FR-D Vs MR-DRB-REW Scale Projects

When you are chasing scale, I guess at some point you have to try Front Motor / Rear Drive.

When I was living in Japan, I saw and drove over 50 different conversions in the development of CS 4WD Chassis.

But Why so many?

Front, Mid, left, right, central and Rear Motor;
Centre and rear Battery ;
inline, lateral , split pack Battery ;
Rigid, Flexible and Weighted Alloy Chassis ;

But Why?

Well, individuality is something that the Japanese do very very well.You could say the manufacturers were chasing performance, but ultimately they were chasing the niche market.

With so many different products on sale in a flooded market, How do you make yourself stand out?
 
In 2013 RWD really kicked off with the Wrap Up Next FR-D developed to take the 4WD Drift Package and turn it into something completely new. It came from a very solid perspective.

Realism. Not performance, Not Competition, but Realism.

In a way it was nice to see the likes of D-Like build their RE-R Hybrid because those guys embraced the weight shift mantra of making the chassis visually as dynamic as real cars as well.

The FR-D V3 incorporates a focus on weight shift so it's a natural for a scale looking machine.
My .RSG. DRB-REW performs very well and strikes that balance like the D-like RER.

So I'm in the process of preparing both. FR-D and another DRB-REW.

Big lock these days is easy to achieve. Wrap Up Next really have simple and flexible components.

Mimicking the real car look of D1 and even grass roots machines at big angle is awesome. 

High Battery or High Mount Engines are also common place conversions. The DRB-Layout is low enough for belt drive lovers to get the weight shift look.

This DRB is getting the Full Ninja Black on Black treatment, so parts were sent off to the anodisers today.

Should return like this... waiting makes time for more de-construction

Now is 2016 Mid Year...

It was really great to see the latest RWD competition at Pro Shop Shift based on Drift Trains and community rather than one out single winners.

It's something that we tried to build at GCRC and continue at GCRCD with Twin and Triple comps, Battle Train comps and other stuff.  The D1 Style Comp doesn't promote the same effect.

It takes away the need for outright speed and builds in the KDF Keep Drifting Fun mentality. Not everyone needs a million dollar chassis even if it's cool. You can still take the prize.  

Now that RWD Competitions are in place. We respect the people out there who only want one thing, and that is going flat out on huge open asphalt surfaces like Yokomo's Yatabe Arena. This is where YD-2 was developed. Have RWD cars become faster... Yes. Can they exceed the 4WD in many situations YES.

We know this because 2WD PAN car and 2WD Buggy are premier competition classes.

I haven't seen too many YD-4 sold so we can take it as progression that CS is definitely evolving into the RWD competition machine. And this is where Yokomo YD-2 has forgotten about scale and gone chasing speed and "RC" trophies.

That's not really my style.

I am more the scale modeller so I don't want to chose a single body shell only because it handles well.

THE Yokomo GP Sports S15 is THE one for that, but I will choose a Drift Body because it resembles a real car that I have owned or want to own.

So I am putting an FR-D into the RE-Xtreme stable with this V3 Weight Shift design and I'll be putting that front motor on show. 

FR-D = Front Motor, Rear Drive - Drift.

The FR-D is however a maintenance nightmare. Superfluous gears, hard to mount components.

Motor goes here,  first take everything apart!!!

   
Want to change ratio?  First take even more than everything apart!!!

A bit like working on a real car for an engine swap ... devote a day to any major change. 

But it all starts with a motor...

Should it behave like a Torquey V8 21.5T or Revving Torque-less Rotary 8.5T, I usually tend towards the free revving option.

So a nice lightweight Active Hobby shaft installed also.

Wrap Up Next steering already showing capable ackerman action.

The rear end will get some more upgrades or side-grades for looks rather than performance.

New rear end is good for maintenance.

It will take more than a few weeks for both these projects to be tuned for action.

Target body is PAB-120 Trueno

ARRC - Augmented Reality RC

AR is Augmented Reality

Would you like to run the scale look 3d streets? Yes! Would you like to run a scale look 3d circuits? Yes!

Can we use this for RC? … Will it work? Yes (with limitations).

 

If you are interested...

