My BMVii Comp crawler "Exile"

[jamesbernatchez]

I just got the chassis in the mail and am impressed. I built it and installed all my electronics. The COG is waaay lower than my SW2 with just as much ground clearance. I ran it for a few minutes in my front yard. I tried climbing a few things that my SW2 had difficulty(near vertical) and from the get go it went father than the SW2..it took a few tries to get up and usually with a few blips of the throttle i made it. I have no doubts that this will outperform my SW2!

The funny thing is that some guys in my club watched my SW2 follow supers in some areas and couldnt wait to build thier SW2. Now that I built the BMVii I dont think i would even run my SW2 in a comp. Im actually not wanting to show them this, that way I have a nice advantage, LOL! I will get pics and vid of it performing this weekend.

My setup:

BMVii chassis
A little under 12 1/2 inches wheelbase
RC4WD Super Narrow beadlocks(total weight is 10.5 ounces in front and 9.5 ounces in rear)
Mamba 25
Holmes Hobbies Revolver 2
Custom 7 cell AA pack
Airtronics 200 ouce servo

Here are some pics. I will use the stampede body for now...until I get something new.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0113.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0108.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0114.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0118.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0120.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0122.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0125.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0128.jpg

[jamesbernatchez]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0129.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0131.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0134.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0136.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0137.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0138.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0139.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0140.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0143.jpg

My only worry is how the chassis will hold up over time. I will definitly be ordering another. I cant wait to run it and see how it performs. I will be comparing it to my Super class clod that I will have done by the end of the week.

[hijacker]

Uh, James... where is the rest of it?



Looks pretty sweet! VIDS wanted!

[MarkieMark231]

Makes me want to go out and do one myself.

[jamesbernatchez]

Hahaha, the rest! Thats the beauty of it..no shocks or links to have to worry about. K.I.S.S....keep it simple stupid!!! Sometimes less is more as they say. We will see this weekend when I test it out.

[Dirt King]

Wow, that thing is amazingly minimalist. I'd fear it would just shear off at the linkage mounts. Looks really interesting though. Be sure to let us know how it does in testing.

[z-man280]

Um, :huh: :huh: ........what chassis did you get???? all i see is a couple rods..... :confused: :p

[MarkieMark231]

I'm fairly new with the rock crawlers, but wouldn't it help to have more weight?

[balang_479]

Hope your gonna keep this one....
yeah where is it?

[jamesbernatchez]

I'm fairly new with the rock crawlers, but wouldn't it help to have more weight?

Yes and no! You want the weight down low to give you a low center of gravity. The battery and servo are mounted on the front axle. Im running aluminum beadlocks w/ Moabs. No foam in the tires, just airsoft bb's. The weight is down low which would help you climb vertical.

[jamesbernatchez]

An update for you all!

I am adding front DIG to it. Dig is when you disconnect one of the center driveshafts to make it front or rear wheel drive only. Front dig is when the front is the only one getting power. Rear dig is the opposite. It helps tremendously on vertical climbs. I will take a few pics. I am already in the process and it will be done by tomorrow morning. This rig is already awesome and this will just make it even more unstoppable :D :D :D

[savage100]

And i just got my sw2. Actually i don't go to comps and would rather have a more scale look so it isn't that bad for me. Looks pretty awesome though.

[jamesbernatchez]

My DIG should work tonight, im just waiting for the JB Weld to dry so I can start testing. If it works as im hoping im gonna be very happy. Pics will come tonight and maybe a short vid showing it in action:)

[savage100]

Yeah do the vid. I want to see how well it climbs.

[jamesbernatchez]

I not only have some pics but VIDEO TOO! Just waiting for the video to be uploaded. Here are pics in the meantime.

It consists of 2 male shafts, one female shaft, brass rod jb welded to one of the male shafts. Both male shafts tapered at their ends, 2 duratrax aluminum shock collars, one "piece" that the screw threads through, and 2 zip ties and super glue. I jb welded the shock collers overnight and jb welded the piece for the screw to thread into to the collars. Once I figured out where the zip ties needed to be i put one on, ca glued that in place and let it dry. Then put the collar on along with the other zip tie and glued that one too. So far so good It will hit the rocks because its lower than the rods so we will see how it holds up. I used the zip ties cause thats all I had around. If they fail I will figure something else out.

This setup doesnt lock the rear but I noticed a good decrease in turning radius on flat ground which should be even better on the rocks:twisted: "thumbsup"

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0002-2.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0003-1.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0007-1.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/jamesbernatchez/Comp%20Rigs/IMG_0008-1.jpg

[savage100]

Soooo cool. That thing is going to be unstopable.

[jamesbernatchez]

And here is the video :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lChj3-TSa-A

[savage100]

Hey do you think you could put a pic of your wiring on the SW2 crawler thread now? Im getting some help from the people on rccrawler but i need a full pic if it isn't too much trouble. And ill watch the vid now.

Edit: :eek: Oh wow that is awesome!!!!!! I never knew you could be going and do it. I thought it would mess up the drivetrain or something.

[balang_479]

That is incredible... works incredibly well too, Clever work, hope it performs well too....

Need a vid of it in action on the rocks... :D

[MattHiggins]

Nice work, James.

[savage100]

When are you going to get a video of it outside? I want to see it go.

[jamesbernatchez]

Thanks Matt!


Savage...its cold out so im building my BJ4 for now! Maybe tomorrow but I doubt it.