BigStu's Viper II almost a Berg..

[bigstu]

Figured it was about time to let the cat out of the bag...

I've had this idea to go back to a bodied rig for a while now.
I love the simplicity of bodyless rigs and have been running my XR10 and many others that way for a while now.
So I figured it was time to try something different.
She isn't going to be a sub-4lb rig. But am hoping to get in the 4.5 - 5.0 lb range.

Specs,

Viper II chassis, with the cab cut off...
Some left over XR10 body mounts, that need to be trimmed.
Old School XR10 hardline body.
Some AL Fighter axles - Hey they have berg gears in there.
Used some team associated axle hexes from the SC10 4x4. These work NICE on the 6mm axles.
Super 300's...
Set of brood 35t motors.
FXRs to make it move and a BLS152 that was donated from the XR10, after some new cases and gears were installed.
Big bores, with some mini-t springs, need some of jeepindoug's cups to finish off the shocks.
Links are just mock up, going to run it on the rocks a little and see how it handles and then go full Ti. I know I am going to need to re-work the front lowers because the tire hits them pretty hard at full lock.

As soon as the mill is up and running, the rims are going to get lightened and am working on ideas for a new set of tires. Right now I should be able to run them without any knuckle weight and keep her planted pretty good. Just thinking I may need to do some work to soften the side walls, as these are pretty stiff. Enjoy...

[klabeaume]

Ti fighters?

[bigstu]

No. They are the aluminum fighters.
You know what they say about friends in low places..

[ROWDY RACING]

Originally Posted by klabeaume

Ti fighters?

AL fighters

[klabeaume]

Originally Posted by bigstu

No. They are the aluminum fighters.
You know what they say about friends in low places..

Still very cool, I didn't know you had these.

[ROWDY RACING]

Those were Mustangs right?

[DickyT]

I can't wait to see this develop Nice thinking out of the box Stu!

Have you considered drawing up and cutting plates that include the shock mounts? You could lose some of that hardware (weight) that you have used to make it all work, and lower the COG.

If you want, I will create a template for you.

[mustangboy_347]

Nice looking build so far .... will you have it ready for state champs

[GEARSCIENCE]

Looks good man!

[bigstu]

Thank you everyone. I can't give away all my secrets Kevin. Bet you didn't know I had mustang's old bergs for a while too..
Yes, these were mustang's axles.
He took VERY good care of them so they didn't need much to get them ready to stick under the chassis.
Don't know if it will be ready to comp at states, but am sure I will have it there and take it out on the rocks for a few.
Still need to get the links finished up and then most likely going to have to send them to dlux to get some Ti links made.
I'd also like to do something about the electronics, to get the weight down some more. Thinking I might even try to lighten up the servo case a little.
Just for grins I took the wheels off, and tossed the electronics, some wire, a 850 mah 3s pack, and a few loose nuts and screws. She was a shade over 3 lbs. No joke guys. Put the wheels and tires on, and she is well over 5 lbs.
Thanks DickyT. Yes, my plans include something a little lighter up front for the shocks. I like the placement of the front shocks, and don't want to loose that. Now I can get the calipers out and after a couple runs to do some tuning, I will sketch up something that will fit the chassis and hold the shocks. Right now I'm trying to decide if it should be aluminum, delrin, or something else....
Also have some other ideas on how to make it lighter, but I can't give away all my secrets....

[Farmer]

Very cool man; can't wait to see it on the rocks Looks like we will be seeing a few more bodied rigs in the club. I doubt my rig will be done in time for the state championship
Later,
Farmer

[Krawler Konceptz]

And here's the kustom skins

[Farmer]

Sweet
Later,
Farmer

[mustangboy_347]

those look very nice and colorful for sure ...nice job KK

[DickyT]

Awesome skins Michelle!

How is the chassis coming Stu? I never heard back so I assume you either liked my template idea, or laughed your ass off at me as you deleted the file

[binaryterror]

So you made a UGC chassis not a UGC anymore...hmm

Look forward to seeing this and more progress.

[bigstu]

Thank you guys.. Michelle did an awesome job on the skins. Can't thank KK enough.
I was thinking all blue and carbon fiber. She keeps dragging me back to the orange and black. LOL

DickyT, the chassis is still in process. Your drawings gave me a bunch of ideas on how to mount the shocks, etc.
I put it all together and placed the electronics in their correct places and I have an almost perfect 50/50 balance on weight.
I need to get the Ti links for it, and then get it on the rocks to see what it does. Then I'll use those sketches, and hopefully the cnc mill, to cut some new pieces. Right now I am trying to decide if I want something that is multiple pieces and held together with carbon fiber rods or soemthing that is milled from a piece of delrin. There are some other high strength plastics out there, that machine like steel, that have really caught my eye too. Slippery as teflon and wear like iron. Hmmmmm

She's still a UGC chassis. It just isn't a Viper any more. Well, it doesn't have the cab of a viper is a better way to put it.
The skid, sides, and just about everything else on the chassis is UGC. Juan has always supported people modifying or changing their products to try and make them better. DickyT and C*H*U*D have been a great help and I can't thank them enough.

Might have it at states. Keeping my fingers crossed..

[TSK]

Cool setup

[DickyT]

Originally Posted by bigstu

T
She's still a UGC chassis. It just isn't a Viper any more. Well, it doesn't have the cab of a viper is a better way to put it.
The skid, sides, and just about everything else on the chassis is UGC. Juan has always supported people modifying or changing their products to try and make them better.

[bigstu]

Between working on the mill, another scaler, keeping the XR10 on the rocks, a Wraith that has more scx and XR10 parts on it than wraith parts, I figure I should give this thing some time.

My buddy Rick over at Sniper Fab bent some Ti links from Lunsford, Chris the battery man did a super smash on the FXRs and I did some shaving on a set of Sedonas. Note to self: Don't try to use a 4" grinder with a flap wheel on tires, when you are tired. You end up with holes.

So, here she is guys.
With the battery she is at 4 lbs 9 oz, minus the battery she is 4 lbs 6 oz...
I didn't think I would have a sub 4 lb rig. But if I keep going, take some weight out of the rims, and take some weight out of the front shock mount, I might get there. And don't worry Michelle, those new skins are getting ready to go on a brand new hardline body. As soon as all the bugs are worked out, they will be on and she will be looking VERY sharp..







She has some steering...

And the mandatory flex shot.. Need some softer springs to get all of the flex out of her though.

HOLES.. F%C# ME.....