Originally Posted by Jim85IROC (Post 5814810)

I'm 2 weeks late, but I finally have my next update!
This week's update adds a custom designed 3D printed front bulkhead that provides vertical shock mounting, bell crank steering and an adjustable front mount battery tray! This represents a major upgrade for the 10428 series of Twin Hammers style vehicles.

This new design replaces the laydown shocks with nearly vertical 90mm shocks for smoother suspension action, it replaces the sliding steering rack with a more conventional bell crank system that works smoother and provides more steering angle, and it moves the battery forward (and lower) for better weight bias & CoG when crawling.

The only parts you need in addition to the 3D printed bulkhead & accessories is a set of rear SCX10 shock hoops, a new servo horn, and some miscellaneous mounting hardware, so this upgrade will only set you back about $22.

The new design replaces the laydown shocks, the rocker arms, the shock links that connect the a-arms and the rockers, the bulkhead under the laydown shocks, and the steering rack underneath the bulkhead. In it's place, you mount the new bulkhead with the bellcranks mounted beneath. One of the shock links is reused to connect the bellcranks, and the other gives up its ball studs to replace the lower ball studs in the new shocks. A new servo arm is required because of spacing as well as a need for more throw out of the servo.

Here are a couple 3D renderings of the bulkhead:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/821/4...fb02fc64_c.jpg10428 Battery Tray2 by jim85iroc, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/809/3...7a23db2f_c.jpg10428 Battery Tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

Here's a view of the underside:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/807/4...50946c09_c.jpg10428 Battery Tray5 by jim85iroc, on Flickr

And here's a view of the part with all of the accessories:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/794/3...fa7f9d45_c.jpg10428 Battery Tray everything by jim85iroc, on Flickr
The piece in front is the battery stop plate that mounts to the bulkhead in one of 3 different positions depending on your battery length. The pieces in the lower right corner are the bulkheads. The long piece on the far side of the bulkhead is the shock tower support bar, and the two pieces in the upper corner are the shock spacers.

Here are some pics of it installed:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/4...78a0fff4_c.jpgBattery tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/820/4...d3f5882f_c.jpgBattery tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/796/4...bd8b0cc7_c.jpgBattery tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/818/4...cf89affd_c.jpgBattery tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/797/2...99110285_c.jpgBattery tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/810/4...725674cc_c.jpgBattery tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/790/2...5cfda857_c.jpgBattery tray by jim85iroc, on Flickr

I'm really stoked at how this came out, and I can't wait for our snow to melt so I can get out there and run it!

This week we started with a balance of $45.
The total spent this week is $22, which leaves a balance of $43 from this week that can be carried over.

The Thingiverse files for the printed parts can be found here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2839924

Additional parts used:
90mm shocks: $9 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Sh...72.m2749.l2649
Aluminum servo arm: $2 https://www.ebay.com/itm/25T-CNC-Alu...EAAOSwBoxaj3oJ
SCX10 AX80025 Rear Shock Hoops: $11.25 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Axial-Racin...72.m2749.l2649
Miscellaneous 3mm & 2.5mm screws

Here's the video for it:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oNOxIg8QwJM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Make sure to check out the whole upgrade series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...eEyjOK3WH96uJr

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper (Post 5838590)

These things are so cool. I wish they'd come down in price. Last time I looked the side by sides were much more expensive than the TH clones.

Originally Posted by JSterrett (Post 5838605)

I think it largely depends on which clone you're looking at... All of the 2-speed clones I've seen have been right around $150, with the single-speed ones running the $100-120 range....

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC (Post 5845254)

I took the 10428B out on a great rocky trail while on vacation in PA this weekend, and the truck began intermittently dropping the ability to go forward, then gave up forward rotation all together. It has the unmistakable aroma of burnt electronics. I believe that the ESC is no longer with us. :(

I need to decide if I want to try out another $11 HK ESC or step up to a WP 1040 or WP 1060.

I'd like to go with the 1040 or 1060, but unlike the one that comes stock in the Gen7, I can't find an aftermarket one that has the 0/50/100% drag brake options. They all seem to be f/b/r, f/r and f/b instead of all f/r with 3 brake options.

Originally Posted by JSterrett (Post 5845303)

Why not just buy a Gen 7 ESC?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC (Post 5845351)

Because it's 2x the cost of a normal 1040, and doesn't really fit the budget theme of the build.

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC (Post 5845707)

For those who have been considering a project using this vehicle, Gearbest has lowered the price to $150. With the RC18OFF coupon, that's $122. That's the cheapest I've seen it since well before I bought mine at $130.

https://www.gearbest.com/rc-cars/pp_...&lkid=14735202

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC (Post 5838535)

Sorry for the delayed response... I've had virtually zero free time since I got roped into coaching my kid's minor league baseball team.

Anyway... the distance between the shock towers is about 65mm, which is too narrow to fit around the TH cage as far as I know. I think you need the towers to spread another 20mm to fit the TH, and honestly, I'm not sure how you can do that with the shocks mounted where they are. As it is, the shocks are almost vertical with the 65mm width. I need to see how some of the other TH vertical shock setups are done to see if there's another way to mount the shocks to the A-Arms that pushes them out a little further.

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC (Post 5863483)

I haven't had any real opportunities to use the truck since making the upgrades until today. This morning my daughter and I set out on a great hiking trail while on vacation in NH. Aside from the ESC going thermal constantly, the truck performed excellently. I can't believe how well it climbs up the steep sections of trail. The only time my Gen7 had an advantage was on large break-overs that required more ground clearance. On everything else the 10428 just went up and over. I'm thrilled with how this truck works. I just need to sort out this overheating ESC.

Happy kid!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1894/...ce382a7a_c.jpg