Xray X12 120mph+ project

[pieman5]

Hi all.

 

For about 8 years now, ive been running mini class rc's at Rossa with pretty decent results.

Ive done 91mph with a FTX Blaze, 94mph with a Carisma GTB and 96mph with a LC12B1.

 

However last year i decided i wanted to go FAST. The only real way to do this within the mini class is to use a pan car. So a while ago i found last years X12 on sale and just couldn't say no.

 

The first thing i always do when planning a mini speed car is work out realistically what the biggest esc i can fit in it is.

 

After some playing around i managed to fit a hobbywing max6 in it (160a 8s spec)

 

Then i moved on to the lipo. I knew straight away that i wanted AT LEAST 4s, i haven't discounted trying 6s yet, but for now the biggest 4s i can fit is a 3300mah 60C heavy duty turnigy pack. People have already had great success with these, only running 2-3mph slower when compared to graphene packs. Eventually id like to get a China Hobbyline 4s for it, but i already had the turnigy and its a very good fit.

 

 

For the motor, unfortunately due to the nature of 1/12 scale racing, you only have room for a standard 540 motor. I wanted to go with a TP power motor, but because of the length restriction i had to go with the shortest one they make. Its still a beast, 4600kv with a 5mm shaft, will pair very nicely with the 4s setup.

 

 

For the body shell, i have used Phat Bodies on all my mini's for ages. I asked Si if he'd be able to do me a thicker version of their "Electra shell" as standard thicknesses just aren't strong enough at these sort of speeds, and just bend and flap around. He said that was no problem at all (he's been extremely helpful so far) so he did me a few 1mm versions which feel much better.

 

 

Unfortunately again due to the nature of these cars, im unable to really test it on a normal road, so will have to wait for the events this year and hope they still go ahead.

 

Will try to keep this updated with any progress and adjustments etc 

Edited September 9, 2021 by pieman5

[supersavage]

That things going to be a little missile.

[Alex97]

Looks good, I've got a similar build. 

 

I sopke to the guy at Phat and he said the best results from the body is when they are cut back like below. 

Edited February 16, 2021 by Alex97

[pieman5]

10 minutes ago, Alex97 said:

Looks good, I've got a similar build. 

 

I sopke to the guy at Phat and he said the best results from the body is when they are cut back like below. 

 

Yeah, ive done that with another shell (currently mounted to my Spada)

 

Can try both then and see what works best.

 

 

[Alex97]

18 minutes ago, pieman5 said:

 

Yeah, ive done that with another shell (currently mounted to my Spada)

 

Can try both then and see what works best.

 

 

I can just fit a 4s in here. I needed to drill a hole to support the track rod however the ESC is only rated for 3s. 

 

Are you using X-ray gearing? 

[pieman5]

No im using a kimbrough 32dp spur, its also been converted to a solid axle on the rear rather than running the ball diff.

 

Your project is looking good, when/where are you planning on running it?

[Jack Reacher]

Nice project, good luck with it

[GMballistic]

Come on @pieman5 you know you haven't got anything on my Serpent S120 and it's indestructible Hobbywing 60Amp ESC.  

 

Seriously though can't wait to run my mini class and see yours run this year. 
I know yours is going to fly. 

[pieman5]

3 hours ago, GMballistic said:

Come on @pieman5 you know you haven't got anything on my Serpent S120 and it's indestructible Hobbywing 60Amp ESC.  

 

Seriously though can't wait to run my mini class and see yours run this year. 
I know yours is going to fly. 

 

 You have no right going 87mph on that esc, damn thing should have caught fire ages ago 😂

 

we'll see how they both do 🙂 Already proven yours is setup nicely, hopefully this gets me a new mini PB after some testing.

[GMballistic]

I think it'll be your best year for the mini. Can't wait. 😀

[pieman5]

On 19/02/2021 at 11:16, GMballistic said:

I think it'll be your best year for the mini. Can't wait. 😀

 

Hopefully mate 😄 Will this be the year i crack 100mph with a mini class??? Taken me long enough lol.

 

Also bringing the 4s Mini 8ight, ive never ran a year without a mini buggy 😂

[pieman5]

Quick update to this.

 

I did one run on the second ROSSA day but the car cutout about 30 yards from the traps but it still did 71 so i knew it had potential.

 

The third day had the best weather of the day so i waited for the wind to die down and ran again.

 

Did 3 successful runs, first being 107 which was already an overall PB for me, but then absolutely smashed it with runs at 117 and 121.

 

I'll add the trap numbers here when its all been posted up and also have a few videos of the car that i will add soon 👍

[Stormbringer]

well done mate 

[pieman5]

Here are the official ROSSA trap speeds and video of the fastest run 🙂

 

71.21 - 71.30

84.65 - 84.50

93.72 - 94.00

107.26 - 107.10

117.50 - 117.40

121.10 - 120.90

 

 

 

[Stormbringer]

OMG thats some speed mate well done 

[Jack Reacher]

Nicely done, very good result

[GMballistic]

You need to change your signature picture now buddy.  

