Turbo Optima build - Project Barney: Finished

[Coelacanth]

Guys, I'm trying to decide which tire set would be the best for offroad & bashing--not so much for racing. I'm looking for good offroad traction & durability. I've narrowed things down to four choices that all have similar specs. Have a look at these four, please offer your suggestions on which sets you like best. Thanks for your advice!

Pro-Line Dirt Hawg I:

Pro-Line_DirtHawgI.jpg (29.6 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

Pro-Line_DirtHawgI.jpg (29.6 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

Pro-Line Caliber:

Pro-Line_Caliber.jpg (21.08 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

Pro-Line_Caliber.jpg (21.08 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

JConcepts Goosebumps:

JConcepts_Goosebumps.jpg (20.29 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

JConcepts_Goosebumps.jpg (20.29 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

Traxxas Response:

Traxxas_Response.jpg (17.27 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

Traxxas_Response.jpg (17.27 KiB) Viewed 1237 times

[Coelacanth]

16 views and no suggestions?

I received my parts from Don, the guy who did the anodizing. For the most part, everything turned out spectacular! A few parts didn't take the anodize so well, the 2 round-tube spanners were kind of spotty, but those are hardly noticeable anyway.

I also found the perfect set of wheels--Barney's gonna be a beast!

[Mr. ED]

the first option doesn't look like a good all-rounder to me. The goosebumps and responses look as if they'd be better suited than the calibers for the kind of debris you 'd encounter off-circuit. Just going from looks though: I have no experience with any of them.
Be sure to get the right compound also for where you'd run most: the same thread can behave very different for a different compound. Some compounds work better when it's damp, others when it's hot...

Which car are those alu carriers and steering knuckles from?

[ireg]

I go for

Pro-Line Dirt Hawg I:
for look and beauty (display)

Pro-Line Caliber:
for performance (runner)

what a colorful car will be, looking forward to see the end result, specially the body color scheme

[Bormac]

Yet again another Super Optima project you have got going there Marc. I am really looking forward to seeing this one on its wheels.
Great job so far.

[Coelacanth]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

the first option doesn't look like a good all-rounder to me. The goosebumps and responses look as if they'd be better suited than the calibers for the kind of debris you 'd encounter off-circuit. Just going from looks though: I have no experience with any of them.

The LHS near my work had the wheels I was looking for and the Calibers, they looked pretty good. I picked them up mainly because they were in stock and a decent price--$12/pair. I'm keeping my wheel choice under wraps for now until I can confirm fitment.

Which car are those alu carriers and steering knuckles from?

Those are Lazer ZX-5 knuckles; originally anodized a nice royal blue. I used a similar set for CYANide, made by 3Racing. The quality wasn't as nice but they were a more light blue color that matched better. I can't remember the manufacturer at this time but I'll check my header card collection later--these royal blue units are a perfect swap for the Optima knuckles; the 3Racing ones needed some filing down of the screw-hole bosses on one side. The rear carriers I bought from EvolutionRevolution here, they were originally blue too. I'll PM you the part numbers when I'm back home and can check the cards.

EDIT: I tracked down the knuckles I'm using, but didn't get them from Tower as Tower was too expensive and wouldn't ship economically either--they're actually made by Duratrax, part # DTXC9953:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSD47

[mrlexan]

Purple is awesome. Post pics when you have it done. I've got purple custom ano piece here and there on my DH bike, frame is lime green.

[Coelacanth]

I've had so little spare time lately, but at least I put together the shocks. I can't do a whole lot more until my screw set arrives.

[jwscab]

are those the shock washers up there anodized blue?

Looks good.

[Kayne]

Those look cool.

[EvolutionRevolution]

Wow. Those look psychedelic.

[Coelacanth]

are those the shock washers up there anodized blue?

Looks good.

Green, actually...the same color as the shock caps & other green parts. They're working out great, thanks for making them, Joe! I'm actually going to need your help for some custom wheel washers--the narrow crawler wheels I chose for this build have an adapter for 5 or 6mm axle holes, but I'll need an adapter with a 4mm hole drilled through it...just a simple 1mm thick washer with a 4mm hole through the middle. I'll be in touch later.

[jwscab]

sounds good!

wow, that's weird, that flash really makes the color look blue, or a guess like a turquoise. Very cool all around though!

[Coelacanth]

Put together the rear control arms, which began life as a $6 pair of cheap alloy GPM arms. They're about 5mm longer than the stock arms, hopefully a bit wider track and some wheels with a bit more offset should improve stability & cornering. The picture of the unassembled arm parts shows the actual colors...I'm not sure why some of the pics taken with the same cam kind of give everything a sepia-tone, slightly yellowing the green & pinking the purple...

[Coelacanth]

Here's a mock-up of the front arms...I'm awaiting an alloy part to upgrade the C-carriers. I found these cool aftermarket upgrade arms that are a full 20mm longer than the stock arms, pin-to-pin. However, the functional length--where the hubs/carriers are--is exactly the same. The aftermarket arms have a much deeper notch for the elongated C-carriers than the stock carriers. The aftermarket carriers have camber stops.

A technical question for the physics/racer gurus: what are the differences or advantages of going to arms that are 20mm longer but using elongated carriers and keeping the wheels in essentially the same position?