X-Trail Range Rover Sport

[Jaynen]

Now that I am no longer asking about wheel sizes. I am going to go ahead and move things over to what will hopefully be a proper build-up thread.

Parts will be as follows
Chassis - X-trail on AX-10
Motor - Integy 55t lathe
ESC - Moped Bravo
Servo - Tower Pro MG5995
Transmitter - going to use my Airtronics MX-3
Receiver -GWS 75Mhz 4-channel Pico Receiver (hopefully will work)
Wheels: HPI 5 spoke touring car wheels black
Tires: 1.9 Trail Dr's

Donor Hardbodies. New Bright Range Rover Sport, and New Bright Land Rover Discovery 3.

This is the look I want to go for, but it will be a little more aggressive so that it performs a little better as I want something fun to play with.

Here is a very bad mockup (before I even opened the AX-10)

This is what I got put together the first day. The only parts I have right now are the donor bodies, wheels, and the AX-10 kit.

Just missing putting together the servo trays and whatnot (of course no servo's yet)

I de-greened my parts that I felt would be visible. It's a pretty easy process but figured I would cover it just in case someone wondered like I did (I asked another guy)

I took two tupperware containers and some kitchen gloves out to the garage. I bought a cheapy old toothbrush and some heavy duty oven cleaner at the grocery store.

I filled one of the tupperware containers with warm soapy water using dish soap and the other was empty.

I put the parts to be de-greened (i assume this would work with most anodizing) in the empty container and shot them with the oven cleaner. Almost immediately you can see the white foam start yellowing as the green melts off the pieces practically. Only takes a minute or two and 90% of its gone and you can rinse the pieces and let them dry.

When done the parts will look kind of "dull" so you can polish them up with whatever you like as they get stripped down to the underlying metal. Either that or you could probably re-anodize them a different color or paint etc.

Kevin from TCS said my chassis went out today and I might get it Wednesday *fingers crossed*

The other parts are bound to get here spread out over the next couple weeks and I will be out of town from the 28th-2nd for holiday stuff.

First order of business will be to get a proper looking mockup and a roller. Once I get a runner I will start looking into the scale details more and tweaks.

I think I am going to use the bumper and the roof rack off the LR3.

Those wing mirrors are going to break off even if I attach them more sturdily I just know it. So not sure if I should just remove them.

Goals ahead:

Winch
Ladder up to roof rack in back
Rock Sliders
Working Lights
Brake Discs
Full Size Spare on roof rack
Tow Strap
Sand Ladder/Bridging Ladder on Roofrack
Snorkel

Also what do you guys think about a unique body mount system, mounting the body itself on some sort of cage or slider . The body could then be elevated by a servo that was pushing a bar attached to it up a wedge?

The goal being to mimic the range rover sports air suspension that allows it to raise its height by another 4 inches or so when hung up. (naturally for me it would not add ground clearance as it would just be the body but it would add fender clearance if needed. While allowing a "lower profile" body look when not needed)

 

[mattman]

are you going to run the droop suspention?

 

[Jaynen]

I believe that is the standard setup for the X-trail chassis, so I will probably start there.

 

[carcrafter]

I am not sure if droop is possible in standard form, I think you need to buy the "Hardware kit" to go to a droop. I think you use the stock AX10 shocks and springs, but that would be so High sitting with the 1.9s. I am going to have to try the DeAnnodizing thing when I go to a Xtrail scale chassis on my AX10. I love the black and silver on the truck, it looks pretty sinister.

 

[Jaynen]

I have the 14 dollar hardware kit coming with the chassis. So if that includes what is needed to go droop then thats definitely what I will be doing.

 

[Harley]

The X-trail is designed to run droop with the factory shocks. You can use the springs if you want, it works well when using 2.2 (see the live build for Zach).

The hardware kit gives you longer bolts to put the shocks on the inside of the mounts. It also gives you spacers for the shocks and such.

I really like your body selection.

 

[carcrafter]

Sorry for speaking out of turn

I was mistaken, I am sorry. "Stan Bad" :-( I shall go be flogged, beaten like the swine I am. Thank you harley, love the Xtrail and hope I am still worthy to build one of these trucks. Oh if I didn't say it before I like that this one is a Sport and not the LR3 definatle adds to the "Dare to be Different" factor.

 

[Jaynen]

Cool. Well I am going 1.9 for sure so I don't know if I need the internal springs or what.

Thanks for the compliment on the body selection. The FJ Cruisers and LR3 builds were definitely an inspiration for searching for a cool hard body to use

 

[Harley]

I didn't run internal springs on mine at first. You can use either heavy oil or internal springs either works great. You can get a little more tuning if you use the internal springs.

I agree, I also think this body looks better then the LR3. I really don't know if I have seen this one yet.

Eitherway...............subscribed :lol:

 

[4u2nv]

The dulling is from the acid in the oven cleaner. I used Castrol Super Clean on some stuff before and it stayed shiny after the anodizing came off. Takes a little longer this way but saves you from the polishing.

 

[Jaynen]

The dulling is from the acid in the oven cleaner. I used Castrol Super Clean on some stuff before and it stayed shiny after the anodizing came off. Takes a little longer this way but saves you from the polishing.

good to know, thanks.

 

[rambo282]

Great choices on the body and axles. Can't wait to see more pics, the suspense is killing me... I have the same body and I need some ideas on the build.

 

[theonek]

looks like a good start

 

[pantablo]

Jaynen, where we at with this build? Lets get your rover done so we can do some crawling.

Really nice body selection. I almost did that instead of the gwagon.

 

[Jaynen]

Small update.

While I was away visiting family my servo's and tires arrived so the only thing I am missing is the CHASSIS

I have emailed TCS since it should be here by now given I am so close.

I definitely need to consider trimming the body and or doing flares like sloppy is having lowslowtj do.

Unless the chassis shows up tomorrow I won't be able to take the project with me to work on while I am in Vegas.

The Trail Dr's look really nice and I think the wheels go great with the look I am going for.

If I plan to do the "air suspension" thing in the future I definitely need to cut the body so the tires fit better. The stance of the axle's is already wider than the fenders. I am not sure if standard suspension geometry "tucks" the top of the tire in as it moves enough to get it under if I do trim.

I am so looking forward to finally getting to really put it together.

 

[Jaynen]

Jaynen, where we at with this build? Lets get your rover done so we can do some crawling.

Really nice body selection. I almost did that instead of the gwagon.

no chassis and no receiver yet so can't get it running.

I've emailed TCS and the shop I purchased the receiver from since I ordered it 2 weeks ago.

The plan was if I got those parts to take the whole kit and kaboodle with me to Vegas where I am working CES and work on it in the evenings if I have time so by the time I am back on the 13th it is drivable.

 

[dieselfuel]

damn thats a cool looking truck! cant wait to see it in action.

 

[pantablo]

I've emailed TCS and the shop I purchased the receiver from since I ordered it 2 weeks ago.

Don't feel bad. I ordered a new radio on the 22nd (supposedly 3-5 days shipping) and I added in a couple days for the holidays but its still not here. When I heard they had only processed the order on the 27th I went out and bought one locally. Radio still not here.

Got your tires too! Mine should be here any day.

Nice wheels, btw.

 

[Jaynen]

Hmm are they the same as yours but you added rock rings?

 

[pantablo]

Hmm are they the same as yours but you added rock rings?

yes. same wheels but I added TheScaleShop rock rings. I actually had oen finally pop off on my last run. I glued it back on last night. You can see it fall off in the video I posted...

I had to narrow the wheels a bit for my TLT axles though. Otherwise they hit hte steering knuckles. You should be fine.