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View Full Version : Mini LST. My Latest Project



fastmax
01-20-2009, 10:24 AM
So a few years back I bought one of these rigs, and had a few issues with it that led me to sell, and just stick to my RC18's, which I love. For certain types of running though the RC18 series just doesn't cut the cake. I use my RC18's strictly for race track duty on carpet offroads tracks, and they do very very well at that task. They don't however do all too well on larger dirt tracks designed for 1/10 and 1/8 rigs, and they also don't fare all that well for the type of all terrain running I like to do around the house.

Now with winter here, and the snow all around me, I wanted another mini that I could take out in a few inches of the white powdery stuff and not have to worry about getting stuck. More importantly I didn't want to be bashing on my race cars. So to fill this gap in my mini collection I decided to once again go with an MLST. The larger size of the platform, coupled with the larger tires, and the fact that the MLST2 diffs are far more reliable than the originals made the decision a no brainer IMO. Not to mention, I found a used original MLST on ebay at a price I couldn't resist.;) It was RTR, and even came with some extras. Spare diff gears, spare servos and a few other tid bits all for the low price of $69.:cool:

A couple days later, the UPS guy was dropping off my new project. Once in my hands I tore the truck down, cleaned and lubed everything, shimmed the diffs, cycled the battery, and she was ready for a little fun in the snow. Here's a couple pics of the rig as it looks right now.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/fast-max/MLST/MLST012.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/fast-max/MLST/MLST011.jpg

In the very near future I will be upgrading the motors, adding CVD's, and getting some new wheels, tires, and a body. For now though she runs good just as she sits, and works out in the snow just as I was hoping she would. Here's a couple vids of the rig in action. The first one is just a mix of different clips all running in slo-mo. The second vid is at regular speed. Hope you guys enjoy watching, as much as I enjoyed making them.:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f4QRK55S2U&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDzqEKOIYQg&feature=channel_page

dale_gribble
01-20-2009, 11:16 AM
I am a big Mini LST fan... Love mine. I did a homebrewed single servo conversion and added some of the Insane Motors and it is fun...

fastmax
01-20-2009, 11:49 AM
I would love to learn more about your single servo conversion. Do you have a thread on it? If not could you explain to me what you did?

I have always loved the rig, even my first one that gave me issues all the time was a blast when it was running. I just got fed up with the diff issues, and I was constantly having to replace the servos. Losi was very good about sending me servos, and gears, but I still tired of having to mess with it to keep it running. I planned to eventually get the Exotek single servo chassis conversion for this, but if your conversion is less expensive I'm all ears.:cool:

dale_gribble
01-20-2009, 12:50 PM
I will send some pictures of it tonight. It can be done from home with a few basic tools and it looks and works great. Maybe a little of bumpsteer, but for the price you can't go wrong!

fastmax
01-20-2009, 03:32 PM
Great. Thank you very much.

Lyric
01-20-2009, 04:50 PM
i was thinking os getting one and turn it in to an all out race truck

1 bad bug
01-20-2009, 04:53 PM
i was thinking os getting one and turn it in to an all out race truck

I thought you hated electric.;) JK The mini LST has the capability to become a pretty mean racing truck, you just have to have quite a bit of money to build it.

LSD-LST2
01-21-2009, 12:33 PM
I agree , once you work out the bugs the MLST/MLST2 is a very capable little truck .

MLST Basher
01-22-2009, 12:25 PM
I will send some pictures of it tonight. It can be done from home with a few basic tools and it looks and works great. Maybe a little of bumpsteer, but for the price you can't go wrong!

Can you semd me the pics of your conversion as well? I currently run two hitec hs81mg's in mine but the single servo idea is better, i just don't want to drop the cash for the exotek kit then for a servo.

thanks

dale_gribble
01-22-2009, 12:38 PM
I just posted pictures in a different thread.

http://rcdriver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3166

MLST Basher
01-22-2009, 12:42 PM
Hi,

Sorry I saw that right after I hit submit. Cool pics!

fastmax
01-24-2009, 08:24 PM
Couple small updates guys. I just finished putting on new shock towers, bumpers, body mounts, and an MLST2 body. I also installed a set of 12mm adapters, and Yokomo touring slicks. It's ready for a trip to the carpet track this week. Can't wait, it's gonna be a blast.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/fast-max/MLST/MLST3003.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/fast-max/MLST/MLST3002.jpg

Mouse4666
01-24-2009, 11:24 PM
you should get wider tires those look way to skinny like 1/8 buggy wheels on a 1/8 mnster truck

Maxx man
01-25-2009, 12:11 AM
sweet man... is there gunna be anybody taking pics? if so post'm!

Steve.M
01-25-2009, 12:22 AM
Looks sweet! Should be a fun truck to run carpet track with.

What are you running for your suspension set up?

fastmax
01-25-2009, 03:01 AM
you should get wider tires those look way to skinny like 1/8 buggy wheels on a 1/8 mnster truck

I have wider tires for it, but MT tires are not the best handling tires on a carpet race track, and Losi street meats do not offer nearly the same amounts of traction that a good set of TC tires do.;)

fastmax
01-25-2009, 03:04 AM
Here's a pic with the stock wheels/tires and the new lid.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/fast-max/MLST/MLST4002.jpg

They are fun trucks to run on the carpet. It doesn't quite handle, or drive like my 18B, but it's fun either way. I'll be sure to get some pics and vid of it in action. Suspension settings, are 40wt oil front, and rear, shocks on the inner hole on the towers, and outer hole on the arms. It drives very well with these settings. There is little body roll, and it will not traction roll regardless of how aggressive I get with the throttle.

Philderbeast
01-25-2009, 10:33 AM
What wing kit is that? I need 1 for my lst2. That would really set it off.

fastmax
01-25-2009, 10:57 AM
The wing itself is 3Racing, and the mount is home made out of some 1/16" brass rod.

Philderbeast
01-25-2009, 11:01 AM
I think I will give it a try, thanx

fastmax
01-25-2009, 10:36 PM
No problem my friend. If you want any pictures of mine just let me know. I used some epoxy and crimp connectors to see to it that it stayed in place, and it has now been rolled, cart wheeled, you name it, at full throttle on asphalt, a carpet track etc and the wing has not budged.