Scaring yourself with the cost of a new project

[Buggyjam]

I've built a reasonably modded clod to my taste. It's about to enter stage 2 with a few additions.

I already want to build another one  though as quite like these trucks and had my mind on a new flavour. The second clod platform truck is all bespoke and not based off a kit.. I had a project in mind so sat down with pen and paper and went through the individual components. Cost? £1946. My God, that'll have to wait.

 

this is is the first time I've pre priced up a project. Usually I don't count it as it's a drip drip. I dread to think what I've spent on the first truck. It's easier building stock as you just see a kit, add a few extras, paint and that's it providing you have the tools. 

[berman]

2 hours ago, Buggyjam said:

 Cost? £1946. My God, that'll have to wait.

Ahhh... the 24 carat Clod, don't think ya Mrs would be happy with that if it can't fit on her finger 😲

I would hate to add up my tractor trucks, there is certainly some money in those... 😯

[Macinnis]

The price doesn't scare me until the credit card bill shows up. 

[tamiya3speed]

I think you had it right with the other projects!  Don't add it up!!  Then it won't seem as much.

[Jonathon Gillham]

I tried to cost everything when talking to my wife but invariably was out by anything from $50 to $400, and none of mine had a start price that high so I was well out as a %. I also had to guesstimate what I had spent the last 6 months so lowballed her with $3k but she thought that was ok as I was admitting to a higher amount than she thought, small wins! Still married though

 

What was that project which was going to cost that? You could build a very competitive 8th scale racer for that

[MadInventor]

8 hours ago, Buggyjam said:

I've built a reasonably modded clod to my taste. It's about to enter stage 2 with a few additions.

I already want to build another one  though as quite like these trucks and had my mind on a new flavour. The second clod platform truck is all bespoke and not based off a kit.. I had a project in mind so sat down with pen and paper and went through the individual components. Cost? £1946. My God, that'll have to wait.

 

this is is the first time I've pre priced up a project. Usually I don't count it as it's a drip drip. I dread to think what I've spent on the first truck. It's easier building stock as you just see a kit, add a few extras, paint and that's it providing you have the tools. 

This is why I have a second hand milling machine and lathe. In the long run, it's a lot cheaper than buying custom parts. If you take my war rig as an example, I needed 28 alloy wheels for it. If I'd had to buy them they'd have been at least £150 for 7 sets of alloys, cost to me was nil as I was gifted the metal. That £2000 would buy a second mill and lathe, and still have cash left over for a standard clod kit.

[Buggyjam]

7 hours ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

I tried to cost everything when talking to my wife but invariably was out by anything from $50 to $400, and none of mine had a start price that high so I was well out as a %. I also had to guesstimate what I had spent the last 6 months so lowballed her with $3k but she thought that was ok as I was admitting to a higher amount than she thought, small wins! Still married though

 

What was that project which was going to cost that? You could build a very competitive 8th scale racer for that

It was a complete mod clod. I can't remember all the links and names of components but I did a "what if" using worse case current prices, not banking on finding a geezer second hand deal. The big cost was the metal transmission cases and axles tubes.

Metal transmission cases (not intergy crawlers ones, can't remember what they're called), metal axle tubes, Clod gear parts bags, Clod shaft parts bag, risky concepts alloy wheels, clod tyres, savox servo, 4 x shocks, steer lock out, axle steering link mount,  upper link mounts, parts to make links, cpe terminator, 2 x castle mamba 4600 systems, y leads, 2 x lipos, receiver, ford raptor body and paint, plus some odds and ends I know Id need.

 

When you say 8th scale racer. What kind is that? One of the buggies like a losi?

 

 

[Buggyjam]

2 hours ago, MadInventor said:

This is why I have a second hand milling machine and lathe. In the long run, it's a lot cheaper than buying custom parts. If you take my war rig as an example, I needed 28 alloy wheels for it. If I'd had to buy them they'd have been at least £150 for 7 sets of alloys, cost to me was nil as I was gifted the metal. That £2000 would buy a second mill and lathe, and still have cash left over for a standard clod kit.

