A Super Special Bomber Build by SVT

[svt923]

Consecutive day update alert!

It took an enormous effort and an all nighter but I managed to put wheels and stickers on the B1B. The enormous effort involved searching my garage for the stash of stickers and it was more of an "all night equivalent when you factor in 2 kids destroying your house after working all day" which means I was in bed by 10:30. Never have kids, they are the worst; unless you already have kids then they are the greatest treasure and give your life meaning. Make sense? Welcome to parenting.

Now that life lessons are out of the way, time for tiny truck pictures:









One of the big things I wanted from my B1B is to have it look as different as possible from my other Bomber. They are completely different vehicles and the appearance should reflect that as well. That is where the full side Carterfab panels come in, they change the look significantly. The DMG hood and no spare tire help change the look to something pretty different from this:



I still need a sticker for the hood but I didn't have anything big enough in the many, many half used sticker sheets scattered throughout. I'll find something eventually. The front of the DMG hood could be about a 1/2 inch longer to cover the hinges more, it bothers me a little.

The wheels are Robby Gordon V2s from The Scale Shop which are the greatest deal in the history of 2.2 wheels. I don't really know how they sell an American made machined aluminum wheel for only a few dollars more than cast aluminum ones made in a Chinese sweatshop, I'll assume magical elves are involved. Gearhead black scale hardware holds on the outer ring because scale. Proline KR2 are stuffed with CI single stage XL 2.2 inserts. All together, it looks badass.



Also, I have a new best friend. His name is the scratch and dent section on Tower Hobbies. Thanks to my new friend, I got this new (well technically it is an open box but the protective plastic was still on it) Futaba 4PV and 3 receivers for less than the cost of the older 4PLS. I'll be swapping the Airtronics receiver in the B1B for a Futaba so it can be run at the same time as it's Bomber brother.



I should be getting some driving in this weekend so expect some outdoor pics and possible an action shot or 2 in the future. Maybe there will even be a video, the future is full of possibilities. If you are reading this from somewhere that is currently freezing, covered in snow, or both, take comfort in the fact it will be 70 and sunny this weekend in NC.

[svt923]

Good news everyone!

I drove my B1B yesterday and it was glorious.

Beginning of the day:


End of the day:


Need more? Ok.

The biggest thing I noticed is the suspension is damn near perfect already. The driving location was rutted out badly from tire tracks and the B1B would just float over the rough terrain, even at full throttle. Jumping was equally as impressive, it flies level and 3 foot drops were soaked up without a hint of bounce or chassis slap.

How does this compare to a Yeti? There is a fun experiment you can try yourself. Go to your local hardware store, grab a 5 lb sledgehammer, and throw it down an aisle (seriously, go try this). That is pretty much a Yeti in a nutshell.

The 3500kv Holmes motor rips pretty good on 3S but never got much more than warm. The ESC ran well but it clearly needs some further adjustment, reverse throttle is very abrupt and the punch control settings need some help.

Downsides of the first B1B outing mainly have to do with the swaybar. Everything was going great until I notice the Vanquish swaybar arm is being drug behind the truck. One of the screw holes in the arm is stripped out so I yanked it off and kept driving. I wish I could get my hands on another UC Fab swaybar set, they are so much better than the Vanquish.

I also tried out these high clearance front universals after a few bad landings but performance suffered and I called it a day. Looks like Dlux will be getting some more of my money.



In the end, I left the Gopro at home and forgot to take pictures while bending a front driveshaft and breaking a couple of hood hinges through an entire 5000mah pack of high speed bashing, jumping, and hill climbing. It was a good day.

The B1B has earned some well deserve rest and is hanging out with it's brother.

[notajerryskid]

Originally Posted by svt923

Consecutive day update alert!

Ok. that is just Bomber porn.

[svt923]

This is a Vanquish swaybar arm.



Who cares?

As you may remember, I said one of my arms had a stripped screw hole so it kept falling off. I shot a FB message to Harley basically asking if I could buy the swaybar arms separately and he tells me to send an email to VP support explaining the problem and that I talked to him. I did and the next day I get an email back saying my swaybar arm has shipped. 2 days later, this free replacement swaybar arm arrived at my house to replace the arm that got stripped from my over-tightening.

Bravo VP, bravo.

The Dlux front shafts will have to wait a little longer as I have exhausted my RC budget for the month (a new 1/8 buggy will do that but oh well). So, the B1B must sit a little longer but soon it will be a tenant of the newly expanded wrenching space in my garage.

[MAC FAB]

Thanks SVT for a great looking rig to admire and a very, very entertaining read. This is motivation to get one going for me, but I want 4 wheel indy. Its just down the line in the sequence of builds. The other problem is I'm torn between buying the plastic $$$ Bomber cage versus building one. Those RG wheels are dope, I will be definitely looking into those as well. One question however, probably a stupid one. The bent front axle-what gives with that? Are the plunge lengths so critical that plastic arm flex bends the axle because they bottom out in the cups? Looking for a little education here, history doesn't need to repeat itself.

