Losi Trekker to HJ80 scaler - my first micro build!

[cragv]

1/24 Losi Trail Trekker to Landcruiser 80 Series mod log

Hi folks, this thread will be the mod log for my Losi Micro Trail Trekker build. I've built a Losi MRC or two in my time but that's about as adventurous as I've ever been so far! I'd like to build a 1:10 scaler one day, but given the significantly lower budget and time required for a micro, this'll do for now. It won't be complete for quite some time as our first baby is on the way in a month or two, but I'll get a few things done before then! Without further ado...

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July 2013: here's where things stand currently. Yet to do: finish the paint and final clear coat, barwork (that'll happen in early 2014 when my 3Doodler arrives), snorkel (in progress), considering a dim interior ceiling light, possible window tinting, tail and reversing lights in the trailer... the list goes on. She's getting there though, despite my having created MANY rookie flaws in the body.
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Sep 2012 update: I haven't forgotten about this project but am preparing for a new addition to our family, so will come back to this in a month or three with Phase II - Preparing the Hard Body Shell. In the meantime, here's a little video of the truck on the trail, showing things as they stand currently.
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After waiting since late July, my Trekker finally arrived yesterday!

All the other bits had been slowly trickling in over the past month, though there are still a few things on the list yet (body paint, LEDs, etc).

Here are the tires from the 1:24 scale HJ80 kit sitting next to the RC4WD TSL Boggers - bit of a difference and not quite scale (unless you're running 45's or something ;-))

Shiny new RC4WD beadlocks and the TSL rubber.

Before installation they'll get the solder treatment.

One down, three to go...

My 180mAh LiPO, purchased because I knew it'd fit. I've also got a 370mAh battery I'll use in the 80 when it's done, but this little fella will do for now.

I also stripped some of the stickers off the body. May or may not add others later, but for now, black is it!

Soldered up the universal battery plug and did a test-fit with the LiPO. Like a glove!

DANALLY's 110T Big Block motor and 59T gear being assembled into my tranny...

...and then into the Trekker. Neat!

Hitec HS-65MG micro servo fitted. Will retreat the horn with black dye after I clean it up a bit. Functional for now.

RC4WD wheels and rubber installed and body placed back on. This completes phase one. Play time!

 

[DVS]

Great start."thumbsup"

 

[spoo76]

Awesome start! Nice land cruiser body but it looks alot more like a 1/24 or 1/25 than 1/20

 

[TwentyF4rth]

Is there more Torque or RPM on that DANALLY motor?

btw that body will be a nice scaler

the stock Cruiser wheels look so small compared to the Trekker

your of to a good start and yeah don't forget to have some playtime in between

 

[cragv]

Awesome start! Nice land cruiser body but it looks alot more like a 1/24 or 1/25 than 1/20

Go go Gadget Typo, you're quite right, it is a 1:24! Fixed

 

[spoo76]

now that sparks an idea....4x4 Gadget mobile...

 

[Midlife Crisis]

I'll be watching this build! '80s are awesome......i have a '94 sitting in my garage with 91k on the ticker.

There's an awesome build in the micro scale section using a MiniQlo you might want to check out. Dr. Kustom is the member building it I believe.

That tbing is gonna look like Arctic Trucks from Iceland when it's done."thumbsup"

 

[cragv]

I'll be watching this build! '80s are awesome......i have a '94 sitting in my garage with 91k on the ticker.

There's an awesome build in the micro scale section using a MiniQlo you might want to check out. Dr. Kustom is the member building it I believe.

That tbing is gonna look like Arctic Trucks from Iceland when it's done."thumbsup"

Yep, 80's rock! I've seen Dr. Kustom's build thread, thanks for that! This one will be glossy maroon, as close to the Toyota factory colour the 80's were released in as I can get.

Here's my own 1:1 truck - she's approaching 400,000km and we've punted it everywhere from Fraser Island through central Australia through to the Victorian High Country (where this pic was taken). Just like the scale RCs, the mods never end "thumbsup"

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Edit:

Is there more Torque or RPM on that DANALLY motor?

btw that body will be a nice scaler

the stock Cruiser wheels look so small compared to the Trekker

Sorry, I missed this earlier. See his thread on the big block 110T kits, but torque is what you get with DANALLY's 110T. LiPOs help with speed but ultimately this is a slightly slower vehicle but significantly stronger. I suspect plastics will break before I run out of torque! (that's with glued slippers)

Yeah the stock 1:24 wheels are dwarfed by the Trekker's. I reckon my 'scale' 80 will be running mid-40s with these (I'm running 33s in the pic above)! Oh well, more epic this way

 

[hrddrvr]

The boggers scale out to roughly 50" tall for 1/25 I have some to use on my scale project, but am thinking of locating a smaller wheel, and cutting them down.

 

[cragv]

The boggers scale out to roughly 50" tall for 1/25 I have some to use on my scale project, but am thinking of locating a smaller wheel, and cutting them down.

I just worked it out (1.98" x 24) to find these are 47.5"! Crazy 8)

 

[Shinjari]

I just worked it out (1.98" x 24) to find these are 47.5"! Crazy 8)

Not scale...start over...jk!

Looks good so far.

 

[cragv]

The axle bolts in the stock Trekker axle and diff housing would have <1mm ground clearance with stock wheels and rubber unfortunately. Being that we're working with a pre-fabbed chassis and drivetrain as the foundation to this semi-scaler, larger wheels and tires are unavoidable. My personal preference anyway. If I could afford it, I'd be running 37's on my 1:1 anyway!

Ed. I'm still waiting for paint for my 80 body so in the meantime took some inspiration from the Micro images archive here and bobbed my stock body. Nice improvement, to my eyes, despite it being a tad heavier up-top now. I like the look.

 

[cragv]

Still waiting to buy appropriate paint for the 80 body. Also need to research how to make a snorkel from carved and molded polystyrene...

Anyway, tonight I found a spring-loaded keycard/key holder, which promptly became my winch (inspired by other builds I've seen here on RCC):

(Paper clip: bent to shape, trimmed and then solder added to round edges and just look 'better'. Prototype currently; will include in final 80 build).

 

[Sh0rtBus]

So far so good, man! I'm about to order up a set of the RC4WD beadlocks and TTC's for my Trekker. Also recently installed a Danally Big Block kit and I have a newfound love for my Trekker! It was extremely slow on a single cell lipo (from a micro heli). Worked good with the stock motor and gave me about 30-40 minutes of run time, but after I put the BB kit in, it only had about half as much wheelspeed as with the stock motor. Upgraded to a Gens Ace 2S 450mah lipo and not only does it have gobs of torque down low, but it has wheelspeed for days, too! Comparable to putting a Tekin Pro4 in a Wraith.

Case in point: you'll definitley want to pick up a 2s lipo at some point. Really brings the BB kit to life. Also, consider building some lower links using 1/8" all thread and Losi end links. I made a set for mine and sleeved them in 5/32 carbon fiber tubing to help slide over obstacles better. Could use 5/32 steel tubing, too.

 

[cragv]

Case in point: you'll definitley want to pick up a 2s lipo at some point. Really brings the BB kit to life. Also, consider building some lower links using 1/8" all thread and Losi end links. I made a set for mine and sleeved them in 5/32 carbon fiber tubing to help slide over obstacles better. Could use 5/32 steel tubing, too.

Thanks I've been using 2S lipos after running with the NiMH battery one single time. I agree it's the only way to go. Have been thinking about lower links, will look at that. Cheers for the ideas.

 

[cragv]

Still waiting to get my glossy maroon paint for the 80 body. In the meantime...

I removed the delicate tabs from the side of my 110T motor and applied solder to the side plates of the housing instead. Stronger and more compact, meaning now one of the terminals don't rub against one of the body nuts when installed. Added longer wires while I was at it, and reversed the polarity too, in preparation for a tranny reversal.

Transmission reversed successfully.

I also made the winch a bit more realistic, removing the plastic and metal parts from the original design and moving straight to a hook on the end of the 'dyneema' rope :mrgreen:

Tranny reversal completed and 'winch motor' mounted on top of the servo. Doesn't interfere with suspension and fits neatly.

Testing...

Quite happy with the results

 

[Sh0rtBus]

Coming along nicely. One thing you might consider is relocating the on/off switch to am easier access location. Put mine on the left side of the chassis just inside the body. Much easier to get to.

 

[cragv]

Coming along nicely. One thing you might consider is relocating the on/off switch to am easier access location. Put mine on the left side of the chassis just inside the body. Much easier to get to.

Thanks, I have considered that but will wait until I'm ready to fit the 80 series body. I don't find the stock location too hard as it is. Good idea though.

 

[MattMead]

I like the winch Idea, super simple. How well does it work? And what about the dye you where talking about for the servo horns? What would you use?

 

[cragv]

I like the winch Idea, super simple. How well does it work? And what about the dye you where talking about for the servo horns? What would you use?

Thanks, I got it from another member's build here a while ago. Works beautifully - the spring in the retraction device is easily strong enough to provide more pull to get the light-weight Trekker out of trouble. The last two photos posted here are not 'posing' photos - they're legitimately pics of the Trekker successfully winching up a hill that was too steep and muddy to drive on its own. You could introduce a pulley in tough situations for a double-line pull too, I suppose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rbRV6hsNkY

Re: dying nylon, have a read of this. As I understand it, I can buy this (do a little search for the equiv. product in your country) and mix in a pot with simmering water. Add the part, stir for 3-5 mins and hey, presto, one black servo horn! We'll see how that turns out soon!