Humla - my first super
 

Hi all.

I live on the ice planet Hoth... that's Norway.
I built my first super crawler this winter and here are some images and a video. I also list all specifications and some comments.
I first bought a 1/10 scale crawler, but did see some sexy images on the Internet of what they call super class crawler. So I said to myself -where can I buy one? Well... that's 6 months ago. It has been alot of reading, searching, waiting, building etc since then. For a newbe like me it was alot of "what!?" and "aha!" to learn. Like super class crawlers you more or less build yourself. And some of the parts are almost impossible to buy new, so you can buy used or make them yourself. Like the wheels, links, servo mounts etc. You need alot of tools and patience. Soldering the transmitter, upgrade the firmware, learn to program the transmitter, program the ESC's, calibrate all the stuff... Ok, enough talk about that. One last point, I first bought the cheap Outcry dual motor ESC. But that ESC was not good enough. The car was shaking and jumping one slow speed. Not going so slow as I wanted etc. So I upgraded to 2x Holmes Hobbies TorqueMaster BR-XL and what a different!

Here you can find a video at Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8v9-elc99E

Here is an image of the car completed: (well, never 100% completed I fell...)
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/15-Out.jpg

Here are "all" the specs. I list alot so other newbies can maybe get some start help. BUT! I am not a expert, I am a newbie mayself, so ask for advice at this forum or you can buy alot of stuff you don't need. Just like I did :)

Name: HUMLA (Bumblebee in Norwegian)
RC car scale: Super class Crawler, 1/8 scale.
Axles: RC4WD Super Bully Light Weight Axle (65:1 gear ratio)
Pinion gear: 10T
Motors: 2x Holmes Hobbies TorqueMaster Pro 540, 45T
ESC's: 2x Holmes Hobbies TorqueMaster BR-XL
BEC's: 2x Castle Creations BEC 10A (6.4 voltage set)
Servo's: 2x Hitec HS-7955TG
Battery: Haiyin 3S (11.1v) Lipo 1600mAh - 30C
Battery case: Homemade 1mm aluminium, painted black.
Run time: 30-45 minutes
Transmitter: FlySky FS-GT3B (with firmware hack/updated for 3-8 channels)
Receiver: FlySky 6CH RX (using 4 channels, 2 steering and 2 throttle/ESC)
Chassis: Chaotic Crawlers Super Switch (width expanded with 2 cm, homemade 1mm alu. panels)
Wheel rim: HPI Blast Wheel (narrowed from 70mm to 45mm)
Tires: Hot Bodies Sedona 2.2 (cut and glued for HPI 115mm diameter wheels)
Wheel complete: diameter near 8 inch = 20 cm
Wheel base = ca 17 1/4 inch = 44 cm
Shocks: From RC4WD, Spark Comp Shock with Ti Shaft (110mm)
Links: Homemade 6mm aluminium rod (drill and tap for rod ends), painted black.
Servomounts: Homemade 2x2mm=4mm aluminium, painted black.
Bumpers: Homemade 2mm aluminium, painted black.
Motor protection plate: 1mm aluminium, painted black.
Knuckle weights: 2x Blue Monkey Knuckle Weights for Bully Super (100 gram pr. wheel/knuckle)
Chassis colour: Tamiya Camel Yellow
Weight: 4.3 kg with battery and a total of 400 gram knuckle weights.
Max speed: With todays setup (45T motor, 10T pinion, 65:1 gear, 8 inch wheels, 3S lipo) around "fast walk" 7 km/h.
Else: Lots of reading, worktime, ESC and transmitter tuning, tools, glue, paint, money.

Weak points:
- Links: not perfect drill and tapping. Titanium links would also be some stronger.
- Hitec 7955TG works ok, but maybe a bit stronger Hitec 7950TH servos or the some bigger HS7980TH would be optimal.

Here is my programming of the Holmes Hobbies TorqueMaster BR-XL ESC's
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...ster-BR-XL.JPG

In the next post I will add some images from the building.

