Tunnel Hull Advice Needed.

[tjw4700]

I have ran more then a few 7.5 Nitro Tunnel Hull's in my day and now I'm looking at trying Brushless and I was thinking I would go with a 3.5 Tunnel Hull.

I'm looking at setting up a LeeCraft XTR-21 3.5 and converting it to Brushless,I know what people are going to ask why not get a VS1 or a TopSpeed 3 and that's just not what I want as there are a Million guy's from what I have read that are running them Brushless.

These are my Concern's is the XTR-21 to small to handle a UL-1 2030kv motor and what are any concerns I should be aware of when going from Nitro to Brushless as far as handling goes,on the setup side I pretty much know what needs to be from running Tunnel's for the past 25 year's.

What are the TopSpeed 3 Hull's like are they really thin fibreglass like the motley crew and there other fiberglass hull's the reason I ask is becasue a friend of mine who does not have the funds I have wants to build a brushless Tunnel Hull as well.

http://www.leecraftracing.com/product.htm

[marko500]

I'm still learning with tunnels but we have 5 brushless ones so far. The Leecraft should handle the UL-1 motor with no problems. I just finished converting a JD WOF hull last night. When building your radio/battery box go long enough to fit everything and still have room for moving the battery a bit to adjust COG. And keep the weight/battery as low as possible in the hull.
As far as a fun budget friendly boat my son hasa Dumas Hot Shot ABS hull (there are a ton on Ebay used cheap) He has a used K&B 3.5 with a $25 Turnigy Typhoon 1800kv outrunner and a Seaking 60 esc. Probably about $100-125 dollars not counting radio and battery. I am amazed at how fast and nice the boat handles. He's been running all summer with no issues. Don't know if it would be much of a competitive racer but for cheap fun, decent run times it's a great boat.
I have no experience with the VS1 or TS3 but as you said alot of guys have them and a bunch on here have done some nice conversions, someone will chime in here and answer your questions better.

[tjw4700]

Do you find the balance point changes with a Brushless Tunnel Hull.

I'm still learning with tunnels but we have 5 brushless ones so far. The Leecraft should handle the UL-1 motor with no problems. I just finished converting a JD WOF hull last night. When building your radio/battery box go long enough to fit everything and still have room for moving the battery a bit to adjust COG. And keep the weight/battery as low as possible in the hull.
As far as a fun budget friendly boat my son hasa Dumas Hot Shot ABS hull (there are a ton on Ebay used cheap) He has a used K&B 3.5 with a $25 Turnigy Typhoon 1800kv outrunner and a Seaking 60 esc. Probably about $100-125 dollars not counting radio and battery. I am amazed at how fast and nice the boat handles. He's been running all summer with no issues. Don't know if it would be much of a competitive racer but for cheap fun, decent run times it's a great boat.
I have no experience with the VS1 or TS3 but as you said alot of guys have them and a bunch on here have done some nice conversions, someone will chime in here and answer your questions better.

[marko500]

Not sure as I have never driven or owned a nitro tunnel. But with a brushless boat the COG/weight remains constant, unlike a nitro or gas where the COG/weight changes a little as you burn fuel.

[lohring]

The XTR-21 will run as an electric tunnel. It was my first. It will not be as fast as the newer boats. Below are pictures of mine racing Brian Buaas as well as some pictures of Brian's battery box for a TS3. The XTR-21 will need a similar setup. See the Leecraft Racing page for more information on the nitro version. The electric tunnel will be similar.

Lohring Miller

Electric Tunnels 1.jpg Electric Tunnels 5.jpg TS-3 001.jpg TS-3 003.jpg TS-3 004.jpg

[Mike Caruso]

Nice website lots of History.

[HOTWATER]

Here are a few pics of my Vision tunnel converted from nitro to FE....servo up front and battery all the way back...best tunnel I have ever had....





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[HOTWATER]

...a few more...UL-1 motor, Kris Flynn lower conversion/flex and an O.S. lower....I'm running with Dick Loeb and James Beasley in the last two pics...both are World Tunnel Champs....not easy to beat



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