RCCrawler Forums

TheROOSTER · 04-29-2008, 07:23 AM

Started an X-Trial build yesterday that I won at the ECC. I want to thank Kevin at the crawler store for donating the X-Trail and David at extreme rc hobbies for hooking me up with the AX-10. For those of you that don't know about the X-Trail, it is a scale chassis kit that bolts up to an AX-10. It uses all the stock hardware, basically just replacing the sideplates.
My goal is a trail runner Jeep that can go anywhere.
Before I got started this is what I had to deal with.... Anytime there is a new box that shows up at the house my cat has to check it out.

All the pieces. The first thing to do was remove the green from all the Axial parts.

I will be using Imex Red Rock tires with the stock AX-10 wheels. I know they are not scale and not the best on rocks but I don't care. I've used them before and they work awesome on dirt, mud and pine straw. I also swapped the inner and outer rock rings for a better look.

Axles assembled. I'm using High Lift shocks with internal springs. The X-Trail also allows the use of the stock Axial shocks, but since they are so long they have to be set up in droop. The X-Trail hardware kit also includes springs to go inside the shocks to set them up for droop. IMO a scaler shouldn't have droop, hence the reason for the short High Lift shocks.

A view of the X-Trail mounted. Notice how it bolts right up to the Axial skid and tranny.

A roller in about 3 hours.

First try at mounting the shocks. Suspension action works great this way but the front tires rub on the lower links when they are steered left and right. Tommorow I will mount the lowers inside the sideplates to remedy.

A look at how the body will sit. HPI Rubicon.

TheROOSTER · 04-29-2008, 07:23 AM

This bad boy is going to be waterproof. Installed the Futaba receiver, Tamiya ESC and Novak regulator in an old Futaba case. Once everything is working I'll silicone it. The steering servo is a Hobbico CS-150 that produces 193 oz. at 6v and has metal gears. I sealed it with Liquid electrical tape and installed an O-ring around the output shaft.

Tommorow I will make some brackets to mount the radio box and battery tray and hopefully have it drivable. More to come......

RollinOver · 04-29-2008, 08:09 AM

Gotta love it when the cats come to help.

RollinOver · 04-29-2008, 08:09 AM

Your rig looks good by the way!!

Mriswith · 04-29-2008, 08:30 AM

Look into a new trans mount like the Stage 3 Racing that mount the lower links towards the center of the skid. The double triangulation will help with wheel clearence and geometry. Combine that with some of the 30 degree bent links and that little rig will surprise you.

Nacho · 04-29-2008, 09:49 AM

Could ya post a pic of the servo..and how you dipped it? Ive been wanting to waterproof mine and am just not sure how to go about it.Thanks,and it looks like it will be a great build

JBHardwear · 04-29-2008, 10:29 AM

Looks great man, May I suggest some more bracing in the chassis

Nova's Ark · 04-29-2008, 11:42 AM

Looks like a very nice build

. That's a good idea and clean way to use the Futaba box. What color are you planning to paint it?

TheROOSTER · 04-29-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nachos02ss

Could ya post a pic of the servo..and how you dipped it? Ive been wanting to waterproof mine and am just not sure how to go about it.Thanks,and it looks like it will be a great build

It's called Liquid tape and I got it at Home Depot. It comes with a brush to just paint it on.

TheROOSTER · 04-29-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mriswith

Look into a new trans mount like the Stage 3 Racing that mount the lower links towards the center of the skid. The double triangulation will help with wheel clearence and geometry. Combine that with some of the 30 degree bent links and that little rig will surprise you.

Thanks. A new mount will be in the near future.

TheROOSTER · 04-29-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBHardwear

Looks great man, May I suggest some more bracing in the chassis

Thanks. Yes I took care of the bracing today.

TheROOSTER · 04-29-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nova's Ark

Looks like a very nice build

. That's a good idea and clean way to use the Futaba box. What color are you planning to paint it?

I'm thinking maybe a burnt orange. Or yellow like my 1:1 CJ.