I do try quite frequently to make as much myself already within my limitations and equipment. My last clod I'm making links and modifying a metal chassis for it. The stuff I could make within my skills isn't actually the expensive stuff on the list (chassis relatively cheap), it's the transmission build up and motors, parts which I couldn't make on a mill and lathe, i don't have skills for making a trans, it looks tough even with Cnc machining. Some parts I think maybe i could with practice on a mill and lathe, like the upper link mounts.  Also a standard clod kit is redundant on this build ha.

 

It was an aspirational idea, I won't go out and spend that, reality is I'll do it bit by bit and make as much as I can and look second hand and adjusting reality of what I put on it etc over a long long time. The enjoyment I get is the project but I couldn't justify/afford a £2k toy ha

[Shodog]

That little scared emotion no longer lives in me.  In some cases  I find myself spending far more on hop up parts than what the entire vehicle is worth.  It's only money and you only live once. 

[SNAKEBITE]

Please don't take this the wrong way, it isn't meant as a criticism, I'm purely asking from interest.

Does spending nearly £2000 on a project actually make that much of a difference to the end product?

Is it cosmetic or functional?

[Buggyjam]

2 hours ago, SNAKEBITE said:

Please don't take this the wrong way, it isn't meant as a criticism, I'm purely asking from interest.

Does spending nearly £2000 on a project actually make that much of a difference to the end product?

Is it cosmetic or functional?

Well it wasn't actually viewed that way around. Now that I've priced it up, it's not happening, certainly not that way anyway! I actually had a definite project in mind with a brief and using research identifying what decent components would cut it, and then looked at how much it would cost.

It's actually all functionality really on the project I planned as the project idea was born out of that way. It's been done time and again with the clod. I have a clod that behaves not stock, but not that distant from it, just slightly smoother, less bouncy and steers well. I wanted to take that and build another truck with a totally different mindset, with different suspension geometry and chassis setup. It was mainly raggedness using the Clod platform to achieve a different path but utilising the, shadow of the  basic clod "platform" of solid axle and link suspension.

And from this functionality ruggedness had to be achieved. I already have a clod I've fiddled with and knew that to turn up the amps some of the areas that would need sorting out. The only slight concession to looks apart from a body shell was the alloy wheels, but even that came about as the desire to move away from plastic back pins with dual brushless.

I know mod clods are as old as the hills and I'm absolutely doing nothing at all new. Just my own personal interest. I'll do it a different way now I've priced that up :-)). The project is on shelf whilst I sort out truck A anyway.

[nowinaminute]

I would never spend that much but that's simply because I can't afford to, but I guarantee I would be in the same boat if I could!

You only live once, can't take it with. Old saying but both totally true. Some people have a stick up them when it comes to preconceptions about what you should and shouldn't spend money on but I say if it makes you happy and you can afford it then do whatever you want. I'm sure that scared feeling will fade away in time lol.

Although my budget is much smaller I find buying things in installments definitely helps ease the pain!

 

[nowinaminute]

 

1 hour ago, SNAKEBITE said:

Please don't take this the wrong way, it isn't meant as a criticism, I'm purely asking from interest.

Does spending nearly £2000 on a project actually make that much of a difference to the end product?

Is it cosmetic or functional?

I guess everyone gets different joys from what they do, I have a tiny budget so I tend to buy cheap Japanese parts which do fine most of the time but there's no escaping how pleasant it is to use higher quality components, they feel better, look better and tend to perform better although sometimes the laws of diminishing returns can come into effect. There's something very satisfying about using decent parts though and sparing no expense.

[Buggyjam]

51 minutes ago, nowinaminute said:

I would never spend that much but that's simply because I can't afford to, but I guarantee I would be in the same boat if I could!

