Well it looks like I'm running 12th scale this year and I've got a few questions that I hope you guys can help me out on.
I picked up a new CK 3.2R and heres what I need to know:
Whats a good pinion to start with? (its comes with a 98t 64p spur)
What servo saver do you recommend? (I'm using an Airtronics 94145)
Are the included Purple front and Grey rear tires good to start with?
Do these tires need to be turned? (I've noticed they are different diameters)
Do you recommend a traction compound? If so, what kind?
Should I use a front bumper? (I'm thinking so...) Do you make your own?
Those are the first questions that come to mind, I've just opened the box so I'm sure to have more. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers! Damon
Hey Damon,
Congrats, welcome to IROCC's winter scene!
Gearing depends on the track layout and the size of your rear tires. That said, you'll likely want 64P pinions in the range between 23 and 29 teeth to go with that 98 tooth spur.
Just get the basic grey (fits Airtronics servo horns) Kimbrough servo saver.
The included Purple/Grey tires are perfect. Everyone uses these.
You don't need to true the tires because they come pre-trued. Professional racers will cut the tires down to a smaller diameter for enhanced performance but that just shortens their life. Run them straight out of the box and you'll be just fine.
Everyone uses the club mandated TQ8 traction compound. It's available at the Shaver Shop for a good price.
A front bumper is a very good idea. Typically they're home made from dense foam. Perhaps some people can bring their 12th Scale cars to racing for these last couple of summer race days so that the newcomers can get a closer look as to how everything goes together in these little rockets.
Make sure you do the following chassis treatment. This is essential to protect your chassis:
http://www.teamcrc.com/crc/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=16&mode=&order=0&thold=0
The authors of that article just happen to be a couple of familiar IROCCers....
Hope this helps,
Blake
When it comes to bumpers, many people will run what is essentially a chassis extension off the front of their car. This is bad for several reasons.
A bumper should be made of foam, and extend around 1/2" in front of the chassis. The rigid extensions some people run cause a much bigger shock to your car if you crash, since there is essentially no crumple zone, and it will also lance into the boards, which causes big splinters to get on the track and to get your car stuck in the boards. A foam bumper prevents this.
Check out the following pics:
(http://207.54.99.98/IROCC/photos/gallery.asp?Category=5&ID=462)
(http://207.54.99.98/IROCC/photos/gallery.asp?Category=3&ID=436)
And, if you don't plan on crashing,
(http://207.54.99.98/IROCC/photos/gallery.asp?Category=5&ID=489)
Hehe, although picture #3 is my car, it's definitely not the recommended setup....
Blake
I cant see the pics?
yes a solid front bumper is a bad idea. I use a dense foam that also doubles as the front body mount (cut so the body height is perfect with the body resting on the foam.
It works in my browser if I right-click on where it says Image. They're links into the photo gallery, so that's probably why they're not working properly.
I'm not getting any pics or links... just a box with a red x through it...
Go to the "Photo Gallery" on this website and look through the "12th Scale Racing 2003 - Saanich Fairgrounds" album. There are several pictures in there that show the various bumper setups.
Blake
Thanks guys! and yes I did do the chassis prep. Thats funner than painting liquid mask ;)
I will definately cut a bumper, probly cut it from my old tc3 bumper if it fits well...
Another question I have is do you cover the carbon fibre with film like in 10th scale? Thanks again, I'd better stop looking at this car and get building.
Thanks, Damon
Nope! That's the great thing about running on carpet; it's much nicer on the bottom of your car!
If you ever plan on running your car outside (which I strongly reccommend against; I've been there and done that; I even have a Velodrome story about my 1/12 scale car) then you'll want to protect it with that stuff, but it's entirely un-necessary to put that on a carpet car.
Lubricant for diffs, bearing and damper tubes.
In the event that BC shaver can not get the recommended lubes for the above, what else can one use?
RYY
well how about ya borrow some tube lube till you get some........as for diff lube im sure they have some kinda diff lub there....or for tube lube if you got some 80 or 100 w shock oil i suppose that would work
Diff lube: sillicone grease, available in handy dispensing containers at SCUBA gear / diving shops
Bearings: Oil. Most people have 1:1 cars, and these take oil as well. Save a couple drops of oil from your next oil change (of fresh oil), and that'll last a long time for oiling bearings.
Damper tubes: What works best is heavy sillicone oil, but a small amount of sillicone grease will do essentially the same thing, so you can use diff lube with no ill effects.
I've heard one of the best lubes for performance bearings is Mobile 1 10W30 oil...
I'm using 90W shock oil for my dampening tubes. 80W is also recomended for less (duh) damping...