Built to Rock: A Custom, Small-Scale R/C Crawler Course! [Pics]
One of the many reasons I’m drawn to small-scale R/C vehicles is their take anywhere, do “just about anything” versatility. If the weather isn’t cooperating, you can always set up an indoor race course or obstacles to crawl over. Even better, is when you can set up an outdoor challenge, testing both your own driving ability, as well as your creativity.
Fellow small-scale fan, Seth, has shared some photos of his custom-built outdoor crawling course for his 1/18-scale Losi crawler and 1/24-scale Redcat Racing Sumo. Combining natural and handmade elements, he’s created a challenging outdoor escape for his R/C enjoyment. Seth calls it “a work in progress” and has been in development for over 5 months, with the size spanning 30 feet wide and 60 feet long.
The Course Setup
Manmade elements:
- Cement chunks
- Suspension bridges with cut saplings and tiny rope
- Wood, climbing ladders made of furring strips
- Quikrete
Natural elements:
- Tree stumps
- Dirt
- Logs
- Natural, bumpy terrain
In addition to the makeup of his course, Seth has also shared details about his customized small-scale crawling rigs.
Losi 1/18-scale Mini Crawler Setup
- Stock Losi crawler motor and beadlock wheels
- Traxxas 1/16 Summit body and bumpers
- Aluminum steering knuckles, c-hubs, steering and drag link
- Bent chassis links
- Steel CVD's
- Losi Rock Basher 1.9 crawler tires with semi cut foams
- Hitec mighty mini metal gear servo
- Added rubber shock limiters to give it more scale performance
- Zippy 1400 mah 2s lipo with Deans plugs (providing 30+ minutes of running time)
Redcat 1/24 Sumo Crawler
The majority of the rig remains stock, except for the following add-ons and modifications:
- RC4WD micro super swamper tires
- RC4WD steel beadlocks
- Zippy 350mah 2s LiPo
- Lead sticker weights on the rear servo
- Trimmed up the body
From the course layout to the modified crawling rigs, I’d say Seth has done an amazing job making his hobby his own. If you have a custom small-scale vehicle or driving space, be sure to share it with me on Twitter and Facebook.
Image credit: Seth S.
