xJTORC's H10 Optic Kit Build

[xjtorc]

This is going to be a slow but fun one. Not only have I not built a kit in a while, but this is my first Vanquish kit and I really want to savor this one. I'll be trying some new things out and learning a few things along the way which I'm very excited about.

Here's the build plan:

Motor: SEQURE 3625 1800kv outrunner on 3S and will likely try out 4S on this setup
ESC: SEQURE SQESC 2670
Steering: FlashHobby 45KG HV
Tires: Pro-Line BFG Krawler TA 1.9s in Predator compound
Wheels: Injora 12-spoke 1.9s (black on black)

3D Printed Mods (printed by me on my Creality CR-10 Smart Pro):
Knight Customs Punisher body panels, grill, and V8 engine
Hooker Designs rear body panels
Low-cg electronics tray

Received the kit yesterday and dug into it to find the one livery I absolutely did not want.

The printed goods:

Still waiting for a few things to be delivered but I'm planning to learn the ESC and get some wrenching in this weekend.

 

[ferrebee88]

I look forward to seeing this come along. I was in the same situation with the livery, but once I got it together it looks amazing.

 

[xjtorc]

I look forward to seeing this come along. I was in the same situation with the livery, but once I got it together it looks amazing.

I was looking at a few yellow builds this morning and I can see it growing on me for sure.

The printed panels are going to be getting a paint job anyway. But if that turns out as well as I have planned in my head, they may not see rocks and I may rock the Battleborn panels a bit.

 

[xjtorc]

Today, I printed a hardware organizer (went all-in on the Battle Born black and yellow theme) because I'm tired of dumping my hardware out and fingering my way through it like a peasant, built the front axle, and checked bag B to see if it had the correct rear third member...which it did not. My kit has 2 front third members instead of one rear and one front. Quick e-mail to Vanquish and they've already shipped the correct part. Their customer service is on top of this snafu they've been dealing with caused by the factory.

 

[WickedFog]

Nice. I modeled up one to span the back of my work area. Big radii in the bottom of the pockets makes pulling screws and other small stuff out really easy.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

My kit has 2 front third members instead of one rear and one front.

I got your rear third member down here mine came with 2 rears

 

[CertifiedMike]

I think the yellow is gonna look nice!
Maybe Optic did a good thing by getting ppl to try a different look than they'd have picked. @ferrebee88 's looks GREAT, also not colors I would have picked but a TOTAL win!!!
Your parts tray is pretty slick too!

 

[WickedFog]

I got your rear third member down here mine came with 2 rears

Wow huh? Sounds like Vanquish needs to do a little retooling in the quality control department and get rid of some "tools".

 

[xjtorc]

I got your rear third member down here mine came with 2 rears

I’ve heard that one whole batch of kits had 2 fronts and when the correction was made, the next whole batch had 2 rears.

 

[xjtorc]

Front axle done. Skipping the rear til I have the part. Moving on to the trans!

 

[xjtorc]

Confession: I’ve always talked trash about scale hardware because I have a mostly utilitarian take on RC. Meaning, I want my RC to function well but could generally care less if it looks scale.

After being talked into it by a buddy, I am using scale hardware here and there, on this kit.

I’m now obsessed with scale hardware and my be turning a new leaf.

 

[xjtorc]

Woke up early this morning for some build action with my coffee. Finished up the trans, skid section, shocks and started on driveshafts.

For anybody reading this who is building their own Optic (or any other kit with pre-assembled dry cartridges…weird) and don’t want leaky shocks off the jump (or just want to fix their leaky stock shocks) get some silicone grease and do this:

Block the top hole of the cartridge area with the shock shaft through the body and squeeze some grease in through the bottom. It’ll push its way into the x rings and create a good seal between the cartridge and the shaft.

Alternatively, you can use the special tool required to remove the clip (idk what it’s called sorry) and disassemble the cartridge, lubing everything individually. But I don’t have that tool and I bet most don’t.

