Another ''WraiFOFF''

[Percymon]

Man I 'hate' this forum - no sooner do I rekindle my 'reading' interest here and suddenly I've built a hopped up Tamiya CR-01, am currently building a second (almost stock) CR-01 with all the leftover parts , a High Lift HiLux awaits my build time , and now I have an Axial Wraith kit on route !

Talk about 'late to the party' on all counts, but at least there is plenty of experience on the Wraith to learn from.

I don’t know what it is but in the last 6 weeks I seem to have migrated from buggies to off roaders - a change is as good as a rest I suppose !

All the great builds here (more so the FOFF section) convinced me I NEEDED a Wraith , something to run and not worry too much about its condition (I'm a bit OCD about my other models); so i sold off a couple of Tamiya avante buggies and..

My build list to date..

> Wraith kit (better pricing than RTRs in Europe, and the inclusion of the alloy lower links and universal shafts is a plus - wheels/R35 tyres can be sold to recoup some funds )
> Pro-line 2.8" Sand Paw tyres (you can guess where this one is heading !)
> Pro-line Desperado black 2.8" wheels
> Vanquish Product Stage 1 upgrade kit
> Vanquish Products titanium steering tie rods and drag link
> Vanquish Products bearing caps
> Hot Racing metal tranny gears
> Duratrax Evader 32p 56T spur gear
> 32p 14T steel pinion gear
> Alloy wheels hexes
> Alloy diff case covers
> Alloy servo mount plate and servo mounts
> Gmade Team Zero 104mm shocks (these will be limited with a couple of o rings to bring them to 100mm)
> BEC and suitable servo

My wallet is now empty for a while - as much as I'd like the Vanquish titanium link set the kit items will have to do initially, unless someone can recommend some reasonably priced upper / lower links ?

I probably should also upgrade the driveshafts to MIP items, but lets see how long it takes to twist the kit items .

Anything else i should / must have initially ??

Still to decide on motor/ESC combo - I have a Novak GTB ESC (only capable to 2S ) and 13.5T motor spare, plus other motors through 10.5T, 9T and lower I also have a Traxxas XL-5 brushed ESC spare so could couple that up to a brushed motor maybe

A few other tried and tested modes will be employed (front battery mount, flipping the lower link mounts, hinge the hood etc etc), and I'll probably add simple leds to the light holders and add a light bar under the front roof line.

Great forum - wealth of info, but far too many things to tempt me to spend money !

Hopefully the kit will arrive Wednesday, the upgrades will take 2 weeks as they are mainly coming from the US and no doubt I'll get hit for import duty of 20% and $15 handling fees too )

[Percymon]

Kit arrived yesterday - about a third of the items are redundant so will be selling those off soon to recoup some funds.

All other items are on route - USA and HK sellers, so maybe, just maybe, next week most parts will arrive.

I've read all the Wraith motor thread (91 pages) and got completely confused as to the sort of ball park system I need.

I think I'm going to go with a 550 motor (albeit at 55mm can length it appears more halfway between 540 and 550 to my eyes) at somewhere around 4000kV - run it on 2S initially. If its too slow i might try upping the pinion to 16/56 from 14/56 , or failing that I'll try 3S and gear down to 12/56

[cmlooner33]

blue monkey rc for the links. other wraith goodies there as well.

motor / I like my MMP with 4000 KV Pro 4. Very smooth in sensored mode.

CM

[Percymon]

Originally Posted by cmlooner33

blue monkey rc for the links. other wraith goodies there as well.

motor / I like my MMP with 4000 KV Pro 4. Very smooth in sensored mode.

CM

thanks for the recommendation

unfortunatley they are still $100 shipped to me, without the rod ends, so they end up the same money as the Vanquish items.

As I've already got the alloy lower arms (kit version) I'm trying to hold off buying any links until something breaks. At least the links are easy to swap out at a later date, unlike some of the other upgrades.

[Percymon]

Vanquish stage 1 kit, bearing caps and steering rods arrived yesterday - great service (and reasonable shipping costs) from Amainhobbies.

Hot Racing metal tranny gears in my hands too

Still waiting on shocks, motor and some other small items before I get started.

I also noticed RCMart are now stocking Vanquish products - prices no different to buyign direct but shipping from HongKong is waaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than anywhere else - might have to order that link set after all

Oh and I ordered the Junfac driveshafts - I know most people recommend the MIP items, but the Junfacs are a little lighter.

[T I N Y]

Have you looked at R2J stainless link kits? It's like $68.00 or something close to that...I've ran them on a scx10 and a wraith..nice links for the price...

[Percymon]

Originally Posted by T I N Y

Have you looked at R2J stainless link kits? It's like $68.00 or something close to that...I've ran them on a scx10 and a wraith..nice links for the price...

Thanks for the suggestion - I went and had a look, they looked very good and even messaged Shon.

Sadly by the time they are shipped to the UK, and the inevitable import duty (I get hit 8 times out of 10 with deliveries from the USA, about 1 in 30 from the Far East) they were going to be more expensive than Vanquish titanium items via RCMart.

