Raptor Pre-Runner Build

[spookyseven]

This thread is worth taking a look at
STANG KILLA SS learns to weld.....Thermal Arc 95S

These two channels have some helpful info on tig welding, but at the end of the day you just have to get some welding time in.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqq...j4-UApS_m_6mPw

https://www.youtube.com/user/Welddotcom

[Raptorn]

Originally Posted by spookyseven

What size filler rod? What are you using for tungsten? Also have you thought about designing an upper a-arm that uses 3 revo style rod ends? this way you wouldn't have to try and weld the tiny pieces of tube on the end.

The 3 revo rod end design didn't come to me at all! Thanks!

I honestly don't know either of those off the top of my head. I'll check next time I go to the shop.

[Bmxreeves]

Cant wait for more updates! Are you going to try and do a scale prerunner suspension tunning?


________________________________
Scx10 Bronco aka The Bronco

[Raptorn]

Originally Posted by Bmxreeves

Cant wait for more updates! Are you going to try and do a scale prerunner suspension tunning?


________________________________
Scx10 Bronco aka The Bronco

No more progress, but I will post up some renders I made of the CAD model today.

I sure hope that the king scale shocks perform as good as they look! The ultimate goal is to be like cyconxc on YouTube (he is also on RCC, but I forget his username).

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Raptorn]

Thanks spookyseven for the threads!

HIGH QUALITY AND FANCY PICS!!!



The large orange thing cradling the rear shocks will be replaced by the bedcage.

Above is approximately ride height, below shows the travel extremes.



Note: these took about 20 min to fully render each image.

[Bmxreeves]

Originally Posted by Raptorn

Thanks spookyseven for the threads!



HIGH QUALITY AND FANCY PICS!!!





Above is approximately ride height, below shows the travel extremes.



These took longer than expected (about 20 min rendering time per image)





The large orange thing cradling the rear shocks will be replaced by the bedcage.

Thats sick man! Cant wait to see how it preforms. I wonder if the tires are going rub on the body cause there's so much travel lol


________________________________
Scx10 Bronco aka The Bronco

[Raptorn]

This is back from the dead! I've made major progress in the last few weeks, so here goes.

First thing was finishing the frame braces. There is a huge difference in stiffness with these on (bottom).


I then made a simple jig to hold the subframe where I wanted to weld it


The best part of welding is cleaning all your parts (NOT). Everything had to be soaked in rust removal liquid (because I haven't touched anything since July, or maybe last March...)
And weld it all together!


^ It's amazing how small of things you can TIG weld with the right setup.

My setup for tiny things:
1/16" tungsten
25-35 amps (25 for the sheet metal)
1/16" filler. I also used .041 MIG wire as filler for the sheet metal.

Once I had all these and got some more practice, I was able to pound out solid quality welds, albeit slowly, because this stuff is easy to overheat.

[Raptorn]

I present the finished subframe! After fully welding and grinding smooth.



This is the good part: with all my mounting surfaces in place, I can finally assemble the front suspension!





After over a year of work, it finally looks like an RC car! There are only two things keeping the front from being freestanding: 1. my crappy upper shock mount, 2. I forgot to drill the lower control arms for the shock bolt.

[Bmxreeves]

Yes I have been waiting for this!


__________________________
1.9 ibex tuber
Slash that got run over by reindeer

Cheers Jacob

[Raptorn]

Originally Posted by Bmxreeves

Yes I have been waiting for this!

So have I!


The front suspension is finished! Except the steering, but that's not important now. It's freestanding, and its bouncy!




But let's back up a bit. There were two roadblocks left last time: I couldn't bolt the shock in at the top or bottom.
Here is the hole in the lower control arm: Drilling through the tube was easier than I expected.



And the revised upper shock mount:



With the kings in, there was major binding in the control arms, so I disassembled, tweaked and reassembled the whole thing about 4 times. No pics of this because its boring.

Below is a test fit of the main roll-cage jig. I will thread the vertical rods so the cage can be removed easily. Not shown is a ton of progress on the rear suspension. Also not shown is a bunch of tiny brackets to bolt the cage to the frame. They were a pain.


More soon!

[Bmxreeves]

Wow. What was the binding issue? Are you going to tune the shocks like cynoxrc/ prerunner?


__________________________
1.9 ibex tuber
Slash that got run over by reindeer

Cheers Jacob

[Raptorn]

Originally Posted by Bmxreeves

Wow. What was the binding issue? Are you going to tune the shocks like cynoxrc/ prerunner?

