No worries, I've ordered it anyway. I have a spare controller/ receiver on order and I'll either keep the ESC and motor it comes with or stick something brushless on there as I have a spare 80A (or 60A, can't remember...) ESC sitting around too.
Ive not posted on this thread before but I have a Traxxas revo 3.3 (awaiting a replacement dynamite .19T engine from America) and 3off wltoys 12427 (one is for parts, one is being converted to brushless).
I started with a wltoys, using the kids as an excuse, they do play but I now only have 1 12427 that's working and that's the stock one 🤣
I'll post some photos if I ever get anything finished and running, I definitely enjoy the fiddling aspect of the hobby!
Merak youve some talent and patience doing the painting and decals on these!
I used to race offroad about .... 35+ years ago but the painting back then was very basic. I still have my cars that i saved up like mad for. There was an original Kyosho Optima which was chain drive but i converted it to belt as it was much more efficent, I then had a PB Maxima which i think was my favorite and then finally a Schumacher cat XL or XLS i cant remember it was another really good car. I used to race at stonehaven but being a kid using pocket money and the like I was up against folk that worked in the oil industry and had money to burn on their toys so was never going to win but had a great time 🙂 We also had an 1/8th scale road track and remember seeing a european round being held there and the speed of the nitro cars was just stupid I think were running without diffs to save weight!
Used to race 8th rallycross almost 10years ago, quite tempted to get back into it again, track just down the road at Gaydon in Warwickshire and there a couple of others not too far either. Don't think I can be bothered with the faff of nitro and the N1e is looking good and different.
Hi, Hopefully some one on this group can provide a little help?
I brought a Team Associated SC10 a couple years ago. All has been good until recently when its failed to respond to the transmitter. I have replaced the battery and repaired the transmitter/receiver (no issues reported here). But as soon I try and operate the car the ESC beeps and red light starts flashing and the car is unresponsive. I assume this is down to either the receiver or ESC failing. Any ideas which I should buy first or if I am completely off track?
Thanks
Ernie
@ernie does the steering respond? If not it’ll most likely be the receiver, as the steering has nothing to do with the esc. Edit - I suppose it provides the power but you’ve got a light and a beep.
If the steering is ok then you would assume the receiver is working and the esc is at fault.
@clubby Nope, steering does not work either. I will grab a ew receiver and test. Thanks!
Battery voltage ?
Hiya.
Just a quick note to say how much I'm enjoying the Associated RB10 RTR.
I know it's nothing special, but compared to the Tamiya TT02B it's a revelation. Much less slop, much more intuitive and it doesn't need tweaking every five minutes.
We set up a tight little track on some flat, newly mown grass and even on 2S managed to beat my mates 3S, crazily upgraded DT-02 Sand Viper.
I reckon it would benefit from a stronger, quicker servo, but what wouldn't?
If I was starting again, I'd definitely buy one of these as my first car.
It's a very simple little thing, not hugely fast (20 odd mph?) but so much fun learning it's abilities.
Also took the Arrma out with changed gearing, a tweaked ESC and some belted street tyres.
Huge local car park. We even swept it first.
Managed 64 mph according to the GPS, but was paranoid about taking it home in a bin bag.
Fun, but I don't think my nerves could stand it again.
Hope this is useful to someone.
64mph! I’d be terrified.
I’m still reeling from the trip of shame to Screwfix last weekend after shattering the guttering down pipe brackets in DT03 related incident.
Looking at the Tamiya Neo Fighter, it appears it would be fun for me and kids/grandkids.
So what would i need to buy to make it work? I assume i need one of this car style controllers, a receiver, a steering servo and a lipo battery pack. We have some 2S 1300 and 1500 from drone flying but they are a block shape. Im not sure they would fit. We have a charger and we have Eneloop AA batteries and a charger.
Also id like to make it robust, so what should i buy to minimise damage and extend its life?
What would you recommend?
Thanks
Ian
so what should i buy to minimise damage and extend its life?
Something else for the kids/grandkids?
