Horsetooth Badlands H10 Optic

[dystance]

So back into the hobby with a vengeance. I just restored my old Badlands Wraith project and then I came across the V10 Optic. I read up on it and purchased it straight away. As soon as it arrived I stripped it down and ordered parts for my goal of a 4WS crawler.

Hobbywing Quickrun Fusion Pro 2300 KV
Spectrum SR515 receiver
Savox steering servos
Vanquish wheels w/ Crawler Innovations foams on stock tires
Rear steer Axel swap
H Tech rear shock mounts and bump stops
Cliff McCrawl Industries inner rear panels
FreqEsKinz wrap

This rig has been fun to work on. It is really well though out and I found it very easy
to build and test. I hope it drives as good as it looks.

I think that’s it for now. Testing bench setup is complete and I am waiting for time next weekend to get her out on the rocks.











Quote Reply

 

[Ballistic17]

Great looking build.

 

[Gula]

Love the Toyota livery.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

That's a great looking Optic! Welcome back to this awesome and addicting hobby!

 

[dystance]

Great looking build.

Thanks. I certainly looked to your build for inspiration.

 

[dystance]

Build update: The stock shocks were replaced by HR units mounted upside down to try to help lower the CG. The front shocks are still 90mm but I reduced the shock length by 5mm with offset shock pivots. I added the YRUCEC rear shock mounts which raised the shock mount by 10 mm which allowed me to use the 100mm length, again with the offset shock pivots. This configuration gave me more travel in the rear while lowering the ride height by 5mm. Used 60wt oil. I also added the aluminum HTEC rear shock mount to add a bit of stiffness to the rear chassis. Added the YRUCEC inner fender panels and they are slick. Perfect fit and they look great.

 

[PileDriver]

cool looking rig. Don’t your shocks have a bunch of air in them when mounted upside down?

 

[smog]

she’s clean, very nice

 

[dystance]

Got her out on the rocks at a great spot at Horsetooth reservoir that I have never been to. Happy with the low speed smoothness and also with the top speed. The suspension seems balanced and consistent. 4WS is awesome. Great steering angles. My only complaint i the on-off nature of the rear steer control. I would prefer it to be proportional instead of all or nothing. I run a DX5 - is there a way to get proportional rear steer? It is not the biggest issue as long as you pay attention to when using it to prevent the motion from unsettling the balance. Anyway, I feel it is very capable considering its scale appearance and low breakover. I will work on lowering the COG by removing weight up high and possibly adding some weight to the wheels.

 

[dystance]

cool looking rig. Don’t your shocks have a bunch of air in them when mounted upside down?

Not yet as far as I can tell. the dampening still feels smooth. I have ran upside down shocks in the past and did not have any trouble. Properly sealed I don't feel there is any more chance of getting air inside. The stock shocks leaked and thus had air inside before I opened the box, and then again after I refilled and re-assembled. The HR have been good for the few weeks that I have had them installed.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Great looking rig. I think the red IFR rings look much better than the yellow.

 

[dystance]

The offset shock ends were binding so I redid the shocks again back to the stock ends. This raises the ride height 5mm back almost to how it sat stock. Also got rid of the 2 stage spring and went to a softer spring. Running 50wt oil. Much smoother now and felt really smooth and stable on the rocks. I am planning on getting a set of Priceys shocks for this rig. Trying to dial in my ride height. I’d like to drop the rear 5mm or so……still looking for really soft springs around 50mm long and 12 to 13mm inner diameter.

 

[Mopar man]

Buggy looks great. wheels tires paint look great out in the wild

 

[Ots]

I run a DX5

Which DX5? I have the DX5 Pro and it has complete 4WS functionality: 4WS, 2WS, RWS and crab, all with complete full-range control. You might have to do a deep dive into set-up but it probably has the capability.

 

[89Industries]

UTB-18 (the 1:18 Axial Capra) uses 13x54mm springs. I have some that are 1.7lb/in but likely they make a range for that vehicle either by axial or aftermarket since its a pretty popular truck.

Good to see someone else from Colorado front range on here. Horsetooth looks fun. I've only ridden bikes there many years ago.

 

[dystance]

UTB-18 (the 1:18 Axial Capra) uses 13x54mm springs. I have some that are 1.7lb/in but likely they make a range for that vehicle either by axial or aftermarket since its a pretty popular truck.

Good to see someone else from Colorado front range on here. Horsetooth looks fun. I've only ridden bikes there many years ago.

Thanks for the info on the springs. Horsetooth is an awesome spot. Years ago I helped set up a couple of comps up here around the reservoir. The terrain is great particularly over the fall and winter when the water level is lower.

 

[dystance]

Which DX5? I have the DX5 Pro and it has complete 4WS functionality: 4WS, 2WS, RWS and crab, all with complete full-range control. You might have to do a deep dive into set-up but it probably has the capability.

I explored those options but I want the rear to be independent. I think all the programmed options like the rear to the same steering g input. Currently I just have it hooked up to an aux Chanel. It works fine but I want to find a way to do independent proportional rear steer

 

[Ots]

I explored those options but I want the rear to be independent. I think all the programmed options like the rear to the same steering g input. Currently I just have it hooked up to an aux Chanel. It works fine but I want to find a way to do independent proportional rear steer

You mean you want to 'kind of have' two steering wheels (not literally): steer the front and steer the rear independently of each other. That might be a pretty tall order. Like front steering on AUX 1 and rear steering on AUX 2 and be able to switch from AUX 1 to AUX 2 and back when wanted. That would take some noodling to see if there's a way to make that work.

 

[Ots]

As I mention in my first response, one of the options with 4WS in the DX5 is RWS. I use one switch (C or D, I can't recall right now) that can toggle to any of the four options: first position is FWS, second is 4WS, third is Crab and the fourth is RWS (meaning rear wheels only-steer). So I could change the order (I think) and have RWS as the second position so I could flip back-and-forth between FWS and RWS. If I can't change the order then I would have to toggle through to the fourth position and then back to the first position do the same.

I don't know if this gets you where you want or not, but it's one option at least.

 

[dystance]

You mean you want to 'kind of have' two steering wheels (not literally): steer the front and steer the rear independently of each other. That might be a pretty tall order. Like front steering on AUX 1 and rear steering on AUX 2 and be able to switch from AUX 1 to AUX 2 and back when wanted. That would take some noodling to see if there's a way to make that work.

Yes two steering wheels is the goal but I understand may not be doable. Maybe 1” years ago with first crawler, I modded the radio by pulling out the 3rd channel switch and installing a rheostat switch. I installed a wheel from a servo on the rheostat and had proportion rear steer independant of the front. It was awesome.