MY project, just got sweet

[BenG]

I have struck a deal with a legendary RC machinist, who are going to help me design and make my car, from SCRATCH

So, if you have any ideas, for a 2wd car, that isnt possible with other conversions, please let me know. I want to make this car, THE car to have

[jimmy]

"legendary RC machinist" is it stu evans ?

[BenG]

Originally Posted by jimmy

"legendary RC machinist" is it stu evans ?

no it isnt Jimmy, sorry, its a US rc machiner known as Platinum racing

[Nick Goodall]

Fair play to you for going for it, but if you need people to just throw up ideas of what they want, surely you're going to need to go a fair distance to beat the quality of a standard out the box AE or Losi car?

How do you think you'll compete with the sort of budget these teams put into R&D, marketing and production?

I know the X-5 is good, but that to be fair was just two pretty good cars made into one..... not anything revolutionary as such.

I've just noticed a lot of people recently trying things - but can't help but be a bit pessimistic and say "Why would Losi/Associated not have tried that?" They've taken a good 10/15 years to get to where they are now, when you look at the old JRX and RC10 - the current cars are proper evolutions of those, that's how many years it's taken to get as good as they are now.......

I just can't see somone magically inventing something that's quicker than these well known cars without some seriously exciting new revolutionary technology (which i'm guessing you would already need to have the idea for?)

[jimmy]

to a degree I'd agree with you nick, but big companies also have to make compromises to sell cars which a smaller company or individual might not have to.
They have to use their shocks, they have to use a certain style / offset of wheel (or people wont buy it) they have to arrange the cells so a tamiya style pack will fit, maybe they have to make it so it can be made into a truck version. They have to make it strong and easy to work on.

All those things and plenty more can compromise the ultimate performance of the car I think. So someone building a car for their own uses / limited sales, can ignore most of that and just concentrate on building a good buggy using the best of whats readily available (from any and all manufacturers) and building the rest to the spec that works best where it counts, on the track.

[Nick Goodall]

There's some good points you've said there Jimmy, but in all the years i raced not once did Losi / Associated etc turn up at a big meeting with a one off car....

I guess what I mean is that surely if they knew they could make a quicker car by not worrying about Shocks, location of cells, wheel offsets etc they would have at least done it for a Worlds or Euro's just to get the result?

I remember the XX-4 when Kevin Moore first ran it in 1996, even though it was a prototype and could have had anything on it, was still overall the same as the standard car that followed.....

Sorry, i know i sound really down on the whole thing but my head just says it can't be possible unless you've got some great idea before you attempt this sort of thing?

For me the most advanced / revolutionary car for years is still the Predator - if anyone knows about Motocross suspension they will "get" the Predator a lot more as it's the only R/C car with fully progressive suspension, very similar to the way a motocross rear shock works on their Pro-link set-up (they used to all run Twin shocks like we do)!

[BenG]

Originally Posted by Nick Goodall

There's some good points you've said there Jimmy, but in all the years i raced not once did Losi / Associated etc turn up at a big meeting with a one off car....

I guess what I mean is that surely if they knew they could make a quicker car by not worrying about Shocks, location of cells, wheel offsets etc they would have at least done it for a Worlds or Euro's just to get the result?

I remember the XX-4 when Kevin Moore first ran it in 1996, even though it was a prototype and could have had anything on it, was still overall the same as the standard car that followed.....

Sorry, i know i sound really down on the whole thing but my head just says it can't be possible unless you've got some great idea before you attempt this sort of thing?

For me the most advanced / revolutionary car for years is still the Predator - if anyone knows about Motocross suspension they will "get" the Predator a lot more as it's the only R/C car with fully progressive suspension, very similar to the way a motocross rear shock works on their Pro-link set-up (they used to all run Twin shocks like we do)!

I take take your point, but look at Jcocnepts, they made a buggy in less than 1 month, just 2 guy's and performed well at the worlds, now less than 2 years later, they are the champions.

My aim at first is to make a car I can race next year, then develop it throughout the year, and we'll see what comes afterwards.

[jimmy]

I think you are right there nick, but the reason AE or LOSI might not run wildly different cars is possibly for the same commercial reasons. Losi don't want to see their drivers hacking up a chassis to place the cells differently (or whatever), because that will make people think they have to do that to make it work - and they will sell less.
You have to balance that out with getting better results from running "special cars" I guess. I think as the industry has matured and these companies are now owned by even bigger "money machines" - selling the car is the main focus, and you have to "appear" to win with the car you sell.

