Tamiya ORCA, Final year design project - 1996
At the age of 15 I designed and built a 1/12th RC pan car. Apart from the wheels everything was built from scratch. After fitting it with an 8.4 battery and a highly modified motor it was ready to go?! During a test run I hit a manhole cover at full speed. After the dust had settled all that was left were small pieces of fiberglass and electronics.
By the age of 21 I felt more confident in my abilities, for my final year design project at University I designed and built a 1/10th Amphibious RC buggy. The basic idea was a large manufacturer such as Tamiya (!) could create an amphibious race series where the track was half water, half dirt. A car similar to this in design could be run in that race series. For propulsion through water there is a rear jet drive, direction is controlled by the front wheels acting as rudders. I wanted to retain Tamiya's reputation for detail so I included an Avante Driver and used design ques from the early buggies by having an exposed rear gearbox cage.
I have intentionally entered this in the model Tamiya should have made competition. Although it does not use a great deal of Tamiya parts I think it would have made for a great new class of racing which Tamiya have always been great at introducing.
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Final design rendering
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The design used f1 stlye suspension
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Foam to wood paterns for vac forms.
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Final model
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See it actually works!
Comments
mjohnston39
That is just too wild and very impressive. Well done.
Tamiya01478
That is one the of the most amazing things I have ever heard! If you don't work for Tamiya you must have missed your vocation!
zoidberg
wow!
what a wonderfull and amazing piece of work.
i would give 10/10 points for the idea and design!
greetings
zoidberg
DJTheo
Stunning, could you post more close up detail pictures?
Top Force Racer
Great idea! That's a beautiful body also! I would love to see close ups of the suspension and the drivetrain.
Dephcon5
Unreal! Compliments well deserved!
Shodog
Very cool indeed. you should start making bodies for other cars also.
toymkr73
What an incredible project!! Your passion for RC cars really shows through in the design. I really like the use of the front discs as rudders!! Brilliant!!
loopjuice
Stunning design and exectuion. A terrific looking buggy....awesome !
SJoerD
Unbelieveable, truly amazing. I NEED more pics of that stunning car; closeup's, technical details, action pics, everything! What a great work of art. Other than this write-up I'm speechless!
dunebuggy71
my compliments !! This car is fantastic ! Your are the 'Luigi Colani' of RC-Cars. Please bring more photos about this stunning car ! Wow ! I love it.
Can´t wait to see the technical details.
petercabrio
WANT ONE!!! ITS THE DOGS, LOOKS GREAT AND YOU CAN'T DROWN IT!! BRILLIANT
(IS IT JUMP PROOF?)
Gatecliffe
WOW.....That thing is stunning!!!! you ever thought of starting up your own little bussiness?? I bet you could shift load's of them little baby's.
dinodog
You are right on target with this! Great idea Great car!
Cul-Tech
That thing is sweet!! Very Very impressive work, hopefully we can see some detailed chassis shots.
AAAA
Great idea of yours to race on land AND water - I'd be up for a bit of that! Styling works really well on your hydrobuggy - would be nice to see a rear wing on the real model though. Top work!
Flerbizky
Can I second everyone else - WOW !... And yes, close ups of body / drivetrain and suspension would be welcomed... And video clips please !....
Eddystone
I don't mind whether it's Tamiya or not but someone needs to make this car. It looks fantastic. I love the amphibiousness!
volksnhousin
This car and idea is perfect...and way to cool. The contest is over...give this guy that king hauler
Awesome
pugjo1
Perfect job, where can I order one
mr_pushrod
Wow, what an amazing piece of work!
scollins
From one designer to another, terrific job!!!! Truly impressive, a real meat and potatoes project full of creativity, style, and passion. Would you be interested in doing an RC project together?
HunterZero
Wow, my vote is for this! Totally amazing. What does the underneath chassis look like?
gozone
Oh, not much to say, except for WOW!!!.. This is just amazing, and very, very cool with the jet propulsion also.. I would love to see a video of this car.
Really a top-job, mate.
Cheers.
Michael
I think you win the prize only if you promise to make the King Hauler amphibious too!
Brat Attacks
A classic in the making....and l can see you making as mint on the NIB market with this in 15 years time.
Well done! outstanding work. Great concept drawings. A pleasure to look at
OMG,.,you should be the winner! seriously! a very cool idea indeed (half water half dirt course) but the name is a little off....maybe the TAMIYA ROACH would be more catchy?
Bigwheels_inc
the design on this is a real work of art and i love the front wheels with built in bearings real amazing peice of enginering
wolfieuk
Thats the winner, when does it go on sale,, i want one
wow work of art were does one get one
Lenny Dude
Genius!
bulamatari
Say no more!! You are the winner, hands down , no doubt
hellisforheroes
Love this, You Definatly should have won!!
craigj2118
build me one!!!!
Lemming
Had to revisit this stunning work or art for another look. Simply amazing, and I wish it could be produced and sold.
actualday
Inspirational! A great piece of kit.
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