Build Thread Ratty AX10 Scorpion "restoration"

[HPIguy]

I know, I'm slackin!

Havent had a chance to work on it again yet. Still collecting and sourcing a few parts for it, but getting close. Currently, its a bin

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Don't lie to us. We see that SCX30 back there, we know were your free time is going!

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Alright, ya filthy animals motivated me to get something done this evening

Decided to re-build the rear axle, i still need to order parts to try and execute my plan for the front

Here's the parts I'm using, Hot racing heavy duty locker, Incision UD gearset, some fast eddy bearings, Axial lockout set, and new Axial axleshafts as this was originally a steer axle.

Dirty ass housing halves

All clean!

Pulled apart the old diff, i needed the 2mm hardware as unfortunately i dont have any on hand ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Suprised to find the Axial HD locker in there, if memory serves these should have come with the green aluminum lockers. This is a good upgrade over those, but i bought the Hot racing ones so ill save this for one of the other builds. Its possible the other axle will only have an aluminum, as this was technically the front axle previously, its possible they only upgraded just the front as it usually see's the abuse.

The hardware was a bit long for the new locker setup, a minute in the vice with a cutoff wheel solved that

Obligatory greasy gear picture, lol. New bearings on the carrier as well.

Case halves closed back up with new shafts installed and fresh outer bearings

Something satisfying about NOS parts

Decided to reuse this servo plate that was on the rear axle. I have a new Axial 4 link bar, but keeping this will allow me to adjust my link angles, and i like the old school look

Cleaned it up with some gojo hand soap and a dish scrubby, came out pretty shiny-ish. Also, dug my bins and found a new plastic 3rd link attachment, just using it as the 3rd mount point for the servo plate

I switched out all the phillips course thread hardware for hex head M3 machine screws, also put 4 set screws in the upper mounts to fill the holes and keep debris out. New nylocks on the lower pumkin screws as well.

Here it is all assembled! Fresh bearings and vanquish gears make this ole thing feel BUTTERY smooth!

 

[Spksh]

Obligatory greasy gear picture, lol.

RCTalk proof of life!

 

[Doom!]

Seriously? your not going to buff out those scratches? Looks good, gotta love it when you get that super smooth action.

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Seriously? your not going to buff out those scratches? Looks good, gotta love it when you get that super smooth action.

Ill probably give em the old scrub'n buff, but there isnt much point, i plan to add many scratches of my own!

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Worked on the ax10 a bit this evening

Got the wheel/tire combo put together. I bought these white dot Rovers last year used off of a guy who's house i was actually working on, spied them on a shelf The wheels are just -10 amazon specials, should get it close to the original plastic axial wheel offset i believe. I put 4 vent holes in each tire and paired them with the OE foams

225g per corner, almost kilo of weelo's

I had this all black amazon dig box laying around from another project, it had almost no runtime, i did pull it apart and give it a quick grease and clean, sorry no pics of that

Exhanged the awful steel spur for an incision .8 mod 56t. I forget exactly, but this shaved something like 20 or 25 grams, and it will be way more quiet

Next i got the chassis mocked up. I'm kinda just doing odd tasks at the moment, i have yet to order the parts needed to complete the front axle

I found some used rails on ebay that were in much nicer condition than mine, i just couldnt handle the wallowed out holes These bad boys (bottom) came all the way from Australia!

Cleaned up and assembled. I used a new STRC carbon battery mount, a 3d printed skid i had laying around so i can inboard the links (stock ax10s mounted outside the chassis) and got the trans mounted in there to have a look at fitment

Thats all for now, hopefully i can get the front axle pieces ordered soon and start making some actual progress

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Started doing some mockup on the front axle tonight ~ still waiting for beef tubes to come in before i can finish it out

So tonight was a bit of a theory test


Same old here, HR hd locker, incision UD and some fresh bearings

Heres where things are getting a bit weird. Sourced these AR44 uni's used from a buddy, along with some new samix aluminum c-hubs and some amazonion brass knucks. I've been thinking these should be essy to adapt to the ax10's with the use of beef tubes

Here's the assembly slid on over the unmodified housing, not quite enough insertion of the shaft into the locker, plus i dont think the outer bearing would stay in

I trimmed the upper and lower lips off of the housing edges and now i can slide it in full depth, this looks like it will work out pretty nice!

Mmm that angle

Next update will be once the BEEF arrives

 

[Takumi_slayer]

PROGRESS HATH BEEN MADE

Got my beeefy tubes in the mail, time to create a front axle

Started by dremeling out the necessary plastic from inside and outside the housing

Quick fitment check

Onto modifying the AR44 C's to work with the pre threaded hole on the beef tubes.
Tried to add as much caster as i could here.. but with the original pinch design of the AR44 i was limited

One side mocked up and lookin proper

FAST FORWARD ~ I took apart and re assembled the axle probably 5 times getting everything dialed, note that the beef tubes are now drilled and threaded in two spots now. This axle feels SOLID

Tossed on a random brass link that fit, this is only temporary

Chunky boy now. Aluminum tubes, Aluminum C's and brass knuckles

Heres the rear weight for comparo

Judging by this photo I'm gonna have to be creative with links and shocks as to not immediately stuff tire

 

[Takumi_slayer]

As mentioned in the previous post, gonna have to do some fandanglin' to be able to use that new found steer angle

Enter ~ VP shock razors

These allow me to full inboard the link and shock so they can be tucked to the max.

