Axial EXO Brushless Build

[backtomyroots]

Finally got my EXO. Will be built with:

*Velineon Brushless system

*Spektrum DX2S

*Traxxas Servo

Also just got my two bruiser re-re's so it's gonna be busy. The next week will be slow but in two weeks I should be able to get some time for building.e

I love the "retro" buggy art inside the Axial box !

[backtomyroots]

Up late building to step 11 in the manual.

The good:

*Supplement parts bag included with new hinge pins attaching the arms to the knuckles. Captured by nylon nuts now.

The bad:

*Supplied with incorrect part. Was given 2 x R2 instead of an R1 and R2 which secure the a-arms to the diff housing. Emailed Axial - I drove two hours to the hobby shop to pick this up soo that sucks.

The grub screws that secure the knuckles to the c hubs and arms appear to be a poor design. Those parts should have been threaded aluminum or thicker plastic with larger grubs. I may be wrong however.

Now I'm stuck building around the missing parts which sucks because I'm a bit OCD and need the order to follow .

[Percymon]

Hmm - that sucks, nothign worse than getting on with a project only to hit a hurdle thats not your doing.

Lets hope Axial / hobby shop send out the correct parts express mail !

[backtomyroots]

I've called axial today, they are mailing the R1 part - so I give it about 3 weeks minimum as every other small packet or part I get from the USA is that average delivery tme.

In the meantime, I completed the front end, battery tray, center diff and slapped 'em all together.

I'll have a photo later tonight.

The battery mount system, I'm really liking !

No more building pogress till next week (working long hours until monday now) and the rear end stays unfinished till that one bit gets here, I'll post up the progress later.

(Local hobby shop has no parts available - especially this one - said it would be faster directly from Axial)

[backtomyroots]

As it sits now. I'll build around the back end until my part arrives .

[backtomyroots]

Left to do:

trim and paint body

glue tires to wheels

attach rear end (not until part from Axial arrives - boooo )

Attach front shocks

Added 5 white leds to front bar and two reds to rear.

Where it sits:

[ozace]

watching with interest, i have one sitting here that i must get to

[backtomyroots]

Still to do:

paint and decal interior

attach rear diff & suspension arms (waiting on part from Axial)

route light wires out of sight

Playing around with a few ideas for a driver but may abandon it

Paint has some blemishes but it is a runner so i'm not worried .

[ozace]

looks terrific. i hope it brings much joy

[backtomyroots]

Small update, body is done.

Last step will be to attach rear diff & suspension arms when the missing piece shows up from Axial

Then it'll be running time !

Oh, it's a blitzer beetle driver with an aftermarket head from a Beetlelover here on TC - just cut out the front portion of the seat and he fit right in !

[backtomyroots]

UPDATE:

Good news: Part arrived from axial !

Finished the build.

Bad news: Traxxas Velineon ESC Blew up in a puff of smoke when I applied reverse while ! Now it's pooched.

Now, the quest for a replacement - any opinions on the Mamba Max Pro SCT ESC / 3800 kv Motor combo ?

This one I think will be the new one:

http://www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=CCR9600

[TA-Mark]

4 pole 3800Kv motor will push it along very well.

The 3800Kv SCT systems range from US$200 to $245 on ebay. The link you posted is right at the expensive end of market. Note that the one you linked, and the ones on ebay have a 5mm motor shaft (regular 540 is a 3.2mm motor shaft). Much less chance of snapping a 5mm shaft. Castle do have both 3.2mm and 5mm shaft versions of the 3800Kv 1410 4 pole motor.

[backtomyroots]

4 pole 3800Kv motor will push it along very well.

The 3800Kv SCT systems range from US$200 to $245 on ebay. The link you posted is right at the expensive end of market. Note that the one you linked, and the ones on ebay have a 5mm motor shaft (regular 540 is a 3.2mm motor shaft). Much less chance of snapping a 5mm shaft. Castle do have both 3.2mm and 5mm shaft versions of the 3800Kv 1410 4 pole motor.

