taliesin 260 Posted June 15, 2018 In the United States, this kit comes with no ESC, no battery holder to use AA batteries, and the M-style LiFe batteries are unobtainable. Some of the LiPo batteries that might fit are for aircraft and have tiny connectors and odd shapes, etc. Nimh packs tend towards 1/16th scale Traxxas and Losi and such, and don't look like they would fit well, or they're receiver packs with servo style connectors. Does anyone have tried and tested combinations for ESC, Battery and Rx that is known to work and fits well and is available in the US? I'd prefer 2.4 ghz and want to just use the stock 370 motor. A combo ESC/RX is a possible option. Doesn't matter to me if the battery is LiPo, LiFo or NiMh or even 4.8v up to 7.4v either. I just want it all to fit nicely under the shell, with minimal fuss about esoteric connecting plugs and adaptors, or wrapping the battery in bubble wrap to make it fit nicely. You get my drift. Preferably available in the US, but ... if needs must, a good vendor recommendation overseas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncpantherfan71 133 Posted June 16, 2018 I just got my kit in but haven't started to assemble yet. My plan is of right now is a spektrum mini receiver, hobby wing 1060, low profile savox servo I have in my spares box. I work in a hobby shop and was planning on trying several aircraft packs, 2s and 3s to find the best fit. I use Dean's plugs and will change battery to that as soon as I find the best fit. I hope to start assembly next week sometime and hopefully I can get the chassis done in a couple days. Body will take a little while, I am thinking of an unique scheme. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taffer 948 Posted June 16, 2018 just assembled mine, on the home page! normal esc and rx fits fine, lipo i bought from modelsport, wl toys 1100 capacity, fits with room to spare! https://www.modelsport.co.uk/wl-toys-lipo-battery-7-4v-1100mah/rc-car-products/395747 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grotty Otty 868 Posted June 16, 2018 I've the LiFe battery (absurdly expensive especially when it needs a specialist balance board) with a TBLE-02S and a Core Micro receiver all on the lower deck of mine. There is the option to fit a secondary deck if you haven't room for the reciever as well. There is about 1cm spare each side of this set up under the shell. You could use this layout with an alarm for a lipo linked to above by taffer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taliesin 260 Posted June 16, 2018 Taffer: The orange looks ace! How does the battery connect with that tiny red connector? I've not had good luck trying to solder or replace those servo type plugs. Adaptor? Grotty Otty: Where did you get the M-type battery? I have a few of the full size LiFe packs and the balancer and yeah, they're outrageously priced, but otherwise just fine. I might consider buying an M-type pack if I could actually find where to get one. Pantherfan: Let us know what you find for LiPo fitment! Thanks for all the replies, keep 'em coming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scoobybooster 248 Posted June 16, 2018 I have build and run one for testing already. the electronics that you can use are Nothing to worry about. First of all, i was very much surprised about the room in this model. Normal components such as standart ESC, Servo, Receiver fits easily under the Hood. ( I did not even had to use the second deck that is included ). I ended in using a standart TEU105BK, Standart Futaba S3003 servo, Futaba T3PV with Standart Receiver. As for the batt, i took a 1000mAh 6.6V LiFe from df-models (item 6991), all it needed was a deans-Tamiyaplug-adaptor plugged in between. Btw, with the standart kit Motor and a 1000mAh batts you can expect a runningtime of almost 30 minutes! For the batt, see https://toyexpress24.com/de/produkt/df-models-6991-life-ersatzakku-2s-1000mah-zu-304730483050 They are quite fun to drive, though , with the kit Motor it could be a little more faster imo.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taffer 948 Posted June 16, 2018 Yes the battery comes with a tiny connector, I have to admit I was lazy and ordered the battery with modelsport's battery connector service, so it arrived with a high current connector ready to go! I think Modelsport change an extra £4 inc the connector to solder it on for you... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grotty Otty 868 Posted June 16, 2018 @taliesin I got the battery from Modelsport.co.uk https://www.modelsport.co.uk/tamiya-lf1100-6-6v-m-size-battery/rc-car-products/425236 They've always been excellent with orders and delivery. I had the weird situation that (here in the UK) you could get the battery but not the correct balance lead, hence the need for a universal balance board. The TBLE-02 do work really well with those batteries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taliesin 260 Posted June 16, 2018 Yeah, I had to buy that exact board here in the US too, nothing else was available. Oddly, the LiFe batteries can't be had here (that I've been able to find) but I bought a pair on eBay that I've really liked. They seem to last forever without degrading and the voltage isn't any problem for the Tamiya ESCs that I use either. It's a pain having that HUGE board clogging up my charging area, but ... meh, could be worse. