MST MTX-1 - what power system?

[Mad Ax]

I've got an MTX-1 lined up for a Christmas build (and also I've got to start doing my Christmas List for early orders due to shipping issues in this small corner of the world).

I'll probably keep this one fairly standard, don't want to go ridiculous on power.  I've not seen an MTX-1 built, but I'm thinking they're a bit smaller than an SMT-10, and I'll be sticking with the stock tyre size, so it should be a fairly lightweight rig.  I don't want to be breaking axles or shredding transmissions on every other run, just something punchy off the corners and quick enough to get some good air on the ramps.

Standard on the RTR model is a 3000Kv with 2S, does that feel about right, should I be considering a 3500 or 4000 system for a bit more speed, or for simplicity's sake should I stick with a 19T brushed motor on 3S?  HobbyKing have some Trackstar 80A combos in, I've had a few of these over the years, not sure they're super reliable (I've blown a few Trackstar speedos) but they're significantly cheaper than locally-available combos.

Do people still use those Gool RC combos?

[87lc2]

I forgot all about the MTX-1.  Planned on getting one when they came out and just ended up forgetting about it...have never even seen one in person but it looks like a nice truck, and I love MST products.

With that said, I obviously can't be of much help on a power system since I don't own it, but I think 3500-4600 is the way to go with a 540 system, and probably 3000-3800 if you want to go with a 550.  I use the cheap Gool RC combos in quite a few vehicles and they're decent for the money.  I run one in a Stampede, Mad Bull, SCX10, and a few others I can't remember and never had an issue.  Being non -sensored they cog a bit, but for a truck like that it shouldn't bother you much.  I run the GoolRC 3300kv 550 setup in my SCX10 Bigfoot truck and I like it a lot.  The 540 4300kv is in my Stampede and that runs really well also.  

[87lc2]

I also wouldn't be opposed to brushed as you said.  I've recently put 12t 550 motors with HW 1080s in a few trucks (SMT10 included) and they run good.  Not fast on 2S, but throw a 3S in and they get moving pretty good.  Lots of torque with the 550 can. 

[Mad Ax]

Awesome, thanks @87lc2, I wondered if you'd had one of these yet.

I opened the box when it arrived a couple of weeks ago, but promised myself I won't get it out until Christmas.  I do love my CFX-W and my RMX 2.0S - both are well made and well thought out.  The MTX-1 looks very similar to the CFX-W (pretty sure it's the same axles but without the portals) so it might be a joyfully familiar build  

[Re-Bugged]

Nice Chrissy present coming 👍🏻
 

It reminded me of an old Matteo video I saw a while back, so you could add a F350 body to your list, probably wouldn’t like the big ramps to much though 😉

 

[87lc2]

I just looked into these again and apparently there is now a kit version available now without electronics (exactly what you have I assume)?  They have them in stock in the US and the price is really hard to pass up...I might have to order one of these guys.  Comes with the C10 body painted in blue which is cool, I actually think the body is pretty good looking.  The truck has a great scale look overall now that I look at it a bit more.  Wheels and tires look great too.   I keep telling myself I don't need anything new and to just work on what I have, but how can I pass this up?  Seems like a good deal for a nice truck.  Wish I never saw this thread now    

[Mad Ax]

@Re-Bugged that video is awesome and makes me really excited to get this truck running!  The F350 body looks perfect on there, the proportions are just right.  Kind of looks like an older monster truck, late Stage 2 perhaps, although it has the wrong suspension for that.  The weight seems to work really well on that terrain, making the suspension work properly.  Then again, Matteo's shooting speed makes anything look good!

I haven't fully decided on a body yet, I went for the Toyota version because if I don't fit the Toyota body on the MTX-1, I'll at least use it for something else.  The C10 body is good but I don't like the smoked windows, and I already have a nice Clod hardbody in the same blue and I can't decide what to do with that, let alone a polycarb version.  If it came as a clear body it would have been a no-brainer but I can't be bothered to sell on a body I won't use.

