Chutneypundit

We're using Powertech NiMH RC3000 6 cell stick pack. We're using the same standard 'Tamiya-tyoe' connectors that it ran with happily for ages out of the box. Yesterday I dragged out a pile of old RC bits, and we've cobbled together a whole new control system. Of note was that we had to replace the receiver as it had ceased to receive a signal (crystal was ok, as that's what we're still using). So far it's run fine, meaning the gearing etc. must be ok. W'd double-checked polarity of leads to the receiver, but still, I feel it was the receiver that was at fault somehow, as it was the only part we didn't swap out, when the second ESC erupted.

Less of the cheek! ;op It's running the gear setup that came out-of-the-box RTR, and on loose dirt...

Hi. A mate came over - just into the hobby, and has a Ansman Mad Rat RTR. He's run it a few times. We connect everything as per usual. Motor doesn't turn. After a while we smell hot plastic/solder. Turn everything off and ESC is so hot it's spitting molten resin! We undo everything, check everything. No joy. He goes intot town and buys a new MTronics RV15 (motor on MAd Rat is a Clash 15). We check everything, connect everything. Still no joy. We connect to a 540 just lying around and everything works. So it's the motor, we think. I happen to have a Clash 15 lying around, so we swap out the motor, checking drive train is free in the process. Conect everything up. Yippeee! it works. We go down to track in the garden and have been racing around happily for about 5 minutes tops, when Mad Rat starts belching smoke and body is aglow with flames from within. Rapid and careful unhooking, unplugging, etc. and new RV15 ESC has turned into a small volcano, spraying interior with balls of molten solder and resin. We've checked everything, and have assembled ESC and gubbins myself, several times on 6 different models and I can't figure out why this would be doing this...? Any ideas, anyone?

Actually, looking at the outer diameter of all the 1.9 tyres I doubt they'll fit the Touareg body - the kit tyres are roughly 86mm and all the RC4WD tyres are around 106mm - far too big. Perhaps the trimming idea is the way to go...

I've put a sport-tuned motor in, but kept the low gearing. Haven't locked the rear diff yet, but might. I want it to be a 'proper' Dakar machine - I've made some loose piles of dirt, and it looks great if you make a standing start from the base and it tears its way up over the crest and still manages to get some 'scale air' OR just charge at the pile and it kind of smashes its way through the crest, showering dirt everywhere, lands heavilly and still carries on - I love this chassis Next thing (besides tyres) is to find an option for the bull bar at the front - it actually causes more crashes than it averts. I need some sort of sump-guard-style deflector - know of anything?

Hmm, I guess a small, sharp chisel would do the job - certainly cheaper than buying new tyres. Not sure it would help with the sand-digging-in prob, though - or perhaps it would be able to 'paddle' its way out more? As long as you keep moving, you've got a chance I certainly want my Touareg to be a 'go anywhere' racer I was just so disappointed with the Touareg's performance when I took it to the dunes - frequently dug itself in, whilst my mate's stock Gator took everything that was thrown at it. Most disappointing, having watched the Dakar - all those South American dunes and deserts. The other prob was the steering 'tunnel' that houses the armature from servo, through the chassis, to the steering linkages clogged with sand and jammed. This has been fixed with a hitec high-torque servo and a bearing'd aluminium hop-up off eBay. Sealed from trouble and filed down to reduce play.

Cheers, Mark - helpful as ever. The 'military off-roaders' look pretty cool...

Hey Folks, I run my touareg all over the place, but that's all over the place in Scotland which means it's usually damp, cloggy mud. The standard tyres look ok, put tend to get the tread fully clogged-up within seconds thus losing grip rapidly (and are a nightmare to clean). They also perform poorly in the sand - the Touareg tends to just dig in. So I'm after some new tyres, that still look 'scale' but should provide better performance in sand, with a wider tread pattern, but not look 'toy'/buggy-ish. Any recommendations?

Wow, thanks for the tips, guys. Now all I need is to get a new kit - ho hum, life is hard

I think I'm sold on a Mini! All I have to do is cut up a perfectly good set of rallyblock tyres...

Aha! Thanks. I've found this site too... http://www.tam.ne.jp/nic/minirally/rally_e.html

Yeah, it's been one long magical mystery tour I think... I think... I'm going to go for the Mini and try to make it rally-able. You mentioned, above, something about M-Chassis rally block tyres - won't the 'usual' Tamiya rally blocks fit, that I've seen advertised on most sites?

A TB01, eh... Hmmm, my range of choice appears to be expanding

Thanks Mark - I was even considering trying to find a rally body for the F150 - now it's hopped-up (including rear anti-roll bar) I've been loathe to up its speed for fear of costly crashes. Only prob is that the rear GPM bits have lengthened the wheelbase to about 263mm, which actually suits the F150 body better, but I haven't got my head around all these slightly different body sizes on offer...

My track is mostly compacted/loose dirt - the only 'rough' bits are patchy grass/moss or the auxiliary routes that are the reserve of the Touareg. I've seen a few vids on YouTube that seem to be Df-03-style rally cars (some TT's too?) and they seem to manage similar terrain. Of course the other option is the 240Z (drool). It's like Tamiya know exactly how to break my 'no more RC kits' pledge - "I have enough... more than enough... There's no reason why I shou- OOoo! a 250Z! And an Intergrale! AND they've re-released the Sand Scorcher!" Tamiya = Evil Empire