LBRC
05-25-2006, 06:10 AM
Finally a decent place to drive and check out some of the cars I’ve been building.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album103/d.sized.jpg
Ever since a freak storm last winter I’ve been more or less trackless. The timing couldn’t have been worse since it was just as I decided to go with the round 7mm coreless motors for the Shotgun motor mounts and testing them on a small 12’ oval or kitchen floor wasn’t giving me any real useful info other than they where too fast for small spaces.
I wanted a portable platform that could be set-up almost anywhere big enough for s HFAY two wide-L RCP track setup. With two people you can break down and/or set-up the platform and tent in less than an hour, although depending on where leveling can take a bit longer. Each foot, 9 total, can be adjusted up or down 4 inches which is enough to then use small bricks or 4”x 4” blocks for very uneven ground. Currently it’s set up in a nice secluded and unmowed field. Probably have to do a little mowing if it ever stops raining or get a goat (am voting for the goat) but the point is that you really can set a track up almost anywhere.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album103/MVC_012L.sized.jpg
For the Epoch the 33” wide RCP track is like a 6 lane highway although the funny thing is that with the modified cars the faster you go the narrower the track gets. For the modified Epochs I do miss the ultra smooth yet gripy surface of my custom chalkboard painted track with it’s painted over sanded and taped connections but the portability of the RCP track more than makes up for it.
RCP traction side.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album103/b.sized.jpg
Old Epoch friendly custom track surface.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album60/t1.jpg
Discoveries to date:
Yea the Shotgun cars really are as fast as a stock Mini-Z, although sadly not as stable but then what do you expect at almost twice the scale speed, a Mini-Z that can keep up with a stock M-18 isn’t exactly stable at that speed either.
Handling: Once I got use to the Hot-Wheel type rolling resistance, no drag break at all with the coreless motors and ball bearings all the way around, it’s not too bad but does take some getting use to. However a clean differential is a must and just like a Mini-Z on an RCP track suspension and tire choices can make the difference between night and day. Unfortunately I achieved the best results by using a set of the prototype NASCAR type slicks on the front and a soft wide dark black set with an aggressive tread (of unknown origin) in the rear. What these tires are giving me is a very slight under steer so that the car tends to drift instead of rolling, oh it still rolls just not as easily.
For the RCP track the orange motors are the way to go, the red although having more torque are simply just too fast resulting in less control, baby if we ever get a good ball differential, and who knows thanks to the Mini-Z Lit we just might.
BTW for anyone seeing the Mini-Z Lit video and thinking they’re way faster than an Epoch I drove one and although slightly faster than a stock Epoch they don’t hold a candle to a modified Epoch, the single lap and small track in that video gives the illusion that they are faster than they actually are, the taller tires and 4cell battery pack make them faster however they are heavy and that top heavy weight slows them down too. We won’t know how they actually compare until they can be driven side by side, but I urge anyone who can afford one to please buy them as soon as they come out because an aftermarket ball differential that fits the Lit will be just what a modified Epoch needs. In a bizarre twisted sort of way I’m hoping that the Lid will do for the Epoch what the Xmods and Iwavers did for the Mini-Z, the rolls are a bit reversed so the analogy is not quite accurate hence bizarre and twisted the point though is that competition and diversity in scale is a very good thing.
Runtime, oh that lovely runtime, especially with the front ball bearings and a peak charger they run forever and with the LiPo pack it seems like that stretches into eternity. I peak charged a 195 pack and must have driven for two hours with 4 or 5 quick tip-offs during breaks from an Epoch charger.
One experiment that I am now testing out is a car with ball bearings, dual orange motors, and a 195 battery pack but no turbo if the circuit board holds up although not the ideal it will be a much easier car for those without advanced soldering skills to assemble.
Have a lot of driving to do to make up for lost time but overall I’m happy with the track and the Super Epochs as some people are calling them.
One last interesting note:
Although all of the cars in the above photo are more than great on new track I have discovered that two of them are getting significantly more track time simply do to how fun they are to drive, can you guess which two they are, the 1/24 LiPo powered Tagu conversion, Ultimate MR-02, Full Race 4WD MR-010, or the Full Bang Shotgun Epoch?
