Knuckle Busters 1.9 Wraith

[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

I pulled all the electronics, re-soldered some stuff, and voila it works just fine now. I never understood what the actual problem was, but it's fixed.

I also have a set of pitbull rock beast 1.9's on the way.
What's a relatively cheap beadlock wheel that will work fairly well? I like the price and look of the Axial 8 hole beadlocks. $30 for a set seems pretty good just to get me rolling on the new tires. I'm trying to keep the look of the wraith close to my real TJ which has Cragar soft 8 wheels.

 

[Natedog]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

I pulled all the electronics, re-soldered some stuff, and voila it works just fine now. I never understood what the actual problem was, but it's fixed.

I also have a set of pitbull rock beast 1.9's on the way.
What's a relatively cheap beadlock wheel that will work fairly well? I like the price and look of the Axial 8 hole beadlocks. $30 for a set seems pretty good just to get me rolling on the new tires. I'm trying to keep the look of the wraith close to my real TJ which has Cragar soft 8 wheels.

Glad you got it fixed.

Cool. I like the Hot Racing 8-hole steel beadlocks for 1.9 scale and they are perfect weight. RC4WD makes some too.

 

[DTB1]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Why did you choose 1.9s over the 2.2 size. Nice looking rig matches your 1:1 nicely.

 

[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Glad you got it fixed.

Cool. I like the Hot Racing 8-hole steel beadlocks for 1.9 scale and they are perfect weight. RC4WD makes some too.

I'll have to check them out and see if they fit in the budget. Thanks for the suggestions.

Why did you choose 1.9s over the 2.2 size. Nice looking rig matches your 1:1 nicely.

Thank you!
Switching to 1.9 for me is purely aesthetic. I really like the "scale" version of a wraith. Smaller tires, narrow axles. It just looks...right.

 

[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Time for a poser shot. My tires came last week. Next I'll order wheels or maybe scx10 4 link mounts.

I'm thinking about selling off all the 2.2 stuff to help fund the project. I'm just nervous about not liking the 1.9 conversion and then not having the old parts anymore. I'll have to think about it.


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[KBR97]

Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Finally got around to ordering some parts for the 1.9 conversion. I got a decent deal at RPP on some brand new axles. Also grabbed some axial beadlocks, a 4link servo plate and some link ends.

Mounted the tires on to the axial beadlocks.

 

[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

A quick mock up of wheels and tires under the chassis. This is the wheelbase I'm shooting for. Just about 12" - 12.25

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Alrighhhty then! The 1.9 conversion is basically done. I worked on it a little bit over the past few weeks and just had it outside for a shakedown run. Suspension cycles smooth as far as I can tell. Wheel base is 12". I used a STRC 4 link servo plate for the front axle. Beware when using this plate and a Savox servo. The larger length of the servo box covers the link mounting holes. I drilled two new mount holes for the servo and it was perfect. I had to remove the upper bumper mounts to let the servo clear the framework when the suspension moves. I stiffened up the frame with one of those little aluminum links from axial.

The only other problem I ran into was the rear shocks rubbing on the frame. I used a combination of some Dremel work and also some spacers between the shock and the upper mounts.

Here's a bunch of pics of it just sitting on the table inside.

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[KBR97]

Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Almost passed the beer can test. Lifted the rear a tiny bit.

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[KBR97]

Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Just for comparison...
New wraith - Now
I need to drop the front down a little.

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Making some new panels. These are going to be beater panels. They are made from real thin metal flashing that will bend and dent pretty easy, hopefully.
Most of the panels came out pretty decent. The hood is...meh. It's not horrible.

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[jwall046]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Cool

 

[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Painting them primer grey, then a top coat of flat green. I'm also painting the RTR hood just so I can switch it out if I choose to.

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Done for now. I'm going to redo the side panels to make them full length and wrap the rear corner. First time I did them the measurement was not right so I cut them real short for now.

Here they are all painted and mounted. I'll run the jeep hood for now. My own hood doesn't look that great.

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Brought it out for some rocks and dirt. Performed great!

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Another quick update...
Here's the latest set of metal panels that I made. Not crazy about this hood either, but I stripped down the jeep hood and repainted it orange.

Oh and I have a Mamba Max Pro, a Holmes Hobby brushless Trailmaster motor, and some gears on the way.

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Working on making a scale fuel cell. Hopefully it works out like planned. I was fiddling with it for a while. Ended up using all different parts I had laying around. Made the box out of hobby wood, wrapped it with metal flashing then glued it all together. Used a wraith shock part, some fittings and tube from a fish tank filter and some picture hanging wire .

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

Got it all together and mounted to the rear panel of the truck. Hopefully it all stays together. I used a combination of gorilla glue to hold all the little parts together, wood glue for the wood frame, and finally hot glue to hold the fuel cell to the panel.

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[KBR97]

Re: Knuckle Busters RTR Wraith

When you guys buy the metal tubing to put on your custom links what exactly are you buying? And also where is it typically found. I tried 2 different auto parts stores and a hardware store. Haven't found any yet.