I've ordered the VP items, so all my links will be VP

[Percymon]

Still waiting on some parts but not far off starting my build now..

Delivered..

> Wraith kit
> Pro-line 2.8" Sand Paw tyres
> Pro-line Desperado black 2.8" wheels - see comment below
> Vanquish Product Stage 1 upgrade kit
> Vanquish Products titanium steering tie rods and drag link
> Vanquish Products bearing caps
> Hot Racing metal tranny gears
> Duratrax Evader 32p 56T spur gear
> 32p 12T and 14T steel pinion gears
> 5mm wider Alloy wheels hexes
> Alloy diff case covers
> Alloy servo mount plate and servo mounts
> Gmade Team Zero 104mm shocks
> Junfac J90029 steel driveshafts
> Turnigy 1258TG servo - not everyones choice but it works well in my TRF801XT
> Turnigy 5A (8A burst UBEC)
> HPI 86014 bevel gear set for front diff
> Traxxas TRX3727A battery hold down plate and posts
> 550 Class 3800kV brushless motor
> HPI Motiv ESC (its a spare so something to start with !)


Awaiting delivery..
Flying Dutchman front electronics tray
Vanquish Products Titanium link kit


Now reference the wheels - I bought the 12mm hex version that my supplier had in stock, part number PL2730-03, but I'm concerned that I have the wrong offset and ultimately the tyres are going to be too close to the links / hubs etc. I measured the distance from the hex hub face to the inner edge of the wheel rim and its ca 31mm. I've managed to establish that PL2729 wheel rims give 15mm wider stance (not sure whether thats each wheel, or total across the axle). I know I could use wheel wideners/extender, but I'd rather not introduce more parts (and potential slop) in the wheel axle area.

Could anyone who's used any of Prolines 2.8 wheels clarify which offset / part number they used please

[mfishr]

This is what I put on my Wraith with no issues with the offset.
2 x Pro-Line 30 Series Desperado 2.8" Rear Nitro Wheels (2) (Black) (PRO2729-03)

[Percymon]

Originally Posted by mfishr

This is what I put on my Wraith with no issues with the offset.
2 x Pro-Line 30 Series Desperado 2.8" Rear Nitro Wheels (2) (Black) (PRO2729-03)

Many thanks for the info - looks like i have the wrong ones

[Percymon]

Well I've started the build , so need to get a few progress pics up later today.

I've now added the VP Titanium links to the list thanks to $5 shipping from RCMart

[Percymon]

Stock Axial locker for the rear diff..




HPI 86014 bevel gears for the front diff, greased with Tamiya Anti wear for a bit of resistance..



stock Axial pinion and ring gears (for now)..

0.2mm of shim added behind the pinion gear to improve the mesh..



sticking with bearings for now - i test fitted oilite bushings but wasn't happy with the loose fit to the pinion shaft.

Vanquish bearing caps..



and some dreadful quality Topcad diff covers - these will be swapped out when funds allow !



Vanquish Stage 1 kit - C hubs and knuckles for the front axle..



...and rear lock-outs..




alloy lower link mounts added, flipped upside down..



axles finished..

[Percymon]

Gmade Team Zero shocks, built using Associated green slime and Tamiya TRF X seal o rings..

[Percymon]

Front and rear axles coming along..





VP steering links mocked up ..

[Percymon]

Got more done at the weekend - transfer case built with HR racing steel gears, Duratrax 32dp 56T spur and Axial 12T pinion. Motor is a 550 class 4 pole brushless (non sensored) of 3800kV rating - no idea what it will be like but for $30 it was worth a punt



I had to Dremel the skid plate ever so slightly to get the motor to clear (longer can length). All hooked up..




Interior painted and built, cage almost complete..

[MattTheGenus]

Looking good, that motor is OK, but a castle 1415 is a major step up in power.

[Percymon]

Originally Posted by MattTheGenus

Looking good, that motor is OK, but a castle 1415 is a major step up in power.

Indeed it would but the 1415 isn't designed for 2S lipo, 3S would be great, 4S might be too much and i'm not sure there are many 4S packs that will fit the electronics tray.

My motor appears to be similar to the Castle 1410 series (I am under no illusion that its as good, but at $30 rather than $170 locally it had to be worth a punt )

[Percymon]

Still waiting on some longer motor wires, ordered 9/29 but only shipped 10/6 and on plane 10/8 - looks like I'll be waiting another week or so; bit of a pain since virtually everything else is done but can't bolt it together until i finalise the ESC > motor wiring route :(

[Percymon]

Spoke too soon - motor wires arrived yesterday ! Allowed me to get the chassis and cage bolted together and make more progress

Rear shocks bolted on and braced with Axial 55m alloy post - perfect fit across the cage..




Mounted the front chocks at the rear most mount point - ca 5mm lower ride height than the front screw hole..

[Phatz]

Nice!!!!