M-05 based MiniClod

[Coelacanth]

Very cool layout, love the motor positions. And it looks like that chassis could survive a 1:1 car driving over it.

[gumbajv]

Well, I considered using alloy 7075 instead of 6061 to compensate for the thinness, but I thought that might be overkill.

[Diamond Dave]

Really cool build -
I´m just a bit concerned if that thin alloy chassis will hold

It does not look to thin, 2.5mm or more? The shorter the chassis the better. Much stiffer than if it was a longer set up. Obv, the longer it is the more flex it will have.

Am I right in assuming this? What is the wheelbase on it anyway?

[DennisM]

Really cool build -
I´m just a bit concerned if that thin alloy chassis will hold

It does not look to thin, 2.5mm or more? The shorter the chassis the better. Much stiffer than if it was a longer set up. Obv, the longer it is the more flex it will have.

Am I right in assuming this? What is the wheelbase on it anyway?

Sarcasm I promise, it won´t happen again
To me the chassis seems to be somewhere between 7 and 10 mm

[gumbajv]

6.5mm or .250" thick. 210mm wheel base, has about .250" wheel base adjustment. Uses the stock mini body, HPI Porsche RSR body, Team BlueGroove bus body. I use the bus body when using the tracks.

[hawgfanman]

We need video of it running with the tracks!

[gumbajv]

A video is coming. Here's an up date. I started this project intending to use the left over rear suspension parts from the other project. I ended up replacing the stock parts with 3Racing parts. The only Tamiya parts are the 2 drive belts. I made the aluminum wheels to replace the rubber ones. Too much side flex and a short wheelbase caused the tracks to come off. The tracks are Kyosho SR tracks cut down in width and length. The center of the chassis was milled out to reduce weight. Added some plex sides & top to keep the dirt and snow out. I formed an aluminum body, open buggy style which will be done in the next few days.

[Coelacanth]

A video is coming. Here's an up date. I started this project intending to use the left over rear suspension parts from the other project. I ended up replacing the stock parts with 3Racing parts. The only Tamiya parts are the 2 drive belts. I made the aluminum wheels to replace the rubber ones. Too much side flex and a short wheelbase caused the tracks to come off. The tracks are Kyosho SR tracks cut down in width and length. The center of the chassis was milled out to reduce weight. Added some plex sides & top to keep the dirt and snow out. I formed an aluminum body, open buggy style which will be done in the next few days.

That's really cool and makes me have tons of questions--and pardon my ignorance with this car. How does that steer, for example? Obviously not in the conventional way, it would need to steer by differing speeds between left & right sides, like a tank, or like a Blizzard. (That would seem to make sense as I see 2 motors.) What wheels are those, and how do they mount onto the axles? 12mm hex?

[gumbajv]

This is the first time I've tried something like this, so there are no ignorant questions. Steers like a blizzard/tank. I use a Futaba 4yf set to mixer mode for the steering. Turning is by the motors running at different speeds. I made the wheels, they're slotted for the stock Tamiya pin drive. With 4 wheel drive it turns as well with 4 tires as it does with the tracks.

[gumbajv]

Here's a short video in the dirt & snow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD3u1wh7CBQ&feature=youtu.be

[clm]

I could see using two standard transmissions with something like this with opposing dog bones removed from each end and the diff turned into a locker.

I think your project turned out excellent

Chris

[gumbajv]

I recently picked up these spiked tires for 1.5" rims. The tires are new, but no markings on the tire and no packaging.