Brushless UE Projects
 

Well guys I wanted to post these here because I know there is a wealth of knowledge over here about brushless rigs and a lot of our members from UE spend time here so I thought some of you might appreciate these builds. I have a UE Lightning and a Dace Predator I am building. Both are going to be brushless trucks and these two are the best 2 RC's I have ever owned ( with my PRP Berzerker a close 3rd...)

I will update as progress unfolds, still getting a couple parts together for both builds so these will be winter time builds since it is cold and snowy here now. Enjoy and please comment on your thoughts. I figured I would like to introduce myself in a good way here, UE forum is really the only place I had been active at where these trucks are truly appreciated. I hope you guys like them as well. I am sure I will run into some questions along the way, Jerry and Lito always talk about RCM Forums with great respect.

UE Lightning before :

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...anodizelot.JPG

UE Lightning after anodizing :

http://myrcmt.com/review/images/gall...g_overview.JPG

http://myrcmt.com/review/images/gall...trans_shot.JPG

http://myrcmt.com/review/images/gall..._front_VBS.JPG

http://myrcmt.com/review/images/gall...d_rear_VBS.JPG

http://myrcmt.com/review/images/gall...Sun_7_pair.JPG

http://myrcmt.com/review/images/gall...n_7_pair_2.JPG

Dace Predator Brushless conversion with RCM Universal Center Diff mount, this one also is getting custom anodizing treatment :


Before :

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...6/DSC05395.JPG

After anodizing, I got the Predator chassis trimmed so my spur will clear with no issues while using the RCM mount :

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...ndralph005.jpg

I am most excited about building these two trucks....:yipi:

I'm glad you brought this piece here. Some of the stuff going on at UE is so exciting. I wish it wasn't so difficult to get in there. Its really just because Robin doesn't take the time I suppose.

You are a brave soul for anodizing those parts. I personally like it and customizing in general, but I'm sure there are purists out there who won't feel the same way. I can't wait to see more. I'm really curious what the layout is going to be on the Predator

Glad to see it.
 

Yea it is good to see it in here to Joe. Glad that you brought it over here for more people to see. Customizing is always a matter of taste, but these anodizing projects are really looking good. You have hit on something very special here Joe, and I for one am glad to see your creativeness come through on one of the best products ever released to our hobby with the UE line. Nice work.

Taking the step to anodize all of that Lightning lot was either poop or get off the pot, no turning back once you decide to do it. The Predator was easier to decide but the Lightning.....man I was pretty anxious about that one. Dang near had a anxiety attack when the USPS delivery did not show up on time to deliver the finished product and it was a couple days late. Just sending out that kind of a stash made me nervous as heck. But the end result is just amazing, I am really glad I decided to do the Marble anodizing, at first that was not in the plan but then I thought about doing some of the main pieces to break apart the two solids. So the wheels, trans case and the VBS were chosen to get the marble. All three of those items turned out great.

I will decide on the Predator once I get the center unit mounted on whether I will have room for a tray or just a strap to hold the LiPo on the chassis. I would like to get a tray so I will measure once I get the drive line all put on.

Thanks for checking out the trucks guys! Glad I brought them over here to share.

While I find UE stuff beautiful in its design, the monochromatic color scheme of polished aluminum doesn't do much for me. I wouldn't have hesitated to do the same as you. I meant more because of potential loss in value and possible backlash. I don't know how most rc guys are, but some people don't like it too much when you change something they admire. To which I say screw it anyway! But definitely keep us posted on the progress, looks awesome.

My thoughts exactly! I like the anodizing. Your Lightning is now different from every other Lightning out there- making it even more pricele$$. :smile:

If someone doesn't like what you did, well... Who cares! It ain't theirs! :lol:

Apples & oranges.
 

Like stated before some people just like things in different variations due to individual taste. Some do not like UE gear at all because of the cost, but in comparison some people don't care for Austin Martin, Farrari or Lamborgini either, but that does not take away from the fact that they are at the top of the automobile industry in performance and appeal. Like some I am on the fence about the anodizing of this stuff, but for the record I think it is impressive regardless of the value or lack there of that it may impose. His color scheme combination and the way it all flows together looks very nice, and I think it is just another way to improve on an already impressive engineering design. The cost of the anodizing is a bit more than I am willing to part with for the novalty, but if I could get it done cheaply I would try it out in other colors like Blue & Yellow, or Yellow & black.

