surfer7898

I spend a lot of time at the beach in the summer and am planning on building an truggy to run on the soft sand and around the rocks. I have been an airsof technician for the last 10 years so rebuilding motors and winding armatures etc. is not an issue. Due to this, I also have pretty much unlimited access to 2-5s LiPos in just about an discharge and capacity you could think of so I definitely want to be able to run at least a 3s. For the base I was originally looking at the Losi XXX-SCB but unfortunately I was told by a local retailer that it had been discontinued. I am now looking at the Iron Track Katana 1/10 Truggy. What are your thoughts on this model? I am completely open to changing the base car.
http://www.nitrorcx.com/16c335-red-rtr-24g.html

In terms of upgrades I am looking at:

Turnigy 1/10 ESC:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...Version_2.html

Turnigy Trackstar 7.5 T kV 5135:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...or_5485KV.html

Crawler Tires: How will these run in soft sands at medium speed?
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Hex_2pc_.html

Steering Servo:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...rvo_Saver.html

Fan:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...s_motors_.html

Questions: Please try to keep new parts on HobbyKing.
What size and style heat sink should I use on the motor?
What pitch pinion gear is optimal?
Any problems you see or things that you think I should change?

f150dan

My Feedback: (18)

Here is my GF's beach basher

SyCo_VeNoM

Well for one it ain't no truggy its a 4wd stadium truck as truggies have a center diff

Looking at the pics the thing that would worry me at its price is what the diffs,and all are like. I'll be honest just looking at the dogbones, and from what I can see I doubt it would survive that brushless system on 2S. For 3S you should look for 3500kv cause the rotor will fly apart after a certain RPM

As for tires get the sand paws those should make a RC fly in sand http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXBMHC&P=ML would need 2 sets for 4wd

nitrosportsandrunner

i have stayed away from the hobbyking models as I worry about getting parts.

losi XXX parts will still be around for a few years.

4wd is better for sand, but 2wd brushless models can certainly be fast.

whats your budget?

I have a thunder tiger phoenix xb. its a rebranded team associated B3. The reasaon I mention it is cause the phoenix XT is a stadium truck version with wider tires...and the diff is a ball diff. That means you can adjust the diff to act almost like a locked diff, good for loose sand!
And it is brushless/RTR for $200 new. The brushless system is a 40a with 3900kv motor. Not crazy, but can be geared for 40mph on a 2s lipo.
The chassis is a solid one. Ive put 20 packs threw my XB and it has held up well.

The axial exo kit is $200...all electronics needed. But it is 4wd, durable and cool looking.

I had a slash 2wd vxl at the beach last year. Paddle tires on the rear and it can haul.

The tires you linked can work...but wider tires are better. Much less likely to dig a hole and get stock with wide tires than with narrow ones.

surfer7898

My budget is around $200.  On Hobbyking I saw the Turnigy DB and liked that, it seems to have positive reviews but I am looking for a bigger car.  I was wondering about the Turnigy brand in general(for cars, I love their packs).  Is it possible to convert a two wheel drive car to four wheel drive?  http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ruck_ARR_.html. I like this SCT but from what I have read it is optimal to have four wheel drive for maneuverability but 2 wheel drive for speed as power is sent to two wheels and weight is reduced.  Correct me if I am wrong.  I just need a little bit of direction as to what is optimal for the conditions.  I am waiting for a seller to get back to me about a great teams associated truck they were selling in the classifieds.

SyCo_VeNoM

Converting to 4wd technically is possible, but the sheer amount of parts you will have to craft will way outweigh what you can buy a 4wd for. Basically here is the run down you will have to make a chassis, buy a 2nd whole transmission, buy a 2 motor ESC, and design your own steering setup to work around the 2nd tranny in the front.

As for Turnigy vehicles issues are the parts. Hobbyking sucks at stocking replacements.


Now a Tamiya DF-02(Plasma Edge) might work for you if you slap on the paddle tires they can take 35A 4300kv easily on 2S. They have plastic bushings holding the axles, but that might work out in your favor as since you are going to a beach moisture won't cause rust as it would with a ball bearing. There are 2 issues one is its a kit as I dunno how you like building kits (also needs a slight modification to prevent breakage), and 2nd is fitting lipos. I've only found 1 lipo that works that is sold by HK. I've got 2 and run stadium truck tires on the one, and buggy tires on the other without changing the gearing and they run great.

thehuntingterminator

EXOs are amazing...just as long as you don't have to work on them :P