1/8 Nitro Grave Digger

[Paul4x4]

Today I made the rear axle, but I still need to weld all the mounts to both of them. Also drilled holes to link mounts, and test fitted the links, and made the mounts a little bit stronger...

This pic is for Banana! Still think those mounts won't hold up the abuse?


Tomorrow I try to get all the mounts done, so I can hopefully bolt the axles to the chassis, and see how the suspension works...

[Paul4x4]

I did some good progress yesterday...

First of all I made a bunch of brackets. I hate doing these, but they are now done!


Here they are tacked in place. A lot more welding and cleaning up to do.


Then I drilled holes to the chassis' link mounts, and made some quick threaded rod links for test fitting. And finally I got to bolt the axles under the chassis!


Here it is, finally sitting on the axles!




And some posing with the tires and body. Still waiting to get more parts to get the wheels bolted on for real...


Garage Monster Jam!

[Xporter]

This is coming out great!

[Waterboy]

Looks great! Keep It coming with the updates!

[Paul4x4]

Today I got a pile of stuff in the mail! Still waiting for more, though...


Also drilled bigger center holes to the wheels, and they bolted right on. Still need to solve a couple minor problems, because those are Clod wheels, and not meant to fit the mad force axles... Width is kinda crazy, so maybe I need to do something about that, but let's see how it looks and performs when done...


Tomorrow I try to get my metal axle housings welded and painted, so I get to fit them on the new axles!

[CheapTwin]

Intresting to see how You're going to modify steering knuckles to get steering liks to fit & work, it's hard enough with 2.6" MadForce wheels and compared to those wheels they have tons of clearance...

[Paul4x4]

Originally Posted by CheapTwin

Intresting to see how You're going to modify steering knuckles to get steering liks to fit & work, it's hard enough with 2.6" MadForce wheels and compared to those wheels they have tons of clearance...

Actually, I might not have to modify them at all, because there's something like 3mm space between the steering knuckles arm and wheel. Those wheels have a huge offset compared to stock mad force wheels, and the steering links end is not inside the wheel because of that, but still it's a very tight fit! I can get some pictures today when I go to the garage...

[Banana]

crazy work

I love it

how much CCs is that motor? 3.5cc?

[Paul4x4]

Originally Posted by Banana

crazy work

I love it

how much CCs is that motor? 3.5cc?

Thanks!

The engine is 4.6cc.

[Paul4x4]

Here's a pic of the clearance between the wheel and knuckle arm. Actually the gap isn't even that much because of a slight play in the wheel shaft.


I also got the front axle housing finished and painted. Not perfect, but who's gonna look at it up close anyway!


This is something I did yesterday. I hired a driver for the truck! Found this little gay looking magician dude to wear an old helmet I had laying around.

The helmet is from an old 80's rc buggy made by Tamiya or Marui, not sure which one.


Damn that wig was glued hard to his head!


Made the padding inside the helmet out of some soft plastic packaging wrap, and painted it flat black.


Then I sanded down all the seams, and painted it black.


I like the result! Don't know what kinda paint jobs the real digger drivers have on their helmets, but I will probably leave this black...

[Paul4x4]

The front axle is now done! Still need to make a small sheet metal brace that bolts between the upper link mounts to support them to each other.


And here it is under the chassis.


Also got the rear axle housing done and painted, so tomorrow the truck is hopefully a roller, and I can start working on the steering and drive shafts. But I'm not sure if I should use the Revo shafts, because they look kinda huge being almost three times the diameter of the frame tube...

[Paul4x4]

Axles are now done, and bolted back under the chassis!

This pic was meant to be of the rear axle, but it seems like I accidentally took a pic of the front one.


And here it is, finally sitting on it's tires!






I'm still waiting for the pipe to arrive, and so many things depend on the final position of the pipe, that I can't do much before I get the damn thing...

[Scalerlover]

Now you've done it, i want one.... bad....

[Banana]

greeeeeeeeat!

last evening there was Monster jam on channel 36 in Italy...wow, it has an average acceleration compared to all other monsters...the only one who can go as fast as the digger is MaxD

Keep on the good work and give it the same power XD

[Paul4x4]

Originally Posted by Banana

greeeeeeeeat!

last evening there was Monster jam on channel 36 in Italy...wow, it has an average acceleration compared to all other monsters...the only one who can go as fast as the digger is MaxD

Keep on the good work and give it the same power XD

I weighted the truck yesterday, and it's weight is now slightly short of six kilograms (13lbs) without the engine that is, so I think the final weight is gonna be somewhere near seven kilos.

And if an average monster truck weights about five tons, and have around 1500 horsepower, that would make 0.3hp per kilogram.

Now if my truck's weight is seven kilos, and I'm not sure what the engine is pushing out, but let's say 3.5hp, that would make 0.5hp per kilogram.

So I think it's gonna have all the power!