From the day after I ordered the long-awaited and much-anticipated Optic kit, I somehow just had a feeling that I'd get Kawasaki green. I hate Kawasaki. And I hate everything and anything with a Monster Energy theme. And "shocker" I did get the green. For some reason, this has put a huge damper on my excitement for this build. I know it's only plastics and stickers and that can be changed, when Vanquish gets off their asses and offers them, but my excitement is not the same as it was. Hopefully that changes as I get farther into the build. You can say I'm being dramatic (wouldn't be the first time). You can say I knew it was a gamble (no shit). You can say whatever you want (and IDGAF), but I can be honest about it. I hated this random color idea from the beginning, and I hate it even more now. I hate the color and the livery is as elementary as it can get. If you search "Huf", which is the name on these decals, it says "Skateboarding, Streetwear & Sneakers". Huff is also the sound you make to express annoyance which, in this case, is fitting. I huffed when I got Huf. Go to the Huf website and they seem to be junior-high school clowns that still think the pot leaf is cool to put on clothing. Sounds like skateboarders to me. Grow the fuck up! I can't believe Vanquish would even consider working with them.
Enough bitching. Let's start building. The box, manual and marketing materials are colorful and beautiful. I give them credit here. The manual is made from high-quality paper. This presentation does make a difference IMO. The 40th RC10 kit didn't include a manual. And I've built some RC kits with flimsy ass manuals and it just gives you a cheap feeling to start.
Step A is the front axle.
Vanquish still includes the plastic bearing carriers. I never had one fail, but I think this is inexcusable at this price. They don't need to include aluminum third members, but the aluminum bearing carriers would be nice.
The first error in the manual occurs on the first page. They call for an M2.5x6mm screw on either end of the front axle to act as a stop for the steering. I had M2.5x8mm screws for this part. That is fine because the hole they thread into is a thru-hole. But the tip of the screw does protrude slightly. I should have taken a pic of this. You could move down to maybe a 6mm to completely hide the screw.
Screw stop installed. This does not retain the bearing in any way.
Look at this flashing inside the "hydraulic" ram steering mount. The ram did catch on this when inserting it, but once in there, I felt nothing including no resistance. This piece has concerned me from the very first time I saw it in photos. You have a metal rod sliding on plastic with zero lubrication and there is a great possibility that dirt, grit, mud and grime will get in there and sand away this piece and the ram. Dumb design. Form before function. At least they were smart enough to make this entire piece replaceable and none of the axle housing is affected. This will all be a moot point if they don't offer this replacement part by itself. Currently they only offer it in the H10 Hydro Axle Components kit (VPS08806) that is $16.99. That's just asinine to force us to buy all those parts, especially the steering knuckles since most people will move to weighted knuckles.
Vanquish went cheap on the design of the steering ram. There is no interface between the C-hub and the rod. They should have slotted and notched this or somehow keyed it so that it is easy to line up both C-hubs on either end of this ram. A simple tool could have also been included to aid in this. They decided to make these parts cheap and I understand why. And, at the end of the day, it isn't too difficult to lineup the C-hubs from end to end.
Ram assembled inside of the cylinder part.
Enough bitching. Let's start building. The box, manual and marketing materials are colorful and beautiful. I give them credit here. The manual is made from high-quality paper. This presentation does make a difference IMO. The 40th RC10 kit didn't include a manual. And I've built some RC kits with flimsy ass manuals and it just gives you a cheap feeling to start.
Step A is the front axle.
Vanquish still includes the plastic bearing carriers. I never had one fail, but I think this is inexcusable at this price. They don't need to include aluminum third members, but the aluminum bearing carriers would be nice.
The first error in the manual occurs on the first page. They call for an M2.5x6mm screw on either end of the front axle to act as a stop for the steering. I had M2.5x8mm screws for this part. That is fine because the hole they thread into is a thru-hole. But the tip of the screw does protrude slightly. I should have taken a pic of this. You could move down to maybe a 6mm to completely hide the screw.
Screw stop installed. This does not retain the bearing in any way.
Look at this flashing inside the "hydraulic" ram steering mount. The ram did catch on this when inserting it, but once in there, I felt nothing including no resistance. This piece has concerned me from the very first time I saw it in photos. You have a metal rod sliding on plastic with zero lubrication and there is a great possibility that dirt, grit, mud and grime will get in there and sand away this piece and the ram. Dumb design. Form before function. At least they were smart enough to make this entire piece replaceable and none of the axle housing is affected. This will all be a moot point if they don't offer this replacement part by itself. Currently they only offer it in the H10 Hydro Axle Components kit (VPS08806) that is $16.99. That's just asinine to force us to buy all those parts, especially the steering knuckles since most people will move to weighted knuckles.
Vanquish went cheap on the design of the steering ram. There is no interface between the C-hub and the rod. They should have slotted and notched this or somehow keyed it so that it is easy to line up both C-hubs on either end of this ram. A simple tool could have also been included to aid in this. They decided to make these parts cheap and I understand why. And, at the end of the day, it isn't too difficult to lineup the C-hubs from end to end.
Ram assembled inside of the cylinder part.