[svt923]

Originally Posted by MAC FAB

Thanks SVT for a great looking rig to admire and a very, very entertaining read. This is motivation to get one going for me, but I want 4 wheel indy. Its just down the line in the sequence of builds. The other problem is I'm torn between buying the plastic $$$ Bomber cage versus building one. Those RG wheels are dope, I will be definitely looking into those as well. One question however, probably a stupid one. The bent front axle-what gives with that? Are the plunge lengths so critical that plastic arm flex bends the axle because they bottom out in the cups? Looking for a little education here, history doesn't need to repeat itself.

The front end of my B1B was sourced from an old Yeti kit which included 94 mm universals. These universals would bottom out in the diff cup before the shocks would bottom out so they bent often. Axial then released revised universals that were 2 mm shorter to prevent this problem.

I modified my 94 mm universals by grinding a little more than a mm off the end of the bone so it could press into the cup further, this allowed the shocks to bottom out before the driveshaft. I didn't take into account flex in the suspension arms so that bit of flex on a bottomed out driveshaft probably cause the driveshaft failure. Well, that and several spectacularly bad landings. Maybe the 92 mm universals wouldn't have bent or maybe I'm just incredibly talented at mangling things.

[MAC FAB]

What kind of mph are you seeing with the current set up? Bad landings: meaning you drove it like you stole it and have carnage or you can go faster than the suspension is capable of working resulting in rubber side up?

[svt923]

Originally Posted by MAC FAB

What kind of mph are you seeing with the current set up? Bad landings: meaning you drove it like you stole it and have carnage or you can go faster than the suspension is capable of working resulting in rubber side up?

I forget the exact gearing but its good for a little over 20 mph.

The driveshaft bent while I was jumping it off a 2-3 ft pile of dirt. The suspension soaked up all the decent landings like they were nothing, the lawn dart like landings were another story.

The truck is quite capable at speed, full speed passes over bumpy terrain doesn't phase it and it never felt loose or squirrely at speed. It will traction roll if you yank the wheel hard while going too fast but that is not unexpected. I think it can handle more speed but that either means dropping money for a new motor or 4s packs that fit the battery tray for any significant boost. Oh what a world it is where a scale truck needs more speed than a 3500kv Puller Pro on 3S can provide.

[calcagno45]

That's a great looking B1b. a little jealous of that scratch and dent find though.

Those Proline KR2's look so much better than the Axial KR2's.

[MAC FAB]

Is this rig capable of going 30+ mph with the twin turbo'd nitro burning big block in it or do you think that exceeds the rig's high speed abilities through the rough stuff? Is 20 ish mph considered fast for one of these? Crawler or U4 rig? Ok, one final question, what do you think the weight bias is without the spare? 50/50 or front heavy, hence the lawn darts? Picking your brain, can you tell??? LOL

[tapped-out]

Why build a IFS bomber? Isn't it basically an Yeti?

[SCREAMER]

No it isn't and this question has been answered in detail several times before.

[svt923]

Originally Posted by calcagno45

Those Proline KR2's look so much better than the Axial KR2's.

Agreed, that's why I bought them.

Originally Posted by MAC FAB

Is this rig capable of going 30+ mph with the twin turbo'd nitro burning big block in it or do you think that exceeds the rig's high speed abilities through the rough stuff? Is 20 ish mph considered fast for one of these? Crawler or U4 rig? Ok, one final question, what do you think the weight bias is without the spare? 50/50 or front heavy, hence the lawn darts? Picking your brain, can you tell??? LOL

Hard to say where that point where speed exceeds chassis capability is. I have driven a Wraith with a 3500kv motor on 4s that topped out in the upper 20s and you could only point it in a direction and hold on. Handling and bump handling were non-existant but suspension tuning was not really done. My old Yeti could do mid 20s but felt lazy, slow, and clumsy. The B1B feels more nimble, responsive, and quicker than my Yeti ever did so I would guess upper 20s would be doable but over 30 is questionable. I don't know what the average U4 car tops our at but I would love to find out.

As for weight bias, I'll have to break out the scale when I get home. Nose down landings usually have more to do with mid-air throttle control than weight.

Originally Posted by tapped-out

Why build a IFS bomber? Isn't it basically an Yeti?

You're a comp guy right?

Why did Dlux build their superlight axles when they are basically a clod axle? (sarcasm font)

Seriously, the B1B feels quicker and more nimble at speed than the Yeti but crawls infinitely better due to much less surface area under the chassis to drag on the ground. Plus it looks better and that is reason enough to do anything, right?

[slowmethinks]

Any updates on your B1B?

