Chromed Out Wraith

[alexchen86]

Well this has got to be one of my slowest near stock builds ever. It's been about 2 months and she's not even a roller yet!

No idea how I want to build it...as a rock racer or crawler. I have too many red/black rigs so this one is black/chrome scheme.

Specs/running gear:
-Holmes BRXL w/CC BEC
-Holmes 35T Pro Custom (2 magnet can, 4.5mm web, 9mmcom, laydown brushes, med springs) - CrawlerMafia's Sportsman Specs
-Hitec 7950TH (waterproofed) @ 7.4V 486oz/in
-Robinson Gen3 56T Slipper w/10t Pinion 32p
-Robinson Geared Tranny w/Lucas Red n Tacky #2
-HR Wraith Aluminum Black Transmission Housing
-MIP Shafts with Traxxas Pins
-Vanquish KMC XD Reskimed on Pitbulls 2.2 with CI Closed Cells
-OG Tire and wheel setup: Mayhem 7's Chrome w/Black Rings on 2.2 TSL's
-CI DD 6.0" Medium Outers Closed Cells Up Front // Firm Outers Closed Cells Rear
-DMG Polished Aluminum Panels and Roof
-Crawler Innovations Aluminum Rear Fender Panel Filler
-Tamiya/Axial/HPI/Traxxas/Losi/AE/RPP/VP/R2J Decals from Various Kits
-Spazstix Chromed Hood now destroyed replaced with handmade opening aluminum hood hand polished
-Flip Top Hood Mod Traxxas Rustler Hood Pins
-Front Battery Plate Mod
-Losi 4" Shocks w/40wt Oil 2 Hole Pistons All Around On Whites F/R
-Flipped Lower Shock Mounts on Axles
-Rear Black Aluminum Droop Brackets for Improved Rear Shock Angles and Rear Pinion Angle. Front seems okay for now. Leveled out the ride height too.
-Vanquish Titanium Steering drag Link/Tie Rod
-R2J Steel Uppers Revo Rod Ends
-Axial Aluminum XR10 Knuckles/Zero Ackerman C Hubs
-Axial Simple LED Board (4) 5mm White Front (2) 5mm Red Rear
-Axial Exo Rear Light Housing Fitted to Cage Custom (4) 5mm Yellow
-Custom Fitted Partial Remains of the Chromed DMG Roof onto Rear Deck
-Custom Fitted and Painted Scale Blown Big Block with Pipes
-Custom Fitted Leftover Tamiya Tundra HighLift Dualed out Mufflers
-Aluminum Differential Protectors (free gift from a buddy)

The front plate was a PITA when installing the interior. A lot of cutting had to be done and folding but I finally got it in place. Also cut off the lower cross bar to fit a 3s lipo. The plate also blocks your stock servo location from full vertical compression. I ended up dremeling a chunk off and moving the RX box back a bit.

Onto the pics:

[Underground]

I wish my shit looked as good as that when I didnt know what I was doing.

[alexchen86]

Well got a pretty bad blister and stabbed my finger with a hobby knife lol. Then toasted my Inferno GT2 motor trying to tune it...

Decided to wrench some more on electrics...I officially HATE nitro once again.

Anyways got everything mounted minus the hood which I think I need to back it with another coat since Spazstix chrome tends to flake on me before.

So FINALLY she's a runner. I took some shrink wrap 1" and electrical taped the CC BEC then double zip tied it. Heated the ends shut as much as I could. Then used some white lithium on one end and cut up a zip loc bag and tied another zip tie. On the electrical end I just used Liquid Tape.

Still plenty of room on the front end to mount a 1550 3s lipo. Now this beast is completely waterproof!

Problem: my front end keeps bottoming out on the radio tray. I already moved the shock mount to the front position. Keep in mind I have the lower mount flipped. Should I just change springs?

Maybe Losi whites since I'm running Losi golds at the moment with preload 3/4 way down? Or Losi Yellows?

