How to Build a 1/87 Scale RC truck a.k.a.TTTT

[killer]

:ö: JTM,
first you have to consider the size of your car, why?.. first, the smallest RX (reciever) i know is made by GWS, that is also available on your LHS, check this website too for more info. [url)http://www.gws.com.tw/english/english.htm[/url] , they also have the 5.4grams servo, you need to steer that thing, now if the 5.4grams servo is still big, try looking at http://www.mikroantriab.de they have the smallest servo i have seen that would suit your need, with some gears and motors too, the smaller the better, but if it is your first time to build a small scale like this, may i suggest for you to begin with a truck model first, co'z it has bigger space at the back of the truck, where in you could install all the electronics without doing any major surgery on your electronics! -æ

[Thorsten]

Hi JTM,
I think it is possible to rebuild the car. But it may be difficult to use industrial rc-components.
If you use a selfmade IR-remote control and a microcontroler powered servo with step-motor this car is large enough. As the battery will be a cell-phone "LIPO"-battery the best choice. I use such a battery in my small 1/87 tractor. It works fine.

You can also use a Trailor to hide the "normal" electronic. But I think this kind of car don``t has been seen with trailor ;-)

If this is your first project in 1/87 so it`s better to start with a larger truck. So you have time to learn how to build small cars. And you will have a lucky feeling with your first car building in a short time. Later you can spend a lot of time in this project. And it will take some time to realize the remotecontrol and other challenges of this project.

Look at http://www.micmo.de to see a very small "Smart"-car and my tractor.
At http://www.mikromodell.de you will find some other small cars and maybee an Idea to realize your project.


best regards

Thorsten


www.mikromodell.de

[JTM]

i wish someone made a kit with all required to build such a device. those mini trucks look coolio, esp those nifty frames and supsension. im afraid id get half way done, lose track of parts get frustred to return to the hobby store and throw it all away.

[Thorsten]

Hi,
Thats why you should start with a "normal" 2-axle truck. Such a truck can be build in a short time with "normal" availible components.
And in the case of problems, just mail here and catch the helping hand ;-)

dont't worry just try out

There is a "driveline-kit" availible in germany. But I think it's easier to build your own driveline.
The easiest way to get your 1/87 rc-truck is to modify a "Faller-Car-System" truck. This one have allready a motor, a gear, the steering frontaxle and a mainswitch.
You only need a transmitter, reciver, servo, speedcontroler and a battery.

best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de

[JTM]

whats a thorsten faller car run approx.? (price wise) and should they be avail. anywhere? also i have a radio for 1/10 scale cars already.. would i be able to use that as my Tx? and just buy a mini reciever/servo? if so where would i get this stuff (from a reliabel source) if i am given name brands or model numbers i imagine i can find it on ebay.
http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/...m272-1021.html something like this??

[Thorsten]

Hi JTM,
above in this threat was a link to a shop who sells faller cars:

http://www.reynaulds.com/faller/car_system.html

Sorry I am from germany and I don't know whats availible in the U.S.A.

In germany this Faller Cars starter set costs nearly 50 Euros (=50 USD). It's cheaper to buy a complete Faller starter set with a road, wire, glue, colour and so on. The cars himself are nearly 65 Euros.

I have rebuild the Faller Car from the starter set 161631. It's a yellow bus. Try this link:

http://www.reynaulds.com/faller/fal161631.asp

A very good choice may be this one:

http://www.reynaulds.com/faller/fal161633.asp

Only the price is a little high. Maybee in the U.S. you will find another offer.

The rc-components should be smaller than in 1/10 cars. Mostly the companys sale "micro-reciver" and "micro-servo". Just have a look in a 1/87 car and so you will know whats should be small enough.

best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de

[arch2b]

this may be a dumb question but if i were to use the faller truck for steering, motor, on/off switch, battery, gears will it be able to go in reverse? also would this motor be strong enough or have enough torque? what is the speed like, compared to bit's, moicrosizers etc.?

[Thorsten]

Hi Arch,
I don't know any "dump question". There is always a good reason for you to ask.
To go reverse, you use the speedcontroler. The gear and the motor don't have any problems to do so.

The motor are realy strong enough to push the car. My yellow bus is able to push a 0.33ml tin of coke (a full one!!!) on a trailer over the railway layout. Just have a look here:

http://home.t-online.de/home/tfeuchter/berlin02.html

Ok, here you see 2 heavy trucks and a 0.5l tin of beer.

The speed is adjustible by the transmitter. It is a proportional speedcontroler (the rebuild servocontroler is also proportional). So you can drive very slowly (10cm per minute) up to "microsicer-speed". Sometimes also faster than the microsizers.

best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de

[arch2b]

i think i am going to take your advice and start with faller components for my man 4x4.
i went to gws website and it is a little overwhelming for someone who doesn't know anything about rc components. as you stated, all i would need is the servo, reciever, speed controler and transmitter. gws has all these things. my question is would it be easier to get all these things from them. if so, can someone give me suggestions as to what combination of components will work well?

like jtm, i have the prefex tx for my kyosho mini z. is it possible to use this instead of paying for a new tx? i would prefer this style of controller over the joystick style.

oh, thorsten- the link for gws takes me to the wrong site.
correct link www.gws.com.tw

[Thorsten]

Hi,
I dont know anything about the allowed frequency and modulation in the U.S.A. so please select the frequency on your choice.
But I can tell you something about the parts, you can use.

