Any crawler drivers on oople?

[Timee80]

Ive spent a bit of time looking at crawler vids on you tube recently and some look really good. Does anyone on here own one and crawl competetively? is there much interest or would you say its a dying side of rc?

[jimmy]

Hey mate, yes there's a few for sure but I'll let them confess. What sort of crawling are you looking at? I must say I like the scale stuff myself tho I've only got as far as buying my land rover shell so far

[Timee80]

the scale stuff looks good but i imagine you could easily spend a fortune on making it look "real". Its the 2.2 comp crawlers that im most attracted too. Ive been creating a shopping list and the cost is already crazy.
So far on the wish list:-
Axial xr10
2x brood 35t motors
Punk dig
Servos (my buggy stuff is too fast and too weak to be useful)
2x tekin fxr speedos
New radio gear with 3 position 3rd channel
HB sedona tyres

The list can easily go on. Ill be purchasing a lucky dip next week (youve got to be in it to win it!)

[terry.sc]

I own a few, been crawling since 2006 when you had to scratch build your own as there were no crawler kits, but been a couple of years since I crawled in competitions.
I have a
Clod based 2.2 http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_m...=77490&sid=297
Clod based Super http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_m...=77493&sid=297
and my competition Berg http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_m...=297&cid=85784

There has never been too much interest in competition crawling in the UK, South Derbyshire model car club used to hold monthly competitions on their purpose built course which were quite popular but they have stopped now. Usually the competitions are small get togethers organised by the people competing, you can see what's currently happening here.

Looking at your shopping list you have both a Punk dig and two FXRs when you only need one ESC. The dig is used with only one ESC, the dig disconnecting the power to whichever motor you want to brake. With a 3 channel radio and two ESCs you would be running both ESCs off the single throttle channel with both ESCs connected to the input on the dig unit, a bit like powering a motor by having two ESCs connected to it. If you want to use two ESCs then you will either need the Novak 'the Dig', a radio with sophisticated channel mixing or a 4 channel stick radio so you can control both throttles at the same time.

For a servo there's the old favourites the Hitec HS-7995TG or HS-7955TG, or their better modern versions the Hitec HS-7954SH or the HS-7950 which both can run direct from a 2S lipo. A cheaper alternative is the Savox SC-1256, I use a pair of these in my Super and they manage to steer the 4" wheels no problem. You will also need a separate BEC to power the servo, the Tekin can't give out enough power. If you are using high voltage servos like the 7950 and you are running 2S lipo you can run it direct from the battery, but otherwise I would recommend the Castle Creations CCBEC as the 10A output means the servo always has enough power to steer.


For more help www.rccrawler.com is by far the biggest crawler site although it is a typically american site, and if you are into the competition side then www.rccrawling.co.uk will put you in contact with the competition organisers.

[Timee80]

Thanks for the very informative reply. i have been on both the sites mentioned and both are very useful. I have a dilemma though. Ive already got some electronics spare from racing buggies including a brushless esc. I know that running a shafty would be cheaper for me because i could stay brushless, but if i go down the moa route which alot say is more competitive, i would have to go back to brushed (which i dont really like the idea of TBH). Either way i want a kit to build as i enjoy building as much as racing (or in this case crawling)
I suppose the big question is, can a shafty compete with the moa boys??

[colmo]

For UK crawling, visit www.ukrcrc.com

MOA is generally more competitive than shaft due to belly clearance. A lot rests with the driver, though.

Its perfectly possible to do a brushless MOA - 2 x cheap Hobbywing speedos (the Justock or EZrun is fine) and sensored or sensorless motors to suit.

I'm a fan of outrunner brushless motors in shafties - the EZrun 25A + Turnigy 1000kv outrunner in my Losi cost me under £30 and has more than enough torque to lunch the drivetrain if the wheels jam. Alas, I'd be concerned their spinning cans (yup, that's right) would be vulnerable on the axle of a MOA.