Kagama Horatio's Kraton 6S EXB V6 Build

[Nelson.81]

Cheers for the suggestion - it's a great idea.

I had a chat with Dubscustomworks. He's just moved studio/shop. So he stalled me for a couple of months.

I have only 1 pro painted body at the moment, but in time I would love to have all my fleet to following a theme. Certainly my race rigs.

Thankfully, I'm not in a hurry. So I'll try him again.

I do some stupid sh#t sometimes I think I’d be pissed at myself spending £200 on bodyshell but if I where to I think I might sleep bit easier knowing it was custom one done specifically for me. But would like to think you would get a chunk change back from £200 getting it done in uk

 

[Horatio]

I do some stupid sh#t sometimes I think I’d be pissed at myself spending £200 on bodyshell but if I where to I think I might sleep bit easier knowing it was custom one done specifically for me. But would like to think you would get a chunk change back from £200 getting it done in uk

Yes, you're right. £200 for a beautiful painted body is a lot.

In other news - I did the double at SWRCCC today - took TQ & the win in 4WD Mod buggy and qualified 3rd and took the win in 2WD Mod buggy.

Chuffed to bits I am.

2WD

4WD

In between, I took the EXB out and blasted it across some coarse gravel. With the Carbon chassis. Just like I stole it!

It was fun, I'm not going to lie. It has a certain reassuring purposeful nature about it.

And then Mike (proprietor of Onyx) sent me this:

Wow! Beast mode activated!!

Look at this Onyx pack...

Those are some super low IR packs....

 

[Horatio]

6400g

Vs

5946g

Running weight with 6S battery.

 

[Horatio]

M2C ESC plate is going in....

Watch this space. Mounts up all popular ESC's, including the Max 6. In the meantime, it also fits the stock Firma ESC.

Just lining it up.

Plate fits very snug, side guards required to be slightly relieved where the switch mount is, to avoid fouling the plate.

Care also needs to be taken mounting the plate to the chassis - so as not to pinch the wires to the receiver, between the brass stand-offs and the chassis.

Besides that, it's a fairly straightforward fit otherwise.

 

[Horatio]

It's a nice setup - when the Max 6 arrives, it will drop straight in.

 

[Horatio]

So blasting the EXB around today, the more I like it. From a driving perspective, it has a more neutral handling, but it still responds and goes exactly where I want it too.

This means I can still do scandi flicks with it, aggressively brake into corners to slide. Drive over kerbs. Lawns. Small people - it's just unstoppable. The extra heft reminded me of driving the Savage!

I literally can't wait to give this a blast at the Velodrome soon. It's going to be very interesting comparing the V6 electronics with the Corally Kronos XTR.

The brownout with the receiver has definitely stopped since fitting the Protek glitch buster cap. It fits inside the radio box no worries.

I'm running 16t pinion and 50t spur and nothing got too hot.

Will it hit 60mph at the Velodrome? Yeah, I think so. On the Copperheads, I've projected a top speed of 63mph. This is based on a rollout of 39.52mm/rev and Voltage at 22.2 volts (taking into account the sag) with the 2050kv motor. It's not going to hit 60mph as fast as the XTR, but I can forgive it for that

Things would likely be very different with the Max 6 and 4990 running a TTC of 71. 21/50. It's a heavy setup, but it will blast around without getting hot. At the expense of some agility.

So once again, for anyone thinking that the Kronos was just trying to be a Kraton - I definitely don't agree.

The XTR especially was basically trying to be a sportier version of a Kraton. With more aggressive steering response. And far better electronics.

The V6 EXB has about matched the Torox/Kuron with it's Spektrum Firma - if we look past the limits of the BEC.

What I really like is an almost 'Limitless' (pun intended) amount of upgrades available for the Kraton.

The Kagama is more 'extreme' bash than the XTR and should be up there with the EXB. Totally open to the prospect of trying a Kagama Ltd Edition to complete the bash Truggy holy trinity.

There are also plans afoot to blast these rigs at a Bash-fest at Pembrey Country Park, soon.

 

[KnowAir]

Good stuff brother! I'm curious to see what kind of numbers the Kraton puts up. I don't know if I've ever hit 60mph with any of my rigs. I know I could get them there but, no need in my small space I run in. I think I was probably close to 60 with the Bandit on 3s. I live on a dead end street, the road turns into my drive way. I run the Bandit as far as my GT3b will allow down the street and let her rip back up and into my driveway. Quite comical the sound of the Bandito when it flips over backwards at near full tilt! Polycarbonate on blacktop!!

 

[Horatio]

When I got my GPS, it became a sport - just running completely inappropriate rigs at their absolute limit, speed wise. Then I realised that 0-60mph runs were actually more challenging than just 'arriving' at a top speed.

However, now I'm racing regularly again, I find myself running ESC logs, looking at RPMs attained at various points around the track.

This tells me how fast I am at any given point. With this I can hone gear ratios and rollout effectively.

All that being said, when I'm blasting the Kraton and XTR over off road terrain, jumping or pulling great wheelies, I never really feel the need to check the top speed. GPS stays in it's box. And I won't be pulling ESC logs on the field.

I'm only a Gnerd when I get back home and start doing analysis!

Apparently, according to my friendly AI - this is me:

And it looked at one of our eating out photos and translated it as this:

Poor missus looks terrified - and judging by the eyes, we both have a major thyroid issue going on.

