AK KRAWLER
Rock Crawler
BAD A$$ fleet brother, thanks for the update!!!
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OS's World of TRX thread
- Thread starter OSRC
- Start date
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
Boy, been a while since I updated this thread. Lots has changed in 2 years, I think it's time for some updates!
Not much new, I put a new body, more scale bumper and a few lights on my de-portalled sport. I built this for trail runs and it's a fantastic truck to wheel.
Jato came out of hibernation and I finally got him back out on the trails. Hell, I haven't been out all summer really, so it was a great morning. I missed my Sunday morning RC therapy!
Bumper looks great! We kind of got off the trail and got into some seriously tough terrain, way more hardcore than this truck was built for. The Sport handled it, but I almost tore off the front bumper after a few nose into rock incidents. Still, it survived!
Jato's VP did very well for a pretty much stock truck. Was definitely more at home in the badlands than the sport.
The bumper isn't falling off yet, but it's not far off..
Then, having beat the snot out of the Poor sport, I switched over to the Carbon TRX and showed Jato how to crawl. The servo was dying, and I forgot to calibrate the ESC apparently (I swapped in a Holmes stubby revolver at some point) but it still did well. Really well. It's a great little truck, probably my second best pure crawler. I do need to address a few things though. New servo en-route.
Not much new, I put a new body, more scale bumper and a few lights on my de-portalled sport. I built this for trail runs and it's a fantastic truck to wheel.
Jato came out of hibernation and I finally got him back out on the trails. Hell, I haven't been out all summer really, so it was a great morning. I missed my Sunday morning RC therapy!
Bumper looks great! We kind of got off the trail and got into some seriously tough terrain, way more hardcore than this truck was built for. The Sport handled it, but I almost tore off the front bumper after a few nose into rock incidents. Still, it survived!
Jato's VP did very well for a pretty much stock truck. Was definitely more at home in the badlands than the sport.
The bumper isn't falling off yet, but it's not far off..
Then, having beat the snot out of the Poor sport, I switched over to the Carbon TRX and showed Jato how to crawl.
The servo was dying, and I forgot to calibrate the ESC apparently (I swapped in a Holmes stubby revolver at some point) but it still did well. Really well. It's a great little truck, probably my second best pure crawler. I do need to address a few things though. New servo en-route.
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
Took a nice long trail run with Greybeard. I've come to the conclusion that this is my favorite RC truck of all time.
That's a bold statement, and one that doesn't get made lightly after 35 years of RC ....but every time I got out for a trail run, I'm reminded that this is what it's all about - I freaking love driving this truck. And it has to be driven. No drag brake, mediocre tires, and motor and gearing combo means I'm constantly working the 2 speed and diff servos. Just an awesome trail truck.
I installed the ESS-one system and it's set to a V8 sound. Maybe not exactly 1:1, but I love it. I'm at the bottom of the test rock and the Defender wants no part of it today. It's a bit wet and grip is at a premium. I'm just spinning the wheels - dirt flying, V8 roaring - it's such a trip.
Doing a dirt hill climb, alternating between first and second as needed. Diffs locked all the way up.
Flexing out on some wet rocks...
Going down the trail. In second gear, diffs open, engine kind of burbling along. Second gear is about 1.5x walking pace so not too fast - just fast enough.
Here's there's a log across the trail, and I suspect some other RC nerds added some bark ramps to make a trail over because they were exactly 1/10 size. This truck rocks a first gen Holmes outrunner run by a cheapo china ESC that I don't have a programming card for. It does not have the best low end resolution, and I can't set the drag brake so I have to rely on low gear for drag braking, and actual brakes if it's really steep. Very 1:1 like. I also need low gear - which is creeper speed - for crawling over this kind of stuff since the motor resolution isn't great. (It does make a ton of power on 3S, which fits this pig of a truck perfectly) All in all, working the transmission keeps me quite busy.
Been a while since I've been out to the bent tree. My usual spot to stop, drink some coffee and swap batteries.
And heading back to the truck after a 2 hour trek. I'm trying to remember if I've ever broken anything on this truck over the years, and I don't think I have. Tough as nails. Still rocking the stock radio and mini servos and it's all working trouble free.
That's a bold statement, and one that doesn't get made lightly after 35 years of RC ....but every time I got out for a trail run, I'm reminded that this is what it's all about - I freaking love driving this truck. And it has to be driven. No drag brake, mediocre tires, and motor and gearing combo means I'm constantly working the 2 speed and diff servos. Just an awesome trail truck.
I installed the ESS-one system and it's set to a V8 sound. Maybe not exactly 1:1, but I love it. I'm at the bottom of the test rock and the Defender wants no part of it today. It's a bit wet and grip is at a premium. I'm just spinning the wheels - dirt flying, V8 roaring - it's such a trip.
