PraetoR Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 'lo all. I figured it was probably time we had a thread dedicated to Gmade, as the brand has become popular enough to warrant it... but probably not enough for each model to get their own owners' section. So, please include your GS01, GS02, GS02F & other models' discussions and photographs. Speaking of... I've decided to sell my beloved Komodo Double Cab GS02 (my very favourite truck) and buy the... erm... Komodo Double Cab GS02F! 😆 Recorded a video today, going on about how much I like and respect the fact that Gmade has continously listened to customer feedback and implemented changes, accordingly. I want to support such a company. Video will be online tonight. I'll also be starting the build tonight. Might put the build in this thread, or start a whole new build thread, like I did with my current truck, or I might just add it all in here. Let me know what you guys prefer. Cheers! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 Might be better keeping it all together that way its all in 1 thread and easier to find 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xulf Posted October 20, 2021 Share Posted October 20, 2021 (edited) I like gmade. here's my sawback with driver Sandy Smithers. I use teraflex revolver shackles for more articulation on the leaf springs. Great fun overall but not very competitive. Edited October 20, 2021 by Xulf 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 20, 2021 Author Share Posted October 20, 2021 Looks great. Always liked the Sawback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PraetoR Posted October 20, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2021 So, my first attempt at starting the GS02F build may have been the worst first attempt in history! I had ordered the roof rack kit, at the same time I ordered the truck. I'm planning on having gubbins on the roof! However, when I opened the kit box, what was RIGHT AT THE TOP?? Oooookay, so this truck has the roof rack kit included! Waste of money there. Oh well, never mind. Onward! I lifted some more stuff out of the box... The spot lamp set... I've also got these on the way!! Any other parts included that I've spent extra money on?? Speaking of, I have a large order on the way from Junfac/Gmade, with many extra nice goodies (including the spot lamps). This fact became VERY important, when I looked at step 1 of the instruction manual... "Oh yeah, the first step is to assemble the diffs with the lockers; I remember that from the other GS02 build... wait, I've got the HD lockers on the way, in that order, so there's no point in starting." Drat. Anyway, I then decided to fit a new part to my HPI Venture (Venture Owners' thread), but that didn't go great, either! In the meantime, my GS02 (which I'm selling), needed a new pin in the CV joint, on the front left, as the original had snapped. So I set about it. It turns out, the front left hex pin was also snapped. It turns out, the front right hex pin was also snapped. It turns out, the rear right hex pin was also snapped. Okay, so the generic, non-Gmade wider wheel hexes weren't a good idea! They were obviously resulting in far too much pressure, on the pins. Anyway, I removed the SSD parts from the GS02, as they're going on the GS02F. Also also removed the electronics, because likewise. Then fitted the standard, unused, plastic wheels. Put the standard tyres on, also, but didn't glue them. So, this is how the truck now sits. Needs a clean, but it's basically ready for selling. It's still a fantastic truck! FYI, here's the video, for those who are interested. Cheers! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 Good vid as usual mate and youve got me thinking on 1 of the GS02's 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 21, 2021 Author Share Posted October 21, 2021 4 hours ago, Stormbringer said: Good vid as usual mate and youve got me thinking on 1 of the GS02's I know where you can get a good used one... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 Nice try mate 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BashingBrian Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 I recently pre-ordered the Buffalo pickup, which then got delayed 😩 and is now due sometime in November, will post here when I'm building 👍🏼 It's the first time ever I've been pre ready for a build, I've had everything for weeks the esc, motor, wheels etc etc then the truck got delayed.