RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

bormac wrote:I have been racing and testing the Topcat for years. Getting the car to steer has been a real test.
Some of the things you can do are;
- Shorten the wheel base with different rear arms.
- Rear sway bar
- Reduce front caster via mod kit.
- Steering mod which increases steering throw.
Then there's tyre choices which will also affect handling characteristics.

Jason - haven't you also placed the battery further forward on the chasis to lend more weight to the front wheels and therefore give them more of a bite when cornering?

Jason has re arranged his Li Po saddel pack but im running mine with stick pack still.

Mine has all those mods from Jason as well as Different shock set up with losi springs.

Steers quite well but looking for a little more. Want to play with some progreasive front springs too.

My front end is a wide ( standard Set Up) I've been told there was a narrow front end conversion which will give better steering response.

Rear sway bar helped on power steering too.

I am the proud owner of this car now. Very complete and in nice condition but it will be torn down and rebuilt, immediate needs are a rear shock tower and the motor plate cover that goes over motor and reads "Top Cat"

I have wanted one of these for a long time ever since mine disappeared in the mid 90's.

Yes......we love our Topcats!

Very pretty, what rear shock tower is that since mine is broken? Any shots with the body off?

Cougar2 works c/f rear tower.

I have to this early Schumacher stuff all over again and put away my inner Losi child for a few minutes

Thanks.

nice grab RCveteran...look forward to some pics if you get a chance...nice to see another one of these cars close to home

Great Top Cat.

Wait till you drive it they are so smooth to run.

8rad wrote:Yes......we love our Topcats!

Thats one hot TopCat!

I raced one back in the day. It was given to me free by Cecil Schumacher at the hobby show here in Chicago in 1989 or 1990. I worked the show for a local hobby shop, saw the car in his booth and struck up a conversation, next thing I know he offered me one on the spot if I promised to race it. Talk about luck for a kid. Can't be certain but it had to be one of hte first Topcats here. Of course I never saw another one at the track besides mine. It had its share of B-main trophies which was about as good as I was.

I do remember that darn break away front end being a pain and want to address that somehow. First find the broken parts. I do have a new in package front end steering upgrade for it as well.

I put a CF strap across the front. As long as I dont hit anything hard or do endos off any big jumps should be OK. Besides I have a complete spare front end and enough parts to build 2 more so I am not too worried. As long as I dont snap the steering kit upper arms. I have discovered that bosscat uppers work with a small spacer and give the same geometry so they can be used in a pinch. Adjustable camber too!

Any pics yet?

Here's the pics from the auction, I will begin tear down in the next couple days, the shocks are seized, I am missing the rear motor cover piece and rear body mount/shock tower cracked. The thing otherwise is in almost new condition. Appears it was broke very quick back in the day and sat in a box ever since according to seller who did post here. Tires are even like new and it won't take much to make it all like new. Repro body on the way and since I have decals, I see a boxart body coming.

I love this car as it was my second real racing car BITD. Very nice example you have there, can't wait to see it finished.

Here is a pic of my box art new built one (the original decals are not really useful for a true box art body):

That looks great, do you happen to know if that orange and yellow are an off the shelf color? I may even be able to pull off this one with spray can talent.

Follow up questions:

1) Are these wheels still available?
2) Where do you source the hardware, not used to all the flatheads?
3) From my reading then, the rear end from a Cougar, Cougar 2 and Cougar Works are interchangeble?