Update: My Falcon Buggy Project

[tarznatz]

Thought you guys might like to see how this project has progressed. Its a Falcon Chassis with modded body mounts to fit the Blitzer Beetle shell.

Intended purpose is to be a runner, so while I made it look as nice as possible, its got some flaws that you may not see in the pics (i.e., some CA glue mistakes and such).

i did not bother to prime the body prior to painting it. I've painted it in Tamiya's Mettallic Black, and outfitted it with some Mad Fighter wheels, Traxxas Pin Spike front tires and "Eagle" aftermarket Pin Spike rear tires.

Inside it is fitted with a TEU-101BK ESC, a Futaba 2ch AM Receiver and for now a stock 540 motor.

I'll be re-updating the showroom with different outdoors pics of this car soon, as I still have to paint the rear taillights and install them. (I got motivated and put on decals tonight too, and updated my pics.)

Hopefully I'll get a nice sunny day to take the pictures soon.

See the rest of today's pics by following this link:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...=21012006031501

[tarznatz]

Got motivated and put some decals on .... Miller Time! Here's a top view....

[cyclepsych0]

i think it looks great! very scale looking and easier on the wallet than a sand scorcher!

great job!

[tarznatz]

much easier on the wallet!

thanks!

[OldSchoolRunner]

Definately a great ride! This is the car that started it for me.  Many times I have thought about doing the same project.  Falcon parts are easy to get and the gear boxes are indestructable.  Are you running Thorp drive set-up in this car? If you are not this is something you might want to think about.

OSR

[tarznatz]

Thanks for the compliments! Just had it out on the street and there is significant fish tailing at speed, but off road it seems to stay put. i need to test more (waiting for the battery to finish charging), but i think it will be a good off roader.

Not running a Thorp Drive Unit because I don't have the complete set. I actually put what I do have up for sale because I cannot find the remaining axle units to make the set complete. I don't want to sell it, but if i can't use it, I figured the money could get me something I could use. Anyway, see here in my trade section what I currently have (and thus need):

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/trades_model.asp...647&id=6953

If you happen to have the missing pieces I need, let me know.

 

[tarznatz]

OK - this thing spins out way too much on pavement and tends to roll over too easily as well (and runing my body!).

I'm thinking it may have to do with the wheels I have on there, as they are bigger than the stock Falcon rims are, thus my center of gravity is up higher, I guess (?). Also, I've read that the rear shocks on the Falcon pose problems as they tend to be overly stiff. Perhaps I need to play with the set up some?

On short grass I don't have these problems, though the stock engine is not really powerful enough to make this go well on the uneven turf. I need to do a final test on dirt/gravel or sand, which is where this may excel due to better traction.

Anyway, with that siad, any suggestions as to how to improve drive control, other than going back to Falcon sized stock wheels?

[OldSchoolRunner]

You have two options from what I can see You are going to have to use wider rims and tires like the ones off a Blitzer Beetle or Stadium truck. Or you will need to use lower shocks all around.  The centre of gravity is definatley higher now with the body change. I can't remember where I saw it but a member in the Falcon showroom lowerd a Falcon using a mod shock set-up.  It looks pretty cool and handled better than stock

OSR

[Scorpn]

Dude,

The body is too high, I did this in the 80's with a monster beetle shell and just recently with a blitzer shell. You have to be cruel! Find an old front mask and chop it out just about up to the top of the number plate dent, I used the body mounts like on the falcon front to attach the body direct to the chassis close to the rear wall and 30mm from the bottom need to grind the edges of the body mount to fit the battery in neatly and just used a section of Irrigation microtube and adaptor for the front mount.

As well as full suspension travel it looks great and is much more stable - I even raced it with a dynarun stock motor and it went like a champ - just soften up the rear shocks and fit lunchbox springs

If you email me at scorpn@xtra.co.nz I can send you a couple of pics (I haven't got a showroom) - I used super hornet wheels and kept the blitzer decals - looks factory and just like a scorcher even has a rear cage!

Glenn

Oops, just checked out your showroom pics - Thanks for the credit[] - Nice idea with the bearhawk mounts (now I am getting ideas!!) but maybe turn them upside down  so back of body is nearly touching cage - front is still too high - front shocks just nestle nicely between the body sides at the front - you are right though she is alot better on the dirt - sort of the bugs natural environment! and much lighter and quicker than the SRB version!

[tarznatz]

The back of the body is as low as its going to get. I could drop the front more, but I'm not so sure I'd gain anything in control. Once I try it out with the stock wheels from my Strike, I'll know whether that can be eliminated as a cause or not. Then i may need to address the shocks set up ....

Pt

 

[Cul-Tech]

Before you do anything drastic try running softer springs in the rear. The car looks real cool by the way.[]

Mike