Got myself a Phoenix!

[ALPINEX]

Well, a little progress this afternoon. I unmasked the body. It’s decent for my second body ever. I like the color. I think I still spray a little heavy, I don’t have any runs, but I do have some bleed through on my masks. I think I chose the wrong body line for the roof, but if it bothers me that’s fixable by painting the outside. I had really low expectations for this, it’s just not my strong suit, but I’m happy.

Next, I finished the truck and wiring. Got it bound and got my endpoints all set. Here’s a life lesson, pay attention to your sensor wire when you install your motor. I had to remove the batter tray, and remover the trans to plug my sensor wire in. But it’s all together, the wires are cleaned-up-ish. Even drove the rig around the house!

Tomorrow all I have to do is build out the body and install the LED’s and we’re off and running, just in time for a couple days of rain.

These aren’t the final wheels, but I have this set and a set of reefs fury’s with km3’s I’m going to try out on it. Chances are I’ll choose a new wheel/tire combo for this truck in the end.

Here’s a teaser!

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[twade984]

That’s a great color [emoji1303]


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[B-MOW71]

It looks great from here! Nice classic color!"thumbsup"

 

[Lashlee]

Looks great!

 

[ALPINEX]

Thanks guys!

Taylor finished up the last bag, mounted the body and LED’s and we have a completed truck.

I’m super happy with the kit and how smoothly it went together. A couple missing screws are no big deal, the shocks are the only thing that wasn’t up to par.

I put 100% expo in and we took the truck around the house for some test driving and some photos. Taylor enjoyed driving, but her trigger finger is more used to shooting clays than the finesse of crawling. I just put a pretty aggressive curve in the esc, and a dual rate in the controller so she can be slowed down, but I like things more touchy. First impressions are that the truck has really good low end control and resolution, and a really high top speed. Definitely fast enough for her to just play in the dirt, but she was able to crawl some lines.

Tomorrow (weather depending) we’ll take both trucks out and get some batteries through them. Going to let her drive the Gspeed a while and get used to crawling, it’s much slower, and won’t tip as easy, plus it’s already scratched!

The paint turned out pretty good, I’m really happy with the color. Still undecided on what wheels to run.

The LitLED kit is top notch, and I can’t say enough about the service and support from him. He literally responded one minute after I messaged him about the kit, and it’s been that way since messages every step of the way. Even sent me a picture of my kit lit up the very next day and a tracking number. I’ll have to get some night shots, these things are seriously bright!

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[twade984]

Looks great, I’ll have to check out that light kit for mine


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[B-MOW71]

Looks great out on the rocks!"thumbsup"

I really like the looks of them lights! May have to get a set for my Phoenix.

 

[ALPINEX]

Thanks guys!

Rain in the forecast meant the local hiking/biking park was abandoned after work today, so I took the truck up 3/4 mile to the rock garden trail. Had a blast driving the truck through about 1 mile of rocks, some good trails and some difficult lines if your creative up there. Unfortunately Taylor couldn’t make it for the first drive, hopefully tomorrow.

The truck worked incredibly well. I found myself using the dig and OD functions often to create
some really interesting lines. I like the clearance with the portals, and I was impressed with its climbing performance. It even side hills and descends really well, which I didn’t expect at all. As of now I see no need to go to a longer shock, this truck made pretty small obstacle really fun, where as my Gspeed would’ve been a bore.

I got the esc tuned so that Taylor will easily be able to drive it, tons of low speed control and great resolution, and a dual rate so it’s more touchy for me.

I did roll the truck twice, very minor, and managed to crack the bed at the top on both sides. Kind of bummed about that as I didn’t even expect a scratch with how minor they were. It is a crawler after all.

I added velcro to my batteries and the tray when I got home, and also added some toe out. Other than that no changes for now, I’m super happy with the truck and I expect it’ll be my go-to rig as it’s easier to find challenges for this truck. Plus being able to put that thing in 2wd and easily drive it .75 miles out of the park was fantastic!

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[twade984]

Sounds like a successful maiden run.

Bummer about the bed cracking, I’ve heard a few reports of cracks, so I’m curious to see how mine holds up, If I ever get to drive the dang thing.


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[Panther6834]

I know it adds additional weight, and higher up...but, one of the ways I (and others) reenforce bodies is coating the interior side with truck bed liner. Different people use different brands. Some prefer the spray type, while others prefer the brush-on type. There are at least 2 threads (that I'm aware of) dealing specifically with using bed liner on Lexan bodies.


~ More peace, love, laughter, & kindness would make the world a MUCH better place

 

[ALPINEX]

Thanks guys!