You only live once, can't take it with. Old saying but both totally true. Some people have a stick up them when it comes to preconceptions about what you should and shouldn't spend money on but I say if it makes you happy and you can afford it then do whatever you want. I'm sure that scared feeling will fade away in time lol.

Although my budget is much smaller I find buying things in installments definitely helps ease the pain!

 

Cheers nowinaminute 

 

I am fortunate I could do it without being in a problem, but only if I really spread it out and it would have to be more like £1500, but even then it would be out of proportion with my own other things I need to do like saving for a house deposit,  change my real car. Maybe if I spread it out and make adjustments to the specs to get it sub £900 it would be more justifiable and then the build would last a year plus which would be good in terms of project length/enjoyment vs spend.

 

Mind you, if the gf queries I could point out even her gym membership is xyz. When she moans about my cheap £800 Peugeot I point out her fancy pants car broke and has just netted a huge  bill and still gets her to the shops the same time as mine ha ha (I don't advise anyone ever say that, take my advice)

[Mad Ax]

I never price out a project before I start.  But then, I rarely have an end goal in mind - I just start out with something, work out what needs improving, and start improving.  That in itself can get expensive, if I try components and find they don't work, then have to try again.  Also I seem to be woefully bad at research - no matter how hard I search, I find next to no info about what I want to achieve.  Then, after blowing a fortune and ending up with something worse than what I started with, I bump into someone who says "oh, you should have gone to X site, they've got a whole article about upgrading that."

My worst problem is that even on basic projects or new builds, I overlook the costs of the basics.  For example, I want every new build to have a lipo-safe ESC.  It doesn't have to be a fancy one, just a basic 1060 or Probe WP will do.  And I can't settle for a budget servo either, it's got to be either hi-torque (for something slow and heavy) or hi-speed for a buggy, tourer or not-so-heavy monster truck.  Alturn servos aren't bank-breaking but then again, they don't seem to live up to the speed on the box (in my experience).  In fact the last batch I had felt woefully slow.

Then I want oil shocks, and cheap unbranded ones won't do (springs too stiff, top balls not included and of no common size known to man), so I have to buy GMade / Tamiya CVAs / TRFs, and the price goes up again.

Then add in paint, Tamiya masking tape (I learned the hard way not to use cheap tape), a receiver (cheap ORX are now getting hard to find), and the cost of building a cheap kit as a basic runner has skyrocketted.

That's why I need to take a serious step back from starting new projects this year, and focus on having more fun with the cars I've got.

[Shodog]

A lot of the aluminum hop up parts are dubious in performance department but in the stratosphere in the bling department.

 

 

I like my creations to up the level of a normal build.

 

 

[Jonathon Gillham]

7 hours ago, Buggyjam said:

It was a complete mod clod. I can't remember all the links and names of components but I did a "what if" using worse case current prices, not banking on finding a geezer second hand deal. The big cost was the metal transmission cases and axles tubes.

Metal transmission cases (not intergy crawlers ones, can't remember what they're called), metal axle tubes, Clod gear parts bags, Clod shaft parts bag, risky concepts alloy wheels, clod tyres, savox servo, 4 x shocks, steer lock out, axle steering link mount,  upper link mounts, parts to make links, cpe terminator, 2 x castle mamba 4600 systems, y leads, 2 x lipos, receiver, ford raptor body and paint, plus some odds and ends I know Id need.

 

When you say 8th scale racer. What kind is that? One of the buggies like a losi?

 

 

Sounds like a cool project, and would give a lot of fun over a long time so the cost isn't that bad. All hobbies cost a lot, I run and cycle too.  You would think running is cheap - change clothes, walk outside, run - but a marathon can cost $1,000 easily without travel or accomodation expenses when you add up what you spend. 2x shoes as you wear one out training, energy gels, extra food for long run day ( seriously 6 beers replenishes the lost energy best, otherwise hungry for a few days after a 30km run) inevitable physio, race entry, the list goes on.  Cycling is worse than rc by a long shot!

