mini rock crawler[MORE PICS!!!]

[randomletterz]

well, i was looking around, and fell upon the clod buster. the price of the kit, and a new chassis/shocks/etc for a good rock crawler was too much. sooooo...... i thought about making a mini one. i saw the mini mt tc3, but that is too big still. i then found some mini monster trucks by tamiya. here is a link. http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/mini4wd/wild.html . so, has anyone had any expierience with these, i dont believe they are radio controled, but im sure they could be. does anyone have any other ideas of what i could do.i dont need it to be blazing fast, 5mph at most. i just want to be able to crawl across my bed, maybe over a remote control, you know, just messing around during the winter. 4wd it prolly a must. i would also like nice articulation. so any of you guys have ideas?

EDIT: i would like something very much like this http://www.rcrock.com/featured16.html

awesome huh?

EDIT: ok heres whats on my shopping list so far. 2 tamiya universal gearboxes. and 2 pairs of tamiya off road wheels.

problems: STEERING i dont really want to mess with the gearbox it self. so i thought i could maybe just put a pivot in the chassis it self. so when the car goes strait the axles will be lined up like this.... (front of truck)>| |< (rear of truck. and then when i make a left turn, it would be like this..... \ | . i really dont know how i should lay out the chassis. help me out.

ok. the mini 4wd from tamiya is off my list. im going all custom. here are the gearboxes iwould like to use. two of these (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSR16&P=7)

and the tires..... two of these as well...... (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=TAMX7096&P=7)

im really stuck on steering and chassis/linkages. please help me out guys.

[Rimmy]

ok first problem i see. that axle is a good start, but your going to have to shorten that axle first. that doesn't seem like it would turn much to me, let alone have any room for suspension travel. so, shorten those up. i would suggest you look at bigger MT's to see some linkage. and then try to shorten them down. thats the easy part. hard part is actually doing it! i like that tranny setup. its a good start... -Tim

[slugbugg]

It sounds like a good plan.
As far as the chassis goes you will need to get the axle pieces together and see how it can work together.

Are you going to have it pivot in the middle of the chassis or pivot at the front axle?

[mclarenf3387]

Check out this link. I think it should be helpful. http://mini-zracer.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=3672&perpage=15&pagenumber=15

[randomletterz]

i think ill just get all the materials, and try to jerryrig it together. all the parts will only cost me like 25bux for the axles and wheels and tires. and the motors come with the axles. so well see.... and so it starts.........

[nitrotraxx]

will you make a list of the parts?

[randomletterz]

axle x2 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSR16&P=7)

wheels/tires x2 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=TAMX7096&P=7)

shocks x2(not quite sure, i think they may be too big...) (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXD375&P=7)

but then i still need links, and electronics. i will have to custom make the chassis.

[nitrotraxx]

One guy used these on a mini
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=DTXC9229&FVPROFIL=++

[RCDriveryo]

For links you could use a regular screw and cut the head off of it. Just find the right length plus a little and cut the head off and thread on a rod end.

[randomletterz]

or i could use turnbuckles. as for the shock delema, i am throwing around the possibility of a cantilever suspension, and then i could just use the shocks strait off my tc3. i want atleast 70 or 80* articulation. :rollin:

[nitrotraxx]

the steering?
you could cut those axles almost totally of and use micro rs4 cvds/ drive cups.

[Bulldozer]

I was thinking about making one of these last night, and I could do it all except steering, I would just make a pivot in the chassis but the the front shocks would somehow have to turn side to side.

[racer1044]

For the shocks look into some from the Mini-z overland they should work fine.

[Rimmy]

ok wait lets back hp here. those axles you showed are much smaller than the shocks you are thinking of using. first things first, what scale are you trying to make this thing? that would hel a LOT with the design process! -Tim

[randomletterz]

no too sure on the scale, but i got the chassis done. i dont have any pics, but i will try to get some diagrams up soon. btw, i am using tc3 shocks right now, but they will definitly not be the final shocks.


things to do.... buy axles, figure out everthing else....

[randomletterz]

UPDATE> got the layout of the chassis done, and the chassis is done. the servo is mounted, and reciever on top of it. here i quickly did this in paint to give you an idea of what it looks like. here ya go.http://www.rcpics.net/media/chassis.jpg

[slugbugg]

So it looks like you went with a middle pivot.
Are you going to have the axles pivot also so it will have some articulation?

[randomletterz]

yeah... the axles will be directly connected to the each chassis plate. so the rear axle will be connected to the rear plate with 2 links, and 2 shocks. so when the chassis pivots, so will the axles. and i definitly hope this thing will have nice articulation...

[slugbugg]

Well it sounds like a good plan and like everyone else I want to see pictures asap.


I've been working on my little project all day and just found out that I do not have a 1mm round endmill.I'm about to start the process of drawing the cut lines I just need to plan out the cut order and tools.

[randomletterz]

ok guys. heres what youv been waiting for....

AN UPDATE> i bought the axles.........
http://www.rcpics.net/media/sm-100_0643.jpg

i have them togehter now, i put them together in the 16.6:1 configuration, but if i find i need more torque, i still have the 58.2:1 and the 203:1 configuration.:evil:

heres a pic of the axles. believe it or not, but from front to back in the picture, it is only about 5-6 inches....

http://www.rcpics.net/media/100_0644.jpg

this project is coming along nicely. i still need to get tires, shocks, and figure out how to link it all together.