Crumple Zones???

[groundhogdirtplugger]

Hi All,

There something thats been ticking around in my mind about the TXT-1 ever since I saw the thread by Mobias entitled, "TXT-1 Achilles Heel". This thread concerns the high likelyhood of breaking the standard plastic brackets that attatch to the axle and house the servos. The way round this problem is that many fit a metal version of this part. However, if you do this and have another prang surely all the force will be transferred to the attachments on the axle housing - and if those fail its a lot more of a pain to fix.

Obviously you can see that I am writing from absolutely no experience here! It just seems its easier to replace a part that cost a few quid than letting the force of the impact travel 'deeper' into the truck an cause more damage.

Has anyone had experience using the 'hopped up' alu parts. What happens in the event of a crash? After all its a lot of dosh to fork out for four alu equivalents - however good they look.[H]

If I'm talking twaddle here I can take it on the chin!!!

best regards

groundhogdirtplugger

"one day I'll get started - then there will be no holdin' me back!"

[Mr.Ce]

hi there,

'hopping up' any r/c model is a pleasure and a time consuming task, which is throughly enjoyable........(and expensive).

The idea of the club is to pass on knowledge. Which is great, but i sometimes find the most enjoyment can found from self solutions. And then maybe u can share your conclusions with us.

 i hope someone has a better answer for you than me m8.

But u know what i say is true, get out there, and find out, its a hobby.(cough)

 

Mr. Ce

 

[Wrc action]

Getting of the fence I would have to agree with you here

All an aluminium part would do is to transfer the force to another part where the force would be an amplified moment as its force x distance for a turning point so we are lookin at a greater force on another joint that mightwell not take it.

Thats why look through my entire showroom and you will find no aluminium suspension hubs or axles or whatever for this reason. take an aluminium lower arm - its very solid and has no give - In a crash whilst a plastic one will absorb some shock before it breaks so this aluminium one will transfer all the force to its mounting points on the main chassis and A parts tree gear box. Now lets say that rather than a small impact where both will survive- The plastic one will bend and absorb the force the aluminium one will pass the force to its mounts which should survice.

 I have a big impact.

Plastic part snaps - Nice and simple all the impact energy is converted into the force needed to break this part - New part £2 part tree with double spares for next time.

Aluminium part - Transfers the force of the impact as a moment to its mounts that cannot take the strain so they snap instead - Cost £7 new TT01 tub and A parts tree £3

hmm £10 to £2 that I dont see an advantage for the aluminium arm that could well be bent in the impact as well.

I think that all aluminium parts in the suspension are complete rubbish and a waste of money - They increase sprung weight, which affects handling, increases weight of the car that limits performance and scratch like badword before they transfer all the forces to wrecking the rest of your car.

My advice - Plastic suspension with your money spent on the drive train where the greatest gains can be made as well as steering for accuracy (servo saver there as well []) and finally a nice box of spares to keep all your cars running long into next year.

Best regards Ryck

 

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

Ok,

firstly - yes, i agree that aluminium parts will just transfer forces to weaker plastic parts which they are fixed too.

But, in the case of the TXT-1 servo/skid plate mounting brackets, this doesnt really apply.

The skid plates themselves only extend forwards of the front wheels around 12 cm above the ground. Any frontal impact of an object lower than 12 cm, and the tyres hit first.

The skid plate is also not the further most point on the chasis - the bumpers mounted to the main chassis sides are the first point of impact (with a brick wall or something similar [])

The axle attachments of the brackets go straight through the whole axel, 2 long bolts per bracket are used. to break the mounting, you'd have to snap the complete axel in half. The most likely breakage if you do manage to hit the bumper bracket hard, and the bracket doesnt break - would be the top of the axel, where the suspension arms mount. this is also a pretty cheap part (but can be hopped up too)

The stock plastic ones break at the point where the lower suspension links mount. the parts are simpley too weak. there is not enough material around the point where the bolt for attaching the link is.

The stock ones also flex under hard steering load - this can also cause them to snap. this again is due to the plastic being just to thin in areas where a bolt hole is present.

So in this case, its wise to use the aluminium hop ups, and its also an area Tamiya provide an official hop up for - so they know the stock parts are not up to the job.

(plus they look cool [])

[groundhogdirtplugger]

Many thanks Guys,

Really interesting answer from Wrc action, and a lot to that I had not noticed from  mymonsterbeetleisbroken.   I forgot that not only is the force transfered but is amplified by the moment of force - a kind of leverage action - I think?[:S]

I had not noticed that the bolts go right through the axle plus a few other bits mymonsterbeetleisbroken pointed out. I reckon that I probably will use alu hops on the front and rear - eventually. The trouble is that you are looking at about £40 +. So this will be an add on after the stock item has been broken. Experience is the best school - but the fees are high!!!

One bit of good news for you people that are TAMIYA experts.  I that I will lay off writing any more dittys in this club - until I have at least started our (me and my boy's) TXT-1. He's getting restless and he is well within his rights - I reckon?

Thanks for all the hints and tips from the regular Tamiya Club people - I will test your patience no longer!

Regards

groundhogdirtplugger

"and he rode into the sunset soon to return with a monster"

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

lol thats no problem, i think your posts are very well thought out!

It made me think []

The trouble with the txt-1 is that there are so many hop ups for it, and most not only look good but also boost performence aswell.

At the moment i'm thinking of going all out and kitting my txt-1 up with full New Era hop ups. The biggest problem is postage to the UK though, thats whats putting me off at the moment.

Oh yea, i like the little speach marked bits you leave at the end of your posts - i just noticed they are all different [] 

[groundhogdirtplugger]

Cheers for those kind words..."mymonsterbeetleisbroken"

I've been out of circulation for a few days. You are right that the TXT-1 has almost infinite number of adaption and hop up possibilities. That is probably why soooo much is written about it on these pages[][][]. The danger can be that you end up tying yourself up in knots over the ifs, buts, and maybe's. So I'm gonna keep my blatherin' short for the nest few weeks as I wait for my bits to arrive to finally get started on this project.

Then maybe I can share my REAL experiences with  the world out there.

In the meantime good luck with your hop ups. The New Era stuff looks excellent. I am especially interested in the anti-torsion device....but that will have to wait for another day..

 

regards

 groundhogdirtplugger

"then a much needed silence decended - just a faint whirring and a buzzin"[^o)]