Looky what me seee.... :004:

http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/rcx11.jpg

Damn GD, where was that?

Look at the trash can. It says "FAIRPLEX" which would mean RCX! I wonder how long those will last.

yep... rcx good sleuth work :)

1/8 buggies/truggies use mostly 8x16mm bearings all around. The center diff is no exception :).

And I should be seeing some in person tomorrow ;). Same with BP-Revo.

Same here - I've been bantering around some ideas myself based on a lot of your posts. The issues I have are that I would rather not radically alter any of the stock components just yet as I'm not sure how easy it will be to get replacement parts if I need a "do over".

Brian - do you know anybody that stocks parts for the .5 yet?

I know of no one which stocks the parts as of yet. You LHS might be your best bet for now. Or maybe eBay. Pickings will be slim for a little while. No matter what, this thing is going to require some custom parts, unless you find a hardened pinion to use with the steel spur.

Yeah MM is right; standard buggy bearings are 8x16. This one however is 10x15x4mm (the CRT.5 bearings are thinner). It's funny, because there are a lot of things that are 1/8 scale size ... almost. 8 scale works on many things with modifications.

Well, if the price is right, I will pick one up at RCX (I'm actually going with MetalMan).

Brian, the reason I was wondering was that I am thinking of just throwing a 1/8 scale center diff in the middle so I can use a plastic spur. Then, I'd drill new holes to lengthen the mount so it would fit, and then get Mike to whip me up some custom dogbones.

The last option is just buying a complete CRT or CR center diff assembly and putting it in (since they have mechanical brakes too :) ).

Using a full 8 scale CD is another option I've been considering as well. There isn't much extra room between the F/R braces so that is questionable. I also was to raise the CD so I don't have to cut the chassis to fit the spur. There are a lot of ways one can go with this - I guess It's just a matter of what is easiest/cheapest to do in the long run.

So, it's like a date? :005:

No...its cause I'm too lazy to print out directions LOL

Actually because I didn't want to be wandering around there all by myself - so I figured I'd tag along.

Just kidding... I would like to go... and I'd go with you guys too if I was in the area.

I don't swing that way :005:.

I'm hoping to get some good info. out of Castle while there. Hopefully they'll be able to tell something, or at least the beta tester "credentials" should help :).

Yea thats a good point MM - I don't swing that way either lol

But I'll be close by to catch anything Castle says ;)

It's okay if you do will still be your friends :005: .

Just not that close...

Yea...not too close is right...

"Personal Space" *cough cough*

LOL

A minimum of 3 feet is the proper amount of space. Thats a MAN LAW :005:

Dude I created a mess here. lol...

So what did you see and hear???? We want the nitty gritty.... did you use any Jeti powers or Chinese torture on Joe to get the inside info?

Well, I heard RChippie only need 3 ft of space, if it means anything to you..?

I guess this thread has potential to become one of 'them' threads..

Rene thas a minimum of 3ft of space :027: .

Makes sense since his anteater nose needs about that much room to move comfortably. :)

For those interested, the online CRT.5 manual PDF can be downloaded here:

http://nitrohouse.com/manual_jammin_crt_05.htm

Warning for dial-up users: it is over 15MB...

I also saw they list spare parts. I think I'll be picking up some spare arms and other things that tend to go snap when brushless motors are installed.:027:

I hope my LHS carries some of the more common parts in stock. Sucks having to wait a few days to get a small part. The last time I was playing around in the street with my Hyper 8, I flipped over and wore the shock caps down to nothing and getting more in took a few days. Poo. I guess we live in a society that likes instant gratification. :)

I really want to finish my CRT, but am waiting for Mike to see if he has some sort of magical drop-in solution. Last I heard, he was going to take a look at his .5 to see what could easily be done. I might just order a hardened steel pinion and some type of 1/8" bore to 5mm bore adaptor sleeve as I want to get in some practice running before race season. :)

I just picked one up from Tower for $254 shipped....let the fun begin.

I was at my LHS the other day and they just got 4 more in (at that same ~$250 pricetag), so it looks like they are becoming more plentiful. It looks like a very solid little truck. And being small/light with high quality parts (many sharing properties with their full 8th scale brethren), the chances of breaking things will be lower. Still, I plan to stock up on arms and maybe shocks. But I'll wait until the eBay chopshops start listing them before I do that.

Any update on the spur gear options?

I just gat a few arms, diff mounts and braces (stuff I chopped up in my conversion process:002: ) from nitrohouse. I agree - an extra set of shocks would be nice. I just spent last night assembling mine and thought how terrible it would be to snap a shaft. Maybe I better get some of those too!

My conversion is coming along - I'll try to post tonight what I have so far.

rhinopole: The use of any current drop-in plastic spur creates problems: lengthens the diff and needs to use a bearing which is unavailable (8x15x4), and need longer outdrive cup shaft. There are workarounds, which I have tried to do, but everything requires customized parts: dogbones that have different sized balls and pin, or custom outdrive cup that has the needed length while retaining the smaller drive cup, redrilling diff mount holes (not a big deal really), etc. So, I will be using the stock steel spur and a hardened pinion for now. If it holds up, I will be happy. If not, maybe by then Mike will have some type of drop-in solution. Judging by how fast these truggies are selling at my LHS, I think they will be quite popular and there will be many more conversions. I know Mike does have one and he had been looking into different ideas himself.

Riceman: Yeah, I already had to order a new diff cup (the one I have seems OK, but I've been taking it apart and putting it together several times and am afraid the screws won't stay tight) and a new diff mount since I already modded one for a 16mm bearing. IMO, the best bet for things like shocks and other assemblies is just to wait for eBay chopshops to start selling them. Much cheaper that way.

And yes, please do post your conversion (maybe start your own thread so it won't get lost in this one).

Just a FYI, if any of you guys are wanting one of these.. the LHS Brian mentioned still has 3 of them @$250 and they will ship them in the US. No sales tax outside Iowa too, so that's cool. www.hobbyhaven.com

I was there today and one of the guys who has one picked up a set of arms for it. $9.95 for a full set of front and rear. He also asked me who sold off the nitro stuff on Ebay... he thought it must have been me. :D I'm sure it was Brian, lol..

They also have them at www.amainhobbies.com for 269.99.

Yeah, that was me. :) Got a surprising good price too (~$50). Although someone else was selling the same stuff and simply stole my picture and description that I had word-for-word. Made me a little mad, but that's what I get for not using a watercolor on the pic...

Thought you woudl find this quote funny Brian... about Ultimate Hobbies (isnt' that where you got the CRT.5?)

Ultimate Hobbies is actually pretty local to me (~25mins away). I guess I might have to check it out for myself!

I ordered my CRT the other day. I'm told it should be here next week. :D

GD: Yeah, that about sums up my online experience! And they STILL haven't billed me for it, not that I'm complaining!

BP: That'll make 3 forum members (4 if you count Mike) that I know of that have ordered one or have one already. We just gotta get an RCM bash set up where we can all meet for a CRT.5 race day. It'll be a "special club". :)

Looks like you guys are flying to the West Coast. :D

No thanks! I hate flying - my ears always hurt for days after. Makes me grumpy. How about we all meet somewhere in the middle? Hey, Iowa is just about as "in the middle" as you can get - how convenient for me. :)

Sure...my house is somewhere between MetalMan's and the East Coast LOL