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shOyx Element Gladiator Build Thread

shOyx

Newbie
Joined
Feb 10, 2020
Messages
42
Location
Miami
Hello, I'm new into all this crawling thing, but I felt in love the minute I saw a few fellas driving at a park track here in Miami!

I've been into RC cars for a few months now, I'm not a pro but like build things and research a lot. It all started a few months ago with an XL5 Rustler which I then replace with an Arrma Kraton 6s v4, then a few weeks later I got an Arrma Infraction.

So after a lot of youtube videos and research, My options were RTR Axial SCX10 II, Redcat gen 8 and Element Enduro Sendero, then I said to my self, let's escalate to the next level I decided to get a Kit that lead me to get the Element Enduro Builder Kit.

Parts list:
  • Element Enduro Builder Kit
  • Hobbywing 1080 ESC
  • Holmes Hobbies CrawlMaster Sport 550 (15T)
  • Pro-Line Hyrax 1.9" (Predator)
  • Pro-Line 1.9" XL Dual Stage Foams
  • Pro-Line 2020 Jeep Gladiator
  • INJORA 1.9 Beadlock Wheels
  • 25kg DSservo

And here all started a few weeks ago.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/hB1nvLT/IMG-20200210-184303.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/X45R00M/IMG-20200211-194700.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/qMQ9q0N/IMG-20200210-221159.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/vvkJ9FS/IMG-20200210-223915.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/7YTr9WJ/IMG-20200210-233142.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/K51x0Rh/IMG-20200210-234257.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

I went with the 12% OD right away.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/LrNDR7j/IMG-20200211-001545.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/kKwhYhj/IMG-20200211-010419.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Axles Ready

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/YQKZpfy/IMG-20200211-011556.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ZcgGkGw/IMG-20200211-231141.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/cyfrgCs/IMG-20200211-233308.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ZT7gYBV/IMG-20200211-235759.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/cyD697L/IMG-20200212-000710.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Homemade last-minute Shock stand. :lmao:

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/MMx70pW/IMG-20200212-000855.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/7bY4tDH/IMG-20200212-013203.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/HVTFFXz/IMG-20200212-223639.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

First and last wheel with so many screws :|

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/LxMMvYt/IMG-20200212-224502.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/fY3BRRg/IMG-20200212-234516.jpg
" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Jz6mVP6/IMG-20200213-011756.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/80vN99j/IMG-20200213-011749.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

As everyone said, the angle of the driveshaft is insane.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/fp0QZQZ/IMG-20200213-013654.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/BcpSLpX/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200213020332108-COVER.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Time for electronics

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/CJDDt2n/IMG-20200213-224628.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/yB6LPVJ/IMG-20200213-233243.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/C5rMXKX/IMG-20200213-234308.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

The Body, IDK what to say, I love Jeep, I love the gladiator but I dont love the Proline gladiator just because is waaaaay of scale, is narrow, and tiny, but we need to understand that they did that to make it fit on 12.3in :/, so let's move on.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/XtS4ZNf/IMG-20200215-143258.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

All masked and ready for black paint

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ZmdwY3L/IMG-20200215-180446.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Fwqg03k/IMG-20200215-180459.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

3 layers of black done.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/0h3fjLm/IMG-20200216-092159.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/jbhjCRV/IMG-20200216-092206.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Masking out and ready for white.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/99tZCr1/IMG-20200216-094928.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/SXJgNsN/IMG-20200216-100328.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/GnTDsg6/IMG-20200216-100318.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

All backed with Silver.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Q8yRsQM/IMG-20200216-164116.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Body 1/2 way trimmed and testing fitment.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/zHZ4JS3/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200216183635183-COVER.jpg
" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Top film cut to match the black parts, planning to paint all black and then flat clear coat.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/BLkWnqT/IMG-20200220-160803.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Fwz6kWz/IMG-20200220-162726.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ZSvWM1d/IMG-20200220-163426.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/gFh5Q5G/IMG-20200220-165356.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/6YDbqGg/IMG-20200220-165403.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ZLkhRdN/IMG-20200220-165425.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

New parts came in :D

  • SSD Brass Knuckles
  • SSD Brass Rear Axle Weights
  • Samix Brass Hex (8mm)
  • Yeah Racing Front Stinger Bumper

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/xSFwdVC/IMG-20200221-004846.jpg
" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

I decided to go with a narrower bumper since tires were rubbing the previous one, but I still dont like this one :/.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/QrdMHWc/IMG-20200220-165557.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Time for stickers :)
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/42tJ8B5/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200220220225034-COVER.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/R98127T/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200220220244203-COVER.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

The body is to narrow and it hit the servo box so I decided to move it to the back and use one of the soft original braces as a mount.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/f1Ms5x9/IMG-20200220-222037.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Vv2tvZH/IMG-20200220-223314.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

A little bit of cable management

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/vJD92zr/IMG-20200220-233515.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/1GXSPHL/IMG-20200221-005230.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/pQ79LkC/IMG-20200221-005847.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ZXYvkw3/IMG-20200221-010521.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/5WqKWpN/IMG-20200221-011037.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

That flex xD, tires are rubbing the body a little bit.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/VxX4XFd/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200221015324578-COVER.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

I lifted the body but I think is too much

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/34fkYsd/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200221092054238-COVER.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Next to my Axial SXT24

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/ScDW9yv/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200221190048744-COVER.jpg
" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/TKF5jKW/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200221190751984-COVER.jpg" style="width:960px;height:1280px;">

I hope you guys like it, I will love to hear any feedback and or suggestion to improve the performance and look of it. I still need to find a rear bumper that fits the body, and a roof led lightbar.
 
