1/6 Losi Hummer (CC1717) Build

[_paralyzed_]

Compared to a traditional r/c the u looks a little out of place, but for a custom build I love it!

There is plenty of strength there, a few random holes won't weaken anything, I say you cut holes to run wires and further cleanup the wiring. I like what you did with the motor wires.

[pinkpanda3310]

I've seen angle used like that in a few cars. TBH it does look a bit ghetto but it adds so much rigidity. Nice work Brian.

I was thinking of getting some of these baja wheel extenders. I was thinking to use the fronts, lop off the 12mm axle and dill out the centre to suit the lst axle. Do you think this would work?

[brian015]

Originally Posted by pinkpanda3310

I've seen angle used like that in a few cars. TBH it does look a bit ghetto but it adds so much rigidity. Nice work Brian.

I was thinking of getting some of these baja wheel extenders. I was thinking to use the fronts, lop off the 12mm axle and dill out the centre to suit the lst axle. Do you think this would work?

That could work. Or you could use the rears with a 8mm id, 12mm od insert.

[brian015]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Compared to a traditional r/c the u looks a little out of place, but for a custom build I love it!

There is plenty of strength there, a few random holes won't weaken anything, I say you cut holes to run wires and further cleanup the wiring. I like what you did with the motor wires.

Thanks Harold. And, yes, I was thinking about drilling a few holes for the wires - they would have to be big enough to fit a servo wire connector - so I'll see.

[brian015]

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

That channel is kind of weird looking. I think I would have tried to find some way to shape the chasis a little bit to reduce the flexing instead of adding more parts to the setup? That exta aluminum just looks a little bit ghetto to me. Maybe just a piec of althread would not look so over bearing. Just another view or idea. Don't get me wrong we have to find what work for us, but I think I would have found another way. R&D is always a series of trials and tribulations. It is good to see that you have not given up on this.

While it may look ghetto at first glance, eventually I'm sure that you will realize that this u-channel (like the i-beam in construction) has both utility and a pleasing form.

I actually put a lot of thought into bracing this - as it is a long truck and I chose to use a flat chassis for this build - for the ease of layout. I don't have a mill, nor will I use any machine-shop services for this build, so changing the chassis was not an option.

I thought of different ways to bracing the length of the truck. Smaller braces front and back (like on truggies) would not work because it is too long. I thought of doing something down the center on the principle of the ue razorback - but the design was becoming too complex with the center diff and too much material would be used, in my opinion. In the end, the simplest solution seemed best - a top plate, which is all I have here. I couldn't use a flat top plate unless I attached it to the chassis at many points along its length - which I didn't really want to do. Finally, the u-channel is incredibly simple - just attach front and back - and has the extra usefulness of a place to route wiring. I'm still open to buying some different size u-channel (I looked at 1" x 1/8" with 1/2" legs - so lower profile) but this is what I had on hand and decided to try it out. I don't think it looks bad, and in the end, I am going to put a body on it, so we'll see - maybe I'll stick with this and maybe I'll try something else.

[brian015]

I had some pvc channel that fit over my al channel perfectly - so decided to use it for a cover and contain my wiring and bec underneath:











The receiver will mount on top of the pvc in front by the hole with the wires coming out ready to plug in.

[Overdriven]

Caving in to peer pressure? Just playin, the pvc does make a nice cover and finishes it off. Function over Form, but there's nothing wrong with dressing things up a bit at times.

[brian015]

Originally Posted by Overdriven

Caving in to peer pressure? Just playin, the pvc does make a nice cover and finishes it off. Function over Form, but there's nothing wrong with dressing things up a bit at times.

Oh, I doubt that anyone who didn't like the u-channel before will like it better with the pvc cover - but who knows?

Anyway, for those of you who want to incorporate this unique design feature into your next custom build, I used:
1"x1"x1"x1/16" aluminum u-channel from McMaster-Carr
pvc u-channel from smallparts.com (but order from amazon for free super-saver shipping). I cut the pvc legs down to 1.125" for a perfect fit.

[brian015]

And for those of you wondering, the reason I switched to a black 1717 is this:

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

We developed a whole new stator and rotor design for this car -- it uses a shorter and lighter rotor for faster spin-up, and is up to 4% more efficient than the original 1717.

The stator design was optimized for higher maximum currents, and higher saturation currents -- so the efficiency doesn't "brick wall" at extreme currents.

[Overdriven]

And here I thought you painted your green 1717. At least wer can get 1717's again

[brian015]

I finished making a rear body mount with some rpm maxx posts, some pieces of a Baja 5b roll cage, a piece of Al angle (of course) and a piece of lexan:








I'm using the existing holes in the FG Hummer body. So here's how it looks with the body on:

[Overdriven]

Looks like the front posts lined up, that was easy. Not sure how strong those 5b rollcage parts are, but you might want to run a brace from the front side of the Al angle to your U channel. Just some flat stock bolted to the Al angle with a 90 degree bend at the bottom to bolt to the U channel would add some strength there if needed.

Almost there. Love the look! You must be itching to pull the trigger on this thing, I know I'm getting anxious over here! Hopefully I'll find some time to chop my LST in half and stretch it out soon, then I'll have more room for my 1717 and cd.

Edit: Nevermind, I see now that the 5b rollcage parts do extend down to where the U channel is.

[brian015]

Originally Posted by Overdriven

Looks like the front posts lined up, that was easy. Not sure how strong those 5b rollcage parts are, but might want to run a brace Front the front side of the Al angle to your U channel. Just some flat stock bolted to the Al angle with a 90 degree bend at the bottom to bolt to the U channel would add some strength there if needed.

I know it's hard to see, but the braces I have mounted underneath the Al angle down to the base of the shock tower are nice and strong - the 5b roll-cage is some beefy black nylon material. If it flexes a little that's fine.

[Overdriven]

At first glance I totally missed the vertical Baja pieces under the Al angle. I thought nothing was there to support the horizontal pieces which wouldn't be good in a rollover. I did notice them soon after posting though. I know you wouldn't have left it like that either way, but you know how everyone likes to add their .02, I'm not an exception to that one...

[brian015]

I was looking again at the FG Hummer and what they have done with their truck and the body I'm using. Here are a few pics for comparison:









I made my wheelbase a little shorter than the FG truck to try to match it to the body better. My tires should be almost the same diameter (edit: actually probably not as large - mine are 6.5", the FG's look bigger), but are narrower.