Moonstone's winter builds/rebuilds

[Moonstonemike]

Going to head out to speed test a few cars this afternoon. Mostly want to run the buggy before pulling out the 3650 3800kv motor. Just adjusting my Sr10 and installing a 20t pinion.

My camera mount for my remote disappeared in my basement so I had to Magruber one up.

Just working on installing some new bead lock wheels on my new devastator.

 

[Moonstonemike]

After months and months of waiting the Arrma Notorious went on sale at my hobby shop.

And because I'm OCD the first thing I did was start stripping it down.

Already filled the rear diff with 30k fluid and added .1mm shim to the crown gear to tighten up the mesh a bit. Also shimmed the play from the diff pinion and the front rear 17mm hexes.

 

[Moonstonemike]

Finished up the front diff and center diff. 1 screw hex stripped so I used a dremel to cut a slot then used a flat screwdriver to extract it.

Lastly was getting the tires balanced and installing the DumboRC reciever.

Now just have to charge up the batteries and do a calibration before it's first run.

 

[Moonstonemike]

Picked up a roller Granite on Kijiji.
Originally the plan was to use it for parts for mine and my son's Granite.

Then my daughter saw it and asked, Is this one for me
Sooooo

luckily I had the Mega ESC and a brushed 550 21t to throw in it.
She was excited to help build it together so I couldn't say no.

 

[Moonstonemike]

Finally after almost a month I got to do some rc work yesterday. Took out the 3650 motor and blx100 and installed a 2838 4500kv motor with a smaller ESC. Buggy only weights 900g now. Then I twisted my ankle so haven't been able to give it a proper test.

Also installed some 6s shocks on my son's Granite cause he was eating stock shock shafts like candy.

 

[Moonstonemike]

You are supposed to be able to use a 15t 0.7mod pinion without modification but I wasn't happy with how tight it made the mesh. So I ordered a adjustable mount from AliExpress. Now I can switch to the 17t if it feels to slow.

 

[Moonstonemike]

Installed some AliExpress 17mm hexes for Traxxas on the granite. Way cheaper then hex adapters.
Also installed some paddle tires.
Now we just need some snow!!

 

[Moonstonemike]

Test fitted some other AliExpress Traxxas 17mm hexes. These ones are about 1/4 inch wider and the pin is 2.5nm. It was a little bit harder to fit these on but the internal support pieces don't fit because they are threaded 5mm

 

[Moonstonemike]

Been tearing down my new to me Nero and deep cleaning. So different then working on any other 6s Arrma.

Its details like this that I love to see. Did they have to etch their logo in a part that you can't see...no. But it's awesome just the same

 

[Moonstonemike]

Finally got it back together. It was really complicated at first but it wasn't too bad going back together. Definitely not as easy to work on as the current 6s line.

Now to tear down the Fireteam.

 

[Doom!]

I love the look of the Nero without the body, just has that sci-fi buggy look.

 

[Moonstonemike]

I love the look of the Nero without the body, just has that sci-fi buggy look.

Yeah definitely an interesting truck. Handles really well.
Bought it for what I think was a really good price. Now that it's rebuilt I don't know if I want to keep it or sell it to fund getting a 3d printer. I'm not really one for keeping shelf queens

 

[Moonstonemike]

So far filled up the center diff with 500k added a .5mm shim so the diff wouldn't rock front and back. Fluid was low but thicker than I'm used to seeing in the 6s line.
So far the assembly seems really good. There is oil at points where the screws are going into plastic to keep the threads from getting stripped.

The drive cups seem spot on and even the spur was set perfectly. First time out of 6 Arrma's.

Got to shim front diff and suspension to remove the free play.

 

[Moonstonemike]

Had to add shims behind the front hexes.

Take a look at this unicorn. An arrma diff factory filled with diff fluid!!! Shame I dumped it to put 30k in it.

I had to use a propane torch to get the motor mount screws out. Even had to slot one to use a flat head screw driver on it. Threw in a 15t pinion.

Swapped out the servo for a 35kg one.
Do you think the stock horn had enough lock tight?

 

[Doom!]

Glad you documented the unicorn!

 

[Moonstonemike]

Glad you documented the unicorn!

If I didn't everyone would think I was crazy!!!!

Like the time I saw sasquatch at the beach. Although that turned out to just be a very hairy dude.

Got the wheels balanced.

 

[Moonstonemike]

Didn't have time for many pictures but did tear into the Mojave EXB while I wait to get the aluminum chassis braces for the Fireteam.

The LSD diffs don't feel as smooth as the regular open ones. Hopefully they still work fine and smooth out.
Also installed Scorched rc fenders. I really liked them on the Infraction. Hopefully they work just as well here

 

[Moonstonemike]

Stripped the bodies down and washed them. Drywall taped the Mojave. I can never get it looking as clean as others I've seen. Maybe my tape isn't tacky enough.

 

[Moonstonemike]

So I started on the Fireteam body. It fits pretty tight onto the roll cage so only doing 1 layer. After having trouble getting the tape to stick flat on the Mojave I decided to try some spray glue I had sitting around from years ago. Well it worked so much easier. I was able to press the tape into creases and curves and it just stuck great. I didn't have the energy to undue the Mojave and start over so I just sprayed a layer of glue over the tape and pressed down what I could.

I have a few more pieces to do but got to tired. These little panels are very fiddly.

 

[Moonstonemike]

So I wasn't happy with how the body on the Mojave was coming out. It was taking too much silicone because the mesh was lifting and the new type of silicon I purchased was very thin and still not sticking to the body enough.

So I pulled it all off. Wiped off what I could and am going to start again when the residue dries. This time using the 3m adhesive first and find some Lepage quad or quad max silicon.