AI thinks I'm a raging whack job.

 

[BashingBrian]

What I really like is an almost 'Limitless' (pun intended) amount of upgrades available for the Kraton.

Only really needed as the box stock product is so bad to start with...

I spent loads of money on my Kratons over the years, chassis swaps, motor/escs and other upgrades etc etc, in my opinion the XTR and Kagama are still far superior.!!
Not gonna lie I've added a lot of OG Corally parts to my XTR, not because they were needed but I just fancied an upgrade.!!
The Kraton on the other hand, well, let just say I spent more time fixing it than running it so in the end I gave up

 

[Horatio]

Only really needed as the box stock product is so bad to start with...

I spent loads of money on my Kratons over the years, chassis swaps, motor/escs and other upgrades etc etc, in my opinion the XTR and Kagama are still far superior.!!
Not gonna lie I've added a lot of OG Corally parts to my XTR, not because they were needed but I just fancied an upgrade.!!
The Kraton on the other hand, well, let just say I spent more time fixing it than running it so in the end I gave up

I hear what you are saying and won't disagree with you. Corally rigs are great value and drive brilliantly out of the box.

Many people say the diffs are weak on the Arrma trucks. Everyone blows diffs.

Erm.....I haven't yet. Am I doing something wrong?

Most people seem to love Copperhead 2 tyres and dislike Kronos/Kagama tyres.

Am I weird in that I actually really like the Corally truck tyres for off road running on grass and gravel?

They're much lighter than copperheads, and relieve much of the driveline strain that people seem to have issues with - especially on the diffs.

 

[KnowAir]

I hear what you are saying and won't disagree with you. Corally rigs are great value and drive brilliantly out of the box.

Many people say the diffs are weak on the Arrma trucks. Everyone blows diffs.

Erm.....I haven't yet. Am I doing something wrong?

Most people seem to love Copperhead 2 tyres and dislike Kronos/Kagama tyres.

Am I weird in that I actually really like the Corally truck tyres for off road running on grass and gravel?

They're much lighter than copperheads, and relieve much of the driveline strain that people seem to have issues with - especially on the diffs.

You ain't wrong brother, everyone bashes differently, different expectations ect..
I "feel" like TC diffs are a bit better, though I won't say Arrma diffs are bad. I have put a lot more hours on my Arrma's than I have my single TC Kronos. I generally don't run more than stock electronics and TBH, my Kronos has spent most of it's life on 4s with the TC combo.
6s with the TC combo just proves to be more power than I need, destroys tires. Yet I find my Kraton to be more suited to 6s, easier to control. My brother say's the TC Torox/Kuron 6s combo is just too much for the track. Either on 6s with race tires equals shredded tires in minimal time.
I love the TC Gripper tires, and yes, way lighter than any of Arrma's offerings. From Arrma I like the BF 6s and the 6s Fortress for the Mojave have got to be their best (IMO).
Overpowering ANY rc will result in blown diffs. Even worses when they actually hookup. I run mini pins on clay most of the time, and while I may only be running stock power on a small backyard track, when the clay is damp and grippy it puts quite a bit of strain on the driveline. Both Arrma and TC have held up well.

 

[Horatio]

You ain't wrong brother, everyone bashes differently, different expectations ect..
I "feel" like TC diffs are a bit better, though I won't say Arrma diffs are bad. I have put a lot more hours on my Arrma's than I have my single TC Kronos. I generally don't run more than stock electronics and TBH, my Kronos has spent most of it's life on 4s with the TC combo.
6s with the TC combo just proves to be more power than I need, destroys tires. Yet I find my Kraton to be more suited to 6s, easier to control. My brother say's the TC Torox/Kuron 6s combo is just too much for the track. Either on 6s with race tires equals shredded tires in minimal time.
I love the TC Gripper tires, and yes, way lighter than any of Arrma's offerings. From Arrma I like the BF 6s and the 6s Fortress for the Mojave have got to be their best (IMO).
Overpowering ANY rc will result in blown diffs. Even worses when they actually hookup. I run mini pins on clay most of the time, and while I may only be running stock power on a small backyard track, when the clay is damp and grippy it puts quite a bit of strain on the driveline. Both Arrma and TC have held up well.

I always felt that most of the issues certain people were having with Kronos XTR 21, was that they were emulating KT - but possessed the mental acuity of an amoeba.

KT was going out of his way to break things - because it was of no financial consequence to him whatsoever - one way or the other. Miraculously his rigs were always fixed in the follow up videos.

The other thing was 6S power - through non-hardened drivetrain - it was too much for most of us, let alone someone just starting up! Insanity levels of power.

4S would be much more sensible on the 6S rigs - especially so with the XTR, what with it being 500g lighter.

Then of course - rotating mass. Yes, I believe the Corally diffs are inherently more durable, but it really does help that the Corally gripper tyres are about 300g per wheel, Vs the Copperheads which are more like 350g. That's 200g less rotating mass! That has to help with driveability and durability, surely?

All valid points you make. Race tyres are much more lightly made. I'm not convinced that they're upto 6S power.

That said - I do rag my Sworkz around on Truggy tyres using 6S.

I even raced it against 1/10th buggies on carpet. It was hilarious!

Gratuitous wheelies down the straight, launching of jumps, crossing half the track, blocking up the infield....