Rustler Addiction- Mid engine and more (lots of pictures)

[JCsRCcar]

This all started last year when my son wanted to purchase a hobby grade RC car. He saved all his money and purchased a Traxxas Slash and I purchased a bottom of the line XL5 2WD Rustler so he had someone to run with. Well, we couldn't leave things well enough alone or stock and so many modifications later we have built what I call a Frankenstein Bandit/Rustler, a tricked out 4x4 Rustler, an ultimate 2WD Rustler (formerly that XL5 and still under contruction) and now today a Nitro Rustler converted into an electric 6s mid engine monster Rustler. My 11 year old son is having a blast learning how to use his hands and learning about cars in general. Enjoy the pictures.

More to come.

More pictures.

 

[Tunedfrog]

Good looking rigs. I'm the same way. I can't leave them alone.
Although I have built a Xmaxx and Erevo that I will probably leave completely stock other than the RPM arms on both rigs.
I had the Traxxas HD arms on my Xmaxx but broke one last time out so I replaced them with RPMs.

 

[JCsRCcar]

 

[WickedFog]

Nice collection so far! And very cool mods.

 

[JCsRCcar]

A few more old progression and track day

pictures.
That Frankenstein hybrid bandit rustler does pretty well on the track.

 

[TRAT]

Heck yea!!

 

[Chubaka]

Loving the converted rustler.
I would put a brace in the rear loop of the tranny by the motor to the chassis, possibly the throttle servo mount. Thats so you dont bend or fold the chassis.

You can also cut out the gas tank and put a battery mount sideways?
https://www.rctalk.com/forum/media/sdc11992-jpg.1866/

You can also convert to 32p gears if needed.

 

[JCsRCcar]

@Chubaka

Hey, thanks for the tips. I ordered some 1” aluminum standoffs and spacers from Drag Race Concepts to make a sandwich type brace to hold the battery and brace back to the transmission. I was hoping is would come today but it didn’t. Curious why you would switch to 32 pitch gears other than maybe more selection? I ordered a 35 tooth Roberson Racing pinion for the motor. Hope it fits, .

 

[pug]

Now I need to buy a Nitro Rustler slider to make it a mid motor electric to go along with my original .15 Nitro Rustler. Those look awesome though!

 

[Chubaka]

Some of my cars like the bandit and nitro sport converted electric were happy on 48p. With my stampedes I got tired of stripping spurs, partly because of my driving style.

Robinson racing is a good company. I really like the hardend gears. Another option they have is a 5mm pinion, and buy a reducer to the 3mm or whatever is standard. You can they have the same pinion on 2 different sized motor shafts.

 

[JCsRCcar]

Ok, so the mid engine Nitro has taken a turn in a new direction. After some careful brain storming sessions we have decided to create a custom heavy duty aluminum chassis out of 1/4” plate that will withstand 6s torque and allow us to make the chassis fit the larger battery and required electronics. I also want to fit a wheelie bar that will be similar to a drag car wheelie bar I think. These pictures paint the story. More to come.

 

[JCsRCcar]

More teaser pictures of what’s to come.

Those last set of holes are for an extended wheelbase option for future builds.

 

[JCsRCcar]

Making progress on the 6s electric conversion monster/Nitro Rustler. I had to order some aluminum stand offs and miscellaneous parts so I’ll have to wait till those arrive.

In case anyone is wondering why the chassis is extended in the back with extra holes, well that is for a future wheelbase extension.

 

[Doom!]

That is a beast of a chasis!

 

[WickedFog]

Very cool build man. Love it!

 

[JCsRCcar]

A few nice things came in the mail today from Amain Hobbies, Drag Race Concepts, and another vendor I will not mention.

My son got right to work installing that 35 tooth Robinson pinion gear and it fit with a little room to spare. I worked on getting some 100k silicone differential lube into the removable differential of the new 272R transmission so I can get the old and original Rustler back on the road again. Originally it had that Hot Racing metal transmission but that transmission is heavier and upsets the already rear weight bias of the car.

 

[Doom!]

Nice to see that not everyone is as lazy as I am! progress is good! My cats make lousy helpers, your son looks much more efficient.

 

[JCsRCcar]

Nice to see that not everyone is as lazy as I am! progress is good! My cats make lousy helpers, your son looks much more efficient.

Lol, my son is motivated because he just thinks this is all awesome and we share those thoughts. I have two cats and they also make lousy helpers. They knock things over and generally get in the way of the work. I have to be careful not to put any plastic into the little trash receptacle where we work or the male cat will knock the trash receptacle over and eat it. The female will knock the humidifier over if she’s left alone with said humidifier. Sometimes I work from home and they both plant themselves between me and my work station and just get in the way.

 

[Doom!]

Isn't it nice that our cats let us serve them?

 

[WickedFog]