Those are two beautiful builds! Joe alot of the UE guys are here such as Jerry and Lito. You can get a wealth of info here. Thanks for posting.

just saw these beauties. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!:surprised:

I love how the tekin gear matches so perfectly with the lightning build!!

Well that is awesome, I am glad you guys like the trucks. I will be working on them the next couple months building each one. I had to order a different diff for my Predator so I am waiting for that to come in, that truck will be done first. Then the Lightning will get every single detail done to a "T", no shortcuts on that build.

I will keep this thread updated with progress of each truck. Thanks for the comments gentleman!!

They are really going to look good when finished.
My only concern would be if ran them.
The anodized stuff will get beat up and not look so good later.

RC is like life. You live for the moment.

Wow.

I have no words to describe.

Waiting for more!

Yeah I won't run the Lightning outside, I have my own RC club and we race indoors in the winter time on carpet so I will run it there to save the finish. I would not want to trash this truck, way too special to me.

I got a new center diff in for the Predator so I will be working on it starting in a couple days, I need to find a nice piece of 7075 plate so I can make a center mount plate. Was going to go shopping today and now I got a sick kid at home. So hopefully I can get out tomorrow and pick some metal up.

I guess those are heavy trucks :lol:

Anyway, looks good:yes:

_00b

Noob? Why?

Aluminum.
 

Just because they are aluminum alloy don't assume that they are all that much heavier than stock. Besides these trucks are more about looks than anything else. Sort of a priceless musium artifact if you will. Not that they will not perform great, because they will still hang with the big boys. They will just look much better doing so.

Started on the Predator and mocking everything up before I drill the holes in the skid for the RC Monster mount. Having the chassis milled was a good idea, thanks Mike! Allows for plenty of room for the spur to clear the chassis.

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...nttemplate.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...atormockup.JPG

Found out I cannot use my Sweet Strobes on this with the Dace towers, they are thicker than UE ones and pushes the Strobe brace out past the bulkhead not allowing the bolt holes to line up.

Similar
 

Hey Joe I did something similar with one of my trucks mounting the center RCM universal diff setup. I believe it all depends on what your powerplant setup will be. If you are planning to use any real brushless power mounting the diff mount on that aluminum center skid may not be your best bet. I mounted mine on a 3mm titanium plate which gives a considerably stronger platform to keep it from distorting under load. The truck looks nice so far and I am sure that it will turn out much like your other builds, which are incredible. Keep up the good work Joe.

Thanks Jerry. We will have to see how it does, not even sure what power system I am using yet. I really don't have any real good systems right now. Just a couple Hacker C-50's and a Novak HV. My Tekin is staying with my Lightning.

IMO the aluminum will hold just fine.

The hacker motors are known for snapping their shaft. I snapped mine in a stock plastic e-maxx on only 12 nimh cells. They work great in lighter vehicles like rustlers or stampedes. I would honestly sell them or something and not risk wrecking them.

The Novak would match the color scheme much better. If you have the matching hacker master car sport esc's the novak and hacker esc would work well on 4s lipo geared for 35-40

If you can put some money into it the hpi (savage flux) version of the castle neu 2200kv motor is all black. That and a black MMM would look and perform absolutely awesome on the truck.

I will be watching to see what comes of these builds!!

That's cool paralyzed, thanks for the heads up on the Hacker motors! My kids have a Slash and a Pede so maybe I will just drop those in their two trucks and let them run em. I do have a nice large black heatsink fin for the Novak motor so that would probably match nicely. Those HPI Flux versions are sweet though, I should look into those. That would really match this truck sweet. A guy had one for sale a while back on RCMT so I got to check it out. The Novak system sits in my TXT Stallion right now so I will do some homework on the HPI system and try to pick one up.

With the skid being held with six bolts and the truck being rather small we will see how well it holds up. Hard to find a Ti center skid anymore, I only have one and that is for my Lightning cause my VBS skids are Ti.

