby. When I was a little older than him I was mowing lawns and shoveling driveways to get into the hobby. My Dad never helped me more than ordering things and taking me to the track. When my son is old enough I will be like this with him. I am glad you have the desire to show him these things.

Sorry to digress but I wanted to say that. I think it is really important that you two share this. rig looks amazing too. He has better specks than most of us do!!! lol

[dezfan]

Great looking rig Eddie!

I really envy you right now! I wish still had the same desire for crawling as you seem to possess at this time.

I have had my GC-1 for months and between the weather, life in general, and my schedule, I've only used it once.

I will reference your build when I get around to working further on mine.

Can you get a better pic of the link mounts after your mod?

[Nova's Ark]

Originally Posted by papasnachez

Great build thread. Like the details given about problems ya'll encountered. Good to see young interest in a "slow" sport.

Thanks for the kind words. His mom and I had bought him a RC18T a year ago. Once I got into crawling, he wanted to also. So I sold his RC18T and we bought him the AX-10 kit. He has never looked back and he enjoys crawling much more. Slow and over things is much more fun to him.

Originally Posted by TEDROCKZ

Jam up post, planning on a GC chassis myself. Also like to see kids get hands on experience. (Ralph Earnhardt quote " Can,t put in in you cant take it out").

I never had that hands on experience taught to me. I either taught myself or it was neighbors teaching me when I was growing up. I will not let that happen to my kids.

Originally Posted by Doc J33P

Great build! Above all great that you involve your son in this hobby. When I was a little older than him I was mowing lawns and shoveling driveways to get into the hobby. My Dad never helped me more than ordering things and taking me to the track. When my son is old enough I will be like this with him. I am glad you have the desire to show him these things.

Sorry to digress but I wanted to say that. I think it is really important that you two share this. rig looks amazing too. He has better specks than most of us do!!! lol

I totally relate to you. It was my newspaper route that got me my first black foot and then I moved onto RC10's. I have so much fun teaching him news things. Out on the rocks though, some times he teaches me. It's amazing the driving lines he sees. Thanks for the kind words guys.

[Nova's Ark]

Originally Posted by dezfan

Great looking rig Eddie!

I really envy you right now! I wish still had the same desire for crawling as you seem to possess at this time.

I have had my GC-1 for months and between the weather, life in general, and my schedule, I've only used it once.

I will reference your build when I get around to working further on mine.

Can you get a better pic of the link mounts after your mod?

Wow, thanks dezfan!

Here is better pic of the link plates:

This is a stock GC1 upper link plate. (This one is on a TLT GC1 I have that I will get around to building once The Grunt my 2.2 pimp cane clod, my pimp cane clod super and my High Lift scaler are finished. )


This is the GC1 upper link plate on the AX-10 axle:


This is just to reference the size difference between a revo rod end and a jato:
The Jato is on top and the revo is below.

[dezfan]

Thank's man, I may follow your lead!

[ZJ Jarod]

looks really good

[crawldad91]

im new here and new to crawling!not new to rc's!!i just picked up a ax10 kit yesterday along with a jr650m , tcs split cell battery and front axle battery mount for 3/3 packs, and a tcs delrin skid plate .already have a micro dsm reciever that will fit well in it ,controlled by my m8 radio. my next buy will be the novak rooster esc and motor. in a few short hours today i built the axles shocks and all suspension parts and attached them to the axle! lookin good soo far

[pariah]

Looks great Eddie! You guys have been busy. Sorry I missed your call earlier but I was out on the town. I'm already sick of dating again and it's only been like two weeks. I guess I need to get focused on my crawlers and try to get them running again. After smoking a brand new crawlmaster on my Hustler then breaking the pinion on my front axle right after replacing the rear one for the same thing, I guess I've been a little discouraged. Guess the brushless is coming back out of my 2.2 also.

[Nova's Ark]

The torque from brushless motors is amazing. It sucks that you keep breaking stuff. You gotta at least fix the 2.2 so we can go crawl this weekend. The comp is only four weeks away.

We have tuned his suspension some more. Changed shock location and inverted all of them. Also swapped springs and shock oils. I think it's ready to hit the rocks. All it needs now is a body and mounts. I am very excited to watch him drive this at Children's Park. I am going to wait and see how he does "as is" before we add any more weight to it.

[kawika]

Originally Posted by Nova's Ark

Wow, thanks dezfan!

Here is better pic of the link plates:

This is a stock GC1 upper link plate. (This one is on a TLT GC1 I have that I will get around to building once The Grunt my 2.2 pimp cane clod, my pimp cane clod super and my High Lift scaler are finished. )


This is the GC1 upper link plate on the AX-10 axle:


This is just to reference the size difference between a revo rod end and a jato:
The Jato is on top and the revo is below.

The axle plates that came with my GC-1 are a little the different. The three holes that are used to mount the suspension stays are in a straight line. I'm using the position closest to the center of the vehicle without any binding problems. Maybe Austin changed the axle plates recently.

[Nova's Ark]

I am not sure Kawika. To be fair to Gatekeeper, this was a blemished chassis and link plate set that I bought from him. In order to keep cost down, I bought a blemished version from him for my son.

One of the benefits of the AX-10 axles, is the clocked axle c's. When I used the 102mm upper links, my pinion angle was level (or 90*) with the ground. I wanted the pinion angle pointing upwards.

So for my son's chassis, I needed longer links on top to rotate the axle so the pinion was pointing upwards. I have not seen another GC1 AX-10 in person, so I don't know how other peoples chassis look or what their pinion angle is. For that matter, in my area, I am the only person that has this chassis design (one TLT GC1 mine and this AX-10 GC1 my sons).

One of the problems that appeared when the axle was rotated, was that it also rotated the link plate and caused the link plate to hit the upper link. That is why I removed material from the link plate for clearance.

[Nova's Ark]

Well my son decided on a color(s) for his Betty body. Outlaw black on top and competition orange on bottom. We put the stickers on it today but these pictures are from the previous day. I am going to bead blast the rock rings and get the green off.






Blinged out with a set of RC4WD super narrow beadlocks, ACE doughnuts, and M2K M2 compound mashers.

(Flash on)


It came out pretty good considering I have painted a lexan body since I was 13. That was 18 years ago. Wow, life goes by fast.

[Nova's Ark]

Body off picture with the suspension tuned:



This is his bug body for bashing and competition. We have a comp at the end of the month (TXRCRCA) and it will be his first. Still waiting on the VF dig, but he'll compete with or with out the dig. I gave my son some sticker sheets and let him have at it. Here's what he came up with:

[dezfan]

Looks fantastic, working on a Scorpion for my boy right now too!

[Slow_Joe]

Great build thread! Do you have the part number for the Jato rod end?
I am working on an AX-10 GC-1 build now.
Thanks