Fetch modellers - model cars, trains, lego, meccano, airfix etc. :-)
18 watchers
Apr 2019
2:49pm, 11 Apr 2019
8,587 posts
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Watford Wobble
Sounds expensive HG. Both the holiday and the engineering bit.
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Apr 2019
2:56pm, 11 Apr 2019
31,181 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
The holiday is more expensive than I expected. But we don't actually holiday abroad that much, and it is my treat to myself for my 50th. And we're staying with pals for 10 days so that's reduced the accommodation costs. The wee cars are not that expensive. A complete new set up might be up to £1000. But I've already spent £300 on the transmitter and receiver, £200 on the chassis and body (2nd hand, so already built), another £200 on motor, throttle and batteries, charger etc. So the engineering part now is just replacing worn parts and upgrades / adjustments e.g. the tyres need replacing and you have to cut the inserts and glue the rubber to the wheels. Well, I got a pal to do that for me! And the transmission and differential really should be taken apart and be re-oiled, aligned etc. and make sure gears aren't worn. And shocks should be taken apart and oil replaced. Adjustments are things like shock springs and oil harder or softer, the suspension travel and position, the steering travel, toe in/out etc. These are all changed for different surface conditions (wet vs. dry, grass vs. carpet / astro turf etc.). And if I get that stuff done, I'd like to also design / paint my own body shell. Anyhoo, hows Meccano building going WW?  G
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Apr 2019
8:42am, 12 Apr 2019
8,588 posts
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Watford Wobble
Oh engineering I thought of a workshop full of lathes, milling machines, pillar drills, auto saws, band saws, nibblers, bench grinders. The Meccano FB group and the 2019 Easter Build Competition I've free built a garden rotavator. The theme this year was agricultural machinery (no tractors). The parts come from a 1930's number 0 set and a 1970's Pocket Meccano Set. With a few modern pieces such as rubber grommets. In comparison to some other entries this is what is called 'rubbish'. But then the other builders are retired engineers with rooms full of Meccano. |
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Jun 2019
3:43pm, 3 Jun 2019
31,639 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Back in the 1/10 radio control electric off road car racing again... Nice Sunday at club 2 weekends ago. Managed to finish at the front of the backend! That is, of 8 cars, split into 2 heat, I qualified first in the 2nd group, and then finished the final in first too. Which is a first (normally I get all panicky when I'm around the other cars and end up binning it.) Then this weekend Sunday should have been one of the Scottish national rounds but it was rained off, so we had 11 cars. Unfortunately something happened to either my speed controller or motor and I had to retire my car. I got a loan of someone else's though and that was quite fun to drive something else and see how different it felt. So first major repairs to do - got to swap out first the speed controller to see if that's the prob. Or the motor. Might be a good excuse to take it to pieces and give it a bit of maintenance. Glued my own tyres for first time last week too, so I now have compounds - blue, green and yellow for wet, low grip and better grip respectively. Trying to sell my indoor car, because I wasn't really using it. Then I might get the 4x4 version of the 2 wheel drive off road car, just to have more to play outdoors with! G
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Jul 2019
1:20pm, 4 Jul 2019
31,981 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Had a few good sessions up at the club recently. ddrcc.co.uk Not doing the Scottish national rounds any more, just our own club races. And last night was just a timed practice session, but was good fun too. I said I wasn't going home until I got under 20s for a lap. I'd got from 23 down to 20 but just couldn't shave last few tenths off. Fortunately got it in the end! Otherwise I'd have been there til midnight. And even in Scotland, where the sun doesn't set til 10 pm, midnight on a school night isn't really the right time to be playing toy cars! Was all good fun, more banter and learning opportunity on just these practice sessions. I'm getting better at keeping car on track and improving speed when it's just me. But I make mistakes as soon as there are other cars in the vicinity! Need to learn to just keep calm, and to back off if there's someone in my way. And not try and catch up with someone who has overtaken me. And not try and hold them off. That way lies crashes and crashes are not the quickest way around the track! Pleased that a couple of weeks ago I was able to replace my speed controller that had broken. I had a soldering iron, but I had to buy some solder. D'oh. Homebase doens't sell it. But fortunately Screwfix does and there's one nearby. Who knew?! My missus, that's who. Apparently she's got an account. She's such a bloke! I bought a new battery and new motor at same time as replacement speed controller, but haven't used them yet. I need to commit to some actual engineering on the model and take things to bits. Just that I really haven't had to and it's quite nice just getting away with the minimum! I need to dispose of one of the batteries. It's a bit puffy and I think that means it's maybe end of life. Quite a technical business getting rid of them though, because there is a risk of fire if they have any charge and are then punctured. So have to remove all charge then dispose of at recycling centre. It's Dumfries hosting the national round this weekend, so I won't be driving. But back to local track following weekend. May do the national round at Falkirk on Sun 21 July, as it's the closest. We'll see. Need to re-advertise the 1/12th scale indoor car as I got some interest but didn't sell it. Mostly just to get rid of clutter, not that it's worth much. I'm making that a dependency before I buy a 4 wheel drive buggy. I'd like to have two because then there's more fun racing both locally and nationally. But let's get rid of the indoor car first. My transponder died at the local races a few weeks ago, but seems to be OK with just taping down the cable, and survived crashes etc. yesterday. My soldering on the motor and speed controller is a mess though, but again, seems to be surviving. If it ain't broke...!? Tried changing tyres last night from Greens to Yellows (as it was dry and plenty grip on grass). The effect seemed to be less turn in. Just more grip on back so more understeer? Don't know. I need to put some punch on the speed controller too, as it doesn't accelerate very well. Enjoying it just now. And a colleague at work has shown an interest, so he might come along to watch and try too. That would be nice. They're a good bunch at the club, very welcoming. I like having a whole thread to myself. It's like blogging, but just a single subject! Anyone else doing ANYTHING with model hobbies?! G
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Jul 2019
1:22pm, 4 Jul 2019
31,982 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Oh, and must remember to do at least minimal prep - discharge battery for disposal, charge transmitter battery (died during driving yesterday, d'oh!) and try out the new 5800mAh battery. And clean it a bit! G
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Jul 2019
10:54am, 5 Jul 2019
31,985 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
No one want to talk about radio control models?! Just me then! G
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Jul 2019
11:48am, 5 Jul 2019
8,695 posts
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Watford Wobble
Back in the day and many years ago whilst working for Tyco I was part of the development team for this and EU compliance requirements https://www.google.com/search?q=Tyco+Rebound&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB802GB802&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj86MDKzJ3jAhWjVBUIHcmADwMQ_AUIESgC&biw=1920&bih=937#imgrc=Kqgg2Y6vTsXLGM: A landmark RC car. Many issues with heat sinks I recall. But luckily didn't result in one. |
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Jul 2019
12:01pm, 5 Jul 2019
31,986 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Tyco Rebound 4x4? Where was that link taking us to WW? That was the one that could go upside down and flipped when it hit a wall etc? Heat sinks on the current electronic speed controller are still an issue. Some have fans fitted on top to help with cooling. All have large fins to dissipate heat. And then cut offs if excessive heat detected. G
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Jul 2019
12:02pm, 5 Jul 2019
31,987 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Were they a nice company to work for? According to Wikipedia, Tyco RC only remains as a couple of products in the Mattel family now? G
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