Thanks for the response. Ebay is good but once I add shipping and customs it can be a bit costly or on par with my pricey Canadian Hobby Shops.

I've read a few posts in an EXO forum where the fellas have used that combo with good results .

[backtomyroots]

Update:

Just bought the 1/10 Sidewinder SCT + 3800KV combo at LHS.

Will install and wait for newest order Proline shocks front and rear to arrive

[TA-Mark]

You won't notice any performance difference between in the Sidewinder and MambaMax SCT versions when running on 2S Li-Po. You will notice the huge price difference. The Sidewinder SCT limit is however 2S Li-Po with the 3800Kv motor (3S with a lower Kv motor - 1415 2400Kv) and the MambaMax Pro limit is a crazy 6S Li-Po (Hence the 5mm motor shaft of the MambaMax SCT supplied combo motor).

[Tamiya1/10]

BTMR, how do you like the Terra Buggy so far? Would you recommend it? I like the detailings and the overall looks, but on youtube accessbility, cooling and durability were issues brought up and is seems the plastic parts may not be up to its capabilities. The promo video seems to be one tough buggy, but the built on youtube tells a different story. Your first hand experience....

[backtomyroots]

BTMR, how do you like the Terra Buggy so far? Would you recommend it? I like the detailings and the overall looks, but on youtube accessbility, cooling and durability were issues brought up and is seems the plastic parts may not be up to its capabilities. The promo video seems to be one tough buggy, but the built on youtube tells a different story. Your first hand experience....

Waiting on an ESC I got a dud from Castle

Accesability is a pain in the butt. Haven't run it yet but that part I've figured out, the cage and shocks have to come off for work on the chassi and it's a number of screws but the mean looks of the buggy make up for it.

I've replaced the stock shocks with proline short course ones already as the origianls were leaking before I've run it. No performance reveiws yet but as soon as I can I will. I've just located an indor track nearby so the reviews will be based on that !

Battery access is a challenge too, my maxamps were to big to try to get in and out easily with the cage on so I bought some smaller traxxas ones.

I think overall though it looks killer

I found a forum with lots of builds and info too:

http://www.rcshortcourse.com/forum/axial-exo-terra-buggy/

[Theibault]

I just got mine up and running yesterday. I posted a thread on RCShortcourse and after looking at your pics here, I thought "where have I seen that before?" lol. I am loving this buggy! It has that "spirit" that got me hooked on Tamiya buggies years ago, and it flat out rips with the Tekin 4600kv Pro 4 I'm running it with. I have a spare Castle MMP and 1410 motor and I'm half tempted to buy another for it. We'll see how the funds go as I also REALLY want a new Bruiser. Wait till you mash the throttle and this thing rockets off! Pure grin inducing goodness. I think this buggy will quickly become my number one runner.

EDIT: Maybe I didn't see yours there. There is a guy there named EXPAT who's paint is similar to yours. Love the driver figure, I may add Master Chief as my driver.

[Tamiya1/10]

Waiting on an ESC I got a dud from Castle

Accesability is a pain in the butt. Haven't run it yet but that part I've figured out, the cage and shocks have to come off for work on the chassi and it's a number of screws but the mean looks of the buggy make up for it.

I've replaced the stock shocks with proline short course ones already as the origianls were leaking before I've run it. No performance reveiws yet but as soon as I can I will. I've just located an indor track nearby so the reviews will be based on that !

Battery access is a challenge too, my maxamps were to big to try to get in and out easily with the cage on so I bought some smaller traxxas ones.

I think overall though it looks killer

I found a forum with lots of builds and info too:

http://www.rcshortcourse.com/forum/axial-exo-terra-buggy/

I look forward to your review. I must agree the looks sold me already...but is the comments from youtube that is stopping me , but mind you if I do buy and run her, she will not be driven like in the video and durability may not be an issue. I guess I am more of a RC collector than RC runner.

