Holiday Buggy 2010 dust cover

[mr crispy]

Been able to get a bit of fiddling done this weekend as well as hooning around the garden with my new little HB2010. First proper mod for my HB is a dust cover to stop debris and god knows what getting thrown into its tub, something it seems to excel at.

The original idea was going to be a plasticard "lid" that would fit over the body and be held on with velcro, just like the Tamiya touring car covers. But having worked it all out on cardboard templates and transfered it to the plasticard, I found I couldnt bend the P'card enough without it splitting along the fold lines. It could've been taped together but I doubt it would last long with the kind of vibration and wet running an R/C car gets subjected too.

Which brings me onto the Mk 2 and a "light bulb" moment. Using the same template I transfered the design on to a small piece of sheet aluminuim I had in the loft. Cut out with the dremel and cleaned up the edges I then bent the "folds" over a piece of wood to get a much stronger angle that held just where I wanted it. With a little drilling & tweeking it now holds on by itself! I just added a section of foam to protect the motor wiring and its done.

As its so low it easily fits under the HB bodyshell and bearly touches it at the widest point, just infront of the rear wheel arches. Out of interest I popped it on the kitchen scales and it weighs 60grams. My one worry was that it may interfere with radio reception but its been fine in my garden (although its only about 40ft long) but I'll take it out and do a proper test when I get the chance.

Im pretty happy with it. Think a coat of satin black would be a good idea.

[Will16]

Looks brilliant. A coat of satin black would set it off a treat! I was wondering if there was one of these being made. I will probably try to make on now! You could drill some small holes or cut a section out and replace with mesh for the ESC cooling. How is it held on?

[mr crispy]

Cooling was my other concern but I'd rather not cut more holes into it at its primarily meant to stop debris getting underneath. If its a problem I have an idea to fix a section of aluminium onto the inside of the cover that angles down and rests directly onto the ESC's "hot plate", turning the whole cover into an extension of the heat sink. I noticed how well the aluminium collected and dissipates heat when I was cutting it with the dremel so this could be a neat solution to that problem.

It holds itself in place as I've bent the side walls in a little further than necessary. You can just about make it out in the 4th picture down where its upside down. You need to flex the sides outwards slightly to ease it over the tub and it then springs back gripping the sides nicely. That coupled with the antenna tube being thread through a hole secures it in place perfectly, yet it can still be easily removed and there's no body pins to loose or tools required.

I'm quite impressed with it really. I'm tempted to market this myself if I can find a regular supply of aluminium, just not sure how much demand there would be for such an item.

[VTRSP1]

Cooling was my other concern but I'd rather not cut more holes into it at its primarily meant to stop debris getting underneath. If its a problem I have an idea to fix a section of aluminium onto the inside of the cover that angles down and rests directly onto the ESC's "hot plate", turning the whole cover into an extension of the heat sink. I noticed how well the aluminium collected and dissipates heat when I was cutting it with the dremel so this could be a neat solution to that problem.

It holds itself in place as I've bent the side walls in a little further than necessary. You can just about make it out in the 4th picture down where its upside down. You need to flex the sides outwards slightly to ease it over the tub and it then springs back gripping the sides nicely. That coupled with the antenna tube being thread through a hole secures it in place perfectly, yet it can still be easily removed and there's no body pins to loose or tools required.

I'm quite impressed with it really. I'm tempted to market this myself if I can find a regular supply of aluminium, just not sure how much demand there would be for such an item.

Wouldn't it be easier juz to get a DT02 buggy shell n cover it. I did that for my DF03Ra,fit nicely n neatly.

Refer to this

http://tamiyablog.com/2010/09/dusty-holiday/

[mr crispy]

Yeah I guess, but the cheapest I could find were going for round £20 + postage. This cost me under £2 for the aluminium (which had been bought for another project and not needed) and took maybe 2 hours altogether, so I'm pretty sure I had more fun doing it my way Besides modifing, tinkering and problem solving are some of the things I most enjoy about this hobby.

[mr crispy]

Gave the HB a good 60-90 min run today on loose ground and had no overheating issues at all. It also kept the debris completely out of the tub so Im feeling like a smug clever clogs ATM

[OrangeSport]

Looks great. I have gone with a Sand Viper body as a cover, but the end result is similar. Will try it on the beach this morning. Last time the Holiday Buggy body filled with sand. Will see how well it works at keeping the sand out.