RC car customization is available in many various types. Typically, these customizations and modifications are meant to extend the efficiency potential of the car. Upgraded motors, electronics and suspension elements are fashionable choices that may up a automotive or truck’s pace and dealing with traits.

One other type of RC customization locations consideration on a car’s appears to be like for unimaginable scale realism. Customized paint jobs, licensed scale elements, artistic crafting and 3D-printed equipment are sometimes used to realize this purpose. Many of the autos which are modified for enhanced scale appears to be like that we see fall into the crawler, huge rig, navy, drift and lowrider RC classes. These types of RC are usually much less about pace and extra about type.

BUILT TOUGH

There may be one other RC car kind we love seeing that routinely incorporates each types of RC customization as outlined above. RC desert racing vehicles are sometimes upgraded for each efficiency and scale realism. With a extremely lifelike look proper out of the field, we expect that the Traxxas Limitless Desert Racer (UDR) is a platform that simply invitations each modification kinds—efficiency with scale realism—right into a single bundle. Due to Traxxas’ extensive number of bolt-on upgrades, it’s by no means been simpler to push each envelopes with the UDR.
The UDR just about appears to be like like a replica of a Baja 1000 desert racing truck direct from the manufacturing facility and comes able to carry out. It’s as sturdy as a real-life Baja racer, too. As nice because it appears to be like and performs in its inventory kind, we imagine that there are all the time a couple of extra upgrades which you can add to an RC car. In reality, the UDR that you simply see gracing these pages basically makes use of each improve half that Traxxas makes for the platform. We additionally had it customized painted by none apart from Matt Brase of MR Customized Paint, however extra on that in a bit.
Traxxas engineers did an awesome job with the efficiency of this truck. It’s fast, highly effective, nimble and dependable, the whole lot you want on the desert dunes. UDR comes outfitted with a Velineon 2200kV brushless motor and 6S succesful VXL-6s ESC, so it’s quick. It feeds on both two 2S or two 3S batteries, giving it as much as 6S energy capabilities, which permits it to romp within the sand with none issues.

Paddle sand tires are mounted within the mattress for these occasions when the sand dunes simply turn out to be too deep.

The UDR’s suspension was upgraded with Traxxas aluminum elements, together with hyperlinks, trailing arms, toe hyperlinks and long-travel shocks and dampers.

For a extra lifelike look, the grey plastic cage was improved with non-obligatory black chrome sections.

THE UPGRADES

As nice as it’s out of the field, we weren’t deterred from pushing the truck a bit additional by putting in an upgraded Traxxas Excessive-Torque 400 servo. The Traxxas crimson servo combines 400 ounces of steering energy with full metallic gears, twin ball bearings, and an aluminum heart part for added warmth dissipation. The servo is absolutely waterproof, not simply “waterproof,” and was simply dropped in for an ideal manufacturing facility match. With the electronics maxxed out, we dutifully went all-in on Traxxas’ number of aluminum suspension and steering improve parts.

FULL-METAL SUSPENSION

Seeking to enhance suspension efficiency, lifespan and appears all on the identical time, we opted to improve the UDR’s suspension with Traxxas’ number of aluminum suspension elements, which incorporates hyperlinks, trailing arms, toe hyperlinks and long-travel shocks and dampers. Traxxas additionally presents aluminum shock caps in your selection of Fox or King Shocks branding. We love scale particulars like this. We went the additional mile and likewise put in Traxxas’ non-obligatory gold-colored hardened-steel shafts within the shocks. These shafts have a super-tough titanium-nitride coating with a micro-polished end for smoother efficiency and scratch resistance. They appear mighty snazzy, too.

The rear diff was changed with a Traxxas improve unit and put in together with an upgraded axle housing.

A collection of LED lighting was put in to cowl the entrance, rear and roof of the truck, together with a Traxxas energy amplifier to manage energy circulate.

BLACK CHROME EVERYTHING

The inventory cage that comes on the UDR appears to be like nice, however the grey coloration of the plastic doesn’t. We needed a extra lifelike look, so we upgraded to the Traxxas non-obligatory black chrome cage items. These black chrome elements are as near the look of an actual cage as you’re going to get, which made it a no brainer for this practice construct. Earlier than assembling the brand new cage, we took the time to color some sections of the UDR so as to add some further element. A number of panels obtained semi-gloss black to match what’s achieved on some full-size vehicles, and we additionally painted the gasoline cell to make it look extra lifelike.
We appreciated the black chrome look of the cage a lot that we expanded our use of the manufacturing facility black chrome coated elements to the whole lot Traxxas made for the UDR, together with the rear axle housing, suspension arms, higher arm mounts, entrance and rear bumpers, entrance skid plate, entrance shock mounts, and the sway bar arms as effectively. As you possibly can inform, the look is wonderful.

