Can I play too....

Joined: 07 Jan 2003 Location: Sydney

G'Day All,

Awesome RC Rigs guys - just spent an hour or so watching Mudcow Vids & I am blown away Very Happy

Gotta get me one of them !!

Already have a couple of RC's - an ancient Tamaiya Fox Dune Buggy type RC that is my Stockton Beach racer Wink

& a Toyota Pickup Mountaineer that is my Rockcrawler but is stock as a rock....the detail & realism on this RC is fantastic - just like a shrunk Hilux !!

But I've now gotta go bigger & badder - I don't really want to modify the Toyota Mountaineer - it is just to nice to be a basher, so it is time for a new project.

I gather the Clod is the weapon of choice from scanning the past posts - any other options ??
Also - it looks like the axles / wheels / tyres are the only bits that are ended up being used - is it cheaper to just source these bits as parts or is the complete kit still cheaper ??
Is anything off the Fox / Toyota like motors or servo's etc usable on a Project Clod ??
Also - the Ebay site "Stellar Models" in Hong Kong - any feedback ??

Sorry for the milion & one questions - but "I'm excited" Very Happy

Looking forward to seeing some of these monsters in action -

Later - Mike.H.

Joined: 04 Jun 2003 Location: Just Near Fraser Island

Welcome Mike,

The clod is a good choice and you can get just diffs, speedy, rims and tyres etc on EBAY for good prices and then have Adman, Russell or JK build you an awesome chassis, that should be quite cost effective. The other option would be to go to a Hobby shop like De Rossi or your local one and buy a TXT-1. Theese are very good straight out of the box, all you really need to do is change the speedy to something like a Novak Super Rooster and your off. A TXT-1 should cost around $600-700 New plus radio gear if required.

If you go the clod way I have some 550 can AYK 360LB motors new in box which are designed for monster trucks and you can have those for $130 a pair. Monster Truck Parts can sell you all the clod stuff you need as they have the Australian Distribution rights for Clods I believe.

Either way I know will will have a great time coming crawling with us and don't be afraid to ask all the questions you need to as it is the only way to learn.

Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Location: brisbane

do up ya buggy i did my buggy up but it still isnt as good as a clod or any off the other trucks and it brakes alot but its all good fun the only reason i didnt get a clod is igot the buggy and the started usingf it for crawling then i liked it when i got the buggy all i really wanted to do was go fast and i odnt have the cash to buy a new one so suped up the buggy wear did u get the toyota shell from as well i wasnt a yota shell next will make it clime biger hills

Joined: 07 Jan 2003 Location: Sydney

Thanks for the ideas Maggot4x4 -

Pretty keen to develop my own chassis - I work in a full Maintenance Workshop so have plenty of scope for some of the crazy ideas that are running thru my head Very Happy

Probably most have been tried & failed but hey, it'll be fun trying Wink

Will definitely go the Aluminium Chassis with custom Links similar to Mudcow ( hope you don't mind people shamelessly copying.....erm, I mean drawing inspiration from your ideas JK !! ) But I do want to fiddle with the actual link locations & design & maybe even look at a slightly longer wheelbase.
I have one really "out there" idea so far that I want to try & my Fitter mate says should be possible & is a current trend in the Full Size Crawler scene - so I am really keen to get stuck into that.

Looks like I just need to read up a lot on the actual "RC" side of things - Motors / Servo's / Controllers / ESC's etc - lots to learn Very Happy

Why is a Electronic Speed Control so much better than a mechanical ??

So it looks like a Clod Kit may be the go.....

Later - Mike H.

Joined: 22 Oct 2002

Copy away. I don't mind at all Cool

Keen to see how your ideas develop.

Seeing as you are from Sydney, you HAVE to make it along to our next rock crawling meet. All your questions and more will be answered there.

As for MSC to ESC... there really is no comparison. ESC is the only way to go. A MSC is simply too crude in operation.

Start trolling ebay etc and you may find a great bargain.

Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Location: kempsey

MJH surfin , Matt here from Monster Truck Parts Aus
We can get the Clod diffs complete with bearings and stuff, built and locked for around $240. Then you just need the Chassis and radio gear,
I am just waiting on our next order of diffs from the land of the rising sun.
We sold out of our first order already.
Let me know if you want a set from the next batch. Very Happy

Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Sydney

Hey Mike,

Yes you can buy a complete Clod rom Hong Kong, and the couple of dealers there come very highly recommended, but it is cheaper just to purchase the diffs from us (Monster Truck Parts Australia....yes there are two of us on here and yes we are brothers) if that's all you're gonna use. $240 vs $400 for the kit.

JK is right, come along to the Radio Rockcrawler meet on the 23rd and you'll learn more than you could in a week on here. Seeing what someone is talking about makes it Sooooo much easier.

As for the ESC, and Electronic Speed controller uses pulses of DC electricity to provide motor speed control. It's what allows us to crawl slowly and control our application of 'throttle'. A monster truck with dual motors requires an ESC that can handle a large amount of current as most motors can draw upwards of 60 Amps.

Servos are easy. Buy metal geared, high torque servos and use a good servo saver such as Kimbro #124 or Eagle Racing black and you'll have no dramas. For value for money you can't go past GWS metal geared servos or for all out grunt I don't think you could go past Futaba's Metal Gear units.

Motors....Stock cans actually work resonably well, but for a bit more torque and a bit more downhill control (engine braking) just look at a mild mod motor of 27-20 turns. 550 cans are used by many of the boys because of their increased torque, these are getting harder to source.

Ask all the questions you want, as there are some very good Monster Truck Heads on here to answer them for you.

Adman