Techniques
Suzuki SX-4 New 2010 Fanta Orange Team
by the wind on Jan.09, 2010, under Howto, Project1, Techniques
things you love to do ..
and a little walkthru tutorials on the project.
Tamiya released this bodyshell as WRC SX-4 version complete with light buckets, rear spoiler and stuff but we figured why go boxart while we could try something fresh for the 2010, something fun as well.
Important note before we start, SX-4 is a semi short wheelbase (251mm).
Boxart Look
It doesn’t really relate to RC drift or drifting, but this cute and wide Tamiya Suzuki SX-4 bodyshell has all the ingredients for seriously fun setup like Fanta Orange soda drink scheme. With a little imagination, some tricks, addons and accessories we try to grab sweetness of the hobby on this build.
Started off with masking areas with lighter or different color than the predominant orange, we figured the layout as it goes.
Tips:
Unless you’re gunning for freeflow paint scheme, it would be better if you have well thought pre-emptive plan prior to laying down the masking. You could use sketches etc.
A little bit of art sense would help a lot in getting the whole bodyshell decorated without going overboard or showing too little. You could always do fine tuning in the end if you have some decals in mind.
so off we go to the spray paint lab.
Now what we want is candy orange as close as possible to the original color on the can.
Here’s the howto layer by layer as easy as abc:
- Anodize Silver 2x
- Translucent Red 1x
- Translucent Orange 2x
- Camel Yellow 3x
- White 3x
Do the same procedures but with different colors for other areas with masking removed.
- Word ‘Fanta’ use Anodize Silver overflow with Translucent Blue backed with silver
- Leaf use Anodize Silver with Translucent Green, also backed with silver
- Droplets use Anodize Silver with Translucent Orange backed with silver
Final seal we use Acrylic White and Black.
Reviews:
You may exercise other options or ways you think would yield better result, what we did was based on what bodyshell and paints we have at that moment.
Finished form coming up!
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How To Improve Your RC Drifting
by the wind on Sep.27, 2009, under Techniques
Several important things to do to jack up performance of your drift car, this is applicable to Tamiya, HPI or any other 4WD chassis.
Tuning and setup are mainly two main items beside upgrading parts, so especially for beginner and intermediates, don’t go crazy hopping up your car parts without trying first to improve the setup.
1. Response up
fine tune the settings:
- better turning radius
- better roll and traction level
- good maintenance of bearings and other moving parts
- good maintenance and tuning of motor
upgrade the following components:
- better dampers like Tamiya TRF
- replace dogbones (especially front) with universal joints
- replace plastic shaft with alloy
- upgrade servo and radio system to a better spec
2. Lighten up
throw away excess load off the chassis to make it as light as possible, probably thru:
- limit the usage of components to basic
- upgrade to CF chassis
- using lighter parts, avoid using alloy where not necessary
3. Power up
upgrade your engine to a more powerful one such as:
- lower turn motor such as 19T
- ESC with lower resistance and better current capability
- battery with better discharge rate
4. Drifter up
All above won’t be complete if not accompanied with serious practice time. If only fun you’re after, then of course all mentioned above won’t be needed.
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2.4GHz Wave Hits Entry Level Shore
by the wind on Aug.07, 2009, under RC News, Techniques
There is a subtle transition that is apparently emerging in Radio Control System technology. It is not something new, it has been there since the introduction of Spektrum DSM modules, receiver and eventually radio system. Based on spread spectrum system of WLAN technology, the 2.4GHz ISM band system does not rely on specific radio frequency, but continuously maintaining one way communication via channel hopping. Compared to the common crystal or synthesized controlled RF circuitry, the 2.4GHz system claimed to consume less power to reach the same level of coverage. Another winning edge is its reliability against interference due to its ultra high operating frequency.
Entry level Radio System for RC Hobby consists of a basic function Transmitter and Receiver, and sometime accompanied with servo(s) among other accessories. Basic functions covers:
- throttle (ch2)
- steering (ch1)
- throttle reverse switch and trim
- steering reverse switch and trim
Some better spec entry level radio may also include:
- throttle dual rate
- display (LCD)
- exponential adjuster(s)
- end point adjuster(s)
There has been more and more entry level 2.4GHz Radio Control System in the market. The first that we noticed is the Sanwa/Airtronics MX3 FHSS or G in 2007 -and now with MX3 FG FHSS2- but the price tag of around US$150 and functions suggested it to be for intermediate hobbyists.
The 2.4GHz Acoms Hayabusha however, which encapsulated in the traditional FM Hayabusha form with LCD display minus the telescopic antenna of course; appeared to be the first 2.4GHz system to break the US$100 barrier.
Currently it is marketed in the U.K/Europe but fabricated in South East Asia, it fetch just slightly under US$100 a system.
The Acoms was not alone as Futaba who is revamping all its radio system into 2.4GHz technology finally announced the release of Futaba 2PL 2.4G, which look a bit awkward with the telescopic antenna outlet didn’t get cosmetic update. The system is sold for slightly under US$100 as well.
Another one appearing in the horizon is the Ansmann Racing W3 -that is also up for European market- at around US$ 130. Although it resembles Sanwa MX3 in many ways, this one is still one level below it, at least as far as LCD display concerns. Our hunch is that this one has nothing to do with Sanwa OEM, despite few physical looks and feel were adopted.
The show stopper is (currently) the latest Towerhobbies 224, although only equipped for 2 channels instead of the norm 3, the price of just under US$80 has every beginner stop and consider it seriously. Towerhobbies has been marketing Futaba for the past decades and we believe that even this, has possibly came from the same source. Futaba has also been the supplier for Tamiya RTR radio system in the past.
What we regard as special has now become more and more of norm and pushes itself against the conservative AM/FM technology in RC radio system. It may be soon, or later that the old one become obsolete but whichever it is, the progress is taking place now.
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- Tamiya TA-06 ? April 8, 2010
- Suzuki SX-4 Fanta (part 2) April 6, 2010
- Spektrum DX3-E April 1, 2010
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- ABC Hobby #66122 Nissan Fairlady Z March 13, 2010
- Ko Propo EX-5UR #82011 March 13, 2010
- Tamiya #58461 Mitsubishi Evo 5 March 11, 2010
