XLS Re-re: body/undertray too narrow for battery

[XLR8]

Has anyone tried to install a standard length nimh or lipo whilst using the supplied undertray and body? I just did and I can tell you they don't fit well at all. With either battery in place, I'm not able to pull the tray sides up to where they belong relative to the sides of the body; the tray sides are forced down by the battery. It seems that the body/tray are a little too narrow to accommodate standard form batteries. So now I get to order-up a shorty pack for this car. I guess for all of the photos you see online with a nicely fitting body, the car is not shown with a standard form battery. Not happy!

[Groomi]

The original was always a tight fit for a standard Nicad pack and most nimh or lipo packs are slightly larger, so like various Tamiya re-re's, they don't quite fit. It's good that they've included a shorty holder to ensure they can be used with modern batteries.

[XLR8]

Thank you Groomi. Including the re-release I've owned three CATS over the years beginning with the SWB. Somehow, I didn't retain the body/tray from my original XLS. I must have assembled it straight from the box with a CF chassis that accepts saddle pack nicads and fitted the Dahms Optima Mid body - no tray. I don't recall the battery being a tight fit but i believe that you are right. I do still have my original SWB body and tray and I swear that thing is incredibly tiny. I remember building the SWB car; with the battery in place it was a challenge to find space for electronics in that shell. Anyway, I think before I throw in the towel and order a shorty for the new XLS, I'm gonna try to fit the lipo lengthwise down the center of the chassis. I was looking at it again this evening and I think I can mount the servo and receiver along the left side of the chassis and toward the rear and mount the esc above the top belt cover (in the 'greenhouse'). With this arrangement, the battery can be removed from the right side of the car.


Meh, that sounds like a lot of trouble so maybe I'll just order the damned shorty.

[Danf1275]

I used to run my XL with a Core RC stick pack across the chassis. I scalloped undertray away to clear corners of pack, allowing it to overhang slightly under shell, was still a stretch though.

Switched to a shortie now, albeit with my own craddles which position pack further back than kit ones, saving valuable chassis space.

[XLR8]

I used to run my XL with a Core RC stick pack across the chassis. I scalloped undertray away to clear corners of pack, allowing it to overhang slightly under shell, was still a stretch though.

Switched to a shortie now, albeit with my own craddles which position pack further back than kit ones, saving valuable chassis space.

Thank you Dan. Yeah, the nimh packs do fit better than lipo ones. I also considered trimming the sides of the tray but I run on a loose dirt track and I want to keep the tray intact to keep dirt out of the car. Do you have a theory as to why Schumacher didn't simply design the body a few mm's wider?
If you can, could you please post a pic of your custom shorty craddles??

[Danf1275]

If you can, could you please post a pic of your custom shorty craddles??

Available via Shapeways

https://www.shapeways.com/product/BWLT3MY67/schumacher-cat-shorty-cradle-lh?optionId=60691919

[XLR8]

Thank you Dan. That's a very nice piece; doesn't require anything special to mount and secures with a single screw. Really nice design!