How not to setup a whip antenna I guess ....

[gsbuickman]

So I took my Villain X out for a full throttle romp with my sister ttoday, so she could shoot video for me. The good news is she's smoking fast on 4s. Fast enough she was on the verge of uncontrollable if I can't get a Lil' more control with some adjustments, this will have to be a drag boat runner cause I really wanted to try her on 5s.

The bad news is my servo horn stripped out & all she wanted to do was flip cookies :scared: . when I got enough trim adjustment out of her for a straight run, she got about 65' from me when I lost radio signal :frusty: .

I took a gamble with my Rx antenna (sr3001 pro series). Rather than run a 2nd antenna with the antenna outside the hull like I normally do; I put an eyelet terminal on the tip of the antenna, and ran the original whip antenna that I really like on these. Its a good thing we went to the small test n' tune pond, it made retrieval easy enough.

I know a lot of people like Vilain's, just don't setup the whip antenna ! :cursing:



Eylet terminal on antenna tip, screwed to spring antenna base

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1013_zpsaxuoqxk0.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1013_zpsaxuoqxk0.jpg.html)


Antenna base plate on the hatches bottom side

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1014_zps88cjvgqj.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1014_zps88cjvgqj.jpg.html)

The villains whip antenna, really kool but non functional


http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1015_zpsfsac328h.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1015_zpsfsac328h.jpg.html)

[gsbuickman]

So, i had a delimma going on. I was wondering how to mount a 2.4 antenna outside the hull, w/o drilling additional holes thru the hull itself while !maximizing antenna height & length for best reception :confused2:. Here's how I solved it.


I used a large yellow tipped electrical eyelet connector because it was big enough to crimp an antenna tube in, after setting maximum antenna length. I used a flat washer and a screw to anchor the new antenna post to the existin HB t OK we're for the factory power switch. Then I bent it up at a 90° angle so it was vertical.


Ihttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1020_zpss56l076h.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1020_zpss56l076h.jpg.html)


Then I used a unibit to drill a close quarters hole that's just snug enough to support the new antenna mount. I put an o-ring around the connector to help seal the antenna hole, but I am not too worried about it ....

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1022_zpszja6ngth.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1022_zpszja6ngth.jpg.html)

Now I've got twin antennas & a full 6" of antenna height off the hatch :cool:
I thought ya'll might find this idea useful for something, G'night :tiphat:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1023_zpsceajtyns.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1023_zpsceajtyns.jpg.html)

[Norwest]

Forgot, I sprayed Corrosion-X on a t-120 and JR rxs and works great..

[gsbuickman]

After getting the antenna setup I noticed that the traxxas h20 pick up snapped off. I must have clipped a rock :frusty:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1024_zpsfiulswvq.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1024_zpsfiulswvq.jpg.html)


Rather than replace it with junk traxxas plastic I decided to fab one from a arbonfibre tube I have here, but utilize the traxxas bracket.


http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1027_zps7cpmjkuq.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1027_zps7cpmjkuq.jpg.html)


After trimming the bracket for a snugfit & reaming out the existing hole, it looks pretty damn good ..


http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1029_zpsjzcjjps8.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1029_zpsjzcjjps8.jpg.html)

If I didn't know any better, I'd swear it wasn't homemade ... :biggrin:


http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/gsbuickman/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1030_zpsyyuwh24l.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/gsbuickman/media/RC%20Stuff/IMG_1030_zpsyyuwh24l.jpg.html)