Dravpnir's 2014 "Standard sized" Berg

[Dravpnir]

I will not have that much time for crawling next season, so I have decided to build me a "standard sized" Berg for 2014. That way I will have always have something to drive and can play/design/manufacture my other Berg with no rush or pressure.

With standard size I mean it have the same measurements as stock V1 axles so I can pick and choose between many different options and vendors. It also helps if I have to replace something when it gets broken.

Two main questions had to be answered although...

I started to choose among the different gear boxes available and liked the looks of Bulldog gear boxes from ClassiCutCustoms. So I contacted Barry and I ended up with a bit more than just his gear boxes...
I must say that Barry is an awesome vendor. His service and products is not just great, it is not many that gives you continuing updates how the order is processing. Also he dug up some old drawings of a product I wanted and made it for me!

The other big decision was which motor I should use. This time I wanted real power, so my old small pullers would not cut it. I choose between Brood and Holmes and ended up with Brood. The real deal beaker for me was that I got response from Eddie within 12 h and I still have not heard anything from Holmes.

So lets get back on track... today I received two big packages, so it is time to start my build thread



What could those to contain

First one came with a warning



and it was true...



The other package contained a lot more parts



I also salvaged some parts from earlier builds


Dlux Bully style front drive shafts with enlarge tangs.


Axial c-hubs, Dlux machined Bully knuckles and home brewed weight holders for cermented carbide cylinders.


Traxxas Big Bore shocks with lathe bodies, rod end modded caps mini-T springs and JeepinDoug mini-T spring cups. Thanks to the help and advice from Erik Dlux I will also use MIP valves in the shocks. Thanks Erik!


And of course the sexy RC Bros lightweight gears


I plan the build to end up like below. The only thing I am waiting for right now is the rear axle shafts, the wheels and to deiced which lipos to run.


Front Axle:
* ClassiCutCustoms Bulldog Berg gear Cases
* ClassiCutCustoms Bulldog Berg delrin axle tubes
* RC Bros 7075 aluminum lightweight lockers
* RC Bros 4340 steel lightweight gears
* Berg V1 small second and third gears
* Robinson Racing 14T pinions
* Dlux Bully-style universals (modded with a bigger tang)
* Dlux machined Bully knuckles
* Axial AX10 aluminum C hubs
* ClassiCutCustoms ”Bigron” behind the axle electronic mount
* Homebrewed over the axle battery mount
* Homebrewed front axle weight holder

Rear Axle:
* ClassiCutCustoms Bulldog Berg gear Cases
* ClassiCutCustoms Bulldog Berg delrin axle tubes
* RC Bros 7075 aluminum lightweight lockers
* RC Bros 4340 steel lightweight gears
* Berg V1 small second and third gears
* Robinson Racing 14T pinions
* CBRB Fab Titanium Berg lightweight rear axle shafts


Chassis/ Suspension:
* ClassiCutCustoms Bulldog Pitbull 2.2 Pro
* ClassiCutCustoms Titanium lower and upper links
* Dlux delrin link sliders
* Traxxas 3.5” Big Bores, lathe downed with cap mod, pink Mini-T springs, JeepinDoug Mini-T cups and MIP valves
* Wicked Monkey Design skin

Electronics:
* Brood Conflux, cobolt magnets, ST-HHK 30t Armature
* Hitec 7950
* Dual Sidewinder micros
* CC Bec
* Sanwa RX-471 receiver, decased and modded with 90 degrees pins
* Lipos to be decided

Tires/wheels:
* 5th Dimension Negative Space Titanium glue on wheels
* VP SLW hubs
* Homebrewed LaaLaa skinny Rovers
* Crawler Innovations Double Deuce 5.25” comp cut inner foams with soft outers and tuning rings


But, now it is time to head back to the building, so to be continued...

[CrawlrKing]

Another impressive build coming along !

[Dravpnir]

Originally Posted by CrawlrKing

Another impressive build coming along !

Thanks!

I did not get that much done tonight. I mostly played around with the parts getting a feeling of the quality and how things fits together. So far I am very pleased!

The only weight goal I have is to keep the rotating mass to a minimum, other than that it will weight what it weights.

But still the rear axle will end up at around 350 g (12.4 oz) and the front axle at around 500 g (17.6 oz). Not that bad, considering my motors weight just under 200 g (7.1 oz) each.

[ClassiCutCustoms]

Looking forward to seeing this come together. I can't believe that little box went halfway around the world in under a week..... Only Santa moves faster than that! Lol I hope it comes together nicely for you.

[Dravpnir]

Originally Posted by ClassiCutCustoms

Looking forward to seeing this come together. I can't believe that little box went halfway around the world in under a week..... Only Santa moves faster than that! Lol I hope it comes together nicely for you.