Great achievement with a mini class car and congrats on the new PB. See you in August and hopefully you'll get that cap.  

[pieman5]

On 20/06/2021 at 10:45, GMballistic said:

You need to change your signature picture now buddy.  

Great achievement with a mini class car and congrats on the new PB. See you in August and hopefully you'll get that cap.  

 

😂 I'll change it once it has a body shell i actually like the look of lol. The current Strakka was just slapped together with whatever paint i had on hand. Need to buy another really but can't find any in the UK now at all 😕 

 

Extra 4mph will get me the hat, i think its doable 🙂 You changing anything with your Serpent? Finally a better esc? 😛 

[GMballistic]

Just now, pieman5 said:

 

 You changing anything with your Serpent? Finally a better esc? 😛 

Probably going to leave it at home this time just so I can concentrate on the Limitless more than anything as well as trying to get the Typhon into the 130's. 

 

My aim with the Serpent though is to get a better ESC yes and try to get it sorted for next years events. Hopefully going from what the current ESC has achieved with a decent ESC it might be enough to push it over the ton hopefully. 

[pieman5]

1 hour ago, GMballistic said:

Probably going to leave it at home this time just so I can concentrate on the Limitless more than anything as well as trying to get the Typhon into the 130's. 

 

My aim with the Serpent though is to get a better ESC yes and try to get it sorted for next years events. Hopefully going from what the current ESC has achieved with a decent ESC it might be enough to push it over the ton hopefully. 

 

I always bring any "working" car i have just in case i end up breaking what i want to focus on lol. Its a worst case scenario but you should bring it anyway 😉 

 

Shame what happened to your limitless at the last event, i can't believe how bent the body got. Me and Jim were just like how on earth did that not break / crack lol

[GMballistic]

5 hours ago, pieman5 said:

 

I always bring any "working" car i have just in case i end up breaking what i want to focus on lol. Its a worst case scenario but you should bring it anyway 😉 

 

Shame what happened to your limitless at the last event, i can't believe how bent the body got. Me and Jim were just like how on earth did that not break / crack lol

It's definitely got some battle scars now.   

Yep you're right I'll throw the Serpent in with my other cars just in case. Might even bring my Losi truggy in case it rains as don't mind running that in the rain. 

[pieman5]

To take this project further, i decided that it needed 10th scale foams on the rear as i chuncked/blew several sets over the event.

 

To do this i had to buy 2 narrow 10th scale rear hubs which are not easy to find at all. Then i also had to take around 5mm off of the outsides faces of the foams to get them to sit under the shell.

 

As well as the Strakka shell i ended up using at the event, i now also have an old Bolink shell that i managed to find on ebay. Unsure which one i'll end up using yet, the Strakka has quite a few battle scars already.

 

[pieman5]

Update to this project.

 

Back in the last event i managed to beat my PB again and ran a 126! 🙂 No video unfortunately as it was one of the last runs of the event.

 

 

 

I was endlessly searching ebay a week or so ago and i found a very strange body shell. Made from ABS so its pretty old, but has a fantastic body shape for speed running so i thought id give it a go.

 

The paint was pretty poor and the shell was in a bit of a state, this is what it looked like when i got it.

 

 

I've learnt from experience that running a black body shell on a speed car is an extremely bad idea as you can't see the bloody thing, so i gave it a nice yellow re-paint with a bit of splatter 🙂 First time doing that and tbh im unsure if i actually like it yet, but its definitely an improvement lol

 

 

I will be running this one more time at the Scorched RC Speed Frenzy week at Darley Moor, hoping to maybe push 130 to end the year 🙂 

[Redback]

Awesome stuff mate, and goodluck with Speed Frenzy, if i can make it i will see you there smashing your next goal!
Body looks like one of the indestructible bin liner ones they make for the xmaxx, think your onto a winner there!

[pieman5]

Next update to this project.

 

I was looking at the rear of it and just thinking there was a lot of wasted space there. So i started experimenting with removing all the spacers and swapping the ball diff to a spur mount and a custom solid axle.

 

The overall idea behind this was to fit a MUCH longer motor in it for more power and to work with more gearing.

 

I drew up the parts (just using google sketchup) and saved as a dxf so i could send them off to be made.

 

 

 

I have used Fibrelyte for a while now to do my carbon fibre parts and they are always very helpful and very good value too.

 

I had the parts made from 2.5mm carbon and the postie shoved them through my door a few days ago.

 

 

I always worry that custom parts a draw up will never quite be the right dimensions but i spent quite a while measuring all this up and it was all a perfect fit 🙂

 

Previously the maximum motor length i could fit was 52mm, now its gone up to 68mm. This means i can now run a 3635 TP power motor which is 65mm long and rated at 1400W continuous Vs 800W with the old motor.

 

Huge power increase so hoping for a big PB next year WOOOO!!!