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncpantherfan71 133 Posted June 19, 2018 OK, got it assembled and found a 3s battery that fits, it's a tight fit but it fits without pinching anything. It doesn't need any foam or tape. I will post pictures tomorrow. It's a kinexis 1200 3s available from Horizon Hobby, part number KXSB0013. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taliesin 260 Posted June 20, 2018 Good to know! How's it run on 3s? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncpantherfan71 133 Posted June 20, 2018 It's, interesting. I didn't charge the battery, I ran it for a couple min with the battery on storage charge just to set up the radio and see how it drove. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taliesin 260 Posted June 20, 2018 LOL. Meaning(?): It rocketed away like a squirrel with its tail on fire, climbed the living room wall at approximately 83/kph and plunged dramatically out the open window into the garden three stories below, landing on and seriously injuring the landlord's elderly grandmother before disappearing into the woods never to be seen again kind of interesting? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncpantherfan71 133 Posted June 20, 2018 2 hours ago, taliesin said: LOL. Meaning(?): It rocketed away like a squirrel with its tail on fire, climbed the living room wall at approximately 83/kph and plunged dramatically out the open window into the garden three stories below, landing on and seriously injuring the landlord's elderly grandmother before disappearing into the woods never to be seen again kind of interesting? Definitely a different drive. I only drove it for a couple minutes in driveway on storage charge. Unfortunately I spent today working in the yard so I didn't get to run it today. I'm seriously thinking about getting a second one to build a brushless one to see how far I can push it. We may need a 3 wheel category in the fastest Tamiya thread. 😂 Here are the pics of battery I said I would post. Yes I will paint my Willy. Seeing as this was a gift fromy boss at the hobby shop o will take it in so he can see it and maybe drive it. I have the battery charged and ready to go! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncpantherfan71 133 Posted June 20, 2018 This thing is soooo much fun to drive! I defiantly wouldn't call it fast, maybe 20 MPH, but the most fun I have had in a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncpantherfan71 133 Posted June 20, 2018 Now that I'm home here are my thoughts. I am using a dx3r pro, a pistol grip transmitter, I think some will find a stick a little easier, the more you lean the stick, the more the trike will lean. I have a Futaba 3003 installed, and it is a little too quick on the return. If not steered smooth on the return it has a tendency to wobble. It will jump off a standard curb with no issue if you have a little speed. We have poles supporting the overhang and I really enjoyed doing a slalom through. Going slow enough to not go wide, but not so slow it would turn too sharp and hit a pole. It is nothing but good fun, even at the slow speed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taliesin 260 Posted June 21, 2018 Nice! Thanks for sharing your impressions. These things just looked fun and I had to have one. I've got bearings on the way and a Futaba 3003 sitting around since it won't need anything heavy duty. I will probably just use a FlySky 2.4 ghz RX and TX combo and maybe just the std ESC, but I'm still undecided on the battery. I'm thinking about just bodging together a battery carrier and using 4x rechargeable AA batteries for now and then trying to fit a LiPo or LiFe pack later. I just don't want the hassle of changing connectors later (yes, I realize exactly how lazy that is) and the biggest issue is whether or not to add the M-battery adaptor piece during the build or leave it out. It would be a pain to add or remove later, so it's a 50/50 shot either way. Which means - 100% guaranteed to not work no matter what I choose to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncpantherfan71 133 Posted June 21, 2018 15 minutes ago, taliesin said: Nice! Thanks for sharing your impressions. These things just looked fun and I had to have one. I've got bearings on the way and a Futaba 3003 sitting around since it won't need anything heavy duty. I will probably just use a FlySky 2.4 ghz RX and TX combo and maybe just the std ESC, but I'm still undecided on the battery. I'm thinking about just bodging together a battery carrier and using 4x rechargeable AA batteries for now and then trying to fit a LiPo or LiFe pack later. I just don't want the hassle of changing connectors later (yes, I realize exactly how lazy that is) and the biggest issue is whether or not to add the M-battery adaptor piece during the build or leave it out. It would be a pain to add or remove later, so it's a 50/50 shot either way. Which means - 100% guaranteed to not work no matter what I choose to do. Removing the adapter took all of 3 minutes. Only 3 screws. I don't know how much slower it is on 2s, but 3 is almost perfect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taliesin 260 Posted June 21, 2018 That's good to know! I wasn't really sure about how much disassembly would be required if I built that piece in, but that sounds dead simple. I wondered about how painfully slow it might be on 4.8v but figured 6.6v would be better, and 7.4v even better still. Have to confess, I guessed that you would come back and say 11.1v was insane, but nice to know it is manageable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites