My Blackjack w/ TLR Outdrive & Lipo

[Anthony.L]

Hello, I'm getting back into boats after a 10 year hiatus. I decided to pickup a Blackjack RTR because I like the looks of a cat way better then a V. I should have know it would have got me hooked, well it's started.

Before doing any reading on forums I found Twisted Liquid's site and ordered their Skater II outdrive system for the BJ. Well despite all the negative feedback, everything actually arrived. It did take almost two weeks between placed order to delivery on my doorstep, but at least it showed.

I originally dropped in some 7-cell NIMH battery packs but was not impressed with the speed at all. Decided to go big and installed two TP 11.1v 3850mah Extreme V2 packs in series for 6S (25v) total! These packs are rated for serious amp draw, 90amp continuous, and 190amp burst. They perform extremely well and after a 4 min run are barely warm which is a good sign they are not working too hard with the boat's amp draw.

Other then the outdrive, prop, batteries, and radio the rest of the boat is bone stock.

First outing with the boat, did a couple 1/2 throttle passes to get a feal for it. Then ran out a good 3/4 throttle pass. Checked the GPS and 46.7 MPH.

So far I'm very impressed with the boat. This weekend is supposed to be all rain so I'm going to tear apart the inside and do some changes. Install a Castle 120 Hydra forward of the motor. Maybe try out a Neu 1515 2.5D I have laying around. Pull the stock battery trays and play with different CG. Also have a Octura x642 prop to try, the one I used for the first run was a m435 3 blade.

I'm shooting for 55mph once I get all done, then it's off to start another build...

[RCprince]

If you did 46 with that m435...a 642 will definitely get you in the mid fifties...by the way that stock motor can handle I'll say up to a 645 easy, it's a 6 pole 1606 kv.

[Darin Jordan]

Nice looking boat Anthony...

Say, you're here in the Seattle area... Why aren't you a member of Puget Sound Fast Electrics and out there racing with the rest of us??

Our next race is in Monroe on the 14th, and then the remainder are up in the Federal Way area...

Great group of guys and you couldn't ask for more people willing to help get you going in the right direction...

You should contact Jim Bickford or come out to a race and join us! You'd be MOST WELCOMED, and I GUARANTEE that you'd be hooked before the day was out! Just ask Corey (CTonez)...

Here is a link to our website:

[Anthony.L]

If you did 46 with that m435...a 642 will definitely get you in the mid fifties...by the way that stock motor can handle I'll say up to a 645 easy, it's a 6 pole 1606 kv.

Awesome, I was hoping the x642 would take me north of 50mph. I stopped by a hobby shop on the way home and got some 3/16" and 5/32" brass tubing so I can adapt the prop to the TLR outdrive. I got it installed right before I took the pics, hence why the m435 isn't on there. However won't know until tomorrow what it's going to run, will report back.

Say, you're here in the Seattle area... Why aren't you a member of Puget Sound Fast Electrics and out there racing with the rest of us??

Our next race is in Monroe on the 14th, and then the remainder are up in the Federal Way area...

Actually I just found the club's site the other night and noticed the upcoming Monroe event. I'll definitely come by and check it out. Not really happy with how the boat corners yet and need to work on that next.

[all in]

I have a blackjack with a skater. They never turn good I have tried everything it is just the hull design. made to go straight very quick.

[lyndon915]

anthony,
are you running the stock ESC. I didnt know that it could handle 6S.
thanks,
Lyndon

[Anthony.L]

anthony,
are you running the stock ESC. I didnt know that it could handle 6S.
thanks,
Lyndon

Yup stock motor and ESC. I didn't expect it to handle 6S but it's doing just fine so far.

[Wakesurfer]

The stock ESC can take 6s? I had no idea it could handle that. Are you using a Rx pack or seperate BEC? I picked up a couple of 3s8k MaxAmps packs for my BJ, but I've been waiting to get the Hydra 120 and a BEC installed to use them. My 2s8k packs get warm (125-130) on a 10 minute run and I want to keep them healthy for my trucks. I put the Skater on mine with the M435 prop as well. I've got the tracking fins angled to match the sides of the hull, and 1/2" trimmed off of them. The hull will occasionaly slip in a tight corner at full throttle now, but doesn't seem to want to flip like it did with the stock setup. I dropped the batteries down and moved them back a little to. I haven't GPSed mine, but it eats up the park pond pretty quick now. Now that I have my Neus in my trucks I have a couple of 7xl motors I could try in the BlackJack.

[Anthony.L]

Yes, how many times can I say it! :D The stock ESC handles 6S just fine for me. I'm using the ESC's internal BEC, no external BEC or RX pack.

[Wakesurfer]

Sounds cool. I'm planning on running mine again tomorrow. Guess I'll run a little on the 2s packs and then give it a try on the 3s packs. I'm on a roll with smoking ESCs this year anyway. 2 Traxxas EVX2 and 2 Castle MMM. At least the Monsters were polite about it and didn't take any Rx or batteries with them. Thanks for posting about the 6s though. I've misplaced my manual and I don't remember seeing anything about running 6s in it anyway.

[Anthony.L]

The manual rates the ESC at a max input of 20V. I was certain it would give up the smoke and didn't care cause it was getting replaced by a Castle Hydra. However after three runs, it's still working fine with very little heat.

[Anthony.L]

Finally got a good run in today with the X642 balanced, lightened, sharpened, etc prop from CMDI.



My goal is 55mph, I'm thinking play with the CG (batteries are in stock battery trays right now) next.

Any ideas on how to counter the torque roll of this prop?

FYI, the boat ran full throttle 51.9 with not one hint of blow over. Very pleased with this hull in a straight line, corners are another story.

[z400]

Very impressive!!!

Good job on hitting the 50mph mark!!

[Wakesurfer]

Congrats on breaking 50! I'm sure there is more there. I like that little Garmin. My old Magellen is to big and heavy to put in my RCs. Might have to get one of those. I didn't get to try 6s today. My uncle's pond is a little smaller than the park lake I usualy run on and there was a lot of floating debri. Tree leaves and seeds kept getting hung on the tracking fins. Talk about killing your speed and handling. Maybe next time...

[Apples1]

A guy at my club has been running 6s for a while in his, with no problems, the only issue is the rev's are higher so you cant go as higher a prop with the amp draw issue. (and lack of torque) i am running with in 5-10 kph of him on 2s and 645.

however this weekend every time i ran my 645 my main (blue) motor wire kept on coming unsoldered(at the bullet connector) , maybe a heat issue, but nothing is running to hot. a bit puzzleing?

Can you get solder that melts at a higher temp?