Newbie signing on!!!

[ratty]

Well, I have been browsing this forum for quite a while now, and decided to join after all the inspiration you guys have given me. I have almost finished my crawler just need to do the steering links better than they are now.
I'll give some specs-
16" wheelbase
4.25 clearance (center)
HPI Savage shocks with red springs
Locked diffs
Maximizer BL x75's
Losi ST tyres
HS 645 servos
Independant steering ( takes some getting used to )
Links are made from 5/16 Alluminium alloy
Obligatory Super chicken
Proline Jeep body hacked up to slam the body.
Thats about all I can think of right now, when I get a digi cam I'll post some pics
I get over 90 degrees of articulation but have installed spacers in the shock to limit it to around 70 degrees, just waiting on my lathe motors and some 8, 9, and 10 tooth pinions to arrive. I cant claim any kudos for the chassis design, I cant remember who's it actually was that I based mine on, but it was made from 6mm lexan whereas mine is ally. you'll see when I post the pics.

Just thought I'd say high and that not all newbs ask daft questions


Later,
Pete.
Oh, some name suggestions would be nice my mind has gone blank

[clodossal]

Well well well ratty, welcome aboard the love boat and may yo....WOOPS wrong site, ahhh, w ww welcome to the board fella.

Na seriously, sounds like that truck of yours is a bit of alright. I'm not great with the names but I'm sure someone will help you out, besides the name must fit the truck so we gotta see it first.

[ratty]

Thanks for the welcome clodossal!!! Love boat 8O 8O erm.......
I've just been searching the forum for the chassis I based mine upom and the guys name is kjr2. I just loved the look of the shocks coming out of the bonnet (hood to you Americans! )
I will try to post pics on Monday.
Later.

Pete.

[clodossal]

Try author search if you havent already, search isn't always agreeable though. You got to get it on a good day.

By the way I'm an Aussie. But I'll forgive ya cause your new.

[ratty]

Well, here are the pics
Not sure if this has worked properly, if any one else wants to post the pics feel free, not too good with computers
Some more specs-
Front links are 7.25"
Rear links 8"
All self made along with the link mounts for the shocks.
Servo mounts are 1/8th ally
Battery holder made from 2mm pure ally (left a bit of room underneath so I could add weight if needed)
Sides are 1/8th ally alloy
Radio tray is 1/4 ally alloy
Also fitted with Inet axles and knuckles.
TTR Maxx adaptors and axle link mounts
And an old 8 channel radio set so I have the independant rear steer.
Questions? I will answer to the best of my ability.
Comments? welcome!!! (not too harsh tho!!! )
Later guys,
Pete
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44532
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44531
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44530
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44529
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44528

[ratty]

Sorry, shamless BUMP, so you can hopefully see the pics?
As mentioned in the post, not too good with computers

Later,
Pete.

[SR5Dave]

Originally Posted by ratty

Comments? welcome!!! (not too harsh tho!!! )

That is what we do here! .... Assuming your rig sucks ;)

But, That rig looks awesome, low slung, long, and some NICE parts on it. Looks sweet! Pics worked fine, too bad they don't allow remote linking anymore.

[ratty]

Maybe not so crap at computers as I thought!!! I got litte red X's and left it as links, oh well you learn something new eveyday
SR5Dave, glad you like my rig As I said, i have been looking around and doing my best impression of a sponge to soak up all the info on this site, lots of info 8O 8O .
I have just fitted my lathe motors with 9 & 10 t pinions and am waiting for some of the Hitec digital servos that the peeps here seem to like. The HS945's won't turn the wheels while stationary :( hence the change!
One problem I do have is with the shocks, as you can see they are inverted HPI Savage units. But when I build them I get a lot of air in them, or they seem over pressurized when the air is removed. But then I get a stupidly high ride heigh as the shocks extend and wont compress as easily.
Any suggestions or should I change them for something else? I do like the shocks tho'
Also now that the pics work please give me some name suggestions for my rig as you guys seem to have already taken the best ones I was thinking of rockrat? or is this as crappy as I think it sounds?
Cheers guys see you soon!!

[SR5Dave]

For the shocks: That is what happens when its all fluid and no air, they basically lock up

Don't worry about the air in there too much, its not really going to hurt anything, its not like you're racing with this Having slightly hindered dampening won't do anything to crawling.

[ratty]

Thans SR5Dave, I'm used to building shocks for racing- I own a NTC3, Hobao Hyper7 1/8 buggy, HPI Super Nitro, Losi MiniT, Xray M18 and T1 and used to have a TTR Ripper but that was gutted to make the crawler.
I guess I'll leave the shocks as they are and use it now its almost ready!

Cheers,
Pete.

[Gimbal]

Awesome job dude The only thing I see is the radio tray thickness is overkill, and it would be even better if you could flip the battery tray some how... but then your links would hit the battery. You will find that your lower link chassis ballends will hang up on everything. Other than that it's a sweet build!
On my Savage shocks, I had to bleed them like 5 times before they would cycle smoothly. If you fill the oil to roughly 3/8" from the top and screw the cap on just barely enough to hold it, then bleed, it seems to work best...

[ratty]

Gimbal thanks for the compliments I know the radio tray seems overkill, but its also the main chassis brace. But iknow what you are saying, I may well take a hole saw to it to lighten it some...
Here's a close up of the chassis-
Doh!!!! I just realised i have only uploaded some of the pics from my works PC I 'll post them tomorrow.


This is my first crawler chassis- see what you guys made me do... :P

I have already thought about making a tuber. I need to try my current chassis to see if it works ok and then use the same geometry to design the new chassis.(if it works)
A couple of questions about a possiible/ probable tube chassis-
What size tube do you guys use that looks scale? I can order either 1/4" or 3/16" stainless tube.
Silver soldering is no problem as we use oxy/acetylene kits at work (all our copper pipe is silver soldered for demin water) and I could possibly get our welder to stick it together for me if i show him whats required- but which is stronger? welding or soldering? If there's not much in it I guess I would silver solder it as the welder is a bit miserable at times :(

Again thanks for the compliments!


Pete.

Cheers,
Pete

[JasonInAugusta]

1. Welcome to forums

2. Killer truck.

3. For a name..."The Rat Rig"

[ratty]

HHhhhmmmmm Ratrig...... sound kinda cool Anyone know if there are any decals (internal or external) of rats?
Thanks for the welcome Jason, I have looked thro' a lot of this forum and guys like yourself and lots of others gave me ideas and knowledge to try something myself. I work a lot of overtime at the moment so I dont get the chance to go racing as I once did. But the weekends I do get off 8O I want to try something different.
Is it just me or did that sound kinda smutty :P
Gonna try it at lunch tomorrow at work and If I can borrow the digi cam again, I'll take some action shots
Nothing posed I promise!!
Cheers,
Pete.
Going to bed now gotta be in work for 6am :(

[SR5Dave]

Try something new huh?

Here is all you need to know about tubers:
http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk6/rcs...ab/tubefab.htm

You can mig it too, the MIG would probably be stronger, but brazing is plenty strong as well.

[Gimbal]

...most of us braze with high silver content rod. I personally use 56% silver rod. The key is get your materials absoloutely clean and where your tubing mates make the joint as tight as you can.
I think the 3/16" stainless would look the most scale IMO. .025" or thicker wall tubing

[ratty]

Some more pics as promised!
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44607
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44606
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44605
http://www.rcpics.net/view_single.php?medid=44604
SR5Dave thanks for the link Exactly the kind of thingI was looking for!! Gimbal Iguess I'll buy both sizes and mix and match the pipework to suit my needs
Cheers guys,
Pete.

[Fishmaxx]

"Rat Patrol" was one of my favorite shows as a kid.

[ratty]

Rat patrol? hmmmmm..... thats a new one for me to think about. Don't think we ever got that in the UK. All we got was fawkin Roland Rat
Sorry if that upsets any of his fans
Well I forgot to borrow a digi cam but i did get to try it out for around 10 mins or so....
Work have a lot of grass banks of varying degrees of steepness, its been raining :( climbs straight up a 45 degree slope with no problems so it looks like it will work pretty good on some rocks- gonna try to get out next week (i finish work on Tuesday )
Did suffer from some glitching but I think it was just low transmitter batteries


Pete.

[Fishmaxx]

Rat Patrol was a WW2 show about 4 guys/2 jeeps/ on patrol in the North African Desert