New members, with some questions
 

Greetings from Holland (The Netherlands)
My name is Maarten together with my three sons i like to build a big 1:5 1:6 1:8 off-road car.
We like to spend about 350,- to 575,- usd including the remote and the batts.
The car needs to be durable solid stable and fast very fast no less than 50 mph with a brushless motor and good suspension all with good and adjustable parts and long lasting materials and batteries.

Yes thats whats we like, but what is possible with this amount off money?
Pleas give us some pointers and parts recommendations and reviews.
Some good webshops or ebay shops and we are set to start this project.
The car will be used close to our house on sand dunes, this area is very big so its a good place to make some speed, its very loose (dusty) sand en its has some big holes and humbs and bumps sometimes its a little wet in the nearby gras, there is no gravel of rocks.
We will post the progress photos here.
Thanks for all the help.

With best regards,

Maarten
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Age: 32
Joined: Dec '08
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I honestly must say I think what your trying to acomplish is darn near impossible on that budget. A 1/8 scale roller will use up a good chunk of that, even a used one. A set of Lipo batteries, which will be a must for theose kind of speeds is going to set you back at least $150 even if you get zippies. You'll need a Lipo charger and depending on the charger a seperate power supply may be needed. Then there's a motor and esc, a low end motor is still going to be at least $50 and a low end esc will be at least twice that. Then there's a radio system, a budget 2.4ghz system can be put together for about $100.

Roller - $200-300
Motor - $50-250
esc - $100-$200
Batteries - $150-300
charger/PS - $150-300
radio - $100-300
Steering servo - $50-100

As you can see even on the low end your looking at $750 for a 1/8 scale. I think to get close to what your looking for a 1/10 stadium truck such as a Rustler VXL may be the best bet. Truck is about $275 and you can pick up a charger and Lipo for about another $225. That can get you in the 40-60MPH depending on what bettery you choose.

It kills me to say it but at that price point Nitro might be your best bet to start with. http://cgi.ebay.com/TEAM-LOSI-8IGHT-...3A1%7C294%3A50 There's a link for a Losi 8-t and all yo would need is fuel and a couple cheap batteries, could most likely get it all for under $600

So far this is what I have done with my 1/8th truggy

Second hand Hyper ST PRO Roller $200AUD
Motor: Tekno Neu 1515/2.5d - $220USD
Motor Mount: RCM - $40
ESC: MMM - $140
Batteries: Polyquest 6s1p 6000mah - $270USD
Servo: HiTec 7955TG - $120USD
Charger: Hyperion 0610i - $150
Powersupply: 24v 13A $100AUD, but got it free from work
Radio: Spektrum DX3S - $220USD
Total: About $1300USD

The vendors that I used or would recommend would be this sites shop (motor/esc/batteries/mounts etc), Towerhobbies.com (general parts/hop ups), Impaktrc.com (motors/pinions), searching Ebay for cheap rollers and misc parts, rclipos.com (charger/lipos), Hobbycity.com (cheaper lipos, Zippy brand). Have a look around these sites and the prices. This site (rc-monster) is an abundant source of information on all aspects of going fast and over the top.

Since I am in Australia I had to get a lot of things posted, which you may also have to do. So add another 5-15%.

Using a GPS so far I have clocked 45mph.

Of course you can choose cheaper components to get the price down, but for the speeds you are aiming for this may not be possible, without burning something up. As you can see the main cost of going fast are the batteries, motor, and ESC. So my advice would be to either rethink your budget, or your goals.

Going to a larger scale will also cost more.

I agree with Anson 100% Batteries/motor/esc are the big $ items! A good motor and esc such as the MMM combo will set you back $300 on it's own and some batteries capable of running that will set you back around $175 for a 4s setup capable of at least 120 amp discharge.

Thanks for the fast info, so if i understand right I need ad at least 200,- to my budget lets say 800,- total.
Are there any suggestions on witch brusless motor, springs, batty, witch chassis to start off with?
And a good web shop ebay whatever to buy it as cheap as possible.

Thanks.

Castlecreations Mamba Monster combo is a great esc/motor for your goals. Many Like the Losi 8ight-T and is prolly the most budget friendly.

Yeh the combo would be a good starting point for a 4S Lipo setup. The 2200kV motor is a real gun when hooked to higher voltage as well.

I can only comment on what I have used personally, but I really like my Hyper ST Pro kit, apparently it is a bit on the heavy side of things compared to the other latest and greatest truggies, but for me, a non racer I don't think it really matters as long as it is durable. Which I can say it certainly is. Cartwheeling at 40mph with no damage, yes please. Clearing triples on a bmx track and landing upside down no problem. The drive train handles the brushless power as well, no damage there.

For a comparison, I also have a very hopped up emaxx, and have bashed an e-revo and monster pirate extensively. I like my truggy the best. Lot's of fun, and VERY durable out of the box. I was looking at things to upgrade when I got it, as I was so used to buying parts for my emaxx, that I didn't really find anything worthwhile for to buy! This is a good thing, for your wallets sake.

