New R1 build
 

Just picked up my R1 kit from my LHS yesterday. Little bit of a snafu as the distributor first sent it to Utah rather than my Oregon store.

Gonna be my first foray into 4ws and dig. Funny, those bits arrived before my kit did.

I plan on posting some photos as I go. The manual seems pretty good so far.

Stuck on my DX5 Rugged for controller and just threw in an inexpensive GoolRC 35T and ESC from Amazon, thinking I'll upgrade that in the future. I'd also like to use the stock tires.

What do you guys run for foams? Not exactly wild about the fact the foams aren't connected in some sort of circle inside the tire.

Might try the dual cantilever shock setup later, just for kicks you know.

Re: New R1 build
 

https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...29322ca4_c.jpg

Kit plus some upgrade parts. Rear steer, dig, shock stabilizer, and high clearance links.

Re: New R1 build
 

This is one of those kits that I always thought looked cool, but it's a much older platform now, and I keep holding off on trying it out.

Re: New R1 build
 

Good to see another R1 build. I also wanted to build one, but never got around to it. Good to see this cool truck still gets some love though.

Re: New R1 build
 

It was the first kit I really liked but I let a friend talk me into Axials....many Axials. I used a return credit to get it. I'll try to post a photo tonight of it sitting on top of my Bomber. The frame is so small.

I don't like the mix of plastic gears and no slipper clutch. Gonna have to be careful.

Here are some more photos...

https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...1a62184c_c.jpg

https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...df4291e6_c.jpg

Re: New R1 build
 

I see you have a dual servo setup. I had heard of this kit's steering deficiencies. Is there any reason for that? Is it the knuckles? Width of axles? CVDs?

Why wasn't there a way to increase steering without having to do the rear steer?

Re: New R1 build
 

I had forgotten about the steering until you mentioned it. The axles are open dogbone at the knuckle. It seems the portal axles are fairly thick so there might be some interference c-hub to knuckle.

I think there's a post where someone ground a little on the c-hub to increase the steering but it was in response to crazy thick aluminum knuckles. I think it was on a GS02 or GOM as well.

Interestingly, this is the first kit I've had that doesn't come with servo arms. At least they weren't in the axle bag or any bag since.

I'll snap a photo tonight showing lock to lock steering range.

Re: New R1 build
 

The GS02 stock plastic knuckles are actually fine. Same with the GOM. Not sure about the aluminum ones though, as I haven't used them.

I just checked out the R1 Mod thread sticky in the section. Some useful info. I might give this kit a try down the road with different axles. How wide are these axles? Would the TRX4 or MST CFX-W axles be wide enough?

Re: New R1 build
 

It looks like the R1 axles are about an inch longer than the stock TRX4. But the R1 chassis is about the same width as the TRX4 front suspension width. So I'd say the TRX axles would fit and not rub. I have 15mm extensions on my TRX (so hex to hex mine are wider) and the tires rub the front bumper on full turn. The R1 doesn't have much to rub on.

https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...bf498376_c.jpg

The TRX4 also seems to have between 5 and 10 more degrees of steering. Rough estimate with my math teacher eyes.

https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...c7d00664_c.jpg

Re: New R1 build
 

And as promised, a Bomber wearing a R1 as a hat.

https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...1a3281e8_c.jpg

Re: New R1 build
 

More progress. Still have to finish how I want to control the dig and cut down the rear drive shaft. I still can't believe how tiny the chassis is. I'll try to take a full flex photo tonight just cause it's cool and all.

Planning on using a sprung servo horn for the dig as to not burn out a servo trying to lock the axle. Unlike the Vanquish series that have many locking points, the R1 dig can only lock every 180 degrees. Sitting stopped somewhere, there might be a bit of time before the lock actually engages. The rear tires have to turn some before it happens.
https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...25a52346_c.jpg


Different tires. Clockwise from upper left, BFG from my RR10 (with a little Axialfest dust), Injora mounted RC4WD Baja Claws, Injora wheels and tires, and Stock R1
https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...ac4a0f65_c.jpg

Left to right: Baja Claw, RR10 BFG, R1, Injora
https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...dd2b085c_c.jpg

As it sits this morning. Sometimes I don't exactly follow the directions
https://jubilee-live.flickr.com/6553...8cb452d3_c.jpg

Re: New R1 build
 

Those stock tires with a dual stage foam will outperform and of the other tires.

Re: New R1 build
 

Still working on which foams to use. Posted those photos mostly as a size comparison.