I am headed down to IL to race for the weekend so more will come next week. Thanks for staying tuned to the builds, nice to see interest in these. They are pretty cool. :yes:

Great work joe.
 

Great work Joe. Yea we are all watching out for you. Not only did I use a Titanium center skid to mount mine, but I tapped the mounts to 4mm for added durability. It really all depends on what motor you end up setting up in there. If it has any real power it will have a tendancy to tweek whatever you have holding it. Between you and Mike we are seeing new ways to build a Maxx truck. Have fun brother.

Also- spin the center diff and face the motor to the front. They jump much more level with the weight forward:yes:

Well I have been sick as a dog all week so I mocked up my Lightning so I could start my own RC wall.....haha Yeah never will it be anything like Bosox06 but hey it's mine. Still need to cut hinge pins and assemble my Spyder 8's, I just tossed some 6's in there for now and some used pins. Will be taken back apart when final assembly begins because I do want to drive it indoors at our carpet events and show it off to some other RC'rs that will appreciate this piece. Thanks to everyone here for all your support in my RC adventures.

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/.../6/Wallpic.JPG

Adds a little something to my work table..... :yes: Megadeth and UE....what could be better!!! :yipi:

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...rworklight.JPG

Got a good deal on some Panther slicks for it, I hope to still go with a Muscle car body for this rig. Put the orange foams I just got from Kenny in them.

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...swPanthers.JPG

Smile! :mdr:

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/.../0/6/Smile.JPG

I traded a rare chassis to a friend for a Mamba combo, it is the green can but hey I am happy. It will go in the Predator, just have to get a battery tray for a 4S I have.

I got the skid all drilled out and it is ready to be assembled, I just have been feeling crappy all week so I just mocked up my Lightning.

You could always just paint the motor. Then polish the fins or do some careful masking with some thin tape. Someone on here did that and it came out great. Very nice builds btw, and feel better.

Wow this build is sick shelf queen or what

Thanks dude, I am just now today feeling good. Dang stuff lasted a couple weeks. We keep getting more and more snow so we still have some weeks indoors here.

Predator update :

Rolls smooth thanks to Mike and his measurements on the skid and shaft information, also for trading me the system. Thanks to Lito for linking me to a Center diff and to Steve for trading me his mount. Ralf was a awesome guy for helping me with anodizing and to Mr. Hesse for doing the parts. Just need a pinion and order a RC Monster tray for the LiPo. Hope you guys like it, it truly was a work between all of my friends. Thanks guys...

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...atorRoller.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...sterlayout.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...6/LiPoflat.JPG

Nice job Joe. You should make anothe battery tray so you can put another battery on the other side for better balance.

I ordered a RC Monster tray last night for the one side so once I get that I can see what kind of mounting ideas I can get on the other side. It would be nice to run one on both sides for sure.

I do not get squat for shock action either from the white springs. I got these shocks used so I don't know what fluid is in them and they are very unresponsive and I had to pre load them to get any rebound at all. I do get some but it is very slow. We will just have to see once I get to run it somewhere. I think I might try the Red/Blue springs with some 50wtF/45WR in them and see how that reacts.

Definitely try the red/blue with 50/45 oil in them. It would also help if you mount the shocks on the forward part of the tower in the front and aft end of the tower for the rear.

Awesome, will do.

They work much better Lito, thanks for the tips. I swapped out the white springs for Red/Blue and added 50wt / 45wt. A lot better rebound and have some nice action now. Plus I moved them out like you said.

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...ckchangeup.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...hockrework.JPG

Update pics... RC Monster tray is really nice.

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...nionupdate.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...aymounting.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...dybareside.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...odybaretop.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...Bodyfinish.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...finishrear.JPG

http://www.unlimitedengineering.com/...yfinishtop.JPG

Sweet. Its almost a shame it hides the chassis though. Always admired them back in my nitro days.

Had a short little test run of it when we set up for my club race this past Friday. It runs great, cannot wait till it dries up and warms up around here so I can really see what she is made of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sY8yRDsl6I

Awesome truck!!!:surprised: I wonder how much does it weight? I am curious because it looks "skinny" :whistle: