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My Mini Maxx


Kpowell911

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Now the terms “Traxxas” and “Maxx” mean a lot to me. Ever since the Traxxas 3906 E-Maxx came out in the 90s (lets be honest, its fine and understandable to not like Traxxas now. But in the late 90s, the Emaxx was a genuinely revelation. 14.4v, twin 550 motors, switchable 2 speed. Genuinely a legendary RC car. There was also the iconic T Maxx around at the same time. They all went through “facelifts”, eventually becoming brushless/3.3 powered nitros.  I had multiple of each. They were legendary, Iconic RCs. Regardless of your opinion of the company now, the T/E Maxx are extremely important RCs. 

When the name was re introduced with the X Maxx, I obviously bought one. Well. Multiple. When the 10th Scale Maxx came out, I again bought a couple. This brings me onto the newly introduced Mini Maxx….

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A few months ago the Traxxas Mini Maxx was announced. Now Im a massive massive Traxxas fan, and the Maxx branding is a genuinely big part of my life. My Nan bought me my first Traxxas E Maxx 3906 in maybe 1999, and since then Ive had alot of Traxxas products. That said, my RC involvement has changed completely over the past few years. Ive been using RCs less, and buying more nostalgia orientate stuff from Tamiya! I dont really use this sort of stuff, but I buy it and “display” it. Some of it is still new in box from the mid 90s……

 

Now lets couple that with “Mini” RCs. Ive always fell for the marketing. Cheaper and easier to use in theory. Ive had them all. HPI Micro RS4. Losi Mini B, Micro B, Mini T. TRX4M. I always buy them. I never learn my lesson, cause in reality, theyre pants. 
 

That said, Traxxas came out with the new Mini Maxx. Was I gonna bother? No. Im down on Traxxas and dont like Mini RCs….. so no!

 

That said, I had some RCs to sell (Ironically a “mini” RC) and Xmas was coming up. So my girlfriend and daughter (who is 11 months old but has more money than me apparantly?!) got me this.

 

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So today I actually used it…..

 

I was up early to cook dinner as we entertain my parents on Boxing Day. Whilst I was cooking I charged the lipo using the included lipo USBC charger…..  I initially hated this idea, and googled better options but I wasnt in a rush so the charge time didnt matter. I also already have an uprated Hobbywing Sensored Brushless system, a receiver and a metal geared servo for this. Ive even got a 3D printed mount for the new ESC. Its all ready to go and I intended selling the stock electronics…

 

However….

 

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I used it…..

 

Edited by Kpowell911
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Now thoughts. It does genuinely seem built like a 10th scale RC. The shocks and plastics feel heavy duty. I did add a spacer to the rear shocks like everyone else seems to, but it feels very very robust.
 

Performance? Genuinely I was extremely impressed with it. Box stock It was actually fine for speed. It was manageable which is actually a good thing in 2024. It didnt really wheelie, it just sort of drove. I didnt do anything crazy, but it was fun. Ive not used an RC for months but I enjoyed it. I really like this. Now, the price of £279. As I touched on previously, that isnt cheap for a mini, even if its bigger than most. Its really not my thing as I dont condone buying cheap AliExpress or Banggood stuff BUT I can accept theres probably a similar scale/performance product from there thats very similar to this for cheaper. But I own this, its paid for so I dont care about that. But I do accept you can maybe get the same for cheaper. 
 

Id like more speed. Not power. Just more mph. However. You know I moaned about the charger? Ive had an idea….

 

I could leave this in my van. Give it a blast during downtime at work, and charged it up whilst I commute via USB….. this would allow me to get more out of the hobby as I could easily use this….. but that would require me keeping it stock…..

 

As for the BL2S system. Its actually fine in this, but I struggle to see how it performs in say a Slash 4x4. Thats a big truck! Although this is brushless, it doesnt seem that much of a step up from the Titan 21t brushed stuff….

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Traxxas do sell a 4amp usb-c charger that does nimh and lipo 2/3s. 
 

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/traxxas-usb-c-multi-chemistry-charger-40w-6-7-cell-nimh-2-3-cell-lipo-with-id-1354161

 

I put a 3300kv combo in mine and tbh on 3s it’s unnecessary. It definitely feels faster on 2s than stock though.

