After 8 months...the Rapier is here!
 

Guys,

I just thought I'd post about the latest development of my modified Wild Dagger, called Cold Fusion...her new, custom-designed and CNC cut racing chassis. After 8 months of CAD designing (most of which was done by a certain Tony Salerno, of Demon Designs) and waiting...a lot of waiting...it's finished! I'm sorry, but I can't keep it to myself, so I thought I'd post up some pics! I'm really excited about it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMG_0020.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMG_0025.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMG_0021.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMG_0022.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMG_0023.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMG_0034.jpg

The entire chassis is CNC plasma-cut from 4mm aluminium and is designed for maximum strength, minimum weight, and lowest possible CG. It also incorporates 10 degrees front caster for straight-line controllability, gives a wheelbase of almost 13" for maximum stability, and has a capacity for up to 16 cells with special battery supports (which incorporate hooks for using bands to hold the batteries in)....just haven't test driven it yet! Ultimately the chassis will run the dual brushless system I've been yabbering on about for the past year, so hnadling and strength is key...

Sorry about the state of the tyres in the pics, it's just chalk lol! Thanks for looking, I'm just insanely excited about this chassis. :)

Wow, that thing looks pretty unbelieveable. Great job. What motors are you going to run and what motors are in there now?

NICE!!! That looks cool!! the CG looks so low. whats the dual brushless your gonna put in it?

Great work!!! now DROP A BRUSHLESS IN IT!!! lol

That looks pretty awesom there thrasher. I see you have not decided on transplant yet for maxxfusion. I like what you have done. Sweet! You trying to make me jealous. It is working. Keep up the good work.

Thanks everyone! At the moment there are a pair of worn-out 14T Orion Orbital 2R Pro BB's in there. With fresh comms and brushes they can get the truck up past 30mph (it weighs 3kg fully-loaded). These are about to be replaced by some new ones of the same motor, mainly because they're on sale for cheap at Model Sport UK. But the plan is to eventually drop in a pair of Feigao 16S's, run off twin 9920's and 16 cells in series...I wish I could drop that system in now, but oh well...

...coolhand, you probably wouldn't be jealous if you knew how many problems and changes I've had to make to this machine over the past 2 years since I've had it ;) ...but I think it's finally getting there. I just hope it performs like it should when I eventually compete with it...

Thanks again all. :)

Very nice work. I got a crush on custom chassis's, that look's really slick.

Keep up the good work.

What about replacing the aluminum with carbon fiber.
MMMmmmmmmmm, caarrrbboonnnffiiiibbeerrrr.:Love: :Love: :Love:

Um, that's aluminum, man..........but boy is it pretty.

NICE!

it looks perfect! have you got pics with a bit more light?

I love the batterieholders for sure! It looks lasercutted ?

Sweet chassis! You say that you are going to run dual 9920s. With motors like the 16s, you could run dual 5020s (if they made such a thing). Save yourself some money and get 7020s.

Cheers everyone, I appreciate your comments. :)

Serum, it was actually plasma-cut, so the pltes needed a bit of tidying up when I received them...also all 42 holes needed drilling, ugh...but it got there. :) I do have some pics in better light, here ya go:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6..._0044small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6..._0037small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6..._0036small.jpg

Metalman, thanks! The reason why I'm looking at 9920's is so that they could be used in other trucks in the future without problems, the 7020s would be fine in this but useless in an E-Maxx for example. But I might opt for them if there's no way of me affording the 99's. :)

Yeah, the price difference is worth the 99A version if you are planning on using them on other trucks..!

looks good!

Awesome!! Since I first saw your Dagger here, I checked some other pics and stuff on this truck. And this one here is by far the nicest I have seen. It's a beauty!

OMG thats a beauty
i'm wondering
umm will the gear boxes able to handle BL?

Real nice car man..should be nice and powerful when you drop the BL kit in :) Looks great, although a bit heavy.

Looks awesome,i love the side profile,looks very low and mean.

Dagger Gearboxes are super tough.

The only driveline problems would be the output yokes and the factory dogbones..

That Dagger chassis looks amazing, very nice work and planning :cool:

Nice to see that some people are still upgrading their daggers

classics never get old!

Thanks everyone, I'm really surprised that you like it so much (especially next to some of your awesome rides!) :D . Skelbow's right, the Dagger boxes are really strong...I've also modified the rear diff to have a higher torque capacity and it'll also be running MIP RS4 MT CVD's soon.

One thing it isn't is heavy...the whole truck weighs in at 3kg (around 6lbs) ready to roll. :)

wow! Well...Wait till u drop in a lehner 30 serires in it! lol

Lol, that would certainly be interesting! I don't think one would even physically fit....

dagger thrasher how are you. that looks absolutely sweet. cant wait to see it fully kitted out and running.

