Ofna DM-One Brushless Conversion (DM-1)

[jhautz]

New project time. This one will probably take a little while to get through. I am planning to take my time and get it right. I have basically till spring. Somehow I'm afraid I will dig into it and get completely sucked in and be done with it WAY earlier than I intend to.

I'm going to do my best to photo docment this one from begining to end. Here are the first pictures. Opening a box with a new RC is one of the most fun moments.

I have been doing a ton of research on this DM-1 and it shares MANY components with the Jammin Buggy and Truggy. This means 2 things to me, A) most replacement parts shoud be easy to get even though this is not a super popular model. B) The motor mount is going to be very easy as the RCM Jammin Buggy mount should be a direct bolt in since the DM-1 uses the same center diff mounts.

Dimensions of the chassis are the same width as a standard 1/8 buggy but with a narrow 3 inch extended chassis and no kick up

I am planning to keep the 2 speed and the mechanical brake for this one so it will hopefully lighten the load on the ESC to the point where I can run the Quark without needing any crazy mods and still not overheating it. The motor is going to be a Lehner 1950/7 and I'm planning 5s.

First step will be to decide how I'm gonna lay this out. This chassis is so long I think I have some options. I just need to figure out what will work best and where I want the brake servo to go.

Here are the pics: More to follow when I make some progress.
The box got here Friday:


I could hardly wait to tear into it:


The body on this thing is going to take a gallon of paint to cover.... Its huge! (I got the Carrera body)


Ahhh... There it is.


All of the other stuff that still needs to be assembled. But honestly most of it is notro bits that just wont get used.


Some of the other parts that I have collected for this project.

[lutach]

Very nice. You have to make some videos of this beauty running.

[MetalMan]

That thing is going to be sick... Good thinking to stick with mechanical brakes. If you ever wanted this thing HV to make it go fast, those mech. brakes would come in handy.

[jhautz]

It might be a while for vids.

Heres a pic of what I am thinking the layout will look like. The brake servo still needs to be thought through. It might get moved in between the battery and the front center drive shaft.

Im def watching this build close!

Those are such awesome cars!

Very sweet, are you the first one to try and convert one?

Bye

[jhautz]

Originally Posted by cemetery gates

Very sweet, are you the first one to try and convert one?

Bye

Don't know. I haven't seen one yet though. Its not really much different than converting a truggy except the chassis is a little narrower and its a 2 speed instead of a center diff.

[zeropointbug]

Word. That thing WILL be sick, a 1950 JHautz? Really?!

[nl12]

where did you get a 2 speed pinion?

[Dagger Thrasher]

Nice! The DM-1 is a really sweet car, and looks much better than the Kyosho Inferno GT's due to it having a much more realistic wheelbase. This is gonna absolutely fly. Good luck with the conversion, I'll be watching this thread closely. :)

[Mallanaga]

more horizontal shocks?! so the revo and F201 aren't the only cars with these? interesting...

now, you said that this car shares many components with jammin. are you going to convert this sedan into a buggy, or what's going on here?

other than that... looks really fun!! GL!

[jhautz]

nl12 - I made the 2 speed pinion. I cut off the bell on a 2 speed clutch bell and used the screew on 20T and 16T gears. This one http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/149797.asp Then I made an aluminum insert with the set screw and 5mm shaft hole that press fit into the place where the bearings go in in the clutch bell and JB welded it into place. I was actually using it in my XLB 2 speed setup so I had it already. I will make another one when I get a chance. I'm using this one for fitting everything up and to get it up and running until I can get around to making another one.

Mallanaga - No I'm not converting it to a buggy, just converting it to electric from nitro. I'm planning to use it for parking lot oval racing.


ZPB - What? A 1950 isnt big enough for you?

Dagger - I agree. I looked at the Kyosho GT and the Ofna GTP but they both looked like rather cheaply built buggies with shorter shocks and shock towers. I like the lay down shock configuration like some of the 1/10 touring cars. It looks like it was more specifically designed for on road than just a modified buggy setup.

[Serum]

Cool Jeff!

This should be a nice conversion! i didn't knew these cars excisted.. I was struggling with that stupid belt on my serpent and weird motorplacement on the serpent. This should be a dream to convert! cool project Jeff.!

[Serum]

btw; Ditch that 2speed..

Trust me, the wheels will be screaming for grip all the way.. the serpent with the softest shore tires was having serious wheelspin when going from 70% wot to 100% wot..

that was with an XL2400 on 4S...

[jhautz]

Originally Posted by Serum

btw; Ditch that 2speed..

Trust me, the wheels will be screaming for grip all the way.. the serpent with the softest shore tires was having serious wheelspin when going from 70% wot to 100% wot..

that was with an XL2400 on 4S...

I may wind up ditching it after I get it built and tested. Just a matter of droping in a standard center diff and changing the pinion. I'll see once I get it running and decide then. For now I am going to plan on using the 2 speed.

Another benfit of going with a center diff may be better cornering, but once again I can decide this once its up and running.

EDIT: And btw... I'll be runnign rubber tires on this, not foams. It takes standard 1/8 buggy wheels and buggy on road tires.