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 21, 2021 Author Share Posted October 21, 2021 Enjoy it, Rick... I mean Brian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PraetoR Posted October 25, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 25, 2021 (edited) Well, after a few days' delay, because I was awaiting my stuff arriving from Korea, it all finally showed up! So, progress has been made. Firstly, I want to apologise for how shoddy some of my photos are. I have no interest, whatsoever, in mobile phones; hence, mine is rubbish! I digress, Friday was the first opportunity I had to get going. This is the tidiest this table is going to be, for a while! Front axle done. Fitted with SSD alloy knuckles. Tolerances seemed better than my previous GS02 kit, despite these being identical axles. Possibly due to improved manufacturing, but just as easily down to the natural variances of things. It was a bit of a double-edge sword, however; the old truck had such bad binding, on both axles, that I had to shim the bevel gear shaft (from the outside, behind the U.J.), and that made them butter smooth. The new axles are free-running, but a bit rumbly, nothing like as nice as the shimmed originals. However, there's not enough leeway to shim these new ones! I'm hoping the rumbling reduces, with use. Both axles completed. They really are lovely axles. Gearbox internals, showing 2-speed cam. These are a work of art! Really lovely design, beautifully made and very strong. Gearbox completed and motor mounted. Reusing my electronics from the older truck. this is the Holmes Hobbies Crawlmaster Sport 550, 5 slot, 12 turn. Front links. Upper is the kit one (aluminium). Lower two are from the stainless link kit I bought, separately. Keeping the upper links all light aluminium and fitting all heavy, stainless, lower links. At this point, there is a big gap in the photos. I completely forgot, because of the issue I was having. Namely: the shocks. I was at them for over 4 hours!! Why?? Well, I was setting them up for low rebound, which requires building a very specific way. Thing is, I did the same for the previous truck, which has the exact same shocks, and it was a doddle! Did it in minutes! However, for some reason (and I have no idea what that reason is), I just could not get it to work, this time around! I had so many attempts, that I ran out of the (generous) included shock oil and had to rob the bottle from the old kit, which still had plenty left! It was soooo frustrating and it just seemed like I was stuck in an endless loop. Part of the issue is that these aren't good shocks, dynamically speaking. They work well, but don't have diaphragms. Instead, they rely on a simple, rubber o-ring, to prevent leaks. So, there is basically zero tolerance between overfilled and not enough oil. But, as I said, last time this was not an issue, so goodness knows. Maybe I was just having an off day. Anyway, on to the enjoyable parts! The parts where small, fiddly, time-consuming stuff, where you feel like no progress is being made (links, shocks etc.) are all behind you; and now you are bolting bits to other bits and things start to take shape! This was also the first stage where the GS02F started to differ from the GS02. Chassis started. Side plates and shift-servo mount, fitted. Junfac scale hardened steel driveshafts. These are a lovely upgrade, but I'm slightly concerned about the way they bolt onto the truck. The standard items use long pins (that go through the entire U.J.), but these use two grub screws, that sort of screw in on each side, by just a few mm, hopefully they'll be fine! At the point, I realised that I needed to unbolt the rear of the axles and replace the standard U.J. connecting rod with the items included with these driveshafts. Never mind, it was pretty quick and painless. Gearbox mated to the chassis. Here you can see the completely different motor location to the original GS02. Suspension links fitted. You can just about make out the difference in colour; between the aluminium upper links and the darker, stainless steel lower links. Steering links and panhard rod fitted. Also used stainless links for the steering. A bit more low & forward weight. Notice the steering rod is unconnected at the servo end. My packet of allow servo horns arrive tomorrow and I didn't want to use the kit plastic one. And this is how I've left it. Good progress made, today; despite the awfulness I experienced during the shock building! Edited October 25, 2021 by PraetoR 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Taking shape now mate 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shergar Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 Lovely stuff, looking forward to the next instalments 👍 Ive used these stainless grub screws, they happily screw in and out in service and have a nice dollop of threadlock painted on. https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/traxxas-grub-screws-3x4mm-8-4x4mm-stainless-4--380319 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BashingBrian Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 @PraetoR Looks like your having fun..!! I'm jealous as mine is still MIA 😩 Forgot to ask, did you use the heavy duty diff locker http://www.gmade.net/op-31/ , I bought the diff lockers and all the light bars