Team Traxxas Spotlight: TRX-4 Sport Apocalypse Edition

We Outfit a TRX-4 Sport for the End of the World

Zombies? Alien invasion? A planet where apes evolved from men? No matter what the reason society went to heck in a handbasket, it pays to have a reliable set of wheels when all the roads have grown over and you can’t get from A to B without encountering the undead / xenomorphs / talking gorillas. With just this mission in mind, our man Jeff (who also shot the photos for this piece) has equipped his personal TRX-4 Sport for surefooted wasteland-wheeling with plenty of LED candlepower to keep the baddies away after dark, and finished it off with a well-weathered patina paint job. Let’s take a closer look at Jeff’s “Apocalypse Edition” TRX-4 Sport.

Jeff began his build with a stock TRX-4 Sport RTR. If you’re not already a TRX-4 owner and would like to build a truck like Jeff’s from the ground up, you can also begin with the TRX-4 Sport Kit (includes the LED-ready body and Expedition Rack, you add the electronics) or the TRX-4 Chassis Kit (with T-Lock differentials, High / Low transmission, radio gear and servos; body not included). Click Here to see a complete step-by-step Sport kit build, and a chart that compares the Sport Kit and Chassis Kit specs.

The TRX-4 Sport Kit includes the Expedition Rack, scale accessories, side mirrors and snorkel, and LED-ready body.


TRX-4 Sport Apocalypse Edition Parts List

82024-4 TRX-4 Sport RTR 8111R TRX-4 Sport clear body 8119 Side mirrors and snorkel set 8080 Narrow inner fenders 8120X Expedition Rack w/ scale accessories 8118 Spare tire mount 8085 TRX-4 Sport LED light kit	8087 LED roof light bar 8088 LED bumper light bar 8086 Scene LED light kit 8026X LED rock light kit 2255 High Torque Brushless 400 servo 8247X Metal servo horn 2262 High-Output BEC

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The Sport’s flat finish is on the outside of the body. The rust color is a base coat, and the rust spots were masked off using salt before applying the desert tan final color. It’s an easy technique; moisten the area where you want rust to appear, then sprinkle with salt (it will stick to the water). Allow the salted spots to dry fully; paint your final color; then knock off the crusted salt. Presto—instant rust with a realistic, organic look.

The simulated dirt was created entirely with paint, and you can even feel it on the body. Jeff used Textured Black, Textured Dirt (a medium brown) and Textured Sand (light tan) paints to create the effect. For maximum realism, Jeff referenced photos of full-size muddied trucks to see how mud and spray actually coats them. Note the relatively clean areas behind the mirrors and snorkel, which block the spray. Jeff alternated dirt colors to vary the pattern and tone, and applied heavier sprays behind the tires and on the rock guards.

Jeff applied the “dirt” with the headlights and tow hooks installed on the body.

This provided consistent coverage and contributed to a more realistic look.

Before the paint dried, Jeff used a caulk squeegee to create the wiper pattern on the windshield.

The same technique works to create roll-up streaks on the side windows.

Super Steering Torque

Jeff’s Sport is mostly about the look, but he did give it a steering-performance boost with a 2255 High-Torque 400 Brushless servo and 2262 High-Output BEC. This combo supplies 400 oz-in of torque (over 20 pounds of force!) through an all-metal geartrain to steer the TRX-4 through the toughest terrain. Jeff also installed a 8247X metal servo horn for maximum durability and torque transfer.

The door stars and TRX-4 fender graphics were made using hand-cut stencils. The art was applied over the flat color coat before “mud” was added.

The 8118 spare tire mount looks great on the Sport and adds an extra dose of scale realism.

Jeff muddied his Sport’s tires with the same textured paint he used on the body.

The Expedition Rack and accessories were weathered off the body and then installed after painting.

Jeff lightly sanded the parts to de-gloss them before applying paint and washes to the parts.

Fine details on the fire extinguisher, shovel and axe were done with enamel model paints and a fine brush before weathering.

The End is Here!
The end of this article that is. Does Jeff’s “Apocalypse Edition” TRX-4 Sport have you feeling inspired? We hope so. Let’s see your builds! Whether you finish off your rig to look worn and weathered or glossy and factory-fresh, be sure to tag Traxxas so we can see what you’re up to with your TRX-4—or any other Traxxas model. Get creative!

Bonus Upgrade: LED Lighting!

Jeff installed all the LED lights offered for the TRX-4 Sport: headlights and tail lights; roof and bumper light bars; rock lights in the fender wells; and scene lights on the Expedition Rack. The 8085 headlight and tail light set includes the required 8028 3-volt / 0.5 amp power supply, which the other light sets plug into. You can also get the power supply separately, if you’re installing any of the light kits but don’t have the headlight / tail light set in your model.

Jeff installed every light Traxxas offers for the TRX-4 Sport.

The 8028 LED power supply makes sure light output is bright and steady with any battery you choose, and makes hookup simple. The power supply is included with the 8085 TRX-4 Sport Light Kit, and also available separately.

Click on the Image Below to Download the Full-Size Wallpaper.

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