Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER

[Natedog]

Bigbill's Deadbolt and my Ascender doing work!

IMG_0649


It was announced that we should be on the lookout for some stuff to find on trail, I found one look in the upper right corner next to the RC4WD banner. ;-) Everybody who found one, got to keep the sweet pink anodized aluminum plaques from BPC and received some really nice BPC swag to go with it! I also got a nice KNK stainless complete screw kit!

IMG_0650

IMG_0651


Zonkerd's junkyard 4x4 and 6x6 towtrucks.

IMG_0652

IMG_0653

IMG_0654


Bigbill's Deadbolt and Robert's SCX Honcho.

IMG_0655


Some really cool rock formations to crawl on and look at.

IMG_0656


Bill lifting a tire, but making the climb!

IMG_0657


I spy another Ascender, brand spanking new Ford Bronco! There were several other Ascenders in attendance too.

IMG_0658

 

[Natedog]

IMG_0659

IMG_0660

IMG_0661


Looks like some Native American grinding holes in the rocks, there were several of these all around this big rocky area.

IMG_0662


Creek flowing into the lake...little bit. We need snow this year...badly.

IMG_0663


IMG_0664

IMG_0665

IMG_0666

 

[Natedog]

Need to take some more pics of plaque, goody bag, etc and finish sorting the rest of the pics. Please stand by to stand by.

 

[Itali83]

That's a bummer about the rock lights. I forget, are you running 2s or 3s? I remember your light pictures and they were perfect. I'm still running 2s and want to make sure I'm not disappointed if I run them on 2s. Can't wait for the rest of the pictures!
Ben

 

[Johnnysplits]

That looks like some cool running man! How much did that body get hooked up on stuff?

 

[SMFtwstdHICK]

That's some great terrain. For the most part, California sucks. LOL. But, damn if we don't have some killer crawling spots..

 

[Big Bill]

Great photos Nate, wish I would have "manned up" and ran my Blazer.:lmao:

 

[Natedog]

That's a bummer about the rock lights. I forget, are you running 2s or 3s? I remember your light pictures and they were perfect. I'm still running 2s and want to make sure I'm not disappointed if I run them on 2s. Can't wait for the rest of the pictures!
Ben

Yes, it is. I'm running 2S in this and forgot that rx is not putting out battery pack voltage, but prolly around 5 - 6 volts. CommonSenseRC pre-wired white LEDs I used for headlights are fine, but I need to re-think rocklight wiring.

EDIT: The pre-wired CommonSenseRC white 5mm LEDs work great for headlights, KC's, rocklights etc. even off lower voltages like the rx. I used these for my Blazer headlights, ten pack for $10 at LHS with resistors and lead wires all soldered and shrinkwrapped connections, can't beat it and saves me time:
https://www.commonsenserc.com/product_info.php?cPath=147_203&products_id=4723

Might buy the red 5mm and use some Axial light buckets to mount for rocklights on mine.

Just looked at their site more and I'l probably buy the JST-HX balance plug adapter with 8" harness for my waterproof peel and stick red led strips that I already have mounted up!
https://www.commonsenserc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2430

That looks like some cool running man! How much did that body get hooked up on stuff?

Thanks, it was lots of fun, obstacles for all! Body and bumpers didn't get hung up nearly as much as you might think, made all the lines more challenging...kinda like going from C2 to C1 and now run the same trail. :ror:8)"thumbsup"

That's some great terrain. For the most part, California sucks. LOL. But, damn if we don't have some killer crawling spots..

Agreed! :lmao:"thumbsup"

Great photos Nate, wish I would have "manned up" and ran my Blazer.:lmao:

Thanks Bill, yes you should have, especially since your Blazer was aslo in attendance. :lmao:"thumbsup" I'm thinking more and more of parting my SCX10, buying another Ascender, running two of them one with Blazer body and one with my Deadbolt body!