I think the things these big companies do are just less visible, most of the time you only see what they WANT you to see. RCCA is a classic for their "spy shots" I think, they just happen to get a shot of the latest AE or LOSI item when its being secretly tested just prior to launch.

[DCM]

the other thing is, you got to remember, AE and Losi sell globaly.

TYRC... if your going to do it, be innovative, don't be constrained by 'thinking' you have to use Losi this and AE that.

[BenG]

Originally Posted by jimmy

I think you are right there nick, but the reason AE or LOSI might not run wildly different cars is possibly for the same commercial reasons. Losi don't want to see their drivers hacking up a chassis to place the cells differently (or whatever), because that will make people think they have to do that to make it work - and they will sell less.
You have to balance that out with getting better results from running "special cars" I guess. I think as the industry has matured and these companies are now owned by even bigger "money machines" - selling the car is the main focus, and you have to "appear" to win with the car you sell.

I think the things these big companies do are just less visible, most of the time you only see what they WANT you to see. RCCA is a classic for their "spy shots" I think, they just happen to get a shot of the latest AE or LOSI item when its being secretly tested just prior to launch.

And hence forth springs a car that may be comprimised, as their R&D departments believe that more people use a 6cell combination, and so develop their optimimum comprimise btween appeal to buyers, performance and value. Thats where my car comes in, as previously said, I am not governed by needing to sell it, as for now its only project, should it be good then i can sell it.

At the end of the day, any car is a comprimise, between my previously mentioned factors.

But, I want peoples views on their 'dream' car to see if we can break the moulds( no pun intended) and create a design that appeals to people because of its originality, not because it has blue bits, is raced by Neil Cragg, and has a factory team supporting it.

[super__dan]

I also don't want to be too pessimistic, but with respect, you've stuck a deal with a ledgendary RC machinist(?) for a car you've not designed conceptually and are asking for ideas on the internet for???

Multiple itterations of design springs to mind!

Good luck all the same.

Dan

[BenG]

Originally Posted by super__dan

I also don't want to be too pessimistic, but with respect, you've stuck a deal with a ledgendary RC machinist(?) for a car you've not designed conceptually and are asking for ideas on the internet for???

Multiple itterations of design springs to mind!

Good luck all the same.

Dan

Its not so much I dont have any ideas matey, but I wanted people to feel tthey really had some input into the design. I have many ideas, and will just use them if the legendary internet springs up no ideas.

Thansk foir the good luck

[Chris Doughty]

I am fresh out of ideas for 2WD to be honest,

I do think the narrow/slim durango style seems to be 'the new black'

[ashleyb4]

Hi ben

I think his idea is a really good one he has been planning on making a custom car for a long while. And if you need any help with anything mate just ask i can do most things im good at draphics, CAD drawing that sorta thing. And if you need a test driver im your man.

I like the idea of the motor inside the car and outside the car so both would be good. But i like a wide car i dont like really thin long cars. You could make a 4wd to.

A

[ryan]

ashley:
i am now part of team yrd making the aero4. pics coming soon already on tyrc.

Ryan

[ashleyb4]

Hi ryan

I know about pics and that i do talk to ben alot.

well quiet abit

A

[ashleyb4]

Oh soz i got confused so your making the aero4 and ben is making the aero2. Cool well as i said if you want any help just ask Im good at lots im multi talented.

A

[Rob Fitzgerald]

OK

I will tell you the offroad car that I want ...

It's a competitive 4wd car that transforms itself into a competitive 2wd in no more than 15 minutes - oh - and it has to take a stick pack.

I don't care if it's a little bit heavier than some cars as long as it doesn't break if I stare at it hard.

I don't want any body clips on it anywhere - hold the body on with velcro - thumbscrews for the cells and something like a rallycross fitting for the wing.

last thing - I don't want to pay more than £250

You can keep your graphite style plastic and I will settle for nice glassfibre rather than carbon if I have to as well.

Where do I sign ?

[DCM]

sounds like you need a Tamiys DF03 (Dark Impact) Rob.... stick pack down the middle, mid motor, shaft drive, durable, bodyshell can be velcro'd on, wing mounts are strong..... anything else?

edit: oh yeah, for #250 you can buy two of them, or lots of hop-ups....

[Rob Fitzgerald]

Will PM you Steve to avoid going off topic