Nicholas' HPI Savage XS SS Build Log

[nicholask1993]

After an innumerable number of mind changes I finally settled on ordering a HPI Savage XS SS from Tower.

Initially wanted the RTR but after hearing about all of the issues with stock electronics and some of the needed upgrades I decided that it would be best to go with the SS kit. Only downside is that it will cost me more to get running and it will also take longer to get running but anything worth anything is worth making some sacrifices for, right...

Budget Basher is my main goal here. I'm not going to get whatever is cheapest I'm going to go with what will be the best bang for my buck as much as possible.

Thinking about selling the stock tires/rims and going with some larger/better 2.2 all-terrain tires.

Electronics: (planned)
ESC/Motor - Castle Creations Sidewinder SCT Combo = $145
Radio - HobbyKing HK 310 System = $30
Servo - MG995 Digital Servo = $8

 

[MudSlinger33]

Ohh, this should be fun. Be sure to take lots of pics.

 

[hamz9561]

Pics or it didn't happen...

 

[nicholask1993]

Going to take tons of pictures! Thinking about doing a time-lapse of me building the kit as a roller since I'm not going to have any electronic for a month or two. :/

 

[Vetteklr]

I'm thinkin about ordering one and transferring most of my stuff from my current Savage XS onto it.... Then call it backup plan 2.0

 

[nicholask1993]

Found the radio I'm going to get and I'm going to skip getting a Tacon motor since the are 2-pole and go with the Sidewinder SCT Combo since it's 4-pole and not much more in cost.

 

[hamz9561]

I'd go with the Sidewinder because of its programability with the Castle Link.

 

[nicholask1993]

Got the tracking number and it should be delivered Tuesday!

 

[nicholask1993]

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=14976

Should be here sometime next week and cost me just under $27 with the 3-5 day shipping.

Also submitted the trade-in for my Xbox and an old textbook and it will be enough to cover the Sidewinder SCT combo. Then I'll just need to borrow a radio and servo from my friend and I'll be up and running quicker than I originally expected!!!

 

[HPI-Killer]

Do you have any pictures of this build yet? I think your building it in your mind

But seriously do you?

 

[nicholask1993]

No real pictures yet as the truck is still shipping...

 

[Vetteklr]

This is probably the tx/rx I'm gonna go with IF I end up ordering one.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-gt3b-carradio-lcd.html

 

[nicholask1993]

This is probably the tx/rx I'm gonna go with IF I end up ordering one.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-gt3b-carradio-lcd.html

I've considered that one it just hard to get over how cheap/gaudy it looks. Might go with it since the one that I was planning on is backordered.

 

[MudSlinger33]

I got that same battery only 30c. It has lasted me over 2 years now!

 

[nicholask1993]

That's good to hear makes me assured I went with a good battery.

 

[nicholask1993]

The indecisiveness is starting to kick in. I'm thinking about returning my SS before I open it or anything and then ordering the RTR and just upgrade as needed and hoping the ESC doesn't give me issues...

I'm really thinking should have ordered the RTR in the first place. What I'm thinking is that I'll return the SS and then order the RTR and just enjoy it. Hopefully the ESC doesn't give me issues but if it does then I'll worry about it then and probably order an EZRun ESC and then sell the replacement on eBay.

I'm thinking that I can get the RTR and then a few months from now rather than buying CVD's and the metal shocks I can just sell my XS as a roller and then order a SS kit whenever I get another $50 Tower coupon. Say I sell the roller for $75 and then the $50 coupon that's $135 toward the SS kit. That would mean I'm only paying around $100 for the kit itself. The CVDs and aluminum shocks are worth almost that much and I would be getting an entirely new (upgraded) XS and I'll just drop in whatever electronics I have at the time.

Change of plans -.-

 

[tmaxxfreek]

your better off with the kit IMO, you learn so much more about the truck when you build it.

 

[nicholask1993]

True but I'll end up getting the kit at one point and I'm going to have to tear it almost completely down to dye the chassis black.

 

[nicholask1993]

Just going with the kit. Tower said it would take up to a month to do the rerun and get the RTR shipped to me...

 

[MudSlinger33]

Good choice.