John K Posted January 18, 2017 Posted January 18, 2017 As per another post, I've been sulking cos I can't spanner on the Westie anymore, just not got the strength. A mate could see I was pining for "doing proper man stuff" and got me one of these... https://www.hpiracing.com/en/kit/107008 Youtube video from the HPI website It's chuffing amazing and after I managed to crash it into a kerb and broke a hub carrier and had to take it apart to fix it, I can honestly say it's not a toy..! My mate is into the Nitro (combustion engined ones) but because they sound like a cross between a 106db Mosquito and a rabid weed whacker, I needed an electrical one so the neighbors didn't lynch me. Aluminium chassis, massive oil filled shocks, 4WD and powered by one of them LiPo batteries you can't ship by air because if you look at them wrong, they blow up. Good for 40mph over just about anything (except into kerbs) When you take one apart you can appreciate the engineering that goes into them. So I can continue to spanner-lite..! Quote
Kevin (Mr T) Posted January 18, 2017 Posted January 18, 2017 Looks amazing, but not sure if I could get away with it. Year before last I decided it was time to go RC helicopter pilot. Being a man, I couldn't be doing with one of those twin rotor jobbies or flybar machines. No, it was 3D flybarless for me! Same thing, fascinated by the engineering, but you seem to hit a lot more than the occasional kerb once you get airborne! Purchased so many replacement plastic parts, I started buying aluminium components from the States! Once I realised it was a coordination problem, I put them (yes, I bought a second, so there would always be one in a flyable condition) in a box and consigned them to the shed. Maybe she's forgotten 1 Quote
John K Posted January 18, 2017 Author Posted January 18, 2017 3 minutes ago, Kevin (Mr T) - Joint Essex AO said: I started buying aluminium components from the States! Funnily enough you can do exactly the same for the car..! All the load bearing stuff can be changed for Aluminium. There must be something in all our personalities / psychological make ups in that we are doomed to upgraditis... Even when we buy something that clearly states on the box "ready to run" we set about changing 80% of it. 1 Quote
Pistol Pete Posted January 18, 2017 Posted January 18, 2017 A few year ago I went back to racing rc card after 17 year break. Only stopped back in the day to focus on sprinting the Westfield. It has really helped me focus on suspension set ups and understanding vehicle dynamics. I only run electric 1/10, however the electric 1/8 are now on par with nitro. Quote
Thrustyjust Posted January 18, 2017 Posted January 18, 2017 I have a couple of off road buggies. One we bought fully built for mini TJ and one I built as a full kit. Both 4 wd . A friend also built a really expensive 2 wd buggy and was explaining how 'precision' it is and although everything is adjustable on my son and my car. I set them up and you can learn a bit about spring rates , damper oil ( got loads of bottles) and toe in and camber etc. We are lucky to have Greenham Common up the road and we took all three buggies up there. Mate was saying about how controlled his buggy was, when Mini TJ tore passed it like it wasnt moving . It didnt take a 10 yr old long to understand how it worked . Mate is disappointed in his being so slow now. Mini TJ has created a never ending repair list and I dont think his chassis will last much longer. But he has ragged it big time and its a great thing. It does 40 mph on batteries, same as my one . We have a box of 10 batteries , which will last a morning of blasting around. It is great, great fun. Quote
BenD Posted January 19, 2017 Posted January 19, 2017 I used to be into rc cars I had a few hpi. I had an mt2 as the general play car then I had a savage with a 5.2 horsepower nitro engine in it was easily capable of 60mph over anything including curbs lol and I also had a petrol powered baja when they first came out. Was an awesome beast a 1:5 scale model it was just too big to use safely. Regarding the aluminium anodised parts whilst they look blingy there more trouble than there worth if you crash into the curb and break the arm not only does it break the arm it also breaks a connecting rod through the arm. If you buy plastic it just breaks the arm off keep plenty of spares takes 5 mins to change and about a 5th of the price of the anodised stuff. I also had a traxxas thingy carnt remember the actual model but was capable of well over 80mph. Quote
John K Posted January 20, 2017 Author Posted January 20, 2017 16 hours ago, bunje said: I also had a petrol powered baja when they first came out. Was an awesome beast a 1:5 scale model it was just too big to use safely. My RC bonkers mate has a Losi 5ive (?) 1/5 scale in his collection. It's bigger than a Smart Car..! He just replaced a steering servo on it and it cost £150, the steering rack I recently put in the Mundane cost less fitted As it happens I'm heading up his way next weekend for a beer, video game and RC fest (his wife is away LOL). He is close to a beach so I hope to get some good pics of us racing about. He's also got a Nitro 1/8 Savage and quite a few others. I fully expect to come back with a broken ankle as driving them towards you v. fast is always a bit of a crap shoot. Especially seeing how I will still be gibbering from the previous night... 16 hours ago, bunje said: Regarding the aluminium anodised parts You know... That is a flipping good point. A set of plastic hub carriers (2 front, 2 rear) cost £8. If you replaced everything with aluminum, something still has to give. Then it becomes expensive stuff like servos that break... Quote
BenD Posted January 20, 2017 Posted January 20, 2017 Yep it gets very expensive learnt my lesson after the first time and changed every thing back to plastic also put stress on the servos heavier parts to move around. And you break the next weakest link after the aluminium. Its great fun whilst everything runs well but I found mine were abit temperamental some days the just wouldn't go others would fire right up and away you went Quote
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