Midnight Pumpkin Questions

[Coolswift 5]

Dear all,

Just finally bought a Metallic edition Midnight Pumpkin 1/12 and is on the way here.

Bought a set of Yeah Racing ptfe ball bearings too.

Have tried searching for advice here and elsewhere but as this is my 1st CW-01 (i do have a couple of tt02 and tt02b) i am quite overwhelmed by the amount of new information to digest.

 

I have read that they are weak points in this chassis and certain upgrades or mods are used.

Question:

1. What servo type should i be using? I have a currently 9kg servo but i did read somewhere that a strong servo can cause breakages.

2. Silver can or torque tuned motor since i have both?

3. ESC - quicrun 1060 or tble02 or tble04 or others?

4. What are the recommended upgrades or mods? I have no 3D printer so any diy options are highly preferable.

5. Shock advice? Clueless on this. Can the exisitng tt02 and tt02b oil shocks be used?

Thamk you all in advance for your help!

Edited May 3, 2023 by Coolswift
Added Question 5

[Twinfan 1796]

15 minutes ago, Coolswift said:

Question:

1. What servo type should i be using? I have a currently 9kg servo but i did read somewhere that a strong servo can cause breakages.

2. Silver can or torque tuned motor since i have both?

3. ESC - quicrun 1060 or tble02 or tble04 or others?

4. What are the recommended upgrades or mods? I have no 3D printer so any diy options are highly preferable.

5. Shock advice? Clueless on this. Can the exisitng tt02 and tt02b oil shocks be used?

It depends what you're looking for.  The chassis is never going to handle like a TT-02B so I find it's best to accept it as it is.  For your questions:

1. For your servo, a standard 9kg servo should be absolutely fine.  I wouldn't bother buying another, just use what you have.

2. Silver can is plenty for the chassis, but if you fancy a bit more "get up and go" then the Torque Tuned will also be great.  The silver can will give slightly longer run times per battery if that matters to you.

3. If you don't already have an ESC you can use (any of those would be fine) I would go with a cheap HW1060 derivative.  There's the new Tamiya THW-1060-RTR or the Carson Dragster, both available for less money than a regular HW1060.

4. The Tamiya alloy motor mount is nice but not necesssary, same goes for oil filled shocks.  I would save your Hop-Up money for spares and repairs.

5. The official Tamiya upgrade is to use CVA Short Shocks (50520), of which you'll need two sets.  Quite an expensive upgrade.

Having run a Lunch Box with upgrades and one bone stock (except for bearings) I'd say there's just as much fun using the standard one, if not more so due to the rawness of the very basic chassis.  Why not start there and see how you get on?

[Grumpy pants 5170]

Bearings, alloy body mounts and a light motor upgrade is all you need imo. 

 

[Coolswift 5]

1 hour ago, Grumpy pants said:

Bearings, alloy body mounts and a light motor upgrade is all you need imo. 

 

Example of body mounts?

[Twinfan 1796]

26 minutes ago, Coolswift said:

Example of body mounts?

https://www.miniaturemanufacturingmodels.co.uk/product-page/tamiya-remote-control-r-c-midnight-pumpkin-aftermarket-alloy-body-mounts-4-pcs

Jazrider versions are on eBay.

[Kowalski86 3983]

1. Any standard servo will do

2. I prefer silver cans for longer run times and easier control, I wouldn't go above a 25T motor.

3. Any one of those will be fine, a bonus with any Tamiya ESC is that you can install the switch in a good spot and never have to remove the shell to turn it on.

4. Aluminum body mounts if you break a stock one, rubber bands in the rear tires where the tires grip the rim (for more wheelie action), and bearings. 

5. The stock pogo sticks are good enough, just be sure to trim the rubber correctly to prevent the screws from popping out too far.

The only mods on my Pumpkin are aluminum body mounts and the aluminum motor mount hop up.

Some people buy transmission braces, but I never really saw the point. And it involves drilling extra holes which I always advise against.

[Nikko85 3756]

I've got a build log of mine.

If you've got access to a 3D printer you can do a lot for the cost of filament.

Agreed with all the points above. 9 kg is fine, bearings are a must, torque tuned would be my preference. 

I would always go for the HW1060 - although as mentioned the switch isn't great, I have seen for a sale a 3D printed mount to neatly use it in the CW01 switch slot.

[bRIBEGuy 3310]

On 5/3/2023 at 3:13 AM, Coolswift said:

Dear all,

Just finally bought a Metallic edition Midnight Pumpkin 1/12 and is on the way here.

Bought a set of Yeah Racing ptfe ball bearings too.

Have tried searching for advice here and elsewhere but as this is my 1st CW-01 (i do have a couple of tt02 and tt02b) i am quite overwhelmed by the amount of new information to digest.

 

I have read that they are weak points in this chassis and certain upgrades or mods are used.

Question:

1. What servo type should i be using? I have a currently 9kg servo but i did read somewhere that a strong servo can cause breakages.

2. Silver can or torque tuned motor since i have both?

3. ESC - quicrun 1060 or tble02 or tble04 or others?

4. What are the recommended upgrades or mods? I have no 3D printer so any diy options are highly preferable.

5. Shock advice? Clueless on this. Can the exisitng tt02 and tt02b oil shocks be used?

Thamk you all in advance for your help!