At this point i really started grinding and didnt take many photos, but this is mostly for me anyway (who actually reads this )

Got some NIP axial orange 30's for the front and rear

Started to mate the axle back to its chassis

Keen eyes will notice i swapped the TCS crawlers bracket to the front axle, this left me with no 4 link mount out back

I had this STRC electronics plate mount, decided to cut it down and re purpose it for the 4 link

Here it is starting to come together. 4 link mount modified and installed, shock razors in the back, mostly so i can match shock angle as the clearance wont really be needed back there

Here it is shocks and tires installed. I ended up using coyote take of shocks, kept the axial theme and the length was just right. Put the stiffer springs out back

Sitting next to my bone stock RTR AX10 you can really get an idea of the steering angle improvement, and how much further in the links are

Next up, dig. Another coyote take of part, this little micro servo adapter and an injora 2065

Used fusion 1800 i had in thr bin goes in with a new RRP 14t pinion

Overall FD ratio is 38.36 if my mathematicals is correct-ish

Feelin cute might crawl something later

Note ~ the tie rod is now orange

Had some meus driveshafts in a bin that were damn near the perfect length, gotta love that

Electronics testing and setting up EPA's. MESSY

Last part for now, some orange STRC body mounts, most of the anodizing dont match ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

And here he is with the wiring tidied up and essentially ready to rock minus the body!

And flexing on my girlfriends coyote from which is stole a few take off parts

mechanically the brown bomber is restored! But a restoration isnt finished without a nice body

I have a few NOS options to choose from, originally to pay homage to the body that it came with.. i was gonna do this losi body

But i dunno, didnt feel right to me

I also have a new xc-1 body and a new xr-1 body, both great options, and i was really tempted to use the xc-1 and some old school poppin paint job..

BUTTT ~ I found just the right one online, its on order and should be here very soon, so in the mean time you will have to wait

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Did i mention I'm impatient?

I wanna hit the rocks with this thing, so i tossed on one of my original battered ax10 bodies from back in the day and took it out to my backyard course (still in progress)

That clash of color

Ok ok ok, on the rocks

It is SO fun to drive this old girl on the rocks with a little (but not to much) modernization

 

[CertifiedMike]

Did i mention I'm impatient?

I wanna hit the rocks with this thing, so i tossed on one of my original battered ax10 bodies from back in the day and took it out to my backyard course (still in progress)

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That clash of color

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Ok ok ok, on the rocks

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It is SO fun to drive this old girl on the rocks with a little (but not to much) modernization

I actually read this stuff.
I really like the orange and black!

I don't know much about crawling but it looks like this truck has crazy flex!

Its a great looking truck! Nice job!

 

[Takumi_slayer]

The new body is in! Brand new take-off ARTR body ~ oooohhhh the nostalgia

Few minor changes to take care of while we mount the body

These STRC body mounts are absolute land anchors in the rocks, gonna cut them down as flush as possible

I'm also having some contact between the rear driveshaft and lower link, notice the silver blurry blob here

From the side view we can see i could stand to push the pinion angle up a bit

Gonna switch the the curved rod ends on the rear plate end, should net me another 5mm ish

Mucho better. Keen eye will also notice the body posts have been trimmed down

Did the classic comp cut on the body, imo xc-1's should have never come with fenders anyway

Slight damage from age or shipping, or both no biggie, just drilled a small hole and some shoe goo and drywall tape should keep it solid

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Heres the final product "brown" bomber resto-mod

 

[RudyF6]

OK, I've been watching this thread and this build is outstanding!!
I may have to be on the lookout for one to complement my current favorite mini - AX-24!

 

[Takumi_slayer]

OK, I've been watching this thread and this build is outstanding!!
I may have to be on the lookout for one to complement my current favorite mini - AX-24!
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Thanks man!

Definitely snag one if you can, cool piece of crawling history if nothing else

 

[Doom!]

Finished up really nice! Love the look.

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Finished up really nice! Love the look.

Thanks!

 

[Takumi_slayer]

Going to start doing rig breakdowns on all my vintage builds. Gonna attach the first one here as its for the brown bomber

 

[Tallbump]

Just read this whole thread.

That think is awesome.

I love all the custom repurposing/fabrication.

I don't know anythign about the AX10 but as I am nearing the "end" of my first 1:10 crawler build, I appreciate the time and effort you have into this thing.

 

[Doom!]

I love the look of this one. these were before my time, so I really appreciate the detail you've gone into to explain all of the mods.