Tamiya-saurus-Rex V3 TXT project

[Mod Man]

Hey Guys!

This is a build thread for my latest TXT incarnation. Of course the only stock parts left are the axles. Anyway, it is running a 1512/2DF on 4S through a Mamba Max ESC (or it will be once I get it finished). It is 4WS running two JR DS7811 (403 once torque) steering servos. Every suspension and chassis part was made in my shop. I am finishing up the swaybars and related hardware over this coming week. It should be ready to run after that.

The front suspension and steering are finished in these pics, but the rear is not yet. So, I took alot of front end pics.

All pivot points run two bearings per and everything is overbuilt. The transmission is a 3 to 1 ratio gearbox running through a titanium 7mm shaft to the transfer case. The transfer case is a belt driven unit with a 4 to 1 reduction to lengthened and rewelded CVDs (I trashed many other shafts with my V2 setup before resorting to these). The roll cage is MIG welded piano wire and is tough enough to stand on.

I will post more pics as the build progresses.

Matt

[Mod Man]

Here are some more pics.

[suicideneil]

Couldnt you have made the suspension system a little more complicated? There arent enough rods and links in there to completely confuse me....

Thats a serious piece of kit- Im sure I've seen it on another forum somewhere.

[Mod Man]

I have posted pictures of the truck a while back. But, it has been completely revised since then. So, I figured I would show its progress.

The suspension began as a simple design that gradually evolved.

Wait till you see the sway bars!

[Mod Man]

I came up with a suspension revision. I am going to a 5 link flex plate setup. It will take a week or so to fab everything. But, this should be a great system. It will use a 3rd center link of 3mm CF acting as a suspension link and an integrated swaybar. I will post pics of it soon.

I also ordered new gears for the axles (all gears and differentials). I also ordered CVDs and I bowed to teh bling god and ordered RC4WD aluminum axle housings.

This thing is getting really crazy!

I will post pics of it as I get more done.

Matt

[suicideneil]

I must say, RC4WD has come out with some great stuff in the last 12 months or so, especially their metal tranny cases and axles- they even have their own Clod-type & TXT-1 type designs which are really nice. I wonder if they will come up with anything for an independant suspension style truck....

Keep up the good work dude, this truck is mind bogglingly cool.

[ClodMaxx]

rc4wd does have a number of chassis, but i think he has other people design them and he just reproduces them. also, so far they are only for crawlers and scalers. so far....

kudos, mod man... very original!

[Mod Man]

Actually, most things RC4WD makes themselves are not the highest quality. But, most of the axle housings are made by outside shops under contract by RC4WD. The outsourced items are normally very high quality.

Yes, they are mostly a crawler store. But, they sell more rigid axle truck parts than anyone else.

Matt

[MTBikerTim]

Awesome TXT. If you can mill those arms and things I'm liking the sound of your workshop. I'm still looking for someone over in australia that has a nice workshop that I can convert to the darkside of RC.

[Mod Man]

I have a small machineshop. I use bench top machines. I have a Taig 4 axis CNC, a Taig 5 axis manual mill, and a Taig manual lathe.

They are small machines, but perfect for RC.

I have alot of experience cutting carbon fiber panels but not as much with aluminum.

Matt

[ClodMaxx]

i've always been happy with the quality in multiple orders i've made from rc4wd over the years... but i have no idea if what i have was farmed out or done in house. IMO, his customer service is what needs to be outsourced. very lacking, to say the least.

regardless - you're a perfect example that if you don't like how something is done, do it yourself! your stuff is great.

[suicideneil]

Hey Mod Man, do you ever do custom stuff for people? Im thinking like motor mounts and more basic stuff like that...

Anyway, RC4WD does have lame customer service, I will agree- if you stop selling something its nice to let people know when they have it backed ordered for 4 months and wondering why it is still out of stock! I hear their trannies arent really upto much either- lots of busted gears and such, and the older punisher shafts were a joke. I do like the beadloc rims though, even if the guy does steal other peoples designs....

[Mod Man]

Yes, I do outsourcing. My typical shop rate is $50 an hour. But, depending on the job, I can adjust that. I can make most anything. It all depends on how many operations are required and the programing time. Motor mounts are not too tough. A whole gearbox would be costly.

Oh, I do not use CAD software. I do all programming in G-code. So, I cannot take a DXF file or CAD drawing and produce a part accordingly. I would need a dimentioned drawing that I could program from.

I did not start this thread to drum up work, though. I have enough orders to fill (heli products I manufacture). If you want something designed and machined, shoot me a PM.

Bear in mind, anything that is one-off will seem expensive because you are paying for programming time and setup for one part. But, I do a bit of outsourcing for people anyway.

Anyway, I have about 50 to 60 hours of progamming and machining time in the truck so far. Of course, some of that was for various layouts I have tried and abandoned. For example, this is the third gearbox/transfer case I have made for it.

Matt

[Mod Man]

Here are some recent pics.

You can see the InetRC aluminum axle housings (housing spools and CVDs), and my new suspension system. The CF plate acts as both the top link/s and swaybar. This is sort of a 5 link suspension.

Anyway, it is coming together! I have all the parts for the rear end as well. I just have to assemble it.

Matt

[MTBikerTim]

Those axles look insane and so does the CF. Really nice work.