Scorpion King!

[JLFast]

Update!

I bought another stock chasis for cheap from ebay, it arrived today and I just installed it.

This was my idea for a 'body lift'... Install a stock chasis upside down on top of the 'real' chasis. It works great! Almost the size of my Clodzilla! Plus its a kind of roll bar. It was a very very CHEAP modification.

Id like to get another inch out of the wheel base. Im thinking longer links should do it?

Enjoy the photos!

 

[JLFast]

Here are a few photos of my new 'body lift' mod with the body on the truck...

Note new Airtronix 200oz Steering Servo and Servo Arm.

 

[JLFast]

Scorpion King VS Clodzilla!

Here are a few photos for size comparison...

Scorpion King VS Clodzilla:

Id gladly take any and all suggestions on further king sized mods for the Axial!

 

[Inked]

looks good... make me want to sell my clod and by one

 

[JLFast]

Omega chasis

Ive named my cheap body lift idea the 'Omega Chasis'.

Dont ask me why, it just sounded good!

After I got it all together, I smacked the front and cracked my new Pro-Line Frame Extention Kits. So I tore it all down, looked it over, and put it back together like this....

I know, I know; top heavy! but its all contained with in the Omega Chasis unit, and no more cracked Frame Extention Kits!

Also, I think it looks 'cleaner' this way.

So I have the back Pro-Line Frame Extention Kit available with the good parts left from the front kit if anyone wants it!

Enjoy!

 

[JLFast]

With body on.... Looking much more 'Monster Truck' like in my opinion.

 

[GhoulPede]

It definitely has more of a monster truck look now! Does it roll easy with all the weight up top? I found mine was flipping easily right out of the box with the battery mounted up top.

 

[JLFast]

Mine did too with the stock wheels and tires... but with the axle extention/adaptors from Integy, comebined with the weight of the big wheel and tire set up; its good!

Having said that, I would like to extend at least the rear axle with longer links for even more stability.

Im considering taking my 'Omega Chasis' prototype into a machine shop and have it made as one peice out of Alloy or Ti.

 

[spliffnwesson]

Do collectors have 'shelf' and 'bash' bodies? Plus I need to figure out that vertical body mount set up!

Fer sure. Keep the sick paint primo for display and beat the snot out of some other lid.

If you're gonna pay someone for a custom paint job you're not gonna want to drive too much. Yeah, lexan is flexible, pretty durable and painted from the inside but it will get scuffed up and if you're really tough on it, it'll rip/crack. You can run a custom painted body but you'll probably cringe a little every time it rolls or rubs up against a rock. Or you can be a total bad a5$ and bash with the custom body.

I've painted a few lids that came out pretty nice but not crazy like Norm's paint (team3six) or ZielkeRacing(.com), so I don't mind bashing them. I have a couple bodies I've been needing to send to a guy for painting from part of a trade deal. He does nice work but since I'm not exactly shelling out $$$ for the paint I'll probably run them (at least a few times).

Looks like Im forced now to get the 4 Link upgrade.

I know you're not going for a crawler but a 4-link setup is definitely on the list of upgrades/mods for a crawler. It will help the truck articulate better, be more stable and reduce torque twist. And the AX10 isn't the only truck that benefits from upgrading to 4-link.

If you're going to stretch it, make sure your drive shaft's are long enough. When I stretched my WK I had to get some T-Maxx Long Half Shafts.

It definitely looks better with the one frame extension box up under the body. I'm not a fan of being able to see all the guts from the outside. With the battery in the stock 'mount' location, I don't see the little plastic box with the esc and rx that weigh next to nothing making it any more top heavy. With those tires it really shouldn't go anywhere. If you were to strap the battery over the front axle (or get a split pack) it would most definitely stick to the ground a lot more. Tho if you're into jumping it, it would nose-dive like all the time.

 

[JLFast]

Excellent knowledge!

Thanks for sharing!

I plan on jumping it yes... Problem is, so far every time Ive broke something or knocked something loose.

This last time it was the 3 link plastic mount on the axle. Ive ordered up new alloy versions from Golden Horizons.

I had toyed with the idea of 4 shocks, with soft springs, etc. Then decided to run the on the outside of the frame. It worked great in the back, but the tires hit in the front, so it was back to the stock locations for now.

Im not a fan of seeing everything underneath a truck either. I think it looks so much cleaner with everything mounted up top and hidden by the body as it is now.

Its fun messing with these things, always improving them some how!

 

[JLFast]

A Light Bulb Just Went Off In My Head!

So after MUCH consideration, I have come to a conclusion.

Axial AX-10 Scorpions dont make very good 'bashers'.

I really think they were designed for crawling. That may sound obvious, but I had my hopes up!

EVERYTHING comes loose after a run. No matter what I do. I think it may have something to do with the gyro effect of such BIG wheels and tires.

So last night I decided to LOCK the front axle with the locker that came in the box with the truck, and changed the gearing from 20T to 14T.

Ah YES!!!!

With these huge wheels and tires, the clawing grip was so massive, that it appears to be an even BETTER crawler than my neighbors STOCK Axial!