Again, I'm not sure if I'll build the truck and plonk the clear body over just to see if I like it, or if I'll decide on a body between now and Christmas and get something in ready for the build (and maybe even paint it in advance so Christmas week can be pure build fun).  I'm also not sure if I'll stick with the yellow parts or dye them black.  Black and yellow used to be my race colours but I don't have that many yellow trucks now, so maybe yellow or black with yellow highlights is the way to go.

@87lc2 this was kind of a sudden purchase for me when I saw the price.  I'd forgotten all about them last year when I bought my SMT-10, so I never gave it a thought.  I was just floating around the web getting prices together for a Christmas wishlist (I can dream, right?) - and when I saw how cheap the MTX-1 was, even with shipping and duties to UK, I just couldn't say no.  Sure, FedEx stung me with their surcharge on top of the duty, and there was a slight issue that Asiatees included a free keychain which they wrote on the manifest as having zero value, which confused the FedEx duty team and meant I had to scrape together some proof of value before they'd release the parcel, but it wasn't a big deal, it turned up in a few days and is still way cheaper than any other kit truck in the same quality range.

The kit version seems to be well featured - dual shocks, 4wd, and (unlike some major brands who include a set of wheels but don't include literally the only set of tyres that actually fit properly on those wheels), tyres are included.  I haven't pulled it out the box to measure the wheels and tyres, I think they might be a bit smaller than 2.2, at least they look so in the stock photos.  Not sure if Matteo has stock tyres on his truck, they look bigger under that F350 body.  The RTR version only comes with single shocks all round and some of them are 2wd.

Other than a BigSquid pre-release review and Matteo's video, there's very little info about these online.  I can't find much more than stock photos.  Maybe the slightly smaller size makes it less appealing to SMT and Clod owners, or maybe nobody trusts the MST brand, which is a shame as my CFX-W is brilliant out of the box and looks fantastic too, and the RMX 2.0S has been the default starter car for drifting for years now.

[87lc2]

I did a bit more looking last night and it does seem like you get a lot for the money.  I have resited the urge to order one for now (maybe I'll wait to see how yours turns out), but if I clean up some current projects that I promised myself I'd get done I'll probably order one.  I've taken a liking to the smaller monsters lately and have actually powered down a few of my trucks recently is favor of realistic running rather than speed so this would be perfect with a mild brushed setup. 

The axles actually look to me like CFX axles which is a bit odd considering that's just a smaller 1:10 crawler, but I have their axles on a few trucks and no issues.  Most reviewers out there had no issues with the axles either so that's good news.  I did see a few with Clod sized tires and that's just too much for this truck.  One of the big draws for me is the stock wheel/tire setup, they look great.  I'd have to do nothing but put electronics in and probably change the body and be off running, wouldn't really change anything on it.  Excited to see what you think of it when you get it going, always nice to have someone's opinion that you can trust. 

[Dakratfink]

On 10/20/2021 at 5:19 AM, Mad Ax said:

Standard on the RTR model is a 3000Kv with 2S, does that feel about right, should I be considering a 3500 or 4000 system for a bit more speed, or for simplicity's sake should I stick with a 19T brushed motor on 3S?  HobbyKing have some Trackstar 80A combos in, I've had a few of these over the years, not sure they're super reliable (I've blown a few Trackstar speedos) but they're significantly cheaper than locally-available combos.

Do people still use those Gool RC combos?

[Dakratfink]

On 10/20/2021 at 5:19 AM, Mad Ax said:

Standard on the RTR model is a 3000Kv with 2S, does that feel about right, should I be considering a 3500 or 4000 system for a bit more speed, or for simplicity's sake should I stick with a 19T brushed motor on 3S?  HobbyKing have some Trackstar 80A combos in, I've had a few of these over the years, not sure they're super reliable (I've blown a few Trackstar speedos) but they're significantly cheaper than locally-available combos.

Do people still use those Gool RC combos?

