Thunderhorse TLT build!

[golgi]

I just got my new Thunderhorse crawler chassis today in the mail. Jeff of jwcustomwurksrc.com was very quick to send it.

I opened the box and out came the thunderhorse chassis set. I say set because this is a complete setup that comes built with chassis side plates, two lower plates, servo mount plates, and linkages and screws. Check out the picture below, this is exactly how the chassis looks when you take it out of the box!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...22466219462466

Everything is really beefy and strong and has the stealth look with nearly everything in black.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...22530643971922

So, I had already gotten my TLT axles built with bearings and locked diffs. I also had a T4 stealth tranny, Integy 55t pro motor, TLT shocks, Moab 2.2s with star cut foams mounted on hpi star wheels, and a Proline Bushwacker body all painted and ready to go.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...22668082925410

Here is a quick mockup with the axles, tranny, and motor with the body in the background.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...22801226911602

At this point I decided not to drill the holes for the transmission just yet since I'm not sure which orientation is better. Should I do it this way http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...23093284687762
OR
this way http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...23226428673954 ?

Here it is built up with the tires on.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...23333802856370

Oh and here is the customary articulation shot without any limiting done to the shocks which I do plan to do with some fuel tubing.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...23591500894162

Here are a couple pictures with the Bushwacker body held over the chassis. Unfortunately I'll either have to cut up the body a bit or buy a different body for this setup.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...23707465011170
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...23814839193586

Overall I'm extremely pleased with the chassis and am really excited about getting it running. Jeff, or anyone else, please tell me which way the tranny is supposed to be oriented.

[seanhawk]

looks good

[codizzl]

good job good looking build i love that body. the wheel base looks a little long though:-(

[draven]

I would mount the T4 like you have it in the 2nd pic that is how my stealth tranny was mounted in my BMV 2 before I put the R2 in it Nice Rig Jeff does great work

[lunchbox]

The wheelbase of my first one was just under 12.5 inches, I am waiting on my second one but as this thing is aimed at comps I don't think Jeff would make it to long to compete. The truck looks great man, and I like that body too, though it does look just a bit small. I have the same tranny and plan to mount it with the motor to the front for weight distribution.

[jwcustomwurks]

lookin good man!

[golgi]

Yeah I fiddled around with ideas with that bushwacker body last night. Whether to cut it out all crawler style with the wheelbase a little off. I decided not to cut it up, I'm just going to get a different body for it. Since this thing is right around 12.5 wheelbase, do you know which bodies would fit well?

I'm going to mount the tranny tonight onto the chassis, thanks draven.

You know, I'm really impressed with this thing every time I look at it. I can't believe the quality of it for the price. This is probably the least expensive comp chassis set out there but you would never be able to tell by looking at it.

[chivas72]

Just change your shocks instead of limiting those stock ones

Jp Customs or RG Motorsports are the best the come with mounting on both sides unlike maxx shocks or stock shocks that you have to invent so wierd and unclean looking shock mount.

The chasis comes preassembles out of the box ? ? ?
this means that you have the best possible set up from factory ?
i don;t see options if you don't like the facotry link positions. but if facotry specs works hell that's better than trying to figure it out yourself. I would like to see factory test vids and pics on when they tested this to find the sweet spot for the links.

Great build can't wait to see ya test it out and hear your comments

[jwcustomwurks]

There are a few mounting options for links on the chassis as well as multiple shock mount positions. Delrin, we all know is one heck of a tough plastic and can easily be modified to suit each owners personal preference. I merely provide a place to start. Link length can also be altered or links replaced by the owner. I run maxx big bore shocks on my comp rig with a little fuel tubing in the front and have a good setup. JW
I have a vid out there

[golgi]

Got some more work done on it and it is now driveable. I haven't done a whole lot of testing but this thing drives around like it's glued to whatever it's crawling over. I love the stance it has and how it effortlessly crawls over things. With the stealth tranny in there, this thing is really quiet when it's running compared to my F350 hilift. I really lucked out with the gearing because I just used the spur that came with the stealth tranny i bought on ebay and put a 20t pinion on the 55t motor and it's got just the right amount of speed. Not too fast and not too slow.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...35258162565122

There is plenty of room to mount the esc and receiver. Mounting the tranny was pretty easy also. I mounted it with the motor on the right side as Draven suggested and it worked out well. Now with this configuration, the chassis does sag slightly on the right side when sitting still because of the weight of the motor but as soon as I apply power, it straightens out with the torque. So the placement of the motor is very effective at countering the torque.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...35567400210482

For driveshafts I decided to go with Revo sliders and yokes. Kind of a pain to drill them out and mount them but it seems to be pretty strong.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...35352651845650
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...35455731060770

For now, I'm just going to use the Futaba 9405 servo that I have. It's decent at right around 100 oz of torque. It's what I had sitting around but I plan to replace it with something better down the road.
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...35661889491010

Now that it's driveable, I'm going to focus on the last four things I need to do:

1. Paint a new body that fits the wheelbase. Most likely a Jeep rubicon.
2. Get some Erickson Beadlocks to make it into a full comp crawler!
3. Make some 7c 2/3a battery packs.
4. Get some better shocks. Most likely I'll get some Tmaxx shocks because friend of mine has some available.

