l36pontiac
Newbie
that trailer battery idea is ingenious.
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Losi Trekker to HJ80 scaler - my first micro build!
- Thread starter cragv
- Start date
cragv
Pebble Pounder
Thanks
I didn't originally intend on doing that, but one day I just felt like making a trailer, then it seemed like the natural place to store it. However, I'm going to drop the battery from a 1.3A to a ~500mAh I think, as the weight is too high in comparison to the truck's weight to allow extreme scale off-road maneuvers. I'm also going to strip the wiring out of the trailer and re-do it with smaller gauge wire for the LED loom, as the current one (the grey wire in the photos) is too thick and stiff, causing issues with trailer articulation and also trailer lid closure.I've also pledged for a 3Doodler on Kickstarter (hand-held 3D printing 'pen'), so early next year I'd like to rebuild the trailer using plastic instead of the wire frame to save weight. This will be a boon to hobbyists everywhere, I think!
Regarding updates to this thread, I haven't shelved this project; just have been super busy with being a dad, running my business, etc. Will post updates sometime again soon, hopefully. Next up is installing LEDs in the 80 Series body and routing the wiring and resistors as minimally as possible.
MattTheGenus
Quarry Creeper
Great looking rig, I do love an fj80 and 70 and 60 for that matter
cragv
Pebble Pounder
Thanks Though the FJs really aren't my cup of tea, as I'm considerably more partial to the legendary HDJs (I have a 1HZ in my 80 which is un-killable). If you're going to go big and slow, you may as well go diesel (at least, in Australia, which runs on diesel!)
Though the FJs really aren't my cup of tea, as I'm considerably more partial to the legendary HDJs (I have a 1HZ in my 80 which is un-killable). If you're going to go big and slow, you may as well go diesel (at least, in Australia, which runs on diesel!)
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cragv
Pebble Pounder
Despite being stupidly busy, I finally have a little time to put into hobbies again (an hour here, an hour there - not a lot, but enough for some updates! Woohoo!).
So, firstly I've removed the winch from the front servo. Apart from looking bad there, it was wasting a prime weight-bearing location that may be better used by something else. Have some reshuffling to do yet, but I've relocated the winch 'motor' to the underside of the LC80's internal body tray. The winch rope will be permanently partly-uncoiled with the hook resting on the front bumper. This is actually good though, as the keyring's spring action is weaker for the first few inches of spool.
The 80 body is almost done, but I won't reveal that yet as I have decals, final clear coat, polish and LEDs to install first. However, I did get a little time to prototype the wiring tonight. 80-series fans will appreciate the trademark twin headlights my truck will use - I've allowed 2 LEDs for each side here and one tail light on each side.
I've also taken advantage of the design of LEDs in that being a diode, they only work with polarity one way and offer huge resistance in the opposite direction. This is my budget-conscious solution to light management - note in the below pic my two reversing LEDs and rear wheel carrier work light are all lit up along with the headlights, having been activated by my using Reverse on my radio.
It isn't elegant as I had to ensure the resistor I'm using is big enough to deal with 8.4V across the three LEDs, even though real-world use may see these lights being much more dim due to the load drawn by the motor and also to the degree to which my Reverse trigger is activated. I may change this in future but for now it'll just be cool to see the work light and reverse lights come on when the truck is reversing, even though they may dim a little depending on battery level and motor draw.
Lastly, I've dumped the trailer idea. Yeah, it would have looked sweet when finished (and I can still tow it empty) but it just affected handling too much during testing. The truck's weight wasn't enough to counter the trailer's weight when on low traction surfaces plus the draw was too long (despite being necessarily so). As a crawler plaything, this vehicle will just be more fun without a trailer to worry about, so while working on the LEDs tonight I'm also reconsidering where and how to mount everything.
Expect more chopping and changing yet as I optimize component and wiring placement. I've dropped to a 470mAh battery and may go a little smaller again, depending on how things fit together and how the springs cope with the weight. Everything will be minimal when complete with the max weight possible on the axles and diff plates rather than on the sprung body and chassis, though aesthetics will be an ongoing consideration. We'll see how we go - more updates to follow soon, hopefully! Thanks for reading along, despite the wait!
So, firstly I've removed the winch from the front servo. Apart from looking bad there, it was wasting a prime weight-bearing location that may be better used by something else. Have some reshuffling to do yet, but I've relocated the winch 'motor' to the underside of the LC80's internal body tray. The winch rope will be permanently partly-uncoiled with the hook resting on the front bumper. This is actually good though, as the keyring's spring action is weaker for the first few inches of spool.
The 80 body is almost done, but I won't reveal that yet as I have decals, final clear coat, polish and LEDs to install first. However, I did get a little time to prototype the wiring tonight. 80-series fans will appreciate the trademark twin headlights my truck will use - I've allowed 2 LEDs for each side here and one tail light on each side.
I've also taken advantage of the design of LEDs in that being a diode, they only work with polarity one way and offer huge resistance in the opposite direction. This is my budget-conscious solution to light management - note in the below pic my two reversing LEDs and rear wheel carrier work light are all lit up along with the headlights, having been activated by my using Reverse on my radio.
It isn't elegant as I had to ensure the resistor I'm using is big enough to deal with 8.4V across the three LEDs, even though real-world use may see these lights being much more dim due to the load drawn by the motor and also to the degree to which my Reverse trigger is activated. I may change this in future but for now it'll just be cool to see the work light and reverse lights come on when the truck is reversing, even though they may dim a little depending on battery level and motor draw.
