It has begun!!!
This weekend, I picked up Phase I parts:
*Traxxas 4000mAh LiPo Battery
*HiTech X1 Charger (amazing! - it doubles as a compact motorcycle battery charger, which I needed anyway!)
*Castle Creations Sidewinder3 ESC (brushed-mode, so I didn't replace the motor)
*Various wires, connectors, body pins, etc.
*Bought local from Hobby Warehouse (
http://www.myhobbywarehouse.com/ ---- HUGE help!!!! Great guys!!!!)
*New soldering iron (unexpected - GRRRR!!!!) --- This was purchased from Menards, a $12 China cheapo.
I had previously stated my Phase I target was 10-minutes of runtime. Behind the scenes, I also set my budget at $250. I came in well above expectations and under budget. Well...technically *JUST* under budget when you factor in the soldering iron issues. Really, I replaced an expensive Weller soldering iron with a cheapo "Tool Shop" thing, so I'm still at a global-loss. I'm going to counterbalance THAT by focusing on the kick-splode motorcycle charger I purchased for 1/3 the cost of an equivalent "Harley-Davidson" branded compact battery charger. Ok, so for the CAR ITSELF, I spent around $150 and about 2 hours of actual work...I call it a win!
It's quick. I like it! MY GOD - it's quick! Even with the old brushed motor!
I ran it down in our parking garage (~65*F) for a battery cycle, and I tried to run it HARD. The motor was warm-ish, the ESC was barely above room temp, the battery was fine. It ran for well over 15 minutes before my radio batteries started to give out (turns out, they were from 2004?) and the range went to crap. I did some tight figure 8's for a while longer, but eventually the radio was too annoying to continue. I have a set of NiMH on the way for the radio and the LiPo was still at about 30%. I'm good with that!!!!!!!
I nabbed some throw-away 3M uber-sticky velcro scraps from work to mount the ESC, the switch & some small zip-ties to do some wire management. I need to disassemble the electronics and CLEAN everything now that I ran it down in the gritty parking garage.
I have another thread in the On-Road section about new rims & tires - I think Phase II is now going to focus on that piece. I want to replace the rims & tires with something very standard and the body with something inexpensive and disposable. I'll keep the DS Merc and original wheels for historic purposes and burn the crap outta the standard wheels for fun!