OK, I love this RC10T4; what do I do next…?
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 3:14 pm
Hey guys, some who've seen my previous posts may already know this, but I just got into the hobby back in December when my son and I got a couple of Traxxas RTR cars. I'm a tinkering junkie, so I could not resist the temptation at a garage sale to buy 4 file storage bins full of random parts, chassis, etc. even though I had NO idea what I was getting… Well long story short, I ended up spending many nights figuring all this stuff out and managed to build an RC18T, a Slash 2WD, and an RC10T4.1 (I have a bunch of parts left over including a rolling XTM chassis, a Rustler partial roller (no shocks, clutch, or wheels/tires), and the front half of another T4, plus a bag with about 4 sets of AE shocks including the gold and white ones and a bag full of random electronics (crappy servos, AM receivers, crystals) and about 8 brushed motors with a variety of pinion gears.
All are running brushed motors and a variety of different ESCs (the RC18T has the original ESC, the Slash is an XL-5 (waterproof), and the T4 is an LRP "Ai Digital".
Once I got the T4 running I took it out on the street and immediately broke an A-arm because the steering was so messed up. I replaced with RPM and then had to tinker with the steering to get it to work properly (see my other thread). Today was my first off-road session on loose dirt track and all I can say is I LOVE THE WAY THIS THING HANDLES! Even with clapped out shocks and wobbly front suspension, it is very, very fun to drive! So now I'm ready to actually invest in it to make it better (I'm still trying to decide whether to keep or sell the slash and RC18T).
Questions:
(1) How does one improve the steering response and turning radius? The current turning radius is like 6 feet (it takes at least 1/2 of a one lane road). My Rustler VXL turns in about a 2' circle by comparison. The servo is really weak (its the original Airtronics S1903MG and it "cogs" while turning (catches). Thinking about replacing it with a Hitec HS-645MG. Any feedback on that or any similarly priced servo that fits will in the T4?
(2) Need new radio and receiver. The Airtronics AM radio and receiver seem to work fine when within about 20' of the car, but beyond that, the throttle and steering pulse and the further away the car gets, the less speed is being fed to the motor (I can see it slow down and hear it pulsing on and off). Rather than fiddling with this setup and spending money on AM receivers, I'm thinking of just going with a FlySky GT3-C setup. I can get a couple of rx and use them in other cars that I'm currently running AM radios on (like the Slash and the RC18)
(3) Brushless Upgrade - OK, I'm sure this subject is covered AD NAUSEUM elsewhere on this site, and I'll probably spend the afternoon browsing the info, but if anyone wants to chime in with experience, I'd be grateful. I'm leaning towards a Castle Sidewinder combo in maybe a 3800kv motor. For about $100 it seems hard to beat. Is the T4 "brushless ready" or do I need to replace transmission gears, doglegs, etc…?
(4) Strengthening upgrades. I don't race and don't really plan to, but my son and I love to go to our local track and spend afternoons doing laps and fiddling with our cars. We also love taking the cars to a large park near our house filled with deer trails, loose sandy rolling trails, and hard-pack stubbled fields. I definitely need to get a larger bumper (I'm assuming RPM is the way to go). Other than the a-arms which I've already replaced, what else is likely to go? (for example on Traxxas cars, the caster blocks tend to break immediately).
(5) Wheels and Tires. Should I get adapters of some sort to run 12mm hex wheels and tires so that I can swap stuff between all our 1/10 cars? (Slash 2wd, Stampede 2wd, Rustler VXL) or should I stick with the AE style (which is same as Losi, right?)? If the latter, does anyone have recommendations for good tire/wheel combos for loose track conditions and general dirt trail running? (I don't like the term bashing because that's not really what I plan to do with the T4, but its not being built to race, either).
On the fronts, the bearings are captive in the wheels, and the axles seem pretty spindly. Is there an advantage to this, or is there an "upgrade" (?) that would allow for a more typical front axle with built-in bearing carrier and bearings so that I can run Traxxas type wheels? (would that be an advantage or disadvantage?).
Thanks a bunch!
All are running brushed motors and a variety of different ESCs (the RC18T has the original ESC, the Slash is an XL-5 (waterproof), and the T4 is an LRP "Ai Digital".
Once I got the T4 running I took it out on the street and immediately broke an A-arm because the steering was so messed up. I replaced with RPM and then had to tinker with the steering to get it to work properly (see my other thread). Today was my first off-road session on loose dirt track and all I can say is I LOVE THE WAY THIS THING HANDLES! Even with clapped out shocks and wobbly front suspension, it is very, very fun to drive! So now I'm ready to actually invest in it to make it better (I'm still trying to decide whether to keep or sell the slash and RC18T).
Questions:
(1) How does one improve the steering response and turning radius? The current turning radius is like 6 feet (it takes at least 1/2 of a one lane road). My Rustler VXL turns in about a 2' circle by comparison. The servo is really weak (its the original Airtronics S1903MG and it "cogs" while turning (catches). Thinking about replacing it with a Hitec HS-645MG. Any feedback on that or any similarly priced servo that fits will in the T4?
(2) Need new radio and receiver. The Airtronics AM radio and receiver seem to work fine when within about 20' of the car, but beyond that, the throttle and steering pulse and the further away the car gets, the less speed is being fed to the motor (I can see it slow down and hear it pulsing on and off). Rather than fiddling with this setup and spending money on AM receivers, I'm thinking of just going with a FlySky GT3-C setup. I can get a couple of rx and use them in other cars that I'm currently running AM radios on (like the Slash and the RC18)
(3) Brushless Upgrade - OK, I'm sure this subject is covered AD NAUSEUM elsewhere on this site, and I'll probably spend the afternoon browsing the info, but if anyone wants to chime in with experience, I'd be grateful. I'm leaning towards a Castle Sidewinder combo in maybe a 3800kv motor. For about $100 it seems hard to beat. Is the T4 "brushless ready" or do I need to replace transmission gears, doglegs, etc…?
(4) Strengthening upgrades. I don't race and don't really plan to, but my son and I love to go to our local track and spend afternoons doing laps and fiddling with our cars. We also love taking the cars to a large park near our house filled with deer trails, loose sandy rolling trails, and hard-pack stubbled fields. I definitely need to get a larger bumper (I'm assuming RPM is the way to go). Other than the a-arms which I've already replaced, what else is likely to go? (for example on Traxxas cars, the caster blocks tend to break immediately).
(5) Wheels and Tires. Should I get adapters of some sort to run 12mm hex wheels and tires so that I can swap stuff between all our 1/10 cars? (Slash 2wd, Stampede 2wd, Rustler VXL) or should I stick with the AE style (which is same as Losi, right?)? If the latter, does anyone have recommendations for good tire/wheel combos for loose track conditions and general dirt trail running? (I don't like the term bashing because that's not really what I plan to do with the T4, but its not being built to race, either).
On the fronts, the bearings are captive in the wheels, and the axles seem pretty spindly. Is there an advantage to this, or is there an "upgrade" (?) that would allow for a more typical front axle with built-in bearing carrier and bearings so that I can run Traxxas type wheels? (would that be an advantage or disadvantage?).
Thanks a bunch!
