DioptricStraws Mantis (round 2)

[DioptricStraw]

This chassis had me interested right as it came out, i got it and tried it out and decided that it didnt fit my style of driving so i switched back to my BJV4. But it has been nagging me that it isn't getting used and I didnt want to sell it so it went on the back burner until I got all the parts I needed for a second Rig. Now that they are all here I thought I would start a thread for it.

Here is the parts list.

Chassis - BWD Mantis
Links - Custom from Chaotic Crawler (thanks)
Shocks - Traxxas FR 2661/RR 2662, Mini-T reds 25wt
Axles - XR10, with RC4WD gears and cases, VP Knuckles, Avid bearing, hand made tie rod, and some rear lockout weights, and a Rowdy Batt Mount
Servo - Power HD DSG325HV
Motors - Brood 45t
RX - R2104GF
CCBEC
ESC's - Castle AE-2
Batteries - G force 800mah 3s
Wheels - Narrowed DHI's
Tires - Sedonas (shaved) filled with proline 2 stage foams.


I saw in another thread someone put some shocks on the rear of their Mantis. One of the issues I was having was I felt the back end was too loose and articulated too much or too little with the spacers. After seeing this I knew it would solve my issues so I modded some 2662's and slapped them on the back. I find it handles much better for me.



So here it is





Flex


Rear Dampers




Rear Weights (~1.5oz)


Electronics


Chaotic Links




Tie rod


Weight RTR





Comp with it tomorrow, should be able to get some video.

[rjsl59]

wow man thats sick!!!!! where abouts in Ontario are you?

[Krawler23]

Looks good, glad to hear you gave it another shot. I hope you like the new setup, I will be watching.

[DioptricStraw]

Originally Posted by rjsl59

wow man thats sick!!!!! where abouts in Ontario are you?

We are down in Mississauga/Toronto.

[articzap]

Adding the shocks was a neat idea.

[rjsl59]

nice down there, I was working in Burkes Falls this past summer. Hopefully I get up that way again this summer. I have been thinking about the mantis for a bit now and after seeing your build I'm going to be ordering one on monday.

[DioptricStraw]

Originally Posted by rjsl59

nice down there, I was working in Burkes Falls this past summer. Hopefully I get up that way again this summer. I have been thinking about the mantis for a bit now and after seeing your build I'm going to be ordering one on monday.

Well if your ever in this area send me a PM and we can get together at my LHS on their indoor course.

[Shamus A]

i started running rear shocks on my mantis some time ago almost identical setup wierd. i have my mantis dialed now takes forever to fine tune that chassis but when you do wow. i have won 3 comps in a row with it my best scoring a 2 on 10 gate course next best was a 23 i love the mantis.

[DioptricStraw]

Comped it today. 3 10 gate courses, a 16 then 5 then a 4. Pretty good i think, i have some more tuning and driving to do. The first thing i did when i got home was change to some boss claws and add one of the chassis braces back in. More testing during lunch breaks and next weekend to come

[Chaotic Crawlers]

Glad to see you got it running.

I've always wondered if it was possible to 4 link the rear of the mantis and do away with the torsion all together?
The break over on those rigs is incredible.

Looking forward to a video

[HARDKNOCKZ]

Very cool bro. Whats the setup you're runnin on the rear shocks? Internally sprung or droop?

Im diggin those rear weights as well. The one thing I noticed and would change is flipping your servo and all but eliminating that drag link from in front of the axle. I actually run 2 Revo ends on a small piece of all thread. I was able to thread em far enough to where they completely butted up back to back.

Nice build so far man and congrats on the comp.

J.D.

[norcrawler]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Crawlers

Glad to see you got it running.

I've always wondered if it was possible to 4 link the rear of the mantis and do away with the torsion all together?
The break over on those rigs is incredible.

Looking forward to a video

4 linked mantis front and rear.

and good chioce on the rear shocks. i ran mine like that for a bit before i eventually hacked it all off. whole different rig now.

[DioptricStraw]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Crawlers

Glad to see you got it running.

I've always wondered if it was possible to 4 link the rear of the mantis and do away with the torsion all together?
The break over on those rigs is incredible.

Looking forward to a video

3rd Crawling Comp @ GTAHobbies - YouTube
At about 17 min. in there is some video of my truck. There are a couple of 4-link mantis around, one day i might. But for now i like the torsion. Your links were a huge hit yesterday.

Originally Posted by HARDKNOCKZ

Very cool bro. Whats the setup you're runnin on the rear shocks? Internally sprung or droop?

Im diggin those rear weights as well. The one thing I noticed and would change is flipping your servo and all but eliminating that drag link from in front of the axle. I actually run 2 Revo ends on a small piece of all thread. I was able to thread em far enough to where they completely butted up back to back.

Nice build so far man and congrats on the comp.

J.D.

In the rear shocks its just some 25wt oil, they are there to help tame the rear "wiggle" and provide some limiting. The servo is flipped so the horn is closest to the tire already, i need a jato end to get rid of the threads in the middle. Check the second last pic in the first post

[HARDKNOCKZ]

Gotcha. Guess if I was payin attention...I would've seen your servo and might have noticed that your chassis is still a torsion setup so the shocks make more sense.