View Full Version : Update on RC Club
Twopu
05-14-2006, 08:14 PM
I want to thank everyone again for their help and support in getting this club together. The kids are having a great time with the Rustlers. As I'm sure you know we are having little issues (tires, gears, driving skills, etc.) but growing pains are good. I'll post some of the questions we are faced with but for now I wanted to let you see what you helped us create.
Thanks again!!!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0678.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0677.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0676.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0675.jpg
Twopu
05-14-2006, 08:25 PM
Sorry for the large pics and mess desk. I'm new to posting pics and photobucket so I really don't know how to control the size.
Vato Loco
05-14-2006, 08:52 PM
Nice now for action shots of the kids having fun......
Brian23
05-14-2006, 08:55 PM
do they pay for their own parts when they break them? sounds liek a fun club
Twopu
05-14-2006, 09:29 PM
Unfortunately, I get stuck with the bill if there are problems. If it gets really bad I'm sure the coordinator will help out, but I don't want to push my luck after asking for $1500. I really don't mind it to much, as a teacher I'm used to paying out of pocket for classroom supplies. I see this as a motivational tool for my students. If they are meeting all academic/behavioral requirements then I give them more time with the trucks. Maybe we'll have a working lunch where we make adjustments before the club meets (teacher's aide) or they may get to set up first before a race (VIP treatment). If they are not performing academically/behaviorally then their roles in the club become limited. Maybe they won't drive that day and/or be limited to the pit crew. They may be limited to watching or just not attending the club for the day. The consequence is based on the offense. I really try to stay positive and relate everything they do to the real world.
We'll probably have fundraisers/donations to help deal with the upkeep. I'm spending a lot of time teaching them about the truck (prevention) before we go out driving again to minimize out of pocket expenses.
I'm doing mini workshops to teach them about the truck since they are RTR. I see 3 different groups once a week so it's taking some time, but I believe it will be time well spent. I hope to have them driving again next week.
Losi Stealth
05-14-2006, 10:30 PM
RPM makes a nice bumper for the trucks, If you find that they're hitting things head on and breaking that little bumper don't worry (sand it down or something, its pretty much useless anyway) but if they're breaking the front arms this thing cuts down on that. It also makes a nice handle.
http://www.rpmrcproducts.com/products/traxxas/bumpers.htm But its available at my LHS, check yours.
Vato Loco
05-15-2006, 05:41 AM
I hear the sounds of a raffle soon!
Out Of Control
05-15-2006, 06:43 AM
hey, you can move to my school, :D , i wish there was an rc club, it would be a dream come true, because the stupid school just got rid of the ski club, and all thats left its gay clubs.
I want to thank everyone again for their help and support in getting this club together. The kids are having a great time with the Rustlers. As I'm sure you know we are having little issues (tires, gears, driving skills, etc.) but growing pains are good. I'll post some of the questions we are faced with but for now I wanted to let you see what you helped us create.
Thanks again!!!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0678.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0677.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0676.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0675.jpg
NotWalkinBlind
05-15-2006, 11:27 AM
Out of Control, when you wanna reply to something and it has lotsa pix in it, please just click "Post Reply" at the bottom of the page... that way you're not quoting and reposting the pix again.
Just a humble little request from the dialup guys, ya understand.
:D
RCRevolution
05-15-2006, 01:55 PM
yeah seriously was qouting all those pics necessary?
anyways have fun with the rustlers, most rcs are decently durable so until u do crazy stuff you shouldn't have any problems.
just dont show them pics or videos of these things 10 feet in the air cause monkey see monkey do :D
RCRevolution
05-15-2006, 01:58 PM
an other question.
how do you manage the frequencies? i see two purple, and also 7 rcs there has to be an identical crystal in there
SS Pede
05-15-2006, 02:00 PM
RPM makes a nice bumper for the trucks, If you find that they're hitting things head on and breaking that little bumper don't worry (sand it down or something, its pretty much useless anyway) but if they're breaking the front arms this thing cuts down on that. It also makes a nice handle.
http://www.rpmrcproducts.com/products/traxxas/bumpers.htm But its available at my LHS, check yours.
