Fine Design Stretched LST Chassis

[killajb]

PapaGeno21:

I think everyone is shedding light on the looks of the design with it's limo-like stance and T-Rex arms. Other's with experience converting the LST seem to agree that weight distribution is crucial for decent handling. I think everyone chimes in to try and prevent a guy from wasting his money based on their own experiences.

But if you do pull it off then kudos to you for doing the bold and different.

[Semi Pro]

its FD so you know its going to have nothing but problems

When I was new to brushless I bought 2 FD vehicles. They were both poorly designed and Chris Fine was less than helpful. He was OK before the sale, but after he had the money, he was rude and arrogant. They will not get a purchase from me ever again.

[rcjmaxx]

This I my extended LST. No its not FD but that is where I got the ideal. I built my own chassis plate, and it has a 19 in. wheelbase. No it dont handle like a 1/8 scaler because its not an 1/8 scaler, its a abasher, built for fun nothing else.

[transtalon]

I also have a 5" Lst2 about 2 yrs ago just like the Fd design because I had a guy tig welded a 5" plate behind the rear part of the chassis. It was okay but I wasn't experimenting with the muggy shock towers at the time. Now I have a 61mm extended in the front and that one handles pretty good with the batts in the front. Very controllable wheelies, 1527 1D, 6S MA batts, 34 pinion . I will be changing my combo as I could not have an ESC without
going on fire due to too much amps from too much gear.

[Takedown]

You guys also have to realise that Ive meaured an FG MT up against my lst2 in wheelbase along with my mcd clone and a Duratrax FireHammer and they all have extremely close widths. The widest was my mcd clone which was a whole inch wider.... The FG and the Duratrax were the exact same width pretty much. I am use to 1/5 handling so it shouldnt bug me to much. Plus its more of a scale feel.

And heres the body I planned on getting- http://www.fsracingusa.com/fs118006bodyshell.aspx

[rcjmaxx]

Originally Posted by Takedown

You guys also have to realise that Ive meaured an FG MT up against my lst2 in wheelbase along with my mcd clone and a Duratrax FireHammer and they all have extremely close widths. The widest was my mcd clone which was a whole inch wider.... The FG and the Duratrax were the exact same width pretty much. I am use to 1/5 handling so it shouldnt bug me to much. Plus its more of a scale feel.

And heres the body I planned on getting- http://www.fsracingusa.com/fs118006bodyshell.aspx

You are correct. My extended LST measures up in EVERY aspect of a 1/5 except one...weight. Whereas the "real" 1/5 monster trucks weight in at 25-30 lbs, my truck with G-Maxx tranny,CEN 7.5 inch wheels and tires,4900 4 cell lipo, Firehammer body, RTR comes in at less than 15 pounds.

[Takedown]

Ya its going to be nice not to have to haul my mcd everywere when I want to run a 1/5. The thing is going to weigh 33lbs loaded when I order the batts. My lst2 will weigh alot less.

[suicideneil]

But but but, its awful.

Besides the fact its FD, it just doesnt look right at all, way too long and narrow- A trucks length to width ratio should be something like 50/50 to 60/40- that things more like 70/30; limo bus indeed.

You could add big wheel or axle extensions to get the proportions correct, but its still gonna be hard to control at speed (you do plan on going more than 20mph right?), and be prone to tipping over in turns or just snapping in half the first time you jump it.

Your money, but if I wanted something 1/5 scale, I'd buy a 1/5 scale and convert it, not stretch a 1/8 scale...

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by PapaGeno21

I fail to see why everyone thinks its going to handle like crap. Its going to be the same size as a Baja 5B and those dont handle bad, minus that they are 2wd so they SUCK in the air, trust me I had one. At least this will still have 4x4 control.

Its just longer, its not like your adding 10lbs.

I like it, im gonna try it. IF it blows then Ill go back to normal, no big deal. I also ordered 1/2" wheel spacers for each side to widen it a bit, give it a better stance, and a Duratrax Firehammer body.

What bl setup do you plan to run? Motor, esc, batts, etc?

My main issue with the truck that lead to the poor handling comment (I think I may have said it would handle like crap!?!?) was ole' chris' choice of battery location. Having the pack on top of the rear deck (fuel tank area) is just a poor place to put a pack. With all of the weight there the truck will jump nose up, way up. Plus it will loose alot of front traction durring accereration, and have poor weight transfer under hard braking. My lst squats enough when under hard acceleration, and my 6s lipo is right behind the rx box.

As far as the comparison to the baja... It is designed with a certain weight distribution in mind. Must like a stock lst (which if you remember from the nitro days, really needed more weight in the front to handle better). So putting the heavy batt where the fuel tank used to be is certainly not keeping the weight distribtion the same as the losi designers setupp the truck up for. My cure was to place the batt in front of the tranny, where is is lowest and centralized while keeping the weight shifted just slightly forward.

I do agree that it looks cool, but I would have setup the layout very different. I would have left the tranny in the back section, and put the battery tray between the rx box and the brake/reverse servos. I really don't see why he has two trays, other than those trays are really crappy (material is too thin and the o ring hold downs are questionable), and not big enough to hold a decent sized 6s lipo. Maybe 3s in each tray? But a 6s lipo (like the 6s polyquest 6000 25c) is not much more than 60mm wide, so adding a tray for that up front would not be bad. Sure, he gets to stay with the stock length front center driveshaft.

Don't get me wrong, I am interested to read your thoughts and feelings on this chassis.

Keep an eye out for me papa, I should have something interesting for you to look at in the next few weeks...

[Takedown]

Originally Posted by suicideneil

But but but, its awful.

Besides the fact its FD, it just doesnt look right at all, way too long and narrow- A trucks length to width ratio should be something like 50/50 to 60/40- that things more like 70/30; limo bus indeed.

You could add big wheel or axle extensions to get the proportions correct, but its still gonna be hard to control at speed (you do plan on going more than 20mph right?), and be prone to tipping over in turns or just snapping in half the first time you jump it.

Your money, but if I wanted something 1/5 scale, I'd buy a 1/5 scale and convert it, not stretch a 1/8 scale...

Ya but a 1/5 for $110. You cannot beat that.

And linc. Im looking forward to what your evil genius mind has for us in stock.

[Metallover]

You have to think, is it worth making it a 1/5 over a 1/8? Putting 200 dollars of stuff on an 8th scale isn't going to make it all tha tmuch more fun just because it is bigger. I think I'd want a little shorter chassis so it is wider set and more agile.

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by Takedown

Ya but a 1/5 for $110. You cannot beat that.

And linc. Im looking forward to what your evil genius mind has for us in stock.

Yeah, I think it will be one of my collest projects so far. I have most of the parts, just need to scare up a few more...

[Takedown]

Well let us know!

[PapaGeno21]

Regardless of what people have to say in this thread, I still think its going to handle fine.

Top speed runs would be MORE stable given the wider and longer stance, as im doing wheel extentions also.

Ill have vids and pics up when its done.