Thanks for all the positive feedback! As for the controller, I need motor braking.

@lincpimp: That sounds like a good idea for a chassis. I noticed the baja's chassis is incredibly stiff. No flex what-so-ever. So I tried to design something strong and rigid yet light weight. My chassis is pretty solid, but I plan on adding a couple more aluminum stand-offs where my batteries are going.

id suggest the 100a turnigy, but you need motor brakes.... wny not some rear discs on the wheels? itll handle 12s. get a pair of 6s. and a series connector... and a kb45xl.... :lol:

he already has 12s.

but i suggest going with a higher voltage also instead of lower voltage higher kv rating.

you could always put the 9xl and 6s2p on there just for some fun.

but dont go out and buy them.

save it for something you will use for this project for a while.

Sorry for the confusion. I have 16 a123 cells 4 3s1p packs and two 2s1p packs. So I can run 12s1p or 6s2p...etc. I am only running 6s2p because I don't have a controller to run a higher voltage. 12 cells, whether in 12s1p or 6s2p will have the same power output. I will just have to pull more amps to get the same power. I know thats not ideal, but it will work for now. I am really looking at the 55-10-32 kontronik. It has proportional brakes right?

man, i just had a sick thought. check this out.
mrc thunder king rear end. basicly 1/8 st style setup with emaxx style twin motors.
2 1200kv kb45lx's @$120
2 turnigy 100a hv esc's @$200
2 dc9360 for 10s2p a123 @$200-250

use the steel gear upgrade for the trans and savage arms. i think that would kill any 5b ever modded or produced. who cares about the slow startup this esc has with this much power on hand.

Just a little over kill don't you think?:lol: It's all about power to weight ratio. a stock baja is ~21lbs. Mine will end up around 15lbs rtr. 10 a123 cells can put out a peak of around 2.5KW. I'm running 12. Othello has eagletree graphs that show the power output on 10s1p.

very cool man. cant wait to see your final product. what are these kb45xls? ive never heard of them? are there different kv rated ones?

Yep ... the Kontronik Jazz 55-10-32 ESC has proportional brake. Two car modes. One with reverse and the other is forward only. This is my latest truggy (11lbs) video from today: Neu 1515/2Y (1100KV), Jazz 55, 10s1p A123 with proline badland tires: up to 2KW on this run. With a little heatsink on top of the cooling plate it runs cool and my highest peaks reached 100-120A (max of my eagletree micropower v1).

Good luck with you project ... looks very promising.

I have made some progress. I got the cage and steering servo mounted. I am happy with how the cage turned out. I can take it off my simply removing four retaining clips. I am waiting on a pinion from Mike and body mounts. I also need to order a roof plate for the cage and thats about it.

I was surprised when I weighed it and as it sits it weighed 12lbs 9.09ozs! Thats much lighter than I thought it would be. When I'm done it should be at or just over 13lbs.:party:


@othello: I have seen your videos before and they are impressive. This thing is going to haul with a 9xl on 6s2p, but I want to run a HV setup like yours. There are to many reasons not to go HV IMO.(besides relatively high price of esc). I plan on buying a jazz and running 10-12s with my mega 22/45/2

Over all I am very happy with it so far, we'll see how it runs.

That is fantastic. I want one. Get a picture of it beside a real 5B. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the 5B speed wise with it's current power setup.

man thats amazing. what wheels/tires are those?

I actually planed on getting a side by side pic when I'm done. I don't think I'll have any problems hanging with the actual baja's.:wink:

The rear tires are 40 series mulchers and the front are IMEX rib dawgs.

Looks killer, is that the 5b front body lexan piece?

Definately would like to see it up next to a 5b, just for size comparison.

I have started on the tube buggy, but have decided to calculate my chassis weight before I finalize my design. I have decided to run front brakes as well, I will use a front diff, drveshafts, and a center shadft connected to a bulkhead with a disk stup from an 1/8 buggy. The rear brake will be the same, just a bouble staked affair like some truggies have. Should provide good brakes with all 4 doing the stopping.

Brakes are one reason that I do not like 2wd vehicles. I know that there is a front brake kit for the 5b, and if i bought one it would be my first upgrade.

Really like the look of your big buggy, very nicely done!

Man.. I gotta get me one of those.... :yes:

Maybe even a 4wd one :bad:

Booth lexan pieces are from the baja. It's body is actually a four piece design, I'm using the main body and nose piece. It's wheel base is actually one inch longer than a baja.:na:
As far as the brakes go, remember to take into account the weight of the vehicle. A baja's brakes are very good. I was surprised when I saw it. The extra lbs on the tires allow much harder braking. Your idea sounds awesome. I can't wait to see.