Lastly, I've dumped the trailer idea. Yeah, it would have looked sweet when finished (and I can still tow it empty) but it just affected handling too much during testing. The truck's weight wasn't enough to counter the trailer's weight when on low traction surfaces plus the draw was too long (despite being necessarily so). As a crawler plaything, this vehicle will just be more fun without a trailer to worry about, so while working on the LEDs tonight I'm also reconsidering where and how to mount everything.
Expect more chopping and changing yet as I optimize component and wiring placement. I've dropped to a 470mAh battery and may go a little smaller again, depending on how things fit together and how the springs cope with the weight. Everything will be minimal when complete with the max weight possible on the axles and diff plates rather than on the sprung body and chassis, though aesthetics will be an ongoing consideration. We'll see how we go - more updates to follow soon, hopefully! Thanks for reading along, despite the wait!
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cragv
Pebble Pounder
Testing different springs in the rear to help cope with the additional sprung weight of the truck body...
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cragv
Pebble Pounder
I'll just pop these here, I'm sure you won't mind 
cragv
Pebble Pounder
So I blew up my reversing LEDs last night while not thinking for a tic. Must have been a bad night because I also used too much glue in 2 of the 4 light fittings on the body, resulting in the glue creeping in behind the lights and housings, making the paint run a bit black and now it looks rather awful (if you look closely). I'm considering doing it again and placing a tiny amount of aluminium foil in the cones of the headlights at least (with holes for the LEDs) but may not try it given I've already glued everything and don't want to wreck things further. Bleh.
Anyway, have been working on the truck's interior. Have added a little green glow on the dash but you'll have to wait for the 'finished' shots for that. I've also redone the reversing wiring, this time adding a couple of diodes to help block the reverse current when the motor is spinning forward. I *think* this will not hurt my speed and battery longevity given the electrons will take the path of least resistance when driving forward, going into the motor. That's my theory anyway - I may be wrong, we'll have to see how things go. I've bench-tested with a digital thermometer and multimeter and everything has been as expected thus far, but 'real world' testing may differ.
Here's the interior; not quite done, but getting there. New reversing test circuit in the background; this'll all go in tomorrow, if I have time!
Anyway, have been working on the truck's interior. Have added a little green glow on the dash but you'll have to wait for the 'finished' shots for that. I've also redone the reversing wiring, this time adding a couple of diodes to help block the reverse current when the motor is spinning forward. I *think* this will not hurt my speed and battery longevity given the electrons will take the path of least resistance when driving forward, going into the motor. That's my theory anyway - I may be wrong, we'll have to see how things go. I've bench-tested with a digital thermometer and multimeter and everything has been as expected thus far, but 'real world' testing may differ.
Here's the interior; not quite done, but getting there. New reversing test circuit in the background; this'll all go in tomorrow, if I have time!
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cragv
Pebble Pounder
Wiring sorted (again, now improved) and did a test-fit tonight with winch and 460mAh battery. It's tight and yet to be optimised, but it fits!
Body is a bit rough around the edges but this is the first project of this type I've ever done, and have learned a few things so if there is ever a next time, it'll be neater!! Decals and finishing touches yet to be applied to body, so stay tuned for photos and video of the final product in the next week or three, as time allows!
Body is a bit rough around the edges but this is the first project of this type I've ever done, and have learned a few things so if there is ever a next time, it'll be neater!! Decals and finishing touches yet to be applied to body, so stay tuned for photos and video of the final product in the next week or three, as time allows!
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cragv
Pebble Pounder
Got the under-body stuff sorted, finally! While I was at it, I chopped the front springs a tad, added weights to the front axle (those little shiny round things), balanced the weight (motor & wiring versus battery) and changed to a 300mAh 2S LiPO that fits nicely mid-body.
Exterior not finished yet but she's coming along! Here are a few partially-done pics from tonight (including an office chair winching exercise):
Front flex:
Rear flex:
Chair winching:
Front:
Plenty to do yet, now mainly on the exterior and trailer (detachable), but it's functional!
Exterior not finished yet but she's coming along! Here are a few partially-done pics from tonight (including an office chair winching exercise):
Front flex:
Rear flex:
Chair winching:
Front:
Plenty to do yet, now mainly on the exterior and trailer (detachable), but it's functional!
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cragv
Pebble Pounder
Body work continues...
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cragv
Pebble Pounder
Winching over Mt. Nappybag
Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk
Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk
cragv
Pebble Pounder
After posting the above pic I've realised I haven't updated this thread since I finished the body last year. I'm still very much interested in the hobby and tinker regularly with my trucks, but I have not yet gotten around to getting the little one outside into a nice setting to show off my work!
Until that happens, here's the latest from the front (on top of my 1:10 LC80 that is very much in progress after conversion from a 1:18 MRC - build thread coming soon!)
Until that happens, here's the latest from the front (on top of my 1:10 LC80 that is very much in progress after conversion from a 1:18 MRC - build thread coming soon!)
Now you need a shot of all three 80's!
So very jealous of your 1:1 80... I used to own a 1991 FJ80 (USA here, we didn't get the cool stuff). That thing was, as you put it, unkillable. Right now the only way I can get my Cruiser fix is via my McRC with it's RZJ90 body.
So very jealous of your 1:1 80... I used to own a 1991 FJ80 (USA here, we didn't get the cool stuff). That thing was, as you put it, unkillable. Right now the only way I can get my Cruiser fix is via my McRC with it's RZJ90 body.
cragv
Pebble Pounder
(Triple truck photo coming in a little while when I have all three out on the trail!)
Out for a spot of crawling in the front yard tonight...
Even a pimped out truck needs help sometimes!
Out for a spot of crawling in the front yard tonight...
Even a pimped out truck needs help sometimes!