Doing a dirt hill climb, alternating between first and second as needed. Diffs locked all the way up.
Flexing out on some wet rocks...
Going down the trail. In second gear, diffs open, engine kind of burbling along. Second gear is about 1.5x walking pace so not too fast - just fast enough.
Here's there's a log across the trail, and I suspect some other RC nerds added some bark ramps to make a trail over because they were exactly 1/10 size.
This truck rocks a first gen Holmes outrunner run by a cheapo china ESC that I don't have a programming card for. It does not have the best low end resolution, and I can't set the drag brake so I have to rely on low gear for drag braking, and actual brakes if it's really steep. Very 1:1 like. I also need low gear - which is creeper speed - for crawling over this kind of stuff since the motor resolution isn't great. (It does make a ton of power on 3S, which fits this pig of a truck perfectly) All in all, working the transmission keeps me quite busy.
Been a while since I've been out to the bent tree. My usual spot to stop, drink some coffee and swap batteries.
And heading back to the truck after a 2 hour trek. I'm trying to remember if I've ever broken anything on this truck over the years, and I don't think I have. Tough as nails. Still rocking the stock radio and mini servos and it's all working trouble free.
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
Took a nice long trail run again on Easter morning, and this time took the Sport out for a drive. SSD portal delete on the axles, but otherwise retains the full TRX4 functionality.
I have a 3:1 reduction and a 540 in this truck to make up gearing for the lack of portals. Works fantastic, it's geared so that in about 1/2 throttle in second gear it's about a fast walking pace. First gear is more of a creeper gear. Drove it pretty much the way I drive the Defender - very little drag brake, in second to get from place to place, and dropping into first when needed for more torque, precision or braking. Awesome setup and a ton of fun on long runs.
Did some exploring since the place was deserted on Easter morning. But first - had to stop and make a test rock run. No problem, even with that heavy cage out back. Losing the portals really brings down the COG, it drives like a totally different truck.
Always amazed where I can go with open diffs. Using the steering to control traction, I can get some pretty impressive places.
My expedition bumper fell apart after last run and I didn't have time to figure out a fix for it, so I dug out this old Trailfinder bumper and did some bending until it fit the Sport body. I like it, looks pretty decent on there and gobs of clearance. Do miss the lights though, I will put the other bumper on again eventually.
Lots of old rocks here still drilled with blast holes. Pretty neat! This rock could have been sitting here since 1845ish which is when mining started in this area.
Did some exploring in some areas where I don't normally go. Found this massive rock creekside... looking dead ahead it's one giant rock. Way cool, there's lines all over this thing, I spent about 30 minutes just crawling all over it with the creek burbling nearby. Upstream there's a small mill dam left over from the early 1900's. Very cool spot.
Dam in the distance.
After nearly 3 hours, the Sport was running like a champ! Didn't miss a beat.
I have a 3:1 reduction and a 540 in this truck to make up gearing for the lack of portals. Works fantastic, it's geared so that in about 1/2 throttle in second gear it's about a fast walking pace. First gear is more of a creeper gear. Drove it pretty much the way I drive the Defender - very little drag brake, in second to get from place to place, and dropping into first when needed for more torque, precision or braking. Awesome setup and a ton of fun on long runs.
Did some exploring since the place was deserted on Easter morning. But first - had to stop and make a test rock run. No problem, even with that heavy cage out back. Losing the portals really brings down the COG, it drives like a totally different truck.
Always amazed where I can go with open diffs. Using the steering to control traction, I can get some pretty impressive places.
My expedition bumper fell apart after last run and I didn't have time to figure out a fix for it, so I dug out this old Trailfinder bumper and did some bending until it fit the Sport body. I like it, looks pretty decent on there and gobs of clearance. Do miss the lights though, I will put the other bumper on again eventually.
Lots of old rocks here still drilled with blast holes. Pretty neat! This rock could have been sitting here since 1845ish which is when mining started in this area.
Did some exploring in some areas where I don't normally go. Found this massive rock creekside... looking dead ahead it's one giant rock. Way cool, there's lines all over this thing, I spent about 30 minutes just crawling all over it with the creek burbling nearby. Upstream there's a small mill dam left over from the early 1900's. Very cool spot.
Dam in the distance.
After nearly 3 hours, the Sport was running like a champ! Didn't miss a beat.
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
Took my latest build, the Murdered Out Bronco (MOB) out for a test run. Not done with the build yet, I still have lights, a roof rack, and a few other do-dads to go on, but I picked this chassis up in a trade and it's never been on a run. So in the spirit of testing the electronics, I gave it a go.
Just has SSD brass at all 4 corners since it's more of a trail truck but it crawls very nicely. Predator TSL's help.
