Xtant's MFM Black Widow

[Xtant3150c]

After trying a few different setups over the past couple of years from the Delrin P4 to a PimpSlap I was trying to decide on a new chassis to use?

I had originally built up a K2-3S drooper to try out but after reading Harvo's Ghetto Comp Rig
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136247&highlight=mfm

and Black Widow build threads
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131460&highlight=mfm

I really liked the look and performance that he said he was getting with the MFM Black Widow. And of course the price was really nice! So after seeing that they were now including the lower links I ordered one last Monday and got it in the mail on Saturday"thumbsup"

With our Comp being on Sunday I was'nt sure if I wanted to do the change over yet, but quickly changed my mind :lol:

The Black Widow is a very nice looking chassis and very good quality! The change over went pretty straight forward. I only had to make a new front driveshaft, used a Jato driveshaft as it was all I had on hand!hehe

Also made some quick upper links (need to sleeve them)

I am using REVO shocks with Jato springs. Although I ended up running the spring collars all the way up so it ended up being about a 90% droop 10% sprung setup.

Using TLT axles with clocked c's and alloy knucks upfront and stock axle for the rear. Tobee craft 16mm wideners upfront and BlackFoot stubaxles for the rear. Front is 10.5" wide and the Rear is 9.75". Maybe a little wide upfront but this has worked for me so far, but could change? Using Proline Beadlocks with M3 Hammers with stock Axial Foams. Added 7oz. of weight to the fronts and 4oz out back.

Stock Axial trans with a 55t lathe 90t spur 12t pinion. CC BEC, Mamba Max with a MaxAmps 3S 1100mah LiPo, DX3R and cheapy Tower Pro Servo (yes will be upgraded soon I hope?)

Did'nt get to test before the comp but this is nothing new for me!hehehe I have only entered 3 comps and have used a different setup in each of them :shock:

The Comp was fun as usual but had some pretty tough courses! I was really impressed with how the Black Widow performed on it's maiden voyage. The truck climbed verticals really well and side hilled pretty good to. The M3 Hammers/Stock Axial Foams setup worked well to. The rocks we comped on have so much grip you could probably run hard plastic wheels and do good!:lol:

I surprisingly did well enough to make the top 10 but broke to axle shafts! Was lucky that Rydefab had spares and everyone was nice enough to let me make the repair before starting the Final course.

The truck made a climb that only one other truck made (dtp's bergler) but popping a steering rod and breaking another axle shaft ended my run. A better servo and a dig would surely make this rig even better as well as a driver who gets more run time with it!hehehe Also needs a new body!

Overall I am Very Impressed with the MFM Black Widow! And think it is an extremely good value!

 

[Barrows]

Looks great, have any action shots?

 

[Xtant3150c]

Looks great, have any action shots?

Well I am one of the ones usually taking pics so I usually don't have pics of my truck in action? I will take some the next time I get it out on the rocks.

But here are a couple I do have.

 

[Barrows]

Love that design and it looks like it handels well, good job!

 

[Da Hermit]

That was a FAST build you did.
BIGKAHAPUMP here in Hilo bought the same chassis and it did better than expected for its maiden voyage. Fourth out of fifteen.

I think you made a good choice X.

 

[Xtant3150c]

Love that design and it looks like it handels well, good job!

Yah it worked very well considering the circumstances and the driver :shock::lol:

That was a FAST build you did.
BIGKAHAPUMP here in Hilo bought the same chassis and it did better than expected for its maiden voyage. Fourth out of fifteen.

I think you made a good choice X.

Mahalo's Man! I am still surprised at myself for doing the build the night before the comp! And the fact that the layout came out as clean as it did!

I don't even know what place I finished in :shock::?: But making the Top 10 for the last course was a big surprise!

 

[Da Hermit]

Mahalo's Man! I am still surprised at myself for doing the build the night before the comp! And the fact that the layout came out as clean as it did!

I don't even know what place I finished in :shock::?: But making the Top 10 for the last course was a big surprise!

And I heard that making the top 10 in HRCC is a good thing.

 

[Xtant3150c]

Yah making Top 10 is a good thing ;-)

I did finished tied for 5th with 5 others :shock::lol: But still an improvement for me.

Well have'nt touched my truck since the comp till today and just noticed that one of the lower delrin links is bent :shock: :?: I thought this stuff is supposed to not get bent?

Gonna have to check the MFM thread to see if anyone else has had this issue?

