Hello! I'm new here!

[IsToR]

Hello everybody, I'm new here!

I'm sorry if this may be a little off topic.. but I think this section would be the best to post this in!

I've built a couple of 1:24 scale radio controlled cars out of aluminum, but I've always wanted to build smaller cars.

I made a big mistake not installing a servo saver in my latest 1:24, because when I was driving it outside, the axle on the pot and some gears just broke in the servo and the car started turning like mad.

Perhaps that was also a blessing, because when I looked at the motor, it was a nice, tiny, FLAT motor, not those round chunky ones like in the hitec standard servos (The diameter on them is way to large!). I instantly got some great construction ideas including that motor, and the little speed controller. And then I came across this forum, and when I looked at all the cool looking small trucks, I wanted to build one myself!

Today I went to the hobby store, and bought a little 1:43 scale Land Rover. It's not really a "TTT", but it's small.... I think the land rover was a very good first chioce, because my smallest receiver is about 5x3x2 cm, so it wouldn't fit the smaller scale cars (I'm too poor to purchase a smaller one right now), and I also want to gradually go to smaller cars, not just leap from 1:24 to 1:87 in an instant.

So basically, I'm just asking for any kind of tips here...
What kind of chassis is best in your opinion? I'm thinking of making my chassis of square brass tube.. because I have some of that stuff at home. opinions? cons? pros?

I'm not intending on making it a 4WD. At least I think I won't make it a 4WD.. well.. not for now. Gotta see how all things fit first. Maybe I'll make a small 4WD car later on.

What type of suspension would be the best? The type that's most common on TTT's maybe? I'd rather want something along the line with mini-z overland suspension, but I feel that there is no room for such a suspension..

I looked at the wheels included in the kit. Damn, plastic.. :( Does anybody know where I can get wheels with a nice scale look with rubber tires? (~15 mm diameter). I'm thinking of getting some airplane tail wheels of some sort, but they kind of ruin the look of the car.

Batteries? Are the small sanyo 50mAh batteries any good? I'm thinking of getting a few of those. Or perhaps a little more mAh would be better? Any suggestions?

Thanks for any reply!!

[arch2b]

welcome and glad to have you here! there are some others working on slightly larger scales as well. anything above 1:32 should be discussed in the misc or other micro section, if thats the right name for it.

so long as it's understood that the term TTTT refers to ho scale or 1:87 specifically.

start posting pictures...i'd like to see the land rover.

as far as what to use for the chassis:
i prefer brass tubing, square. it's easy to find and cheap. once you get the hang of it you can do some really nice things with it. it's also easy to solder, well, once you get the hang of it.

i believe a few might use other materials...you'de have to read through some of the building threads/gallery threads.

i haven't included suspension in any of my project yet, so you'll have to have others like killer answer that. he has done some really nice 1:32 work!

as far as finding some wheels....look through your lhs model kits. you might be able to part out something. you can also take a trip to the toy store and look for some thing you might be able to use.

mini z has some nice batteries in the shop....bit size ones you'll have to make a battery pack out of. i am still searching for the best solution to the battery question (best choice).

i'm sure you'll get lots of help! ther are some very talented people here!

[killer]

:ö:

Istor,

Working on a 1/43 TTTT project is almost the same as doing a 1/87 truck project too!, it's just the smaller space inside a 1/87 truck that you have to deal with the most... this are some of the solution to solve the problem; cutting off excess wires, instead of using plugs, try soldering it and trimming the pcb would help a lot in saving space, as for the batteries, try using a Li-ion/ Li-poly batteries, they are smaller than the standard ones used on a 1/87 TTTT, as for the suspension on a 1/87 truck?.. like Arch's truck, mine does not have one either, but if you can find the smallest and softest spring you can find, that will do... as for the 15mm diameter rubber off-road tires is what you need, and if the tires on my 6x6 looks fine with you, send me an e-mail ;) i still have some of it here on my black box.

-æ

[frizzen]

Sorta off topic, but you mentioned suspension for them

Maybe I'm wrong here. But for syspension on 1/87, wouldn't it be possible to do like leaf-springs a lot easier than coil-springs?

I mean, like a little chunk of some kind of music string would probably be about right. (one of the Guitar strings?)

[killer]

Originally posted by frizzen
Sorta off topic, but you mentioned suspension for them

Maybe I'm wrong here. But for syspension on 1/87, wouldn't it be possible to do like leaf-springs a lot easier than coil-springs?

I mean, like a little chunk of some kind of music string would probably be about right. (one of the Guitar strings?)

:ö: frizzen, yes you can use that as your suspension, but the question is, how are you going to set it up on a tiny truck without occupying so much space and not to be an obstruction for the steering linkage?.. wherein, if you use spring, you can just stick it up on the side of your chassis that is located directly on top of the axles, voila! you have suspension!, easier to install and far from steering linkage.

-æ

[frizzen]

I don't know.

Probably something like an inverted "U" mounted to the chassis just above the axle, with the arms of the U above and pressing/rubbing on the top surface of whatever part of your wanting to return to center. It's kinda like the arc of a leaf spring.

Or, take the "U" and lay it on it's side. and mount it like the Anti-sway bars on a car. Solder mounting *might* work, but you'd probably be better off drilling little through holes. But mounting to the axle is going to be the hard part with this one.

I'm just throwing this out as another idea to try. May be good, may be bad. I don't know.