Club 380 - RC Buggy Racing

[JimBear]

I snatched a fixer-upper Grasshopper II, let's see if I can get that up and running - going to try to keep it budget this time (famous last words, etc).

[Torhaantje]

18 minutes ago, JimBear said:

keep it budget this time

I am confident that you will succeed......

as long as you make the budget big enough.....

Rick 

[JimBear]

1 minute ago, Torhaantje said:

I am confident that you will succeed......

as long as you make the budget big enough.....

Thanks for the confidence vote! Already thinking about tyres and possible rim options ... 

[Nikko85]

Ok, not quite 380 and not quite a buggy, but I dropped this 390 into my MF01x SCT.

Will test out soon, does lighten it a lot and balances out swapping from NiMH to Li Ion.

390 is much smaller than the 540, just a little longer than a 380.

We will see how it goes!

[El Gecko]

Dug out my 380 and 390 for a look. The 380 is out of an old busted air mattress pump, and the 390 is out of a broken kids ride-on toy.

The 390 has 13000RPM printed on it, possibly at 6.0V as it also shows, so maybe 15,600 at 7.2V? It did seem pretty peppy when I tried in an ORV, like it could benefit from taller gearing (was running the extended 10t at the time). Can't remember if I learned it on here or somewhere else, but the extra sleeve on the can of the 390 is a "torque tube" which sacrifices ultimate RPM for more torque. It didn't seem to make a very noticeable difference when I tested with it on and off. But overall this motor has already been tested and proven, and has now been earmarked for my Nikko Big Bubba, since it's such a small truck and I can run such a small gear. It's not in the pic, but I'm reusing the original Nikko press-on 8t pinion gear, which is actually 32p so it should still work perfectly with the new Traxxas gearbox.

The 380 hasn't been tested yet but I'm looking forward to it, got the adapter mount and long 10t pinion all set up with a DIY adapter sleeve. Maybe the extra letters in the model name mean it's more powerful or hits a higher RPM than a normal 380? I'll probably use the Grasshopper 2 as a guinea pig to find out. Also curious if it's going to blow up at 7.2V or not, since it says 4.0V on the side. Originally it would have used four D cell batteries, so it's probably fine with six C cells, right? Maybe 7304 is the RPM at 4.0V? So about 13,150 at 7.2V, which seems right in the ballpark?

Also getting closer to finishing my cheapo boat with dual 380s. Hopefully I can turn it into something fun with 2 ESCs, 2 batteries, and tank controls.

[JimBear]

Wilhelm "Willy" Schrott took delivery of his new hot racer today. The original driver got the boot and merrily went off to the South Seas trying his luck at sailing (how this is supposed to work out since he has no arms, nobody really understands, honestly). So at JimBears' Garage there is some activity, mostly ripping out the old grease and trying not to get too much grime on the kitchen table.

The head mechanic (J. Bear) says there is some worn out tyres and the rims aren't too hot, either. The body is yellowed from standing around too much, but may be restored with a lick of paint, or swapped for a lexan baja bug body from the attic department. Extras include possibly changing out the tub, but that would eat into the already strained budget (going for 90 euros, tops). Willy suggested nabbing a few ball bearings (when Mr Mouse isn't working up in the attic department, hoohaa).

[Andreas W]

Brilliant @JimBear. May I suggest CVA shocks and WO wheels for Schrotti? With 2" diameter Schumacher Cat Blocks go on and in blue compound they will still be around for the kids of your kids. Cut stagger low profile also go on 2" with a little glue. I got a set of narrow Mini Spikes the other day and they felt too loose on 2". Or just get JC Racing WO wheels from Tamico, fit whichever Schumacher tyre you want and be done with it.

I remember my brothers GH2 was extremely understeery. Way worse than my Grasshornet is, so there is room for low effort improvement. 

 

[alvinlwh]

Me joining the 380 club today. Actually that is not true as I already got a 380 MST TCR-M and GH2 and anothet a pair of 380ST BNIB. 

