First test on carpet TRF Experimental TC chassis
Last weekend was the first test on carpet with the test car from last year. In fact it was a national race and with no testing before the race it was treated as a test session for me. Laptimes were 0,9 seconds off the pace at one stage but at the end of the day best laptime was 0,2 from the fastest at the race. The positive thing is that the car continues to have good relaiability and is not at all sensitive to getting the chassis tweaked, someting that was also noticed during last summers outdoor season.
It was just general set up work for the carper track with no new parts yet. The main improvements made to the set up were the following: Yokomo springs, 30 g weight in the front bumper, 1 mm spacers under the front suspension blocks and stiffer rear diff (2000 oil).
The design of the new chassis is late because I don’t know which battery layout to choose. There are compromises either way you do it.
TRF-X 2012T experimental chassis design
Starting the design of the TRF-X 2012T chassis. It is an updated version of the 2011 chassis. Focusing on improving the flex characteristics around the motor mount area. Hope to have it ready by end of december.
TRF 414 project 2011 summary
The car have been tested during the summer and the latest updates have focused around making the chassis more flexible. Material have been cut out from the main chassis to give more flex around the motor mount area. This together with removing all the transverse supports in the motor mount have helped in generating more grip.
For 2012 we are currently starting the design of two new chassis and top decks. The car will also be tested on carpet for the first time.
The aprox. cost of this chassis so far is as follows.
Base car Tamiya TRF 416X with the additional modifications
Main chassis and top decks 100 EUR
Motor mount 50 EUR
Pulleys and belt tensioners 75 EUR
Belts 25 EUR
TRF 414 2011 edition first test
The car was tested for the first time in the Prostock class at the ETS round 6 in Andernach Germany because of non avalibility of the local track. The car run without any problems. It had the same suspension set up as on the 416/417.
The handling is feeling diffrent compared to a TRF 416/417. It is very easy to drive and can be placed more precisley on the track. The chassis is a bit too stiff and the front to rear weight ratio is a bit more on the rear than on the 417. From the first run it did the same laptimes as the 417.
No additional transmission losses were noticed with the two extra belt pulleys. A softer chassis and diffrent upper decks will be tested to soften the chassis flex. If more grip can be generated and it still is easier to drive than the 417 it should be very good. It will be my race car from now on.
TRF 414 2011 experimental chassis
The project
Mid June this project started with the car scheduled to be tested for the first time at the Euro touring series round 6 on the 7-10th of July in Andernach, Germany.
Starting with measuring all the components then designing the carbon fibre chassisplates. The main chassis and upper deck carbon plates machining were ordered from Fibre lyte in the UK on the 14th of June.
Then were all belts and pulleys ordered from Japan. And last the Losi Xcelorin 94 mm LIPO battery.
Within 3 weeks from start all parts arrived and the car assembly was finished one day before leaving to the race in Germany. To be able to get this car designed and built in just three weeks and then to run it without any technical problems stright out of the box was very rewarding. Finally, after many attempts during all these years, a sucessful RC project.
Parts have arrived
All the parts needed to assemble the new chassis have arrived, 3 packages from Japan, 2 from the UK and one from USA.
Building the Tamiya TRF 414 2011 experimental project
Currently building a 2011 version inspired by the Tamiya TRF 414 chassis from 2004. I never manged to get my own 414 so now I’m building one myself. This is the old school touring car layout from 10 years back but now built with all the latest components from the TRF 416 / 417 generation. And a split motor mount / rear bulkheads.
This chassis is built to take advantage of the 94 mm long Losi Xcelorin 3800mAh 7.4V 60C LiPo battery to get the two heavy components, the battery and motor, tightly packaged near the center of gravity of the car. One disadvantage is the transmission losses with the extra pulleys needed for the front belt to clear the battery.
The chassis is scheduled to be assembled in the next 2 weeks followed by shakedown and first test.
Mock-up of the chassis
CAD picture of the carbon fibre chassis currently sent for machining.
