Blizzard advice, brushless, lights, weak points?

[SMOKE-DOG]

What ever version you get it will be a blast. I set mine out the back door and sit inside and run it. It never flips over so I never have to go out in the cold and get it. It will easily clear huge snowbanks with no problem. The DF is a machine and built like a tank. The tranny is from the Kyosho FW04 gas car. I've never had an issue with the tracks slipping off. The tension is adjustable by pulling the axle with the sprocket back.

[Timmy2Tracks]

Smoke Dog: I have always loved the color scheme on your DF-300.

I have all 3 generations of Blizzards, and they are so much fun...

The DX is the one from the 80's, and are pretty hard to come by. They are well made, real rubber tires on wheels, and metal transmissions in the earlier models (orange wheels), and with dual 380's as well. They also had a version without a plow and a van body called the "Heavy Metal". I don't run my DX much simply because it is nearly impossible to find replacement parts for it.

The EV/DF-300 is the single motor version with the dual disk brake/drag brake steering. These were good quality as well. They need to be completely disassembled when purchased, as they need bearings and other tweaks to run properly. As for the steering, this is what needs the most attention: The gearbox needs to be lubed, and the center diff needs to be gummed up with 120,000 diff oil. The gummed up diff makes the steering go from an "on/off" steering to one with much more feel. One also needs to use the weakest steering servo possible (again, more "feel"), and if you use those AVID fiber-material discs, it makes a huge difference. The stock setup is metal clamping on metal discs, so again, it just grabs and it is an "on/off' steering. These are the cheapest option, and the fastest as well, if you want a speedy cat. You can pull the motor/ESC and battery out of your "summer" basher and use it in this. It takes a while to get the steering sorted, and both sides pulling the same amount, but once it is set, it runs great. This is the best option if you want a fast snow cat. Kyosho also has reused many of these parts on the newer SR, so all the wear and tear parts are still available. Here is a pic of the drag-brake system...



The newest version, the SR, has gone back to the dual motor architecture with plow. I love the dual motors, as it is much more nimble than the single motor version (think fast basher vs a crawler) but it is also not meant for speed. THat is where it ends. This model suffers greatly from Kyosho making a cat with the quality of a child's toy from a dept. store. It has a plastic gearbox with no way to install bearings. The gears are on posts stuck into a plastic plate (not supported on both ends) and that is bolted to a very thin flimsy bottom plate. The motors (370's) are garbage, run so hot under normal use you cannot touch them. THe dual esc's last about 2 or 3 hours before crapping out, but that doesn't matter since they have a double tap reverse and the wires have a diameter of spaghetti and are so stiff, one broke in half in my hand. I have been working hard on making this model usable, and am having good luck so far. Unfortunately, by the time you are done with this cat, you will have many, many hours and many, many dollars spent to make it up to a "hobby grade" level... This is the best option if you cannot track down a vintage DX, and want a nimble workhorse with a plow.

If you want to see my SR struggle, you can look here...

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65501

All the models will require proper belt tension, and the drive chain tension must be spot on as well. You also have to apply silicone, cooking oil spray, or a paste ski wax to the drive sprockets, as well as putting the cat outside for at lease 10 minutes so the parts will accumulate to the temperature (hot tracks / sprockets will have snow stick instantly) to keep snow from building up on them and throwing the track. Although they all need help out of the box, they are so damn fun and different... Hope this helps.

[SFC K]

Nice right up Timmy and I checked out your link. That is one bad Cat you created!

[Timmy2Tracks]

Nice right up Timmy and I checked out your link. That is one bad Cat you created!

Thank you for the kind words! I wasn't sure if I should post the build on here or not. I wasn't sure if there was any interest!

[SMOKE-DOG]

Thanks Timmy. What are those Avid fiber disk? Got a part #? Mine handles smooth and I can make any radius turn but I'd like to try those...

[Timmy2Tracks]

http://www.avidrc.com/product/4/brakes/47/Kyosho-Ofna-Jammin-Hyper-HPI-Hotbodies-Indo-Phenolic-Brakes-Pair-AV-INDOKYO-brakes.html

Great upgrade for the money. They drop right in, but you will have to the-adjust the braking system after installation because they are mo-thicker....

[SMOKE-DOG]

So... Did you get a Blizzard? If not, you should. Best fun in the snow out there. I've got tons of snow and will have mine out tomorrow.

[flipwils11]

I wish but instead I used the funds for a more pressing need... Still want a Blizzard though!

[airbats801]

I bought a new nitro blizzard the other day off ebay for 300 shipped or so. t uses the qrc trans, but woks amazginly l. I was actually amazed at how well the trans works once you get your linkage et right, and how controlable the damn thing is. It's fun outclimbing my friends scx10 on steep loose material hills. I haven't tried it in the snow, but so far, on paent grass ofall kinds, an dt/barkdust it is awesome.

Great toys, kind of a pain to build though. may pick up a new twin motor and try her out. I'm going to attempt a trail ride with my nitro blizzard first though. Put a tow chain on it for my buddies scx10 and cc01

[flipwils11]

Bump! Wanted to share that I finally got one of these things, and had it running for the tail end of winter here in MN. I gotta say, if you're trapped in a crappy winter climate like I am 6 months out of the year, and like RC of course, you HAVE to get one of these! The tracked vehicle setup is so fun because it's damn near unstoppable.

I posted this on the RC snowcats board if you're on there too, but here are some cool updates.

There's a pond behind my house that some of the other houses in the neighborhood back up to. From the 2nd story window of our house, facing the back, I have a bird's eye view of everything and it's a large playground to drive the blizzard. I had to use binoculars to make sure I was pointed the right way a few times to drive but it's hilarious seeing all the little tiny tracks in the snow. I bet my neighbors are looking out their windows thinking "what the heck is that!?". I drew a red square around the Blizzard to help you spot it.



I also shot a little video with my iphone, from the comfort of my living room, standing by the front window driving it around the front yard. Soooo much better than standing outside and freezing my tail off.

[youtube]nUQybXSwPPQ[/youtube]

I'm using a Futaba FASST 7C transmitter so I have expandability later for lights and other cool items. Right now I'm only using channels 1 and 2 mixed on the right stick for throttle and brake. I have the single motor Blizzard, running Hobbyking's Turnigy Trackstar waterproof brushless esc and motor combo. (4000kv/80amp) I have a High Torque Metal Geared Ball Bearing Waterproof Servo for the brakes, and I'm using a Hobbyking Turnigy Nano-tech shorty 4200mah lipo.



I'll most likely re-orient everything over the summer and work on a new body including lights.

[SFC K]

That looks pretty sweet! Glad to see you got one.

Still on my wish list...

[flipwils11]

Small update due to the white stuff hitting in MN, and an early look at my incomplete light project using RPM Traxxas Slash parts cut with a Drexel to fit.

I also added the Kyosho metal tracks which are well worth the premium price.

[Lonestar]

looks killer

[flipwils11]

If you're in a snowy climate and don't have one of these to mess with, you're really missing out. Sorry the video is so-so; it's hard to drive with one hand and hold my phone to record video with the other.

[youtube]UYotPAjM66A[/youtube]

[SFC K]

Looks like a blast! You should put the plow on it so you can plow your driveway.