[svt923]

Originally Posted by slowmethinks

Any updates on your B1B?

Let's see......

Yeah, still on that same shelf from 8 months ago. I'm a terrible B1B owner.

I did manage to secure a new UC Fab swaybar and fresh universals that still need to be installed. That is somewhere around #50 on the RC Things to Do list.

[svt923]

Anyone remember this bad boy?

Yeah, me neither.

Until I discovered the greatest thing ever: side by side rock drag racing!

https://youtu.be/Be13_-RcQX0

I'll work on getting it embedded later, just watch it.

This experience was so awesome that it was decided that side by side rock racing will be included as part of the Pitbull Off-road Jamboree at Uwharrie in October.

Since the B1B absolutely destroys uneven terrain at speed, I decided it would make the perfect weapon in the battle of flying down a rock covered course.

Time to get to work.

I guess making it drivable again would be a good start, you can look back a few posts to the impressively bend front universal.



Fresh 92mm Axial universals were added and a Vanquish Yeti bulkhead was installed as the front end was being torn apart anyway. The larger pinion bearing was a must for reasons. While I was at it, I decided to cut off the front chassis part that served as the Bomber's bumper. It interfered with the Exo bumper and was just unnecessary.

Out back, the original Vanquish swaybar was replaced with a V2 setup. The swaybar arms are infinitely more secure on the V2.



While I was at it, the bent SSD full width axles were replaced by a set of Creeper Bob titanium axles.

Since the front of the chassis was cutoff, the original hood doesn't work anymore. I dropped on a stock Bomber hood for now and JSterret graciously sent me the file to print one of his B1B hood clips to hold it on (which I still haven't done but whatever). The stock hood with the cut chassis gives it a really different look.



I love the way this sits with the trailing arms level at ride height but there is a ton of uptravel available.



The low height is needed because this thing is going to haul ass.

Why is that you say? Because of the Holmes Puller Pro 4500kv that got installed!

I forgot to take a picture but just imagine this but it says 4500kv



On 3S, it should do roughly 650,000 MPH. This can only be a good thing, especially down a rock covered course.

There is your update, running video to come when I get the hood actually mounted.

[Voodoobrew]

Originally Posted by svt923

Anyone remember this bad boy?



Yeah, me neither.



Until I discovered the greatest thing ever: side by side rock drag racing!



https://youtu.be/Be13_-RcQX0



I'll work on getting it embedded later, just watch it.



This experience was so awesome that it was decided that side by side rock racing will be included as part of the Pitbull Off-road Jamboree at Uwharrie in October.



Since the B1B absolutely destroys uneven terrain at speed, I decided it would make the perfect weapon in the battle of flying down a rock covered course.



Time to get to work.



I guess making it drivable again would be a good start, you can look back a few posts to the impressively bend front universal.







Fresh 92mm Axial universals were added and a Vanquish Yeti bulkhead was installed as the front end was being torn apart anyway. The larger pinion bearing was a must for reasons. While I was at it, I decided to cut off the front chassis part that served as the Bomber's bumper. It interfered with the Exo bumper and was just unnecessary.



Out back, the original Vanquish swaybar was replaced with a V2 setup. The swaybar arms are infinitely more secure on the V2.







While I was at it, the bent SSD full width axles were replaced by a set of Creeper Bob titanium axles.



Since the front of the chassis was cutoff, the original hood doesn't work anymore. I dropped on a stock Bomber hood for now and JSterret graciously sent me the file to print one of his B1B hood clips to hold it on (which I still haven't done but whatever). The stock hood with the cut chassis gives it a really different look.







I love the way this sits with the trailing arms level at ride height but there is a ton of uptravel available.







The low height is needed because this thing is going to haul ass.



Why is that you say? Because of the Holmes Puller Pro 4500kv that got installed!



I forgot to take a picture but just imagine this but it says 4500kv







On 3S, it should do roughly 650,000 MPH. This can only be a good thing, especially down a rock covered course.



There is your update, running video to come when I get the hood actually mounted.

Lmao, that music...
Man that looks so fun, yet scary expensive.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[svt923]

Originally Posted by Voodoobrew

Lmao, that music...
Man that looks so fun, yet scary expensive.

Amazingly nothing broke, not even on the stock RTRs.

[bikepilot]

I'm not sure how I missed this thread, but all caught up now!!! too cool I like it!! Having a yeti and a bomber too, a mix of them?? Yes I think so!!! future build?? Maybe!!! Very funny cool video too, love the music!!!

[svt923]

Originally Posted by bikepilot

I'm not sure how I missed this thread, but all caught up now!!! too cool I like it!! Having a yeti and a bomber too, a mix of them?? Yes I think so!!! future build?? Maybe!!! Very funny cool video too, love the music!!!

Totally worth cannibalizing the Yeti for building one of these, way better at everything than a Yeti and looks better too. Win-win.