I have a sound unit in this one too and use the transmission quite a bit, so it's a lively drive though the woods. This has the ESS-2 and it doesn't sound as good to me as the ESS-1 in the defender.
Can't believe I got this pig up there, both of these lines are pretty tough for a trail truck. The TSL's have a ton of grip.
And a few more random trail shots.
I'm going to disable the drag brake for next time as I really that on a 2 speed trail truck. Basically I have to downshift and brake myself as needed, and it's a much more involved drive. And sounds cool with the sound unit in there.
Just has SSD brass at all 4 corners since it's more of a trail truck but it crawls very nicely. Predator TSL's help.
I have a sound unit in this one too and use the transmission quite a bit, so it's a lively drive though the woods. This has the ESS-2 and it doesn't sound as good to me as the ESS-1 in the defender.
Can't believe I got this pig up there, both of these lines are pretty tough for a trail truck. The TSL's have a ton of grip.
And a few more random trail shots.
I'm going to disable the drag brake for next time as I really that on a 2 speed trail truck. Basically I have to downshift and brake myself as needed, and it's a much more involved drive. And sounds cool with the sound unit in there.
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
I've decided that most of my TRX4 fleet (aside from the carbon Sport) will be built into trail runners with lights, sounds, and a bit more scale detail than I usually throw at my trucks. With the lockers and 2 speeds, I just love how realistically they can be driven. Plus it makes sense since they are a bit heavy for more performance oriented activities.
So that that end I've started building the Defender, Sport, and Bronco as more trail oriented trucks and I had one more chassis here that I picked up in a trade. I was looking for something more scale and this Axial JLU body just happened to be laying around. Hmmm... After getting approval from the giant fuzzy guy, some wrenches started flying...
and next thing I know, I have this. Took quite a bit of work to fit them together, but very happy with how it came out. I'm debating using my SSD portal deletes on this chassis instead of the sport.... Hmmm.. More to come...
So that that end I've started building the Defender, Sport, and Bronco as more trail oriented trucks and I had one more chassis here that I picked up in a trade. I was looking for something more scale and this Axial JLU body just happened to be laying around. Hmmm... After getting approval from the giant fuzzy guy, some wrenches started flying...
and next thing I know, I have this. Took quite a bit of work to fit them together, but very happy with how it came out. I'm debating using my SSD portal deletes on this chassis instead of the sport.... Hmmm.. More to come...
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
Did some fender trimming, wired in the lights, re-fitted the interior, added some scale stuff and off we go!
No problem on the test rock, though she's a whole lot of Rosie.
All that weight means traction, and this truck has loads of grip. Handles and crawls very well for what it is. I built it as a trail truck but only really took pics of it on the rocks.
Proof that I do, occasionally, sometimes, once in a while go through some water.
I had to get down to this little waterfall under some big rocks. We've had a lot of rain lately and the creek is way high - this is usually dry as a bone.
Portals just eat up this kind of terrain, straight axle's just can't match.
Final creek shot
Pretty badass little trail runner!
No problem on the test rock, though she's a whole lot of Rosie.
All that weight means traction, and this truck has loads of grip. Handles and crawls very well for what it is. I built it as a trail truck but only really took pics of it on the rocks.
Proof that I do, occasionally, sometimes, once in a while go through some water.
I had to get down to this little waterfall under some big rocks. We've had a lot of rain lately and the creek is way high - this is usually dry as a bone.
Portals just eat up this kind of terrain, straight axle's just can't match.
Final creek shot
Pretty badass little trail runner!
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
Got the Defender out for a long loop around the mountain. Such a fun trail truck..
Still no test rock today. Very wet and damp, I just could not get enough grip.
Fantastic day on the trail though. Nice and packed from the rain, with plenty of weeping water out of the mountain.
Swimming hole, I usually don't come down here since it's usually packed but today I was here early and it was pretty quiet. We were here the day some kid flew backwards off the rope swing into the rocks when the old rope broke. Medevac issue - ouch.
Perfect trail muck. This is usually dry, but it was a running creek today.
Still no test rock today. Very wet and damp, I just could not get enough grip.
Fantastic day on the trail though. Nice and packed from the rain, with plenty of weeping water out of the mountain.
Swimming hole, I usually don't come down here since it's usually packed but today I was here early and it was pretty quiet. We were here the day some kid flew backwards off the rope swing into the rocks when the old rope broke. Medevac issue - ouch.
Perfect trail muck. This is usually dry, but it was a running creek today.
OSRC
I wanna be Dave
Brought out the Carbon TRX for a little test session... Went to go over to Mount Impossible (my new set of hard lines) and snapped a rod end on a bad rock tumble. Crawled like a beast before it broke though. The belt drive and brushless HW system were dead silent, it like was a stealth assassin sneaking through the woods.
