180 replies to this topic

[GregM]

As I had just 3 - 8 mm piston rod spacers in my spares, 3 mm went into the rears and 6 mm into the fronts. Now the front is still slightly higher than the rear. The oil damped suspension now feels pretty good, it's like day and night when comparing it to the friction shocks.

I noticed there's more camber angle change at the front arms (when compressing the shocks) than you would expect from a modern double wishbone suspension.

[Percymon]

I'm only a few miles from modelsport at otley at the moment. Im so tempted to drop in and pick up a kit and some 85mm front/95mm oil dampers, plus steel pinion and some alternative tyres. I've got a spare brushless set at home so lll need to gear down too.

GregM. Does the motor mount allow for smaller pinions or will I have to match a smaller pinion with larger spur?

[Percymon]

Having now looked at the on-line manual I can see that 91tooth spur is about as big as you ca go under the gearbox cover. The supplied pinion is already the smallest of the three options. Maybe a 9T brushless is too much lol! Perhaps a 3000kV motor on 2S would be safer with a option for 3S lunacy later

[Percymon]

Succumbed to a visit to modelsport today; rather disappointed by the lack of a shop bar some glass display cases around the counter but at least they had the sandmaster on display and I could have a closer look.

It's a cheap kit and this is on show in lots of places, body panels are fairly thin and don't look that flexible so I'd expect some cracks after impacts. The rear does sit low with not a lot of ground clearance as already stated, but fitting longer shocks is limited by the angle of the dogbone into the wheel drive cup, there really isn't any more scope bar a few additional mms. The wheels look more asda toy than rc but I suppose they are consumables.

After thinking it thru I still bought one, heck at £69 including the esc and motor the chassis and wheels are basically £40 at most. I'll use the esc and motor in another model, drop a cheap brushless in this. Got some spare 85mm alloy shocksin the spares box so will try them out first.

[GregM]

I'm glad you bought one even after reading my honest review. I agree that the car feels still like a toy on the one hand, but on the other hand it has some features that even most of todays Tamiya's entry level buggies are still missing (ball bearings, secured suspension pins, scale looks). Run the car in stock form, and you'll smile for sure. Before using any faster motor, I highly recommend to modify the rear end and eliminate the sloppiness in the suspension + steering.

[Leethal Driver]

Any update on how you've got on with this now you've had it a couple of weeks? Looks tempting for a cheap basher so would be interested to hear more.

[Percymon]

Mines still in it's box. Only got back from holiday on Monday and I have friends staying all this week
So no chance of rc building

I'll be detailing the driver prior to intsallation. Not decided on power plant just yet either - i'm tempted to drop a spare brushless outrunner motor in for a try (I like the fact the motor casing is spinning when the cars in motion )

[GregM]

I got stuck at painting the driver's body and getting a steel pinion gear. As soon as these tasks are done, I'll give the car another run and write up a report.

[GregM]

The Sandmaster is now equipped with a Graupner/GM racing pinion gear (48dp, 27T). Removing the plastic pinion from the motor was easy. The new steel pinion has the same length, but the toothed surface is not as wide as the stock pinion. But I'm still fine with that, as everything fits nicely. Now I just have to finish the driver's paintjob.

I'm thinking about how to protect the pinion/spur cover against dust and dirt. Foam tape?

[GregM]

More photos. As always, click on the thumbnails will enlarge the pictures.


The rear end is now 2 cm above ground.


Plastic pinion removed! Take a close look at the edges, which have started ripping themselves just after the 1st run. Boooh!


New steel pinion. Use some M3 washers between motor and gearbox to move the motor slightly out, then the gears will line up nicely. Or get one of those motor plates (#4305125) that Tamiya uses to put in their kit boxes, this will have the same effect. I have done that after taking pictures.


Aluminium bling shocks!


Front camber angle changes during compressing suspension.

[Percymon]

Here's mine (90% complete - decals and driver to add)..





For some unknown reason i bought 20 and 22 tooth pinions, which are no use at all so waiting on a steel pinion. Running stock ESC and motor at present, will judge what to install after i've run it once or twice. Needs proper turnbuckles too.

[GregM]

Looks good! Will you apply the decals provided with the kit, or do you have something else in mind? May I ask what shocks you are using, as they seem to be golden, too?