MaxxCrawler02 · 04-29-2008, 10:35 PM

its lookin great man!! pretty much the same way i built my truck

goobs · 04-29-2008, 10:55 PM

[

[/quote]

they look good on my pti scaler

TheROOSTER · 04-30-2008, 06:38 AM

Thanks for all the compliments. I got some more done today.

Took the skid back off and got the dremel out to do some sanding. Sanded off the first 2 holes at each corner. This allows the lower links to go inside the sideplates.

No more clearance problems!

I also completely changed the shock mounts and added some braces to stiffen the chassis.

Made this plate out of some scrap aluminum to mount the radio box on.

Its almost drivable! Next I'll need to make a battery mount and mount the body.

jmbones · 04-30-2008, 06:54 AM

What is the length of the hi-lift shocks you are using?

TheROOSTER · 05-02-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmbones

What is the length of the hi-lift shocks you are using?

They are 88cm / 3.5 inches from center of one hole to center of the other.

TheROOSTER · 05-02-2008, 08:02 PM

Gotten quite a bit done in the last two days. Used the axial battery tray, just made some aluminum L-brackets to mount it with.

Mounted some HPI body posts with some similar L-brackets.

Trimmed the body and test mounted it.

Masked it off and painted the roof, roll bar, fender flares and bumpers black.

Couldn't find a burnt orange color paint at the local HS but I found one close to what I wanted. Pactra Competition Orange.

Since the IMEX foam are big and stiff I modified them while the paint was drying. Narrowed, tapered and star cut.

TADA!!

This was a very fun and easy build. Future additions will be more scale details. First off will be a spare tire and front skid bumper. Action pics and video soon!! Comments and suggestions welcome.

TheROOSTER · 05-05-2008, 09:38 PM

Action shots!

It performs great. Even though I used a 27 turn motor it still crawls great with all the wheel speed I'll ever need.

TheROOSTER · 05-05-2008, 09:49 PM

Made a front stinger today. 3/16" brake line brazed with Sylphos. Before I got started I angled the frame in about 1/4" on each side since the big tires rubbed.

Formed the stinger.

Mounted with an extra chassis brace.

Added some supports.

Added more supports and braces and painted black.

Mounted body and made some cutouts in the bumper.

Next will be a rear bumper with hitch and spare tire mount.

04-29-2008, 07:23 AM	#1
TheROOSTER Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Acworth Posts: 265	AX-10 with X-Trail conversion build. UPDATED Started an X-Trial build yesterday that I won at the ECC. I want to thank Kevin at the crawler store for donating the X-Trail and David at extreme rc hobbies for hooking me up with the AX-10. For those of you that don't know about the X-Trail, it is a scale chassis kit that bolts up to an AX-10. It uses all the stock hardware, basically just replacing the sideplates. My goal is a trail runner Jeep that can go anywhere. Before I got started this is what I had to deal with.... Anytime there is a new box that shows up at the house my cat has to check it out. All the pieces. The first thing to do was remove the green from all the Axial parts. I will be using Imex Red Rock tires with the stock AX-10 wheels. I know they are not scale and not the best on rocks but I don't care. I've used them before and they work awesome on dirt, mud and pine straw. I also swapped the inner and outer rock rings for a better look. Axles assembled. I'm using High Lift shocks with internal springs. The X-Trail also allows the use of the stock Axial shocks, but since they are so long they have to be set up in droop. The X-Trail hardware kit also includes springs to go inside the shocks to set them up for droop. IMO a scaler shouldn't have droop, hence the reason for the short High Lift shocks. A view of the X-Trail mounted. Notice how it bolts right up to the Axial skid and tranny. A roller in about 3 hours. First try at mounting the shocks. Suspension action works great this way but the front tires rub on the lower links when they are steered left and right. Tommorow I will mount the lowers inside the sideplates to remedy. A look at how the body will sit. HPI Rubicon. Last edited by TheROOSTER; 09-07-2010 at 10:58 AM.