As a fan of Tamiya, I've got a Grass Hopper and a Mad Bull, I'd say get a bearing upgrade if it comes with nylon bushes as standard. My transmitter, receiver and servo sets are nothing special and they have lasted for 3 years without issue. Not sure about Lipos, I didn't bother. I upgraded the shocks on the Mad Bull as the ones supplied were like pogo sticks and they broke quickly anyway.
There is scope to spend an absolute shed load, but I have managed to avoid it. 1/16 scale RC Tanks on the other hand have cost me nearly a Grand.
Also id like to make it robust, so what should i buy to minimise damage and extend its life?
The Neo Fighter is what I have and it’s pretty strong. Not much it needs apart from bearing kit as mentioned. Make sure you have these for the build step, as you’ll dismantle half the car again if you don’t. Original tyres are pretty crap, especially the fronts. Car gripped and handle much better on aftermarket tyres with foams in the rear.
I cracked the front of my chassis by putting a stupid brushless motor in it. Hilarious fun but pretty uncontrollable. Still drives ok (with original motor in it). Amazed nothing else broke in some of those crashes.
Battery compartment will only take a stick battery. Could maybe fudge a way of strapping a block pack but standard kit esc will come with Tamiya connectors so you’d need a connector wire or solder on new connectors.
Other prebuilt makes will be much better cars and probably more robust, but for men (big kids) of a certain age, you can’t beat a Tamiya build. Just don’t expect the grandkids to feel the same.
Hoy hoy.
Anyone recommend a servo for the RB10 rtr?
Savox 1285 looks good, but £55.
AstroTurf and carpet.
In other news, the 5 year old has fallen in love with the Lunchbox, now she can steer it. 🙂
'Grandad?'
'Yes?'
'Can I have one for my birthday? It has to be purple with my name on it in big blue letters.
And you'll have to teach mum and dad how to fix it, cause it breaks when I hit big rocks'.
'Yes sweetie'. 🙂
Anyone recommend a servo for the RB10 rtr?
Savox 1285 looks good, but £55.
I've got an SV-1270 in the front of my Wraith. It's got stupid amounts of power, and sounds like it's spitting angry sparks even at rest.
I love it.
Savöx 1285
Dunno if it's still the case, but some Savöx used to be quite current heavy, and don't play nice with the output from the BEC on cheaper ESCs, especially those in RTR cars.
Some of my early attempts at using Savöx servos gave me brown outs under heavy steering loads.
You will need a powerful servo though, especially on carpet. Can generate a massive amount of grip (especially with slicks and traction compound).
Quick question, if I was to get an AX24 would I be okay to run the 25C batteries off my Tracer (with an adaptor)? The axial takes a 350mAh 30C whilst the FTX runs 1000mAh 25C, both are the same form factor to within a couple of mm either way. I'm guessing peak power on a crawler isn't going to be anything like a basher but that's just ignorant guesswork.
An update from me...
The neo fighter took ages to arrive from Germany to Australia but it did come with the ESC and upgraded shocks. I started building it but sheared the bolt stud on one of the ball joints that go on the servo saver so is currently waiting for parts ☹️
In the mean time I ordered a holiday buggy as they were going cheap locally, I was house bound for a weekend (yes I looked up the picolax thread to prepare for that weekend!) And between visits built it up. I finished the painting this weekend, fitted a sport tuned motor and Tamiya ESC, resoldered the battery connector so I can use lipos...
Also a couple of pics of my wltoys 12427s, mine is upgraded to brushless, my daughter's is still stock...
And finally got the new engine installed in my Revo 3.3 project. It starts but that's as far as I've got as I haven't had the time to run it in properly yet and don't want to just rag it!
Quick question, if I was to get an AX24 would I be okay to run the 25C batteries off my Tracer (with an adaptor)? The axial takes a 350mAh 30C whilst the FTX runs 1000mAh 25C, both are the same form factor to within a couple of mm either way. I’m guessing peak power on a crawler isn’t going to be anything like a basher but that’s just ignorant guesswork.
The C rating is the maximum discharge rate as a multiple of capacity, so your 350mAh 30C battery can supply a maximum discharge of (0.35 * 30) = 10.5A whereas 1000mAh 25C can supply (1 * 25) = 25A. Your ESC will draw whatever it needs to to supply the motor for a given speed / torque requirement up until it limits. So yes it should be fine, the battery will just last loads longer!
