The official 36" zelos twin modding thread

[Raydee]

OK thanks

[baller69]

new record for fastest 36 zelos.i plan to try and beat it with my twin 2700 kv 8s setup in spring.just finished more work on it so will see in spring but here is the new record speed vid to date https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgtEMNL1_uM

[fweasel]

Interesting day at the lake today. Pretty windy and this lake is relatively unsheltered, so it can get gusty and I wasn't sure if it was even worth setting up. I forgot my series battery harnesses and thought I was done for the day, but luckily found the two pack parallel harness at the bottom of the tool box. Most of my 3S packs are getting pretty tired after a hard season. I loaded two newer Revo 3S packs that I had previously been running in my mini Zonda, trimmed the struts down just a hair below even, and sent her out. What a basket case. Running with the wind the hull was dancing and the props were popping out of the water and you could hear the motors over revving. The trip back into the wind was one giant wheelie that I feathered the throttle to keep it on the water. That was it. I had already beat the odds of flipping and acrobatics were imminent, so I shut it down and cruised back to shore. Looked ugly. Sounded ugly. Went like stink at 88mph!

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Loaded four more packs in (still only ran on two, but needed the weight of all four) trimmed the struts a little more negative and went back out again. Boat ran better with more weight up front, but I got cocky and started making long passes. Spent most of the time on it's lid. The mysterious hatch scar got bigger too. My guess was an air bubble between the layers and a good water smack chipped away at it a few weeks back. Today was just more of the same abuse. There was a pretty good crowd gathering on shore marveling at the crash and recovery operation. Someone asked if it was supposed to do that to which I responded, "As long as it doesn't sink."

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I think I'm done running on the bleeding edge of this hull's capabilities in my hands. The off season this winter will be spent reinforcing the remaining parts of the hull not currently covered with carbon cloth that are showing signs of stress cracks. Most notably the rear seams near the corners, the steering cable mounting areas on the transom, and the corners of the hatch opening. Time to scale it back to the 70's where it cruises nice and build a new longer, faster hull to beat on instead next year.

[vinnyp]

Although I am not breaking any speed records, I figured I would post this video. I only got 69 mph out of it on this run, so no big speed numbers. The Zelos is slightly modified. In this run, it had Dynamite 3930 motors, stock ESC's, ABC 1814-15-60 3 blades props, that I prepped myself. This set up has yields a wicked acceleration, but not too impressive top end. Check it out at about 2:13. I come cruising by then crack it open.
The other issue I have been having is it constantly melts a solder joint from one of the EC5 connectors. I have run this set up 3 times and it has happened all 3 times. That's what caused the boat to die out on me at the end of the video. Of course, it has to happen far away from me. Why would it happen in front of me?

[MADRCER]

Although I am not breaking any speed records, I figured I would post this video. I only got 69 mph out of it on this run, so no big speed numbers. The Zelos is slightly modified. In this run, it had Dynamite 3930 motors, stock ESC's, ABC 1814-15-60 3 blades props, that I prepped myself. This set up has yields a wicked acceleration, but not too impressive top end. The other issue I have been having is it constantly melts a solder joint from one of the EC5 connectors. I have run this set up 3 times and it has happened all 3 times. That's what caused the boat to die out on me at the end of the video. Of course, it has to happen far away from me. Why would it happen in front of me?

What a BEAST! Awesome run! That's how a Zelos is supposed to look running WOT (flat, level and controllable)! Looked windy as well and still handled the chop good. You left at least 5mph on the table when you feathered it at the 3/4 mark on the "money pass". With the proper props and water you will be all over 80mph with that set up. Looks like that HERO Session setup is the way to go as well. Great video quality! I'm glad you posted it because I'm tired of watching only mine...Lol!

[vinnyp]

What a BEAST! Awesome run! That's how a Zelos is supposed to look running WOT (flat, level and controllable)! Looked windy as well and still handled the chop good. You left at least 5mph on the table when you feathered it at the 3/4 mark on the "money pass". With the proper props and water you will be all over 80mph with that set up. Looks like that HERO Session setup is the way to go as well. Great video quality! I'm glad you posted it because I'm tired of watching only mine...Lol!

