Readers Rides – March 2024

TEXAS PIPELINER
Dustin Olson « Texas, USA

We love seeing clean custom builds, and Dustin’s Texas Pipeliner is definitely a clean one. Regarding his bespoke truck, Dustin tells us: “It’s every Pipeliner’s dream to build that perfect welding truck to fit their style and work. These trucks are often very custom and extremely flashy and super-clean. New and old alike, they are built from all ages, makes and models, and built for function. This style was created as a 1/10-scale truck with the use of a RC4WD LWB TF2 and a modified RC4WD Blazer body with a K5 Customs-designed 3D-printed welding bed… this rig would make any hardcore Pipeliner proud. From its hand-crafted-looking bed, to its scaled-down Lincoln welder and Hoosier bar, to its side-opening recessed toolboxes, it’s all there. This truck has been seen on display at RCHQ Hobby Store, San Antonio, Texas, was featured on Mark Santa Maria Vlog on YouTube, and was an RC4WD featured build on their Facebook page. It has also been seen on numerous Facebook RC groups’ cover pages, too.” Great work, Dustin, we really like the super-detailed and clean truck you made!

BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: RC4WD LWB Trail Finder 2
– Body: RC4WD K5 Blazer
– Motor: RC4WD 15T brushless motor
– Speed Control: Hobbywing Quicrun 1080 brushed ESC
– Battery: Zeee 3S 5200 LiPo
– Wheels & Tires: RC4WD 1.9 Double Trouble dually wheels, 1.9 RC4WD Mud Slinger tires
– Shocks: RC4WD Scaler TF2 stock shocks
– Axles: RC4WD Yota TF2 stock axles
– Paint: Krylon Beach Sea Glass
– Lighting: My Trick RC Extracab light kit
– Radio System: FlySky GT5
– Sound System: Nine
– Other Options: K5 Customs welding bed and accessories; pictures also feature a custom toy hauler fifth-wheel trailer and custom center console boat, both designed and built by K5 Customs designs builder Dustin Olson

BIG BLUE
Greg Filosa « Westmont , NJ
We love big rides, and we’d say this one qualifies. It’s a powerful Tamiya hauler that is packed full of details and features such as lights and a speaker that broadcasts authentic diesel engine sounds. Greg tells us about his big rig build: “I had fun learning a little about electronics during this build. I installed over 60 LEDs in addition to the ones that come in the MFC-01 kit. I think it looks cool towing around my Diecast Masters lowboy trailer with Bruder excavator.” This is a truly fantastic job, Greg!

BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: Tamiya 1/14 tractor truck
– Body: Tamiya Grand Hauler
– Motor: Integy Matrix Pro lathe motor 45T
– Speed Control: Tamiya MFC-01
– Battery: Various Duratrax 7.2V NiMH
– Wheels & Tires: Stock Tamiya
– Paint: Tamiya TS-89 Pearl Blue
– Lighting: Tamiya MFC-01
– Radio System: Flysky FS-ST8
– Sound System: Tamiya MFC-01

KP’s INFRACTION GT-ЯR Skyline
Kiley Phillips « Livermore, CA
This high-speed beast was submitted by Kiley Phillips. Kiley tells us: “This started as a speed-run-only build until I drove the Infraction for the first time. It’s a super-fun, very fast street basher for a reason! So, I built an 8S Infraction that I call the Infraction GT-ЯR Skyline. There’s still a lot more upgrades on the way, but I would say comfortably this is a $2,500 car the way it sits. My goal is to hit 100 mph, be able to bash it around for several minutes without getting hot, and have a car that looks as good as it drives. I have some GCRC fans coming that will run on a separate 3S LiPo, so I’m anxious for that. I won Rig of The Month on ArrmaForum for July once I finished the paint, so that motivated me to go all-in on the build. Eventually I’ll be getting a full carbon fiber GT chassis for it along with titanium drive axles and some other goodies. A build in progress that has exceeded my expectations… and my budget!” Thanks for sharing your ride with us, Kiley! We’re excited to hear you have even more plans for it.

BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: Arrma Infraction 6S BLX
– Body: Protoform Nissan Skyline R35 GT-R
– Motor: Castle Creations 1717 sensored 4-pole brushless motor
– Speed Control: Castle Creations Mamba Monster X 8S brushless ESC with Pro-Tek QS8 Anti-Spark connectors
– Battery: 2x Gens Ace Bashing Pro 4S LiPo battery 100C (14.8V/11000mAh) with Pro-Tek QS8 Anti-Spark connectors
– Wheels & Tires: Arrma Dboots Hoons 42/100 2.9” belted tires on 5-spoke Arrma rims
– Shocks: Arrma Infraction/Limitless 77mm shock set with Hot Racing aluminum caps, Hot Racing aluminum locking rod dnds & Perfect Pass Speed Run shocks
– Axles: Arrma steel CVD driveshafts
– Paint: Tamiya PS-5 Black & Tamiya PS-16 Smoke for the windows
– Radio System: Spektrum DX5 Pro transmitter & SR-6100AT 6-channel DSMR surface receiver
– Other Options: Perfect Pass Monster servo, Perfect Pass aluminum body mounts, Scorched RC titanium shock stand-offs, Scorched RC titanium Ackerman plate with ball bearings, Scorched RC titanium steering stub plates, Scorched RC titanium steering top plate, Scorched RC titanium lower suspension pins, Scorched RC titanium front & rear skid plates, Scorched RC titanium center driveshafts with 8mm Pinocchio spool set, Scorched RC titanium front splitter screw set, Scorched RC aluminum Roto-lok motor mount, Scorched RC aluminum front & rear hinge pin holders, Scorched RC carbon fiber tower-to-tower brace with Hot Racing rod ends, Scorched RC carbon fiber shock towers, Scorched RC carbon fiber side skirts, Scorched RC inner fenders & mudguards, Hot Racing aluminum front & rear gearbox case, Hot Racing aluminum diffuser supports, Hot Racing aluminum rear body mount support, BodyArmorRC Teflon battery straps, Screwz full stainless steel screw conversion, SAGA RC 46T/22T hardened steel gears

IDAHO RANGER
Hayden Ullrich « Idaho, USA
Beefed-up bashers are probably our favorite RCs to drive, and Hayden’s Traxxas Slash looks like it’s a blast to take out. Hayden tells us more about his customized go-fast truck: “I got this in 2012 as a gift from my grandfather. It was a bone-stock Traxxas Slash 2WD with brushed electronics and an old TQ radio. I converted it to brushless about one-and-a-half years ago for enough torque to not melt motors when bashing and to have the ability to go somewhat fast. This truck certainly delivers.” It sure looks like a fun truck to bash around… thanks for sharing it with us, Hayden!

BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: Traxxas Slash 2WD
– Body: JConcepts 1979 Ford F-250 Ranger
– Motor: Traxxas Velineon VXL 3s brushless system
– Speed Control: Traxxas Velineon VXL 3s brushless system
– Battery: Gens Ace 3-cell 5000 mAh LiPo battery
– Wheels & Tires: Pro-Line Badlands tires on Pro-Line Raid wheels
– Shocks: Stock Traxxas Slash shocks
– Paint: Tamyia TS-2 Red, Tamyia PS-5 Black
– Graphics: Hoonigan, Traxxas, TRBRC, JConcepts, Pro-Line, Dusty Motors, RPM sticker sheets
– Lighting: Traxxas LED light kit
– Radio System: Traxxas TQi
– Other Options: Yeah Racing tool steel driveshafts (for Traxxas Drag Slash), RPM steering blocks, caster blocks and rear axle carriers, Traxxas heavy-duty suspension arms (red) front and rear, Traxxas heavy-duty input shaft, aluminum shock caps, hardened steel idler gear, STRC shock towers front and rear, lock nut hinge pins, front hinge pin brace, RPM adjustable body posts, metal spur gear