Lets start with the reciver:
GWS R-4P is ok. In germany this one called "Graupner xp8" or "jst-mini". It is the best choice i know. The letter "H" or "T" is the plug. This is on your choice, I use mostly the "T" type and unmount the plugs.
http://www.gws.com.tw/english/product/receiver/r4p.htm

Servo:
Here I use the GWS Pico. In germany known as "Graupner C141 "or "mikroantriebe pico".
Its not nessesary to use a high quality servo. The cheapest one is the best for microtrucks. So take your choise by asking your amount ;-)
Important is only the weight and the sice. So I would catch the 5.4 gramm Servo.
http://www.gws.com.tw/english/produc...ub%20micro.htm

Speedcontroler:
Nothing comercial is nessesary. It is easy to rebuild an old servocontroler or buy a servocontroler-kit in a electronicstore. An electric circuit of a servocontroler based speedcontroler you will find at
http://home.t-online.de/home/tfeucht.../frsmd4_e.html

battery:
Ok, I found on the GWS pages an usefull one, but still not the best . The GWS one called 50AAA. You need this 4 times for 4.8 V
http://www.gws.com.tw/english/produc...ry/battery.htm

The best one is the GP12AAAM and I found a datasheet here:
http://www.gpbatteries.com/industria.../NiMHspecs.htm
It is nearly the same sice than the GWS and more than double capacity. But I dont know where in the U.S.A. You can catch them.

Motor:
I think you can use here any old servo motor (maybe you recycle the rest of the servo you need to get a speedcontroler). On GWS I found the "CN12-B2". This one should be fine:
http://www.gws.com.tw/english/product/motor/motor.htm

Transmitter:
This is on your choice again. Just select one, that is compatibel with the reciver you get ;-)))
I saw the GW/4TA and this one may be fine.

http://www.gws.com.tw/english/product/system/system.htm

best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de

[arch2b]

throsten,
i can't thank you enough. that is the exact information i was looking for. thanks. after i complete this one, i will try doing more of this on my own. right now my skills are good for 1:25 scale work. i'm going to need more practice for 1:87 scale work.

my brush guard and roof rack on kyosho overland 1:25 scale.

[Overlander]

Yo arch,

I have to admit that you are really the one that started this thread. After you sent me that link to one of the German TTTT sites, I have been obsessed with the little things and that is what prompted me to write the "How To" article at the beginning of this thread.

So now that you got me hooked, you better build one!!!

Anyway,

My work forces me to travel for days and sometimes weeks at a time. Forgive me if I suddenly drop off and you dont hear from me for a while. It is sometimes hard to get a decent internet connection in a hotel room.

Besides, Thorsten is now active in this thread and he is, after all, the person who helped me actually build my first TTTT by giving me guidence and encuragment.

It started when I emailed Thorsten to tell him how amazing his work was. His email reply said, "It's easy. Just do it." So I did!

I am glad there is a group of people that are willing to help each other out so this TTTT hobby can grow around the world.

-Todd

[Overlander]

As far as radios are concerned......

As I mentioend in the how 2 article, there are no known manufacturers that make receivers on the U.S. "ground" frequencies that are small enough work for TTTT.

If you notice on this page:
http://www.gws.com.tw/english/produc...%20crystal.htm
The GWS crystals available in the U.S. (leagally, that is) are all 72MHZ for airplanes only.

Your Kyosho radio is 27MHZ made by Futaba. This is important because you must get the right crystal for your transmitter. They usually come from: Futaba, JR, HiTec, and Sanwa. You also need to use FM frequencies. I think the Kyosho radios are AM.

Here is a chart to confuse you:
http://www.gws.com.tw/english/produc...on%20chart.htm

If we could somehow import or find a Japanese company to buy from, we could get the GWS 27MHZ crytals that are made for Japanese markets but still ONLY AIRCRAFT (see link above), but it still would not work in your Kyosho radio if it is AM.

Believe me, I have about 30 different radio transmitters laying around. If there was a way I could avoid buying another one, I would. If ANYONE knows a way around this PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!

The short answer is: In the U.S. you must buy an FM transmitter on 72MHZ and then buy the GWS receiver and crystal. Make sure the crystal matches the brand of transmitter you will be using.


-Todd

[Overlander]

Hey everybody,

I started a thread for discussion of how to construct a miniature off road course (parcourse?) Please go to this link and add helpfull feedback on how to make a place to drive the little trucks!
http://tinyrc.com/forums/showthread....&threadid=7696

[Dux]

The Novak XXL comes in an AM and FM flavor for all major brands of radio. They are the smallest land recievers I can think of. One can find them on ebay very often.