Hoping to get Taylor out to run the truck today. If she thinks she'll actually use one, I told her I'd buy her the kit. She's already picking colors!

Panther, great idea on the bed liner! I'll have to remember that in the future. Any word on your receiver box and how everything fit?

I wonder if Vanquish will ever produce a body for this kit sold separately? I actually really like this body, but the bummer is you can't find them unless someone doesn't use theirs.

 

[twade984]

I’m sure the body will be available, just like the origin body sets. Probably a matter of getting enough supply for kits first.


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[B-MOW71]

Something that I do to all of my new bodies is add black 3/4" or 1" wide Gorilla tape to the inside of the body in areas that will rub or may crack. This really helps to keep the body from cracking and makes the body quieter and less "rattily" when going over bumps.

 

[Panther6834]

Panther, great idea on the bed liner! I'll have to remember that in the future. Any word on your receiver box and how everything fit?

Unfortunately, not yet. The same morning the package was delivered, I got word I needed to drive the bus back to the Bay Area. I'm returning to the hotel tonight, but only until Sunday morning...then, back to the Bay Area, and back to Fresno on Monday. I probably won't have time to check/test until then.


~ More peace, love, laughter, & kindness would make the world a MUCH better place

 

[ALPINEX]

Unfortunately, not yet. The same morning the package was delivered, I got word I needed to drive the bus back to the Bay Area. I'm returning to the hotel tonight, but only until Sunday morning...then, back to the Bay Area, and back to Fresno on Monday. I probably won't have time to check/test until then.


~ More peace, love, laughter, & kindness would make the world a MUCH better place

No worries, I know how it goes. Didn't know you were close though, maybe we'll crawl sometime!

 

[ALPINEX]

Got the truck out again today! With Taylor in tow and the baby on my chest, we did 2.5 miles or so of trailing and crawling. Taylor drove a lot, and did really well. She took a lot of bypasses for “scary” obstacles, but her throttle control and tire placement was really good! I’ll talk to her later and see if she liked it enough for her own rig.

Again, the truck did awesome! Really happy with its capabilities, but when I got home and went over it, I noticed I now have 3 shocks leaking. 2 from the bottom seals, one from the bleed screw. I think my dravs are here though, so I’ll sort that asap.

I mounted my spare tire and wanted to share a hack I’m sure you all know. I used one of the stock wide hubs, and a 10-24 screw will thread right into the plastic on the bed cage perfectly. I had to compress the tire a bit to get the hub screw in, but the unit is as low as it can go, and looks pretty good for the cost of a screw!

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[Panther6834]

No worries, I know how it goes. Didn't know you were close though, maybe we'll crawl sometime!

I'm not sure I would truly consider Lake Berryessa close...I live in Silicon Valley...but, my job as a Professional Chauffeur does take me into the Napa area (especially during the summer...wine tours).


~ More peace, love, laughter, & kindness would make the world a MUCH better place

 

[Panther6834]

Ok...had some time (before the "bus swap"...part of my job today) to test the Traxxas 3628 in the Phoenix (as well as the Gatekeeper it's actually going in). As you can see in the photos, below, it easily fits upright on the sideboard, in front of the battery tray.

For those sticking with the stock battery tray position, but cutting it down (ie. those who intend on only using 'shorty' packs), the Rx box could be mounted as far forward, or as far rearward, as you'd like. As for securing it to the sideboard, if you look at the photo below, you will see 6 'circles' inside the Rx box. Depending on the size of the Rx being used, people could either drill 2 holes through opposing corners, and fit the Rx in between...or, for those using longer receivers, 2 holes could be drilled at either end. One way to mount it would be with the screws going down through the top, and securing with Nylock nuts from the bottom...but, I think I'll probably do it the other way around (screws up through the bottom, securing with Nylock nuts from the top).

~ More peace, love, laughter, & kindness would make the world a MUCH better place

 

[ALPINEX]

Very nice, Panther! Thanks for that, I may have to grab one to try out.

I got my dravtechs assembled and installed today, I stuck with the same 50wt oil for now, but the different piston may require dropping down to 40 for trail work. They installed easily, same eye to eye length and same stroke. Hope to test today locally.

Just a Taylor update: we looked at trucks last night, and she loved how the Trx4 blazer looked. After seeing they had a kit version, I ordered her that along with the 1972 blazer body. It was half the price all together as another Phoenix, and fully waterproof, which I have a feeling will come in handy. Build thread coming soon in that sub forum, she’ll be doing the whole build solo, once she finds out she got a truck that is!


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[Lashlee]

Sorry if I missed it, what length Dravtechs did you get for the Phoenix?