Even with all of my top heavy frame additions, and putting the electronics up top. The heavy wheels and tires keep it grounded.

With my Clodzilla to bash outside with, looks like this will be my indoor crawler.

If I dont get bored and sell it. Crawling is fun, but I just dig bashing the most!

 

[RcFanatics.net]

I dont understand the integy servo guards.. Wouldnt a person want to protect the front of the servo instead of the top?? Its a nice looking rig though.

 

[JLFast]

Update: New Direction! Crawling!

I had lost interest in this project because my Clodzilla kinda took over. Then, once I saw that the AX-10 really cant take a beating like a Clod, I decided to cave in and go the crawler route.

Although this will remain a Monster Truck. I wont be switching it to a tube chasis or anything like that. I want to see how a large truck like this will perform, and continue modifying it with the idea of crawling.

I installed the front locker, and changed the gearing to the included smaller cog. Its slow! However... I was totally AMAZED at how well it did, high center of gravity, a ton of extra weight, and more working against it, this thing could NOT be stopped!

Even these big Pro-Line Mashers did great clawing over things... It made quick work of a small wood pile I built....

I want to get the lower ratio rear axle gear set next...

The stock links would get hung up from time to time, so I think a set of the high clearance Integy links are a must do!

I wonder... Do I need more power now that Im going slow? I still have the stock electronics, other than my 200oz Airtronics steering servo.

 

[Nitrorulz]

Well if you have the stock radio and esc, I'd ditch those because the stock system won't let you pull the throttle slow enough. If you notice when you pull slowly, the truck will still just set there, then about 1/4 throttle or more, it responds, but too fast!

I use a Traxxas xl-5 waterproof with a stock 27turn motor, and as soon as you start pulling the trigger, the truck is responding! If you just barely pull the trigger, the truck just barely moves which is what you want! I have friends with the more expensive esc and motors, and mine will do what theirs will do, and most of the time better!

You already have an awesome start for a crawler, just move things around to get them as low in the chassis as possible, and especially the battery! You'll never crawl as good as possible with the battery at mid or higher level.

 

[JLFast]

Awesome!

Thanks for the advice!

Im thinking I should get one of those split pack batteries for the front axle then. Or something that would hang the 6 cell stick back down/more forward. I'll have to research options.

I want to get about another inch or more out of the wheel base too. Make it longer. It seems the stock length wheel base is not the best for the larger wheel/tire combo Im running.

 

[JLFast]

Im having a lot of fun crawling this thing! It goes anywhere! Still a bit top heavy as it likes to tip, although I am getting more aggressive with it.

Thanks to these hardly used Integy lower links from ebay, I now have an inch longer wheel base! I picked up some Axial spacers and longer screws to modify the stock upper three link set up. So the drive lines remain at the same angles as stock. A test run seems to show stability is improved.

I also changed the stock Super Hard springs out for Super Soft in front, and Soft in the back. I think it might be 'too soft', so Im going to try some 70 weight shock oil.

 

[ricrush]

The truck has a good stance like that. I would say that a 2s lipo pack would really help in getting the top end lighter.

 

[JLFast]

That would do the trick!

I wish they were not so expensive... well, and I wish I didnt have so much invested in 'normal' batteries!

 

[JLFast]

Update! It Gets BIGGER!

So I decided today to put the lightweight T/E-Maxx set up on my Clodzilla and swap the stock Clodbuster wheel and tire combo to my Scorpion King project!

I already had the 12mm to Clod Adapter/Extention kit.

Also, I moved the Soft rear springs to the front, replacing the Super Soft's, and installed Medium springs on the back. All Axial product.

I also bumped up to 70 weight shock fluid.

I had the battery ready to go... Took it out to the wood pile, and the result was dumbfounding!

Climbs better than ever! It simply could not be stopped.

In fact, I no longer feel it is 'top heavy' with the battery still in the stock AX-10 location!

I'll need to get a central chasis plate with the link cut outs so I can move the lower links inboard and gain steering clearance, as it is now; I get some front tire hang up.

Its a tight fit!

Wood pile bows to the mighty Scorpion King!

Check the stance!

Here it is next to my Clodzilla, with the wheel set ups swapped out!

My Scorpion King project is far from done... but I think it would be ok to go ahead and call it a proper Monster Truck now!

 

[JLFast]

Updates!

Been a while since I updated my Scorpion King project!

The Clodbuster wheel set up was hitting the lower links, so I had to move them in as far as I could.... New skidplate and longer bolts for the axle mount and no more tire hang ups!

My stock 27t Axial motor was starting to run eratic, even with a full battery charge. I had wanted to get some more torque, but didnt want to spend a lot of money. The local hobby shop had Integy 55t motors for $19.99! Instant change in crawling ability! Although it was now, way too slow. To get some wheel speed back, I change out the 14t pinion for the stock 20t. Perfect! Now it not only crawls better than before, its just as fast too!

Its become a maxi crawler at this point, and is probably going to continue to get bigger. I may stretch the wheel base another inch. Not sure yet. Tires hang up on the body too as I have so much articulation. Might have to give it another lift!