RCCrawler Forums

Big Mike · 06-20-2007, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Here ya go, Big Mike

SWEET!!! Man, does that look incredible. I can't believe you hand-built this out of foam sheets.

How tough do you think it will be? I'd have to make a shelf queen out of this, with my luck (and driving tendancies) I'd roll it or run into something...

microgoat · 06-21-2007, 03:46 AM

Bodies like this are tough enough for crawlers and trail rigs, but for high-speed use (or a high-altitude tumble), expect something bad to happen.

You can reinforce them with fiberglass cloth, but you lose detail like panel lines. Reinforcing the back means your foam is susceptible to damage.

I watched a video on vacuum-bagging carbon-fiber-over-foam airplane wings. Wish I could do that with these bodies.

Big Mike · 06-22-2007, 12:01 PM

I've seen what I'm sure must be a similar procedure for making skateboards out of fiberglass and veneer laminates. A vacuum bag.

You'd have to have a form for it to sit on and be formed over, but you might be able to adapt the procedure.

Finding the right size vacuum bag would be the big hurdle...

4link4eva · 06-22-2007, 12:24 PM

That looks awesome.

MG, you've hit what could be a huge market for bodies, with the massive VW following worldwide. Thought of making it as a 3 peice job (ie: center, left, right), to get around the problem of the 'vacuum unfriendly'body details?

microgoat · 06-25-2007, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mike

I've seen what I'm sure must be a similar procedure for making skateboards out of fiberglass and veneer laminates. A vacuum bag.
You'd have to have a form for it to sit on and be formed over, but you might be able to adapt the procedure. Finding the right size vacuum bag would be the big hurdle...

We vacuum-bag foam-core carbon-fiber wings at the shop, so I know I've got a big enough bag. The problem is getting the Mylar to lay down on an irregular surface like that. It's easy with a smooth surface like a wing or a skateboard.

One thing I was thinking about, though, is borrowing the hot-wire foam cutter. Evil ideas are brewing

As for making a 3-piece body, it'd have to be two sides and a center section. I'll let someone with a vac table do that one. Maybe in six months we'll see the "Thingbush" from Pro-Line

mississippirocs · 06-25-2007, 06:23 PM

This "thing" is awsesome! I hope that when it finished we will get to see some pics of it in the sand.

microgoat · 06-26-2007, 03:14 PM

It's getting real close to finished.

I had the soft top on before I left for Augusta, but I'd packed the camera away. Now that I'm back, I'll share:

Just needs door handles and 2 more hubcaps and I can call it done.

Double J · 06-26-2007, 03:21 PM

That is truely unique. Love-n it.

danielk · 06-26-2007, 03:52 PM

Just needs to be packed up with my address and I can call it mine.

haha

Big Mike · 06-26-2007, 03:54 PM

That is frickin' cool microgoat. Very impressive.

microgoat · 07-04-2007, 06:25 AM

The Thing is done

mxer611 · 07-04-2007, 08:21 AM

thats awesome. my wife has a 74 thing in the back yard waiting for me to finish

Norcal crawler · 07-04-2007, 09:23 AM

Looks awesome. The one thing i would do is to make fender wells and an interior, that would be cool. It would totally block out all the electronics.

danielk · 07-04-2007, 09:54 AM

^^^+1+1

interior and fender wells are a must goat.

microgoat · 07-04-2007, 10:09 AM

The interior wouldn't be much. The Frog chassis comes up almost to the bottom of the windows, and since Things had low-back bucket seats, well, all I could do is a dashboard and a flat black plate. Hardly a proper interior.

Unless I dropped it on my Sand Scorcher chassis.

danielk · 07-04-2007, 10:19 AM

now you are using your ***. lol

mulletman427 · 07-04-2007, 10:58 AM

Damn MG, you should bring that thing out to Columbiana, OH in a week....

Oh wait, that's an RC one, isn't it?

:-P

Fricken cool goat; almost makes me wish you DID have a real Type 181 so you could bring it out to that VW show with it's RC equivalent.

