Getting Back Into Crawlin

[Axial Rose]

I haven't done any crawlin lately (2 years, or so) and I miss it so, what better motivation to get back into it than to get a new crawler?

I've always liked the G-Made products I've used before but I've never owned one of their crawlers so I pulled the trigger on a Sawback 4LS - it should arrive late this week (maybe Thurs, 24-May-2018, or so).

I'm not a huge leaf-spring fan (maybe because I've never used them) but the coil over shocks look like they are not setup properly in some of the videos I've seen (the shocks usually seem to be too stiff) but having these shocks helped me select the Sawback (and also this video from my absolute favorite crawler builder and crawler video dude --> LINK)

I prefer to see "human figures" in vehicles, especially open Jeeps, so I may use another body instead - at least for now - we'll see but I've seen where 1/6 action figures seem to fit - the 1/10 action figures look way too small for the Jeep body that comes with the Sawback (just my opinion, sorry)

Not sure what electronics I'm going to stuff into this thing but I have several choices buried somewhere in boxes in the garage - probably a 35T brushed motor, CC ESC, CC BEC, and decent servo (probably ~300 oz-in at 6.0V because . . . I love high torque servos), and will use a 2100 mAh 3S battery, Spketrum radio w/Orange receiver - who knows - depends on what I find out there (ha).

I'm not a "totally realistic scale" type of guy but I do like scalers much more than non-scale rock crawlers so, this build isn't going to be a shelf queen or a vehicle that looks incredibly detailed/realistic of a full-size machine (I totally love the realistic scalers out there - but I don't have the patience, time, or skill to build those awesome, totally amazing trucks - maybe in a few years when I retire - ha)

So - it'll be interesting how this compares to Axial products (I have a love-hate relationship with Axial). I'll post build photos and a video of the maiden run - hopefully I'll finish this before I have to go back to work at the end of May.

I will look for "must do" upgrades, and recommended upgrades until it gets here but any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks everyone - happy crawlin

[JatoTheRipper]

I recognize your name because of good ol' Axl Rose.

Welcome back!

The Sawback 4LS is an interesting vehicle and an interesting choice. I love my two leaf sprung Sawbacks. The problem with the chassis is that the skid plate is LOW. You will high center more often than on most other rigs even with 4 links.

Hunter Dan and Hunter Ann are a great fit in the Sawback Jeep Willys body.

Buy a 35T motor of your choice and the HobbyWing WP 1080 ESC. You don't need a BEC with that ESC.

I also have a love hate relationship with Axial products.

[Axial Rose]

Thanks

Yeah, the way I figure it, every crawler has limits - if I wanted to, I could probably get a CC-01 chassis vehicle and still manage to have fun with it - I just play around - nothing serious, so if the Sawback has some negatives, then I'll (hopefully) find its positives and enjoy it

Crawl often & enjoy it!

[Axial Rose]

Okay - I'm getting excited about this build - it's scheduled to arrive Friday and my wife won't get home from work until ~9:00 pm!

I have the following planned:

Use a little bit of fine grit sandpaper (400?) on the chromed parts then paint with flat-black
Toss on a Unimog body and create something interesting for the "bed" area of the truck - up to this point I have not done much with "hand-crafting" any custom scaler parts - but I'm hoping this will be fun even if my efforts don't turn out very well - so what - then next time I'll do better, right?


My inspiration is not to copy (I sold both of my Wraith's) but instead to be influenced by one of my all time favorite vehicles and group of videos --> Video 1 (link), Video 2 (link), Video 3 (link)

Y'all are awesome!

Woo hoo!

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by Axial Rose

Okay - I'm getting excited about this build - it's scheduled to arrive Friday and my wife won't get home from work until ~9:00 pm!

Building in silence! That's Heaven!

[Axial Rose]

I picked up a few items from RPP including

• Steel Universal Shafts
• Universal Shaft Replacement Parts (1)
• Team Fast Eddy Sealed Bearing Kit
• Aluminum Zero Ackerman Knuckle Arm
• Aluminum C-Hub Carrier
• Frame Screw Bag
• GS01 Differential Cover (2)
• Pit Bull 1.9 Rock Beast XOR Tires (2 pairs, w/foams)
• Wheel Widener (Offset: +13mm, set of 4)
• RC4WD Brushed 55T Motor

And yeah, I totally realize some of these parts are probably not necessary - but that never stopped me before so . . .


