slim's scorpion is evolving

[slim_chance]

[I know I did a thread introducing my ax10 scorpion but I have done quite a bit to it. I have only done a very short test in the front yard. I have some torq twist issues to deal with before I try hard stuff.

Updated specs. Newer pics soon.

Hpi beetle baja bug body hacked off fenders
Metal tube steering links - Changed to Axial aluminum links
Axial 30º high clearance lower links - changed high clearance rear straight fronts
Aluminum hubs and knuckles
55t axial motor not pictured ran the 27t during the test
1/2" whe wideners now 11" wide - removed
Losi spektrum radio set
Xl5 esc - changed to tekin 610-G. No drag brake but it works awesomely with LVA
Traxxas 2070 servo- changed to Hightech Hs646wp
Stock shocks set for semi droop all internal springs (possible culprit in the tt case) Changed to non droop internal springs.
Panther Leopard tires (might be too heavy in the front I got them assembled and didnt weigh them another possible culprit in the tt case). Changed to lighter weights HB Sedonas with "aired down" foams
Strc aluminum skid flipped upside down and mirrored with inboard links. Weird but it works great
3s 2200 mah lipo

Things to come
Tekin fxr esc- not really worried about it anymore
Traxxas drive shafts- changed to aluminum when funds permit
35t open bell motor or possibly traxxas monster titan 550 I have the latter - changed sticking with 55t once axial 55t burns out. I have 2 spare novak fifty-fives
4 aluminum uppers
Putting the red cat wheels back on with the panthers- see current specs
Axial 2.2 wheel weight inserts- Used stick on weights
Aluminum skid-added.
Ax10 dig. - changed going with od ud gears.
Moving the tops of the shocks back to the inside- done
Lipo! I have assorted 2s and 3s. -done
I have a Lva ordered so I can run lipo on one of my old esc's that have a 10+ cell cap.- done
CC BEC just needs to solder in.

I think there was more but I forgot. Open to comments and suggestions
On with the pics

 

[mindless]

I think you have your Cs on the wrong sides and move the lower point of your shocks out to the out side of the mounting tabs on the axle

 

[ittybitty]

...and turn your trans/motor around by simply flipping the skid plate around. This is called "mirroring the transmission" and will put more weight on the side that is most affected by torque twist.

 

[slim_chance]

Thanks I will do all of Sunday. Today is my 12th anniversary so no crawler work today. Oh I have some aluminum skids that will let me mount the lower links kn the inside of the chassis kinda like the losi Mrc. Would that be a good idea?

 

[mindless]

Yep that will also help some ppl just modify the stock skid but if you already have an aftermarket one toss it on there

 

[slim_chance]

Ok so I mirrored the trans installed the aluminum skid and moved the shocks tops in and bottoms out. I couldnt move the links inboard at the chassis end because the motor and motor plate blocked the li k ends on one side. First test showed extremely reduced tt. Its still there but a lot better. Nature of the beast when it comes to shafties i guess. I also ran 2.2 axial ripsaws because weighed the panthers in the pics and fronts weighed in at aprox 300g each and the rears at 140g. Im not sure but that seemed a little too much weight in the fronts. The ripsaws on non beadlocks weigh in right at 200g. These are all approximate weights since I only have an analog meat scale.
I was going to mount the panthers on my red cat beadlocks but the centers of those wheels have to be drilled out fo work with my wheel wideners.
The whole rig in rtr form weighs in a aprox 2.2kg. Not a light weight yet.
Short test video comming soon.

 

[slim_chance]

Here is my less than a minute video of part of my front yard test. It couldn't climb up the step at all before mods. It would just get stuck or roll over backwards. I know it is not a tough test and some of y'alls rigs would make it like its nothin. But hey its progress.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOWo_TJU6gA&feature=youtube_gdata_player just realized I hadnt made the video public. This sadly was my first ever youtube upload

 

[slim_chance]

So any thoughts? Ideas for improvements? Stupid video? Oh my LVA arrived today so switching to lipo!

 

[slim_chance]

Now that I have my LVA I tossed the 3300 mah 6 cell nimh and threw in a 1050 mah 2s rino lipo. Its so tiny. It ended up droping from 2.20kg to 2.02kg once again aprox weight. I so need a digital postage scale. And I love the fact I can see the voltage to give me an idea what run time I have left.
Still running the xl5 esc so I cant run any of my 3s packs yet. But I'm going to try the only other 2s thats a 2200 mah later.
I gave it another quick test run and its a little faster and has more torq. But thats pretty much expected because its like going from a 6 to a 7 cell nimh but losing over half the weights.
Im happy for now.

 

[slim_chance]

Ok the xl5 is out and I put an old tekin 610-g in its place. It is rated for 10 cell nimh so it should hold up to 3s lipo. I now have instant reverse and dang the power this rig has now more wheel speed than I anticipated and torq for days! Ran a pack through it until the lva went off and touched the heatsink on the esc and it was just warm. Yeah its old school but it works until I get a fxr.
Also had to add a reciver battery pack since I dont have an external BEC at the moment. I will be getting one after the move back to s.c.

 

[slim_chance]

Well a few things have change on the ax10.
The high clearance front links are gone and temporarily replaced with the stock plastic straight links. It keptgetting hung up on the skid all the time with the high clearance ones.

Ended the experiment with the traxxas titan monster 550 motor and replaced it with a 55t motor. Every thing was getting hot with the 550 and the battery last longer with the 55t. I do miss the slightly higher wheel speed and torque advantage of the 550 but not the extra weight.

The old used and abused baja bug body needed replacing and I bought a parma 34 ford pickup shell that I was going to use on a slightly modified tamiya tl01 chassis for a trail rig (I know its a sedan chassis but I'm bored lol) but the wheel base for the body was too long. So I cut the fenders off and painted it pactra metallic burgundy. I had to relocate the mounts to fit it. But now I have to reinforce the plastic because it cracked around the body mounts already. The lexan seems horribly thin on this shell. I did finally use liquid mask for the first time and wow its easy to use.

Pics comming soon.

 

[slim_chance]

Ok so here are some current pics of my ax10. Not entirely happy how it turned out but I like it for now. I may hack the bed sides to make it a flatbed.

 

[slim_chance]

Update. Put the beetle body back on switched to weighted front Axial wheels with Redcat beadlocks and HB Sedonas with slightly smaller foams.Approx 1/8" smaller than what would be used with the tires. It gives it an aired down effect. Now it is a beast at climbing and crawling compared to before. It has also been renamed to Bug Nutz.

 

[OnDaRcksYJ]

I think i may have to get a bug body for mine