I have about $1500 in my 10s Revo and that was after making my share of mistakes...(money that went down the drain)......:-(

Hello welcome to forum and happy new year :)
E-maxx or new upcoming savage or e-revo + RCM lipos this is the best pick.

The best stores is towerhobbies and RCM. over 2 years without any problem :)

Castle Monster 2200kv motor combo $300 miniumum, lipo will be $150-$200, Charger $170, rtr chassis another $300, steering servo $100, RCM battery tray $40, RCM motor mount $40, RCM sevo mount $30?, $60 unknowns.

Is it a good choice to start with this set, than buy some good servo's batt's motor and radio?

http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...RCMRC8Tchassis

Is there anybody on this forum who is using this one?

That's an awesome chassis! However it doesn't include front, center, rear diffs none of the suspension, and none of the steering. That chassis is for someone that has an rc8t and wants to convert to electric

Ok i give in, i think that i will buy a Traxxas Rustler XL-5 RTR

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...1p?&I=LXNJH9**

Put in a 7 cel batt, and maybe later convert it to a brusless.
Who knows how this thing comes right out of the box whats includid? is there a charger and batts, a radio spare parts?
And what do i need to know about this thing?

You will need 8 AA batteries a battery pack and a charger. All tools necessary for working on and maintaning it are included. I would suggest the VXL though. Through a 2s Lipo in it and you have met your speed goal. Also getting a Lipo and charger now will help you when you progress to something better!

Wy the VLX you think?

The VXL is already brushless, all bearings insteady of bushings, and the esc has a Lipo cut off. There's no reason you can't get a VXL Rustler, 2s Lipo, and a Lipo capable charger and fall within your original budget. The Xl-5 version might get you to 30MPH if your lucky where the VXL would get you in the 40's on 2s and close to 70 on 3s

Ok thanks i will sleep on this.

you might be able to get a used VXL roller and save a few bucks...you could get a new VXL Rustler and put in a 3s 5000 lipo and have a pretty fast truck....I am not a fan of the VXL ESC though

i was thinking to get XL-5 and slowly upgrade it to a brusless setup off our choice, that way they can grow in to it.
Is the chassis, towers, mounting holes the same as the VLX, what exactly are the main divergences.

I think the VXL has more metal gears in it's transmission??

yes.....IMO it will be cheaper to get a VXL from the start

Yes the gears are metal in the tranny and there are bearings used throughout the truck instead of bushings. Just to replace the bushings with bearings you'd be looking at at least $30. The metal gears are worth about $10. Then there's the brushless motor and esc. Although not the greatest motor or esc it's still better than a brushed motor and esc. All together I think you save almost $100 buying the vxl up front.

Yes I agree what about HPI E-Firestorm is that the same story?

What's better?

They have the flux version that comes with a brushless system in it, their motor/esc is better. HPI uses a Castle sidewinder esc and motor. Between the two I would pick whatever your lhs has parts for. There is also the Losi Speed-T to consider. Any of them will be a decent truck and all have similar prices, pick what you want but I would recomend whatever your lhs supports. If they have all or a couple I would go Rustler VXL or firestorm flux. I had a Rustler and they're pretty durable until you hit something at 40MPH! However having the choice I might go HPI for the better esc

Ok I will read some reviews and make a choice.

Thanks for your help.

My mail to some ebay store's, what is your opinion guys?

My boys are saving money to start assembling parts.
We would like to build a complete Rustler VXL from parts not RTR, can you tell me if this is possible, do you guys have a blueprint of this car and can you deliver all the needed parts?
Witch will be cheaper RTR or self build?
And where can i find beefy metal or aluminum chassis and parts?

With best regards,

Maarten

Building it yourself will def cost you a small fortune, prolly close to twice as much as buying a RTR. That's not saying that it can't be done though. You wouldn't have to upgrade anything if you bought good stuff to start with but there are lots of little things that you need like screws and nuts too. On Traxxas.com you can download exploded views that would help you out.

This is what we like aluminum chassis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKIEXMq35oc

A standard roling chasiss cost around 40,- us
Ad weels servo's motor springs lose parts and radio etc is more than 275,- you thing?

A-arms, shocks, steering bell cranks, steering linkages, turnbuckles, rod ends, motor, esc, transmission, driveshafts, bearings, tires, wheels, radio, servo, and screws add up fast. You could do it cheap if you bought everything used. I don't know where you'll find an aluminum rolling chassis for $40 unless it's pretty well beat

Do you know where to buy to buy it new?


I am sorry, here it is

http://www.rc-monster.com/rustler.php

As you can see that will cost a lot of $!!! Your best bet is an RTR to get started. As you break things, and you will, upgrade them! Thats how I did mine. I will make a few suggestions to help. Get aluminum caster blocks ASAP! Bumping a curb at even 10MPH will break the stock ones. Don't bother with aluminum arms, get RPM arms, they flex instead of breaking saving your chassis, esspecially if you upgrade to an aluminum chassis, however I don't see any real need for that.

Yes thats my opinion to.
I will order a vxl and will upgrade it slowly.

Thanks