It was time for a new 1.9 scale build, I wanted a tube chassis but wanted something I could get going without spending months in the garage building it. The Wraith seemed like the perfect choice. I had been wishing for someone to release a plastic tube chassis crawler for many years but had my reasons for not liking the original Wraith. The look of the Poison Spyder Customs Wraith, along with many of the cage mods I had seen inspired me. The problem was I really didn't want to pay the extra money for a RTR when I knew I would end up changing out the electronics right away and I didn't want a kit because I didn't want the 2.2 wheels and tires. Yes, I know you can sell off the parts, but I never sell anything so I knew they would just end up in my parts bin.
So I started watching RPP Hobby's salvage yard section and eventually spotted my opportunity. They were parting out a PSC Wraith so I promptly ordered the cage, axles, transmission, and driveshafts. Perfect, everything I wanted and nothing I didn't.
I didn't order the body at the time because I thought I'd do up a Bronco body instead to be a bit different. Problem is that it ended up looking like a twin to Guido and my wife suggested I do something different. I went back to the salvage yard and luckily they still had the Poison Spyder Customs body so I ordered it.
As it was sitting on the workbench, Cody saw it and just loved the look with the PSC logo, so I made a deal that if he still helped me finish build the SCX10 JK kit I'd trade him and the Wraith could be his to play with. He happily agreed.
The name for this came about as I was finishing it up this past weekend and went to try out the electronics. The ESC I planned to use, and had bought used, didn't work. I thought "well I got short changed on that deal" and the name was born.
Enough back story. The goal is to get a running vehicle with parts I have laying around and then upgrade as time allows.
Rules do not apply to this build, I am going to build what I want for fun and run it in whatever class it ends up being in. However, since G6 rules don't limit tire size and I'd like to run a G6 someday this would be perfect for a big tire 1.9 build. As far as SORRCA rules based events, I suppose I will just run in class 3.
I don't have a plan for this, the only real planned items are:
A Holmes Hobbies motor
A set of reduced 2.2 Pitbull Rock Beast tires
Otherwise I am just winging it so lets see where research and trial/error lead.
Here is basically where it started.
I didn't like the 80T spur gear so I replaced it with a Traxxas 84 tooth spur (#4684) in the parts bin. The hole pattern diameter in the gear doesn't quite perfectly match but it's close enough to get the screws in if you start them very carefully. The 35T Holmes Hobbies Torquemaster will be a good starter motor for my son. It's got good punch but not too much top end speed. The 15 tooth pinion was replaced with an 18 before all was said and done.
For front links I used Traxxas Revo pushrods (#5318 ) and bent the uppers. As you can see the links came from the parts bin. :ror:
The angle of the lower links caused an interference with the skidplate but with an X-acto I was able to remove the corner and take care of that. In the second pic you can see the 3mm washer next to the rod end, this is needed to remove a little bit of slop at the skidplate mounting point. Everywhere else you can squeeze the plastic and remove the slop.
For the rear links I again used the Traxxas #5318 pushrods but put the Jato rod ends (#5525) on the skidplate side to get the wheelbase where I wanted it.
A Savox SA-1231SG servo will handle the steering duties. I normally run Hitec but Turtle convinced me to give these a try.
A waterproofed Sidewinder and BEC that I had laying around were put to use. It turns out that this ESC didn't work so I borrowed one out of my rally car for now.
You can see the RTV that fills the case. I like to Conformal Coat the board and then fill the case with black RTV to give extra protection and keep dirt/water from hiding in there.
I just fill the ends of the BEC with black silicone and call it good.
Once I get these waterproofed they will either go in the Short Change or my SCX10 JK.
A little hot glue secures the ESC to the stock mount.
Wire routing. After I changed ESC's the BEC wire was longer so it is actually servo taped under the driver seat now. You can see it in the third pic.
I had some HPI shocks (#A718 the purple ones) laying around but I only had two. I feel HPI makes the best shocks in the business and love running them. For now I am using some old Hot Bodies blue shocks on the rear but I have 2 more HPI shocks in the mail. The rear shocks have a 1/2" long piece of fuel tube under the piston to limit the extension and get the correct ride height. The front shocks didn't need any internal limiting but I put a 1/4" piece of fuel tube on to limit the compression. 40wt oil went into all 4 shocks.