Happy crawin' folks!

[MrBlank]

55 Turn is not fast enough for the Sawback, even on 3S.

I use a 27t axial can and went up a tooth on the pinion, and mine is quite quick (still enough torque to bend leafs / break driveshafts) - although it no longer does that with the anti torque twist bars.

I would get at least a 35t. When I first got mine I grabbed a 55t with it, and it was painfully slow. No wheel speed, and I could outwalk it without effort.

Originally Posted by Axial Rose

I picked up a few items from RPP including

• Steel Universal Shafts
• Universal Shaft Replacement Parts (1)
• Team Fast Eddy Sealed Bearing Kit
• Aluminum Zero Ackerman Knuckle Arm
• Aluminum C-Hub Carrier
• Frame Screw Bag
• GS01 Differential Cover (2)
• Pit Bull 1.9 Rock Beast XOR Tires (2 pairs, w/foams)
• Wheel Widener (Offset: +13mm, set of 4)
• RC4WD Brushed 55T Motor

And yeah, I totally realize some of these parts are probably not necessary - but that never stopped me before so . . .


Happy crawin' folks!

[Axial Rose]

I have a couple of new 35T's in inventory - thanks for the coments

[Axial Rose]

Not making much progress as wifey has many chores for me to do

But she will be on vacation for an entire week in early June so . . . work now - play later

Love this kit so far

[Axial Rose]

Axles are done!

Does anyone else experience the concept that if you just slow down and check your work then you don't have to undo everything and do it again?

My builds are incredibly slow - sorry about that folks

Happy crawlin!

[2mtech]

Originally Posted by Axial Rose

Does anyone else experience the concept that if you just slow down and check your work then you don't have to undo everything and do it again?

No. If I slow down and check my work I just find more things to do differently and undo everything multiple times as my OCD takes over until my ADD kicks in and I find something else to do to recover from the frustration of all the preceding and then I get nothing finished.

See?

[Axial Rose]

Making a little more progress

This is my first G-Made kit

So far, I really like the build - parts fit together well - instructions are very good

[Rathar3]

Mine is the leaf spring version but i love it.

[Axial Rose]

Brief update . . . still putting it together (obviously very slow going - ha) but I couldn't find my ESC, BEC, & servo in the garage so I had to buy new ones . . . then I saw some Pro-Line wheels and a 32p 14t pinion (hoping this will be a good match with the 55t motor).

I did find some new P-L Super Swampers XL's in the garage and an LED light bar so, I'm thinkin of tossing those on with the new wheels

I'll post updates later next week - looking forward to running this thing

So far, I'm very impressed with the quality of items - discovered only one typo in the instructions so far

Crawl often my friends

[Axial Rose]

Being honest here folks, building shocks is not my favorite thing to do
(ha)

Hopefully, I'll be able to continue working on this during Father's Day weekend - comin up soon - yay to all the fathers and fathers-to-be out there!

[Axial Rose]

Getting a little more work done on the machine


Yeah, I realize this BEC is a bit overkill (ha)

Hopefully will be able to test this crawler soon

[Axial Rose]

I'm already cutting corners left & right

I will take the "fast route" and get it running, then test it, make adjustments, & so forth

Later, I have plans for the following:

• Use higher-quality motor wire & ESC connectors
• Scratch & paint all aluminum links and chromed parts
• Create a decent body (was going to use a Tamiya Unimog - may use something else already in the shop instead - not wild about the stock Jeep body)
• Add lighting - front, rear, and underneath

[Axial Rose]

Still really enjoying this build - don't have many complaints

[Axial Rose]

Painfully slow build - sorry

Making a little more progress

Next step will be to add a perch for ESC, BEC, Rx, & battery

I'm putting the battery up front, on top of the chassis rails, above the servo

I have a slightly larger pinion 14 instead of 12

Hopefully have this running soon

[Axial Rose]

I realize this is a crazy idea but . . . I'm thinking of converting this machine into one of these . . .

I ordered parts to make it 4WS

Should be fun