 

Yes thats the kind of 8th scale. A mate races nitro truggies and his cars cost around $3,000 nzd. 8th is cool but seems to double the cost, and electric isn't any cheaper. Thats why I run 10th scale

[Buggyjam]

7 minutes ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

Sounds like a cool project, and would give a lot of fun over a long time so the cost isn't that bad. All hobbies cost a lot, I run and cycle too.  You would think running is cheap - change clothes, walk outside, run - but a marathon can cost $1,000 easily without travel or accomodation expenses when you add up what you spend. 2x shoes as you wear one out training, energy gels, extra food for long run day ( seriously 6 beers replenishes the lost energy best, otherwise hungry for a few days after a 30km run) inevitable physio, race entry, the list goes on.  Cycling is worse than rc by a long shot!

 

Yes thats the kind of 8th scale. A mate races nitro truggies and his cars cost around $3,000 nzd. 8th is cool but seems to double the cost, and electric isn't any cheaper. Thats why I run 10th scale

Wow! I did even think a marathon would be a grand, I'm just getting started doing basic running but I slipped a disc last Feb and it gets uncomfortable from the impact which is frustrating me. Even more frustrating as where I live there's a path opposite running a short way through some woods leading down onto a small track that runs through the rocks next to the sea. It's dead popular for runners. It would also good for rc cars if theres  no runners or cyclists, or rain as always is common here :-))

[Jonathon Gillham]

Injuries are the most frustrating part, I feel your pain, just coming back from a torn tendon here.

 

Yeah it adds up, but one problem I have is my shoes cost a fortune. I have been running for a long time and if I change from a particular shoe I end up injured, its probably bad luck more than anything, but injury is far worse than extra $$ on shoes!

Are you in the UK? I'm talking NZD, and I expect a lot of stuff is cheaper there, actually it definitely is, otherwise mates wouldn't have bought bikes from Wiggle. We have marathons in some really nice places, so if I entered Queenstown it would probably cost another $2,000 by the time the family went down there, but that is the most expensive place in the world. 

Good point about the trails, we have some nice ones near here and I had never thought about rc cars

[Buggyjam]

3 minutes ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

Injuries are the most frustrating part, I feel your pain, just coming back from a torn tendon here.

 

Yeah it adds up, but one problem I have is my shoes cost a fortune. I have been running for a long time and if I change from a particular shoe I end up injured, its probably bad luck more than anything, but injury is far worse than extra $$ on shoes!

Are you in the UK? I'm talking NZD, and I expect a lot of stuff is cheaper there, actually it definitely is, otherwise mates wouldn't have bought bikes from Wiggle. We have marathons in some really nice places, so if I entered Queenstown it would probably cost another $2,000 by the time the family went down there, but that is the most expensive place in the world. 

Good point about the trails, we have some nice ones near here and I had never thought about rc cars

I'm English but live in Northern Ireland on the North down coast. Spent a lot of time back in Lincs with my family a year or 2 ago due work but moved back. Finding good places to run rc cars that are quiet is challenging. Lots of hidden areas, just finding them. There's more choice than Lincs though. 

 

I could imagine the places out in NZ are spectacular for all activities! :-))

[Dojo Dave]

3 minutes ago, Buggyjam said:

I'm English but live in Northern Ireland on the North down coast. Spent a lot of time back in Lincs with my family a year or 2 ago due work but moved back. Finding good places to run rc cars that are quiet is challenging. Lots of hidden areas, just finding them. There's more choice than Lincs though. 