Binding came from the lower arms not fitting perfectly, and rod ends rubbing the Exo knuckles. Both were solved by massaging with a dremel. It wasn't a big deal, it's expected when building from scratch.

cyconxc is the stuff of dreams! I will try my best though...

[Bmxreeves]

Originally Posted by Raptorn

Binding came from the lower arms not fitting perfectly, and rod ends rubbing the Exo knuckles. Both were solved by massaging with a dremel. It wasn't a big deal, it's expected when building from scratch.



cyconxc is the stuff of dreams! I will try my best though...

Yeah he is. Did you see his shock video on how he does it?


__________________________
1.9 ibex tuber
Slash that got run over by reindeer

Cheers Jacob

[Raptorn]

Originally Posted by Bmxreeves

Yeah he is. Did you see his shock video on how he does it?

Yeah, but it was a while ago. I'll have to brush up on shock tuning, then order much stiffer springs and get some oil in them.

[Raptorn]

With the main roll cage jig built I moved on to the rear suspension jig. The shocks fit between the 1/4 in. rods. I tried to use 1/4 tubing, but it had some funky coating that would not come off (tried wirebrush and solvent) and made it impossible to weld. Should have just used the solid rod first try.


I then bent up the rear main supports and prepped each tube for welding.


After an hour or so of welding, we end with this!




On a side note, I was tired of holding 3mm nuts with pliers, so a quick adjustment to an old wrench (5/16 inch) did the trick.



This is how the cage attaches to the frame. I'm not convinced the sheet steel will hold up though...



With the rear shock mount settled, the truck can finally hold itself up! It's only missing steering and a driveshaft until it hits roller status! I later realized I installed the skid backwards

[Raptorn]

"Moar pics!"

I hear you, I hear you.

"Set up a photo booth!" "No crappy cell pics!"

Okay, whatever you guys say. Here you go:







Oh, the body also fits on now. Because of the ace jig I made, it fits well too.



The only thing I'm not happy with is that I forgot to cut off the excess rod behind the cab. This means the main support is half an inch away from the cab, and it looks kinda dumb. This reminds me, the ugly stickers need to go!

[Bmxreeves]

Looking good man!


__________________________
1.9 ibex tuber
Slash that got run over by reindeer

Cheers Jacob

[Raptorn]

Originally Posted by Bmxreeves

Looking good man!

Thanks dude!

Despite the record progress, there is still an enormous list of things to do.

• Steering system (have servo and bellcrank, need to fab all links & mounting)
• Measure and order driveshaft
• Electronics (still need battery and BEC)
  **After this point it will be drivable, but not near done.
• Tweak body mounting
• Fab front and rear bumpers & skidplates
• Shock tuning
• Encase rear links in stainless tube
• Bodywork (remove stickers, paint bed black, etc)
• Powdercoat
• Lights!

Should be fun!

[Bmxreeves]

Originally Posted by Raptorn

Thanks dude!



Despite the record progress, there is still an enormous list of things to do.

• Steering system (have servo and bellcrank, need to fab all links & mounting)
  
• Measure and order driveshaft
  
• Electronics (still need battery and BEC)
  
  **After this point it will be drivable, but not near done.
  
• Tweak body mounting
  
• Fab front and rear bumpers & skidplates
  
• Shock tuning
  
• Encase rear links in stainless tube
  
• Bodywork (remove stickers, paint bed black, etc)
  
• Powdercoat
  
• Lights!
  

Should be fun!

So still some to do. Should be done In no time


__________________________
1.9 ibex tuber

Slash that got run over by reindeer

R.I.P Dave Mirra
Cheers Jacob

[Raptorn]

Originally Posted by Bmxreeves

Should be done In no time

Boy I wish!


Not a lot has happened since the last update, but here we go.

There was nothing to hold the body up, so I drilled a couple holes in the roll cage and bent up some wire into my own body clips.




Then I spent some time removing those hateful stickers. I looks much cleaner without them, even with the paint I accidentally scratched off.




The big news here is that the drivetrain is 100% complete! Finally got my driveshaft and spur gear, but it took a little (a lot) to make them work. To fit the 18T pinion, I had to extend the motor mount slots about two millimeters. This pushed to motor over far enough that I needed to clearance the transmission skid too. Nothing is bolt on with a custom R/C!