 The Midnight Pumpkin (as with any of the CW-01 "trucks") is a very "FUN" truck.  It is also a 35+ year old design, so temper your expectations as to what is possible performance wise.  There seems to be a huge uprising in trying to get these to handle like a modern truck thru a plethora of bolt on and 3D printed options, but I personally think it is a waste.  The truck is a lot of fun to bounce and wheelie around as is, so embrace the comical and retro nature of it and have fun.

Servo: A standard servo is fine, but a higher torque one will turn those bigger tires a lot easier.  Servo mount breakage is NOT caused by a stronger servo, it is caused by not having your endpoints adjusted properly, and or bad driving (and or luck).

As many have noted thus far, either motor is more than fine.

ESC: I'd take pretty much any ESC in this truck.... really doesn't matter.

Upgrades and Mods: I like the aluminum body mounts, but they are pricey.  Many run the stock ones with no issues.  Bearings are a must.  Tire foams will help make the truck handle "better", but will take a way a bit of it's bouncy charm (same for oil shocks).  Buy an extra set of axle springs... they are a consumable item and will fatigue and snap over time.  They are also dirt cheap.

Shocks: Tamiya CVA's work great here, and (along with tire foams) will be the best bang for your buck as far as making the truck perform and handle better.  Better does kill some of the bouncy and wheelie-bound nature of this truck though, so choose your mods around your expectations.

Enjoy the truck... they are a lot of fun!

[Nikko85 3756]

Whilst I agree that you can go overboard the rear transmission brace can be had for less than a pint and means you don't have to use the axle springs at all.

I run one of these with 3D printed front arms and it still runs like an idiot, just mildly nicer handling and a better reverse. Mine still runs stock shocks.

I would say the rear transmission brace is the biggest cheap upgrade after bearings. 

[Shergar 141]

Bearings and run it stock - I built my niece one for her 7th birthday, shes 9 soon and hasn’t killed it though it does have a lot of war wounds it has eaten a few body mounts so fitted some metal ones from RCJaz 😁

 

I did stick a 1060 in jumpered in crawler mode for throttle forward straight to reverse to forward for instant wheelies, like I said not blown up yet! The switch just about stretches.

[Pizza Frog 682]

I have a HW 1060 and silvercan in my CW-01 (Lunchbox) and it goes great

I have the switch for the 1060 mounted where the motor wires go into the chassis, it's easy to turn on and off when the body is on

[RC-boysenberry 102]

Rubberbands or tyre glue in the rear weels is a must have if you want to continue with the weelies; my brother has a 1/10 lunch box and the exeleration is awful without them. The rims just spin in the weels. 

The body mounts are a good shout because they do break if hit the shell too hard- my brother broke two in one go.

[DTSCB 98]

I have 4 that the family races around. 

Bearings and aluminum body mounts are the only upgrades. 

Due to my son, the bodies have taken a beating.  Bumpers and front grill/back tail gate have taken the brunt of the damage. 

They pop wheelies really well, even on grass with the stock motor. 

I'm thinking of putting a faster motor in my daughter's truck so she can run away faster from her brother though.  (He got upset at the suggestion of course.)

[Dakratfink 1020]

On 5/5/2023 at 2:05 PM, Nikko85 said:

Whilst I agree that you can go overboard the rear transmission brace can be had for less than a pint and means you don't have to use the axle springs at all.

I run one of these with 3D printed front arms and it still runs like an idiot, just mildly nicer handling and a better reverse. Mine still runs stock shocks.

I would say the rear transmission brace is the biggest cheap upgrade after bearings. 

I run an axle brace and bearings in mine as well. 

[Dakratfink 1020]

On 5/5/2023 at 2:05 PM, Nikko85 said:

Whilst I agree that you can go overboard the rear transmission brace can be had for less than a pint and means you don't have to use the axle springs at all.

I run one of these with 3D printed front arms and it still runs like an idiot, just mildly nicer handling and a better reverse. Mine still runs stock shocks.

I would say the rear transmission brace is the biggest cheap upgrade after bearings. 

I run an axle brace and bearings in mine as well. Otherwise, mostly stock 

[Grumpy pants 5170]

I’ve just put rubber bands on the back rims to stop the tyres slipping which has been really useful and free 👏

[Nikko85 3756]

2 hours ago, Grumpy pants said:

I’ve just put rubber bands on the back rims to stop the tyres slipping which has been really useful and free 👏

Which bands did you use please? I've got six cars with Pumpkin sized tires and would like to find a good non glue solution. Sure I could buy a mulitpack of bands for pennies but if you or anyone had a good tip to avoid trial and error waste that would be great!

 

[Grumpy pants 5170]

4 minutes ago, Nikko85 said:

Which bands did you use? I've got six cars with Pumpkin sized tires and would like to find a good non glue solution. Sure I could buy a mulitpack of bands for pennies but if you or anyone had a good tip to avoid trial and error waste that would be great!

 

I’ll take a photo of the box of bands tomorrow when I get back to the office - they probably came from Vikings direct. 

[Twinfan 1796]

I use the ones my postie delivers to us wrapped around letters and small parcels! 

[Grumpy pants 5170]

On 6/25/2023 at 9:29 AM, Nikko85 said:

Which bands did you use please? I've got six cars with Pumpkin sized tires and would like to find a good non glue solution. Sure I could buy a mulitpack of bands for pennies but if you or anyone had a good tip to avoid trial and error waste that would be great!

 

[Grumpy pants 5170]

Approx 25mm across and 5.5mm thick.

Approx the same diameter as a 2 Euro coin 😂