I was looking through the Crawler Innovations site last night and was thinking about some of the double deuce hard/soft and then adding some tuning rings. Possibly trimming the rings a bit for some good squish on the tread and just a little sway during side hill. I've actually been thinking about that for some time now. Also maybe taking the single stage and cutting a deep V into them. But this is a thought for a different forum.

Re: New R1 build
 

Double Deuce FTW. No tuning rings because these R1s aren’t that heavy.

Re: New R1 build
 

LOL, your thread might push my over the edge and finally pick one of these up. So far I've gathered that should probably get the delrin skid for the relocated link locations, junfac driveshafts, and then there are a number of different steering improvement options which I'm still sifting through.

Re: New R1 build
 

Mine has OG scx10 axles. May get it off the wall now with some renewed interest.

Re: New R1 build
 

Have to trim more of the rear drive shaft to accommodate the dig. 10mm more tomorrow. But. It moved! Drove it around my kitchen a little with just FWD. Clicked through all the steering modes.

Just gotta say I can’t believe how tiny it is. Gonna have to read the sticky about leaky shocks. Or get some PL and forget about it.

I’m still worried about the plastic gears and no slipper.

Re: New R1 build
 

I've read to just flip the shocks upside down. I really want to see what can be done with the steering angles though. Would be nice to get it to at least 45deg. Bonus if you're able to get 45deg front and rear with 4WS!

BTW... booo with photobucket. All I see is a bunch of watermarked blurry images!

Re: New R1 build
 

Ditto, I've just started noticing that on a few threads.... what's the deal with that??

Re: New R1 build
 

New photobucket terms of service. It just effects free accounts. After 25mb of bandwidth per month, the photos are blurred. I noticed them last night but too late to start over. I might go through and edit adding direct photo links while I find another host. I heard imgur is good.

Soze: 45 degrees might be reachable. The first contact is a support on the backside of knuckle. I wonder if the metal knuckles have the same support. I also wonder if this can be sanded off. Might just have to try it.

Re: New R1 build
 

Yeah the few threads I read in the sticky ground/filed away some contact points on the knuckle and the c-hub.

Re: New R1 build
 

Not a fan of imgur, it's mainly meant to be it's own social media like platform and host images for Reddit. I plan to just stick with Flickr until I maybe hit the 1k image cap one day.

Re: New R1 build
 

Ok. Side thought. I saw the SSD trail king sale and clicked on the assembly manual from RPP. Instead of being stacked like the R1, the gears of the transmission are stretched out (impressively scale). I wonder how close the transmission internals are to the size (shaft/gear diameter) to the R1. My plastic gear fears might be gone. Unless, of course, the SSD gears are plastic. Hopefully someone that is following this will let me know.

Re: New R1 build
 

I don't think they're plastic. I haven't opened mine yet though.

Re: New R1 build
 

Well, soze, when you do, please post some measurements of gear and shaft diameters.

I firmly believe that making RCs work is making them work for you. When I refigure out the post photos thing you'll see my Dig servo horn is the GPM version of the TRX4 shift/lock servo horns. The spring makes up for the misalignment time. I did have to put some thread lock on the outside of the Dig output bearing to try to hold it in place. A little screw like the Axial 1 piece rear, that holds the bearing in, would be great. I did use the Junfac dig unit.

Re: New R1 build
 

Flickr is a bit round-about to post photos but figured it out. Should be all clean and pretty now.

Re: New R1 build
 

Ah I can see again, I was tired of standing 25 feet away from the monitor. :mrgreen:

Re: New R1 build
 

Any updates?

Re: New R1 build
 

Well I took it out for a crawl at a place I wanted to try out. Found a family with their Slashes kicking up dust so I hung out on the rocks. I'd post photos but the iOS13 update borked my backup and I lost about 5,000 photos. I was a little light on the trigger still fearing the lack of slipper clutch and plastic gears.

4WS is definitely something to practice. Having the rear steer alone did help me get around some stuff where front and rear together was too much. I found myself using the crab crawl more often. Like the front was holding the line and the rear was doing the guidance. I definitely want to look into the axle mounted batteries. I have tiny 1500 mAh that would mount perfect. The rig is a bit top heavy with the battery in the tray. Even a tiny 3s. The high clearance links seemed to invite catching on the center skid. Might have to try the originals. I think I'm going to rebuild the shocks so that the rig sits lower and longer.

I need to fiddle with the dig middle point some more. It doesn't always unlock when going to freewheel. Knowing when to dig and when to 4WS is critical to learn/experience.

I did velcro my FPV camera right on the front servo. I could actually see both front tires on my display. It drove around my apartment pretty good.

I'll try to get some more photos posted.