Tamiya CR-01 Pros and cons ?*** new idea, Element Bushido vs MST CFX --- Bought a FTX Hi Rock

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

I honestly just found out this FTX brand sells basically rebranded Chinese trucks going under RGT and some other brand in the UK.

I thought good that I ordered on a Friday afternoon, wanted to cancel the order and replace it for a Sendero Element 20€ cheaper.

TBH this video changed my mind. Kevin Talbot has an RGT in review with the sendero.

 

Its fine I guess

 

 

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

another one

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

Bought these rims.

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

My friend has received his brand new Traxxas TRX 4 Defender. My first impressions, WOW. What an amazing vehicle. The electronic functions it holds on the transmitter is insane.

Cruise control? It behaves like a real car, when you increase speed and release the throttle it goes back to the SET speed. Wow, you tap the brake, cruise control is off.

Two speed gears are great, help at ruff terrains and makes everything looks easy, second speed is used while normal driving.

Locking diffs, switch in three positions, unlocked diffs, front locked and all locked. Just amazing, removing the rear spare wheel improved performance in all aspects.

A video (me driving his TRX he is filming, great spot we found, his yard) (let me know if link not working will fix it)

https://i.imgur.com/WAV55A2.mp4

 

I hope I won't be too much disappointed with my FTX which looks like a toy compared to this. Still, I am keen to take it on. 

First mods for my FTX will be to move the battery tray to the front, like in the Element kit. Both the FTX and TRX are 550 motor driven cars. I might go brushless and have already ordered the metal rims 93gr per piece.

 

 

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

The FTX arrived.

honestly, great car. Quality of plastics seems rather mediocre.

I drove my friends TRX4 these days and am kind of used to get over anything and spoiled, first run on the FTX was ok, went the normal trail way we drove with the TRX…. I am still getting used to the crappy esc that comes with the FTX, throttle response may be altered with TH trim and TH D/R.

But main thing was… it came broken out of the box. This front axle link that mounts onto the left rail… broke a plastic, I already fixed it and found spare aluminum ones.

used cement and soda bicarbonate to form a thicker layer. The part where it broke is literally 3mm thin. Crazy thin taking in consideration what this link does.

Now it more like 6-7mm thick

Bad light on this picutre. But it is the fixed car with fron bumper moved inwards at max and rear bumper just one slot inwards. Places the battery tray in the middle.

I thought for a moment wow this sucks broken out of the box what to expect. But it runs great I love it. My 5yr old son also drove, he rarely gets to drive my cars as they are too fast and we end up braking stuff. He drove this for some time today and loved it. That is important, I am super happy he likes it and with low top speed and TH D/R it is just perfect for children to learn. I am sure with a few mods this chassis is really capable

 

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

Having fun.

Yesterday I moved the rear shocks 1 hole down and 1 hole towards center of chassis and front dampers 1 hole down.

should bring the bumpers up higher front and rear + rear shocks towards center for more rear articulation.

not sure if I need here stiffer springs or not

was thinking of doin a pencil spring mode not sure what to expect from it

 

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

What are good Louise tires for rock/moss climbing?

[one_hit 1127]

I have Louise CR Champ tires on my CR-01, very happy with them. 

 

 

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

On 2/17/2023 at 11:07 PM, Fabia130vRS said:

The FTX arrived.

honestly, great car. Quality of plastics seems rather mediocre.

I drove my friends TRX4 these days and am kind of used to get over anything and spoiled, first run on the FTX was ok, went the normal trail way we drove with the TRX…. I am still getting used to the crappy esc that comes with the FTX, throttle response may be altered with TH trim and TH D/R.

But main thing was… it came broken out of the box. This front axle link that mounts onto the left rail… broke a plastic, I already fixed it and found spare aluminum ones.

used cement and soda bicarbonate to form a thicker layer. The part where it broke is literally 3mm thin. Crazy thin taking in consideration what this link does.

Now it more like 6-7mm thick

 

Got a reply from EuroRC. They do not have a spare kit to send me the part. But they will send me the aluminum upgrade part.

Problem solved.

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

I am sorry to update all the time in this thread. But my latest conclusion was, this FTX actually became somehow my son's first RC car. 

He today drove it more than me officially. He also drove my friend's TRX4 and likes it more as stated. But that is what RC is about, hope he will when a bit older want to upgrade it. I will be getting a TRX4 at some point for sure, it is amazing how quiet and well everything runs, very durable as you folks said.

FTX Hi Rock wise, I enjoy it, definitely something new and really capable. But I guess flaws show up with time, and the gearbox is really loud compared to a TRX4. The tire and rim upgrade will add about 400gr just on the wheels. Should tip over less easily. With a more precise esc also.

We had a drive today, I think I will upgrade the rims that should arrive this week and some tires that grip better on rocks rather than mud. Stock tires are fine but if there is something more gripper out there I would like to have it. Brushed ESC upgrade is imminent. Even a TRX4 ESC + 21T motor combo would be nice. Saw some used cheapos.

 

[Kpowell911 2499]

I really wanted to hate Crawling but my girlfriend was obsessed with 1:1 Defenders so last year we went halves on a TRX4 For Valentines Day. 

Its now by far my most used R/C…..

Theyre astonishingly capable!

Its now full of brass and brushless. But the cruise control is so so good

https://i.imgur.com/abc6IGg.mp4
 

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

A new upgrade for the FTX Hi Rock arrived.

 

Metal drive shafts, they are heavier, and I hope more durable, didn't have any issues with the plastic ones. 

All installed.3x

Both on the car

8.50USD each from ebay. 

As visible on the last picture, I have added harder springs in the front, as the car is front heavy.

Once ALU wheels with wider tires arrive, they will add much more weight.

I am also thinking to buy metal portal axles. That would complete the truck.

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

A few pictures from our last drive.

 

 

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

So... I truly now can say. My FTX  Hi Rock is the superior vehicle over my friend's TRX4. It takes everything.

I also mounted a ACE RC 'ThunderTIger' DS1015 servo, fast thing, almost like touring car steering. 

I bought the Louise CR- Rowdy 1.9 tires and RC4WD china deep dish rims.

https://i.imgur.com/GQOxN97.mp4 (video)

The FTX Hi Rock is wider-tends to tip over to the side with original wheels, and the new tires are like balloons and grip perfect on steep climbs.

Front shocks got harder springs as the vehicle is pretty nose heavy, the rear damper mounts got raised for one hole, making the rear higher, which is good so the bumper does not catch the ground.

My friend's TRX got aluminum bead lock wheels, they seem a bit of lighter, his tires are RC4WD Mickey Baja PRO.

The TRX being very top-heavy and bumpers very low, just struggles. 

A few pictures of yesterday.

A few pictures of yesterday.

[Fabia130vRS 2098]

So after some almost a year, the FTX holds up really well, small upgrades here and there nothing too noticable.

 

The other day I removed the not in function roof lights... placed a aluminium bar and put a dark sticker over it!

 

 

The newest addition are trail lights under the chassis!

 

Cut a few pieces of led strips...

This is it finished! It will run off the lipo balancer cord.

 

I tested the truck on 3s today, more top end speed and nice power.  Uses very little power, so lights will not affect run time.

(7,2V nimh, lights dimmed)

(3s - lights super bright)