Re: Humla - my first super
 

Build looks good and it looks like your picking up the driving part pretty fast. "thumbsup" What radio are you using?

Re: Humla - my first super
 

Great job on the build"thumbsup"

Re: Humla - my first super
 

Nice build.

Just a suggestion, if your going to buy new servos go straight to the 7980/7990. Just skip buying the 7950,while a good servo just doesn't have to power required for the super crawlers. Even at times the 7980 isn't strong enough.

Re: Humla - my first super
 

It is really great build keeping in mind, that you started from zero. "thumbsup" Would be awesome to see you in Nordics this year 8)

Re: Humla - my first super
 

Awesome rig sir. Truly an inspiration

Re: Humla - my first super
 

Thanks all!

Diamond, it is the FlySky FS-GT3B. It is 3 channel, but with the firmware update/hack it can
support 3-8 channels they say. It is cheap and you can buy a 6 channel receiver so
you have all 4 channels you need if you want/need 4 channels for steering servos (2x) and DIG (2x ESC for throttle).
Search the forum (it is a LONG thread about programming this transmitter here).
Also search the Internet, but you will soon find this website that sells both the transmitter, 6 channel receiver and firmware hack:
You can buy the transmitter with the firmware update pre-installed, so you don't need to do the soldering yourself.
GT3B
But the programming you must do, it is not very easy but not very hard either. Search this forum and ask in the right thread if you need/want.

Filo, yes Hitec 7980 I see is a favourite servo for Supers. I bought the 7955 early, before I did understand that was maybe not the best choice.
But it works ok for me now. With 2x BEC I think I get the most power out of the 7955's. They can get a bit hot if run very hard so time
will tell if they break one day. The Hitec 7950 is same size so my servo mounts I guess will fit. If I choose 7980 they are some bigger, so I had
to make new servo mounts. Time will tell, if the 7955's break I have to upgrade. Or if I see the 7955 are just much too weak.

Zarizi, thanks! I don't believe I will do any competition running this year. Maybe check out later. Find out where they are running etc.
I live one the south-west coast of Norway and it looks like most of the people are on the south-east, near Oslo.
But would be great to meat some other Super Crawler people and find some good driving locations.

Some more images comes now...

Re: Humla - my first super
 

Making the wheels using HPI Blast Wheel (narrowed from 70mm to 40-45mm) and Hot Bodies Sedona 2.2 tires (cut and glued) and custom foam. Search this forum and Youtube for information how to make such wheels.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/01-dekk.jpg

The axles: RC4WD Super Bully Light Weight Axle (65:1 gear ratio). I first made these servo mounts in plastic or what the right name is. But later changed to 4mm aluminium (2x 2mm plates). The servo mount is upside down, that was something I just found out was best and easy to make. The servo arm then is in the right high/line with the steering arms/links. I am no expert at this, but it works ok. I have seen alot other solutions for servo mounts here. Always interesting to see what other Super builders have done. The motors here is the cheap RC4WD, later upgraded to Holmes Hobbies TorqueMaster Pro 540, 45T.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...-akslinger.jpg

About 3 weeks later I had got so far as this image shows. Links are homemade from 6mm aluminium rods. First time I have ever done any drill and tapping. Interesting work, and the right tools are always the way to get the job done with success. I did ok. But I feel my links are one weak point. I will see if they break down or survive. But when you first have learned to make such links you can always make new if they break. That is maybe the best part of making themself. Maybe also cheaper to make yourself, but you need the tools. The chassis is Chaotic Crawlers Super Switch, but I changed all inner links so the width is expanded with 2 cm (20mm). I just found out Chaotic Crawlers has gone out of business, look at their website. We need people suporting the Super Crawler class, so hope they one they comes back. Thanks for the excellent chassis! The shocks are from RC4WD, Spark Comp Shock with Ti Shaft (110mm). Serious, I don't know yet how good or bad these shocks are. But they seem to work ok, time will tell. You also see the battery case made in 1mm aluminium and same with bottom plate.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...links-hjul.jpg

More images to come...

