Fej's Fubar Mini Skeeter

[Fej]

Bought my mrc on the ebay back in march. It was slightly used & still stock, but it came with a set of losi aluminum shocks and the peak charger.

Picture from the ebay listing.



First thing I did was install the aluminum shocks.



Then took it crawling.









Got droop springs and 3 link plates from TCS. The droop made a huge difference.





Shortly after that my crawler took a nasty fall, and I ended up bending the chassis next to one of the shock mounts. I used that as an excuse to get a new one, so I ordered a mini skeeter chassis from MTHead.

I started putting it together.



I had to grind off some plastic from the bottom of the transmission case so it would mount flush to the skid plate (EDIT: John has addressed this problem, and the current versions of the chassis have a notch machined into the skidplate that allows the tranny to mount flush). Also I had to grind a little off the 3 link arms so they would clear the chassis.





Sat like this for a few months.



I picked up some bent links and proline 1.9 titus beadlocks at my lhs. I installed the bent links in the rear, but they limited the articulation to much so i took them off.

Can't wait to get these wheels installed.



I ordered delrin tubing from rcbros to make upper links. I also got front & rear metal lockers from TCS. And got started getting it running yesterday and finished this morning. I'm still using the stock wheels & tires until my 1.9 chisels get here.

Rear four link.



I'm going to move the rear shocks outboard & four link the front when I get some more screws and whatnot.


Ground clearance at the skid is a hair under 1.75".



Ready to go.











Gonna take it out after work today and see how it does, I'll try and get some pictures while I'm out there.

[Dad Dong]

Looks awesome! Good work Fej!!

[Mr. Ed]

I bet if you move the front shocks to the outside of the Chassis you can squeeze that factory battery on the 3 link Nice job! I dig the skeeter

[Fej]

Originally Posted by Dad Dong

Looks awesome! Good work Fej!!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

I bet if you move the front shocks to the outside of the Chassis you can squeeze that factory battery on the 3 link Nice job! I dig the skeeter

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that. Im running low on extra screws and whatnot, but I'll have to give that a try.


Took it crawling for a little yesterday, not sure how I feel about the ride height. Probably just need to get used to it, I'm hoping the new tires & wheels will make a difference...

Got my 1.9 Chisels and hardware upgrade kit!



Got one of the tires mounted for now, couldn't help myself.


They are VERY firm when mounted on the Titus wheels with the weight rings, they're fine with out the weight. I'm gonna start with no weight in the back and use the weights up front. From what I've read enlarging the inner diameter of the foams will fix the firmness problem.

Mods to date:
Fubar Mini Skeeter Chassis
Rear Four Link
Losi Aluminum Shocks
Losi Metal Lockers F&R
Proline 1.9 Titus Beadlocks
Proline 1.9 Chisel Tires
TCS Hardware Upgrade Kit
TCS Soft Droop Springs

I'll post more after I get the other three mounted. The weather is far to nice to sit inside and mount tires.

[Fej]

Got the the tires, wheels and hardware upgrade installed tonight!

Button head screws for the underside of the axles and lower link mounts.


I love the wheels & tires on this thing!!!










Gonna try and take it crawling tomorrow. Can't wait to try the new tires, they're sooooo much stickier and softer!

[Fej]

Finally took it crawling today, went out to a place called Elk Head with my buddy Dean to take pictures and play with the crawler. The chisels are fantastic, so much more traction than the stockers...

Pictures (some are mine and some are Dean's)

























Caught it right as it started coming off the rock

[PANDAbox]

The mini is looking great Jeff. Dang, I need to make a road trip out to that place. It looks sick, and perfect for 1.9, or anything crawler related at that.

[drewmaloy]

your mrc does look great! that wheel and tire combo look sick! thanks peace

[Mr. Ed]

I'll trade ya crawlin spots

[Fej]

Looks like I'm going to be needing a new servo soon, the stock one started make all sorts of nasty noises after crawling yesterday. Guess I got it bound up a few times to many

Originally Posted by PANDAbox

The mini is looking great Jeff. Dang, I need to make a road trip out to that place. It looks sick, and perfect for 1.9, or anything crawler related at that.

Thanks! It is a pretty awesome spot. I'd completely forgot it existed, hadn't been out there for about 10 years. There's a lot of different types of rocks and enough of them to keep you occupied for a long time, great spot for any type of crawler.

Originally Posted by drewmaloy

your mrc does look great! that wheel and tire combo look sick! thanks peace

Thanks, I'm pretty happy with the wheels & tires...

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

I'll trade ya crawlin spots

I think I'll hang on to this spot

[Fej]

Been awhile since I've updated. Added HR wide hexes and a new body since the last post.






Started working on a BTA steering setup tonight. Got a prototype mocked up with a piece of coat hanger.




Clearance is the same at full lock


Not sure what I'll make the final arm out of but it looks like this design might work. Was a lot easier to figure out than I though.

Ordered a couple fun things the other day, should be some significant changes happening soon...

[ped453]

nice work, not sure if the coat hanger will hold though.

[Fej]

Originally Posted by ped453

nice work, not sure if the coat hanger will hold though.

The coat hanger is just a prototype, much easier to work with than aluminum or delrin tubing. Once I get the coat hanger how I like it I'll make another out of something a bit more solid.

[coreyh29645]

sweet truck