Hello Everyone! Potatocat's 6x6 and coconut related monsters

[Potatocat 9]

Hello everybody!
My name is Potatocat, also known as weeb_beano in other forums. I've always been a bit of an outlier in the surface R/C world but most of my projects have been Tamiya related... so here I am! I tend to build mostly monster trucks, but with a twist. They are either weird or 6WD/6WS rigs. I'll probably start off a thread for the projects individually but here is a quick rundown of some of the Tamiya stuff I've built so far:

 

1989 - Power Pig - 6WD/6WS Clod Buster

Built for fun, Power Pig is something I have had since I was 13 years old. The original chassis was built as a favor for me when I was a kid by the folks in a local window and door fabrication company (Gamco). I have retained most of its spirit as a mildly 'super stock' Clod, with a few exceptions... the truck is powered by three SkyRC Toro 10T brushless motors, via triple traditional NiCD or 2s LiPO packs housed inside the chassis. It performs surprisingly well and despite a face only its creator could love, I have a strong attachment to this truck.

Overall length: 28" (71 cm)

Weight fully loaded: 18 lbs (8.1kg)

Maximum power: 800 watts (3x SkyRC Leopard 10T 3930kv motors, 7.2V)

 

2001 - Tiamat - 6WD/6WS Clod Buster

Built for power, Tiamat is an expression of brutalism. Everything about this truck was built on a holistic platform of functional and reliable parts. It has evolved greatly over the years over trial and error. The truck is currently undergoing a significant refit but the overall specifications remain mostly the same: Four 2s/3s battery packs are onboard - three powering the triple old-school Hacker C50MAXX brushless motors. Full steel driveline with aluminum gearcases is sprung and damped by HPI Savage long throw shocks. Tires are actually inflatable, since the extra mass of the truck increased the ground pressure (29 lbs) and required a fully pneumatic tire.

Overall length: 30" (76cm)

Weight fully loaded: 29 lb (13.2kg)

Maximum power: 3900 watts (3x Hacker C50MAXX 10T 3600kv motors, 14.4V)

 

2004 - Mammoet - 6WD/6WS Juggernaut2/TXT-1

Built for looks, Mammoet is my take on what a 6x6 Tamiya Bruiser would be like. I did have the manual 3-speed transmission from the big rig lineup in play, but it had a bad habit of shredding driveshafts during shifting so I reinstalled the stock TXT-1 transmission. Powered by a pair of silver can motors, the truck won't win in the speed department - but the stock setup gives it plenty of oomph and the result is a fun truck which can be driven all day.

Overall length: 29" (74cm)

Weight fully loaded: 24 lbs (11kg)

Maximum power: 180 watts (2x 540 Mabuchi silver can motors, 7.2V)

 

2014 - The Nut Buster - Clod Buster 

This truck is pretty ordinary except for the fact it has a chassis made of the STRONGEST material in the known world... a coconut shell. A pair of SkyRC Leopard 10T motors driven by parallel old-school JETI Master Car Sport ESCs does the dirty work. While I am working on a Lexan body for this machine of loving destruction, a temporary body will have to suffice. None other than the original style Clod Buster body will do. This fine example is from my 'guest' beater Clod, which wears its various dings, scratches, and missing foglights with pride.

Overall length: 20" (51 cm)

Weight fully loaded: 8.5lb (3.9kg)

Maximum power: 500 watts (2x Leopard 9T 4200kv motors, 7.2v)

 

2017 - Pickle Time - 6WD/6WS TLT-1

I built this truck for my daughter, and it's based on a triplet of TLT-1 axles. Pickle Time actually has a number of innovations which may make their showing on some future projects. It's propulsion is a bit unique- the motor is an outrunner originally meant for airplanes. This lets me get a super compact drive spool and it has worked out pretty well.

Overall length: 16" (41cm)

Weight fully loaded: 6.5 lb (2.9kg)

Maximum power: 155 watts (1x Leopard 3542 780kv motor, 7.2V)

 

 

 

Well, that's all I have for now. Thanks for reading and it's good to be here!

[Saito2 7355]

Hi Potatocat! Believe it or not, I remember reading some of your post here on Tamiyaclub waaaay back when you were weeb beano. Those are some very impressive 6x6s. I've followed some of these trucks over at Clodtalk. Tiamat (Dungeons and Dragons reference?) is probably the fastest, most impressive 6x6 I've ever seen in action. The Nut Buster proves a theory I've had for a while now : you can make ANYTHING into a Clod chassis. Very creative. I must say, Pickle Time's body bears a striking resemblance to a trash truck toy that my daughter has. Seeing all these awesome machines really makes me want to work on my RC Car Action Monster Mack replica 6x6. Thanks for sharing.

[Potatocat 9]

11 hours ago, Saito2 said:

Hi Potatocat! Believe it or not, I remember reading some of your post here on Tamiyaclub waaaay back when you were weeb beano. Those are some very impressive 6x6s. I've followed some of these trucks over at Clodtalk. Tiamat (Dungeons and Dragons reference?) is probably the fastest, most impressive 6x6 I've ever seen in action. The Nut Buster proves a theory I've had for a while now : you can make ANYTHING into a Clod chassis. Very creative. I must say, Pickle Time's body bears a striking resemblance to a trash truck toy that my daughter has. Seeing all these awesome machines really makes me want to work on my RC Car Action Monster Mack replica 6x6. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much! I remember you from Clodtalk! And yes, the Tiamat reference would be more in line with D&D rather than the Babylonian creation myth. I went with 'big heavy' monster names for the 6WD trucks for a while, then sort of cut loose with more silly names recently (Power Pig, Pickle Time, etc). 

Tiamat is pretty fast for its size but the truck is quite heavy and just adding more power/weight becomes an exercise in futility at some point. I really want to up the ante quite a bit in the 6x6 landscape but from another angle. I learned a lot with the experimentation from Pickle Time, and plan on doing something scaled up to a larger platform at some point. And yes, Pickle Time's body comes from a Playmobil recycling truck

It was a perfect fit for the size and can take a surprising amount of abuse. I still need to get body and detailing work finished for Tiamat and the Nut Buster. It's just those tasks took a backseat to machining and milling work for other things.

Good luck on your Monster Mack Replica! I really want to see it!