ax10 scorpion rtr

btwaxialscorpion
3/26/08
9:44 AM
Page 90
BEHIND THE
WHEEL
QUICK SPECS
1/10 SCALE | ELECTRIC | RTR
Type ❯❯ 4WD rock racer
Price ❯❯ $310 (varies with dealer)
Top speed ❯❯ 7mph
Requires ❯❯ NiMH or LiPo battery
❯❯ 8 AA batteries
axialracing.com
DRIVE TIME
TEST SPOT
LOVER’S LEAP STATE PARK ❯❯ NEW MILFORD, CT
JUST BASHIN’ AROUND
Before taking a trip to the rocks, I did what
most AX10 RTR buyers are likely to do: throw
a stick pack under the body and head for
the yard. In the driveway, the AX10 dug in
and torque-twisted the front axle hard enough
for the right-side tire to buzz the body, but
the truck settled down just as quickly as the
diff unloaded power to the lifted wheel. The
truck reaches its top speed of 7mph almost
instantly, which is expected, given its ultralow 33.5:1 final drive ratio (compare that with
90 RCCARACTION.COM
10-12:1 for a typical electric stadium truck).
What you lose in speed you gain in torque, and
the AX10 has plenty of it. Rolling over grass and
curbs was effortless, and steep grades didn’t
even slow the truck down. Unless the angle was
steep enough for gravity to take over and roll
the truck axle over axle, it just kept climbing.
WHEELIES!
If you like to do wheelies (who doesn’t?), you’ll
need to back into them. Just hitting the gas
isn’t enough, as the AX10’s supple suspension
absorbs a lot of the wheel-lifting energy. But roll
it back and then peg the gas, and the Scorp
will do a nice wheelstand. If you overdo it, the
body’s tailgate will keep the truck from going all
the way over. And if you’re really good, you can
sit the Scorpion right on its tailgate, nose
straight up, and “walk” it like a dolphin doing
that backward-swimming thing at Sea World.
ON THE ROCKS
After dumping 3300mAh worth of juice in the
yard (which took a good 20 minutes, at least),
I recharged and made the drive to Lover’s
Leap State Park where the rocks have waited
millions of years for the rise of man, the dawn
btwaxialscorpion
3/26/08
3:22 PM
Page 91
EXCLUSIVE!
AXIAL AX10 SCORPION RTR
Bash in the backyard or rip it up on the rocks—this RTR does both
WORDS PETER VIEIRA ❯❯ peterv@airage.com | PHOTOS HOPE MCCALL & PETE HALL
If there’s one brand that’s synonymous with rock crawling, it’s
Axial. Since the debut of the AX10 Scorpion kit, Axial has been
the go-to name for hordes of newcomers to crawling and
seasoned vets alike, and the affordable and rock-ready
machine has become a fixture at crawling comps of all
sizes. The next step? Open up the AX10 experience to a
whole new crowd of truck guys with a just-add-batteries
RTR. In ready-to-run trim, the Axial AX10 Scorpion
actually gains a few features the kit truck doesn’t have
and scores big style points with factory-finished and
thoroughly modern bodywork that
sets it apart from the kit’s
retro B17 Betty lines. I’ve
got a fistful of Duracells
and a stick pack on the
charger; time to drive.
[
ACTION VIDEO
ONLINE
RCCARACTION.COM
of civilization, the industrial revolution and the
release of this truck just so I could do a little
crawling. I brought along the included 14T
pinion and front diff locker for maximum rock
readiness, but I wanted to test the AX10’s
climbing ability straight from the box first. Easy
climbs were no problem (see video at rccaraction.com), as the truck is geared very low and
has capable tires. As long as the front tires
didn’t have to do all the work, the AX10 was
up and over with the solid rear axle doing the
pushing. But if clearing a section required the
front end to do the heavy lifting, the front diff
would unload to the tire with the least grip and
all progress would halt—which is exactly why
Axial includes the front diff locker. Installing the
locker was surprisingly quick (see “On the
Bench” for the disassembly sequence), and I
installed the 14T pinion while I was at it.
LOCKED & LOADED
Round two on the rocks showed a great
improvement in the AX10’s gravity-defying
ability. With no diff to unload, previously
unbeatable obstacles disappeared beneath
the axles, and new lines could be explored.
But the newfound grip also revealed a new liability: the high CG caused by the top-mounted
battery pack. If the Scorpion got leaned over
too much or too close to vertical, it tumbled
]
down the rocks. It can still climb well enough
to impress newcomers to crawling, but if you
know what a well-set-up truck can do, the
AX10 falls short. Which is actually an unfair
comparison because this is a dual-purpose
RTR, but since the AX10 is so good (and the
kit truck is so popular), it invites the comparison. Axial’s optional axle-mount battery tray
will help a lot, as will weighting the front
wheels and star-cutting the foam (as suggested in the manual). And that really is the beauty
of this RTR; it’s a perfect “blank canvas” to
build a truly comp-ready crawler. Or, you can
just beat it up in box-stock form and have a
lot of fun doing it. Your truck, your call.
JUNE 2008 91
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The RTR Scorpion includes Axial’s
Baja Buzzard shell, finished exactly
as you see it here.
Slipper-equipped
transmission
The AX10 RTR’s ball-bearingequipped 3-gear transmission
is identical to the kit truck’s,
but it adds a slipper clutch to
the mix for bash-around durability. Set properly, the clutch
will slip before you pop a tooth
on the spur gear or overstress
other drivetrain parts. It’s a
robust unit, with an extra-thick
pressure plate and a 3-bolt
spur-gear mount to withstand
major torque, should you
decide to lock the slipper
down for serious crawling.
With that in mind, Axial supplies two pinions: the installed
20-toother for a low 33.5:1
ratio, and a 14-tooth gear for
a super-low 47.8:1 ratio.
The 3-gear
trans uses a slipper
clutch to spare the gears
and rolls smoothly on
sealed ball bearings.
92 RCCARACTION.COM
Axial dresses up
the AX10’s
closed-endbell
motor with a
sharp-looking
decal. We’ve
called out similar
motors as a
“miss” for speedoriented RTRs,
but for the AX10’s
climbing mission,
the 540 stocker is
a good pick (and
keeps the cost of
the truck down).
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SPECIFICATIONS
AXIAL AX10 SCORPION RTR
axialracing.com
Scale 1/10
Price $310 (varies with dealer)
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Overall length (with body) 17.3 in. (438mm)
Wheelbase 12.6 in. (320mm)
Width 10 in. (254mm)
Weight, as tested 4 lbs, 11.7 oz. (2,146g)
CHASSIS
Type 2.5mm aluminum side plates with plastic
braces
SUSPENSION
Type 3-link solid axle with fixed-length
plastic links
Lower link positions 3
Upper link positions 3
Upper shock positions F/R 3
Lower shock positions F/R 1
UNDER THE HOOD
Straight-axle Action
Unlike the AX10 kit truck, the RTR
uses a straight rear axle. It’s the same
main axle housing as used on both ends of the kit
and RTR trucks, but instead of C-hubs capping the housing,
straight extensions are supplied. Two benefits here: there are no
C-hubs or steering arms to break or get sloppy, and toe-in is fixed
so there’s no adjustment to goof up. And if you want to enter a
crawling comp, rear-steer isn’t allowed in 2.2 class anyway; in
short, the straight axle is the hot setup. If you want to go outlaw
with a rear-steer setup, the required steering parts are easily
added.
Slick Shocks
Plastic-body shocks are a common cost-saver on
RTRs and work just fine—especially for a crawler,
where shaft speeds are very low compared with the
big hits a fast-moving off-road race vehicle would
subject the shocks to. But Axial steps up the specs
with titanium-nitride-coated shafts that offer the
benefit of reduced friction and longer wear compared to chrome-plated shafts. They look pretty
cool, too, and the factory shock build is well done.
Smooth action, no leaks.
