Tuning up a Lunchbox?
Discussion
My sons had his Tamiya Lunchbox for almost 18 months (best christmas present ever?), and at weekend we were out walking and happened upon a bunch of chaps larking about with various R/C cars.
And they were fast, seriously fast. And more importantly - bloody good fun.
So we've got to thinking about upgrades on the lunchbox, I'm thinking :
- Drop it a little (set of short shocks/springs), hopefully give slightly better body control
- motor upgrade
- larger capacity battery (currently running a 2000mAh), as the "bigger" motor will suck a fair bit more juice
Battery and shocks are almost no-brainers, it'll give increased running time and slightly better handling. But the motor - haven't got a clue where to start.
Can go for a tuned brushed motor (keeping the price relatively sensible), what would be the gains in going for a brushless setup?
And will the standard differential be able to cope with increased power?
And they were fast, seriously fast. And more importantly - bloody good fun.
So we've got to thinking about upgrades on the lunchbox, I'm thinking :
- Drop it a little (set of short shocks/springs), hopefully give slightly better body control
- motor upgrade
- larger capacity battery (currently running a 2000mAh), as the "bigger" motor will suck a fair bit more juice
Battery and shocks are almost no-brainers, it'll give increased running time and slightly better handling. But the motor - haven't got a clue where to start.
Can go for a tuned brushed motor (keeping the price relatively sensible), what would be the gains in going for a brushless setup?
And will the standard differential be able to cope with increased power?
What's your budget? I found an old RCCA in the spare room over the weekend where Kevin Hetmanski's Monster Garage artcile was about rebuilt a Midnight Pumpkin for high speed runs. I'll scan it tonight.
The drivetrasin is built fairly tough to withstand bashing, though the pinion gear might require an upgrade.
Other things to consider would be 2.2 wheels and tarmac tyres, a wheelie bar, a brushless motor and LiPO battery, lower body mounts.
By the time you had all those, you'd probably have enough spend to but an entry level tarmac touring car whcih woudl be faster stoc than the Lunchbox could ever be. It'll still be top heavy and twitchy, and a lot less controllable.
The drivetrasin is built fairly tough to withstand bashing, though the pinion gear might require an upgrade.
Other things to consider would be 2.2 wheels and tarmac tyres, a wheelie bar, a brushless motor and LiPO battery, lower body mounts.
By the time you had all those, you'd probably have enough spend to but an entry level tarmac touring car whcih woudl be faster stoc than the Lunchbox could ever be. It'll still be top heavy and twitchy, and a lot less controllable.
Edited by vdubbin on Wednesday 4th April 14:57
vdubbin said:
What's your budget? I found an old RCCA in the spare room over the weekend where Kevin Hetmanski's Monster Garage artcile was about rebuilt a Midnight Pumpkin for high speed runs. I'll scan it tonight.
The drivetrasin is built fairly tough to withstand bashing, though the pinion gear might require an upgrade.
Other things to consider would be 2.2 wheels and tarmac tyres, a wheelie bar, a brushless motor and LiPO battery, lower body mounts.
By the time you had all those, you'd probably have enough spend to but an entry level tarmac touring car whcih woudl be faster stoc than the Lunchbox could ever be. It'll still be top heavy and twitchy, and a lot less controllable.
Budget? Keep it down as much as possible at the moment.The drivetrasin is built fairly tough to withstand bashing, though the pinion gear might require an upgrade.
Other things to consider would be 2.2 wheels and tarmac tyres, a wheelie bar, a brushless motor and LiPO battery, lower body mounts.
By the time you had all those, you'd probably have enough spend to but an entry level tarmac touring car whcih woudl be faster stoc than the Lunchbox could ever be. It'll still be top heavy and twitchy, and a lot less controllable.
Edited by vdubbin on Wednesday 4th April 14:57
Its got a wheelie bar already, although it could do with being a fair bit longer (it'll readily flip on its roof when going from full speed reverse to forward). Nothing that a little meccano won't sort.
One of the reasons for wanting to drop it is to move the CoG down a little - it is twitchy, but thats probably half the fun.
Most driving will likely be on uneven grass, the tyres do a good job - but worth looking into a set of tarmac wheels. Get my son planning ahead for racing .... apparently the guys we saw at weekend are building an offroad racing track!
Completely forgot to dig that piece out last night. Is there a D/R or sensitivity setting on the radio that you could dial back to help combat the twitch?
These look like decent value for the money, in a heavy truck like the Lunchbox, I think the 13.0 should be plenty.
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/etronix-esc-motor-comb...
These look like decent value for the money, in a heavy truck like the Lunchbox, I think the 13.0 should be plenty.
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/etronix-esc-motor-comb...
vdubbin said:
Completely forgot to dig that piece out last night. Is there a D/R or sensitivity setting on the radio that you could dial back to help combat the twitch?
These look like decent value for the money, in a heavy truck like the Lunchbox, I think the 13.0 should be plenty.
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/etronix-esc-motor-comb...
Its a while since I've used it (ts kept over at the ex's place), but from memory there were plenty of adjustments on the radio.These look like decent value for the money, in a heavy truck like the Lunchbox, I think the 13.0 should be plenty.
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/etronix-esc-motor-comb...
Ta for the link, bookmarked, will have a look at the car over the weekend.
