My first ever UE build

[WheelMan]

Figured it was time for me to post a build thread, as I've been working on a few Maxx trucks over the last several months, and haven't shared any of them yet, so here's one at least. This one has taken a good amount of patience, searching, and luck!...as I'm sure most of you know, since some of these parts only come around every so often. Some of them I snatched off the bay (:eek:), but most of them have come from members on the UE forum and here on RCM.

It's just a pile of parts right now, but soon it'll be coming to life


I've spent the last two days cleaning and polishing all the parts, to get them to look like what you see in the picture. Been a lot of work, but they sure do look pretty now. :D

What I have so far:

-Dace Predator Chassis
-UE Monoblock
-UE VBS Pro F&R w/Ti Skids, Jounces, Bumpers
-UE GenIV Servo Saver
-Ofna Spider 8 Diffs
-UE Racer X Suspension w/Setbacks
-UE Ti CVDs
-DD Wing Mount
-Onclebens 14-17mm Adapters
-UE Supershocks
-HCR Titanium Center Skid
-Titanium Front Tie Rods


What I still need:

-RCM Center Diff Mount
-Ofna Spider Center Diff
-Motor & ESC
-Titanium VBS Hinge Pins
-Titanium Pillow Balls
-Ofna MP Rear Arm Links
-Center Dogbones


-Travis

[WheelMan]

Just got this in the mail too A very nicely done piece Gregers!


Think I will use it on this truck instead of the HCR skid I cut down. Its much more stout than the skid is, and it lines up to the holes on the Predator braces perfectly.


-Travis

[magman]

Hate to ask the tab for all the parts...going to be a sweet build for sure

[WheelMan]

Yeah don't ask that. lol

Its only money though, right?


-Travis

[WheelMan]

Got a little assembly done tonight.


Drilled out and re-tapped every hole that had a fine thread metric screw, to replace it with a stainless 6-32. Much stronger than the junk black screws IMO (which rust anyways ), and I have more stainless hardware than I know what to do with...so why buy an aftermarket metric screw kit, just because its made for the truck, when I already have something that's better anyways. Just had to take my time and not rush it. But I live for customization, and a good challenge. Dare to be different, I say


- Titanium pillow balls = on their way
- Titanium Hinge pins = cutting some to fit
- MBX5 wing stay = on its way

-Travis

[Klausen]

That is going to be one sweet truck Travis. Good job on hunting all those parts down, quite a lot of those, don't come around that often.

[Overdriven]

I did the same thing with 6/32 screws on the last Maxx build I did. I too had a source of (free) stainless hardware and it definitely was an improvement in strength and looks. Titanium skids have a habit of shearing 3mm screws for me, not so with the 6/32 stainless.

I've built too many Maxx trucks and really don't want to build anymore. But I've never had one with RacerX or setbacks and everytime I see one I want it soo bad. The price tag is a reality check for me though.

[WheelMan]

Originally Posted by Klausen

That is going to be one sweet truck Travis. Good job on hunting all those parts down, quite a lot of those, don't come around that often.

Thank you sir You are right, and I definitely got lucky aquiring them in the timeframe I did. Even though it seemed like it took forever, in actuality it was quite fast...as I've seen some guys comment around here and UE that they've waited years for parts to come available. Mostly I see/hear that about the Lightning chassis though...about as elusive as a Unicorn

Originally Posted by Overdriven

I did the same thing with 6/32 screws on the last Maxx build I did. I too had a source of (free) stainless hardware and it definitely was an improvement in strength and looks. Titanium skids have a habit of shearing 3mm screws for me, not so with the 6/32 stainless.

I've built too many Maxx trucks and really don't want to build anymore. But I've never had one with RacerX or setbacks and everytime I see one I want it soo bad. The price tag is a reality check for me though.

Aha!! Someone else who has had essentially the same experience I have with the hardware. It makes me feel better that someone else has done the same thing I have, and had good results as well. Although I do agree with the guys that have told me ss hardware is weaker than the 12.9 grade hardware available out there, I do prefer FREE, and stuff that doesn't rust. Both great qualities IMO, especially for a build like this. I have no intentions of sailing this truck 30 ft in the air...at best it will get light use in the grass every so often. I think its pretty obvious I'm not building this truck to beat the tar out of, so hardware that can withstand the upmost abuse, is not necessary here. But I have experienced that the 6-32 ss screws hold up better than the 3mm stock Maxx black screws I always used before, so I surely can't go wrong with what I did on this truck with the ss 6-32s.

To your comment about the Racer X and setbacks...I would have to agree, it seems crazy to pay what we do for these parts, but I try not to think about that...as its only money right?


Anyways, here's a couple better pics of what I've got put together so far.





Currently working on hinge pins and cleaning up the diffs. Still need some random parts here and there, but I'm working on it. Got the Ti pillow balls and MBX5 wing mount last night

-Travis

[Overdriven]

Yeah I've heard the 12.9 better than stainless thing too. I've never had hardware I could say was 12.9 but the 6/32 stainless I used was way stronger than the black stuff or even whatever grade shiny stuff came with HCR bulks. It is a pretty easy upgrade to do that adds a nice custom touch that not everyone will notice right away.

It is a great build and I'm always sorry I didn't spend the dough on the RacerX. They're pretty, but pretty is not my style. I just really want to drive the ultimate evolution of the Maxx and beat the snot out of it, that's only reason the price tag held me back.

[WheelMan]

-Travis

[WheelMan]

Got my wing mount

Cut some hinge pins down

Mounted the front suspension

And the rear suspension








I like the ProLine wing a lot. A nice change from the standard straight style wing that so many use.


-Travis

[WheelMan]

Made some progress tonight

Got the powerstroke spacers from Kris. TOP notch quality man! I just gave them a quick polishing






Got a pair of the ofna links for my Racer X, from Kris as well. Tapped them out to M6 x 1mm LH threads so I could use the original links




Then of course I stripped the anodizing


And polished them up too





-Travis

[WheelMan]

-Travis

[ANGRY-ALIEN]

That's a beautiful build you have there... can't wait to see it in action...

Alien

[WheelMan]

I didn't realize I hadn't updated this thread with any pics of what I had completed so far, so here you guys go!




^These are from before I did the ofna links though.

Did a little polishing on the diff mount, just to follow the overall trend of the build.



Just messing around with the DSLR and my scale garage project.









-Travis