Yup. The HPI Savage is an excellent frame to build from. I was looking very seriously at them as well, but the aftermarket for Traxxas just seemed to be better. And the heavier duty diffs: that was number 2 reason for going with the Revo 3.3: reputably the toughest RC monster truck on the market: nylon case, sealed bearings, steel gears, etc.
Your plan sounds identical to mine: just a different approach. I added up the cost of buying the trucks and then using the part, vs just buying the parts. going the parts route is the best for me. But I also know the Savage is cheaper than the E/T-Maxx. Single drivetrain, replacing the skidplates/chassis with a steel/aluminum plate, and you should be good to go. I liked the idea of going with a Traxxas 3 spd transmission, but just wasn't sure it could take the driveline stresses. Then I hit on the idea of a 2 spd cordless drill (was planning to use a cordless anyway...), and a simply servo connected to the speed selector gives you 2 gears. (credit to the Pink Barbie Jeep on the Scale 4X4 RC forum for the idea:) ) A short shaft locked in the chuck, single geared (or chain and sprocket) to run the power into the driveline, and you're ready to roll. I was looking at the brushless motors (some very impressive numbers!) but the price tag is equally impressive. > Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:21:14 -0800 > Subject: [TANKS] Re: Complete Newbie... > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > > The fact that you are using RC parts may be an advantage cost wise. > Buy the cheap nylon parts at first. Break em. Because their hobby > grade you can buy more so you get steel ones as replacements. Tougher > car. You can buy aftermarket heavy duty diffs aswell. I was sitting > and thinking about a larger budget stryker in a similar way to you but > the main difference is the fact i was thinking hpi savage (some parts > of which fit the e/t maxx) and somehow creating new custom chassis > plates that support 2 front wheel assemblies and 2 rear. Buy 2 savages > for some of the parts. Only need one drivetrain in middle and theres a > company that sells an alternate engine mount for twin brushless > (brushed too i guess) motors. Fit that and mount the wheels. Mod it > for the through diffs and you should have a fairly rugged chassis with > 8wd and 4 wheel steering. Expensive though. And would perhaps need a > few other mods to mount a stryker body. main advantage though is the 2 > speed (or with hop-ups 3) transmission and the fact you can always put > normal mount in and use it with nitro power for bashing > > On Nov 25, 4:06 pm, whitney james <[email protected]> wrote: > > Frank, > > > > A fact which I embrace wholeheartedly, and acknowledge with with as much > > self > > depreciation as I can without getting dangerous. Will I break things, > > followed by me kicking myself for the stupidity which unveiled itself in > > the light of hindsight? Absolutely, and I fully expect it. > > But I have to start somewhere, and without my own experience to go on, I > > have to rely on others in the initial stages. Hence my finally coming out, > > and sticking my neck out here. > > Aside from this august group, I've talked with the people who own them and > > handled the RC cars I'm talking about. I've seen plenty of examples land on > > their faces at 30+ mph and come back begging for more. So will the parts > > hold up? I don't know: maybe not. > > But, it's the best starting place I have. And the fact that it offers a > > relatively bolt-together kit from the outset will be a major boost up when > > it comes to building my own practical knowledge. > > So, I'm all ears when it comes to construction ideas. I've developed my own > > ideas and plans, but until they're solidified in the third dimension, > > that's all they are: plans and ideas. If anyone has disproven them, PLEASE > > speak up and slap me until I realize my idiocy. > > > > Thanks again for the input everyone! > > > > James > > > > > > > > > > > > > Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:38:04 -0500 > > > From: [email protected] > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: Re: [TANKS] Re: Complete Newbie... > > > > > whitney james wrote: > > > > If this will be one thing, it's over engineered. I've been ~3 years in > > > > the planning stage... > > > > > Over-engineering typically means "building stronger than necessary". > > > Since you haven't *built* anything yet, you have "design paralysis", a > > > disease commonly associated with people who think that endless research > > > and scribbling is a substitute for actually building something. > > > Unfortunately, in the last 10-20 years, design paralysis has reached > > > pandemic levels because people think that "information" is "knowledge". > > > > > On paper, 3/8" threaded rod sounds pretty strong. But, actually put a > > > piece in a vice, bend it with your hands and you'll know that it's not a > > > proper axle. A simple "prototype" and some "bench-testing" increased > > > your knowledge. > > > > > So, then you think 1/2" solid will stand-up to the demands, until you > > > send a fully-loaded vehicle across some large ruts in the field and see > > > the axles bend. A more complex prototype and some "field-testing" > > > increased your knowledge to the required level for the job at hand. > > > > > Research only produces information, prototyping and testing produces > > > knowledge. Only knowledge creates good systems. > > > > > Frank P. > > > > > -- > > > You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. > > > To post a message, send email to [email protected] > > > To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] > > > Visit the group athttp://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM > > protection.http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ > > -- > You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. > To post a message, send email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] > Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009v2 -- You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat
