Losing grip – Iterations

It’s why we’re in this hobby. Iterations. Doing it over and over again, but in a slightly different way every time. My guess is that most of you readers are iterating types, because if not this hobby would quickly become dull. Whether racing, bashing, crawling, painting or building, don’t we all try to do it slightly better than last time? A bit faster, a bit cleaner, a bit better.

So it has been with my TRX-4, Simba. Specifically concerning its wheels and tires. It started with the original rubber, which isn’t very exciting. Good enough, but I dare say not holding the same standard as the paint job.

Then RC4WD supplied me with the coolest combo on the market, BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 2.2 tires, mounted on Raceline Octane 2.2″ wheels. I love it!

Unfortunately, it turned out that they were slightly too big. I tried to amend this by widening the wheel base with bigger hexes, did not work. So I then swapped the shocks for longer ones, but didn’t really like the long travel. Next step was to do a shock rebuild, using the longer shock bodies, but the shorter shafts. That fixed the travel to where I wanted it, but the rubbing was still there.

Iteration after iteration. Finally I have given up. Simba has gotten the Treal Type D’s I used to have on my Vanquish Phoenix, and third (or eleventh…) time lucky! Looks good, matches the paint job and no rubbing. While it is fun to do and redo, it is also very satisfying to finally be done.

The Racelines will go either on my SCX-10 or on the Phoenix, not quite sure which. Incidentally, it will be the third set of wheels on my Phoenix as well. First Vanquish wheels, then Treals and now either RC4WD or maybe Vanquish again, but with a different color ring. Blue and yellow, rather than blue and orange. So many combos to try out! Ours is a great hobby.

To read another column, hit the link!