Kagama Horatio's/Chris With A C's Kagama LE -

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Full convert to posh servos now :D got 2x A73BHLW V2 from Scorched Parts cracking service so far.

Stuck one in my kkpit beetle and at first it did not seem any quicker than the cheap brushless one that was in it before but dear lord you can tell when the beetle is ripping about the steering is so responsive and way faster now, well worth the cash to me :).

These 6s Kagamas are tanks you will enjoy launching it :D.

Only things I keep an eye on are the rear lower hinge pins like to bend after hard crashes never effected how it drives just wears the little plastic inserts out quicker and the rear input pinion bearings like to wear making play and buggering up the mesh on the rear diff :rolleyes:.
 
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The thing is, if people are running high response radios, receivers etc - decent servos aren't really optional
I think this is the reason I feel no need to buy higher quality products, nothing is missing in my mind.. I know if I ever turned a wheel against anything “competitively” I’d “get it”. It’s bittersweet I suppose, a part of me wants to race to see where I stack up but I know I can’t afford to go down the rabbit hole. Home Alone it is, LOL.
 
I think this is the reason I feel no need to buy higher quality products, nothing is missing in my mind.. I know if I ever turned a wheel against anything “competitively” I’d “get it”. It’s bittersweet I suppose, a part of me wants to race to see where I stack up but I know I can’t afford to go down the rabbit hole. Home Alone it is, LOL.
Your track is cool as hell! With trunks of doom! 😅 You'd be much better at racing than you think, but your pace would build over several months while you get into it.

Then - tyres, geometry, electronics, weight savings, other upgrades etc all start finding you cumulative micro gains - provided the driving is consistent.

Response from your radio, your inputs, also start making a difference to a much more direct feeling rig, which on a race track generally becomes more desirable as your pace improves.

Out in the open though, or where you're running on your own - these things matter less and likely aren't worth the coin. Totally understandable. 👍
 
Even for a basher, precision can be important. As my skills have improved I seek out jumps that have little room for error. I also like making transfers or gaps with consequences.
Full convert to posh servos now :D got 2x A73BHLW V2 from Scorched Parts cracking service so far.

Stuck one in my kkpit beetle and at first it did not seem any quicker than the cheap brushless one that was in it before but dear lord you can tell when the beetle is ripping about the steering is so responsive and way faster now, well worth the cash to me :).

These 6s Kagamas are tanks you will enjoy launching it :D.

Only things I keep an eye on are the rear lower hinge pins like to bend after hard crashes never effected how it drives just wears the little plastic inserts out quicker and the rear input pinion bearings like to wear making play and buggering up the mesh on the rear diff :rolleyes:.
I modified the hinge pin holders and lower control arms to fit Tekno 4mm hinge pins. Everything is much more durable now. The 3mm hinge pins have no business being on a 1/8 monster truck with wide LCA’s.
 
Even for a basher, precision can be important. As my skills have improved I seek out jumps that have little room for error. I also like making transfers or gaps with consequences.

I modified the hinge pin holders and lower control arms to fit Tekno 4mm hinge pins. Everything is much more durable now. The 3mm hinge pins have no business being on a 1/8 monster truck with wide LCA’s.
I agree that 3mm isn't enough for 1/8 scale, that's Traxxas level inefficiency LOL. But, Corally 6s rigs already come equipped with 4mm hinge pins as standard equipment? Maybe the Tekno pins are a better quality?
Kagama front/rear inner hinge pins..
https://corally.com/en/product/C-00...ot-pin-lower-inner-frontrear-steel-68mm-2-pcs
 
Full convert to posh servos now :D got 2x A73BHLW V2 from Scorched Parts cracking service so far.

Stuck one in my kkpit beetle and at first it did not seem any quicker than the cheap brushless one that was in it before but dear lord you can tell when the beetle is ripping about the steering is so responsive and way faster now, well worth the cash to me :).

These 6s Kagamas are tanks you will enjoy launching it :D.

