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THE Mini Recon Thread


stretch

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So currently my finger is hovering of the buy button for the HPI mini recon on MS so who else has/is going to order one? Looking for something I can just chuck in a small bag and take out and more suitable for off road than my blaze. I've watched a couple of unboxing videos on youtube and it looks quite good. I have a 25A hobbywing esc which would go in it nicely.

Updates

03/12/11 Ordered from MS

05/12/11 Email from MS - Mini Recon on Backorder was showing Expected 5th December 2011 now Expected 8th December 2011

07/12/11 Fingers crossed they get stock in tomorrow

08/12/11 Damn it now Expected 9th December 2011

09/12/11 Now showing 'Good Stock' MS confirmed and said I would get it first thing next week woo hoo

10/12/11 Ordered HW 5200KV motor http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2a0b3976ad

12/12/11 Mini Recon has been despatched from MS!

13/12/11 IT'S ARRIVED!

Unboxing

After removing from the MSUK box your presented with a HPI box with their logo and a place for a shipping label on. On opening you get a teaser picture of the MR on it's box. With the box removed it's a simple affair of checking and then breaking the HPI seal. Next you get the 'pack' which contains a HPI DVD, instructions and antenna tube. Removing the pack you get to the MR itself which is removed from the box by pulling up on the two side flaps. Next is another box which again is removed using the side flaps and underneath you'll find the transmitter and ANOTHER box. For some obscure reason this box is glued to the outer packaging i'm sure there's logic behind it somewhere. In this box is a HPI Plazma 1100mAH battery 4 AA batteries a 300mAH mains charger and a small selectino of tools.

The MR is removed from it's carboard base by flipping it over and undoing the two ties, it's now free and you can marvel in it's glory. Overal construction is good and the stock battery sits comfortably in it's tray with a few mm to spare.

Initial Gripes

The two clips on the battery tray cover are a nightmare to remove, the main reason seem to be is because they are actually fitted over screws and not posts which we're all used to this. This means that if you try and push the clip off it merely swivels around in an endless circle of grief. The only way I could actually remove them was to put the end of the clip itself underneath my fingernail and pushing off, surfice to say my fingers still hurt today. Also they 'ping' off and I managed to loose one on three ocassions.

The design team at HPI have clearly sat back in their chairs patted each other on the back and marveled at their creation of this mini MT. At which point they've handed it over to the electronics guys and said "our work here is done, good luck with that" What I mean by this is that they've clearly finished it and gone "oh s**t where to we put the esc?" "I know" some bright spark said "Well just plonk it on the shaft cover with a bit of sticky pad which is blatently too big and then secure it with two cable ties in a criss cross fashion, that'll do it" I'm not convinced by it's positioning or it's secureness (is there such a word?) indeed you can rock it side to side like a babies cradle and I can only imagine what it would be like under bashing/jumping conditions.

The front bumper has a lot of flex in it with the added bonus of the sides are just wide enough to possibly take out the shock towers on a big impact.

There's no 'tip' for the antenna tube, ok nothing major but I do like things to look neat and for the sake of pennies it would have been nice to have one.

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First Run

Took the MR for a test drive today. It's surprisingly nippy considering it's spec. It's also very sturdy with no roll overs even at full speed turning.

The transmitter has steering and throttle EPA functionality (one of the reasons I purchased the MR) which can be adjusted using the plastic tool that's underneath the battery cover. I was disappointment with the range of throttle adjustment available as even when turn to minimum it was I believe to be still too fast for my 3 year old boy and I can forsee some damage being done at this speed. My only option is to either put a blob of blu-tac behind the throttle trigger to limit it or to install a reciever for my etronix transmitter which has EPA functionality built and and can dial that done to 10% if need be. Howver the idea of the MR was to have something for him to play with while I was bashing so can't let him have my transmitter as I need it for my already programmed cars.

Here's a quick vid I did of it.

Useful Info

Stock battery measures 100mm X 30mm with this being a direct replacement

Stock ESC DOES'NT have LVC

Alternative shell http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHKD1&P=TS

Conclusion

As reported there are a couple of niggles with the MR but overall and with it's

Edited by stretch
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I think its pretty much just a re badged maverick atom mb it's got plastic ball diffs which i dont think would stand up to a BL system but in saying that there is a guy on YouTube who put one in dont know how long it lasted thou

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One guy was running on brushless with

Hobbywing 18A ESC & 5200kv or 7800kv motor

so i'm gussing http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3a68958966 or http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27b65ba328 will do

RC18 steel dif and input gear http://www.thetoyz.c.../The-Toyz/9388/

Apparently need to stock up on rear diff input gears if you go brushless and replace with a steel input gear and complete GPM aluminum/delrin ball diff which is apparently a very very tight fit.

Edited by stretch
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this http://www.modelspor...products/365246 is a replacement battery pack for it. Not sure on the dimensions as can't find them anywhere but as soon as I have the truck i'll measure it and find a suitable lipo replacement. I will be ordering a 5200kv motor for it first so I can run stock gearing and run it with my spare 25A esc and see how it goes. A guy tried the 7800KV motor and only managed a couple of runs before the diffs gave out probably due to being plastic.

UPDATE: Apparently these http://www.hobbypart...-1800-3s1p.html batteries 'might' fit

Edited by stretch
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Yeah the g2 has an input voltage of 4.8v to11.1V so can run 3s but may get a bit hot would have to try different gearing. I'm going to try the hobbywing 5200kv motor on 2s and see how it goes. Got the despatch confirmation for the Mini Recon today so should hopefully get it tomorrow :yes:

Edited by stretch
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