The other consideration is the battery adapter, I've read a bit about some of them being unsuitable for high current draw but then its just one of those internet things that different people seem to have different opinions on. I've resoldered my battery connectors so they're all T-plug but that's because all my batteries use those connectors. I think it's only really the Tamiya style connectors that aren't rated for high current flow and I can't see that being an issue given your application.
If anyone is looking for something a bit different and just stupid, the ftx buzzsaw is a laugh. Metal tracked vehicle, doesn't go so fast which is ideal for my trigger happy son. But can climb a remarkable amount of stuff. Cheap too
@squirrelking, further to above I just thought, you'll need to check the voltage is the same on both batteries, the small one may be a single cell whereas the other might be 2S
Dunno if it’s still the case, but some Savöx used to be quite current heavy, and don’t play nice with the output from the BEC on cheaper ESCs, especially those in RTR cars.
Some of my early attempts at using Savöx servos gave me brown outs under heavy steering loads.
Ah, thanks.
I'll give Modelsport a bell and see what they recommend. If it needs a new ESC, I'll just stick with the stock bits for a while and check what everyone else is using.
Much appreciated.
Took a couple of RC cars out for the first time in over a year... plus a boat that was a hand me down and so slow it's not worth talking about
Playing around in the harbour as it was low tide. Forgot how much fun the crawler is (Axial SCX10.2) and what a cracking bit of kit it is. So capable
@mrjmt cheers, I knew someone would know! Both are 7.4V 2S packs so it sounds like they should be fine. I'll take a look at the adaptors, worst case I'll solder on some beefier wires to match the Axial.
Quick stealth ad before I put it on ebay, anyone want a tank? Got myself a Heng Long T34, built it, drove it around the house, shot a bunch of stuff, decided I'd scratched that itch and I'm going to move it on, and get the crawlers back out instead
(it's the metal gearbox upgrade but rubber tracks. 7.0 board so fully 2S lipo ready, I've added red can 390 motors and the 360 degree turret kit because the limited rotation did my head in. Never been outside, comes with the box and all the stuff plus extra bbs and smoke juice. Also can throw in an older Heng Long Walker which has no electronics but is otherwise good, could be good for spares or you could swap bits between them for variety, or maybe you have spare electronics?)
Already got one, but they are great fun and increasingly difficult to get hold of for a sensible price. If you fancy one snap Windy's hand off!
No!
Still not properly played with my AX24 I got a couple of weeks back (that my Tracer batteries should fit but don't 😭)
Argh, not this thread again. Luckily I'm not tempted by the tank as shipping to Australia prohibits it.
But can someone convince me I don't want to buy a brushless Kyosho Mad Van? Please?!?
@Northwind how much are you selling the tank for and could you post some pictures please? I don't know anything about all the upgrades mentioned but my 15 year old is tank mad and might be interested.
I took my four tanks to Scouts this week. The kids that turned up early got to have a four way battle using the onboard IR system. Great fun. The Challenger 2 won, but I think that was down to the ruthlessness of the driver.
I love the idea of the tank battle!
I'm hoping the rain holds off tomorrow afternoon so my daughter and I can take the holiday buggy and neo fighter to the beach for a blast 😎
Argh, not this thread again. Luckily I’m not tempted by the tank as shipping to Australia prohibits it.
But can someone convince me I don’t want to buy a brushless Kyosho Mad Van? Please?!?
I have absolutely no idea how to convince you you don't want one of those. Only reason we haven't got one is I refuse to buy anything RTR. Otherwise, my son and I would most likely have one each.
Ah, but these aren't RTR! Takes an hour or so to put the bits and stickers on.
And a lot longer if you want to paint or weather them!
Hope that helps.
I missed this a month ago but unless you're desperate to build a kit then for hamfisted kids then get an FTX Tracer (also sold under various other brands). Pretty much unbreakable, there's a speed dial on the controller so they can start slower, it's big enough to run fine on grass but small and light enough that slamming into solid things at speed doesn't break stuff. Regular is around £70, they do a brushless one now around £100. Has everything you need in the box, you might want a spare battery at £12ish but not essential. I put some cheap oil-filled shocks on my son's one and it's made the bounciness go away.
I love Tamiyas and they're great if the kids are old enough to be into the building part but for just mucking about without fuss the FTX Tracers are brilliant.
Also ❤️ the Holiday Buggy - built mine in lockdown. I have a 540 motor and the hop-up CVA shocks to go on it when I get the time.
I have the HBX version of the brushless Tracer. Took it over quarter pipes, landed on its face and kept going, smacked a half brick a few metres along the ground and kept going. I really don't want to find it's limit but I am curious what you have to do to break one!
Yeah the mad van is really RTR but it's still a fun Japanese RC and I just can't see something similar from Tamiya, I want something with a bit more ground clearance but don't want a lunch box. I've been looking at Blitzer beetles but I'd have to get one from Japan I think as so much Tamiya stuff is just out of stock here.
I stopped in at the local hobby shop today as I needed a new spur gear for the Revo (I stripped it while on the first tank running the engine in), they had some really tempting cheap 1/10 scale brushless truggys in but I resisted the temptation and just bought what I needed and a little Lego friends set for my daughter.
My brushless 12428 died a horrible death and I was fed up of fixing it as it was just overpowered for what it was so I pulled the motor out (3300kv 540 with 60A ESC) and put it in the holiday buggy 😀. Interesting it doesn't wheely, I think it's just because the stock rear tyres are so bad it just spins them but it's a lot of fun with the brushless in and I think less likely to die than the 12428 as it's a different style of driving.
Must not buy a mad van. Must not buy a mad van.
Aye @mrjmt the mad van looks absolutely epic. It would be a significant grade up from a Blitzer Beetle (I have a BB, although it's built as a Falcon). In a different league I think. And the brushless version has heaps of power too. I doubt you'd need to change anything out of the box.
I'm still not buying one though, just because a new purchase would need in large part to be to go through the build experience with my 9 yo. It's a shame, because the MV really is the standout option for what he/we would like next.
Just remembered I haven't updated my collection for a while in this thread, time for some piccies 🙂
First new car is an Element Enduro Sendero SE. Brilliant little crawler and so much better than the Carisma I started with. I've added a few accessories and some wood to the rear deck for extra scale points.
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[url= https://i.postimg.cc/63NKMVX8/20220813-173026.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/63NKMVX8/20220813-173026.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
It's a few months old now so bot in pristine shape, actually have two new bodies for it and deciding what to do with it next.
Next to arrive was an Arrma Typhon 3S BLX. That has had bigger wheels fitted for ground clearance and made it more controllable in the air:
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/Y0syskWd/PXL-20230513-111610352.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/Y0syskWd/PXL-20230513-111610352.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Broke the chassis on it last time out though, one too many big jumps and it cried 'enough!'
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/cCgc63vc/PXL-20230702-105735934.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/cCgc63vc/PXL-20230702-105735934.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
I might change this for a Rival MT10 which is what I wanted originally but they were out of stock for ages at the time so got seduced by a deal on the Typhon. It's not really an out-and-out basher but then neither am I so will see what I decide when I rebuild it.
Bought a UDI Panther as a cheap drift car (haven't got a picture of it!) which turned out to be lots of fun for very little money. That led to me rebuilding the Lancia into a cheap drift car, now looks like this:
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/02tJhjrk/PXL-20230303-195401708.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/02tJhjrk/PXL-20230303-195401708.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Lots of fun at the local club drift night on carpet. It's also running a brushless 3s setup for maximum wheel speed!
Had an inkling to build a caged crawler too so bought an Element Gatekeeper Builder's Kit. Looks like this completed:
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/9Q6PN0N4/PXL-20230407-141803900.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/9Q6PN0N4/PXL-20230407-141803900.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Currently running a Hobbywing 1080 ESC with a Holmes Hobby 16t 5 pole motor which is great. Trouble is I now what to fit a Fusion brushless setup in it! Before I do that though I need to have a clear out as I have far too many cars lying around the flat now. List is as follows:
Tamiya Lunchbox.
Tamiya TT02 Lancia Delta.
WLToys A959b.
Tamiya Blackfoot (spares or repairs, given to me by a mate).
Carisma Range Rover.
Element Sendero HD.
Absima Sand Buggy (spares or repairs now, electronics are in the Lancia).
Element Gatekeeper.
Arrma Typhon 3S BLX.
Current plan is:
Sell the UDI.
Put the electronics form the Sendero in the Carisma and sell that, the Carisma electronics are upgraded from stock so will go in the Sendero.
Sell the RocHobby Katana.
Possibly sell the Typhon, either forget about bashing or get an MT10 to replace it.
Scarily that doesn't include the cars that I've already got rid of! I reckon I've spent well over £2k on the things just in cars since this thread started, plus upgrades. Really need to filter things down as I only really need 4 cars: 1 drifter, 1 basher and two crawlers. Much prefer the crawling side so that gets 2 cars.
Excellent stuff! @reluctantjumper I like the look of both crawlers particularly that Element Gatekeeper...
I've got another build on the go just now.
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That's either a Celica or an Audi Coupe. Either way can't wait to see the result.
The Gatekeeper is great, really capable and the relative lack of body means it shuffles between rocks in tight situations. Currently a bit sorry for itself though as it took an accidental dunk in sal****er yesterday afternoon. The receiver is definitely dead but the drivetrain is seized too so new bearings required. Motor spins fine so just an hour or so to strip, regrease and reassemble. Need to rebuild the Sendero too before September as I'm going to the Southern Scale Trail event, a massive crawling weekend in an old quarry just south of Shepton Mallet. Went to the East Anglia Scale Trail one a few weeks ago too, spent a bit of time talking to Phil of Tomley RC about stuff there while he ragged a few trucks around.
Definitely more into the crawlers currently, hours of fun without the breakages or needing loads of batteries.
@mrjmt I turned my DT03 Racing Fighter into a Blitzer Beetle with a cheap Baja beetle copy shell and some Mad Bull front steering arms. Bigger set of wheels and tyres and it was done. Shell needed trimmed at the back to clear the motor but it was a fun project. Still run it on original shell as well with plastic bushings spacing the narrower front wheels. Handles better than stock due to the wider front track. You'd be able to do the same with a DT02 build as well.
@clubby thanks for that, funnily enough I let the kids loose with the neo fighter and holiday buggy in the back garden at the weekend, after repeated high speed impacts with the trampoline legs the neo fighter is absolutely fine but the holiday buggy has now got a broken front body mount and one of the front mud guards has broken off the body. I've ordered a replacement body but could only find one in the UK so shipping will take a while.
Can you remember what beetle shell you used? I'm intrigued by this idea now and might start a mini project with the holiday buggy (they're also cheap cars so I might still get a complete new HB or Neo for the kids while I mess about modifying the broken one). I've found this shell on ebay: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/404354551036 is that the kind of thing you used? The DT02 is quite a bit wider than the DT03 but I think the beetle style shell should fit quite well.
@mrjmt I used this one
https://www.kamtec.co.uk/p/kamtec-baja-lexan
Right rear took ages to trim a bit at a time to clear the motor but happy enough with end result. Used the spare hockey stick shaped front mounts from original kit and drilled front holes. Rear, I glued magnets to the shell and clipped adjustable magnetic mounts to the original rear towers.
Great, thanks for the tips. I've ordered that one from eBay that I linked, I checked the measurements and I think it'll fit, I'll see when it arrives!
So, body clips, talk to me.
Keep losing the easy pull ones off the Tracer since they're black and get lost on the tarmac, am I better off without the tabs, with something bright or something more like a hope pad retainer clip that can't be yanked off?
Have a look on eBay for these - come with coloured tabs to make them easy to spot. Just to make sure they are the right size to go through the body post holes.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282791259873?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=EAIaIQobChMI2p6R-ZebgAMVFsHVCh38swgTEAQYDyABEgJVf_D_BwE
Can any Lunchbox users suggest a good replacement for the servo connection? I was bought a kit a month or so ago and that plastic connector had broken twice now. Or is it made weak to perfect the more expensive component?
