All the included parts are separated into specific bags relative to each set of instructions.
The first thing you will be doing is making the steering assembly. Here you have a choice of either using the stock AE servo or, as I did, use the Hi-Tec HS56 with the included fitting kit for this servo.
As an after point, I would personally stick with the AE servo. The fit is better, the Hi-Tec servo has the steering arms too close to the front diff cover and it tends to rub and catch. I also managed to shear the metal gear output shaft off of my HS56 after a LOW speed brush against a friend’s shoe!! The metal just sheared straight off!
By the end of page 3 you would have made your steering assembly and attached it to your servo, as well as made up your front and rear diffs.
Whilst I was at it I super glued the 'D-rings' to the out drives just to be on the safe side. You'll also notice that AE have kindly included a shim kit for the diffs! Each shim is 0.20mm in thickness and therefore your diffs will be shimmed 0.40mm. Nice and tight!
Pages 4 and 5 concentrate on installing the chassis parts such as diff housings, installing the diffs, bolting on the shock towers and bumpers as well as installing the suspension arms.
Whilst I had the chassis in my hand I affixed a sheet of sticky backed carbon fibre to it and cut it to shape. I drilled the boltholes out with a small drill bit and carefully tried to trace the spur gear cover and motor mount adjustment area out with a scalpel.
By the end of page 9 you’ll have the front steering assembly all mounted in with your nice looking alloy blue dog bones taking the feed into the stub axles, and your titanium turnbuckles leaving you endless opportunities for adjustment. At the rear the hub carriers, dog bones and turnbuckles will complete the section.
I've got to admit that none of these steps have been a challenge yet. Even for someone who hasn’t built a kit in years, the ease at which it all goes together is surprising!
The last 3 pages concentrate on firstly building the shocks. Whilst I had the ball cups and shock spring retainer to hand I super glued them together to eliminate the all too common loss of one after a heavy landing or tumble.
Building the shocks with the enclosed 30wt oil was easy, and no doubt anyone with a small bit of kit building experience will find this a breeze.
The last things to do are to install the electrics, fit the tires and wheels and spray the body shell.
I’m using a 6800kv Mamba brushless motor, a Mamba Phoenix 25 ESC, United RC X71 8.4v GP1100's, a Futaba R142JE receiver and the standard AE servo. I must stress how highly I rate these standard servos. Yes I do get a small centering issue sometimes, but nothing a bit of toe-in cant help. But this servo, along with its slightly sloppy servo saver has helped me out on many a 'direct kerb hit'.
I chose not to use the supplied wheels and tyres as I only really use this on-road so I have fitted a set of hard compound foams on yellow rims!
The finished Factory Team RC18T..
I HIGHLY rate this kit, however there are a few small issues.
I didn’t like the whole HS56 mount and the fact that the servo was too close to the front diff housings. Standard servos are the way to go.
The turnbuckle ball caps onto the ball studs can be tight, make sure you have the turnbuckles equally into the ball cups.
I would have liked the screws bagged into relative sizes. The screws all come in the same bag so trying to determine your M2x8fhps from your M2.5x9fhps is quite tricky!!
Otherwise I LOVE this RC18T! I’m so glad for the servo saver slop at the moment as it’s saved me buying a few new servos now. This micro is on-road only, with a few kerb drop offs here and there but still finds kerbs somehow lol.
Although I've added a few personal touches here and there I feel that most of them are required especially if you run a Mamba motor such as I do. They include:
8mm brass olives on the out drives,
Carbon fibre chassis cover,
AE MIP CVD's front and back,
J40 compound pre mounted foams,
Titanium screw kit.
Overall this kit comes highly recommended by me and UK-MicroRC!