Only things I keep an eye on are the rear lower hinge pins like to bend after hard crashes never effected how it drives just wears the little plastic inserts out quicker and the rear input pinion bearings like to wear making play and buggering up the mesh on the rear diff :rolleyes:.
Now that your converted although unless you use discount code scorched prob best price for them , but if get them from AliExpress direct from agfrc can buy them without servo horn bit cheaper than with then upgrade to their more fancy servo horn 😂

I just found this on AliExpress: | AGFRC HSS16AG Aluminum Alloy 25T Spline M3 1/10 Clamping Steering Servo Arm Horn for RC Crawler Buggy Truggy Car Upgrade Parts
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyKX00K

IMG_0357.webp
 
I agree that 3mm isn't enough for 1/8 scale, that's Traxxas level inefficiency LOL. But, Corally 6s rigs already come equipped with 4mm hinge pins as standard equipment? Maybe the Tekno pins are a better quality?
Kagama front/rear inner hinge pins..
https://corally.com/en/product/C-00...ot-pin-lower-inner-frontrear-steel-68mm-2-pcs
You are right, my memory is horrible. Corally are 4mm.

Kyosho IF624-69 are 4.5mm x 69mm

Tekno TKR9620 are 5mm x 68mm. This is what I use.
 
Now that your converted although unless you use discount code scorched prob best price for them , but if get them from AliExpress direct from agfrc can buy them without servo horn bit cheaper than with then upgrade to their more fancy servo horn 😂

I just found this on AliExpress: | AGFRC HSS16AG Aluminum Alloy 25T Spline M3 1/10 Clamping Steering Servo Arm Horn for RC Crawler Buggy Truggy Car Upgrade Parts
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyKX00K

View attachment 12911
That is a posh servo horn I like'em with sum meat on them 😌, kinda reminds me of the ones that came with the yipin x80 servos I got in the parts draw just not as meaty.
 
You are right, my memory is horrible. Corally are 4mm.

Kyosho IF624-69 are 4.5mm x 69mm

Tekno TKR9620 are 5mm x 68mm. This is what I use.
5mm, oh my! That is significant. I guess I was uninformed. My Tekno rc’s use 4mm, kind of forgot about the MT48.
5mm though, I believe Arrma 8s uses 5mm pins but considering the mass, 5mm seems too small. TRX 8s uses 4mm, hence my previous comment. Works, but could/should be larger IMO.
I rarely bend or break them myself, usually a crash is when I do.
But yeah, Arrma 8s uses 5x96 if ur ever in a pinch and can’t get the Tekno pins. Just cut to desired length.
 
That is a posh servo horn I like'em with sum meat on them 😌, kinda reminds me of the ones that came with the yipin x80 servos I got in the parts draw just not as meaty.
Is it posh or boujee? LOL. Just playin’. One of my adult daughters has married into money and everything fancy (or posh) is now boujee.. drives my wife and I nuts. We didn’t raise her that way but she’s an adult now, so🤷‍♂️
 
5mm, oh my! That is significant. I guess I was uninformed. My Tekno rc’s use 4mm, kind of forgot about the MT48.
5mm though, I believe Arrma 8s uses 5mm pins but considering the mass, 5mm seems too small. TRX 8s uses 4mm, hence my previous comment. Works, but could/should be larger IMO.
I rarely bend or break them myself, usually a crash is when I do.
But yeah, Arrma 8s uses 5x96 if ur ever in a pinch and can’t get the Tekno pins. Just cut to desired length.
The inferno MP10 uses 4.5mm. Kyosho builds their race buggies to be as light as possible, too light in my opinion, and still uses 4.5mm on a short arm buggy. Thus 5mm on the long arm kagama (a basher) is a good starting point. I can easily bend the stock 4mm hinge pins. I’ve been through a dozen now.

On short arm cars like the spark, I rarely bend them outside of crashes.
 
The inferno MP10 uses 4.5mm. Kyosho builds their race buggies to be as light as possible, too light in my opinion, and still uses 4.5mm on a short arm buggy. Thus 5mm on the long arm kagama (a basher) is a good starting point. I can easily bend the stock 4mm hinge pins. I’ve been through a dozen now.

