Stampedekid's Micro Rock Crawler Scaler(nearly done!)

[Stampedekid]

Yes guys I have returned, have had this badboy for quite some time now and have been working on this build FOREVER due to school and midterms interfering, oh and blizzards so anyway I'll show you the step I am onto now but if you would like to see the full build, it is in 2 separate forums(BeatYourTruck has the full build, RCC i skipped most of it due to not being there for some time but still). So this is what was posted on the most recent post on BYT and RCC. It is running full sprung droop, aluminum front shock mount(fabbed myself), model kit chassis modified for RC, 180mAh 2S LiPo(used to be the DT's, still runs the NiMH too), pen tube driveshaft mod, cut stock chassis for tranny mount, 2/56 Du-Bro allthread rods and RC18T ball cups, when it was stock, the chassis was 5.85", now it is just over 8.5" and with the body it is just over 9" long, so not bad. Getting super swampers for it soon hopefully, going to order from RRP so yes Stampedekid(formerly known as Xmodracer1) is back in the 1/24 scene, but with a new rig(had it since 12/14/09 I believe)
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OK: Some updates from yesterday, before my Math Exam(yaaa no more this week so I'm home!) and before clearcoat. It's all dry now, I just need to assemble it and it will be finished, some of it was very sloppy from bleeding but it looks good far away, did touch up after. If any spots looked smudged, mom tried to touchup with a paint pen for me but we ended up going to the regular color, bright white. Any spots that look pink, are actually red my camera lets in lighting weird and turns it pink. Now, after clearcoat it looks great but that does not mean its done. Also in the pics is the cheapo toolbox my friend hot glued up for me, i told you it looks like poo actually it looked worse till I hit it with the dremel, just gonna do one outta brass tubing and cover it with leather So onto the pics, remember this is before clearcoat. The dashboard is all sharpie except the silver trims, thats silver paint pen, has a more metallic look to it than the silver sharpies. Also the red stripe is 3 separate decals, one for each side and one for the roof.
Also the left side(standing from behind it) NITRO decal ripped in one place, still turned out nice, and the Kevin VanDam decal ripped in 3 so I got it as best as I could, waterslides are easy but they rip too easily!


Next two pics you can see the sloppy ness, sanded that off with 320grit sandpaper and did touchup paint with the real color


The Nitro decal that didnt rip

Below, isn't really as noticeable as shown in the picture, especially after clearcoat

Driveshaft turned out nice

Not actually pink, actually a very nice red


No they aren't that noticeable either, after clearcoat
Chevy Bowtie decal fell off then tore in half, so originally did it orange but it didnt show too much so covered it with red sharpie, looks much better now(not shown in the pics)


Yes the LP is chrome too

Didn't have a superfine sharpie to hit the inside of that vent, oh well

Yep they're both waterslide decals below


AAAND onto the cheap toolbox, it fits tightly but looks like cr@p



Another sloppy spot, see the bleeding from when it was masked? Not too bad after touch ups

The ripped decal below, not too bad right? It had split completely in half

Made it an LT not an LS



And full build seen here
http://beatyourtruck.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63049
Non full, but still build seen here
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=217716

[GearHeadV8]

That is sick man. I love the detail to it. why not heat up the area where the paint bled and hit it with a hammer so it looks like a dent lol. Check out scale4x4rc.org there are some pretty insane MRC projects. there is one that is a 8X8

[Stampedekid]

Originally Posted by GearHeadV8

That is sick man. I love the detail to it. why not heat up the area where the paint bled and hit it with a hammer so it looks like a dent lol. Check out scale4x4rc.org there are some pretty insane MRC projects. there is one that is a 8X8

Naw. And you do realize it is the micro crawler right, not the MRC. It's done now, has many slop spots but still looks good expect pictures once I finish fabbing up the toolbox(already did, but it was too big, made outta wood) and got some copper as well as plumbing solder so I can do up a roll cage all for looks, might do a bull bar bumper eventually we shall see. And no, not going for a powder coated look, going to stick to the soldered copper look

[GearHeadV8]

Originally Posted by Stampedekid

Naw. And you do realize it is the micro crawler right, not the MRC. It's done now, has many slop spots but still looks good expect pictures once I finish fabbing up the toolbox(already did, but it was too big, made outta wood) and got some copper as well as plumbing solder so I can do up a roll cage all for looks, might do a bull bar bumper eventually we shall see. And no, not going for a powder coated look, going to stick to the soldered copper look

lol yeah micro-rock-crawler. still looks sick

[dreamingISdrifting]

dame those are some long rear links! really nice so far!

