Matt Wright
Newbie
This thread is where I will chronicle my RC project Wraith. As I start, this will be pretty lame as I am a newb to the RC world. Mostly bolt-ons for now, but I will most definitely venture out into fabrication and whatnot.
For background, my life's passion is 1:1 rock crawling. I live in the "rock bouncer's paradise" in north Alabama. I have been into the sport for over 10 years, and it is why I became a mechanical engineer. I have a bunch of model cars, trucks, and planes at home. And while I was a child I had a bunch of toy-grade RC trucks.
Here's a pic of my 1:1 after I let the owner of CBFABWERKS borrow it for RBD
(EDIT: linking the pic didn't work. See attachment. Also added a pic from Gray Rock)
My RC crawler adventure first started by purchasing an RTR Wraith. I wouldn't do it again, but in a way I'm glad I did. I was able to learn a lot about RC's from getting the RTR. If I was to do it again though, I'd get the kit. For an idea of how out of the loop I was when I first got it, check out This Thread.
The first night I had it, I pulled a bunch of screws out of everything. I lost a knuckle screw in the first couple of minutes. I did not know I needed to tighten everything down, because I thought Axial would have better quality control in their engineering department :lmao:.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, and here's what I've done so far:
It has been a big hit. But the housing was stripped in multiple places from the factory, the motor is weak, the servo is dying, etc. My girlfriend wants one pretty badly, so I ordered a Ridgecrest RTR yesterday. I wanted to get her a Wraith kit, but she wants what she wants! The nice thing about it is that it can get all my hand-me-down parts. I've been doing that with 1:1's for years. For example, whenever I upgrade the knuckles/C's from STRC to Vanquish, I will put the STRC's on the Ridgecrest. I also already cut the small lugs out of the Ripsaws that came with my Wraith last night in preparation for her rig. I'm sure we will be interchanging tires/wheels quite a bit. I plan to have a few sets.
BillMeLater has a $500 "no-interest no payments for 6 months" type deal going right now, so I'm ordering some things I know I would buy in the next 6 months anyway. But this way I am able to get it all now, spend less than $100/mo on it, and I have no interest. So I'm ordering (right now):
I'm also going to grab a 55T Axial motor just to play with. Maybe I can get some better run time, and better low end throttle control out of it.
The main plan is that I'd like to have a rig that can crawl all kinds of stuff, and also tackle the mud. Like a TTC rig. I'd like rear steer, TTC motor, 2 spd trans, as much metal replacement parts as possible, etc. I feel like it would be a lot like having a 2 speed powerglide, and a straight drive transfer case in a 1:1. Obviously there is a lot more to it than that, but it gives you an idea. Eventually, I'd like to swap to a custom built tuber; maybe an EOR321 replica or something of that nature.
Anyway, that's the intro.
I'll add pictures as soon as I can, but there's not much to see YET.
Stay tuned...
For background, my life's passion is 1:1 rock crawling. I live in the "rock bouncer's paradise" in north Alabama. I have been into the sport for over 10 years, and it is why I became a mechanical engineer. I have a bunch of model cars, trucks, and planes at home. And while I was a child I had a bunch of toy-grade RC trucks.
Here's a pic of my 1:1 after I let the owner of CBFABWERKS borrow it for RBD
(EDIT: linking the pic didn't work. See attachment. Also added a pic from Gray Rock)
My RC crawler adventure first started by purchasing an RTR Wraith. I wouldn't do it again, but in a way I'm glad I did. I was able to learn a lot about RC's from getting the RTR. If I was to do it again though, I'd get the kit. For an idea of how out of the loop I was when I first got it, check out This Thread.
The first night I had it, I pulled a bunch of screws out of everything. I lost a knuckle screw in the first couple of minutes. I did not know I needed to tighten everything down, because I thought Axial would have better quality control in their engineering department :lmao:.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, and here's what I've done so far:
- Lowered the suspension using the stock mounting holes, flipped the lower CA mount, adjusted the shocks to the shortest setting
- Set screw on the pinion came out, and chewed up the spur. Now I have an 87T spur, and I swap out pinions (14T, 17T, 20T pinions)
- 5.75" RC4WD Boggers
- 2.2 Axial Rockster Beadlocks
- 3 oz in each front wheel
- Front Mounted Battery (receiver is in rear now)
- STRC Aluminum Knuckles & C's
It has been a big hit. But the housing was stripped in multiple places from the factory, the motor is weak, the servo is dying, etc. My girlfriend wants one pretty badly, so I ordered a Ridgecrest RTR yesterday. I wanted to get her a Wraith kit, but she wants what she wants! The nice thing about it is that it can get all my hand-me-down parts. I've been doing that with 1:1's for years. For example, whenever I upgrade the knuckles/C's from STRC to Vanquish, I will put the STRC's on the Ridgecrest. I also already cut the small lugs out of the Ripsaws that came with my Wraith last night in preparation for her rig. I'm sure we will be interchanging tires/wheels quite a bit. I plan to have a few sets.
BillMeLater has a $500 "no-interest no payments for 6 months" type deal going right now, so I'm ordering some things I know I would buy in the next 6 months anyway. But this way I am able to get it all now, spend less than $100/mo on it, and I have no interest. So I'm ordering (right now):
- Level3 RC Shock Droop Kit
- Axial Aluminum Shocks
- Axial Soft Springs (black, 1.04 lb/in)
- CKRC Machined Screw Kit
- 2.2 Axial XR10 "Competition" Beadlock Wheels
- 2.2 HPI Rock Grabbers
- Vanquish .6 Bullet Weights
- Vanquish front housing
- Axial U-joint style front axle shafts
- Vanquish 10pc Titanium Link Set (control arms and steering)
- CKRC Wraith Hood Hinge Kit (so I can get to the battery easier)
- "CKRC Special" Servo (200 oz-in, very cheap, TEMPORARY)
I'm also going to grab a 55T Axial motor just to play with. Maybe I can get some better run time, and better low end throttle control out of it.
The main plan is that I'd like to have a rig that can crawl all kinds of stuff, and also tackle the mud. Like a TTC rig. I'd like rear steer, TTC motor, 2 spd trans, as much metal replacement parts as possible, etc. I feel like it would be a lot like having a 2 speed powerglide, and a straight drive transfer case in a 1:1. Obviously there is a lot more to it than that, but it gives you an idea. Eventually, I'd like to swap to a custom built tuber; maybe an EOR321 replica or something of that nature.
Anyway, that's the intro.
I'll add pictures as soon as I can, but there's not much to see YET.
Stay tuned...
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