Quite like the picture of a kakigori on the motor, does it suggest it will run ice cold? 

This chart on the back makes no sense at all (yes I did Google the words). 

[ThunderDragonCy]

@alvinlwh Would be interested to know how those pBR motors stack up to Tamiya ones. They certainly look cooler!

[El Gecko]

1 hour ago, alvinlwh said:

This chart on the back makes no sense at all (yes I did Google the words). 

I Googled the words too, and the type of chart. It is called a "radar chart" (lots of other alternate names too) and the important part is that each word (some kind of statistic?) is plotted on a scale from 0-5, with 5 apparently being the best. The same data could be represented by a bar graph with 6 bars. The chart is misleading because the blue line actually traces the red line from CHIKICHIKI to GOKIGEN around to DOKIDOKI, so the only stat that's different between a normal SUKOYAKA TUNED (blue line) and the SUKOYAKA TUNED PRO (red line) is the PRO stat.

From Google Translate:

CHIKICHIKI - no actual translation other than "Chitty Chitty" as in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Further research links it to an old racing game and possibly old-timey steam trains.
GOKIGEN - "good mood"
SUKOYAKA - "healthy"
WAKUWAKU - "excited"
DOKIDOKI - "heart pounding"
PRO - not sure what this could mean, but the stat is maxxed out in the PRO version (level 5) and only at level 1 on the standard SUKOYAKA TUNED motor.

I'm really curious what these words could represent as stats for an electric motor. There's also the possibility that they could just be joke stats, too. It's interesting that "PRO" is added onto the name when it already has SUKOYAKA in there... so it's a PRO version of the SUKOYAKA TUNED motor. But can other stats have PRO versions also? Like a GOKIGEN TUNED PRO motor? Or can we have a SUKOYAKA TUNED WAKUWAKU motor? I have so many questions

[alvinlwh]

2 minutes ago, El Gecko said:

that's different between a normal SUKOYAKA TUNED (blue line) and the SUKOYAKA TUNED PRO (red line) is the PRO stat.

This is exactly why I said it make no sense at all. The pro version does better on the pro measurement. That is news! 🤣 

OK I maybe taking this too seriously. I was hoping that when I got my hands on the actual box, I can see the difference between motors. Instead what I got is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Maybe The Magical Car is powered by 380?

[alvinlwh]

1 hour ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

@alvinlwh Would be interested to know how those pBR motors stack up to Tamiya ones. They certainly look cooler!

Unfortunately I have no means of measuring their performance. Also I cannot find any specs for them but it was mentioned a few pages back that they are actually all the same. The difference being pinion size, long, short, no wires. CCW or CW. 

[JimBear]

Sukoyaka Spirits - rule #5 - enjoy and have fun -

(from the RC Team Chonmage YT video explaining the five rules of 380 racing)

[El Gecko]

10 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

Instead what I got is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Maybe The Magical Car is powered by 380?

7 minutes ago, JimBear said:

Sukoyaka Spirits - rule #5 - enjoy and have fun -

So they are magic words then

According to the ancient prophecies, a PBR 380 with all its stats maxxed out would be a... Conrad 240826?

[JimBear]

9 hours ago, Andreas W said:

With 2" diameter Schumacher Cat Blocks go on and in blue compound they will still be around for the kids of your kids. Cut stagger low profile also go on 2" with a little glue. I got a set of narrow Mini Spikes the other day and they felt too loose on 2". Or just get JC Racing WO wheels from Tamico, fit whichever Schumacher tyre you want and be done with it.

Do you use blue compound both front and rear? If being understeery, I guess it would need more grip up front? We'll have to see - the Hopper needs to be put back again first.

[Andreas W]

6 minutes ago, JimBear said:

Do you use blue compound both front and rear? If being understeery, I guess it would need more grip up front? We'll have to see - the Hopper needs to be put back again first.

I use yellow or silver in the front. Yellow in Mini Spikes and silver in cut stagger. I have until now used yellow rear,  but have now got blue (because that was what was offered). 