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album103/d.sized.jpg
Ever since a freak storm last winter I’ve been more or less trackless. The timing couldn’t have been worse since it was just as I decided to go with the round 7mm coreless motors for the Shotgun motor mounts and testing them on a small 12’ oval or kitchen floor wasn’t giving me any real useful info other than they where too fast for small spaces.
I wanted a portable platform that could be set-up almost anywhere big enough for s HFAY two wide-L RCP track setup. With two people you can break down and/or set-up the platform and tent in less than an hour, although depending on where leveling can take a bit longer. Each foot, 9 total, can be adjusted up or down 4 inches which is enough to then use small bricks or 4”x 4” blocks for very uneven ground. Currently it’s set up in a nice secluded and unmowed field. Probably have to do a little mowing if it ever stops raining or get a goat (am voting for the goat) but the point is that you really can set a track up almost anywhere.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album103/MVC_012L.sized.jpg
For the Epoch the 33” wide RCP track is like a 6 lane highway although the funny thing is that with the modified cars the faster you go the narrower the track gets. For the modified Epochs I do miss the ultra smooth yet gripy surface of my custom chalkboard painted track with it’s painted over sanded and taped connections but the portability of the RCP track more than makes up for it.
RCP traction side.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album103/b.sized.jpg
Old Epoch friendly custom track surface.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album60/t1.jpg
Discoveries to date:
Yea the Shotgun cars really are as fast as a stock Mini-Z, although sadly not as stable but then what do you expect at almost twice the scale speed, a Mini-Z that can keep up with a stock M-18 isn’t exactly stable at that speed either.
Handling: Once I got use to the Hot-Wheel type rolling resistance, no drag break at all with the coreless motors and ball bearings all the way around, it’s not too bad but does take some getting use to. However a clean differential is a must and just like a Mini-Z on an RCP track suspension and tire choices can make the difference between night and day. Unfortunately I achieved the best results by using a set of the prototype NASCAR type slicks on the front and a soft wide dark black set with an aggressive tread (of unknown origin) in the rear. What these tires are giving me is a very slight under steer so that the car tends to drift instead of rolling, oh it still rolls just not as easily.
For the RCP track the orange motors are the way to go, the red although having more torque are simply just too fast resulting in less control, baby if we ever get a good ball differential, and who knows thanks to the Mini-Z Lit we just might.
BTW for anyone seeing the Mini-Z Lit video and thinking they’re way faster than an Epoch I drove one and although slightly faster than a stock Epoch they don’t hold a candle to a modified Epoch, the single lap and small track in that video gives the illusion that they are faster than they actually are, the taller tires and 4cell battery pack make them faster however they are heavy and that top heavy weight slows them down too. We won’t know how they actually compare until they can be driven side by side, but I urge anyone who can afford one to please buy them as soon as they come out because an aftermarket ball differential that fits the Lit will be just what a modified Epoch needs. In a bizarre twisted sort of way I’m hoping that the Lid will do for the Epoch what the Xmods and Iwavers did for the Mini-Z, the rolls are a bit reversed so the analogy is not quite accurate hence bizarre and twisted the point though is that competition and diversity in scale is a very good thing.
Runtime, oh that lovely runtime, especially with the front ball bearings and a peak charger they run forever and with the LiPo pack it seems like that stretches into eternity. I peak charged a 195 pack and must have driven for two hours with 4 or 5 quick tip-offs during breaks from an Epoch charger.
One experiment that I am now testing out is a car with ball bearings, dual orange motors, and a 195 battery pack but no turbo if the circuit board holds up although not the ideal it will be a much easier car for those without advanced soldering skills to assemble.
Have a lot of driving to do to make up for lost time but overall I’m happy with the track and the Super Epochs as some people are calling them.
One last interesting note:
Although all of the cars in the above photo are more than great on new track I have discovered that two of them are getting significantly more track time simply do to how fun they are to drive, can you guess which two they are, the 1/24 LiPo powered Tagu conversion, Ultimate MR-02, Full Race 4WD MR-010, or the Full Bang Shotgun Epoch?