This is my second crawler after owning a Tamiya CC-01 for about 6 months now. I'm very new to the RC game, and I love the CC-01 dearly, but I wanted something that could handle a lot tougher terrain and easily keep up with my mate's SCX10.
I've has the R1 on my radar for a while, but as soon as I saw the Stealth chassis kit, I knew I had to have it and that pretty much decided my theme for me. I've done some of the standard hop-ups like the bent links, chrome diff covers and JunFac axles. And after a lot of reading I started with a 55t motor, vented the stock beadlocks while adding 70g weights to the fronts, and configured the suspension as droop front, sprung rear. Then I set the BR-XL to 70% drag on the Holmes Hold setting, maxed the BEC and set the LiPo cutoff and that's it in terms of electronics.
Then it was onto some looks with added functionality. The servo was sky blue and the batteries a darker blue, which obviously didn't fit the theme, so I used Plastidip to coat the servo and batteries with a thin, but durable and waterproof black coating. The servo was already a waterproof Hitec unit, but the batteries didn't look that watertight so I dipped them and now I can go into nice deep mud/water. I would definitely require this ability because...
Today was the first real run and wouldn't you know it, it's been raining off and on for the last day or so here. But that didn't stop me, or the R1 that much. My local playground is made up a lot of loose clay hills dumped by an excavator, and a bunch of jagged rocks with minimal surface grip. And water, oh the lovely fun puddles.
The tyres quickly became more mud than rubber, but these stock tyres aren't too bad on my dirt/mud/clay. Not sure what some of the other R1 owners were talking about.
But I did find out a few things that need looking at. The cheap RC4WD motor was a touch too slow in the wheel speed department and started to just give up at points needing torque due to all the added mass of mud. Also, the steering angle was terrible. I cranked it as far as my endpoints and the physical limitations of the chassis would allow, but the turning circle was huge. Servo did a pretty good job, again counting for the extra mud weight. Clearance and articulation were awesome though. I like the BR-XL too, I'll drop the drag back to 50% and probably tune the throttle curve for a little less punch. I'm sure it's not real good in terms of pro rigs or something, but it breezed over some pretty crazy stuff today.
Initial verdict, very bloody happy! Loving this rig even with the issues listed above. Cant wait to try it on some rocks. I've got a set of Vanquish 2.2" wheels coming in and I'll track down a set of 2.2" Super Swampers in G8 compound. My mate ran them in 1.9" today and they were amazing. Then I'll be doing the Wheely King CVD and knuckle conversion for more angle. And I need a nice 45t motor somewhere in there too, phew. I've also got some Gear Science gel coming in and sealed Avid bearings, so I'll rebuild the gearbox and axles over Christmas. Lots to do and lots of pics to come.
