Traxxas TRX4m Crawler

[D_Mac 8,619]

So my nephew got one of these for his birthday. At his party we were all taking turns driving his car around. I had so much fun with it I went out and got one of my own. These little guys are so much fun. Many many upgrades are available for these. They come all set up right out of the box too. Built for crawling not speed. I got the Land Rover Defender. They also make a new Ford Bronco. Upgrades include everything from tires and wheels to shock absorbers to new gearing and bearings. For 150 bucks you get a lot bang for your buck. Anyone else have one ? Love to get any feedback. I customized mine by adding decals and a little paint. I also installed the head and tail light kit. I have some tires and wheels ordered and looking to order more.

Edited March 17, 2023 by D_Mac

[kpinnc 12,062]

Use extreme caution.

 

That is a gateway device into another, unavoidable activity... Like our beloved red tractors, the only treatment is continued use. 

[Achto 27,577]

5 hours ago, kpinnc said:

That is a gateway device into another, unavoidable activity

 

I was in RC stuff but always stayed on the ground. I found that when an RC car dies you go pick it up. When an RC plane dies you go pick up pieces. 

 

Very cool truck @D_Mac !!   I've had the opportunity to drive the Ford Bronco version of that truck. Very impressive little vehicle.

 

Some of my old cars.

[953 nut 55,241]

9 hours ago, D_Mac said:

I had so much fun with it I went out and got one of my own.

Good for you!  A second childhood has advantages over the first one,         much cooler toys to play with,          How does your dog like it?

 

[D_Mac 8,619]

My dog Jeffrey barks and chases it around. Just like he does with my Wheel Horses. Made me laugh about the plane in pieces. When I was buying the truck I was asking about something faster. The guy told me that the faster one goes the easier it is for stuff to break. I really like this little thing and I'm very impressed with its construction and its ability to climb just about anything. I am shocked at the cost of tiny little parts to upgrade. Who knows... maybe I will get the Bronco too !!

[Handy Don 12,232]

10 hours ago, kpinnc said:

That is a gateway device into another, unavoidable activity... Like our beloved red tractors, the only treatment is continued use. 

Ok, so I noticed the helmets and PFDs. Please explain their use while flying RC aircraft!?

BTW, I have a little fixed-pitched helicopter that I’ve learned to fly around indoors -- not powerful enough to use in any breeze -- interesting muscle memory development needed.

Edited March 17, 2023 by Handy Don

[Achto 27,577]

2 hours ago, D_Mac said:

Who knows... maybe I will get the Bronco too !!

 

I've been eye balling the orange & white Blazer myself. 

 

https://traxxas.com/products/landing/blazer/

 

If you want durable speed, the Stamped is a fun 30mph truck that is very durable. The lime green Stamped in my pictures above has endured many races & crashes with minimal break downs. Probably replaced more bodies that anything. I would usually put a new body on before each race season.  

Edited March 17, 2023 by Achto

[8ntruck 7,004]

A loooong time ago, I used to race RC boats.  They ran on 40% nitromethane fuel.  The smell of that exhaust is still one of my favorites.

Edited March 18, 2023 by 8ntruck

[kpinnc 12,062]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

Ok, so I noticed the helmets and PFDs. Please explain their use while flying RC aircraft!?

 

Oh no, I just took over our laundry room. The helmets and vest were just easier to organize by hanging them up. 

 

But- with me flying, spectators could be encouraged to wear protective head gear! 

[kpinnc 12,062]

6 hours ago, Achto said:

I was in RC stuff but always stayed on the ground. I found that when an RC car dies you go pick it up. When an RC plane dies you go pick up pieces. 

 

All mine are electric, and all have flight controllers that I set up failsafe and return to launch. The fuses (most anyway) that I have are PVC, with 5mil clear shrink coated foam, carbon fiber spar  wings. They are like surfboards! Takes a bunch to break these.

 

Your trucks are nitros! Those things are like bullets! Very nice! 

[Achto 27,577]

45 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Your trucks are nitros! Those things are like bullets! Very nice! 

 

Thanks the nitro's are pretty fast but they have fallen behind the electrics now that lipo batteries & brushless motors have evolved. Most gas trucks run in the 35mph range. The electrics are running in the 50+mph range with acceleration that will rip the tires off the rim. 