Wind was coming from my back. If you hug the beach, the dunes knock it down. I wish the videos of the Veles worked out. I am still learning how to use the new gopro. Hopefully, next time I wont screw it up!

[Raydee]

Although I am not breaking any speed records, I figured I would post this video. I only got 69 mph out of it on this run, so no big speed numbers. The Zelos is slightly modified. In this run, it had Dynamite 3930 motors, stock ESC's, ABC 1814-15-60 3 blades props, that I prepped myself. This set up has yields a wicked acceleration, but not too impressive top end. Check it out at about 2:13. I come cruising by then crack it open.
The other issue I have been having is it constantly melts a solder joint from one of the EC5 connectors. I have run this set up 3 times and it has happened all 3 times. That's what caused the boat to die out on me at the end of the video. Of course, it has to happen far away from me. Why would it happen in front of me?

What battery setup are you running?

[vinnyp]

What battery setup are you running?

4 of these.... http://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?...product_id=399

[Brushless55]

Although I am not breaking any speed records, I figured I would post this video. I only got 69 mph out of it on this run, so no big speed numbers. The Zelos is slightly modified. In this run, it had Dynamite 3930 motors, stock ESC's, ABC 1814-15-60 3 blades props, that I prepped myself. This set up has yields a wicked acceleration, but not too impressive top end. Check it out at about 2:13. I come cruising by then crack it open.
The other issue I have been having is it constantly melts a solder joint from one of the EC5 connectors. I have run this set up 3 times and it has happened all 3 times. That's what caused the boat to die out on me at the end of the video. Of course, it has to happen far away from me. Why would it happen in front of me?

4 of these.... http://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?...product_id=399

3 blades plus the weight of those packs can pull some additional amps causing connector problems.
I'm thinking

[fweasel]

Vinny, I agree with Brushless, those props might be too much load. What were the temps on the rest of the components like... Motors, ESC's, EC5 connectors, packs? At the very least you may consider upgrading your battery connectors to something larger like a castle 6.5mm. Do you have pictures of those props? I'm not familiar with the 15-60 profiles. I believe Rafael was running that 1750kv motor combo for a while before he went to a full on SAW setup. Always seemed like a good match, but I don't ever recall reading much in the way of results on his boat.

[fweasel]

I also wanted to mention, I drilled out my struts and installed M4 stainless cap head screws instead of the smaller M3 size that come stock. Those combined with a rough file to scuff up the mating surfaces have kept my strut adjustments from moving on me during a run or flip. It's also nice to get a larger sized tool on both sides to really snug them up instead of a 2.5mm hex and a 5.5mm wrench.

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[MADRCER]

See the below video. Rafael has had good success with this motor and prop setup. Vinny said in his post on YouTube the motors were 108 and ESC's were 100. The heavy batteries and his heavy finger are the most of his problems. SMC 5200mah problem solved. I've been trying to get him unattached from those 7000mah for a while now

[vinnyp]

[QUOTE=MADRCER;702898]See the below video. Rafael has had good success with this motor and prop setup. Vinny said in his post on YouTube the motors were 108 and ESC's were 100. The heavy batteries and his heavy finger are the most of his problems. SMC 5200mah problem solved. I've been trying to get him unattached from 7000mah for a while now

Yeah, we have discussed that a few times. There is about 1 1/2 oz difference between the 5200 and the 7200. So maybe 6 oz difference when running 4 packs. Heavy finger!!! Yeah maybe. But I tend to beat up everything I run. My car, my Checkmate , my rc boats..

[vinnyp]

. Do you have pictures of those props? .

Yes this is what I had handy.

[Brushless55]

Yeah, we have discussed that a few times. There is about 1 1/2 oz difference between the 5200 and the 7200. So maybe 6 oz difference when running 4 packs. Heavy finger!!! Yeah maybe. But I tend to beat up everything I run. My car, my Checkmate , my rc boats..

Ok that weight does not sound bad at all then.
do you have some 2 blades to try out?
can you shift your cg back some?