[Stampedekid]

Thanks guys, I'm happy to say for the most part, it is done! Had some screw ups where hot glue dripped and when I peeled it, it peeled the paint but it's ok as it will get scratched while out on the rocks. Got everything mounted but as said before, the parts are red not pink, its just how my camera is..yeah I don't know, lets in too much light to the lens. The rear really is level with the front the pics just make it appear different and I know the rear is tilted, needs some adjustment. The stuff I got were 5/8"x5/8" hinges, some thin wood, a mini hot glue gun ($3 works great!) and 18 mini hot glue sticks(also $3 work great too), all from Michael's then some copper tubing, a cutting wheel(with diamond) for my Dremel(35k RPM's dremel) and a soldering set with flux and a brush for copper and brass. Going to make a roll cage for looks out of that as well as a bull bar for the bumper, and maybe some other stuff, time will tell on that one. The toolbox took much longer than expected, cut it while watching Winter X-Games 14, ended up having to cut it thinner(used razor blades for scoring for first time) because it was too wide to fit behind the wheel wells so cut it down with the cutting wheel on the dremel, my room smells nice now The battery took some time to figure out where to mount so it would look good, tried under the roof but it was visible, didn't look too good so got an idea..well you're going to have to see the pictures, its a surprise, and works! All of the snow melted too, by the way >.< and even though its only going to be low 20s tomorrow, this will be getting its first outdoor run in over a month and as a scaler, woo hoo! Sure the windows may look sloppy, but they are held in, so its all good. Once the body is thrashed, its going junkyard beater look..now onto the pictures. The toolbox took a while to do so comments are welcome. And the last 3 pictures were more for a Canadian friend on another forum to show the size compared to the box, but still. Enjoy! And remember, look for that battery, it is easy to spot in some of the pictures, but hard to spot otherwise, and remember it is not pink stuff its all red, not pink





where the hot glue drip was, >.< not too noticeable but still




Beginning phases of the toolbox, I took off the edges with my cutting wheel and a sanding bit








Battery secretly hidden away

No its not pink, but a very nice red actually





Size comparison to the stock body


Pictures of the finished toolbox are to come! Stay tuned---It is finished, but figured I'd hold off for now, to tease you guys :P

[GearHeadV8]

wow it would be sick if they made that a rtr lol. are you going to add light?

[Stampedekid]

Originally Posted by GearHeadV8

wow it would be sick if they made that a rtr lol. are you going to add light?

Thanks bro, as for lights I'll have to think it over, may do it but I'll need to figure out where to stow away the 9V battery or whatever I would use, and what light kits to use also. I'm sure Losi will start selling something, knowing them. But I've got pictures of the toolbox here it is. Just like everything else, its red. I need to snap pics with moms Rebel, maybe that would let you guys see the true colors.

[dreamingISdrifting]

nice, are you going to lower it when you get the super swampers? because arent they smaller than the stock losi's?

[Stampedekid]

Originally Posted by dreamingISdrifting

nice, are you going to lower it when you get the super swampers? because arent they smaller than the stock losi's?

Yeah they are but I cannot lower it any lower than it sits, without re-doing the entire suspension setup which trust me, don't really want to do that. Actually so many people from other forums love the way I've done it, I've already gotten offers to do them for certain people when they get theirs...once I finish the cage up and all I'm sending pictures in to RCCA and RCD

[Stampedekid]

*originally posted on BYT*
Well the 100th post in this thread is by me, of the little guy out on the rocks(video processing). A mirror broke off during the photoshoot(thanks to my big bulky winter gloves) but I can just glue it back on, not a big deal. The maiden outdoor voyage as a scaler was a good one, wish it was a bit warmer, 15F felt like -5F but thanks to a big heavy sweatshirt, it was all good. In the video you see me pause for a second, I was putting my hood up to stay warmer. Never made it to the other part of hte garden in the pics or video but did afterward then took it in the snow in the backyard, on the ice, on some rocks and on a "trail" i am currently working on for it. Enjoy!