 

[Natedog]

SSD Ascender diff covers in stock at RPPHobby...ordered mine!
SSD Rock Shield Diff Cover for Ascender

 

[Johnnysplits]

Body didn't get hung up nearly as much as you might think, made all the lines more challenging...kinda like going from C2 to C1 and now run the same trail

Well, on the first comp course I ran with it, the body was hanging up way too much for me to have fun, hence the changes I made. And thanks for the hookup on ebay for those sway bar parts!

 

[Natedog]

Hmmm the big Blazer body requires new approach and some lines aren't doable since it's got so much front and rear overhang, but that is what makes it fun for me...everything is more difficult now. IIRC you haven't lowered your body two holes on the mounts and trimmed accordingly which helps. You already did rear bumper mount flip correct? The more I think about it the more my Axial stuff needs to go and I'll put Deadbolt body on second Ascender for the super tech hardcore crawling. Hmmm that or 1.9 Wraith...might even sell the my Wraith chassis and parts too. :mrgreen::lmao:8)"thumbsup" You're welcome on the swaybar hookup, I couldn't beleive the price at first lol...you'll love it with the swaybar!

 

[Sammy J.]

Hey Natedog! I want to thank you for the tip on flipping the rear bumper mounts. Simple to do modification that really improves looks, and I'm sure will help with performance.

Here are a couple before/after photos.

Before



After




Thanks for starting this thread. I have learned a lot from reading it. Keep it up!

 

[Natedog]

Hey Sammy, you're welcome glad to help out, that's what it's all about! Rear bumper mount flip gains an easy 1/4" maybe little more on departure angle which is huge with this large body and bumpers. Your truck is looking good and nice clean work area too, love those G-Made metal wheels! "thumbsup"

 

[Natedog]

Here's the swag bag laid out with my truck, Axial chapstick, Crawl For A Cure 2015 metal pin for your hat or jacket, C4C bright pink lanyard (used it on my transmitter that morning), 25% off Pitbull Tires coupon, GSRCC sticker, C4C sticker, sweet little laser cut steel open/box 5.5mm wrench that fits very nicely on all those little 3mm locknuts, and one raffle ticket per person for an Axial RTR crawler! RC4WD stickers were handed out too.

IMG_0667

IMG_0651


I was in a hurry so installed the C4C bright pink lanyard on my radio with an Axial battery strap from my old AX10 and two tiny black zip-ties, worked great all day! I might take apart the transmitter, drill a hole or two and use an eyelet for the lanyard.

 

[Natedog]

Sweet little rugged climb up the crack and down the bridge, fall off at the transition if your weren't careful.

IMG_0668


Through the thicket.

IMG_0669

IMG_0670


Wheelstand! Pics never do the steepness of terrain proper justice, just never looks as difficult as it really is.

IMG_0671


Downhill to the balance bridge, crawl up, balance and crawl down the other side. Then the wire bridge.

IMG_0672


Night stage 100 gates and every gate had a pink glow ring around both numbered gate markers, daylight stage was 200 gates

IMG_0673


Approaching a pink night gate

IMG_0674

IMG_0675

IMG_0676


Wire bridge

IMG_0677

IMG_0678

IMG_0679

 

[Natedog]

Oops double post!

Happy Veteran's Day! "thumbsup"

 

[Natedog]

Couple shots with my shock limiters just about perfect.
Full droop:

IMG_0680


Full compression:

IMG_0681

 

[Big Bill]

Your limiting mod and piston mod is my next project, I honestly think that is the reason why your Blazer worked so well. The sway bar is also on the list. How about a couple shots of the front bumper and grill, I saw way to much of the rear bumper Saturday :lmao:

 

[Natedog]

What I'm replacing.

IMG_0682

Gears looked great inside, cleaned out some of the grease and gave em a squirt of fresh as long as the covers were off!

IMG_0683


PICS! These are nice beefy units with more metal down low where it's needed, they weigh 8 grams each, HR only 5 grams each and not enough meat. I really like these!

IMG_0684


Front view as you requested Bill!

IMG_0685

IMG_0686

 

[OSRC]

Those look great!