Ascender build

[Markeje]

Thinking about going this route to build a EB Bronco opposed to the SCX.
As for the axial there are hundreds of upgrade parts and such. My questions is how does the Ascender doing in the upgrade department? Can you get aluminum axle housing? Can it be build bulletproof?

 

[Natedog]

Aluminum axle housings are unnecessary imo for any crawler, I beat my SCX10 and my Acender, both hold up quite well and I have not broken anything on my Ascender yet running HD pinions and HD plastic stock driveshafts. Upgrades from HR, SSD, Vaterra and not sure who else...everything you need is already available. Read through some of the builds here to see more.

 

[Markeje]

OK - The reason I like to run the aluminum axle housings is for weight and to resist bent axle shafts. We hill climb a lot. I don't trail ride or crawl our rigs around at slow speeds.
So wheel speed and the ability to withstand a hard tumble over and over is necessary.
I love my wraith(s) for this but want a more scale looking rig to hill climb with. Just like we do in the 1:1 world. I'm sure with the popularity of the Acender more and more parts will come available.
I do not what the acender axle width is but if it is close to the scx then a set of those might work.

 

[Natedog]

OK, that clears things up. I've taken many hard and long tumbles while climbing with mine and I like throttle, granted I'm still running stock RTR electronics on 2s and 3s so I can't say about how it will handle higher power, it does very well on durability from falls, tumbles etc. The axles are very close or same as SCX10 axles measured WMS to WMS outside of wheel mounting hexes.

 

[Markeje]

Thanks NateDog! It seems to be quit the truck. Really thinking of doing the Ascender Bronco. Just wish I could get it in a kit and not a RTR

 

[Natedog]

You're welcome, I held off on mine due to pinion gear and driveshaft concerns which Vaterra addressed very quickly. I really enjoy mine and have been using and abusing it to push these parts and have not had a problem even when very bound up and on the gas...of course I know when to let off the gas just as I would with my Wraith or SCX. I'm a kit guy too, but love the color of the RTR body, didn't feel like painting a body, wanted to try cheaper esc vs my Tekin FXRs, so I went RTR. The stock esc works pretty well, but hardcore crawling would really benefit from the awesome smooth throttle control of Tekin FXR especially on steep downhills. Check my thread here and you can see I'm putting through it's paces; http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/vaterra-ascender/538944-natedogs-vaterra-ascender.html

There are many others here running brushless and/or larger tires and seems the Ascender is holding up. MIP makes driveshafts for it, but I have not needed them yet.

 

[Markeje]

Awesome and good to hear. Do you know off hand if you can buy the Bronco body unpainted? I would assume so since you can the Blazer.

 

[Natedog]

Added SSD to aftermarket vendor making cool high quality parts for the Ascender! Not sure when the Bronco body will be available in clear.

 

[Natedog]

Blazer clear body in stock at Horizon, can't find the Bronco atm, saw thread here in Ascender section with the Bronco announcement.

Here's Bronco RTR manual, not much help, no part numbers.
http://www.vaterrarc.com/ProdInfo/Files/VTR03031-Manual-MULTI.pdf

 

[Natedog]

Vaterra Bronco thread:
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/vaterra-ascender/541998-well-here-new-vaterra-bronco.html

 

[new2rocks]

The aftermarket is starting to pick up for the Ascender. The GCM forward motor mount conversion is excellent (great for forward weight distribution on your hill climbs), SSD has a few things, ScalerFab has bumpers and sliders, and RC4WD recently got into the act with some bumpers. I would expect to see more coming, as well.

 

[MudMonster]

Gpm is also making aluminum upgrade parts as well.

 

[HDMM]

Aluminum axle housings are unnecessary imo for any crawler, I beat my SCX10 and my Acender, both hold up quite well and I have not broken anything on my Ascender yet running HD pinions and HD plastic stock driveshafts. Upgrades from HR, SSD, Vaterra and not sure who else...everything you need is already available. Read through some of the builds here to see more.

I agree with Natedog ^^^

 

[Markeje]

Clear Bronco Bodies will be available in another month or so. I made my 1st purchase towards the Bronco I haven't purchased yet. 1.9 Fuel Trophy wheels from RC4WD
I could not resist. I just put 18" Trophys and KO2's on my F150 Screw