I think I wouldtry some 2240's first. That would be like insane. How is the project coming along thrasher? The truck sure looks different than the ealier pics. I like to see the truck when finished as well. Keep up the good work mate.

I'd run a pair of basic 4200 or basic xl 4200 on 8 cells each or a pair of 5300 on 6 cells each.That'd be plenty i reckon,since it's so light.

Yeah, how nice i think Country is, those 2240's are a bit too much imo. ;) ( we are not all called aqwut.. Where is that guy anyway?)

those 4200's sound like a plan to me.. or dual 1930..

I hope he wasn't mowed down by a 20+ lb monster truck doing 60mph.

Top Job DT
What you've done to the humble Dagger is amazing.
whats the handling like at 30mph, as I remember the stock one is a bit bouncy at speed.

I posted about the 2240 for the simple fact is it was a better choice than the 30 series. A pair of 1930 would be really nasty on that little truck. I have one on a emaxx. It does pretty darn good. Have you figured out what you going to run on it thrasher?

Hey guys,

Sorry to bring up this thread again, but I didn't realise you had all replied (got no more notifications by email for some reason lol). So I'll answer your questions. :)

The truck is coming along pretty well now, thanks! It's all assembled with new 14T Orbital motors, new Novak SuperFlex wiring throughout (hardwired to the motors), 15,000uF power caps (which do appear to help), and a torque sleeve on the rear motor. And since I changed the wiring...what a difference! The old wiring must have been creating some kind of resistance bottleneck. Now, the top speed seems to be about 5mph faster (probably tops out at around 35mph now), and the acceleration and torque is pretty stunning (for a brushed setup anyway ;) )! As far as handling goes, it's pretty good. The low CG means that it's impossible to flip the truck, even on tarmac. The shocks could do with thicker oil, but for the most part it handles really well, I'm really pleased with it. With the stock suspension, Cabking, you're right, the handling is pretty/very bad...but CF doesn't share any suspension components other than the C-Hubs with the stock Dagger.
I also took her for her first real jump test the other day...and I could not be happier with it! I set up a wooden ramp...and she flies like she has wings. I just line her up, pin the throttle, and simply release it once she leaves the ramp...and the truck does the rest. Because of the motor braking, it gently slows the tyres in the air, keeping it nice and level. And then it landed softly each time, about 13-14ft from the ramp, with no damage or problems. :D Before all the suspension and chassis mods, the truck just couldn't really be jumped, it was useless...but now...it seems pretty race-worthy.

Here's some newer pics with the bodyshell on:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...IMG_0077lo.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...IMG_0078lo.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...IMG_0079lo.jpg

As far as a brushless system goes, well I'm still a little unsure. The main limitation is that because of the gearbox casing's design, I'm limited to motors with a normal 540 diameter. Also There's no way I can afford the Lehners unfortunately, which was why I was looking at the Feigaos. If running the two 16S Feigaos on 16 cells is a little too powerful, I can always bring it down to 14. That setup, with the two Warriors, looks like the cheapest reliable option, what do you all think? Thanks for your suggestions though, and thanks for your comments. :D

There's still a little way to go before she's 100% ready for brushless (still gotta get those CVD's, gonna change the shocks to OFNA Ultra LX Comp Fronts, and a few other things)...this is taking a long time, lol! Hopefully it'll be worth it in the end.

Maybe a pair of feigao 8s on 8 cells each with 7020s then?

Are you going to have to carefully consider motor rpms on this one ie can you only run the one size spur gear in these gearboxes and what range of pinions fit with a 540 can.Do you know what rpms and speeds it's running at the moment?
Also what's it weighing now RTR?

WOW, very cool chassis design! Totally original, very nice looking.

Thanks Cold Fusion! That's odd, Cold Fusion is the name of the truck, lol!

Gustav, there are only 2 gear ratios I can choose from with these gearboxes, which is a bummer...but luckily they are both fairly well-rounded and you can use most motors with one or the other. I can choose from either 18:1 FDR (18T pinion) or 16.5:1 FDR (20T pinion). At the moment, the Orbitals in theory should be hitting about 42,000RPM under no load, so when it's running...maybe 30,000 RPM, more or less. And it's hitting between 30-35mph.
I was originally thinking of an 8S setup like you mentioned (tho with 9920's)...but after thought, it seems like the 16S setup would be easier on the batteries and controllers, provide similar RPMs but with more torque. But an 8S setup might be a better idea, you guys know more than I do!

As for RTR weight...well I haven't weighed it properly since the new chassis went on. But with the old chassis it was 3kg on the dot, so it's probably a hair over 3kg now. :D

Now I just hope it snows over here, so I can take her plowing through the white stuff and drifting on the ice... :D

hey dagger - i have heard you can use the Clod Buster aftermarket adjustable motor mounts.

looking great!

justin

Cheers J. :) You're right about using those mounts, but I'm not sure whether they would fit CF or not...there might not be enough chassis clearance. I'l have to check it out.