On short arm cars like the spark, I rarely bend them outside of crashes.
I have bent Tekno, Arrma, and TC 4mm pins back when I was hitting ramps with my rigs but I eventually decided it was just too costly to keep jumping my rigs recklessly. Also about the time I started clearing trees on my property to make a track.. still much to do in that regard but it's fun and not nearly as expensive as "ramping".
 
Where's my entire post gone? 🤦

44449.webp


Oh well, I'm not writing it all out again today.

Suffice to say the edited highlights were:

EXB handled like a tank and had great punch

Kagama LE handled brilliantly, but only had about 25metres of radio range because the RTR radio is crap. 😝

The XTR drove like an absolute machine. Total madness.

All 3 rigs were blasted over tarmac, grass, skate park. Only the XTR and EXB did laps on the Velodrome, due to radio issues with the LE.

Driving ranking:

1) XTR 21
2) Kagama LE
3) EXB V6

Cool Factor:

1) Kagama LE
2) EXB V6
3) XTR 21


Drive 1: EXB

The EXB ripped around the empty Government carpark like something possessed - it had great punch and was surprisingly driveable, thanks to the consistent Copperhead 2 tyres.

I was able to clip apexes and maintain control past the limit of traction, with the EXB handling in a predictable, quite neutral way. Very good, despite the heft.

Over grassy banks and mounds, whilst the EXB was more than up to the task, it was definitely better on sand, gravel and dirt. The bumpy terrain was no problem for the EXB - the extra long suspension throw well suited to such terrain. The extra heft carried by this rig certainly added a certain momentum to it - useful for bumpy stuff.

Around the Velodrome, the EXB proved consistent and fast, too. The tyres worked consistently and didn't balloon uncontrollably, thus I was able to get over 60 mph..nice! No diffs blew either, which I was assured is a given on Kratons. 🤣 On its highly modified form, at 309g heavier than the XTR, it works out at 5.6% heavier. But it's solid for jumps and will not bend.

Drive 2: Kagama LE

The LE had terrific punch and the gripper tyres hooked up well around the Government carpark. The sheer speed was impressive and the handling was good - not as aggressive as the XTR, but as good or better than the EXB for cornering and getting the power down.

Once the speed was up, ballooning tyres were a handful, so it was clear that Copperhead V2's were better suited for higher speeds on hard surfaces.

On grass however, the LE had extra punch and climbed up slopes more readily than the EXB. In fact it was so fast, it could exit the reception range of the RTR radio in mere seconds. 🤦 It was a hot day, and I didn't feel like running around after it, so I literally had to keep the LE within 25 - 30 metres at all times. Running laps on the Velodrome wasn't an option. Needless to say, 2 diversity FASST Corona receivers are on their way!

In it's stock form, at 290g heavier than the XTR, the LE is around 5.4% heavier. But considering all the extra bracing and stronger composites, that's not a bad trade off for people wanting to jump to the moon. This car is solid. Would I jump to the moon with this? Yes. I believe it would take it. Am I actually going to? Nope. 😝

Drive 3: XTR

Immediately, I could feel extra steering. The truck rotated easier and I could make it do things neither of the other two could. I could pick lines, drift, scandi flick, change direction in a way that the others can't do. On the hard surface in the Government carpark, I felt entirely at one with the car.

On grass, the XTR really demonstrated why being light and nimble results in a more agile machine. The Gripper tyres are essentially at their best on grassy surfaces. They offer a very plush ride.

Around the Velodrome, the high speed runs were a handful on the Grippers, but it was manageable. On the 13/46 gearing, technically the rig was capable of hitting 70mph - but - when the tyres expand into Pizza cutters, the ESC has no choice but limit the current draw. At 820mm diameter, the tyres were writing cheques they couldn't cash! 🤣

I ended up on the current limiter twice - each time as I got on to the back straight of the oval.and onto full throttle. Speed? About 65mph.

Over sand and gravel, yes - the XTR seems at home. There isn't another rig that would cover more ground on this kind of surface. It's quite a weapon and would readily race in a 6S class of its own.

Would I jump to the moon? Nope. Not with this one.
 
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