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[IMAGE5.JPG - Main Image]
Scaler Crawling
By
Tony Arnold - StampedeProject.com
Unless you have been hiding under a rock, no pun intended, you have
probably heard about the whole crawling segment. There are two major
categories regardless of size; performance tuned crawler rigs which tend
to look more like lunar rovers, and then there are scale models or "Scalers'
that replicate the look of a real 1:1 rig. ProScaler's bolt on chassis
for either the Axial Scorpion or Wheelie King paired with a Revo/Savage
body transforms either platform into an RC that looks like the real deal
hitting the rocks.
For me, the realism of scale chassis's brings back great memories. As a
kid I remember running ditches with my grandfather to secret fishing
holes and hunting spots all over Southern Illinois in his International
Harvester Scout, so recreating and even upgrading that memory a bit was
a fun project. My grandfather's scout wasn't running billet bead locks
from Visionary Fabrication with sticky Pro Line Moabs or MaxAmps,
Neumotor, and Castle Sidewinder brushless power, but he still would have
loved this little RC.
[IMAGE2.JPG - Artist Note Large Image 2]
What's Included
There are a number of similar scaler chassis available and they all
include about the same components. Left and right chassis plates,
chassis spacers, body post mount brackets, and all the screws required
to assemble the naked chassis. In the case of ProScaler's $80 chassis,
it is beautifully CNC machined billet aluminum with a mirror polish and
tri-angle electrics mounting plates.
------Call Out--------
Parts List
ProScaler Chassis
4X4 RTR Wheelie King
RCGUY.com Servo Relocation Plate
RCGUY.com Diff Lockers
Emaxx Drive Shafts
DuBro Body Mounts
HiTec High Torque Servo
Castle Sidewinder ESC
Nuemotor 1100 Series Crawler Motor
Spectrum RX/TX
MaxAmps.com 1700Mh LiPo Pack
Pro Line Ambush Body
Pro Line M3 Moabs Tires
Visionary Fabrication Beadlocks
12T Robinson Pinion
Custom Motor Plate & Battery Plate
Kreepy Krawler Memory Foam Tire Inserts
Misc. Screws and Spacers
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The Build
The easy path would have been to use an Axial chassis since ProScaler
sells the chassis as a direct replacement - bolt it together and go. I
however thought the Wheelie King chassis added a little more realism for
my IH Scout build. Due to my comments, ProScaler has added a couple
extra chassis holes to help make future Wheelie King builds easier and
to improve link and driveshaft angles. Following my previous Rock King
crawler build style, I flipped the axle stays, moved the steering links
up front, used a RC-Guy servo mount and diff lockers, and extended the
driveshafts with Emaxx versions. The only real challenges on this bolt
together build were fabricating a simple low CG side mount motor plate
and mounting the Wheelie King transmission inside the ProScaler chassis.
The engineered tranny mount solution was pretty simple with spacers and
long 3mm screws holding the transmission securely. Although the stock
motor plate would work, the side mount motor mount plate greatly lowered
CG and was a simple trace and cut fabrication job using the old motor
mount as a template and some 1/8" aluminum. With the exception of the
noted part list, everything else used in the build came out of the Stock
4X4 Wheelie King box.
[IMAGE3.JPG - Small Image Showing Moab Tires anf VF Beadlocks]
For a power I used a Neumotor 1100 crawler motor which I am testing for
Neu. Even with a much smaller can diameter, the little motor delivered
more than enough power. I used the stock receiver with my recently
tested Castle Sidewinder brushless ESC with the non-Beta upgrade patch
loaded for smoother operation. A tiny MaxAmps 1700Mh crawler pack was
tucked neatly on top of the front axle next to a RCGuy.com servo mount
plate.
Since I plan on making the chassis sparkle with more aluminum bits
later, I went ahead an added some Visionary Fabrication beadlocks.
These weighted beadlocks are CNC machined from 3' solid billet aluminum
stock exclusively for rock crawling. The narrow 1" beads and solid
weighty construction balloon up the tires and are optimized for
crawling. To up the crawling ability more, I dropped in a set of rock
conforming Kreepy Krawler memory foam inserts into some sticky Pro Line
M3 compound Moabs. I topped off the ProScaler chassis with Savage sized
IH Scout-like Pro Line Ambush body with a classic yellow and white paint
job.
Testing
Typically scale rigs don't perform as well as performance tuned crawlers
due to higher CG and lower approach angles, but the consolation is they
look freaking cool working the rocks. The ProScaler build did much
better than any scale rig I have driven, due to some cleaver chassis
engineering and their forward thought into suggesting a droop style
suspension setup for the stock Wheelie King shocks. The kit includes
what appear to be four ink pen springs - disassemble the shocks, load
the springs under the pistons, reassemble with 80wt oil, add 1/2"
external spacers, and you have a droop suspension that makes this
chassis really perform. In fact a properly setup ProScaler chassis may
out crawl some performance tuned rigs.
[IMAGE4.JPG - NO CAPTION Image showing Custom motor Mount]
What
We Liked
Bringing back great memories, and still delivering great performance.
$80 retail is a bargain, even if you do have to buy it direct from
Canada. This mirror polished chassis is complete with spacers, and body
mount holders, and all the screws needed for the build. Great chassis
flexibility for a variety of build styles.
What
We Would Change
ProScaler is very small and is still setting up their distributor
network so you can only purchase direct at the time of this article.
There are a couple parts that are needed to really make this a complete
kit, the RC-Guy Servo Relocation Plate, and a fabricated battery and
motor mounts. Although I used stock plastic Wheelie King links, building
or buying a nice set of links would greatly increase durability and the
overall looks of the build.
Conclusion
The ProScaler based crawler was a fun build which limits performance to
a more realistic level. Its realistic look will definitely make the
passing hiker do a double take while you are hitting the trails. I had
a great weekend of testing, running trails and riverbeds all the while
enjoying the great outdoors… something my grandfather would have loved.
Highs
- Great price for converting a WK chassis into a scale crawler.
Lows - RCCrawler.ca is probably not in you browser favorites list
yet. Motor and battery mounts are needed.
Final Call - Competition level performance in a bolt together
chassis replacement.
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Sources:
ProScaler -
www.RCCrawler.CA, HPI -
www.HPIRacing.com, NeuMotors -
www.Neumotors.com, Castle Creations -
www.CastleCreations.com. RC Guy -
www.RCGUY.com, Pro Line -
www.Pro-LineRacing.com, MaxAmps -
www.MaxAmps.com, Visionary Fabrication -
www.VisionaryFabrication.com, Kreepy Krawler at
www.RCPCrawlers.com, Custom Decals -
SupersportUSA.com
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