He already has RPM front bumpers on all of the trucks. :)
Twopu
05-15-2006, 05:14 PM
We are having a lot of fun with them. Thanks for all the well wishes.
I purchased XMOD crystals from Radio Shack which gives me 6 more frequencies. The RPM bumpers were the first mod made to the trucks. I just wish they had one for the rear. I've only seen the wheelie bar/bumper but I'm hoping to mod something for the rear.
your a cool teacher Twopu. I was a straight A student till i had a bad teacher, then i became an anti-social psycho. Keep up the good work!
Good luck.
Twopu
05-15-2006, 09:34 PM
Thanks mook!!! I try to keep it interesting. The best way to show that teacher is to make something of yourself. Don't ever let anyone get in your way of your goals.
tonyt
10-09-2006, 08:40 PM
Thanks mook!!! I try to keep it interesting. The best way to show that teacher is to make something of yourself. Don't ever let anyone get in your way of your goals.
hey!
check your Private Messages please!!!
Tony T.
z-man280
10-09-2006, 08:49 PM
TwoPu,
you are quite the teacher, and quite the mentor. To take money away from YOUR family to let these kids enjoy out hobby says more about you than you think. I KNOW the impact you have made on these kids will last a lifetime. I know you wont, but stop and give yourself a quick pat on the back, you deserve it.
now its our turn!
come on guys, i know we all must have something laying around to help, i have a couple servos, spurs, pinions, ect i will be happy to send you twopu for the kids! shoot us your addy, i know i'm not the only one who will donate!!!!!!!!
Ron
Mini-TBasher55
10-09-2006, 08:53 PM
TwoPu,
you are quite the teacher, and quite the mentor. To take money away from YOUR family to let these kids enjoy out hobby says more about you than you think. I KNOW the impact you have made on these kids will last a lifetime. I know you wont, but stop and give yourself a quick pat on the back, you deserve it.
now its our turn!
come on guys, i know we all must have something laying around to help, i have a couple servos, spurs, pinions, ect i will be happy to send you twopu for the kids! shoot us your addy, i know i'm not the only one who will donate!!!!!!!!
Ron
Hmmm, I think I might have a couple of old Traxxas servos and an ESC laying around.....never use it....willing to give it up for free...I'll look later this week.
tonyt
10-09-2006, 08:55 PM
TwoPu,
you are quite the teacher, and quite the mentor. To take money away from YOUR family to let these kids enjoy out hobby says more about you than you think. I KNOW the impact you have made on these kids will last a lifetime. I know you wont, but stop and give yourself a quick pat on the back, you deserve it.
now its our turn!
come on guys, i know we all must have something laying around to help, i have a couple servos, spurs, pinions, ect i will be happy to send you twopu for the kids! shoot us your addy, i know i'm not the only one who will donate!!!!!!!!
Ron
yay! nice way of rallying the troops! i'll see what i can send over... o yea....where should i send to???
Tony T.
PS TwoPu, CHECK YOUR PM!!!!
Grant Tokumi
10-09-2006, 09:25 PM
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/RCruz411/IMG_0675.jpg
NOw thats what I'm talking about! Nice job on the storage shelving. Very well organized. Whats your mailing address for donations?
slink
10-09-2006, 09:57 PM
Twopu, If your running them on pavement the offroad tires that come on the rustlers wont hold up long at all.If thats the case when tires are needed look to replace them with road tires.Slipper adjustment may help with the gears.
Teachers like you twopu are the ones kids remember all through their lives!
Teachers like you are the ones who teach.. :teacher: ..Not all can come from a text book not all teaching methods can be learned in college.Twopu = HERO
hijacker
10-09-2006, 10:28 PM
Twopu, give us a list of some things you might need. I have an A.M. radio I could donate if you need one. Maybe some other things too even though I've never had a Rustler before.