 

[MVRCA]

The tool:

https://dluxfab.com/Snap-Ring-Pliers-p307177635

And most Vanquish shocks leak at the top more so than the bottom. As much as I love my fleet of Vanquish crawlers, the shocks are sheat and mostly trash fodder.


Not having the Dlux tool is crazy. You need to be able to pull that snap ring to properly service the seals. The tool is one of those things you add to the collection at some point in that it services Traxxas, Dlux, Vanquish, and others who use the snap ring system. Once you do, you'll wonder why you waited so long to get one. Spend the money, thank me later.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Woke up early this morning for some build action with my coffee. Finished up the trans, skid section, shocks and started on driveshafts.

View attachment 216737

For anybody reading this who is building their own Optic (or any other kit with pre-assembled dry cartridges…weird) and don’t want leaky shocks off the jump (or just want to fix their leaky stock shocks) get some silicone grease and do this:

Block the top hole of the cartridge area with the shock shaft through the body and squeeze some grease in through the bottom. It’ll push its way into the x rings and create a good seal between the cartridge and the shaft.
View attachment 216738
Alternatively, you can use the special tool required to remove the clip (idk what it’s called sorry) and disassemble the cartridge, lubing everything individually. But I don’t have that tool and I bet most don’t.

The tool:

https://dluxfab.com/Snap-Ring-Pliers-p307177635

And most Vanquish shocks leak at the top more so than the bottom. As much as I love my fleet of Vanquish crawlers, the shocks are sheat and mostly trash fodder.


Not having the Dlux tool is crazy. You need to be able to pull that snap ring to properly service the seals. The tool is one of those things you add to the collection at some point in that it services Traxxas, Dlux, Vanquish, and others who use the snap ring system. Once you do, you'll wonder why you waited so long to get one. Spend the money, thank me later.

Mine are BluePoint. Bought 5 in a set. I have mine for 1:1.
Def a tool you need when you need it!!!

 

[WickedFog]

I grabbed this one a couple years ago. It's a really nice setup. Internal, external, straight and curved tips.

Wiha makes some wicked tools though as well. I have some of their stuff left from when I machined. Hard to beat.

 

[xjtorc]

The tool:

https://dluxfab.com/Snap-Ring-Pliers-p307177635

And most Vanquish shocks leak at the top more so than the bottom. As much as I love my fleet of Vanquish crawlers, the shocks are sheat and mostly trash fodder.


Not having the Dlux tool is crazy. You need to be able to pull that snap ring to properly service the seals. The tool is one of those things you add to the collection at some point in that it services Traxxas, Dlux, Vanquish, and others who use the snap ring system. Once you do, you'll wonder why you waited so long to get one. Spend the money, thank me later.

Nice thanks for the link. I’ll check them out. I’ve only ever had Traxxas shocks with the cartridge locked in by a snap ring and I always just used dental tweezers to pull those out. These Vanquish ones were just too damn small for me lol.

I also wasn’t aware the top was the the problem on these. I just assumed the cartridge…dang it. I did seal the cap threads, o-ring, and bleed screw pretty good with some blue goo so we’ll see where these trash shocks take me.

 

[Chubaka]

I grabbed this one a couple years ago. It's a really nice setup. Internal, external, straight and curved tips.
View attachment 216994

Wiha makes some wicked tools though as well. I have some of their stuff left from when I machined. Hard to beat.

I use that same one and love it.

 

[WickedFog]

I use that same one and love it.

Not sure it's small enough for these shocks though. I've used that same Wiha one before I think and I'm pretty sure it is a bit smaller.

 

[xjtorc]

Got the cage assembled, mocked up some body panels and decided the final form is going to be a combo of Battleborn and the panels I printed. It really grew on me once I saw it come together:

But it was mostly an arts and crafts day:

Also did a fit check on the wheel/tire combo and it’s fire:

 

[xjtorc]

More arts and crafts while I wait for my ESC and more scale hardware to finish the wheels….

What’s that peaking through the hood mesh?

Oh yeah!