[backtomyroots]

I just got mine up and running yesterday. I posted a thread on RCShortcourse and after looking at your pics here, I thought "where have I seen that before?" lol. I am loving this buggy! It has that "spirit" that got me hooked on Tamiya buggies years ago, and it flat out rips with the Tekin 4600kv Pro 4 I'm running it with. I have a spare Castle MMP and 1410 motor and I'm half tempted to buy another for it. We'll see how the funds go as I also REALLY want a new Bruiser. Wait till you mash the throttle and this thing rockets off! Pure grin inducing goodness. I think this buggy will quickly become my number one runner.

EDIT: Maybe I didn't see yours there. There is a guy there named EXPAT who's paint is similar to yours. Love the driver figure, I may add Master Chief as my driver.

I've got the Castle Creations Max Race Pro SCT 25.2V 3800kV System coming to replace the dud sidewinder system I got.

But I've been reading a lot of folks have the Tekin RX8 and 4600 Pro 4 combo and was wondering if it's worth moving up to that.

I haven't decided if this is my basher or for the indoor track yet though. tough decisions, thoughts ?

Castle warns the weight limit for both the above is 6.5 ls, which is roughly where mine will weigh in when it's got the esc/motor in it.

[Theibault]

I've got the Castle Creations Max Race Pro SCT 25.2V 3800kV System coming to replace the dud sidewinder system I got.

But I've been reading a lot of folks have the Tekin RX8 and 4600 Pro 4 combo and was wondering if it's worth moving up to that.

I haven't decided if this is my basher or for the indoor track yet though. tough decisions, thoughts ?

Castle warns the weight limit for both the above is 6.5 ls, which is roughly where mine will weigh in when it's got the esc/motor in it.

I have a few friends in town with EXOs. One is running the exact setup I am and the other the same setup you have. The Castle setup keeps up just fine with the Tekins. The only slight difference is the Tekins being sensored are a little smoother with throttle and power delivery. If you are going to race and want to be ultra competitve, then the Tekin setup would be the way to go (however, depending on the track size, the 4600 Pro 4 may be too much motor, the 4000kv is preffered for the 4x4 shortcourse class on my smaller indoor track lol). For bashing, you really won't see much difference wether you keep what you have or go Tekin. I will say the Tekin combo is kinda pricey compared to the Castle setup, but if you have the cash, it's well worth it. I run my RX8 and Pro 4 in a couple cars and I have the Castle Mamba Max Pro and 1410 3800kv set up that I run as well. I'm a firm believer that you can't have too many ESC/motor combos. Regarding the weight, I raced my Castle setup a whole season in my SC104x4 which is just a tad lighter than my EXO. No heat issues and I could gear the motor insanely high with no problems. That 1410 just runs cool, especially if you put the fan on it which I never did. I had it up to 22tooth pinion with stock SC10 gearing (94tooth 48pitch) and it still wouldn't get over 160F. I do recommend getting the Castle 10amp BEC, especially if you are going to run a Spektrum reciever and Savox servo.

[backtomyroots]

Thanks, Theibault, that helps ! I'll order up a BEC - I've read a few use that as well and try the system from castle first (stuck in customs right now)

This BEC good enough, I'm not an electronics guy ?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...LXSWL3&P=ML

[Theibault]

Thanks, Theibault, that helps ! I'll order up a BEC - I've read a few use that as well and try the system from castle first (stuck in customs right now)

This BEC good enough, I'm not an electronics guy ?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...LXSWL3&P=ML

That's the one. I have two, one for my Sidewinder ESC and one for the Mamba Max Pro. You don't need two, but sometimes it's handy when friends come over, being able to run multiple cars at the same time.

[Sayer]

I love the "retro" buggy art inside the Axial box !

Dear Axial, if you make something proportioned exactly like that, I'll buy the heck out of it.

[Theibault]

Dear Axial, if you make something proportioned exactly like that, I'll buy the heck out of it.

I would too! However, I bet it would drive like a turd and just roll over all the time. Maybe Tamiya should build one and call it Wild Willys Buggy lol. I would buy that too.