RustyUs

I patiently wait for the official word on the rumored Tekno ET410. A 1/10 scale 4wd stadium truck (truggy) would be a uplifting moment to the hobby.

There are three items listed on Tekno RC's website that got the rumors flying. The items are listed for the EB410/ET410...the ET410 doesn't exist yet . If posting a part for a platform that does not exist, and Tekno RC has not changed the website yet, that tells me (and all the other addicts looking on) that it's going to happen.

I've struggled for years battling the urge for a HoBao's Hyper 10TT to show up at my doorstep.

RustyUs

It's been asked...When a person has been around the hobby long enough, they think of a "truggy" as being 1/8 scale. Depending on where you look, and who you talk to, the term "Truggy" started from an adaptation of two RC platforms. Some say it started with 1/8 scale buggies and 1/10 scale stadium trucks, and others will go with the 1/8 scale buggies and 1/10 scale monster truck combo. I always thought truggies evolved from monster truck class of racing dying out and people started building monster buggies from monster trucks that were sitting in the corner; collecting dust somewhere.

I had three 1/8 scale truggies, and making long story short, they require a larger track to effectively make use of their longer wheelbase and wider stance.

All RCs can/will break eventually. It all depends on circumstances. People say you can't "bash" a 1/10 buggy. I raced, and bashed all my buggies since day one in the hobby. I bash all my "race" platforms. You just gotta know the limitations.

Stadium trucks have become my RC of choice to run on an off-road track. I find them more agile, and more nimble than a 1/8 scale truggy. A lighter weight 1/10 version of a big heavy 1/8 scale truggy would be great. A 4wd version of a stadium truck would be awesome! It's been done before, but I think the idea can be improved upon.

Would a new 1/10 scale truggy reinvent the class? Is a 4wd stadium truck needed/wanted with today's carpet, and astro turf tracks becoming more mainstream? I don't care about that stuff.

Tekno RC's reputation for building tough RC platforms should make the ET410 interesting for racers and bashers like me.

RustyUs

Matthew Armeni from Tekno just stated that it's based on the EB410 on the RCtech.net forums.

Now, I will just have to make the jump into shorty pack territory. I wasn't planning on that. May put a damper on my fun.

RustyUs

First images are showing up...

RustyUs

Facebook...

RustyUs

Opinions on the body?

RustyUs

The body is growing on me. Go to Tekno RC.com for more info on this 1/10 scale truggy. I can't wait 'til people load out this thing with all kinds of goodness.

RustyUs

Some parts have arrived. The motor probably won't be the finalized motor of choice, but will see what happens.

RustyUs

Only problem so far is on the front diff. Slight high spot on gear (s) is making the action not as smooth as the rear diff. I'm hoping to get a few runs in soon and front gears settle themselves.

RustyUs

Finally. I think I can live with this design....FINNISHER - TEKNO ET410 BODY

Will be putting this one in the shopping cart.

RustyUs

Kinda went overboard with speed control . There is suppose to be enough room for ESC, receiver, and transponder where I mounted my spare ESC. Hopefully the T-Bone Racing bumper will mute some of the frontend stress.

RustyUs

Now will just have to trim body, and do some painting.

RustyUs

After tightening down the wheel nuts, my first major issue appeared...

The wheels are Pro-Line's Renegades PRO2725-03 intended for use on the HPI Blitz, Ultima SC6, Jammin SCRT 10, and other RCs that use the Traxxas Slash (rear)/Slash 4x4 offset.

The problem? Tekno's wheel hexes are not wide enough and/or the Pro-Line wheels have too much material; making the wheel's socket too deep. When I go to tighten the wheel nuts, the extra plastic that is .41~.70mm above the wheel hex (in picture) rubs on the hubs. So much rubbing that the wheels are almost unable to be turned by hand. So annoying. Ordered wider hexes to resolve the issue.

RustyUs

Tekno's TKR1654X aluminum +1mm hex adapters arrived today. The TKR1654X hexes measure about 5.51mm wide (including the raised lip). If it was not for that little extra lip on the +1mm hex, there still could possibly be an issue with binding on the hubs. Anticipating this, I have ordered 6mm wide hexes.


TKR1654X aluminum +1mm hex adapters

RustyUs

Waiting for a good warm day...still.

Once I finally get this truggy up and running, I was going to test everything with stock parts. After reading about turf guys having bulkhead issues, my main concern is the front bulkhead snapping. I had Trinity's camber plate bulkhead saver laying around; staring at me...on she went. Why wait to put it on? Right?

Exotek Racing makes a camber plate bulkhead saver as well. I just think Trinity hit it out of the park with their plate. The chamfered silver edging/black anodizing is right up my alley.