Hehe, yeah I cannot complain at all on the shipping speed

One last thing for tonight. I almost forgot that I also got the finished skin design from Mike at Wicked Monkey Design today. Mike is also a truly awesome vendor here on rccrawler.

[Wicked Monkey]

Another Wicked Pitbull. Shaping up to be another one of the best looking dogs in the wild.

[McTwist]

Looks great!

What links are you using?

[Dravpnir]

Originally Posted by McTwist

Looks great!

What links are you using?

Thanks and what a nice timing on that question

Tonight I put the chassis together and test mounted the links and shocks. As seen in the pictures below I will be using the ClassiCutCustoms titanium links. The lower links are 3/16" and the upper links are 1/8"






And just one more picture of the gears before I grease them up.




Then I started on the electronics

Decased receiver (Sanwa RX-471/Airtronics 92014) with modded 90 degrees pins.



And a little "BliB" adapter that connects to the receiver, BEC and servo.



All mounted on the electronics holder. Not the nicest or cleanest smash job, but it will do for now.



Hopefully the electronics will not be in the way and safe from harm

[bigron]

That is a very nice list of parts..... the build looks sweet and you will be very pleased once it is all put together. Its also good to see my old battery mount/electronics Barry has put it back in the line up.

[BliB]

To see this build it almost make me wanna buy a berg!

[Dravpnir]

Originally Posted by bigron

That is a very nice list of parts..... the build looks sweet and you will be very pleased once it is all put together. Its also good to see my old battery mount/electronics Barry has put it back in the line up.

Thanks

Actually, I found your vendor thread for the mount when I researched which parts I would order and got a bit sad when I realised that you did not make it anymore. Then when I talked to Barry he mentioned that it was your mill that he had bought and with it he also got your old drawings and files. So he was able to dig it up from the archives and make it for me. I really like its design and looks, good job on that one

Originally Posted by BliB

To see this build it almost make me wanna buy a berg!

I say like Nike - Just do it!

[SkaldidDog]

Man these days "blacking out" a Berg no longer requires the extra blacking out step. Looking good.

J

[Dravpnir]

Originally Posted by SkaldidDog

Man these days "blacking out" a Berg no longer requires the extra blacking out step. Looking good.

J

Thanks

Got some really stunning looking wheels the other day. They looks so tiny and brittle, but feels really stiff and strong

I must also say that Travis is a very easy vendor to work with and really goes that extra mile to keep his customers happy.



Last night I also managed to get the Berg to a "almost" roller state. I am just missing the rear axle shafts at the moment. It is getting real close now to being able to make the first test run. Come on postal office, hurry up with those shafts!

[ClassiCutCustoms]

Stunning...... I love it. Those wheels are gorgeous and I see you have a good solution for the front lowers..... Well done.

[Dravpnir]

Thanks

I had to switch around the front lower links, so the bend are closer to the chassis and then twist the bend a bit outwards to clear the heatsinks on the motor.

While I wait for the shafts I am gonna try to rearrange the electronics a bit to see if I can get it a bit better.

[david511]

berg you will be very light

[Dravpnir]

Originally Posted by david511

berg you will be very light

I actually just made a rough estimate on the RTR weight and it will end up around 1600 g (3.5 lbs) RTR without knuckle weights. Not that bad considering my motors alone weights 400 g (14.2 oz) together

I also discovered a way to make the Negative Space wheels even more gorgeous. I added a carbon fibre SLW spacer ring from Hulksta. It covers the hub and gives a much cleaner look, at least in my opinion.

[Dravpnir]

I was perfectly happy yesterday with the addition of that CF ring to the wheels. Then, someone, I do not say it was Travis... but it was... just had to mentioned what HARDKNOCKZ done with the wheels...

Sigh... so today I just had to do the same, because it was that damn good

Brought out the files (dremels are for sissys ) and got to work



Almost invisible mounted on the wheels, awesome!



Even more awesome mounted on the crawler



The wheel weights 99 g (3.5 oz) altogether with the hub and steel hardware.

[TSK]

I have to admit, that is the best looking way to mount them up

Originally Posted by Dravpnir

I was perfectly happy yesterday with the addition of that CF ring to the wheels. Then, someone, I do not say it was Travis... but it was... just had to mentioned what HARDKNOCKZ done with the wheels...

Sigh... so today I just had to do the same, because it was that damn good

Brought out the files (dremels are for sissys ) and got to work



Almost invisible mounted on the wheels, awesome!



Even more awesome mounted on the crawler



The wheel weights 99 g (3.5 oz) altogether with the hub and steel hardware.

[Dravpnir]

The weekend is saved!