willb Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Just wondering who if anyone apart from me, has an HPI Venture? I bought one a few weeks ago to keep my TRX-4 company and I must say it's a cracking thing out of the box. Wanted to be a bit different from your Axials and GMades. Spec wise, I bought the RTR model (would have bought the kit but you can't get an FJ body anywhere at present) which is pretty good straight out the box. The stock motor and ESC work very well. Despite that, I swapped the motor out for a Holmes Hobbies CrawlMaster Sport 13T and have a Hobbywing ESC on the way. The stock servo is rubbish so I put a 20KG Power HD in there which is working lovely! I've brought the bumpers in, trimmed the FJ's arches to fit some Hyrax 1.9" tyres and I've got ScalerFab sliders on the sides, other than that, it's as it was for now. I did make a crude light kit for the body. When the clear FJ's are back in stock, I plan on making a decent one as all the lens kits can be had on Shapeways. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derka Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 I keep getting tempted by these and get so close to pulling the trigger. Same as you to go with the TRX4 I have for a non portal rig. I'd also want to get the SBK but you can't find clear bodies as you say and I like the FJ look, but by getting the RTR and then buying front CVD and 4 link rear as upgrades in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willb Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Yep, that’s exactly what I’m going to do also. Like I said above, it’s very good out of the box, keeps up with my TRX-4 pretty well.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxman Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Looks great! Is this a hard body or lexan? Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willb Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Lexan. Super lightweight too.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 I went for a SBK and its a great bit of kit, just need to use it more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willb Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 Very smart [emoji106]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshireman Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I too keep getting tempted to buy one of these. I think Matteo's videos on YouTube have almost persuaded me ! I'd go for the RTR version & probably just add some lights n stuff as I just want something to play with in the woods !😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willb Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 That's all I've done. His video was the final selling point for me also! I'm still hanging on for the clear bodies to come back in stock. Will buy all of the light buckets and things from Shapeways then. Hopefully make a decent job of it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gaz! Posted September 25, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 25, 2020 this was my daughters, before, after, 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Love the the colour there it looks stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willb Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 I’ve spent a bit of time on mine the past couple of days. Fabricated some bumpers for it that were originally for my old Defender. Also drastically improved the lighting on it. Very happy with the result. Electrics wise, it’s running a Holmes Hobbies CrawlMaster Sport 12T with a Hobbywing 1080. Brilliant combo, it crawls so well! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post M1tchy Posted October 3, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 3, 2020 (edited) I've had my Venture SBK for pretty much 18 months now. It drives really well. I was also impressed with most of the quality, with the exception of some of the bearings being a loose fit in the transmission gears. It's not been out for a while, but will be soon. Austar body. Holmes torquemaster 540 30t motor and an old but good Castle MMP esc. Imade up rrear body mounts and some other parts from delrin and used magnets to mount the body. Edited October 3, 2020 by M1tchy add photos 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxman Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Great work[emoji122]Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1tchy Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 (edited) Thanks. It was worth the effort of making up some parts to get the pickup body to fit. I have a lexan body I am working on to lose some weight as it is a bit top heavy, but not so bad to make it undrivable. Edited October 3, 2020 by M1tchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1tchy Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 One photo of the chassis. I made up a battery tray as the stock one didn't work with the body. Also got the wheel well kit, but just used the front part for the same reason. The shock mounts and cross brace are made from delrin . I have a small milling machine which is ideal for that kind of stuff although I am thinking of a 3D printer. Stock shocks with the rear shocks mounted on the link mounts instead of on top of the axles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunny Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Does anyone in UK stock HPI spares at all? They seemed to have kind of disappeared from the scene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willb Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 M1tchy, your Venture looks great! HPI went into administration a couple of years ago and were then rescued. Parts are on order at all model shops it seems and more and more kits are coming back into stock. I think covid may be slowing things down a bit too. To be honest, there isn't much to break on a Venture, they seem really strong. I'm just waiting for the clear FJ body to come back into stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1tchy Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 (edited) Thanks willb. I bought a few spares when I got mine, but that was before HPI went bust. I haven't had to replace anything. The Venture does seem to be a pretty tough truck and it's very capable once set up. I haven't tried to get any parts recently. checking online it seems some stuff is available, but needs to be ordered and then wait. At least HPI are still going as that was my main concern. If the Venture is as reliable as my 2 Vaterra Ascenders, then it won't be much hassle. Edited October 11, 2020 by M1tchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshireman Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Got myself the kit to help kill the dark winter nights. I'll take my time with it and hope that the FJ body comes back into stock sometime soon. If not then it will probably end up being a Rubi....😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshireman Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 Couple of pictures of my SBK Venture/Gladiator. Not had chance to run her propper yet with all this wet weather...everywhere is just saturated ! Quite pleased with how it turned out tho ! 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 Good work! It looks great 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Took my trail-orientated Venture out on the rocks, to see how it fared... It struggled!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 liked the vid mate but the truck did well for what it is tho 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Cheers. Maybe I was just comparing it a little too much to the Gmade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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