 

[Bermbuster]

Yah making Top 10 is a good thing ;-)

I did finished tied for 5th with 5 others :shock::lol: But still an improvement for me.

Well have'nt touched my truck since the comp till today and just noticed that one of the lower delrin links is bent :shock: :?: I thought this stuff is supposed to not get bent?

Gonna have to check the MFM thread to see if anyone else has had this issue?

Hey X.....longtime no see....
Im crawling now too...
A good crawler buddy in my club uses delrin tubing w threaded rod inside for strength....

 

[kasper]

Looks very nice go do some crawlin

 

[Xtant3150c]

Hey X.....longtime no see....
Im crawling now too...
A good crawler buddy in my club uses delrin tubing w threaded rod inside for strength....

Hey Berm yah man to long! Good to read from ya ;-) Glad to see you got into Crawling!

ThanX for the tip! Heard about this but just thought that delrin could take more?

Looks very nice go do some crawlin

ThanX!

Need to order some axle shafts to get it up and running again ;-)

 

[Xtant3150c]

Been awhile :shock: :lol:

Well finally got around getting some axle shafts. Just went with stockers for now. Would have liked to have upgraded to cvd's but the R/C funds are spread out a bit so they will have to wait awhile.

Also got a replacement lower link from MFM "thumbsup" to replace my bent one.

And since Comps don't start till next month or so this will atleast get me running again and let me get some runtime in "thumbsup"

I got a DNA dig in a trade (Mahalo's kalani!) and got that installed and setup today I have been waiting to be able to have a dig for my crawler for awhile and am stoked to finally have one 8) Just playing around with the truck in the house had me smiling ear to ear! hehehe

Using a 5 year old 225bb with metal gears installed. Having a slight clicking issue while engaging and disengaging the dig but it holds fine once it is engaged. I have seen others make a different mounting plate to use full size servos for their digs and may look into that? But for now it's working.

Don't know when I will be able to get it out on the rocks again due to all the rain we have been having.

Need to pick up a aluminum servo horn for my Hitec servo and could use a new body!hehehe

 

[Xtant3150c]

Well hell it's been awhile!:shock::lol:

Been getting a little more runtime with the BW the past month ;-)

I am really liking the DIG setup "thumbsup" It's been kewl learning how and when to use it.

I am now using a TowerPro servo for the dig. Made a simple aluminum mount for it. Need to get better servo mounts for it though. It works the dig pretty smoothly but need to make some small adjustments to get it to go into freewheel easier. But overall the setup is working pretty well.

I am using a Tekin FX-R now and am liking it alot. It's smaller size helped clean up the electronics quite a bit. But not enough for me to post pics of it :lol:

Here's a lame vid of the BW in action
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4911271701084087588

As you can see from the vid I did'nt get a new body yet! Well I did just buy a RockStar for it and tossed that body in the trash for good this time!:lol:

 

[U DOWN]

cool build John!

 

[Xtant3150c]

cool build John!

ThanX Man

Need to clean up the wiring :arrow:

 

[JSpilker]

looks good

 

[Xtant3150c]

ThanX Man.

Finally got the new lid painted and mounted. Came out o.k.

And ofcourse as soon as I got a new body I acquired this! ThanX to my Buddy Mr. Ronbeck

I was'nt planning on using it just yet but having not built anything for awhile I decided to make the switch to give it a try ;-)

And here all built

Got to run it yesterday for a little while before breaking another axle shaft and cracking a driveshaft yoke!:x Ran pretty good though.

I am going to pick up an AX-10 soon and will see if I want to use them with the Black Widow or the Hustler?

 

[Da Hermit]

Nothing like the old faithfull tlt."thumbsup"
Your paint job looks wicked. I may need to ask you for help on my next paint job.

-Hermit

 

[Sprint 80]

The BW worked really good at the last comp Xtant. Looks like the crawling rigs are growing in Kahalu'u. 8)
The new lid looks awesome and the tuber is even sweeter. "thumbsup"

 

[Xtant3150c]

Nothing like the old faithfull tlt."thumbsup"
Your paint job looks wicked. I may need to ask you for help on my next paint job.

-Hermit

ThanX Man 8)
You would be well advised to not ask for my help in painting:idea::?: I have maybe 1 out of 10 comeout right and already had 2 so my luck has definately run out :shock::lol:;-)

The BW worked really good at the last comp Xtant. Looks like the crawling rigs are growing in Kahalu'u. 8)
The new lid looks awesome and the tuber is even sweeter. "thumbsup"

ThanX Alan 8)
Kewl who else is running a BW?