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-   -   Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2 (http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/rc4wd-trail-finder-2/362091-tomys-rc4wd-trailfinder-2-a.html)

Tomy 01-26-2012 02:30 PM

Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Thanks to RC4WD I was lucky to have the chance to get hold of the new TrailFinder 2. This is an amazing kit that comes packed with scale detail and a lot of potential for future modding.

Let's put it together stock first!

The package arrived at the beginning of this week. Felt like Christmas.

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_17.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_16.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...deos/TF2_2.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...deos/TF2_3.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...deos/TF2_4.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...deos/TF2_5.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...deos/TF2_6.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...deos/TF2_7.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...deos/TF2_9.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_10.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_11.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_12.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_13.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_14.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_15.jpg


The kit comes together real easy. I had my camera at hand ready to document any issues during the build. There were none. It took me about 3 hours to get it up on its wheels. The instructions are very easy to follow and all the bags and parts are nicely labeled. Just remember to use thread lock - there's a lot of metal to metal mounting and the screws are sure to come loose if you save on threadlock.

After the first evening with the truck I had this:

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_20.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_23.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_24.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_22.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF2_21.jpg


I went with just the main leafs on all corners first. I also removed the spring from the shocks. The Ultimate Scale shocks really do look ultimate scale and are nicely smooth as well. Without the spring inside, they offer nice damping. I'll have to fill them up with oil, though. Later I added one short leaf at the front to the leaf sitting under the motor. The motor side was sitting lower than the passenger side and rubbed the front fender of the body. After adding the leaf, the rubbing is gone and the body sits as low as possible - just the way I like it.

Yesterday I added some electronics. An old MambaMax ESC (you have to love this ESC, I've had it since 2009 and it's been through many different vehicles and it still works flawless), a Savox steering servo and a cheapo chinese 10kg servo for the gearbox. The steering will need to have a BEC added, other than that everything works well. The gears shift nice and smooth.

Here's a video of the shifting of gears:
Shifting gears.mp4 - YouTube

There's great of low speed control in first gear:
Low speed control.mp4 - YouTube


Today I and my son just enjoyed playing with the truck, driving it around inside. I did some minor bodywork but have to wait for a new tube of Squadron's green putty as the old one has dried out. You don't necessary
need to do any filling but I want to remove a few injection marks before primer.

The Mojave body has great detail. Here are some pics of the body:

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_6.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_9.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_5.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_2.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_3.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_4.jpg


And then a few pics to show the scale detail of the chassis and drive train:

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_8.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...eos/TF_3_7.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q...os/TF_3_10.jpg


I'll run it stock for a while but I can see a steering mod coming. I'm thinking of putting the tie rod behing the axle and leave the servo to knuckle rod in the front. This will require a DIY custom part. The RC4WD TF2 XVD driveshafts should allow for more steering and I hope a few turns in the lathe will allow even more. But more on that later.

Next up will be to clean up the wiring and paint and detail the body.

Die-Laughing 01-26-2012 05:11 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
That looks like fun!

skullking 01-26-2012 05:59 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
AHHH Crap...looks like I am going to be back in this again...This rig is too sick to pass up....

BigSki 01-26-2012 06:22 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
is the housing on the t-case injection molded? I thought it was a cast piece at first, but the more I look at it, I'm not so sure anymore.

Tomy 01-26-2012 09:50 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BigSki (Post 3528287)
is the housing on the t-case injection molded? I thought it was a cast piece at first, but the more I look at it, I'm not so sure anymore.

The axles are die-cast light weight metal:
Yota Ultimate Scale Cast Axle (Front)

Tomy 01-26-2012 11:48 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
I'm thinking of turning it into something like this in the future:

http://www.yotatech.com/attachments/...ta-pickup1.jpg


That will be the color I'll do on the body now. Flatbed and tube work will have to wait.

BigSki 01-27-2012 10:25 AM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomy (Post 3528964)
The axles are die-cast light weight metal:
Yota Ultimate Scale Cast Axle (Front)

Thanks but I am curious about the transfer case."thumbsup"

Tomy 01-27-2012 12:36 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BigSki (Post 3529718)
Thanks but I am curious about the transfer case."thumbsup"



Oh, I'm sorry. How did I miss that?

The transfer case is aluminum.

Wheel_Works 01-27-2012 01:39 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Is their a release date yet? Whats your opinion on the Quality?
I cant wait to buy one of these..

Tomy 01-27-2012 11:53 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheel_Works (Post 3530079)
Is their a release date yet? Whats your opinion on the Quality?
I cant wait to buy one of these..

As far as I know, the release is mid February.

The quality is good. Of course real use and driving will tell more. But assembly was a breeze and I did test the drivetrain by driving back and forth on a concrete floor a dozen times. No popping! I might video that for you.

ColquittCustom405 01-28-2012 01:33 AM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomy (Post 3531241)
I did test the drivetrain by driving back and forth on a concrete floor a dozen times. No popping! I might video that for you.

Please do video, thanks for the build thread though"thumbsup"

Tomy 01-28-2012 03:39 AM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Ok, guys. Here's the drivetrain durability check. "thumbsup"

I'm running 2nd gear with 3S Lipo. I'm not sure about the motor. I think it is a 35 or 45t.

Drivetrain durability check.mp4 - YouTube

saiyan46 01-28-2012 01:03 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomy (Post 3529146)
I'm thinking of turning it into something like this in the future:

http://www.yotatech.com/attachments/...ta-pickup1.jpg


That will be the color I'll do on the body now. Flatbed and tube work will have to wait.


That rig looks awesome, though i'm not a big fan of the color.

I also liked how you put AAs next to stuff for size comparison, thank you.

Tomy 03-04-2012 12:15 PM

Re: Tomy's RC4WD TrailFinder 2
 
Finally got some paint on this beauty. Sadly I couldn't find the color of the cool 1:1 rig I posted a pic of earlier here. So this is what I went with.

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q..._2_Paint_2.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q..._2_Paint_1.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q..._2_Paint_3.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q..._2_Paint_4.jpg

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/q..._2_Paint_5.jpg


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