SHOCKS
Plastic body, oil-filled with titanium-nitride
shock shafts
STEERING
Type Drag link
Servo-saver Servo-mounted, nonadjustable
plastic spring
Steering linkage Plastic, fixed length
Ackerman settings None
DRIVETRAIN
Type Full-time 4WD
Transmission 3-gear enclosed gearbox
Transmission ratio 2.6:1
Axle ratio 2.9:1
Slipper clutch Aluminum, adjustable single-pad
Differentials Locked
Driveshafts Telescoping plastic
Bearings Rubber-sealed ball bearings
Spur gear Plastic 87T
Pinion 20T (installed) 14T (optional, included)
Final drive ratio 33.5:1 (47.8:1 w/ 14T pinion)
ELECTRONICS
Transmitter & receiver Axial AX-1
Speed control Axial AE-1 reversing
Servo Axial AS-1, plastic-gear standard type
Motor Axial 27T sealed endbell stock-type
Battery Not included
BODY, WHEELS & TIRES
Body Printed Lexan
Wheels Axial 8-hole beadlock, chrome with
6-bolt aluminum lock rings
Tires Axial Rock Lizard 2.2 with foam inserts
ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES
Heavy-duty diff locker for front axle; 14T pinion;
preload spacers; 4-way wrench; 23- and 24-spline
servo-saver inserts
Rock-ready Rubber
The RTR Scorpion gets the same Rock Lizard
tires as the kit truck, but its wheels are a big
step up in style. The chrome 8-hole hoops and
tasteful gray-anodized lock rings give the RTR
a high-line look, and Axial’s 6-bolt setup
clamps the tires tightly without glue. That
means you can get at the foam inserts if you
wish to “star cut” them for better rock-gripping
ability, or you can swap tires and wheels without shredding rubber.
Instead of steering
parts, the rear axle is
outfitted with straight
extensions. Note the
aluminum axle hexes,
which are secured by
setscrews.
The AX10’s plastic-body
shocks use titaniumnitride-coated shafts for
super-smooth suspension
travel.
Axial locks the
rear diff by
replacing the
internal gears
with a chunky
casting. An
extra diff locker
is included to
replace the
front diff gears,
if you decide to
get serious
about rock
crawling.
Locked for the Rocks
Out of the box, the AX10 RTR has an open front diff for better
bash-around handling and a locked rear axle for maximum
climbing traction. Instead of the sleeve-and-pin locking device
used in the kit’s axles, the RTR gets Axial’s heavy-duty locker.
The Maltese-cross-shaped casting fills the diff housing so it
can’t possibly turn, but if even if it could, tabs extending into the
slots for the spider gears’ axle would stop that from happening.
In short: the axle is locked solid. For dedicated climbing duty,
Axial supplies an extra heavy-duty locker for the front axle.
Nice-looking rolling
stock here, and with
six screws holding
the tires tightly,
there’s no need for
CA.
JUNE 2008 93
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AXIAL AX10 SCORPION RTR
AX10 Scorpion Kit versus AX10 Scorpion RTR
What exactly separates the AX10 kit from the RTR version? The chart below shows all the differences;
anything not on this chart is functionally identical on both trucks (cosmetic differences are not noted).
INCLUDED ELECTRONICS
& ACCESSORIES
Axial AX1 transmitter
Just the essentials here, with a single LED to
show battery life and trim knobs as the only
adjustment. For any other vehicle, I’d like to
see a dual-rate adjustment, but rock crawlers
always need max steering, so no loss there.
More importantly, the radio is comfortable
and reliable. Other than saving you a few
bucks, the no-frills radio doesn’t affect the
RTR experience.
Axial AS-1 steering servo
The AX10 steers its wheels with a standardduty servo, which is all it needs for bashing
action. A large servo-saver spares the gears
in a rock jam as do the flexible plastic steering
links. Serious crawlers will want more torque
than the 50 or so oz.-in. this servo delivers,
but serious crawlers will buy the AX10 kit and
choose their own servo.
Axial AE-1 auto-set reversing
speed control
Gotta have reverse in a rock crawler. The AE-1
speed control is compact and tucked beneath
the battery tray, so it’s easy to forget it’s there.
You’ll probably forget about it while you’re bashing around, too, since it does its thing smoothly
and reliably without a glitch and requires no
setup. For rock crawling, it needs stronger
brakes to prevent rolling on descents, but that
sort of brake power would be overkill for bashing. For the driving the typical RTR guy will do, I
think Axial spec’d the right speed control.