for mine along with some nice looking chinesium wheels with some fake Vanquish tyres 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PraetoR Posted October 27, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 27, 2021 (edited) Oh yes, got it all done, over the last couple of days! First of all; it's a proven, quantifiable fact that oversized fenders make things better! (Seriously, I was so stoked at seeing these fitted; probably a lot more than I should have been!) Top braces fitted. This was one of the complaints I had with the original (slightly floppy shock hoops), but it's fixed on the new GS02F. Shocks installed. Kit springs on the front, softer "green compound" springs on the rear. Used an old, lightweight, plastic-geared Futaba, to handle the shifting duties. Should be up to it; it shouldn't take much. Chassis completed! Obviously, the electronics still need sorted. Need to lengthen the motor wires, as they were made correct for the old GS02. This is how I left it last night (note; SSD beadlock wheels). This morning I removed the SSD wheels and fitted the Gmade beadlocks I used to use. I actually originally replaced these Gmades with the SSDs, because I found them (the Gmades) too heavy. The SSDs, on the other hand, are super lightweight. However, I realised last night that the SSDs are a very poor fit on the Gmade chassis; even fully-tightened, the wheels wobble like crazy and feel completely loose. I never noticed before, but that's almost-certainly why the old chassis snapped 3 of the 4 hex pins. The SSDs are designed for the fatter Axial axle shaft and you've to use specific SSD plugs, to fit to Gmade, Element, etc. The problem is, these plugs are not a snug fit, so wobble a little bit. Once you scale that up to the size of the wheel, the wobble is pretty bad. Compensating for this, by over-tightening the wheelnuts... hey presto! Snapped pins. I'm not a fan of how heavy the Gmades are (they're not really heavy, but heavier than I'd like), but I much prefer the way they look. The SSDs look too... chintzy. Yeah, these wheels look pretty good! So, that's it! Next step; sort out the wiring. Still have the radio gear on the way. I will also take the axles apart, when my shims arrive, to try and reduce the rumbling. Since it worked so well with the originals, there's no harm in trying it. Cheers. Edited October 27, 2021 by PraetoR 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 6 minutes ago, BashingBrian said: @PraetoR Looks like your having fun..!! I'm jealous as mine is still MIA 😩 Forgot to ask, did you use the heavy duty diff locker http://www.gmade.net/op-31/ , I bought the diff lockers and all the light bars for mine along with some nice looking chinesium wheels with some fake Vanquish tyres 😉 I certainly am! Oh no, is that all the way from Korea? My parts took 3 weeks. I did. Front and rear. Both the GS02 & the GS02F. They are much nicer than the kit lockers. Yours will be great, I'm sure! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Looking even better now mate Is that a fan mount incorporated into the front shock brace ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, Stormbringer said: Looking even better now mate Is that a fan mount incorporated into the front shock brace ? Thanks! It is. Completely unnecessary for me, with my brushed 550 motor, but for a brushless setup, it might be very handy. Neat little design, either way! I should have also mentioned, my Gmade wheels require 10mm thick hexes, in order to clear the SSD brass knuckle weights. Hence why the truck has such a wide stance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BashingBrian Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 @PraetoR.. where did you get the steel links ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Yeh it is pretty neat design really thinking getting 1 of these to compliment my DC1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 12 minutes ago, BashingBrian said: @PraetoR.. where did you get the steel links ?? Junfac. http://junfac.com/product/gmade-gs02f-stainless-steel-link-kit-for-313mm-wheelbase/1959/category/260/display/1/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 11 minutes ago, Stormbringer said: Yeh it is pretty neat design really thinking getting 1 of these to compliment my DC1 I'll be sure to report back on how it drives 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Cool mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PraetoR Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, Stormbringer said: Cool mate In-fact, since you're from just across the bridge, maybe I'll see you at Dalgety Bay some time and you can see the truck for yourself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Let me know when your going mate and we could meet up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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