 

 

 

 

[JimBear]

10 hours ago, Andreas W said:

I use yellow or silver in the front. Yellow in Mini Spikes and silver in cut stagger. I have until now used yellow rear,  but have now got blue (because that was what was offered).

Thanks! I can find many yellow Schumachers, but the blue ones are a bit harder to find. Found some at CS-Electronic, though. This is not a super high end racer, just an average barn find, so I am going to get something better than the old tyres. 

[El Gecko]

Well, I'm stunned. I may have found the magic motor. Apparently the "HRS" in the model code stands for "High Rate of Speed" because WOW this motor is FAST! Way faster than the 390.

Finally had the chance to test it outside in the GH2 (seemed like the popular choice), and I am seriously blown away right now.

Wheelies onto the rear wing with a little reverse momentum. Ripping the knobs off the tires driving on the pavement. Rolled twice in the grass. The motor started getting a little hot after 15 minutes of full throttle hooning around, but the old 3000 NiMH never showed any signs of sag.

I need to get the GPS on it and find out the real numbers, because it drove like it still had a 540! (not a slow one either) Incredible!

[GToddC5]

For the SUKOYAKA motors, "Pro" the way I understand it (without any testing yet) is that there are no pre-soldered wires.

[Andreas W]

@El Gecko. I'm curious on your results. 

 

My 380ST in the Grasshornet feels more or less as a basic 540 silvercan when it comes to top end. A little less torqy, but hard to say since the Kyosho Scorpion tyres are so grippy. 

 

The Ro Mans in the Tomahawk has impressive acceleration, but there I clearly see it's slower than it used to be. I never ran it on a Silvercan though. Only Yeah Racing Hackmoto 23t or 17t. But given the tiny 15t pinion it has now it's surprisingly fast. But we are not talking about wheelies here. 

[njmlondon]

Cannot wait to get this electrified and painted. Everything about 380 appeals to me, especially in buggy’s.
 

[JimBear]

@El Gecko - as the motor has flames on it, no wonder it's a hot one!

[El Gecko]

On 4/12/2025 at 4:10 AM, Andreas W said:

@El Gecko. I'm curious on your results.

My 380ST in the Grasshornet feels more or less as a basic 540 silvercan when it comes to top end. A little less torqy, but hard to say since the Kyosho Scorpion tyres are so grippy.

The Ro Mans in the Tomahawk has impressive acceleration, but there I clearly see it's slower than it used to be. I never ran it on a Silvercan though. Only Yeah Racing Hackmoto 23t or 17t. But given the tiny 15t pinion it has now it's surprisingly fast. But we are not talking about wheelies here. 

20mph!! Faster with a 10t pinion than some of my old worn out 540s are with 18t pinions! It's bonkers!

On 4/12/2025 at 9:33 AM, JimBear said:

@El Gecko - as the motor has flames on it, no wonder it's a hot one!

Yeah, just a little scrap of "fancy" duct tape with flames printed on it, for a splash of embellishment.

Originally I put it on during bench testing, because I was thinking "ok, this motor seems pretty good".

And after field testing, it definitely seems fitting. This is one particularly hot 380!

[njmlondon]

I am about to embark on fitting a PBR 380 into my RC10. The one for my Kyosho Scorpion was an easy drop in but talking on the chat function to Mr.PBR it seems that the RC10 is a little bit more of a challenge. He recommends swapping the pinion on the 380AH out for a 48DP 13T and to do that I am going to need one of the collars that come with the Tamiya 380 allowing 540 sized pinions to fit on the smaller 380 shaft. 

I don't suppose anyone has one or 2 of those collars around? It seems wasteful to buy the whole motor! Alternatively, if anyone wants a Tamiya 380 and does not mind me keeping a collar or 2, let me know!

[No Slack]

Today I had the time to test the DT-02 with 380 Sport Tuned motor. What a surprise: it is very quick. And runtime is of course very good.