Project Mulligan

[suicideneil]

It begins:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Arrived today- in excellent condition overall, hardly any wear or tear. The original owner (Im #3) has installed a grease nipple on the tranny, and filled it with thick automotive grease (grey stuff). Interesting feature, but I shalent be making much use of it- here is the shopping list:

TXT-1
LIGHTWEIGHT CHASSIS PLATES
ALUMINIUM AXLE GUARDS
EXTENDED 4-LINK SUSPENSION RODS
HEX HEAD SCREWS
ALUMINIUM BODY POSTS
NEW SHELL (OLD T-MAXX?..)
HEX ADAPTORS/ WHEEL WIDENERS
4x 1/8 SCALE SHOCKS
ALUMINIUM CANTILEVERS
3905 TRANNY
3905 SPEC PROP SHAFTS (ADAPTED FROM DRIVE SHAFTS)
MMM ESC
MOTOR- KV YET TO BE DETERMINED
SERVO (1/4 SCALE AND/OR DIGITAL)
STEERING RODS
BEARING KIT
NEWERA SKIDS- WILL NEED SOMEONES HELP NEXT MONTH TO GET THEM
ALUMINIUM STEERING KNUCKLES

ESTIMATED COST = ~£700. (Less than half what I spent last time)

You may ask why do I want another TXT-1, but its simple really; they are the most awesome 'proper' MT ever built. I miss my old one so much I just had to get another- planning on giving it pretty much the same treatment, only with a few updates using newly available parts, such as 3905 tranny, Knowing Hobby suspension links & 1/8 scale shocks.

Looking at about 3-4 months build time (~£200 per month budget), so it'll make a nice winter project. The additon of a decent BL system & lipo batts will make all the difference I believe, along with a decent servo to turn the beast.

Anyway, heres a few snaps of what arrived today:













It came supplied with an LRP F1 esc (google will be my friend...), and a nasty horrid 40mhz AM pistol grip radio; God how I hate pistol grip radios.

Currently waiting for a bearing set to come in, then next month will be suspension rods, axle guards and skids I reckons.

[MetalMan]

Ooh, this should be fun

Do you have thoughts on which power plant you intend to use? Also, you wouldn't happen to know the diff reduction, would you?

[Gee]

This is a happy reunion.

[lutach]

Neil,

Nice truck you got there. I completely forgot about this truck, I was going to get one and do a few things to it, mainly extend the wheelbase to make it look like my old Clod Buster. Let me know how tough this truck is and if it can handle some brushless power?

[suicideneil]

Power plant = most likely an MMM or MMPro, motor will need to be L or XL sized- aiming for 30mph here in order to make the thing handleable (that is a word I swear).

Axle reduction ratio = 2.1:1

Its a curious beast though- the gears in the axle & tranny are MOD 1.0 by the looks of it, much the same as the ones inside the emaxx tranny, though the down side is the axle gears are made of moulded pot metal (looks like the same stuff the input gears in the old emaxx tranny are made of- aluminium?)

From what I've read, they do tend to wear down after a while, but they stood upto my hvmaxx for a fair while back in the day :/

I would use an emaxx or similiar tranny if you plan to go fast-ish, the stock tranny limits you alot as you can only fit upto a 20t pinion, no other gearing adjustment possible (via the spur etc).

did you miss this truck neil? your old one was the best on the trx forums!

[JoFreak]

Can't wait to see this build getting started!
Love those old MTs, sadly was before my RC-time, or should I say sort of between my RC-times?

[suicideneil]

Missed my TXT-1 **alot**, been looking for one for ages. Funny thing though, was bidding on one that eventually went for £180 (my max bid was £175, bloody sniper bids). I was gutted, but then I saw a newly listed one for £175 BIN... mine
Also found the instructions for the esc, so I should be able to get it running fairly soon, using the included 1800mah nicad pack

[suicideneil]

Okay, little update- been looking around for some custom length suspension links with little success. Everything I find is either too skinny (need ~8mm / 3/8"), or too short. So, I contacted that lovely Candyman and hes going to make some to my exact requirements. Going with upper rods 184mm long, and lower rods 135mm long- thats 38mm longer than stock to push the wheelbase out to around 17inches. Going to be using some Gmade rodends, the hoofing great big 10mm versions:



Still planning on the metal axle guards and skids next month, but I should be able to get the servo too- on that note, what is everyones thoughts on the following items?:

1
2
3
4
5

Personally I like the look of #5, the reviews are all great 5*, and the price is just bonkers for something that powerful (before anyone says 'you get what you pay for', I am aware of that)...

Any thoughts or other decent suggestions, not looking to spend too much, and would prefer a 1/4 scale item really...

Laters

[Bondonutz]

Neil,

Should be a great build, I look forward to following it along.

Might I reccomend staying with the standard sized servo so nothing abnormal would be needed for mounting and taking up extra space and weight ? The specs on #4 are great for the price.

[suicideneil]

I would normally agree, but I have 1/4 scale servo mounts that will work fine, and the weight doesnt worry me, all things considered. #4 is a beautiful little servo though- but I've just looked at the specs on the servo I had in the old truck- it had the same ~15KG of torque at 6v, and had a bit of trouble turning the wheels- 20KG+ would be ideal however..

[Bondonutz]

Whats that truck gonna weight roughly when completed ? I thought it was 10th scalish is size, but it's much bigger ? ?

[suicideneil]

Its 13" wheelbase stock, where as a maxx is more like 12"- when Im finished it'll be 17", and somewhat wider too, so I would say it'll end up being about 1/8 to 1/7 scale. I'd say that sounds about right, when you concider the ~14" Erevo and FLUX are labeled as 1/8 scale. For weight, I estimate it'll be around the 12-13lb region- havent weighed it stock yet, I'll do that tomorrow- rather light though at present it has to be said.

[redshift]

"God how I hate pistol grip radios"

Neil is a stick man? Well I could see hating that pistol radio...

My first 'real' radio was an Airtronics stick, was good with it. Something tells me I would semi-suck with one if I was to try it now.

I remember you lamenting about parting with your first... you won't be doin' that again willya.. looks like fun!

I don't own any Tamiyas anymore, I wonder what a Hornet or a Frog would be like with modern stuff... eeeeeeasy on the throttle

[Bondonutz]

I see now, It'll be a big truck. The bigger badder servo is definietly nessasary !