Now for its true colors, it was sunset so you can actually see its real colors, not messed up and looking pink








Sitting at just over 9" long in all its glory. Enjoy~
Ian
EDIT: Video is up just allow it some time to process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwt7o79b6uk
*Originally posted on BYT*

[dreamingISdrifting]

hey could you post some pics of just the chassis? i noticed all your pics have the body on, i want to see how you did the extension

[Stampedekid]

Yup sure I gotta snap those pictures in a bit but as of now, heres the design of the cage. Took me until after to realize I can do both of the sides the same as they will be flat so I can just put it on the other side. Measured it out before designing and going to start working on it later. Either going to powder coat it OR leave it as a soldered cage look, the truck is gonna get beat up anyway so a copper soldered cage would look pretty cool. Might even make a cage for a truggy style look as the bed is held on with velcro and the two remaining front posts, may use the stock body mounts to hold it on just have to see, will have to dremel more spots in the bed if that idea comes together

[Stampedekid]

Originally Posted by dreamingISdrifting

hey could you post some pics of just the chassis? i noticed all your pics have the body on, i want to see how you did the extension

Sorry it took so long but here it is as is the update on the cage. Turned out I needed a propane torch to melt the solder which I didn't want to use so returned it and got JB Kwik which seems to hold up nicely. Only got to do one side(added a crossbrace for structure) but I did snap pictures of the bare chassis and the truck next to my old X-Truck with a lift kit and a Titan front clip flipped, no specs I haven't driven it in over 2 years. Didn't get a chance to drive it as it was bitterly cold outside today, never made it above 15F. Also in here is a picture of it on top of my 1/16 Revo VXL, before, when it(the scaler) was stock, and after, how it(the scaler) sits now








Tranny/4 Link Mount

Cheaply made front shock mount, but works

Driveshaft, made from cut driveshafts glued onto a pen tube then connected to the stock shafts


The jig for the one panel on the cage, when I tried to use the solder first but kept it for when I did JB Weld/Kwik

One side finished



Other copper rod, I cut them down with the dremel, need to get more of them though, I can make a panel with about 3/4 of one

And the size comparison, just so you can see the difference

Before the scaler build, and before the MERV broke in half..LOL Yeah busted it again before new years, finally fixed it yesterday
And after

Yep they both run off of the DX2.0
Comments and Critique appreciated

[dreamingISdrifting]

so does your rear driveshaft telescope too then? or no because it is glued together. How is the JB working out for you? I always wanted to try it but never go the chance

[Stampedekid]

Originally Posted by dreamingISdrifting

so does your rear driveshaft telescope too then? or no because it is glued together. How is the JB working out for you? I always wanted to try it but never go the chance

It does because I got extra shafts to attach, so it still attaches to the original shafts on each end, and still telescopes so its all good. The JB is working out very well actually, smells a little funny but works.

[Stampedekid]

Got some updates, set it up with a real droop setup, bent the rear links(REALLY helped A LOT) as will be seen in the videos that will get uploaded a bit later. Also got a CF decal sheet by XXX Main from my LHS, not the cleanest but from far away its hard to tell its not too clean. Only reason it sticks up is from the dremeled holes from when I had cut too deep for the shock mount, with that dremel. Looks good otherwise, covered up the less painted area on the tailgate and also just did the wheel indents for looks. Going to need to make a skidplate, grabbed too much on a few rocks though, the sharper, steeper ones that is

EDIT: For some reason this wont show as an image but works fine on every other forum, tried doing the XMS image thing, the IMG code and what not so just click it, thank you
See not the cleanest but unless you look really hard its hard to tell





















See, the battery stays hidden nicely.

Enjoy, remember the video comes soon and it performs MUCH better with the actual droop instead of stiff with the rubber band droop, also got the rear adjusted so it has ZERO play compared to before where the rear would sway a lot

EDIT: 10:03pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA1lL...744&feature=iv
Video is up! Annotations added, sorry it took so long, it had been up but I had not been home!

[Stampedekid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jPjR...layer_embedded
Sorry for continuous posting but I update as I get more, so the other video is up..yeah

[FloydfanYodaman]

for a scale crawler this thing looks bad @$$...but for functionality it looks a little tippy...and seems a little stiff in the articulation...maybe its just the vids...i'm curious because i am thinking of gettig one

[Stampedekid]

Originally Posted by FloydfanYodaman

for a scale crawler this thing looks bad @$$...but for functionality it looks a little tippy...and seems a little stiff in the articulation...maybe its just the vids...i'm curious because i am thinking of gettig one

Remember, its also big and tall even running full droop. If I decide to do a bed cover, I'm going to put the shocks into the bed and whatnot so I can get it sitting really, at a nice height but remember the plastic is much heavier than a lexan body, so it is a little top heavy. And for a micro, these are big rocks so not the easiest to climb.