Jump to content
markbt73

Monster truck fun: the Black and the Yellow

Recommended Posts

So you sit down at your workbench one Saturday morning, and time passes without you knowing it, and suddenly you're looking at a Clod chassis.

IMG_20210116_162437193.thumb.jpg.ffa1fa97c7b416625ce7269273e45828.jpg

100% by-the-book stock, except for full bearings, and going to stay that way for now. I may eventually upgrade the steering, and put some real shocks on it, but I have no intention of losing the tub chassis or the ladder bars. Or going beyond 540 power. This is meant to be a relaxing bounce-around-the-garden machine, not a hardcore racer. Been there, done that, don't need to do it again.

  • Like 5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I miss my Clod.. bought it in 87-88 when they first came out.. sold it in 97 I think..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well well well... look who finally decided to show up?

IMG_20210118_141454736.jpg.13581714eae290838f6c0fcc0dbbbb35.jpg

So this is the other half of the equation: The idea is for this one to become my new go-to basher, especially to take on camping trips and to other places like that. It will be built stock at first, but modified as needed to make it do what I want. Came with a painted body, so I'll just decal it and call it good.

And this is it for me for new kits this year. Hope it lives up to the good press...

  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not a 110...

DSCF1864.JPG.e1bb56a4bf83a65f1cebda243239e057.JPG

It's my only successful scratch-build to date. Body and chassis completely hand-made out of aluminum. Drivetrain is Losi Mini Crawler, with Tamiya leaf springs. Wheels and tires are RC4WD. It's 99% a shelfer because it's so fragile, but I do air it out every so often...

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
14 hours ago, markbt73 said:

Well well well... look who finally decided to show up?

IMG_20210118_141454736.jpg.13581714eae290838f6c0fcc0dbbbb35.jpg

So this is the other half of the equation: The idea is for this one to become my new go-to basher, especially to take on camping trips and to other places like that. It will be built stock at first, but modified as needed to make it do what I want. Came with a painted body, so I'll just decal it and call it good.

And this is it for me for new kits this year. Hope it lives up to the good press...

Same story with mine. Kept it mostly stock  to use as a general basher. I love mine. Ball. Ratings throughout.  I ran it on the silver can for a little bit. Then I found a cheap Dynamite 15T for under $20.

Other than that I put CVAs on the corners only ( kept the stock shocks in the middle wheels ) and added a second servo for 4ws. 
I also got the pre painted one. It’s still a lot of decals lol 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Heh... What has 10 wheels, 14 friction shocks, 58 bearings, and three motors?

IMG_20210122_174817185.thumb.jpg.0240e360bfcf9d211a133bd944e0093f.jpg

My workbench.

  • Like 3
  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, there's that. Have I mentioned how much I hate, hate, HAAATE doing big decals? Good thing this is destined to become a basher, because it sure isn't going to win any beauty contests.

IMG_20210123_112843837.thumb.jpg.2686dd96b085faa7225fa0ee593666ff.jpg

Time to throw some electronics in it and go see what it can do.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'll just let the photos do the talking... suffice to say, me likey!

IMG_20210123_145534034.thumb.jpg.374001ec7b49b0c3e6faf7abb31fdee8.jpg

IMG_20210123_145619434.thumb.jpg.de5ea46db3fef43c209e61b16e8800fb.jpg

IMG_20210123_145711627.thumb.jpg.03aed01c6d23ce6c1e7198c6834a4a57.jpg

IMG_20210123_145637177.thumb.jpg.7dcd9d19ce36cfd82172789f03b34cc3.jpg

It's much quieter and smoother than I expected, and it turns plenty tight at low speeds with just 2 wheel steering, so I don't think I'll bother with the extra servo. It does need more power; I'll see how it does with the silver can and 2s lipo before I start playing with more motor. (This test run was just with an old NiMH pack that has seen better days.) But there is potential here, definitely.

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
15 hours ago, markbt73 said:

Having a little fun with various "visual enhancements"...

IMG_20210129_095502438.jpg.98232289ef4fb7001fb3fe5fe11fc3cb.jpg

Diesel. Overpowering smell of diesel if it was anything like the school busses I knew.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, c64orinoco said:

Diesel. Overpowering smell of diesel if it was anything like the school busses I knew.

Interesting. While they are diesel now, the buses I rode as a kid were gas/petrol motors. Typically, Big Block Chevys/GMCs, mostly 366s variants IIRC. They commonly developed exhaust manifold leaks and ticked like crazy under load, back when the drivers knew their way around a manual transmission too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Saito2 said:

Interesting. While they are diesel now, the buses I rode as a kid were gas/petrol motors. Typically, Big Block Chevys/GMCs, mostly 366s variants IIRC. They commonly developed exhaust manifold leaks and ticked like crazy under load, back when the drivers knew their way around a manual transmission too.

Yep same here and I remember the transition from manual to auto. 
 

off topic, my youngest is finishing Drivers Ed, my oldest did 2,5 years ago, they don't speak or teach much about manual transmissions here. Sad really

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
57 minutes ago, -=Jeff=- said:

ep same here and I remember the transition from manual to auto. 
 

off topic, my youngest is finishing Drivers Ed, my oldest did 2,5 years ago, they don't speak or teach much about manual transmissions here. Sad really

Most of my bus drivers were women back the. I remember coming up to watch them row the gears. I was inquired why the one driver began skipping gears as the bus ride went on. She said she could get away with it later in the ride because there was less and less weight as the kids got dropped off.  I drive manuals almost exclusively nowadays and have converted several of my automatic cars to manuals over the years. Sad to see them go, but at this rate, internal combustion engines are headed out too.

4 minutes ago, markbt73 said:

...You all caught the joke, though, right?

From Ferris Bueller right? Great movie :lol:. And of course the Waldo/Van Halen reference ;). 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

All the buses I drive are diesel and autos. Even most coaches are now autos. When I started driving buses 18 years ago the majority of coaches were manual, in fact the bus company would only train you on auto buses to stop drivers getting their license for nothing and jumping ship to the coach companies!! Interesting that a few years back all auto bus licenses were upgraded to auto/manual. No test or anything. I still love driving manual gearbox vehicles. Saves a huge amount of wear on brakes using the gearbox

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Had some fun in the snow today with these two...

IMG_20210213_140744803.jpg

IMG_20210213_140806301_HDR.jpg

Turns out you CAN get it stuck in the snow, if it high-centers...

IMG_20210213_140801775.jpg

Wow, heh... Good thing I put the receiver in a plastic bag, huh?

IMG_20210213_141544322_HDR.jpg

Next up it was the Clod's turn. Man, I forgot how well these things drive in the snow...

IMG_20210213_144134767.jpg
IMG_20210213_144124929_HDR.jpg
IMG_20210213_143344460_HDR.jpg
IMG_20210213_143329849_HDR.jpg
IMG_20210213_143311985_HDR.jpg

I do think I'll go ahead and make a few minor upgrades to it, after having driven it stock. The steering really does need help. It turns tighter to the right than it does to the left, which I need to figure out. But I am so glad I got another Clod. These things are just a hoot to bomb around with.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 1/30/2021 at 5:01 AM, markbt73 said:

Having a little fun with various "visual enhancements"...

IMG_20210129_095523427.jpg.fb65959d2fb2993bcebd0a234e4e4964.jpg

Nice Van Halen reference there. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...