I use an Onxy branded ( Horizon in house brand ) 3000kv on 2S in my SMT10 on 2.2 jcpncept fling kings , so the drive train isn’t under too much stress. 
it is very punchy off the line and over ramps  but tops out quickly . I imagine if the Rig is a little lighter than an smt10 it should be fine , though you might find housefly gearing a little taller if you want more top end . I have slightly taller than stock gearing in my smt. The times I ran that combo on 3 S the Smt drivetrain held up . The only thing I broke was I stripped a hex on a stock wheel , but that was my fault because I didn’t check the tightness of my lugs and ran it loose. 

[joeling]

I have 13.5T system in both kits. Unfortunately, did not have a chance to run  them yet.

 

[dannymulder]

On 10/20/2021 at 12:19 PM, Mad Ax said:

I've got an MTX-1 lined up for a Christmas build (and also I've got to start doing my Christmas List for early orders due to shipping issues in this small corner of the world).

I'll probably keep this one fairly standard, don't want to go ridiculous on power.  I've not seen an MTX-1 built, but I'm thinking they're a bit smaller than an SMT-10, and I'll be sticking with the stock tyre size, so it should be a fairly lightweight rig.  I don't want to be breaking axles or shredding transmissions on every other run, just something punchy off the corners and quick enough to get some good air on the ramps.

Standard on the RTR model is a 3000Kv with 2S, does that feel about right, should I be considering a 3500 or 4000 system for a bit more speed, or for simplicity's sake should I stick with a 19T brushed motor on 3S?  HobbyKing have some Trackstar 80A combos in, I've had a few of these over the years, not sure they're super reliable (I've blown a few Trackstar speedos) but they're significantly cheaper than locally-available combos.

Do people still use those Gool RC combos?

I don know what kind of speed you are after, but the mtx is geared real low it has a crawler gearing, I used a castle 3800kv motor in mine but I had to use a biggest pinion I could fit 32 tooth and run it on 3s to get some speed out of the car.

The car realy needs some wheel wideners because stock even a low speed it rols over a lot, not fun.

Then even on 2s the plastic driveshafts are rubbish, replace them with an steel after market one for crawlers, the mst steel driveshaft for it are also not good so do not buy them, they wear real quick and the grup screw comes loose all the time even with red treadlock on them.

The car is pretty tough the only weak points are the center driveshafts, and I replaced the gears with steel ones, a lot of parts from the crawler models fit.

And use other o rings for the shocks, with the stock one it leakes a lot 

[Mad Zero]

Hmmm… 

[alvinlwh]

@Mad Ax hey mate, what did you eventually went with? I got a 3100kv sensoreless and a 3800kv sensored with 3S that I can use with this, which will be my next build. 

[alvinlwh]

On 10/31/2021 at 10:03 AM, dannymulder said:

The car is pretty tough the only weak points are the center driveshafts, and I replaced the gears with steel ones, a lot of parts from the crawler models fit.

Hi, can you elaborate on this? Which models' drive shafts I should be looking for? 

[Mad Ax]

Originally I fitted a 4000Kv sensorless system from Turnigy.  They're pretty ubiquitous from Hobbyking, although last time I tried to buy one they were out of stock.

It's 2S / 3S compatible, and I found 2S was fine for bashing around the garden, but the extra speed from 3S gave it more oomph in a bigger space.

I recently put that system in my SMT-10, so I bought a Gool RC 3900 Kv system.  In theory it should be about the same as the Turnigy setup, but out-of-the-box it has an unbearably soft power ramp and I haven't had a chance to look into how to adjust it without the programmer box yet.

I didn't have any issues with my propshafts - although the propshafts on my CFX-W are probably the same and they snapped on gate 2 of the first course I put it on - but I have bent and snapped the plastic suspension links.  It did have one seriously big accident early in its light that might have weakened it prematurely, and when it's on the shelf the brackets rest under the plastic links, which might have damaged them.  I bought the hop-up metal link kit from Asiatees which should be stronger, although it uses the same plastic rod ends as the stock kit (which is what snapped on mine).

This thread has all my build and running details: