The start of something new. Vintage TRX-1 build.

[mamba max1]

For years, I've always wanted to build a vintage rc car. After lots of research, I finally settled on the Traxxas TRX-1 (released in '91). I chose it because they are extremely scarce, and they were Traxxas' first majorly competitive model. Winning ROAR championships in '92 and '93.

I decided to go another route with this build. During my research, I found countless builds where the person only built a "looker"....sometimes they put modern electrics to run them. I'm going to take it one step further. Not only will all of the parts be "new", but I will be also installing "new" era specific electronics. In the end, she will still be a shelf queen, but she will run on vintage technology. Over the past few weeks, I have collected about 90% of the parts for the TRX-1. I've also managed to scrounge up all of my electronics. I aim to use as many vintage parts as possible, but in some cases (mostly int he hardware area) I have to buy items that were recently made (that have the new Traxxas label).


Finally, some pics:



Over shot of everything that has arrived....still have a lot coming in the mail (mostly from the UK and Japan).



The gem of the whole build. A Composite Craft double decker chassis. This thing is like super duper ultra rare and the best part is it is NOS (new old stock)!!! ^_^



The wheels/tires that I have received so far. I even managed to find some of the optional Traxxas hot pink wheels! All NOS of course.



Various large plastic parts.....




Continued.........

[mamba max1]

Steering components....



Transmission parts......



Hardware.......



TRX-1 decals and window masks.



Several items from other companies. There is a NOS Revtech stock motor in there.




Continued.......

[mamba max1]

I even stumbled upon the RC car action magazine from '92 when they discussed the TRX-1!!!!!







Not everything was printed in color back then.



Lookie at what else I found.........





A NOS Futaba Magnum remote with rx, 2 servos and even the instructions!!!!!




Continued again lol.......

[mamba max1]

It uses a needle to show the battery voltage.



Hmmmmmm, what could this be?



It's a NOS Tamyia Ni-Cd 1200 mah 7.2V battery from '89-'91! Not only does it come with the box and instructions, but it even works! ^_^




More pics in a bit.

[3trxvintage]

This is going to be an awesome build!! Cant wait to see the car when it is done.

My only question is where did you get all those awesome vintage parts from?

[GJW]

i love it all except for the battery pack cc chassis from ebay??

[mamba max1]

This is going to be an awesome build!! Cant wait to see the car when it is done.

My only question is where did you get all those awesome vintage parts from?

Thanks! Mostly from ebay, some from forums.

i love it all except for the battery pack cc chassis from ebay??

Why is that? The chassis did come from ebay.

[mamba max1]

Time for a very due update!

Got the Tamyia battery to take a full charge!




Diff assembly......








Tranny assembly.....






Chassis progress (over about 2 weeks).....














Servo set up...... Even a Parma vintage servo saver






Tekin F-10 NIB esc.........^_^^_^

Alllllllllllll the way from Japan.












Black magic 14x2 motor........(new)

Installed some NIB vintage Bud's capacitors too












Vintage battery re-construction. Race-pack style.



















As it sits.

[mamba max1]

Also, when were the Sanyo RC cells manufactured? I got lucky that mine are in such good shape because they were double shrink wrapped.


And, does anybody know a thing about the black magic motor? I have found very little on the internet....and I have looked extensively.

[GJW]

This is going to be an awesome build!! Cant wait to see the car when it is done.

My only question is where did you get all those awesome vintage parts from?

Thanks! Mostly from ebay, some from forums.

i love it all except for the battery pack cc chassis from ebay??

Why is that? The chassis did come from ebay.

the buggy is too good for a tamiya pack the black scr-c that's the go!! just put on a decent race connector

the chassis came from bob stormer correct?

[Lonestar]

Hi there,

cool trx1, with lots of new goodies

I am anything but convinced that the F10 esc will pass enough current for the 14 double, you might want to double check before you fry the speedo. Then again, with the Tamiya pack, there isn't much risk The fact that your SC's take a charge doesn't mean they can give it back The 1700 scrc-sp black cells came out ca. 95 or 96 I think. These might be enough to toast your esc though. True racers didn't shrink wrap 6x1 packs... and certainly didn't use tamiya/molex connectors

That CC chassis must have come from Bob indeed... I was watching in on ebay a few weeks ago but prices went much too high, even though they seem to be market prices.

Not everyone puts modern electronics in trx-1's... here's mine:






(it uses the one on the left of course )

Will watch this thread closely

Paul

[mamba max1]

the buggy is too good for a tamiya pack the black scr-c that's the go!! just put on a decent race connector

the chassis came from bob stormer correct?

Gatcha lol. I have some vintage race connectors in for works. Found them after I made the battery.

I did get the chassis from Bob Stormer...along with the front pink wheels.

Hi there,

cool trx1, with lots of new goodies

I am anything but convinced that the F10 esc will pass enough current for the 14 double, you might want to double check before you fry the speedo. Then again, with the Tamiya pack, there isn't much risk The fact that your SC's take a charge doesn't mean they can give it back The 1700 scrc-sp black cells came out ca. 95 or 96 I think. These might be enough to toast your esc though. True racers didn't shrink wrap 6x1 packs... and certainly didn't use tamiya/molex connectors

That CC chassis must have come from Bob indeed... I was watching in on ebay a few weeks ago but prices went much too high, even though they seem to be market prices.

Thanks! The chassis did come from Bob. I shrunk wrapped the cells because since I plan only using them (very rarely though) I don't want to mess them up. Can't fix a scratched battery (they are mint), but it only takes a few seconds to remove the shrink wrap. I actually found some vintage race connectors....after I made the battery. They should be showing up soon(ish).

The F-10 is rated for 140 amps...plenty there.

Besides being a "hot" motor, do you know much about it? Finding info for it is rather difficult and a name like "black magic" does not help in a search.

[Lonestar]

Hi there

spec sheets amps rating was non-relevant bitd to be honest, and still is. My futaba Mc116 was officially rated for 1040A (sic)... and I toasted it with an overgeared 15 double in my teenage days the formula10 might be ok but still was a mildly-priced esc although it was rated at 10T I think, you could be flirting with its limit, really. The tamiya connectors will defo melt at some point.

Your BRP-badged mill is an AirSupply one with a BRP label on it BRP never pumped out huge volumes on the market really, even when Bud Bartos was WC in 12th stock. I've always found very little info on AirSupply as a manuf, actually I didn't even know it existed bitd up until a couple of years ago when I got some in a lot I traded. They look up to par with the contemporary Epics and Yoks. What one has to keep in mind with brushed mills, especially the "hotter" ones (I'd say below 15 turns) is that their condition and maintenance matters way more than their brand or label... Put the right brushes on it, align the brush hoods, break it in properly and it'll go like a 14 double regardless of whether it has a "Black magic" sticky on it or not

Gotcha on the 1700scrc-sp's. These cells are gorgeous anyway. 1.16's/419 were more than decent last millenium


Keep building it!
Paul

[m_vice]

Awesome ...

[GJW]

you have done a very nice job hard to find stuff