Losi Part #
A-5144 2.75" Spring 1.4 Rate (Gold)
A-5146 2.75" Spring 1.6 Rate (Gray)
A-5147 2.75" Spring 1.8 Rate (White)
A-5148 2.75" Spring 2.0 Rate (Yellow)

Onto the pics:

Waterproofed and light buckets sealed as well!

[cagedcbr]

OCD?? I like it alot, of course I have OCD too

[alexchen86]

Well it was raining all day today so I finished up the rig.

LHS didn't have any water based backing for Spazstix chrome so I decided to not back it. There are spots that the chrome spray didn't completely cover as I used an old can that had about 1/4 left.

I found some hinge deals laying around from an old light kit 5/16" diameter and then went to the hardware store for some 8/32" machine screws and bolts. Had to cut one of the screw down since I hit would potentially hit the lipo.

Decaled the whole rig with random sponsors I had from other kits Tamiya, HPI, Losi, and some Wraith stuff.






What do yall think?

[Soulo747]

Nice, clean build. Not "overdone" and I like it. Nice electronics loadout too.

[alexchen86]

Man I absolutely LOVE this rig!

It's a mix of high speed, scale, and trail running. The crappy Tamiya silver can was a huge disappointment. Being brand new it might need some time to break in. But I'm definitely need to either drop in the 55T Novak on 4s or burn up the Tamiya can first and wait for Holmes to restock the 13T CM's!

Here's some pics on my test area. Front end really needs a lot more tuning. The rear is perfect. I ordered up 4 Losi whites and 4 Losi yellows.

Going to do some testing when they arrive.

Foams could definitely be better they are faaar too squishy.

What size CI foams should I order for the Ripsaws?

[OKJeepin]

That is one sharp Wraith!
I'd hate to roll it and scratch those panels, but then again, it would just add some character to it. Awesome build, love it!

[crazee horse]

ive just been physically sick with jealousy spot on. love it bro.

[Solitaire]

Nicely done and very sharp looking. Some nice chrome wheel nut covers would finish off those wheel centers perfectly. Let us know what you think of the spring replacements.

[YYCADM]

looks great! How do you like the CAC beadlocks with the hubs flipped like that?

[Sheepdawg23wm]

I thought about doing this chrome with mine but thought it would be to blinding in the sun so went with carbon fiber instead. Truck looks great though, and you should be loving those shocks and springs, i know i do.

[JeremyH]

Nice work Alex

[bmf24]

love the looks of this rig. its almost too pretty. for not knowing what your doing, it looks like you know what your doing.

[jhedsy]

Looks alot like my wraith, I used shiny metal 25g stainless steel panels on mine. The hood was a b*tch to make tho. Are you panels plastic or metal?


It sucks driving it in the sun cause it tends to blind you lol

[DRCrawlGood]

Looking good for not knowing what your doing....

[transambill]

I'm running the same shocks with the white kit springs and only the rear shock mounts flipped. Lowered it pretty good and it crawls well also.
Lovein your wraith man, do ya have to were sunglasses when your out wheelin? lol

[alexchen86]

Originally Posted by YYCADM

looks great! How do you like the CAC beadlocks with the hubs flipped like that?

I just like the look of a deeper offset. Haven't tried flipping them the other way. So far so good though!

Originally Posted by transambill

I'm running the same shocks with the white kit springs and only the rear shock mounts flipped. Lowered it pretty good and it crawls well also.
Lovein your wraith man, do ya have to were sunglasses when your out wheelin? lol

I'll definitely flip the front mounts back to stock position when my Losi whites get here and try that out. What upper shock mount position are you running for your rear with the whites?

[R/CMARK]

Looks great! the hood blends well with the those killer pannels. I just made an aluminum roof pannel and am debating on polishing it. Is it really bright in the sun light? Or enough to distact you?

[transambill]

Originally Posted by alexchen86

I'll definitely flip the front mounts back to stock position when my Losi whites get here and try that out. What upper shock mount position are you running for your rear with the whites?

Farthest hole forward. Stayed with the same shock position but went from the stock Losi whites to the Axial grey kit springs. The whites just seemd to stiff.