I'm thinking about adding spotlights to the Sandmaster, similar as the Wild One.

[Percymon]

Shocks are Ansmann 85mm units - silver chrome in colour with black springs. About £9 a pair, I think modelsport even list them as a hop-up for the Sand Master.

I used the shorter lower eye ball connector on the fronts, the default long eye on the rear.

Not sure what to do on the decals - the stock decals are mainly silver/dark grey so might not be too great against the Vauxhall Rembrandt Silver paint work. Will have a scout around at whats available in motorsport type decals.

[kiasukid]

For anyone interested in the Sand Master's chassis, but not a fan of the retro looks, could take a look at the ultra modern Nexxt:



I'm thinking of getting one of these myself, and doing it up as Willy's Halo Warthog.

[GregM]

Woohoo! Well, even if this is now really looking toyish, it is still more appealing than any recent lexan blob spaceship buggy. The Kyosho Nexxt (what a... fancy name) RTR will be available in 3 colours (orange, navy blue, green), while the kit will be orange only. Details like wing mirrors are nice. I think this would be better on a 4WD chassis, though.

Kit: http://www.kyoshoame...ge_p_11174.html
RTR: http://www.kyoshoame...-1_p_11171.html

[TA-Mark]

That's a wild lookin machine. Beats the usual modern blob on wheels any day. The wheel and tyre combination is interesting indeed.

[Percymon]

Same chassis as the Sand Master bar a few little items and the body - provided there's a parts supply would be easy to swap between the two models.

[GregM]

Just imagine how cool this would look if you change the front and rear lights to LEDs.

[Biscut]

Hi GregM,
I found these on the bay, they are 95mm long but can put spacers in them to limit the travel, have you done any more to yours or found out any weakness in the car.
Thanks
Steve
http://cgi.ebay.co.u...ME:L:OC:GB:3160

[GregM]

Apart from the things I've already pointed out, I would call the rear shock tower a bit weak. Although it is made of a strong material, it flexes a lot under the load of the rear shocks and car weight. For scale running purpose, this is not too bad (this is how I run my Sandmaster), but I wonder if this design will last bigger jumps. A reinforcing brace to stiffen the tower's shock mounts would then be recommended, though you would have to manufacture it by yourself.

Narrow ribbed front tires and wider spiked or all-terrain-tires at the rear would be good (Wild One wheels would look nice). But: As the Sandmaster has hex fittings both rear and front, does anybody know of 2WD buggy front wheels with hex fitting instead of the more common two 1150 bearings?

I've just finished the driver and will get some thin foam tape to seal the spur cover. Then the Sandmaster is ready to be run again! I'm excited how the mods and hop-ups will affect the handling.

[Biscut]

Thanks, are those red alloy shocks the same as yours ? I am fitting an Mtroniks Plasma 4400kv motor and esc on a 2 cell lipo to see how it goes.

[GregM]

Thanks, are those red alloy shocks the same as yours ?

No, mine are different (REELY / Conrad #237077), but yours should be fine, too.
I wonder how good (or not) the Sandmaster will handle a 4400kV motor. Will it launch into the sky like a rocket? Keep us updated.

[GregM]

For sealing the spur cover, I've used very soft window frame foam tape. Cut the tape to the appropriate length and width, and place it inside the cover. You can see helpful marks on the plastic where the cover will touch the gearbox. Cover the camlock holes as well, so the clamps reach through the foam. Cut the foam to avoid any collisions with the gears. Re-attach the cover and check if you can hear any sounds from gears touching foam by turning the wheels - if yes, you have to cut a bit more foam away.
The tape is easy to bend and sticks good to the plastic cover. The foam is able to reach in the gap between cover and gearbox.

I would call this the most important mod, as this will protect your gears from dirt, so I strongly recommend this to all you Sandmaster owners.

[Biscut]

Well got the shocks today, I am a bit dissapointed as they said they were 17mm diameter but that was without the spring, with the spring they are 21mm. I doubt if they will fit between the wishbone and track rods :-( shame as look nice but a bit big for 1/10 more 1/8 not got the car out of the box yet so will not know if they fit till I start putting it together, maybe should of got the Annsman ones.

[Percymon]

You might be lucky yet, the stock friction dampers are quite a big diameter (certainly bigger than Tamiyas). My Ansmann ones look quite thin in comparison to the friction dampers.