 

Then there is this freaky fast electric car coming in at 100+mph.

https://traxxas.com/products/landing/xo-1/

[kpinnc 12,062]

34 minutes ago, Achto said:

Thanks the nitro's are pretty fast but they have fallen behind the electrics now that lipo batteries & brushless motors have evolved.

 

Crazy how much torque brushless motors and lipos can produce for sure. 

 

I had a coworker who built a car that would do 120mph. I don't even know how you control something like that. Must crank down expos to near nothing!

 

But nitro cars just sound crazy. Like a chainsaw grew feet and escaped! 

Edited March 17, 2023 by kpinnc

[Handy Don 12,232]

10 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

I had a coworker who built a car that would do 120mph. I don't even know how you control something like that. Must crank down expos to near nothing!

 

Straight line only? Gyro control for steering (gyros are common on heli or fixed-wing)?

[kpinnc 12,062]

26 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Straight line only? Gyro control for steering (gyros are common on heli or fixed-wing)?

 

I'm not sure, but that would make sense. Single axis wouldn't be hard to configure.

 

My planes have 3 axis stabilization that can be enabled/ disabled in flight. Great for tricks and "panic" mode recovery.

 

I've flown things over 120, but tiny little two inch wheels and an 18-inch wheelbase car on pavement is just crazy!

[Handy Don 12,232]

1 minute ago, kpinnc said:

I've flown things over 120, but tiny little two inch wheels and an 18-inch wheelbase car on pavement is just crazy!

My little heli is gyro stablized but without the compensation adjustments for trim that larger helis have so with the controls centered, it’ll sometimes just wander off! Depends on the minute quirks in the cyclic control linkage.

[kpinnc 12,062]

17 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

My little heli is gyro stablized but without the compensation adjustments for trim that larger helis have so with the controls centered, it’ll sometimes just wander off! Depends on the minute quirks in the cyclic control linkage.

 

I have a couple 450 helis, but a crash with those is too much to fix. The last one I flew just stripped the main gear landing in grass and I haven't flown it since. I care nothing for acro stuff, just rather scale type flying. 

 

Everything I have is built, no off the shelf stuff. Quads, planes, helicopters. I like building as much as flying. Mostly now I just fly planes. I load them up with lights, fly at night, and hope the UFO conspiracists have plenty to talk about. 

[kpinnc 12,062]

@D_Mac 

I didn't mean to hikack this thread. No more after this one!

 

@Handy Don And I mod my stuff just like my tractors. Colors, lights, power/ prop combos.

 

Tractors in the summer, RC inside in the winter- and some summer Sunday afternoons when I can fly.

 

Edited March 17, 2023 by kpinnc

[Stormin 9,981]

15 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

 

 

Now that flying around at midnight would start some rumours. 

[Beap52 811]

1 hour ago, Stormin said:

 

 

Now that flying around at midnight would start some rumours. 

Reminds me of a joke I saw.  A couple of flight controllers were sitting at their desk tracking flights.  One looks at the other and says "The champagne flight just reported three more UFS!"

 

[953 nut 55,241]

1 hour ago, Beap52 said:

"The champagne flight just reported three more UFS!"

   Did you mean UFOs?

What is meant by UFS?

 

 

Universal Flash Storage (UFS) is a flash storage specification for digital cameras, mobile phones and consumer electronic devices.

[D_Mac 8,619]

13 hours ago, kpinnc said:

@D_Mac 

I didn't mean to hikack this thread. No more after this one!

 

 

 

No worries.. like I said I am new to the hobby. I find it all interesting. I was out today cruising around in the Land Rover it's so much fun with what I have but something larger and faster.... ?

Edited March 18, 2023 by D_Mac

[Rick3478 428]

On 3/16/2023 at 9:30 PM, D_Mac said:

So my nephew got one of these for his birthday. At his party we were all taking turns driving his car around. I had so much fun with it I went out and got one of my own. These little guys are so much fun. Many many upgrades are available for these. They come all set up right out of the box too. Built for crawling not speed. I got the Land Rover Defender. They also make a new Ford Bronco. Upgrades include everything from tires and wheels to shock absorbers to new gearing and bearings.

 

I think a 3-blade mower deck under the middle might be appropriate.

[Beap52 811]

22 hours ago, 953 nut said:

   Did you mean UFOs?

What is meant by UFS?

 

 

Universal Flash Storage (UFS) is a flash storage specification for digital cameras, mobile phones and consumer electronic devices.

Oh Shoot! Yes meant UFO.  I never do get the punch line right!