Give us a list, some idea of what is needed.
Losi Stealth
10-10-2006, 11:15 AM
He already has RPM front bumpers on all of the trucks. :)
Wow, I have no observational skills. I see them in the pics now. Nice job. :) Maybe this will be more usefull:
On the subject of tires, I've found that
1) Proline street tires (Striker II, Road Hawg II, Road Rage II) all tend to have too low a profile to perform well on the Rustler. The low sidewalls reduce the dimensions of the wheels. In the back this means the car goes slower, easily fixed by re-matching spur and pinion gears. In the front there's a little more of an issue 'cause without the round carcass the tire's corners lifts off the ground alot due to the kick up. I'm not terribly fond of them.
2)I do prefer the all-terrain tires (I run Dirt Works). I've found its a good all around tire that has a decent life to it. Its got a decent tread pattern for the road if you're just playing for fun (I don't race, so as far as specific qualities go, I have no idea).
Oh, and RPM bearing carriers are good too. If you go to bearings, don't just replace the oilite bushings with equivalent sized bearings. You'll get longer lives out of bigger bearings. RPM + Traxxas is usually a good thing.
IRELAND
10-10-2006, 12:16 PM
what grade are the kids that drive these in?
balang_479
10-10-2006, 03:31 PM
Awesome work, nice too see some one working for the benefit of others and promoting RC:
dhutch
10-10-2006, 04:09 PM
Looking cool!
Poseidon
10-11-2006, 01:28 PM
YOU ARE A GOD!!!!!!!
I cant imagine how fun it would be to be able to learn about these AT SCHOOL! That would be amazing. I had a teacher that taught us model rocketry. We had an absolute blast!
How old (what grade) are the kids driving? (I'm aware this has already been posted)
How many kids are in the club? Do the kids get mad if another kid broke a part?
You are an amazing person and teacher!
POSEIDON
tonyt
10-11-2006, 08:17 PM
^agreed^
Tony T.
myqueace
10-12-2006, 08:06 PM
What a coincidence, I had a teacher that me model rocketry as well. Actually, we each made a to scale size patriot missile. Anyway, Twopu, good work. I'm actually jealous of your students...
LEMMEDRIVEIT!!
10-13-2006, 06:23 PM
Having a rustler for like 8 something years, I've replaced every part on that truck one time or another.
Credit first to whoever said it before, but I will fully back the strive for RPM 5x11 Ball-bearing carriers and the bearings. You will be amazed at how much they help. Yes, don't convert to bearings without gonig to the larger carriers, because the smaller bearings fall apart withing a couple of runs...... Stock up on caster blocks, those were definitely the most-broken part on my truck...
Someone, maybe RPM, sells plastic "wingnut" style nuts for your wheels. GET THEM. They stay on because they are plactic, they are super cheap, and you can replace tires in the field because you can take them off by hand....
Someone said you already got the RPM bumpers.... they rock.
If you start haven't any problems with the transmission, or the first time someone strips an idler gear in the transmission, go for the aluminum one. They are expensive, I think 17$ or so. They never strip obviously, but if you start having major MAJOR problems with your trannies, get them.
STEEL OUTDRIVES... I cannot recommomend these enough.. Again, they are on the high priced side, but they take a little while to install but will help so much more... the outdrives never break, forcing downtime upwards of 20 minutes to fix it.
Hmm..I'm assuming you have the stock Stinger motor in there.... If you decide to spring for an upgrade, I know you alreay know enough, more than I do, about electrics, but I have always had good experiences with the Trinity Speed Gems 2 Series in my rustler.
This is by memory, but I think Traxxas gives you a shoddy gear cover? Its like thin plastic? If so, buy the RPM gear cover.. Its solid plastic, and the holes wont rip out, along with the face that it saves you spur gears.
Hope all goes well.... If you have any rustler specific questions, post 'em here, I'll be checking back.