I've been having fun with the SCX24, its my first mini but it seems pretty good out of the box. Of course having springs and no shocks will make it bouncy which it is, and it will also unload the suspension easily on a side hill or at the tipping point on a steep slope. But that comes with the territory I suppose and its still fun.
First mod was to try some bigger tires. There was some minor body rub issues so I scrapped that idea.
Back to reality I did mount up some RC4WD MT/R's on RC4WD beadlocks and I've always disliked their wheels for being so fiddly but there just aren't many other options.
I ended up mounting up one tire without issue but the rest of the wheels were stripping out as I was trying to tighten the first screws. They just dont give you screws long enough to get it started easily, I really struggled and got pissed even broke an nice 1.5mm MIP. The threads would grab for a second and then strip out, really frustrating! These wheels use a M 1.5 screw or something small that I just dont have on hand otherwise I'd have just grabbed some longer screws. They really should provide at least 2 longer screws bare minimum.
One other tip, I took the wheel hubs and put a tiny bit of loctite between the hub and the wheel where they mate, with a few screws keeping it aligned and tight. I let these dry and and harden so the hub would stay put, otherwise with these loose it adds an extra level of complexity to assembling the wheels that I'd prefer not to deal with.
So a day later I rounded up some washers and put a few slots in one to make a clamp. Its a 2.5mm screw run through one half of the wheel to the other, various sized washers and a nut. Getting 2 of the hub screws started before fully tightening the clamp helps to keep the bolt holes aligned.
I whittled down the roll cage to just the basic structure (and removed the bumper lights)
removed the light bar and 3D printed a simple straight bar. I added 2 holes in the bar so I could stash the body pins there.
I designed up a new rear hinge that allows the body to flip back farther and lowers the body by 4.5mm.
I also relocated the ESC/Receiver to the rear originally thinking I might print up a mount. I found the housing fits nicely between the frame rails and decided to glue it in place with E6000. I made sure to get it as low as possible without interfering with links and that the switch had room to function.
Clearance to the links (compressed)
To go along with the lowered body in the rear I made up new Shock/Body mounts and integrated a front batter tray that allows the battery to be oriented horizontal or longitudinal. Getting the body mount to line up means moving the body post down one hole on the new body mount (as low as it can go) which drops it 4.5mm to match the rear.
This is how its sits now with it 4.5mm lower, I also cut 3mm or so off bottom of the body at the door sil
At max flex the tires just graze the body, its basically as low as it goes without cutting the fenders open.
Problems, I have a bad battery that's showing a ton or internal resistance, 109 and 87. I need to get in contact with Horizon and see if they will send another battery.
I also ran into an issues with the front dogbone axle. Its pin is not fixed in place and wandered outward scarring up the inner C-hub and eventually locking up. I may CA them in place it it happens again.
I can get over the little shortcomings its still a really fun platform without mods. With the mods I've done starting with just Tires and beadlocks (RC4WD stamped steel wheels and their MT/R's) I felt a huge difference. I weighed it and did some math and the new tires and wheels added 19% more total weight (+1.7 oz). So yes bad for rotational mass but with all of this weight added down low it really helps to keep it from flopping over on its back or its side.
That alone was a big improvement over stock but the electronics and battery tray rearrangement plus the roll cage whittling also added to the balance. I found myself able to sidehill much better in areas that it would have flopped over previously. Its getting close to being as planted as a nice 1.9 rig "thumbsup" It really has impressed me and I may just have to get a second.
I ordered some Carisma oil filled shocks on Spooo76's recommendations.
Oh and I made up a new 3D printed 1 piece front bumper
First mod was to try some bigger tires. There was some minor body rub issues so I scrapped that idea.
Back to reality I did mount up some RC4WD MT/R's on RC4WD beadlocks and I've always disliked their wheels for being so fiddly but there just aren't many other options.
I ended up mounting up one tire without issue but the rest of the wheels were stripping out as I was trying to tighten the first screws. They just dont give you screws long enough to get it started easily, I really struggled and got pissed even broke an nice 1.5mm MIP. The threads would grab for a second and then strip out, really frustrating! These wheels use a M 1.5 screw or something small that I just dont have on hand otherwise I'd have just grabbed some longer screws. They really should provide at least 2 longer screws bare minimum.
One other tip, I took the wheel hubs and put a tiny bit of loctite between the hub and the wheel where they mate, with a few screws keeping it aligned and tight. I let these dry and and harden so the hub would stay put, otherwise with these loose it adds an extra level of complexity to assembling the wheels that I'd prefer not to deal with.
So a day later I rounded up some washers and put a few slots in one to make a clamp. Its a 2.5mm screw run through one half of the wheel to the other, various sized washers and a nut. Getting 2 of the hub screws started before fully tightening the clamp helps to keep the bolt holes aligned.
I whittled down the roll cage to just the basic structure (and removed the bumper lights)
removed the light bar and 3D printed a simple straight bar. I added 2 holes in the bar so I could stash the body pins there.
I designed up a new rear hinge that allows the body to flip back farther and lowers the body by 4.5mm.
I also relocated the ESC/Receiver to the rear originally thinking I might print up a mount. I found the housing fits nicely between the frame rails and decided to glue it in place with E6000. I made sure to get it as low as possible without interfering with links and that the switch had room to function.
Clearance to the links (compressed)
To go along with the lowered body in the rear I made up new Shock/Body mounts and integrated a front batter tray that allows the battery to be oriented horizontal or longitudinal. Getting the body mount to line up means moving the body post down one hole on the new body mount (as low as it can go) which drops it 4.5mm to match the rear.
This is how its sits now with it 4.5mm lower, I also cut 3mm or so off bottom of the body at the door sil
At max flex the tires just graze the body, its basically as low as it goes without cutting the fenders open.
Problems, I have a bad battery that's showing a ton or internal resistance, 109 and 87. I need to get in contact with Horizon and see if they will send another battery.
I also ran into an issues with the front dogbone axle. Its pin is not fixed in place and wandered outward scarring up the inner C-hub and eventually locking up. I may CA them in place it it happens again.
I can get over the little shortcomings its still a really fun platform without mods. With the mods I've done starting with just Tires and beadlocks (RC4WD stamped steel wheels and their MT/R's) I felt a huge difference. I weighed it and did some math and the new tires and wheels added 19% more total weight (+1.7 oz). So yes bad for rotational mass but with all of this weight added down low it really helps to keep it from flopping over on its back or its side.
That alone was a big improvement over stock but the electronics and battery tray rearrangement plus the roll cage whittling also added to the balance. I found myself able to sidehill much better in areas that it would have flopped over previously. Its getting close to being as planted as a nice 1.9 rig "thumbsup" It really has impressed me and I may just have to get a second.
I ordered some Carisma oil filled shocks on Spooo76's recommendations.
Oh and I made up a new 3D printed 1 piece front bumper
Last edited:
