New guy from Pittsburgh.

[Stburr91]

Hey, I'm a new guy from Swissvale, PA (just east of Pgh.). I know nothing about RC trucks, and only saw a crawler for the first time about a week ago on youtube. I have to say, the crawlers you guys build and run, look like it would be so much fun, that I'm going to get into it. The cost of getting into crawling, and my complete lack of knowledge of anything RC, has me a little apprehensive, but I just got the AX-10 kit and a HiTec HS-5955TG Servo. I'm going to hold off on buying the rest of the electronics until I learn a little be more.

Here's what I'm thinking about getting. I would like to hear any input you guys may have about this setup.

Matrix 55T Pro Lathe Motor by Integy

Castle Creations Mamba Max Speed Control

3-cell 11.1V LiPo Battery

I'm not really sure if I want to go with a LiPo or not. I'm don't know if they're worth the extra money or not.

What I'm really not sure about is what radio to get. The better ones have so many setting I just don't understand them. I've read some of the on-line manuals for some of the radios, and the programing instruction are like Greek to me. I just don't understand much about the radios, so I'm thinking of starting out with a very cheap radio at first. I'm thinking of getting a Traxxas TQ3 and upgrading once I better understand how radios work.

I have a noob question.

It's my understanding that motors don't come with any wire, what kind of wire do I need for the motor (12 gauge?), and what kind of connector does it need to connect to the ESC?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Steve

[Rckcrwlr]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

Steve,
You are on the right track. No need to go LiPo...just get some good Cells...

Make sure you come to the GTG this Sunday and meet everyone.

Also, list what you are looking for on the Wanted Forum on here. I know that guys have a lot of extra parts...me included.

John

[Rockbound]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

what you have listed are all good parts.

look into the novak rooster crawler esc, its less expensive than the mamba max and in my opinion a really good speed control. The tq3 radio is really all you need to run the axial rig. you can even mod it to run a dig set up if you want to.

i agree with john, dont need to go lipo, i personally dont like lipos but thats just because i dont understand or know enough about them.

not sure what gauge wire is used. but most esc will come with tamiya plugs, i think.
i have always liked the deans ultra plugs. you can buy them with the wire already soldered on or just the ends.

[DRCMAN]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

what you have listed are all good parts.

look into the novak rooster crawler esc, its less expensive than the mamba max and in my opinion a really good speed control. The tq3 radio is really all you need to run the axial rig. you can even mod it to run a dig set up if you want to.

i agree with john, dont need to go lipo, i personally dont like lipos but thats just because i dont understand or know enough about them.

not sure what gauge wire is used. but most esc will come with tamiya plugs, i think.
i have always liked the deans ultra plugs. you can buy them with the wire already soldered on or just the ends.

Agreed. For my little guy's A10 rig I picked up a venom 3000mah NIMH Battery for $20 at Steel City Hobbies. I run a Tekin Rebel 2 esc in my comp rig and have no complaints.

[Rockbound]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

yeah the rebel II is also a good one also.

But the only thing i don't like about it is that it has a pause going from forward to reverse. it is not an instant action, so in a backwards roll over you kinda have a delay before you can catch reverse. plus no drag brake.

but it is cheaper than the crawler.

[Bustedcrawler]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

Agreed. For my little guy's A10 rig I picked up a venom 3000mah NIMH Battery for $20 at Steel City Hobbies. I run a Tekin Rebel 2 esc in my comp rig and have no complaints.

You got it where?!?!

Steve, You have a lot of good things listed on there. I would go with the Rebel II or Rooster Crawler for an ESC, and if you are starting out the Tekin is a very good choice. The MM is expensive, and it requires a bit more set-up to work right than the other listed. If you didnt already buy the 5955 I would tell you to go with a 645 servo as they are cheaper and work great for a 2.2 as the one you have is overkill for a 2.2 imho.

No need for the lipo, definitely not a 3s lipo in a 2.2 unless you want to break the drive shafts in your axial. A good sub-C or 2/3A pack is all you really need to start off with. Cheaper all the way around and less hassle. I run a 3s lipo in my super, but that is a big heavy truck that needs as much power as possible.

[Rckcrwlr]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

...at Steel City Hobbies...

You got it where?!?!

The MM is expensive, and it requires a bit more set-up to work right than the other listed. If you didnt already buy the 5955 I would tell you to go with a 645 servo as they are cheaper and work great for a 2.2 as the one you have is overkill for a 2.2 imho.

Busted...you beat me to that one...DRCMAN...Whatcha Doooin...We have two great supporting LHS...

I second the 5955...if you can return it...do it and get yourself a 645 or if you want digital use the 5645. Something with torque around 200 is more than enough for a 2.2.

Welcome to the hobby...you have a wealth of knowledge in this club...take advantage of it. And the great thing is you won't get flamed for a "stupid" question. We all had them and some of us, still will.

[Stburr91]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

Thanks for the advice. I have another question.

What battery charger are you guys using? I'm going with ELITE 1500 batteries, and would like something AC/DC.

Steve

[Rckcrwlr]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

There are a ton available.

I am running a Hyperion 10i (overkill) but you find out that is how I do things.

Bustedcrawler has the Hyperion 5i AC/DC
STEVESTOCK has Competition Electronics Pitbull
Team Checkpoint has one out that is AC/DC
The Ice Charger is AC/DC
Dynamite Prophet is a good charger (AB Charles Carries them)
Not sure what Crawlin Coles carries at Raceway Hobbies.

I would suggest getting something that can be upgraded to LiPo. Not that you are going to use it but Chargers last a long time so you never know what you may get into in the future.

Good luck

[Rockbound]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

ice is not ac/dc

i have one and its a great charger but i needed to buy a power inverter to run it at the house.

duratrax piranha is a great charger and its omly like 50 bucks it is ac/dc

[Bustedcrawler]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

My main charger is a Hyperion 5i AC/DC like rckcrwlr said. Prior to that I was using a Duratrax Digital Piranha, and it was a great cheap AC/DC charger. It had battery memory so you could set up the charging info for mulitple packs and unike the Hyperion you only had to do it once and not every time.

[DRCMAN]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

You got it where?!?!

Busted...you beat me to that one...DRCMAN...Whatcha Doooin...We have two great supporting LHS...

I know but I was already home and I'm 1 min. from Great Southern Shopping Center

Besides they looked so sad and lonely in there They would have done anything to sell something

I promise to be faithful from now on unlike Gov. Eliot Spitzer

[Rckcrwlr]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

I know but I was already home and I'm 1 min. from Great Southern Shopping Center
I promise to be faithful from now on unlike Gov. Eliot Spitzer

Oh wait a second...didn't you tell your wife that you were grocery shopping on Saturday...Not much different then not telling your wife that you are taking Prostitutes across state lines... I hear that Elliot started out with the grocery gig...

[DRCMAN]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

I know but I was already home and I'm 1 min. from Great Southern Shopping Center
I promise to be faithful from now on unlike Gov. Eliot Spitzer

Oh wait a second...didn't you tell your wife that you were grocery shopping on Saturday...Not much different then not telling your wife that you are taking Prostitutes across state lines... I hear that Elliot started out with the grocery gig...

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure he came home with more than grocery's when he went to play

[Stburr91]

Re: New guy from Pittsburgh.

I finally got my AX-10 put together, but I have a couple of more questions.

Is it normal for the set screw to slightly protrude out of the pinion? It seems to drive OK despite this.

My servo (HiTec 645) hums a little while in the neutral position, is that normal?

Thanks for any help.

Steve