 

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1 hour ago, TommyC said:

Traxxas do sell a 4amp usb-c charger that does nimh and lipo 2/3s. 
 

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/traxxas-usb-c-multi-chemistry-charger-40w-6-7-cell-nimh-2-3-cell-lipo-with-id-1354161

 

I put a 3300kv combo in mine and tbh on 3s it’s unnecessary. It definitely feels faster on 2s than stock though.

 

Haha funny you should say this. Im back in work today and drove passed (well within a few miles) of Wheelspin Models. I noticed Id lost a spring retainer when cleaning it (great thing about small scale is it fits in the sink) so picked up the charger

 

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Ive got a decent USB C lead/power supply in my van for my Laptop so this should work well

 

I have two brand new Hobbywing Sensored Combo’s doing nothing:

 

A 3300Kv

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/hobbywing-combo-max10-g2-80a-esc-3652sd-3300kv-blk-g3-motor-1350916

 

5400kv

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/hobbywing-combo-max10-g2-80a-esc-3652sd-5400kv-blk-g3-motor-1350918

 

I MIGHT. Put the 5400kv one in there, put a Traxxas Connector on it and run the 2S Traxxas Battery/USB Charger with the Hobbywing System. What do you think? 🤔

 

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1 hour ago, TommyC said:

I’m no expert but in my mind that’s going to put more strain on that the 3300kv on 3s isn’t it?

 

3300kv x 11.1v = 36,630rpm

5400kv x 7.4v =39,960rpm

 

Ive found in the past that the problem with RCs is we make them too torquey. This what ruins them as the second you give it too much throttle they wheelie or flip over. My logic is having more RPM but less torque will give high speeds/rpm without the insane amount of torque. This is of course is in theory

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I get what you mean. I’ve just always sized things on kv as it’s tangible, unlike the torque.

 

You can also control torque with the ESC. I actually turned the punch back up from 1 because there wasn’t enough to control it in the air.

 

would be fun to see what top end you could get with the 5400kv though!

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1 hour ago, mydoddy69 said:

My personal choice is always torque over rpm as you can gear up or down you don’t have to have it at max just because it’s a Maxx 😂👍

Id just like a little more top speed but no wheelies. Is that too much to ask haha! Torque ruins RCs for me, especially at this scale I think. It surprised me how nice it drove stock, just could do with the top end. Put it this way if I didnt have the Hobbywing Systems already doing nothing I dont think Id be paying for the upgrade. Has anyone geared a stock one up yet?

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Heres the plan with the electrics. Planning to stay 2S with the upgraded Traxxas 4A USBC Charger. Im going for a 5400kv sensored ESC/Motor. I have a faster 25kg alloy servo and  a RX to bind to my Noble NB4. Im hoping Ill have more top speed but not stupid torque that’ll give me diff issues and constant wheelies. 
 

Now for anyone thinking they NEED to do this. They dont. Its great stock IMO. I may even ruin it doing this! BUT I had all these electronics brand new sat in a Tamiya Shelfer Ill never even take outside. All this has cost me is £8 for a 3D ESC plate and £5 to swap from XT to TRX esc plug. I may need a new pinion too. Im not going to sell the stock electrics till Im happy with it. If Im not happy with it Ill go back to stock. I may not even bother changing the Tx/Rx tbh

 

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No idea when Ill get time to do this mind. Being a Dad is tough haha

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Ive made a start

 

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The servo Ive got is slightly too big. The routing of the cables is stupidly tight. I might need to grind/dremel/trim the shock tower. I already regret upgrading…..

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16 hours ago, TommyC said:

Or buy a different servo?

Im trying to work with what I have. Every servo I tried was too tight tbh

 

Got it fitted. 
 

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Messy, but Ill tidy it up once Im happy its staying

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Right. Didnt get to fit the servo but went for a blast today in the very sinister looking weather.

 

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Performance is absolutely perfect. 5400kv on stock 2S battery with stock gearing. Its much faster, smoother and more powerful! It WILL do  rolling flips, but its so easy to drive normally compared to lower kv 3S set ups. Its geared quite high (stock but the motor is 2100kv more) but its -3c here so temps werent gonna be an issue today. 

 

However, my theory of staying 2S to save the diff was wrong. Yes i stripped the rear diff….

 

@TommyC @mydoddy69 whats the diff upgrade options?

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