Racing tracked vehicle

[Kemenb]

I contacted castle creations and they told me that such a big company has no idea how much torque end power their motors put out... yea wright!
So plan B is to put mobile phone in my 1:8 buggy and measure acceleration and calculate required braking strength of track from there, I will also re-size whole vehicle by half, because I am more familiar with 1:8 cars than 1:5 and the price of electronics is the second reason, the third is there are few things I still don't like and it is easier to draw the parts again then to modify existing model.

Maybe I will also replace 4 small wheels and a carriage with 2 big ones...

Has anyone tried lexan (bulletproof glass) as building material?

[magmer]

The M18 Hellcat in WWII did nearly 50mph and the post war Scorpion tank family could do nearly 70mph, I think you could maybe base your ideas around this. The triad of firepower/ armour/ speed is a balance of these three requirements. So if you just want speed, no firepower or armour would be your starting place.

[Kemenb]

This thank will be build just for speed. There is a roll cage so if the tank rolls over the body wont get crushed. Body will be build from vacuum forming lexan or laminating glass/carbon fibers.

On my local forum we got the idea of using two belts and mounting steel or aluminium U shaped profiles on them and someone post this video, it might help someone here too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrWx8yxt ... re=related
So far I like this idea the most, it doesn't require a CNC milling, easy to build and cheap.

[Kemenb]

I couldn't sleep and was throwing ideas around my head all night long and then I remembered that I have something in my garage that might work as a track... and of course I had to test it at 6 in the morning in the garden, on a grass!

Here is the setup:
-LRP S8BXe Team 1:8 buggy
-relly tires (proline badlands coppy)
-2200kv TopPower motor
-150A Xerun
-5000 mAh lipo

When I pulled full throttle buggy did almost a full back flip, one link broke off and the other track just fall off. Well 2660W is obviously enough to pull it up to speed all dough on a longer run the motor might get hot... In any case I will use two motors so power will be insane!

Plastic links are 45mm long from pin to pin and they go nicely around the wheel fi 115mm. The only drawback on this test setup is that buggy has some "kick-up" in the front so when I push it to the ground track looses the tension. This style of suspension arms provide a lot more arm movement and ground clearance without gaining additional length... maybe 6x6 with a track over the wheels? Well I have to wait until 9 to buy 4 belts, I hope they help prevent the track falling off, I want to see this go full spreed!

By the way DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

[Andy in Cheltenham]

surely you cant use that kind of set up. the suspension would just make the track go loose and it would come off. and you cant steer it.

[Kemenb]

Update

Now I'm at the most fun part, making sure all the parts align and everything fits perfectly. I found out how to assemble the track so it is movable on variable trajectory but my PC is too week to dynamically calculate more then 8 links, but still it showed me how the track will move and it looked ok. Bends were not too sharp.



Here is a screenshot of drive sprocket and NYLON track. Nylon would cut down the weight by more then half, not sure if it will hold together for long... I will have to test it.

@Andy in Cheltenham: with 6x6 i had something like this in mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt2jgic0 ... re=related

[Kemenb]

Shocks came today and they are HUGE!



From left to right: stock Shark/Vendetta 1:18 shocks, "Big bore" conversion for shark-Mini LST shocks, S8BXe rear, Carson Gas devil rear.
And yes that is an A4 piece of paper on the right photo.

[Kemenb]

Local seamstress made shock socks for me, the fit very tightly!
The material is a bit thin but that is my fault... well they will still keep a lot of dirt and rocks away from shock absorbers.

[Kemenb]

slipper clutches arrived few days back and they are HUGE!


I also put balloons over shock shafts for additional protection and changed oil to very thin for track tighteners.


Motors and ESCs are on the way, they should arrive next week. I decided to start with 12T pinion which shouldn't be a problem for CC2028 motors, but still I rather not overheat them on the first run.

Did anyone try to use digital camo vinyl (or any other vinyl) on the tank?

[Kemenb]

Custom got their claws on my package but now it is at home!
I have to say that the motor looks smaller when you I was looking at calipers, having it in a hand is another thing, they are HUGE!