 

I could imagine the places out in NZ are spectacular for all activities! :-))

Funny i never run... if you see me running run faster because its somethung nastier than me chasing me. Im from Northern Ireland luving in Florida too hot to run here so we shoot things insyead that chade us. Not much different than they used to in Northern Ireland  bsck in the day.. NI is a neautiful place to live. A bunch of my old school chums are into that running stuff. Enjoy norn iron 

[Buggyjam]

4 hours ago, Mad Ax said:

I never price out a project before I start.  But then, I rarely have an end goal in mind - I just start out with something, work out what needs improving, and start improving.  That in itself can get expensive, if I try components and find they don't work, then have to try again.  Also I seem to be woefully bad at research - no matter how hard I search, I find next to no info about what I want to achieve.  Then, after blowing a fortune and ending up with something worse than what I started with, I bump into someone who says "oh, you should have gone to X site, they've got a whole article about upgrading that."

My worst problem is that even on basic projects or new builds, I overlook the costs of the basics.  For example, I want every new build to have a lipo-safe ESC.  It doesn't have to be a fancy one, just a basic 1060 or Probe WP will do.  And I can't settle for a budget servo either, it's got to be either hi-torque (for something slow and heavy) or hi-speed for a buggy, tourer or not-so-heavy monster truck.  Alturn servos aren't bank-breaking but then again, they don't seem to live up to the speed on the box (in my experience).  In fact the last batch I had felt woefully slow.

Then I want oil shocks, and cheap unbranded ones won't do (springs too stiff, top balls not included and of no common size known to man), so I have to buy GMade / Tamiya CVAs / TRFs, and the price goes up again.

Then add in paint, Tamiya masking tape (I learned the hard way not to use cheap tape), a receiver (cheap ORX are now getting hard to find), and the cost of building a cheap kit as a basic runner has skyrocketted.

That's why I need to take a serious step back from starting new projects this year, and focus on having more fun with the cars I've got.

What you mention about overlooking the basics rings so true with me, on my last build it was all the niff naff. Clips,  we cinnectors, various leads, oils, primers, wet and dry, bits of aluminium section,  silicone tubing of various sizes, screws, nuts, servo arms, calipers, drill bits, files, 2 bottles of oven cleaner, pots to put oven cleaner into (don't ask :-)). Granted some were tools so reusable. The list of bits and bobs you end up buying can be a bit endless I've found 

[Buggyjam]

21 minutes ago, Dojo Dave said:

Funny i never run... if you see me running run faster because its somethung nastier than me chasing me. Im from Northern Ireland luving in Florida too hot to run here so we shoot things insyead that chade us. Not much different than they used to in Northern Ireland  bsck in the day.. NI is a neautiful place to live. A bunch of my old school chums are into that running stuff. Enjoy norn iron 

Oh I'm not much of a runner, just lob along. Your post made me smile! It's lovely here at the moment,  nice and sunny!

[Pumesta]

1 hour ago, Buggyjam said:

I Finding good places to run rc cars that are quiet is challenging. Lots of hidden areas, just finding them.

Please share some of these locations Crawfordsburn beach and the park in Newtownards are getting old

[Buggyjam]

23 minutes ago, Pumesta said:

Please share some of these locations Crawfordsburn beach and the park in Newtownards are getting old

That's the problem I haven't found them yet ha, mainly that's my jobs fault as I work away, come back have a couple of days off just enough time to see the misses, twiddle the spanners occasionally and that's it. Got some holiday coming up in July and I tend to explore. As I said I'm sure there's loads as NI is full off hidden places. When I do find them I'll certainly share!  At the minute I'm just running them down that path in the woods opposite my house I mentioned. It's not ideal as it's narrow and lots of people coming and going. The grass at the edges  are quite good for the Clod (although I cracked the chassis on a tree stump!). The path further down near the sea is good for Rcs though (the coastal path) but as you know it's always too busy really. 

Oh, just thought of one idea I can share, I've not actually tried it yet. But there's a couple of bmx tracks around. I googled it. One is a kids one in Victoria park, maybe too small but might provide a few jumps on a quiet Sunday morning. Not sure about whether the others are open to rc use. I also have seen the odd nitro being run at sea park, but that's all grass apart from the pathways.