[Harley]

Move your front drag link ontop of the knuckle. That half inch really helps out. I would replace the shocks the first chance you get too, like you said. The TLTs are just the most unsmooth shock you can use, you will love pretty much anything else you put on there.

Great lookin chassis, will be a sweet rig when you get it done.

[dirk379]

Holy that chassis is freakin bargain, comes with all that! Man i wish i woulda went that route instead of the reign.

Good lookin! Just may be orderin me one of those chassis.

[jwcustomwurks]

Originally Posted by dirk379

Holy that chassis is freakin bargain, comes with all that! Man i wish i woulda went that route instead of the reign.

Good lookin! Just may be orderin me one of those chassis.

www.jwcustomwurksrc.com

[jwcustomwurks]

Stay tuned for a thunderhorse review from a well known group

[golgi]

Finally got the body painted and made some custom body mounts. Here it is in it's semi-finished state....

http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...17663021802882
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...17770395985298
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...17860590298530
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...17955079579058
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...18049568859586
http://picasaweb.google.com/design.v...18148353107410

Tonight I'm going to pick up the tmaxx shocks so those will be on soon. Also I think I'm going to cut off the fenders on that Jeep body since I want the body to sit a little lower. What do you think? Does it look okay at its current height or should I lower the body some more?

[Offroader5]

Looks sweet, just needs some all black shocks now! Maybe some scale one's like RC4WD sells.

[lunchbox]

Nice, it's like you are in my head, that's the same body and tires I have on the way. though the postal tool struck again today, I was here ALL day and he left one of those "Sorry we missed you" notes... didn't even bother to knock. When I go in to get the stuff in the morning I guess I will complain...again.

Your build does look great though, it's nice to get such a great preview of what my build will look like. Wait a second, you used the same motor, tranny, axles, and chassis that I did so the only difference will be the Ericksons I plan to use, and I already have the black Maxx shocks, and a black ESC from Mtronics, though that white spur I picked from Robinson will ruin the look... maybe I can dye it black too. Oh, I did mount the tranny the other way too, and had to make a bracket for it as the screw holes in mine were pooched.

Your build was finished first though, so maybe I am in your head... creepy.


Oh yeah, that big green "rear" sticker is because some noob-tard built Thunderhorse #8 backwards.

[jwcustomwurks]

LOL OMG LB...backwards is ok sometimes...but you did inspire me I think I may pick up some ericksons as well....black is coooolll

[lunchbox]

I wish I had my ride done for my trip to Reno last week. I passed by an RC shop, flipped a bit...u-turn and went in. They seem heavy on the crawlers, there was at least half a dozen comp crawlers on the shelves, and that was about it. They had a few buggies, but tons of Clods, F-350s, and crawler stuff. They had even cut up tires for some slim 2.2 Jordan-ish tires. One of the guys had build a comp 2.2 clod the night before and it looked great. They were very friendly, and knew more about RC crawling than anyone else I have actualy "talked" to. They just shame the guys at the LHS with their knowledge. I was trying to describe the Thunderhorse chassis to one of them, and wished I had it with me instead.

I know I have seen the build thread for that lifted 4x4 limo that was out front in someone's sig line, I just don't remember who, and can't find it again. Anyway, Great store, Great staff, Great parking lot... for crawling. lol I only twisted my ankle a little on my way out. It's still a much better crawling resorce than anything I have localy. One more reason to move to Reno.

[lunchbox]

Originally Posted by jwcustomwurks

LOL OMG LB...backwards is ok sometimes...but you did inspire me I think I may pick up some ericksons as well....black is coooolll

Great, why not just tell everyone I'm the idiot that built his truck backwards. Though, I guess my post kind of spells it out already huh?


I am torn on the Ericksons between the dish and single 6... they both look so nice to me, well, they ALL look great, but only those 2 are vexing me. I could get a set of Pede wheels, narrowe them, glue them, flue the tire to them, and wait to strip the hex out so I can throw away a good tire, but I think these will be better.