TC3 graphite tub or aftermarket carbon??

[Crashmaster]

Can any one tell me if there is a major handling difference between the standard associated graphite tub chassis and the aftermarket carbon ones (such as the warpspeed, BMI etc) ??? ???

Cheers

Crashmaster

[johnbull]

Just my opinion. Stick with the factory graphite item.

If you look at all the quickest TC3's the world over, they all use it.

If it's good enough for them, it should be good enough for us. And it's jolly strong too.

Regards

Joe from sunny Malta.

[Colin Williams]

Yes, but the fastest drivers have modified the stock chassis to try and solve the weight balance issue and move the cells closer to the centre ;)

I am hoping to get a BMI chassis soon, partly to see if the handling is better, but also for the "bling" factor ;D

[johnbull]

Colin. Greetings from Malta.

What you say is quite correct. Most guys dremel their chassis a bit to move the cells more towards the centre.

I also agree on the bling factor though I must say that would not be a priority.

Actually modifying the TC3 tub is very easy. I have done quite a few for customers - about an hour's work per chassis, but definately worth it.

Have you heard the rumours of a new chassis by Associated?

Might be worth waiting!

Regards

Joe from sunny Malta.

[jatros]

I havent heard the rumour, would you like to inform me... i was gonna endever on purchasing a IRS, BMI or Warpspeed chassis...but if the new one is any good then well we will have to see ;D

[Colin Williams]

Yes, I agree, "bling" is not a priority - but if you were in the market for a new chassis, it may be worth considering the BMI over a new FT one, and those who have one seem very pleased with it.

Haven't there been rumours about the TC3 for the past couple of years :-

[Smokes]

plus you won't have dodgy ride height issues with the chassis after 5 month hard use and tweaking problems from motor heat....
Still waiting for my nmi chassis

[Phil C]

Used my bmi for the first time today inddors and i must say it flew ;D

[John H]

Most guys dremel their chassis a bit to move the cells more towards the centre.

Actually modifying the TC3 tub is very easy. I have done quite a few for customers - about an hour's work per chassis, but definately worth it.




Would you be able to give me a guide to doing this please

Cheers John

[Stew Noble]

the chassis mod removes stiffness from the chassis, companys can make you coustom carbon topdecks though, i got a blue one to a design, made by BMI. i havnt got my graphite chassis (which i will have milled straight away) yet so i whipped it on my plastic chassis, there was really big noticable difference in stifness to feel (with hands) and the on track feel.

[gordonchapman]

Would you be able to give me a guide to doing this please




Try looking at the following

http://www.mistercrash.ca/_themes/page_associated_tc3.htm

[Genem]

http://www.rccaraction.com/rc/articles/hardcoretc3.asp
That link above is about a titanium TC3 chassis review. It is made by Hardcore Racing. You should read the article, it looks promising.

[johnbull]

Hi friends. greetings from Malta.

JOHN H.

Gordon Chapman has beaten me to it. Follow the instruction on the link. I couldn't do better myself.

I've been pondering the steering rack mod too. Looking at the pics there seems to be an awful lot of ackerman. Actually I am just trying a similar thing with my Yoke SD. By using the old style MR4 front hubs you build in lots more ackerman. Perhaps not as much as that, but more than the standard hubs produce.

I will be testing it today and will report back. If it makes it any better then my son's TC3 will get the treatment too.

Regards

Joe from sunny Malta.

[John H]

the chassis mod removes stiffness from the chassis, companys can make you coustom carbon topdecks though, i got a blue one to a design, made by BMI. i havnt got my graphite chassis (which i will have milled straight away) yet so i whipped it on my plastic chassis, there was really big noticable difference in stifness to feel (with hands) and the on track feel.


Would you still get the same effect with the carbon chassis and have to use an additional brace

[John H]

Used my bmi for the first time today inddors and i must say it flew ;D


Did you order yours directly from BMI or is there an importer andif you dont mind me asking how much was it?

[Stew Noble]

the chassis mod removes stiffness from the chassis, companys can make you coustom carbon topdecks though, i got a blue one to a design, made by BMI. i havnt got my graphite chassis (which i will have milled straight away) yet so i whipped it on my plastic chassis, there was really big noticable difference in stifness to feel (with hands) and the on track feel.


Would you still get the same effect with the carbon chassis and have to use an additional brace


it would help. as the TC3s tub gets alot of its stiffness from the centre part of the chassis, removing any of this will always comprimise stiffness.

[Genem]

Just my opinion. Stick with the factory graphite item.

If you look at all the quickest TC3's the world over, they all use it.

If it's good enough for them, it should be good enough for us. And it's jolly strong too.

Regards

Joe from sunny Malta.


Also notice that all the quickest TC3's are driven by factory sponsor drivers. Therefore, the graphite tub is their only viable choice with which to race unless they want to use the stock chassis, which is considerably weaker. Remember that factory sponsored drivers are limited to their own brand, even when it may be a disadvantage.

[johnbull]

Matthias.

Agreed to a certain extent, but do you think the works AE drivers haven't tried different chassis.

I can tell you they will have tried every single one, and made quite a few different ones themselves too.

I'm not for one moment saying that a different chassis may not be better in some aspects but what I mean is that if they can win with the factory chassis then there can't be too much wrong with that, can there.

Incidentally I have tried a different chassis on my son's championship winning TC3, and reverted to the FT one.

Next thing I want to try is the steering mod.

regards

Joe from sunny Malta.

[Big'Jon]

hi, im new to these forums but ill just give ya an idea on what i think of after market carbons. i use the irs chassis with the side kit extention. i havent used the side parts yet (keeping it short on the name) but i think my tc3 has improved alot since i have got the chassis (that and its the most bling tc3 at our club and one of the quickest too). but i think its more of a performance hop up than a bling hop up cause i have noticed alot in speed diference and grip is better and handling. so consider any chassis cause im not going to say that irs are the only good chassis mkers out the lot when really there not.

p.s. congrats to john bull for setting up malta's championship winning tc3's :D

[Smokes]

did you cut the batties slots out so the batteries sit closer to the drive shaft as i have heard they have no advantage ove the stock chassis balance wise. I've just got a bmi it make the car trasition so much better.

[johnbull]

did you cut the batties slots out so the batteries sit closer to the drive shaft as i have heard they have no advantage ove the stock chassis balance wise. I've just got a bmi it make the car trasition so much better.

SMOKES.

If you are asking me that question, the answer is yes, the battery slots have been elongated to bring the cells nearer the centre of the car. It makes a noticible difference.

One other mod we played with recently has made the car so much better too. It's so simply - a very light bodyshell. We tried a Yokomo Type D Stratus recently and I had to add 30 grams in weight to bring the car up to the legal weight limit of 1500 grams. That weight went on the floor of course. It had 2 effects. It brought the Centre of gravity down, and it also brought it closer to the roll centre, which gave the car so much less bodyroll. It looked absolutely glues to the track and the lap times and results proved it. Another 3 finals won last Sunday.

Regards

Joe from sunny Malta.

[John H]

Does anyone know where i can get one of these bodys or does anyone else eg protoform make a lightweight touring car shell?

Cheers John

[Smokes]

wouldn't it be lighter if you used very thin coat of paint on the shell?

[johnbull]

Hi friends. Greetings from Malta.

Quite a few manufacturers produce lightweight bodyshells.

The ones I am using are Yokomo - bought from UK.

They are super thin and super light. Not much good for a beginner, unless he can afford a bodyshell a week.

Regards

Joe from sunny Malta.