RustyUs

You know what? I forgot about posting pictures of the finished JConcepts Finnisher body. Oh, how hard it was for me to break away from red, white, and blue.

RustyUs

When the ET410 was being talked about in pre-release terms, people were going back and forth between the terms 4wd stadium truck, and 1/10 scale truggy. I planned on running the ET410 with your standard ST wheels, and tires. Somewhere between then, and now I got into a predicament/panic that I would not be able to find real off-road ST tires in the near future...you know, the big knobby type. That lead to me using some short course tires on my T4 stadium truck. That look you get from using narrower SCT tires on a 1/10 stadium truck really caught my eye, and resembled a mini 1/8 scale truggy. I liked that mini truggy look so much, I knew I had to run the ET410 "truggy" with SCT wheels and tires to truly get that winged truggy vibe.

During my outings with the ET410, I have concluded that the truggy is just as tough, or tougher, than my stadium/short course trucks. Landing awkwardly on each corner of the RC, I thought for sure I'd be looking at a bent hinge pin, or two. So far, so good! I'll give it a couple months for final verdict on the platform.

My only complaints about the Tekno RC 1/10 scale truggy is the rear springs not being long enough (for my liking), and wing material.

RustyUs

Just after last post, my awesome mail lady brought me a couple of SWorkz S104 wings. All I have to say is, WOW!




Who would've thought I would be so excited about a wing? To be able to walk over to a tumbled; upside down ET410, and have the wing in one piece, is just amazing. Whatever that wing is made of, it's sure is one flexible piece of plastic. Even better than my 1/8 scale buggy's wing IMO.

RustyUs

The ET410 is quickly becoming my all time favorite RC. I though for sure it was going to fly somewhat nose heavy. Not the case at all. The truggy is extremely well balanced on the ground and in the air. If my track was not so weathered and rough, I'd be getting me the truggy's older sibling, the EB410. After selling my buggies, I swore I'd not get another one. But, after driving the 4wd stadium truck (as some may call it), I got an itch starting up again. That's how much I enjoy this platform.

RustyUs

Had a little unwanted tag along.

That little pebble sure was reeking havoc with my ears. I couldn't pinpoint the grinding noise. At first, I thought the set screw on the pinion gear had come loose (like it did once before)...nope. I put the truggy down to do another lap and noise went away, until smacking the rear end hard on landing had jarred something the wrong way again. I don't know how the pebble got wedged in there.

RustyUs

The rear yellow springs are too stiff to get desired ride height. I can't see anyone using the stock rear springs to get a low ride height, unless a different shock tower is used, or the coils are cut. I currently have to use the 2.61 lb/in, green springs in the rear (and find them just barely soft enough) to get the truggy's rear at "bones level" height that I strive for. This is only possible when rear spring collars are adjusted so that they are only touching the rear springs while the springs are fully extended. I will be getting the softer pink rear springs shortly, and they should be (hopefully) perfect for my situation.

RustyUs

Scratch that idea of getting the pink rear springs. I don't remember any of my other RCs shock springs becoming "broken in" after use, but the truggy's green springs have settled down. After a couple months of using the truggy, I've just now noticed the rear end sagging. Not much, but like 4 to 5mm to where the rear CVA bones are below "bones level". That's exactly the ride height that I was after, but couldn't achieve it. I tried to explain why in earlier post.

Now, the front springs are fine and have not allowed the truggy's front end to sag. I even had to loosen up the front spring collars to bring the front end down to "bones level".

I'll have to keep an eye on those rear springs.

RustyUs

When I ordered SC wheels.for the ET410, I got some Pro-Lines that were Slash 4x4 offset. If person wants a wee bit more width, get SC wheels made for the front of a Slash. Those wheels should have 2.3mm more offset than the rear Slash 4x4 wheels. Add the +1mm Tekno TKR1654X – 12mm Aluminum Hex Adapters, and you should have 6.6mm of extra width (3.3mm each side).

RustyUs

I've been running this mini truggy all summer long with a chewed up center diff. This is the second time this year that a pebble got lodged in the gears, but this last time visible scarring occurred. I pried the pebble out, adjusted the mesh, and kept going. I am quite impressed as I gave the ET410 all the abuse I could muster up. I'm just gonna see how long the gear can survive.

RustyUs

The next motor, that I put in this thing, will be a 4-pole. My motor of choice is a Hobbywing EZRun 3652 4000kv. I'm 99% sure the Speed Passion motor, that I have in the ET410 now, is a 2-pole. It has to be geared super low to make it through 12 minutes on the track. I would be thrilled if I was able to go up two teeth on the pinion, but everytime I go for it, temps shoot up fast. The 2-pole motor is more at home with 2wd platforms, but is hanging in there (barely).