Very kicking build MG

Trikster · 07-04-2007, 12:11 PM

OK, my address is... Turned out great man, really good work. How about some action shots or video?

06-26-2007, 03:14 PM	#67
microgoat I wanna be Dave Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 8,009	It's getting real close to finished. I had the soft top on before I left for Augusta, but I'd packed the camera away. Now that I'm back, I'll share: Just needs door handles and 2 more hubcaps and I can call it done. Attached Images

07-04-2007, 06:25 AM	#71
microgoat I wanna be Dave Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 8,009	The Thing is done Attached Images

06-21-2007, 03:46 AM	#62
microgoat I wanna be Dave Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 8,009	Bodies like this are tough enough for crawlers and trail rigs, but for high-speed use (or a high-altitude tumble), expect something bad to happen. You can reinforce them with fiberglass cloth, but you lose detail like panel lines. Reinforcing the back means your foam is susceptible to damage. I watched a video on vacuum-bagging carbon-fiber-over-foam airplane wings. Wish I could do that with these bodies.

06-22-2007, 12:01 PM	#63
Big Mike I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Martinsburg WV Posts: 2,781	I've seen what I'm sure must be a similar procedure for making skateboards out of fiberglass and veneer laminates. A vacuum bag. You'd have to have a form for it to sit on and be formed over, but you might be able to adapt the procedure. Finding the right size vacuum bag would be the big hurdle...

06-22-2007, 12:24 PM	#64
4link4eva RCC Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: In England, looking for the threadlock... Posts: 1,150	That looks awesome. MG, you've hit what could be a huge market for bodies, with the massive VW following worldwide. Thought of making it as a 3 peice job (ie: center, left, right), to get around the problem of the 'vacuum unfriendly'body details?

06-25-2007, 06:23 PM	#66
mississippirocs RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: MS Coast Posts: 1,535	This "thing" is awsesome! I hope that when it finished we will get to see some pics of it in the sand.

06-26-2007, 03:21 PM	#68
Double J I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell. Posts: 3,367	That is truely unique. Love-n it.

06-26-2007, 03:52 PM	#69
danielk RCC Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pasadena Posts: 1,118	Just needs to be packed up with my address and I can call it mine. haha

06-26-2007, 03:54 PM	#70
Big Mike I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Martinsburg WV Posts: 2,781	That is frickin' cool microgoat. Very impressive.

07-04-2007, 08:21 AM	#72
mxer611 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SL,UT Posts: 166	thats awesome. my wife has a 74 thing in the back yard waiting for me to finish

07-04-2007, 09:23 AM	#73
Norcal crawler RCC Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,361	Looks awesome. The one thing i would do is to make fender wells and an interior, that would be cool. It would totally block out all the electronics.

07-04-2007, 09:54 AM	#74
danielk RCC Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pasadena Posts: 1,118	^^^+1+1 interior and fender wells are a must goat.

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07-04-2007, 10:09 AM	#75
microgoat I wanna be Dave Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 8,009	The interior wouldn't be much. The Frog chassis comes up almost to the bottom of the windows, and since Things had low-back bucket seats, well, all I could do is a dashboard and a flat black plate. Hardly a proper interior. Unless I dropped it on my Sand Scorcher chassis.

07-04-2007, 10:19 AM	#76
danielk RCC Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pasadena Posts: 1,118	now you are using your ***. lol

07-04-2007, 10:58 AM	#77
mulletman427 Rock Stacker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ambridge Posts: 75	Damn MG, you should bring that thing out to Columbiana, OH in a week.... Oh wait, that's an RC one, isn't it? :-P Fricken cool goat; almost makes me wish you DID have a real Type 181 so you could bring it out to that VW show with it's RC equivalent. Very kicking build MG

07-04-2007, 12:11 PM	#78
Trikster RCC Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: Roseville Posts: 1,469	OK, my address is... Turned out great man, really good work. How about some action shots or video?

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