Fricker08’s Optic collection

[Fricker08]

Well I haven’t done a build thread in a while.. got in a funk after getting rid of the Ripper.
But after driving my portal swapped optic at by the fire I was hooked. In my opinion this is a killer platform with a lot of versatility.

I wish they had a few more options available that this chassis was designed for like correct Panhard/drag link for cms f10 axle swaps. I also wish they would release a standard style skid to be able to run a stubby vfd in here easily.


That being said, I grabbed a black optic chassis from @twade984 back in July. I grabbed a Yokohama panel set and links from Vanquish then got a set of F10 portal axles, transmission with lightweight 21% od gears and shocks from a Vrd Carbon. This set me up with everything for a pretty nice little project.
My original plan was to run SOA but that wasn’t going to work so I went BTA, this is where the stubby skid would come in play.. I hate using jato ends to stretch out links so I didn’t want to at the time and ended up going CMS because the servo hit the transmission when mounted behind the axle. After some tinkering, I got everything working and was quite happy. Originally wanted to run 80mm shocks but that didn’t work out either and had to jump to 90mm
I also didn’t realize you can’t run a standard size servo under the hood, so I ended up with a shift xb servo, as well as a hobbywing fusion pro 2300kv for simplicity

 

[Fricker08]

This right here was brand new headed to Proline by the Fire and I tell you what.. after that weekend it was not new anymore. I drove it so much I practically wore out the almost new shift xb servo. I started out with the 1.9 Rt Trail tires and quickly realized this thing could out perform those so I swapped to some 1.9 krawlers. After BTF I felt like this thing had so much more potential and wanted to make some changes. I drove it another time or 2 before swapping to some 2.2’s with WDW cut n shut trepadors. Then shortly after that I went ahead and made the change to 4-link and a BTA servo mount using jato ends on one side of the front links, ultimately I will order builders links for this to make everything right, and I tell you what I thought was a fun, capable truck proved to be able to do so much more. I had it out a couple weekends with some local people and everyone was impressed at what this truck would do

 

[Fricker08]

More pics from previous post
I replaced the worn out Shift XB servo with a Holmes hobbies shv500v2 which didn’t last long. Took a tumble 2 weeks ago and the servo locked up. So now it’s getting a shv500lp until I can afford a gt3s or Holmes releases more shv650lp’s

 

[Fricker08]

Then while all this was going on the last couple months, Vanquish releases the kit. I being a kit person myself was excited and figured I’d have to jump on that eventually.. well then they announced the random panels with a chance of carbon fiber!? Sick.. well my buddy @twade984 told me he ordered 2 to part out, before even knowing that the carbon panels existed. I asked if I could have dibs on a set of panels. Lo and behold he gets carbon.. so we made a deal. Let me tell ya, these are real pretty in person.

 

[Fricker08]

I missed the first wave of kits, and held out for a while until the individual panels were released, so what’s the logical thing to do when buying a $30 set of panels? That’s right.. preorder a kit. It shipped fairly quick after that and when it showed up I got the orange *Not* Fast and Furious livery. At first this was one of the lowest wants of the 6 but after receiving it, it grew on me a little.
Well I decided for now to mount the Carbon panels on the kit and I did some customization of my own on the orange panels with some Fox Racing suspension decals I had.
So these went on my portal Optic for now to replace the hammered Yokohama set. Eventually I will get some 2.2 black BBW’s for this if they ever come back. Had a line on a set and unfortunately got undermined by someone I considered a buddy.

 

[Fricker08]

Now on to the kit, I was unfortunately one of the many who received an incorrect 3rd member for the axles. Vanquish made quick work of it getting me the correct parts but fortunately I didn’t have to wait as I built a friend a carbon kit with all aluminum axles and had his spares.
Went ahead and opted for some scale hardware on the knuckles and transmission. All in all, Vanquish makes nice kits and everything went together smooth and quick. I haven’t brought myself to be able to run the carbon fiber panels yet, so I’ll be mounting the grey vanquish set I bought with the kit for its first outing anyway. I just need to wire up a jst plug for the servo and set some end points then it will be ready to rock.
Running another fusion pro 2300kv, Holmes shv500 v3 servo
1.9 kmc impacts with .225 hubs and krawlers with lil nova foams. Yes the tires touch the lower links at full bump but not enough that I want to change the stance yet.

 

[Col_Sanders]

I kind of wish i had built mine on portals but i didn't want to extend the front end any more. It looked like SOA (from a carbon) might work with a low profile servo and a little trimming on the chassis?

 

[twade984]

I kind of wish i had built mine on portals but i didn't want to extend the front end any more. It looked like SOA (from a carbon) might work with a low profile servo and a little trimming on the chassis?

FWIW I mocked up mine that way initially and it should be doable if you don’t mind trimming and fiddling with the links.

Rigs are looking good Braxton, I’m glad you posted a thread

 

[Col_Sanders]

FWIW I mocked up mine that way initially and it should be doable if you don’t mind trimming and fiddling with the links.

Rigs are looking good Braxton, I’m glad you posted a thread

Good to know. I bought a used cage and was just eyeballing it with an f10 portal. Didnt have any links at the time.

 

[89Industries]

Seems like the HH shv500 locking up might just be a broken gear tooth. Do they still have replacements on the HH site?

For the carbon panels, perhaps a clear vinyl wrap would give them some protection so you wouldn't be as hesitant to use them? They make a bunch of clear (and some not clear) protective wrap kits for carbon fiber bicycles.

 

[Fricker08]

Yea I think the cage would need to be trimmed to run the SOA mount. I don’t mind where it’s sitting now, pretty happy with it.
88Industries I emailed Holmes to see if they have gears.
And yea I definitely considered wrapping these in some clear vinyl. Which I probably will just to protect them a bit

 

[Ballistic17]

Some great looking H10's.