I once had a Wild Willy, so not a million miles away. I made a LWB chassis from aluminium which dropped the battery (and so COG) much lower, eliminated the wheelies on acceleration, plus added oil filled shocks. It was a HELL of a lot better. But compared to a proper buggy it was still pants. Personally I'd sell the Lunchbox and buy a buggy.
k-ink said:
I once had a Wild Willy, so not a million miles away. I made a LWB chassis from aluminium which dropped the battery (and so COG) much lower, eliminated the wheelies on acceleration, plus added oil filled shocks. It was a HELL of a lot better. But compared to a proper buggy it was still pants. Personally I'd sell the Lunchbox and buy a buggy.
May just buy a buggy for myself. Son absolutely loves the Lunchbox, huge grin on his face as its bounces around the park. Two cars, loads of fun having something along the lines of a race, or more likely just chaos.The battery is actually slung underneat the chassis, there are a few "problems" with the lunchbox - long travel, very soft suspension - so any bumps get magnified. The tyres are almost too flexible (can come off way too easy under hard cornering).
It all depends on how much you want to spend.
The suspension will be rubbish even if you upgrade it so bit of a waste of money
On the power side just get better bats and motor the lower the number in the motor the faster it will be.
However this will also cause a few problems.
1 the drivetrain on cars like this are not the strongest so don't go crazy on the motor front.
2 make sure your speedo can cope with the motor you get or you will blow it
3 check the charger will do the batteries you get
As for if you get a brushed or brushless also depends on budget brushless will require a new speedo.
Brushless will run for longer
The suspension will be rubbish even if you upgrade it so bit of a waste of money
On the power side just get better bats and motor the lower the number in the motor the faster it will be.
However this will also cause a few problems.
1 the drivetrain on cars like this are not the strongest so don't go crazy on the motor front.
2 make sure your speedo can cope with the motor you get or you will blow it
3 check the charger will do the batteries you get
As for if you get a brushed or brushless also depends on budget brushless will require a new speedo.
Brushless will run for longer
Buy yourself a buggy or truggy and race around together.
Then when you get the taste for bigger boys toys, hand this down to your son then repeat this until you run out of money.
Pretty quickly you will find out the word "budget" doesn't last long if you get hooked lol
Oh and there isnt much point in spending too much on the lunchbox they arent designed to handle. Just replace bits when they break. Maybe just get him a bigger battery or two (which can be used for other cars too).
Then when you get the taste for bigger boys toys, hand this down to your son then repeat this until you run out of money.
Pretty quickly you will find out the word "budget" doesn't last long if you get hooked lol
Oh and there isnt much point in spending too much on the lunchbox they arent designed to handle. Just replace bits when they break. Maybe just get him a bigger battery or two (which can be used for other cars too).
get yourself to oople or tamiya club and see what people are doing to their lunchboxes...
i would think the best pound for pound upgrade to get more pace is motor, battery and gearing. however, just check to see what load your stock transmission can take as that will be the determining factor.
i dont think that the standard running gear on the lunchbox (primarily developed as a toy rather than a competing car) will be able to stand much so might be worth seeing what retrofit upgrades can be done to get the most out of any motor upgrade etc
i would think the best pound for pound upgrade to get more pace is motor, battery and gearing. however, just check to see what load your stock transmission can take as that will be the determining factor.
i dont think that the standard running gear on the lunchbox (primarily developed as a toy rather than a competing car) will be able to stand much so might be worth seeing what retrofit upgrades can be done to get the most out of any motor upgrade etc
The_Jackal said:
Buy yourself a buggy or truggy and race around together.
Then when you get the taste for bigger boys toys, hand this down to your son then repeat this until you run out of money.
Pretty quickly you will find out the word "budget" doesn't last long if you get hooked lol
Oh and there isnt much point in spending too much on the lunchbox they arent designed to handle. Just replace bits when they break. Maybe just get him a bigger battery or two (which can be used for other cars too).
I'll probably spend a few quid on a bigger battery, and maybe a different motor. Dropping the suspension could have some advantages, and all of these are relatively cheap.Then when you get the taste for bigger boys toys, hand this down to your son then repeat this until you run out of money.
Pretty quickly you will find out the word "budget" doesn't last long if you get hooked lol
Oh and there isnt much point in spending too much on the lunchbox they arent designed to handle. Just replace bits when they break. Maybe just get him a bigger battery or two (which can be used for other cars too).
But the purchase of a buggy is the most entertaining option. We have a few areas near us that would be huge fun for driving around ... and at least on a car I'm likely to have better control than my son. He's absolutely whupped me on R/C helicopter control (only the basic Syma 107G types).
RC944 said:
get yourself to oople or tamiya club and see what people are doing to their lunchboxes...
i would think the best pound for pound upgrade to get more pace is motor, battery and gearing. however, just check to see what load your stock transmission can take as that will be the determining factor.
i dont think that the standard running gear on the lunchbox (primarily developed as a toy rather than a competing car) will be able to stand much so might be worth seeing what retrofit upgrades can be done to get the most out of any motor upgrade etc
Pretty sure the stock transmission won't take too much - it did strike me as being relatively fragile (and I did have it falling apart once after the initial build).i would think the best pound for pound upgrade to get more pace is motor, battery and gearing. however, just check to see what load your stock transmission can take as that will be the determining factor.
i dont think that the standard running gear on the lunchbox (primarily developed as a toy rather than a competing car) will be able to stand much so might be worth seeing what retrofit upgrades can be done to get the most out of any motor upgrade etc
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