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mcvwuk

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Posts posted by mcvwuk

  4. Posted

    Hi,

    I have recently bought an Etronix Power Pal mini charger and an EP2000s NiMH pack.

    When they were delivered I put the battery in my viper, reset the ESC, and ran the car up and down the garden to test it out.

    After ten minutes or so of playing with the car (chasing the dogs etc LOL), it began to run slow so I removed the battery with the view of charging the battery.

    I read the manual for the charger - which is about as useful as a chocolate teapot - but decided to discharge the battery before charging. I selected the 'auto discharge' program for the NiMH battery and it happily went about it's business. I stopped the discharge program when the battery was on 0.1.

    After this I have not been able to recharge the battery at all. I either get a 'connection break' or 'Batt. Vol Bellow MinWorkVol (5.5V)' status displayed. Have I killed the battery, or is there something else I can try?

    Thank you,

    Mike

    PXL_20210528_115922322.jpg

  7. Posted

    9 hours ago, Frog Jumper said:

    The last NIB blue chassis I saw was in Australia Ebay, and AmPro bought it after I pointed it out to him.  I don't remember how much it listed for, but it was not cheap.  You can ask him, but I bet he paid over $50 for it... 

    As for building a Frog, all the original Frog and Blackfoot parts are available as Re-Re.  Many of the special SBF parts can be had via Shapeways, or by patiently waiting on ebay and/or selling a kidney...  I've spent over 4 years collecting Original rear end pieces for the SBF, and I'm down to the last few bits (kidneys intact)...

    Terry

     

    The chassis I've seen is no way NIB (pics below) - it's literally just the centre space-frame section. The gearbox housings are available as are some front suspension pieces - but not complete (I think) and considering these are different for the frog, I don't think they would be useful.

    I've got three young kids - all still at school/college - so I can't really spare the other kidney on buying parts for a frog build. I think my best scenario would be to keep looking for a good 2nd hand frog (that's complete).

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    • Like 1

  9. Posted

    The bush devil parts I have seen for sale are basically just the space frame, gearbox housing and some odds n ends. It's in no way complete, which is why I was thinking of building it up as a Frog. But considering the points raised I think its unlikely to be straightforward, or worthwhile so perhaps I should drop the idea?

  10. Posted

    Hi,

    @terry, unfortunately I don't have a Bush Devil (nor a Frog), but I really want a Frog so have been scouring ads for Frog/Brat parts etc, and that's how I came across the Bush Devil possibility. I have no idea if building a Frog from old Devil/Brat parts is efficient or practical, but thought it would be an alternative route to trying to get hold of a used Frog.

    @isomer1, is the blue chassis hard to find then? If so I might just have to buy this one that I've found then :)

    Is the gearbox/transmission of the BD very different to the Frog? I'll have to check out the manuals and see what's what.

  13. Posted

    Hi,

    I have a Sand Viper with a Tamiya TEU-101BK ESC which has the Male Tamiya connector (to the battery), and I also have a (probably dead) 7.2v 3000mAh NiMh with the Female Tamiya connector.

    In my haste to get the buggy running I bought a charger (Etronix powerpal pocket 2) as it was local to me (and only a £5) but after it arrived I've noticed that a) it says it's for LiPo and Li-FE batteries, and b) it has no Tamiya style connections (see picture).

    So... a few questions.

    1) Can I use this charger with NiMh batteries?

    2) If I can use it with NiMh batteries I presume I would need to get an adaptor lead - which lead should I get (i.e. to connect to which port)?

    3) Alternatively, if I bought a LiPo battery, would it work with my ESC, and if so should I get a LiPo with a Tamiya connector or a standard LiPo connector (Dean) and use an adaptor to connect to my ESC?

    Thank you,

    Mike

    image.png.33aa83883be1673dd874238a9db38e14.png

  16. Posted

    9 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

    It is one thing to suggest an upgrade to 2.4Ghz, quite another to tell outright lies about needing one. Had the seller said "Sorry, we don't stock 27MHz sets - you might need to look for a secondhand one. Alternatively we can sell you this nice new 2.4GHz one" and then gone on to explain the advantages of 2.4GHz, I would have no problem with them. But saying "that rcvr wont work anymore - crystal radios are dead and won't work. You will need a new radio and rcvr" is an outright lie and not a good basis for an on-going relationship with a customer, as the moment said customer realises that they have been lied to, the chances of the relationship continuing are dramatically reduced.

    These were my thoughts exactly - although I wasn't 100% (or even 50%) sure of the correctness of their reply. But when they said, "So, would you just like the battery and charger for now", I was 100% sure and I politely declined. And I'm afraid they've almost inevitably missed out on any future business from me. Shame, as there aren't many R/C shops in West Sussex!

