Trying to make a very fast vehicle

[DLuders]

@ clarkdef: Although Power Functions (PF) has a range of 10 meters (33 feet) per The Lego Group, the sun's infrared light can interfere with the PF Receiver. Outdoor operations during heavily-overcast skies helps reduce the interference. Truck Trials are almost always conducted in the shade of trees or buildings to avoid the sun.

[clarkdef]

Yes that would make sense because it's always ver y sunny when I take it out. Thanks.

[allanp]

  On 12/8/2012 at 9:18 PM, Alasdair Ryan said:

Yes use those they make a big difference....did you mean tyres?

[legomuppet9]

Thanks again for all your comments and ideas. This is the result of my work:

Fast Car by legomuppet9, on Flickr

It uses an XL motor geared up 1:5 and has return to center steering. The result is fast and it is very fun to use.

I decided to add a camera attachment to it:

Fast car, with phone holder by legomuppet9, on Flickr

This means I now get an on board view unfortunately it does slow it down a lot but that's all part of the fun

Edited December 10, 2012 by legomuppet9

[DLuders]

Looks good. Light weight + simplicity = Speed!

[Sicil]

DLuders, thanks that you recommend my rally car "Blacked". It's very fast, but "Storaq 2.0", which uses 2 l-motors with 3:5 gear, more faster then "Blacked".

[z3_2drive]

good car! but you should definitely plan to get a buggy motor or 2 some day. They have really changed the way I build rc cars and the way they perform

[legomuppet9]

  On 12/9/2012 at 6:19 PM, z3_2drive said:

good car! but you should definitely plan to get a buggy motor or 2 some day. They have really changed the way I build rc cars and the way they perform

I would really like some buggy motors...

Edited December 9, 2012 by legomuppet9

[clarkdef]

  On 12/9/2012 at 6:19 PM, z3_2drive said:

good car! but you should definitely plan to get a buggy motor or 2 some day. They have really changed the way I build rc cars and the way they perform

But don't you need two battery packs to power them? Seems like xl's do more with one battery pack?

[Paul202]

The problem with buggy motors is that they're so dang expensive.

[z3_2drive]

  On 12/9/2012 at 8:35 PM, Paul202 said:

The problem with buggy motors is that they're so dang expensive.

I got one for $25 and another one for $40, well worth it, especially with my 10 volt batteries

[S.I]

How much performance do you lose with the buggy motors when you power them with the PF receiver + batterybox instead of the normal buggy components? I;ve picked up two or three for 10 E each over the past months from ebay but the sets with the remote control and battery pack always are fairly expensive.

Edited December 10, 2012 by S.I

[rm8]

  On 12/10/2012 at 12:09 AM, S.I said:

How much performance do you lose with the buggy motors when you power them with the PF receiver + batterybox instead of the normal buggy components? I;ve picked up two or three for 10 E each over the past months from ebay but the sets with the remote control and battery pack always are fairly expensive.

IMO, you dont lose in perfomance at all while using new V2 IR receiver. + you dont need to use those big and heavy radio control unit, but little and light PF battery boxes;)

[legomuppet9]

W8uld the first receiver work then?

[rm8]

  On 12/10/2012 at 7:36 AM, legomuppet9 said:

W8uld the first receiver work then?

Yes, but car will stuck (protection is turning on) on little obstacle and going uphill would be a problem.

Comparing the same model with different receivers v1 an v2.

V1 works normal at flat surface, and car can also drift:

[allanp]

The first reciever doesn't give enough power, it keeps cutting out. The second reciever works great tho.

Here's a video by Philo.

[legomuppet9]

I guess I'll have to get the RC Unit too... Which'll mean waiting till I have a lot more money...

In the mean time, would anyone recommend getting the 9398 Crawler for it's PF Parts? Or maybe getting the motors separately from Bricklink/Lego Direct?

[piterx]

damn i have the same doubt man :\

160 euros for the 9398 or almost 100 for the pf parts :\ ufff...it's just like "to be or not to be"

[legomuppet9]

Out of interest does adding a differential increase the turning capabilities? (I have bought the 8435 set very cheaply on eBay, now awaiting for it's arrival...)

Edited December 10, 2012 by legomuppet9

[Alasdair Ryan]

  On 12/10/2012 at 6:05 PM, legomuppet9 said:

Out of interest does adding a differential increase the turning capabilities? (I have bought the 8435 set very cheaply on eBay, now awaiting for it's arrival...)

Yes it does, it should keep more speed while turning.

Edited December 10, 2012 by Alasdair Ryan

[Hopey]

  On 12/9/2012 at 8:35 PM, Paul202 said:

The problem with buggy motors is that they're so dang expensive.

As a slight hijack: If I were to buy a buggy motor or two from bricklink, what other parts would I need to make it work with a PF battery / IR receiver? A cable of some sort? Anything else?

[S.I]

You can get adaptor cables directly from lego.

[Hopey]

  On 12/10/2012 at 9:35 PM, S.I said:

You can get adaptor cables directly from lego.

Is this the one: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=8886-1 ?

And just to be clear (so I don't go buying things that won't work), I can just plug one end directly onto the buggy motor, and the other onto a PF battery pack or IR receiver (preferably V2)?

[DLuders]

@ Hopey: Yes, that is correct. You need a 8886 / 60656 "Electric, Power Functions Extension Wire with one Light Bluish Gray End (length 20cm)." The Light Bluish Gray end of the wire connects onto the electrified plate on the RC motor, and the Dark Bluish Gray end connects to the Power Functions Receiver. The Receiver's wire (in turn) snaps onto the Power Functions (PF) Battery Box.

You can also get the part from Shop.Lego.com ( 8 inch version and 20 inch version) .

I just confirmed the arrangement described above with the parts I have, and it works great.

[legomuppet9]

  On 12/10/2012 at 7:13 PM, Alasdair Ryan said:

Yes it does, it should keep more speed while turning.

Ok I'll try and fit one in when my differential arrives... I have a pretty good idea on how to do it although it will make my model longer....