My first good Revo wreck

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Frater Mus - 25 Jul 2004 05:55 GMT

About a half-gallon in, I came off a jump at a funny angle and
overshot the intended landing area.

So the poor beast is flying through the air, upside down and heading
for a curb. SMACK. No bounce, roll, or anything. Just a sickening,
immediate dead stop of the rear bumper against the top edge of the
curb. Possibly the hardest hit I've done with any land model (I've
wrecked some aircraft harder).

It fired up again but it barely rolled. I couldn't see what was wrong so
I took it home. The spur was shredded; I think the impact made the engine
move in the mount, away from the spur sufficient to allow stripping when
I started it back up and moved it about a foot before it just whined.

Even thought the spur replacement involved pulling the engine (aside,
not off) it only took a few mins. It was dark by the time I got
the replacement spur and got it put back in so I don't know if that's
the only damage. The case and motor mount didn't look cracked,
thankfully. And I was a little surprised the LHS had the spur gear
this early into production.

I'll let you know if that was the only damage.

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walker - 25 Jul 2004 14:22 GMT

> About a half-gallon in, I came off a jump at a funny angle and
> overshot the intended landing area.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> I'll let you know if that was the only damage.

Since you have had a bit of time to play, would you mind giving us a review
of the Revo ?
I have been following the articles in the mags but I would like to hear
what a "real" person has to say about it.
I have read a lot of your posts and it's obvious that you have quite a
bit of experience and have a good idea of what matters and where to look.
Thanks.

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Dirtnap - 25 Jul 2004 20:11 GMT

I second that!
The 'Mouse Man' knows all, teach us old wise one.

Seriously though, how is the handling? How supple is the suspension?
Is there a lot of body roll? Is it easy to adjust attitude after a jump?
Fill us in man.

BTW, The Mini T is being converted into the Baja Beetle,
all stock Losi parts. I will post a few pix later.

John

> > About a half-gallon in, I came off a jump at a funny angle and
> > overshot the intended landing area.
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> bit of experience and have a good idea of what matters and where to look.
> Thanks.

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TBone - 26 Jul 2004 14:07 GMT

I haven't actually driven the Revo, but I've had the pleasure of
touching one (almost got me arrested) at my LHS. I was VERY
apprehensive about the "forward thinking" design, especially the
suspension. After seeing it in person, I have a whole new take on it.
The amount of travel (and it's "suppleness") is very impressive. The
truck as a whole is a lot beefier than I was expecting, and it felt
just as sturdy as any other MT. By looking at those short
horizontally-mounted shocks, you would think there would be some
issues... but by the touch of the hand, it felt great. Really wish I
could have driven it...

When I spring for an MT, it will be tough to choose between the Revo
and the LST.

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Frater Mus - 26 Jul 2004 15:05 GMT

> When I spring for an MT, it will be tough to choose between the Revo
> and the LST.

Saw an LST a couple of weeks ago (the day they started limited
distribution) and the shocks are HUGE. :-) Also has a nice radio
box that look like it would protect the RX nicely..

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Frater Mus - 26 Jul 2004 14:25 GMT

> Seriously though, how is the handling? How supple is the suspension?

The handling and suspension are wicked. As I noted in another post,
a dual-rate radio system would really help out with smoothing out the
steering; the response is way too fast IMO.

> Is there a lot of body roll?

Very little roll, unless you get on the gas hard exiting a turn, then
it will pick up the inside front tire. Limited slip diffs keep it
from "donut"ing the tire, though.

> Is it easy to adjust attitude after a jump?

Dunno about that yet. I've been mainly on flat ground except for the
flying-into-a-curb misadventure I talked about.

> BTW, The Mini T is being converted into the Baja Beetle,
> all stock Losi parts. I will post a few pix later.

Cool!

I'm surprised at all the work/capital Losi has put into hop-ups. It's
a good sign they like the platform and believe it will continue to
sell like hotcakes.

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walker - 28 Jul 2004 14:45 GMT

> > BTW, The Mini T is being converted into the Baja Beetle,
> > all stock Losi parts. I will post a few pix later.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> a good sign they like the platform and believe it will continue to
> sell like hotcakes.

I'm pretty sure it will. In talking with the guy I trust at my LHS, He
is sold on it enough to have bought one for himself and each of his two
kids.
I'm thinking that when the weather turns to rain this year, I'll invest
in one for the winter, then come spring I'll " wind it up " a bit for
outdoors.

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Frater Mus - 26 Jul 2004 14:21 GMT

> Since you have had a bit of time to play, would you mind giving us a review
> of the Revo ?
> I have been following the articles in the mags but I would like to hear
> what a "real" person has to say about it.
> I have read a lot of your posts and it's obvious that you have quite a
> bit of experience and have a good idea of what matters and where to look.

Pro:

* it is a beautiful model; both the engineering and execution are very
good.

* break-in was a cinch.

* runs great on 10%, which I have easier/cheaper access to.

* much more stable tuning than my T-Maxx. Get the tuning in the
ballpark and take it out for some fun.

* seems to either run cooler or be more resistance to heat. I was
running in near-100F conditions. Yuck.

* outrageous suspension and stability. I am not a good driver, so the
Revo saves me time and time again.

* NiMH RX pack worked great.

* carb slide return spring works like a champ.

Con:
* twitchy steering, really would benefit from an aftermarket radio
with dual rates.

* tiny steering trim adjustments make huge corrections. Maybe this is
related to the above. Maybe I need to recenter the dual servos.

* the alum pipe seems louder than the stock T-Maxx plastic pipe, and I
live at an apartment complex.

* the rollbar makes it difficult to see some things. I think I'll
take it

* if you are a wheelie addict, the Revo is not for you. The low CG
makes it so stable it's hard to get it up on the back wheels unless
you're doing a slap wheelie or somethign like that.

I hope this helps.

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walker - 28 Jul 2004 14:54 GMT

> > Since you have had a bit of time to play, would you mind giving us a review
> > of the Revo ?
[quoted text clipped - 43 lines]
>
> I hope this helps.

Very much! Thank you for the write-up. I'm really interested in in one
but all the reviews are so candy sweet I kind of mistrusted them. Since you
aren't selling them, you have a lot more credability. I guess its just a
great rig! That makes me happy. Now I just have to find room in my budget.
Maybe the landlord wouldn't mind waiting a while.........

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Frater Mus - 26 Jul 2004 14:12 GMT

> I'll let you know if that was the only damage.

Took it out and it drove fine with the new spur.

I had to use the maximum mount movement to get good mesh, so either
there's not a large range of movement in the motor mount or maybe I've
bent the chassis or something. Hope not.

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Land Models / July 2004

My first good Revo wreck