04-29-2008, 07:23 AM	#2
TheROOSTER Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Acworth Posts: 265	This bad boy is going to be waterproof. Installed the Futaba receiver, Tamiya ESC and Novak regulator in an old Futaba case. Once everything is working I'll silicone it. The steering servo is a Hobbico CS-150 that produces 193 oz. at 6v and has metal gears. I sealed it with Liquid electrical tape and installed an O-ring around the output shaft. Tommorow I will make some brackets to mount the radio box and battery tray and hopefully have it drivable. More to come...... Last edited by TheROOSTER; 09-07-2010 at 10:59 AM.

04-29-2008, 11:42 AM	#8
Nova's Ark Tire&Foam Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: C.I. Compound, Tyler, Texas Posts: 5,601	Looks like a very nice build. That's a good idea and clean way to use the Futaba box. What color are you planning to paint it?

04-30-2008, 06:38 AM	#15
TheROOSTER Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Acworth Posts: 265	Thanks for all the compliments. I got some more done today. Took the skid back off and got the dremel out to do some sanding. Sanded off the first 2 holes at each corner. This allows the lower links to go inside the sideplates. No more clearance problems! I also completely changed the shock mounts and added some braces to stiffen the chassis. Made this plate out of some scrap aluminum to mount the radio box on. Its almost drivable! Next I'll need to make a battery mount and mount the body. Last edited by TheROOSTER; 09-07-2010 at 11:00 AM.

05-02-2008, 08:02 PM	#18
TheROOSTER Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Acworth Posts: 265	Gotten quite a bit done in the last two days. Used the axial battery tray, just made some aluminum L-brackets to mount it with. Mounted some HPI body posts with some similar L-brackets. Trimmed the body and test mounted it. Masked it off and painted the roof, roll bar, fender flares and bumpers black. Couldn't find a burnt orange color paint at the local HS but I found one close to what I wanted. Pactra Competition Orange. Since the IMEX foam are big and stiff I modified them while the paint was drying. Narrowed, tapered and star cut. TADA!! This was a very fun and easy build. Future additions will be more scale details. First off will be a spare tire and front skid bumper. Action pics and video soon!! Comments and suggestions welcome. Last edited by TheROOSTER; 09-07-2010 at 11:01 AM.

04-29-2008, 08:09 AM	#3
RollinOver Rock Stacker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mississauga, ONT Posts: 81	Gotta love it when the cats come to help.

04-29-2008, 08:30 AM	#5
Mriswith Rock Crawler Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mesa Posts: 602	Look into a new trans mount like the Stage 3 Racing that mount the lower links towards the center of the skid. The double triangulation will help with wheel clearence and geometry. Combine that with some of the 30 degree bent links and that little rig will surprise you.

04-29-2008, 09:49 AM	#6
Nacho Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: St. Louis Posts: 210	Could ya post a pic of the servo..and how you dipped it? Ive been wanting to waterproof mine and am just not sure how to go about it.Thanks,and it looks like it will be a great build

04-29-2008, 10:29 AM	#7
JBHardwear Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas Posts: 879	Looks great man, May I suggest some more bracing in the chassis

04-29-2008, 10:35 PM	#13
MaxxCrawler02 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mt. Enterprise Posts: 153	its lookin great man!! pretty much the same way i built my truck

04-29-2008, 10:55 PM	#14
goobs RCC Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: pasadena, tx Posts: 1,108	[ [/quote] they look good on my pti scaler

04-30-2008, 06:54 AM	#16
jmbones Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Posts: 110	What is the length of the hi-lift shocks you are using?

05-05-2008, 09:38 PM	#19
TheROOSTER Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Acworth Posts: 265	Action shots! It performs great. Even though I used a 27 turn motor it still crawls great with all the wheel speed I'll ever need. Last edited by TheROOSTER; 09-07-2010 at 11:02 AM.

05-05-2008, 09:49 PM	#20
TheROOSTER Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Acworth Posts: 265	Made a front stinger today. 3/16" brake line brazed with Sylphos. Before I got started I angled the frame in about 1/4" on each side since the big tires rubbed. Formed the stinger. Mounted with an extra chassis brace. Added some supports. Added more supports and braces and painted black. Mounted body and made some cutouts in the bumper. Next will be a rear bumper with hitch and spare tire mount. Last edited by TheROOSTER; 09-07-2010 at 11:02 AM.

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Thread: AX-10 with X-Trail conversion build.