ALL LIT UP

Our UDR is an older mannequin that didn’t embody LED lights. The present mannequin UDR comes with the UDR mild set already put in. We didn’t wish to be overlooked, so we went forward and put in each the UDR mild equipment, which incorporates LED mild bars that cowl the entrance, rear and roof of the truck, in addition to a Traxxas energy amplifier that helps regulate the facility from the battery to the lights. Leaping sand dunes at nightfall with these lights on makes the UDR look so actual.

PAINTED PARTS

Traxxas did an awesome job of together with some scale equipment like a radiator, fireplace extinguishers, batteries and extra to boost the dimensions look of the truck. They’re all merely molded in a single coloration, so we eliminated all of the items and began portray them so as to add some further element. Elements just like the radiator, fireplace extinguishers, oil bottle containers and jack obtained a couple of coats of spray paint after which slightly element work with a brush. The radiator obtained slightly further consideration with some screening on the inside facet to make it look much more scale.

A WHOLE NEW LOOK

For a totally customized look, we spoke to none apart from Matt Brase of MR Customized Portray to see what he might do with our UDR. Beginning with a Professional-Line clear physique, he went with an eye catching crimson, white and black paint job that options some well-worn patina. It appears to be like nice and matches the colours used on the remainder of the truck. We love the element of the painted sponsor logos and tasteful use of patina. It’s not overbearing and makes this UDR look well-used and classic.
Like the dimensions elements on the skin of the truck, the included inside is a single-color piece, and a few stickers add to the look, however Matt needed to take it to the subsequent stage. He masked off the motive force figures and gave them a couple of coats of paint with some detailing on the helmets and gloves. A set of realistic-looking Traxxas window nets and actual internal aluminum panels spherical out the truck’s main physique parts.

THE SWAP

Wheels and tires are essential to the look of a scale construct. Generic wheels and tires simply gained’t do. That’s why Traxxas presents licensed Technique Race Wheels 101 Beadlock wheels with black and crimson beadlocks which are mounted with BFGoodrich Baja KR3 tires. For those who’re on the lookout for extra element, you’ll discover that we painted the rear beadlocks in blue and matched them with color-coordinated aluminum lock nuts for a bit of additional type. Earlier than bolting them up, we added additional element by portray the lettering on the sidewalls of the tires.
Though the inventory wheel hexes have an awesome scale look due to the fake brake disk that’s molded into them, we swapped them out in favor of the sturdiness of Traxxas’ metal wheel hubs as a substitute. The mattress of the truck holds a pair of sand paddle tires for these occasions when the dunes get too deep. These wheels and tires are additionally accessible from Traxxas as non-obligatory elements.

This Traxxas UDR appears to be like prefer it might tackle the Baja 1000, checking all containers for pace, agility, dune functionality and scale realism.

TRAXXAS UPGRADE PARTS

DR LED mild set – P/N: 8485
Excessive-Torque 400 Purple servo – P/N: 2255
Energy amplifier – P/N: 6590
Clear UDR inside – P/N: 8512
Tube chassis facet part – P/N: 8430X
Tube chassis heart part – P/N: 8431X
Tube chassis heart part rear – P/N: 8432X
Tube chassis heart help – P/N: 8433X
TiN-coated shock shafts 81mm – P/N: 8464T
TiN-coated shock shafts 69mm – P/N: 8454T
Higher arms – P/N: 8531X
Decrease proper arm – P/N: 8532X
Decrease left arm – P/N: 8533X
Higher arm mounts – P/N: 8534X
Entrance bumper – P/N: 8535X
Rear bumper – P/N: 8536X
Entrance skid plate – P/N: 8537X
Rear shock mounts – P/N: 8538X
Rear axle housing – P/N: 8540X
Rear differential – P/N: 8576
Metal wheel hubs – P/N: 8568
Aluminum trailing arms – P/N: 8544
TUBES toe hyperlinks – P/N: 8547
139mm GTR shocks – P/N: 8460
160mm GTR dampers – P/N: 8461
Suspension hyperlink – P/N: 8542
Sway bar arms, entrance – P/N: 8596X
Sway bar arms, rear – P/N: 8597X
Technique Race Wheels 101 Beadlocks,
BF Goodrich Baja KR3s – P/N: 8474
Wheels and paddle tires – P/N: 8475
Window nets – P/N: 8517
Aluminum lock nuts – P/N: 8447
Aluminm panels – P/N: 8434

CUSTOM PAINTED BODY

Professional-Line 1/7 1967 Ford F-100
Clear Physique: UDR
P/N: PRO354717
MR Customized Portray

FINAL WORD

As you possibly can in all probability inform, we put numerous effort and time into this construct and are happy with the top end result. It appears to be like prefer it might tackle the Baja 1000 and appears nearly as good because it performs, checking all of the containers by way of pace, agility, sand dune functionality and scale realism. For those who’re trying to create a practical RC car that may actually transfer, we extremely counsel trying right into a venture desert racer Traxxas UDR of your individual.

Sources:
Traxxas traxxas.com
MR Customized Portray
Instagram: @mrcustompainting
Fb: shorturl.at/btAJO

Textual content by Jerry Tsai and RCCA Employees
Photographs by Jerry Tsai