Last edited:
Nice rig. Looks great! Look up Markham Park in Broward County. There is a great crawler course inside of Markham Park that we frequent that is amazing.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk
 
Nice rig. Looks great! Look up Markham Park in Broward County. There is a great crawler course inside of Markham Park that we frequent that is amazing.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

I went there yesterday, love the place. and damn this thing can crawl! but was planning to do another post with images of a few other modifications I did, such as cutting the Floor Boards and sliders, I also added a few neodymium magnets to hold the body instead of the horrible clips and I lowered the body a little bit.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/k17jQRP/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200223122615515-COVER.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/4RWfc3C/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200223122851934-COVER-2.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/kGhXr0X/00100tr-PORTRAIT-00100-BURST20200223123123736-COVER.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">
 
A few new mods I did to the truck.

I really didn't want to open holes to the body, so I decided to get neodymium magnets to hold it.

I got them from here these are a direct fit onto the body post and I glue them in with shoe goo.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/pjsQRFd/IMG-20200227-001122.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/3BpTBGk/IMG-20200227-001112.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/k2D6x5G/IMG-20200227-001135.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/P4JxVmY/IMG-20200227-001132.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

Floor panels and sliders cut to fit the body.

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/2tkH7S2/IMG-20200227-001144.jpg" style="width:1280px;height:960px;">

I'm now waiting to get my IFS kit any time tomorrow :)
 
Last edited:
I use the same magnets on my trucks. Makes for a cleaner look, plus I hate body clips. Put a piece of clear packing tape over the magnets on the body. It'll make it easier to pull the body off.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk
 
I use the same magnets on my trucks. Makes for a cleaner look, plus I hate body clips. Put a piece of clear packing tape over the magnets on the body. It'll make it easier to pull the body off.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk
Regarding that, the magnets came with a small rings of plastic in-between, so I place one on top of each magnet and it worked perfect.

Now that you mentioned packing tape, I did something with it while glueing the magnets. I will explain for people that is interested, so I glued the ones on the posts first and let them dry, then put a big piece of packing tape as an isolated layer and put another set of magnets on top and a dab of shoe goo on top of all that, then I place the body carefully and adjust the exact position I wanted to be and let it dry overnight with a heavy book on the roof xD, in the morning I removed the body, remove the tape and voila.


887002202d0e8d6c3a0da7c56f5bbb4c.jpg
 
Last edited:
Regarding that, the magnets came with a small rings of plastic in-between, so I place one on top of each magnet and it worked perfect.

Now that you mentioned packing tape, I did something with it while glueing the magnets. I will explain for people that is interested, so I glued the ones on the posts first and let them dry, then put a big piece of packing tape as an isolated layer and put another set of magnets on top and a dab of shoe goo on top of all that, then I place the body carefully and adjust the exact position I wanted to be and let it dry overnight with a heavy book on the roof xD, in the morning I removed the body, remove the tape and voila.


887002202d0e8d6c3a0da7c56f5bbb4c.jpg
Mine also came with the same plastic rings. I thought about doing the same thing, but didn't. Oh well.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk
 
Great looking build! Nice work. "thumbsup"

Welcome to the site. You started off with a bang with this good build thread. Stick around!
 
Great looking build! Nice work. "thumbsup"

Welcome to the site. You started off with a bang with this good build thread. Stick around!
Thanks, I'm still in the hunt of the right bumpers for this body but nothing fit as I want, I'm starting to learn about bracing and I think I will give it a try and make my own bumpers and sliders :)

I'm considering changing the tires to Hyrax Class 1 4.19 OD for a better fit.

What do you guys think?
 
Nice build!"thumbsup"

I just got the chance to read thru your build thread. Great job! I think out of the 3 rig options you had, you picked the right one. The Element is a great rig!

I agree that the Gladiator body looks a little off, but you did a great job on the paint and it looks good on the chassis.

Nice magnet mounts. It does make for a cleaner look without having the body clips showing. I have not done the magnet mounts to my rigs yet, but I think I should try it on one of them.

I was going to suggest to lower the body some, but looks like you are already in the process of doing that. The bad thing with dropping the body is you'll probably have to trim some of the body to do that.

I don't think I have seen the class 1 Hyrax used with this body yet, but it may fit the body better and require less trimming.
 
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