  17. Posted

    6 hours ago, Blista said:

    They probably didn't know to be fair.  They would've seen the name Tamiya Sand Viper and looked it up assuming it was the kit version.  If it wasn't for the shocks being bright blue almost anyone could make the mistake.  Why Tamiya chose to release an RTR DT02 chassis as the Sand Viper but with lower spec is anyone's guess, but it does needlessly complicate things.

    I hear what you're saying - and yes, I could give them the benefit of the doubt - however, they categorically said, "that rcvr wont work anymore - crystal radios are dead and won't work. You will need a new radio and rcvr", he then quoted me £45 for a non-branded radio and a hobbykit rcvr, and then added, "plus that esc won't work with any new rcvrs cos it takes power from the rcvr", and again pointed out a new esc (£20+).

    Which by their basis I would be £60+ down and still need a battery. Hardly helpful/friendly advice to a noobie...??

  20. Posted

    So I just dropped in to my local RC model shop and I know that the motor works (and is a 540). However, I was told that I would need a new speed controller, and rcvr. Is it not possible to use an older style crystal radio with this? I don't mind spending a bit on the buggy, but not loads just to get it running :(

    Anybody have an older style radio set that would work with this for sale?

  21. Posted

    13 minutes ago, Mad Ax said:

    This is a stock image from Modelsport.  There are a couple of differences:

    58374_b.jpg

    The bits that stand out the most are the shock absorbers and front upper arms.  Your car has blue friction dampers which look like they are from a Holiday Buggy, the pic above has black oil-filled shock absorbers, which are a good shock for the money (and better than most cheaper alloy shocks).  Yours has solid upper suspension arms (the front has a neat hole through the middle for the shock absorber) but the pic above has an adjustable arm made from a metal rod with a ball adjuster on each end.

    The less obvious parts would be bearings - the Sand Viper came with full bearings from the factory but the Holiday Buggy didn't, bearings are a must if you're doing any upgrades at all.  Also I can't see what size motor is installed from your pics, but the Holiday Buggy came with a smaller motor, the Sand Viper has a regular 540 size.  You can buy a motor plate to fit the 540 motor if it isn't already fitted.

    None of this is a problem - if you go MS spec you'll be looking for the DF-03 alu shock set and turnbuckles anyway, which will do away with the bouncy blue shocks and solid upper arms.  Actually if you just wanted to drive and have fun without chasing MS spec hop-ups, there's nothing wrong with the solid arms (assuming oil shocks fit through the holes in the front - I've never tried that, I don't have those arms).

    :)

    Yes, you are correct - and I was maybe a little hasty with my previous reply (my apologies @Adbar). Both the front and rear upper suspension arms are solid and the shocks are indeed the blue friction dampers. I've dismantled most of the chassis and can see that the front 'bearings' look to be of a white plastic nature. So maybe it was a Holiday buggy and they switched the wheels and body mounts?

    Where would be the best source (UK) to obtain the black oil-filled shocks, adjustable suspension arms and bearings - and a Holiday Buggy rear body mount (as I have a spare Holiday Buggy shell)?

    Thank you.

    • Like 1

  22. Posted

    14 hours ago, Adbar said:

    You probably don't care as you'll be replacing so much, but the dampers and upper suspension arms are not from a sand viper. Maybe a lesser dt-02 with a sand viper body on it? So it might well not be fitted with bearings.

    I'm not sure I agree with you. All images and video's I've found of (standard) Sand Vipers look the same as mine (wheels, suspension, body mount etc). But hey - it'll be fun cleaning it up and replacing/upgrading bits as I go :)

  23. Posted

    Hi,

    I'm looking for a basic handset for use with a DT-02 (sand viper) which has the standard radio gear. I've used this handset before (pic below) and like the way it feels etc - though I'm thinking it's probably overkill (given all the trims on it etc). Could anybody recommend a handset similar to this that isn't going to break the bank :)

    image.png.1c60a671fe9ae35787a095c134af695f.png

    Thanks,

    Mike

  24. Posted

    Hi,

    Could anybody advise an approx cost to upgrade a standard Sand Viper (this one) to 'MS' spec?

    Note: I'm not entirely sure what MS spec - I've seen the term banded about a lot - and I'm guessing all the components that make up this 'spec' are all worthwhile?

    Also, the Viper stands me £45 - though I do need to get a radio/handset (again, any advice welcome).

    Thank you,

    Mike

    May be an image of outdoors

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