FACTORY OPTIONS
❯❯ Heavy-duty bevel pinion and ring gear set—
item no. AX30395
❯❯ Aluminum suspension links, 30-degree
bend—AX30445
❯❯ Axle-mount battery/servo tray—AX30486
❯❯ Aluminum shock body (pair)—AX30122
❯❯ Finned motor mount—AX30482
❯❯ Tuning springs—AX30213 (super soft),
AX30214 (soft), AX30215 (medium), AX30216
(firm), AX30217 (super firm)
YOU’LL NEED | WE USED
8 AA batteries
Costco
NiMH or LiPo battery Orion Rocket Pack 3300
NiMH teamorion.com
Charger
LRP Pulsar Competition 3
teamassociated.com
94 RCCARACTION.COM
Front differential
AX10 Kit
Locked
Rear differential
Rear axle
Suspension links
Steering links
Servo-saver
Transmission spacers
Motor plate
Upper chassis plate standoffs
Slipper clutch
Body mounts
Beadlock wheels
Rear-axle servo mount
Electronics
Locked, 2-piece locker
Adjustable toe
Tubular aluminum
Tubular aluminum
None
Aluminum
Aluminum, finned
Aluminum
None
Multi-position with swivel pad
Axial Rockster, black
Included
Not included
ON THE
BENCH
AX10 RTR
4-gear differential
(optional locker included)
Locked, heavy-duty locker
Fixed toe
Molded plastic
Molded plastic
Servo-mounted
Plastic
Aluminum
None
Aluminum, single-pad
Nonadjustable
Axial 8-hole, chrome
Not included
Included
The AX10 Scorpion RTR includes a full assembly manual, which is always a
plus. The steps required to install the diff locker are covered, along with any
other task that requires you to touch a wrench. A few tips:
STOP THE SLIDE
I never had a pack slip out,
but the AX10’s smooth battery tray and fabric straps
will let the pack slide. You
can put Velcro on the tray
to hold the pack, but fuzzy
strips on my packs bug me.
Instead, I glued a strip of
rubber to the battery tray.
It provides enough anti-slip
grip to keep the battery
from moving.
14T PINION TIP
If you install the optional
14T pinion, make sure the
pinion’s setscrew is past the
spur gear. If it isn’t, the spur
gear’s teeth will hit it, which
makes a racket and will
chew up the spur gear.
FRONT LOCKER
INSTALL
When you’re ready to install
the front diff locker, don’t
make extra work for yourself.
The parts can be installed
without removing the axle.
Here’s what you need to do
to access the diff:
1. Remove the four screws
that secure the servo.
2. Remove the single screw
in the rear of the servo tray.
3. Remove the front wheels.
4. Remove the screws that
hold the C-hubs, and slide
them off the axle housing.
The driveshafts will slide out
with them.
5. Remove the four screws
in the face of the axle
housing.
Rating the Axial AX10
Scorpion RTR
Yes, hardcore rock crawlers, we get it: the RTR
Scorpion is not going to win a comp straight out of the
box. Guess what: it was never meant to. It does, however, succeed brilliantly at what it is meant to do, which
is cover all sorts of terrain that would stop a conventional electric truck in its tracks due to lack of ground
clearance, lack of 4WD, or lack of torque (or all three).
At 7mph, it isn’t going to get anywhere very fast, but
trust me: it will get there, no matter what you put in
front of it. And with the included front diff locker, that
can include fairly serious rock climbs. If you decide to
pull the trigger on comp-style crawling, you can make
a few cheap mods to dramatically increase the AX10’s
upward mobility, or dip into the deep well of aftermarket goodness and go as wild as you like. For about
$300 and as much time as it takes to charge a stick
pack, it’s hard to top the AX10 Scorpion RTR as an
easy entry into solid-axle, go-anywhere RC trucking.
+
BEST
FOR
You can now open the axle
housing and access the diff.
Follow the instructions in
the manual to assemble the
locker.
BATTERY-ON-THE-AXLE
MOD
For dedicated crawling,
get Axial’s optional axlemounted battery/servo tray
(AX30486). This will let you
mount a small battery pack
on the axle, greatly improving the truck’s weight distribution for rock work. The
tray is designed with small
7.4V LiPos in mind, but
I’ve crawled with a 5-cell
receiver pack for power
and done just fine with only
6 volts.
❯❯ Great-looking shell and
no-glue bead-lock rims
❯❯ Loaded: slipper clutch,
sealed ball bearings,
heavy-duty lockers …
❯❯ Lots of parts support,
OEM and aftermarket
❯❯ Just plain fun
❯❯ It’s silly to cite low speed
as a miss for a rock crawler
… but if you gotta go fast,
this is not your truck
❯❯ High-mount battery
makes the truck tippy in
the steep stuff
Bashers, getting-started
crawlers and all truck fans
❯