Can any Lunchbox users suggest a good replacement for the servo connection? I was bought a kit a month or so ago and that plastic connector had broken twice now. Or is it made weak to perfect the more expensive component?
Are you talking about the servo saver, as in the bit that mounts onto the servo? If so, which part breaks? They are designed to be able to take a hit and there's a plastic ring in there that flexes to absorb the shock.
When I broke the ball stud on the one for my Neo I could only get the 'hop up' version which used metal rings which is a bit stronger but to be honest it was rubbish, there was so much play in it but a bit of tension that the wheels would always be pushed one way or the other, I'd adjust the steering trim to compensate then it'd get knocked the other way and be out again.
You could replace the servo saver with a servo horn which is a fixed piece with no give in it, but then you're at risk of breaking something else if you take a big hit. If it is the servo saver you're talking about it does surprise me that it's broken twice as it's designed to 'flex' and absorb the force not break.
Are you talking about the servo saver, as in the bit that mounts onto the servo? If so, which part breaks?
It's the part that the steering rods are attached to that has given way. The part that sits inside that plastic ring has sheared off. The first occasion was a pretty innocuous bump so I glued it and the same has happened again. Keeping it as a sacrificial part makes sense. Just a shame that is not really an in the field repair.
Moar Celica action..
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@harry_the_spider the clips themselves aren't black, it's the rubber tabs that are. Though I realised heat shrink tube might be an option.
@bullet that's what I was thinking though bright mountain rescue orange seems to be something nobody does, will keep looking.
Merak - that looks amazing. The rear looks very complicated with the multiple red stickers! Are you missing a black pillar off the rear windows? Seems to be a raised bit for one but wold only make sense if it was a 5 door shell, maybe a moulding crease?
My little maverick ion that we play with gets a bit bogged down in long grass, think that led to the motor overheating earlier in the year. Anyone got a recommendation for a similar sized model that can cope a bit better? Don't want to spend more than £150, £200 absolute max. Do I have to go up a scale size from 1/18" to gain more ground clearance etc? Quite like the smaller size, kids run it around our garden so much bigger/quicker would be more difficult to navigate I think.
You really need to go up a size to 1/10 to get ground clearance. I'd suggest looking at the FTX brushed range, they do a Bugsta , Carnage and Outlaw in brushed versions. Maverick do the Strada that come in a buggy, desert truck and short course body too. All of those cars are brushed versions of brushless cars so should cope well with being knocked around at the lower speeds the brushed motors do.
If you need the smaller size cars then the WLToys range is good but you'll need to find the exact model number (they don't really do names) you like, that'll mean trawling through loads of YouTube videos.
Either way long grass really does load up the drivetrain and the motor regardless of size, sticking to shorter grass is always best.
Hmm, waaaay over budget but do you think this would cope?
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/traxxas-116-summit-xl-25-id-rtr-with-leds-427839
Might look for a second hand one if so.
At the budget end there is this from WlToys that might do in the meantime-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402547327800
Fixed my T34. New firing mechanism and a suspension/wheel assembly.
Tested it on my Farage action figure.
It works.
not sure if anyone has posted this already but this looks fun!! https://thelittlecar.co/tamiya-wild-one-max-launch-edition/
@Stevet1 that's a wltoys 12428 which I've had a few of (see my pics earlier in this thread).
They're ok for what they are, one thing to note though, they're a pain in the bum to repair if anything on the drive train breaks as all the screws have some weird really strong epoxy or thread lock or something and they all just round off so you and up drilling them out. It's a nightmare and they're very well known for destroying their rear drive shafts. I've bent a lot of dog bones too. But if you don't have any big crashes and get lucky with the drive shaft they're a fun cheap RTR car, just that they're more disposable than repairable.
Does anybody here have experience flying model rockets? I've an idea that it may be fun to do with my 8 and 6 yo, but I've a few questions... mainly how/where to do it without shooting down an aircraft or losing the rocket!
Does anybody here have experience flying model rockets?
I tried it once. Didn't get a massive one that would have been capable of the kind of altitudes to put anything at risk though. They go up reasonably straight but come down on the parachute massively affected by any breeze. Went well away from any houses into some local fields to minimise the risk, and shot it onto the West Coast mainline. 🙄
So that was that for my rocketry hobby.