The Augmented “A” side

The move from a flat empty carpark to fully detailed 3d environment is here and almost right now.

What augmented reality means for the immediate RC world is having a big empty space in reality and a world of cool in 3d.

Running on detailed roads, your car flashing past light poles, trees. Running in and around buildings, through waterfalls, fire and rain. Over bridges and yourself completely immersed in the imagery and experience.

Drifting / racing through country styled roads, city streets, past your favourite coffee shop etc to totally modern 3d electronic worlds.

We can combine the “driving experience” with 3d reality.

While current photography is not supported. Thee is no reason why an iphone/ipad app wouldn’t be able to capture photographic images. Full Video Capture by every player through their goggles would definitely be possible.

Sounds awesome!

The Reality "R" side…

•      The limitations are at the moment a FLAT and mostly LEVEL playing surface.
•       The physical size restrictions of your track remain
•    Cost of a 3d world & Hardware to view the 3d world. 
•       Lack of interaction in the 3d world.  

THE WORLD IS FLAT

The flat world is not absolutely necessary but porting a specific 3d model to non-flat surface would take some customisation. Some flexibility might be built in for contouring, but we are basically looking at flat worlds.

HOW BIG
Physical sizing is restricted as the map of your track should be real size. 1/10.

Scrolling screen or changing maps may be possible in the future

HOW MUCH

3d modelling Costs or the purchase of a Virtual Track is necessary.

There’s a lot of time spent building / buying these 3d worlds and time is money. Let say $5000 (shared by members)

After that customisation could be just a game console or PC environment based on the world of existing 3d modelling. Eifel Tower etc.

3d goggles remotely delivering and rendering by a high quality camera / PC backpack. (tech here is not standard)
Surely a AR setup would rival the cost of Playstation + Goggles. Let’s say $1000

INTERACT
Only the players and those viewing through an app would get the full experience.

However.... Interaction will come...
Hitting special locations on a virtual track could make visual impacts like explosions or sound interactions from a crowd.
You can check your speed and angle (drift points) through a Virtual Display. (these would come later as specific items for RC Drift) with full car sound from sliding/braking etc.
Virtual Smoke!!!
Driving through a virtual building might not be an issue, how will they react in this situation.
Can you look inside the building if your car is there?
Physical restrictions such as barriers , trees, walls etc, do not exist. Collisions are not possible.
Newcomers are stuck with an empty room. Perhaps some tape markers on the floor.

Future.

Simulations always tackle the EASY first. Like a flat world and basic layout. The complicated comes later.

The 3d limits are also hard to see right now.  How far to you go before the full simulation takes over from the ½ simulation to full simulation. How does the hobby evolve around it.

We have already seen a full size camera rig for a Virtual Car. Would you like to run ANY car body on your RC Car? Maybe? Paint and shoe goo replaced with a 3d model fitted by a virtual body?

These photos were taken with the free Augment 3d app for iphone. Open your mind and look to the future. In 3-4 years we will be virtual RC drifting.

GCRC Final Battles Part #2 Closure

GCRC - Gold Coast RC Raceway has been a big part of, not only my RC Drifting Hobby, but many many enthusiasts who passed through the doors over the last 3 years.

I wish to express the wishes of all by saying a huge Thank You to the GCRC Owners Martin and Marianne Moolman. 

While Martin Moolman is predominantly a Champion Off Road RC racer, he enjoys a bit of drift for relaxation.  Like others, he progressed through 50:50, through CS and on to Rear Wheel Drive and supported all those who wanted to try new directions in RC.

  
And these days, there's a lot of directions. While not on track in the final sessions the rest of us were as usual, going for it.

The Rocket Bunny influence is HUGE in RC right now. The wide fendered machines are always ready for a battle. If you are lured up the inside by a black RX7... You have to follow... right>? 

And stay on line. But it also means that previous lead car has the right to fight back... right?

And so it was for more than a few laps of crazy aggressive battles. No trains here. 

Just full on side by side deep entries and glued together drift. 

After an awesome deep entry and running the fence as far as you can. 

Suddenly you get the chop... 

And you are good to attack again.

In these shots you will find a different lead car in almost every one. Such was the game.

