Traxxas Villain IV reborn with question

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  • cenracer
    Junior Member
    • Oct 2011
    • 15

    #1

    Traxxas Villain IV reborn with question

    This is my first post here, but I am not new to R/C or boats in general. I have a pretty old Villain IV that came with the original stinger combo with esc. I have since upgraded to twin 550's and 14.4 volt power. Added water cooling and these props.http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...traxxaspropkit I have driven the boat a couple of times since getting it back after 5 years and a poor paint job and got it all trimmed out. Since the boat has been away, brushless motors have taken over the world and I plan on installing a twin brushless system over the winter.. My questions are as follows: Can I use those props that I have with the higher revving brushless motors and without converting to a single brushless setup, has does anyone have experience doing this setup or have a link to a successful one. I don't want to spend a fortune on the boat as I only use it occasionally and don't want to convert it completely..I have quite a few too many r/c's according to the wife and don't want to get her any more upset than I have to..
    here are a couple of pics of the boat just after I got it back from the person I sold it to 5 years before...

    Last edited by cenracer; 10-27-2011, 01:52 PM.
  • Make-a-Wake
    FE Rules!
    • Nov 2009
    • 5557

    #2
    Hi Richard, i'm in the process of the same build as we speak....................maybe we can get some tips from each other. Mine is in the Boat Building section with the title "Wolf in sheeps clothing".
    NEED PARALLEL CONNECTORS?? QUALITY 5.5MM, 8MM, 8 AND 10 AWG, GET THEM HERE: http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...est!&highlight=

    Comment

    • NorCalZ71
      Senior Member
      • Jul 2011
      • 293

      #3
      My friends and I love our villains. I have an EX that's stock except for prop shafts and 45mm carbon props. And I also have a villain IV converted to single drive brushless running a proboat 1500kv motor and 4s.
      My friend just picked up a stock EX off fleabay and we're still chasing leaks but having fun doing it. I'm waiting for my other friend to pull the trigger on an EX so we can run 3 side by side.

      Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

      Comment

      • NorCalZ71
        Senior Member
        • Jul 2011
        • 293

        #4
        Dbl post.

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        • cenracer
          Junior Member
          • Oct 2011
          • 15

          #5
          I have another friend with a Villain ex, all stock.. he's kind of afraid of the speed of the boat..disturbing because I find the boat painfully slow. Everything else I own is brushless and set up for high speed so its only normal that I want to do the same for the boat..I can convert to a single prop, but since the boats already set up with dual props, why change it. I will post my build as time goes on.. My original question was has anybody run this yet with success and will those props I run work for the higher rpm brushless motors? Let me know... thanks Rich

          Comment

          • cenracer
            Junior Member
            • Oct 2011
            • 15

            #6
            Sorry I've been away for so long, but its boating season again and I dug out the Villain. I haven't had the chance to change the motors to brushless so I installed the HPI 550's and HPI esc out of a Savage truck to play with. I must say I was surprised at the speed. It was running high 20's in choppy water and would just touch 30 on smoother water. I may keep it this way for a while because I don't get to use the boat as often as I want and honestly it runs great. I'm working on some turn fins and trim tabs, but other than a new tricked out paint job, I may keep it the way it is..... For now.

            Comment

            • Make-a-Wake
              FE Rules!
              • Nov 2009
              • 5557

              #7
              Hey Cen, glad you got her running so well, some vid would be cool to see. Have you considered getting the x447's in both rotation for some more speed and efficiency?

              BTW, these "custom" turn fins I designed work very well and are tucked under the hull. I simply cut a piece of aluminum stock that had a 90* angle, sliced a slit in the hull and epoxied them in................made 'em razor sharp first!

              I also added a few bits of reflective stickers for some bling and then had It cleared, came out very nicely if i do say so myself I really enjoy this one and the 1260kv on 6s is a great setup that runs well and stays only warm.

              Pics of the turn fins from underneath and inside(which looks crappy but that part is inside)
              Attached Files
              NEED PARALLEL CONNECTORS?? QUALITY 5.5MM, 8MM, 8 AND 10 AWG, GET THEM HERE: http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...est!&highlight=

              Comment

              • cenracer
                Junior Member
                • Oct 2011
                • 15

                #8
                I have some video in my Droid that my daughter shot while running at a local pond. The vid came out pretty good, but the boat looks slower in the video than in person.. Bet you've heard that one before. I have a hand held radar gun and a portable gps so the speed isn't estimated.. I will eventually go faster, but for now I want to work on the stability first.. I will try and download the video soon.. just have to find the time.. LOL

                Comment

                • Make-a-Wake
                  FE Rules!
                  • Nov 2009
                  • 5557

                  #9
                  What do you think of the turn fins? They cost almost nothing and work super.
                  NEED PARALLEL CONNECTORS?? QUALITY 5.5MM, 8MM, 8 AND 10 AWG, GET THEM HERE: http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...est!&highlight=

                  Comment

                  • cenracer
                    Junior Member
                    • Oct 2011
                    • 15

                    #10
                    I like them better than the ones that I use. Mine are just a bit too big for the boat and they don't look right. they work fine, but are too deep. I took them off before the winter and haven't put them back on yet. I may just copy yours.. I like running trim tabs, but the back of the boat gets too cluttered and there really isn't a ton of room back there. do you run trim tabs or just use the prop for adjustment?

                    Comment

                    • Make-a-Wake
                      FE Rules!
                      • Nov 2009
                      • 5557

                      #11
                      I run trim tabs, you are correct about the lack of room on the two tiered transom. Believe it or not i use the thick roof flashing, cut 'em to size and screw them on. They are flexible enough for adjustments but firm enough to hold at speed.

                      Pic, the ends of the tabs look jagged, but they have been trimmed just a bit and are smooth and crisp on the trailing edges now.
                      Attached Files
                      NEED PARALLEL CONNECTORS?? QUALITY 5.5MM, 8MM, 8 AND 10 AWG, GET THEM HERE: http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...est!&highlight=

                      Comment

                      • cenracer
                        Junior Member
                        • Oct 2011
                        • 15

                        #12
                        that should work for what I need, I still run dual props, so I will have to be a bit creative here.. My tabs are already made and have threaded screws for adjustment.. kind of bulky.. these are much more compact.

                        Comment

                        • Mike_Shepard
                          Member
                          • Mar 2012
                          • 39

                          #13
                          I have an old EX that I messed up. The motors and esc's no longer work and im thinking about going single brushless, what should I do to achieve this?

                          Comment

                          • Make-a-Wake
                            FE Rules!
                            • Nov 2009
                            • 5557

                            #14
                            Here' a thread of my latest one, should guide you thru it all

                            http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/......&highlight=
                            NEED PARALLEL CONNECTORS?? QUALITY 5.5MM, 8MM, 8 AND 10 AWG, GET THEM HERE: http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...est!&highlight=

                            Comment

                            • SFC K
                              Member
                              • Dec 2011
                              • 49

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Make-a-Wake
                              Here' a thread of my latest one, should guide you thru it all

                              http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/......&highlight=

                              Wow, I like what you did to this. It looks super stable on the water and the turn fins are a nice touch. I just installed some on mine last night.

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