TLDR, large open area needed and very calm weather.
Water bottle rockets are great fun and you can get a kit on ebay for £13.
Yes I guess that's key, small rocket, large space, no wind. The first is easy, the last possible, the middle one.... in London suburbs the best is a local park. I'm trying to decide large park but well used/ busy, or small rec surrounded by houses but quiet, or accept its a non starter unless I go further to fly.
I spent much of my early teens mucking about with Estes model rockets, had a couple of mates into it too. Had a big sports pitch outside the village that was surrounded by open fields and still managed to lose most of our rockets. My Commanche 3 was supposed to do 2000ft+, first flight with all three stages I lost sight of it halfway up and never saw it again.
My kids are also 8 and 6, they have fun with the stomp rocket my youngest got for his birthday, going to try them on bottle rockets then maybe pick up a proper rocket kit in a couple of years. Stick to the A/B engines unless you have absolutely loads of space and very calm weather.
Oh yes we've been enjoying stomp rockets for a couple of years, the 3yo loves those too. Last half term i did small coke bottle rockets with them and got about the height of the 5G tower we were beside.
Bye heck! 2000ft! At that height you'd be in to issuing notams to warn the helicopters that occasionally fly over, I presume they are fast air taxis between Gatwick and Central London. Hmm, I'll not be going that big I think!
I'd quite like to teach the kids a little basic chemistry , and demonstrate just how much energy is in sugar, by making a diy sugar/kno3 motor..... but it's somewhat illegal to make your own explosives. I understand why it is.... although I'm not convinced a law stops terrorists or anybody else with wrong intentions!
i just saw this video and thought you might like it (reading about your rocket making)
Thanks raceface, yes I need to give match rockets a go. I'm also planning a pop-pop boat at some point over the summer
My beetle body has arrived, it looks like it should be a perfect fit on the DT-02 from my holiday buggy, just need some paint now.
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Amazing work as usual @merak !
I was going to ask, do you (or anyone else) have any advice on using window masks? That beetle body I got came with them and I've never used them before. Is the process to clean the body as usual, then apply the masks then key with an abrasive pad once the masks are on? I assume I just have to go careful around the edges of the masks when keying?
Also, one of the shops over here has just got the holiday buggy back in at AU$150 delivered (£79 ish). I'm trying to convince myself that I don't want to just buy another HB to put that beetle shell on and keep the old one for the kids to bash around...
No abrasives! The first one I did I had no idea you paint the inside of a lexan body!
You just want to wash the body with soapy water (inside) wait till it dries and apply your masks.
Apply your polycarbonate paint in very thin layers. The first few just want to be a dusting build it up really slowly, patience is key to avoid runs!
I like to remove the masks whilst the paint is still tacky.
There should be a protective film on the outside which you remove at the end, the best bit.😎
ah ok, I'm glad I asked!
If I get time later I'll head out to the local hobby shop and get some paint, I think I'm just going to go all black for it.
Along side this, I'm also working on cobbling together a way to use 12mm hex on the front of the DT-02 so I will have a LOT more options for wheels for what is now becoming a monster ish beetle project! I've mocked it up using the hubs and stub axles (with dog bones removed) from a broken wltoys 12428 with the tamiya carriers, I just need to go to the hardware store to get the right sized screws to hold it all together, I'll some pics once it's done if it works out.
So, 12mm hex on a DT-02...
Tamiya on the left, wltoys on the right, needed a couple of spacers that it just so happens I had something suitable on the parts tree from some CVA shocks...
Screw it all together...
It all fits perfectly! The bump steer is now even worse though 😁
Just stuck some temporary wheels and the HB body on to try it, it's a wheelie machine now!
I'm really pleased with how it turned out, just need to paint the beetle shell and now I've got a lot of options for some chunky wheels to go on it 😎
I wonder what'll break first....
I just finished a TT02R which I bought on a whim in the Tamiya shop in Tokyo last month. Put a GT Tuned motor in it and the Yeah Racing steering upgrade + Tamiya hop-up servo saver and some nice blue alloy wheel hexes. It's quick! Now I need to source a body...