But whoever was in the lead, the chasers were coming.... hard.

Among the intensity you can still find those perfect moments.

We were not the only ones having a great time with some great machines lapping well. 

It was good to see a bunch of RE-Xtreme FD3s sevens on track.

 

And even better to play along side.

Overdose Vacula RWD vs DRB-REW + Overdose RWD Awesome fun.

Passing close by my seating position. i made sure I spent tome close to the track today.

Because when you are not at helicopter height watching above the track. At ground level, GCRC's true colours would come out...

... and you could enjoy the party atmosphere.

As you slash by.

 And battle up.

Some keen partners joining the seven battles.

in what was a great night to finish the GCRC chapter.

3....2...1 the countdown was coming...

To that final corner with the handbrake locked.

GCRC has closed.

We will find start the next chapter soon.

State of the RC Drift Evolution Mid 2016.

Lets step back and have a look at the RC world and how it has evolved in the last few years.

I was digging back through my imagery and I found this TA06. In a way, it is so current. So ripe for a modern take. I remember driving this on carpet about 4 years ago. Fast, but with a genuine rear bias, it was easy to drift.  (Ketsukaki) Full Counter Drift - also known as Counter-Steer setups were the norm but still looked a bit incorrect when scrutinized.

I've owned many Counter-Steer chassis with different setups. The difficult parts to modify were in fact the belts, gears and pulleys to the front.

Running from 1.5CS through to 4.5 and more, Belt drive and shaft drive. I have definitely had a lot of chassis targeted at asphalt, carpet and polished concrete. Full Tune, Full Alloy Silver carbon and complete parts upgrades to admire.

While around 2.5-3.5 seemed to give a realistic-ish feel, the driver is often compensating for the built in chassis imbalance. 

I've also had more than a few 50:50 plastic tub thrashers with many different configurations.You gotta try them all.

for a long time, I had two favourite chassis that I considered near perfect as I evolved. This custom DRB was CS2.5, included a narrow scrub front end and true mid-ship balance.

My first Yokomo DRB chassis was upgraded and 99% customised. I thought I'd keep it forever. almost as well balanced and able to drift at any speed. I have a ton of memories tied up with this one.

But my experiments with this beast and others were always niggling at something better. Something new and something true RWD. 

 
While chassis like this still get my attention,

This drift master copped the hacksaw, drill and more as I learned about RWD. Throwing out 3.4CS and changing every other thing as a learning curve was diminished.

Experimentation... more more more and then with a bit of research and sharing I finally found what I needed.

Returning to a more normal layout and adding flexibility... a fair bit of effort led to this.

And that silver full overdose DRB that I'd never sell will stay a lot longer.

It seems that many small manufacturers were playing a long also. Wrap Up Nervis, Bianca, Hayabusa, Exceed and MST variations are now so numerous. Buying a new chassis is no-longer a simple task. 

In 2016 there would now be about 100different directions in RC chassis variation on the market. Front, mid & rear-motor variations. Mid and Rear Battery, Inline and Lateral. Weight Shift and low CG, Belt and Shaft, 2WD 4WD. The options are endless.

I've sold 30 DRB-REW and no two of them are yet to share suspension components, and the lust for tuning also remains. That Taimya TA-06 inspires... The Overdose XEX and the up-coming Yokomo YZ-2 all share a plastic gearset in the rear end that was not forgotten, but now we are seeing 1000 different aftermarket parts to swap and change as you like.

One thing that has stopped however is the Front Engine Rear Drive road car / Sportscar. 

Since 2009, there hasn't been many rear wheel drive sports cars released for drifters to enjoy. This part of the car industry is almost dead.

So while there maybe a new V12 Ferrari or Bugatti released every other day, the mid range small engine rear drive fun cars are nowhere to be seen. Even the GT86 is now an old design.

That means no new body shapes, but lots of aftermarket kits. Something that TRA-Kyoto knows all to well.

Anyway...

While an ND Roadster  will soon be in my real garage, my RC garage will be stuck in time.

What shall the 2nd half of 2016 bring?  YZ-2 and loads of tuning. Lets see if Yokomo can re-ignite the passion that drift Package owners had in the past.