Re: Humla - my first super
 

Now I am mounting the chassis panels. They are in the same shape as what you get with the Chaotic Crawlers Super Switch chassis. But these are made in 1mm aluminium and adjusted so they fit the chassis after I enlarged the width 2 cm. Colour is Tamiya Camel Yellow, looks ok for a "desert crawler". The ESC in this image is the Outcry Crawler Dual Motor ESC, but that ESC I did not find good enough. Not good low speed control, to much shaking, jumping etc. I upgraded later to 2x Holmes Hobbies TorqueMaster BR-XL which are alot more expensive but also lets you run the car as slow you want with excellent control, power etc.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/04-deksler.jpg

All chassis panels mounted. Later upgraded most of the electronics and motors.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/05-deksler.jpg

Painting links, servo mounts, bottom plate and motor protection plates black. Well.. the paint don't hold on. The Tamiya yellow paint hold ok, but this black paint is not good on aluminium. But I don't care to much, but maybe later I one day will get paint that is better for aluminium.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...6-painting.jpg

Here the car is more or less finish. Just missing the motors, some electronics and battery case:
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/07-ferdig.jpg

Just the "must show flexible image". The setup is ok, for sure could be better and even get more flexible car. But I believe it is enough for my kind of crawling. You also see the homemade bumpers in 2mm aluminium here.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/08-ferdig.jpg

I thought about battery on axle setup, but found out this would not work good :) Ok, just a silly joke and image.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...ry-on-axle.jpg

more images to come...

Re: Humla - my first super
 

This is the "Integy Super Lathe 3" I bought at Ebay.com. Believe I paid $50 it it works ok. But with my 45T motors and slow driving I guess I will not have a need for it very often. But a nice tool to have when you need it. Of course you use it for brushed motor commutator cutting. Holmes Hobbies have some nice information on this webpage: 540 Brushed Motor Care, Installation, and Troubleshoot | The Search for Power
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...lipemaskin.jpg

Knuckle weights! I bought these from Blue Monkey. You get one pair so I bought 2x of these, so I have one for each knuckle. The weight is around 100 gram pr. knuckle. Could maybe used some more, but that is all I have now. I see some people prefer just to use knuckle weights for the front wheels. I use for all 4 wheels, so the gravity/weight point get as low as possible. Seriously, I don't know how much these help from rollover etc. But they look cool :)
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...le-weights.jpg

The chassis panels is homemade from 1mm aluminium. And alot of other parts are also aluminium. So i cut this recycle aluminium sign from a aluminium box of something and glued it to the car. The car is recyclable :) Just another small silly joke.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...nium-merke.jpg

Fragile.... just thought that sign would look cool on a crawler. Another joke of course.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/13-Fragile.jpg

Re: Humla - my first super
 

These last images are from first days out test driving. Good weather after 1-2 months of rain, snow etc here in south-west Norway. It rains alot here where I live, around 200+ days each year. So crawling will for sure just be a spring/summer hobby for me. In the winter we just sleep in our caves, more or less.

You can see the knuckle weights behind the wheels. The car is stuffed with the electronics, and battery in the homemade battery case in front.
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/14-Out.jpg

Just from another angel:
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/15-Out.jpg

Going up:
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/16-Out.jpg

And up again:
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyrtbil/17-Out.jpg

This is how it looks without the wheels. Knuckle weights easy to see here:
http://www.vestlending.com/Fjernstyr...-No-wheels.jpg


At the end I just want to say THANKS to all people here at rccrawler.com and special BIG THANKS! to everyone here at the Super Crawler forum. I could not have made this car if it was not for all the help I got from reading this forum. Also alot of good information from Holmes Hobbies (motor, ESC etc), RC4WD, Chaotic Crawlers, Blue Monkey and the FlySky hackers for the firmware update. I will report back some time later, when the weather is good again. My plan is to climb/crawl some mountains later this summer. Will be interesting an fun I hope.