Front shocks on.
I had some Wraith seats laying around so in they went.
Getting close now. Tires and wheels next.
So I started watching RPP Hobby's salvage yard section and eventually spotted my opportunity. They were parting out a PSC Wraith so I promptly ordered the cage, axles, transmission, and driveshafts. Perfect, everything I wanted and nothing I didn't.
I didn't order the body at the time because I thought I'd do up a Bronco body instead to be a bit different. Problem is that it ended up looking like a twin to Guido and my wife suggested I do something different. I went back to the salvage yard and luckily they still had the Poison Spyder Customs body so I ordered it.
As it was sitting on the workbench, Cody saw it and just loved the look with the PSC logo, so I made a deal that if he still helped me finish build the SCX10 JK kit I'd trade him and the Wraith could be his to play with. He happily agreed.
The name for this came about as I was finishing it up this past weekend and went to try out the electronics. The ESC I planned to use, and had bought used, didn't work. I thought "well I got short changed on that deal" and the name was born.
Enough back story. The goal is to get a running vehicle with parts I have laying around and then upgrade as time allows.
Rules do not apply to this build, I am going to build what I want for fun and run it in whatever class it ends up being in. However, since G6 rules don't limit tire size and I'd like to run a G6 someday this would be perfect for a big tire 1.9 build. As far as SORRCA rules based events, I suppose I will just run in class 3.
I don't have a plan for this, the only real planned items are:
A Holmes Hobbies motor
A set of reduced 2.2 Pitbull Rock Beast tires
Otherwise I am just winging it so lets see where research and trial/error lead.
Here is basically where it started.
I didn't like the 80T spur gear so I replaced it with a Traxxas 84 tooth spur (#4684) in the parts bin. The hole pattern diameter in the gear doesn't quite perfectly match but it's close enough to get the screws in if you start them very carefully. The 35T Holmes Hobbies Torquemaster will be a good starter motor for my son. It's got good punch but not too much top end speed. The 15 tooth pinion was replaced with an 18 before all was said and done.
For front links I used Traxxas Revo pushrods (#5318 ) and bent the uppers. As you can see the links came from the parts bin. :ror:
The angle of the lower links caused an interference with the skidplate but with an X-acto I was able to remove the corner and take care of that. In the second pic you can see the 3mm washer next to the rod end, this is needed to remove a little bit of slop at the skidplate mounting point. Everywhere else you can squeeze the plastic and remove the slop.
For the rear links I again used the Traxxas #5318 pushrods but put the Jato rod ends (#5525) on the skidplate side to get the wheelbase where I wanted it.
A Savox SA-1231SG servo will handle the steering duties. I normally run Hitec but Turtle convinced me to give these a try.
A waterproofed Sidewinder and BEC that I had laying around were put to use. It turns out that this ESC didn't work so I borrowed one out of my rally car for now.
You can see the RTV that fills the case. I like to Conformal Coat the board and then fill the case with black RTV to give extra protection and keep dirt/water from hiding in there.
I just fill the ends of the BEC with black silicone and call it good.
Once I get these waterproofed they will either go in the Short Change or my SCX10 JK.
A little hot glue secures the ESC to the stock mount.
Wire routing. After I changed ESC's the BEC wire was longer so it is actually servo taped under the driver seat now. You can see it in the third pic.
I had some HPI shocks (#A718 the purple ones) laying around but I only had two. I feel HPI makes the best shocks in the business and love running them. For now I am using some old Hot Bodies blue shocks on the rear but I have 2 more HPI shocks in the mail. The rear shocks have a 1/2" long piece of fuel tube under the piston to limit the extension and get the correct ride height. The front shocks didn't need any internal limiting but I put a 1/4" piece of fuel tube on to limit the compression. 40wt oil went into all 4 shocks.
Front shocks on.
I had some Wraith seats laying around so in they went.
Getting close now. Tires and wheels next.
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