BRUSHLESS EDITION

Traxxas Revo BL
4/23/09
11:49 AM
Page 60
E-REVO
BRUSHLESS EDITION
WORLD EXCLUSIVE!
TRAXXAS
We tear it up with Traxxas’ mightiest monster
WORDS BRANDON WILCOX PHOTOS HOPE McCALL
When the original E-Revo came out, people were stoked.
It had everything they craved: brushless-ready drivetrain, inboard shocks, integrated battery components
and waterproof electronics.
With the new Brushless
Edition, you get everything you wanted …
and then some. The
brushless-ready
drivetrain is now
powered by a
beefy Castle
Creations
2200kV motor
and Mamba
Monster Speed
control, which
deliver tons of
torque and an
incredible top
end that reaches
65mph and beyond.
The speed control is
secured to the chassis
with a Traxxas-designed
hold-down. Traxxas also jumped
on the 2.4GHz revolution. No more AM radio here; the new
TQ may look like the original, but it’s now operating in the
glitch-free, crystal-less 2.4GHz band. With more power
comes more stress, and this new truck includes heavy-duty
17mm splined aluminum hex hubs that are held on with setscrews to beef up the drivetrain. With tons of power on tap
and a race-proven setup, this truck will be sure to please
the basher or racer in you. Follow along as we give you the
ins and outs of this truck.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type 1⁄10-scale RTR 4WD electric monster truck
Price $665 (varies with dealer)
Top Speed 65mph
Wheelbase 14.1 in. (358mm)
Width 16.5 in. (419mm)
Weight, as tested 9.5 lb. (4,330g) w/o batteries
Spur/pinion 65/18
Final drive ratio 18.8:1
Chassis Molded composite nylon tub
Differential(s) Sealed bevel gear
Suspension Sealed pivot ball w/ inboard-mounted shocks
Shocks Hard-anodized, Teflon-coated shock body with
titanium-coated shock shaft
60 MORE FROM THIS ISSUE AT RCCARACTION.COM
Traxxas Revo BL
4/23/09
11:50 AM
Page 61
E
C
N
A
M
FOR
-Revo
h the E
to pus
,
eT
iz
C
s
,
dium
olcott
ed, me
ay in W
m
w
o
e
o
r
c
g
a
.
hing
by & R
a wellfor bas
tt Hob
It has
set up
Wolco
limits.
ks
is
e
c
to
t
a
t
th
a
p
n
I we
ion to
ll LiPo
back th
ss Edit
mba
in the
C 3-ce
a
le
0
a
h
3
M
e
s
r
0
e
u
a
r
5
B
52
s, th
uge
nd a h
ps.com at low speed
ing
track a
MaxAm
. Head
n
e
o
th
v
o
E
tw
o
.
d
m
le
e
s
tt
ll
o
d and
lt
r
ta
e
fe
s
e
th
I in
n the
full sp
motor
o
it
d
d
n
d
e
a
tires
e
s
l
h
ontro
launc
e front
and ea
peed c
way, I
as. Th
s
h
ta
were
r
h
o
te
ls
v
ig
s
e
e
a
tr
Mon
e whe
is E-R
th
th
long s
e
e
e
c
u
d
th
n
q
way an
eed. O
the tor
over to
aighta
any sp
elieve
tr
b
t
s
is
a
’t
e
n
n
d
th
n
could
d of
s Editio
e grou
the en
ushles
ll off th
for the
went to e E-Revo Br
will pu
I
a feel
,
d
g
n
in
u
tt
o
th
e
r
,
hless
g
g
n
r
as
e Brus
. Afte
uestio
on the
e
ps. Th
ely, I w
driven
hout q
la
r
it
n as th
e
e
W
v
io
.
e
m
s
k
o
ck tam
n
e
s
fully
a
e
v
p
I’
tr
n
s
bac
s
r
s
e
R
u
tu
le
T
s
to it
test R
me to
ound th ult to flip un
g and
s
r
ti
n
a
li
fa
s
d
g
a
ame in
e
n
c
in
w
a
th
er if I
reat h
ted go
tap, it
s diffic
n
r
g
e turna
r
n
o
ta
e
w
th
o
s
c
,
m
un and
d
d
I
s
a
a
n
s
spee
peed r
ck tire
well a
round
s
o
though
ts the
a
n
to
d
r
ll
n
s
it
o
d
le
e
fu
e
a
p
d
v
e
s
h
a
e
n
a
ll
mak
ver,
and th
oth. I
Edition
evo, so up pace. It h
g. Sma
own to
t howe
k has
lt smo
rd E-R
jumpin
is truc
slow d
vemen
and fe
pick
a
king
is
th
ll
p
to
a
r
e
g
standa
to
o
e
e
d
n
s
w
a
ti
w
le
th
f
ab
of tes
rse, I h
t of po
s work
t job o
t
irt. On
u
e
n
r
a
d
k
o
u
a
e
r
a
e
c
quickly
o
p
, or
r
g
f
t
n
th
m
b
ed. O
e bes
the a
. The
ss on
ps eve
does a
punch
speed
flip. Th
nsion
d. With
eed pa
nd jum
ll
a
e
m
e
p
a
p
e
s
s
fu
te
s
ir
p
e
s
t
ll
u
a
s
y
a
s
m
the
rge
meti
er a fu
at full
k; the
nster s
great in
ius is la
and so
ven aft
is truc
r
ba Mo
s
o
e
o
d
,
th
m
le
n
g
a
d
le
n
e
n
in
M
o
tt
ing rad
a
h
ns
thro
stopp
effect
lt in an
o
E-Revo
of the
Creatio
ve no
ou’ll d
trouble kes will resu
ps, the
Castle
ick tap
ally ha
m
u
e air. Y
e
e
a
q
r
ju
r
th
th
a
b
s
r
ig
in
k
ll
ent
h
e
b
c
c
it
it
fu
w
r
r
o
r
w
e
o
e
n
v
p
p
u
d
k
o
f
g
n
c
0
a
g
en 6
e tru
unt o
then
bumps
en goin
betwe
e amo
le and
t-flip th
size
up. Wh
mp at
With th
t thrott
or fron
ju
.
n
ferente
p
e
ip
if
u
those
c
fl
th
r
D
k
e
e
.
it
c
s
p
ir
h
a
o
a
I
b
0
n
6
e
e air
r.
y
t
to
th
ie
th
tl
easy
sligh
es in
have
t abou
en eas
it was
e brak
re you
jump a
ere ev
f
u
th
o
e
w
s
g
d
s
r
e
le
e
k
b
ip
offers,
la
apa
st ma
slamm
ront fl
. Hit a
really c
, so ju
uickly
n and
kflip. F
is
le
q
brakes
a
c
tt
c
k
a
d
o
c
I
b
n
r
u
a
t
s
n
ed
is tr
of th
igh a
an insta and full spe
ounts
thly. Th
en wait
it as h
and th
rent am d land smoo
launch
p
fe
u
if
to
d
t
throttle
h
is
e
n
ke just
straig
requir
orites
uck a
the bra
jumps
ointing
my fav
t the tr
f
p
f
c
o
e
o
go
r
is
p
r
e
e
o
n
ta
c
o
nued to
's nos
with a
s and
time to
to
I conti
e truck
g
t.
l it out
ol trick
th
s
e
in
o
v
y
la
o
c
s
le
b
tr
e
som
rottle
ent to
was a
could,
th
I
m
It
e
o
.
s
s
g
a
m
p
th
t
in
t
n
s
jum
land
e las
stay o
ck as fa and hit the
before
until th
the tra
ere
ght
ti
th
,
s
y
r
a
e
around
d
n
e
cor
d of th
e
n
m
e
cut the
o
e
t th
a welc
hard. A
ion.
kage—
s
a
s
e
e
r
s
b
t
s
was no
any te
to
n
sio
conclu
PER
JULY 2009 61
Traxxas Revo BL
4/23/09
WORLD EXCLUSIVE!
TRAXXAS
11:50 AM
Page 62
E-REVO
BRUSHLESS EDITION
INCLUDED
ELECTRONICS &
ACCESSORIES
FEATURES
ADDITIONAL IMAGES AND VIDEO ONLINE
@ RCCARACTION.COM/REVOBL
CHASSIS. The chassis is the same as the
standard E-Revo and features a molded
one-piece design. It is designed for a low
CG and incorporates two battery compartments, one on each side of the
chassis for even weight distribution. It
can hold either 6- or 7-cell NiMH packs
or 2- or 3-cell LiPo packs. The battery
compartments open with two quickrelease tabs. Cooling vents in the front
of the battery trays let in cool air, and in
the back they let the hot air out.
SUSPENSION. The E-Revo Brushless
Edition features the same great inboard
suspension that made the E-Revo and
Revo 3.3 so stable. The pivot-ball system
operates on progressive-rate rockers and
can be adjusted by swapping to the longtravel rockers (included with the truck).
Connected to the rockers are hardanodized 87mm, Teflon-coated aluminum
shocks. The shocks feature a threaded
body, so preload can be adjusted quickly
and easily just using your hands.
Traxxas includes two 2075
waterproof servos that are
each good for 125 ounces of
torque; combine that, and
you’ll have 250 ounces of
steering power. The receiver
comes in a waterproof radio
box. The new radio system
from Traxxas features
2.4GHz technology and a
micro 4-channel receiver. The radio looks like a standard TQ
AM radio but is now 2.4GHz, which means no glitching or
interference and not having to worry about crystals. The heart
of this truck is the Castle Creations Mamba Monster speed
control and motor. The motor is a 2200kV Neu-Castle brushless motor that rides on high-quality ball bearings. It features a
5mm shaft and supports up to 18-cell Ni-Cd/NiMH and up to
6S LiPo. The continuous current is rated at 120 amps. It has a
built-in heat sink and fan that automatically turn on if the speed
control hits 150 degrees. For the full review of this brushless
system, check out the February 2009 issue of RC Car Action
magazine.
DRIVETRAIN. The
E-Revo Brushless Edition
comes with a heavy-duty,
single-speed transmission.
Gears are extra wide to
hold up to the abuse of
brushless power, and
everything runs on rubbersealed ball bearings. The
Revo-spec slipper clutch
is adjustable from the outside of the case,
so there are no screws or covers to
remove to make adjustments. The gear
cover can be removed with only one
screw, and this allows you to access the
spur and pinion gear. Traxxas offers an
optional 2-speed conversion kit that
comes with everything you need to take
this transmission from a 1-speed to a
2-speed. Traxxas PN 5692 comes with the
gear sets, waterproof sub-micro servos
and the linkages you need to hook everything together. In addition to a beefy
transmission, the E-Revo Brushless
Edition comes with heavy-duty telescoping driveshafts. New splined 17mm aluminum hex hubs hold the wheels on
62 MORE FROM THIS ISSUE AT RCCARACTION.COM
securely and are held on the output shaft
with a setscrew. You can easily swap tires
and not worry about the hex falling off.
Since the hex and the rim are both
splined, it’s rather hard to imagine your
rims ever stripping.
BODY, WHEELS AND TIRES. The
E-Revo Brushless Edition comes with the
same sleek body as the non-brushless
version. On the back of the truck is a wing
that can be adjusted. The included wheels
and tires are Talon tires pre-glued on
black chrome Gemini rims. These new
rims feature splined hexes that securely
lock the wheel to the splined aluminum
hex hub.
Traxxas Revo BL
4/23/09
11:50 AM
Page 63
BEHIND THE DESIGN
WITH
TIM ROBERTS
Tim Roberts is the lead designer behind the E-Revo
Brushless Edition. When we sat down with him for a quick
interview, this is what he had to say:
Radio Control Car Action: Did you design the original
E-Revo to handle this much power?
Tim Roberts: Absolutely. E-Revo was always intended to
use a high-power brushless system. When we began developing the platform, there was not a simple drop-in system
like the Castle Mamba Monster speed control and 2200kV
motor, but we knew that high-voltage, high-output electrics
were the wave of the future, and the truck was designed with
those things in mind. The entire architecture of the chassis
was based around placing a large and powerful motor in the
vehicle as low and centralized as possible. The transmission
and driveline underwent rigorous review to ensure they could
handle all the power that was capable of fitting into the battery compartments. We even added details such as the
finned-aluminum motor mount and vented battery compartments to improve thermal efficiency of the motor and batteries. We spared no details when it came to designing the
truck to handle as much power as we knew our customers
would be throwing at it.
1
4
2
5
3
1. A Traxxas-designed hold-down keeps the Mamba Monster speed control securely in
place. 2. The Neu-Castle motor is attached to a finned aluminum mount that helps to
keep the temperature in check . 3. Traxxas provides a waterproof case for the 2.4GHz
micro receiver . 4. Heavy-duty telescoping driveshafts and medieval-looking splined
17mm aluminum hex hubs key into the wheels for an extra robust drivetrain.
5. Traxxas spec’d its proven hard-anodized, Teflon-coated shocks that will smooth out
the roughest of terrain.
BRUSHLESS
STANDARD
E-REVO LIPO
E-REVO 7-CELL
TOP SPEED
65.4mph
29.4mph
16.3
57.6
114.2
182.2
261.1
3.3 sec.
7 sec.
44.3mph
17.2
53.1
94.6
137.6
180.2
3.9 sec.
3.1 sec.
29.3 mph
Distance (in feet) traveled in:
1 sec.
2 sec
3 sec.
4 sec.
5 sec.
0-132 ft. time
Time to top speed
Speed at 132 ft.
70
60
SPEED, mph
50
40
30
20
Brushless E-Revo LiPo
10
0.0
Standard E-Revo 7-cell
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
TIME, sec
Radar Testing
Traxxas claims an impressive 65+mph, so I had to see which numbers I could get myself.
Traxxas got its numbers using a wheelie bar, MaxAmps.com 3-cell LiPos (6S), a 54-tooth
spur gear and 24-tooth pinion gear. Some weight was also used up front to keep the front
end from lifting. I installed the spur gear and pinion along with MaxAmps.com 30C 5250
3-cell LiPos and headed to the largest parking lot we could find. I added 0.8 lb. of weight to
the front and moved the wheelie bar to the lowest position. I did a couple passes and got
that magic number—65.4mph—for which I had to roll on the throttle to keep the truck under
control. For comparison, check out the radar graph, where we included the radar curve for
a standard dual Titan 550 brushed motor E-Revo that hit a top speed of 29.4mph using two
7-cell packs. What a difference in speed! The E-Revo Brushless Edition delivers an incredible top speed that is more than twice as fast.
The 6S LiPo setup is for pure over-the-top performance. It is fun to unleash that kind of
power every once in a while, but we found that using 4S LiPo or two 7-cell packs still gave
awesome power and are the best choice for all-around driving.
RCCA: Do you think the E-Revo Brushless Edition is at
its limit, or do you think it could handle more power?
TR: I think the E-Revo Brushless Edition is at a sweet spot
right now. With NiMH packs or 4S LiPo, the truck is extremely
fun, fast and virtually maintenance free. With 6S LiPo, even
the most hardcore enthusiasts have been delighted with the
extreme acceleration and speeds the E-Revo can handle.
The best thing about it is even with a 65mph setup, the truck
is never more out of control than you want it to be. I think
any more power would probably just ruin that balance.
RCCA : Do you think we’ll see more powerful brushless
systems in the near future? And are the current ones
being utilized to their full
potential?
TR: The one steady trend I see
in RC is that there are always
more powerful products entering
the market every year. The trick
is being able to use all of that
power effectively. This is where
E-Revo Brushless Edition excels,
since it was always intended to
work with such powerful
systems. Our customers
have extremely high
expectations, so
when we release a
new product, you
can bet that we
hold nothing back
in terms of all-out
performance.
VERDICT
At the end of the day, I didn’t want to put the E-Revo
Brushless Edition away. It was pure fun to drive,
whether I was popping wheelies, jumping through the
air, or racing around the track. It definitely achieved its
mission: to provide a ton of excitement on or off the
track. Bashers will appreciate the durability, speed and
ability to do wheelies all day long. Racers will enjoy the
same great suspension and chassis layout as the original E-Revo, which turns into a capable racer with only
a few tweaks. With the maintenance-free brushless
system and the reliable 2.4GHz radio and receiver, this
is one sick monster truck that comes with everything
you wanted—and more.
SOURCES
MaxAmps.com maxamps.com
Traxxas traxxas.com
JULY 2009 63