The future of 1/12 scale
05-19-2014, 08:05 AM
#961
Why doesn't 12th scale have a carbon fiber splitter that goes forward of the body like the splitter on real race cars?
I know the oval cars have carbon bumpers, but they also stay under the body.
Like the black car here:
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmarch04.html
I'd get into F1 if it gets more popular. If I'm going for scale looks, that's where I'd head.
I know the oval cars have carbon bumpers, but they also stay under the body.
Like the black car here:
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmarch04.html
I'd get into F1 if it gets more popular. If I'm going for scale looks, that's where I'd head.
05-19-2014, 10:29 AM
#962
2 reasons...first is safety. Carbon fiber sticking out past the body could injure a turn marshal. Second reason is carbon fiber doesn't absorb the energy of an impact. It just makes it so the chassis doesn't hit stuff. A foam bumper works much better in absorbing the impact.
05-20-2014, 01:28 AM
#963
Tech Adept
2) It would also be great if we ran tires that would last more than a couple of runs. Perhaps spec foams (or even rubber tires) could be the answer. The purple stripe lilacs do seem to work very well for the WGTs, so why not try to find a comparable combo that would work equally well on the 1/12th scale class? For me, the biggest drawback to running 1/12th scale these days has become the need to bring a couple of different tire options to each event and especially the need to true them all way way down in order to be competetive. The tire bill has become unreasonable. I can run my WGT at a very high level on just a single set of spec tires for each event, and that one set will usually remain usable for several more subsequent race days. By contrast, I'll usually use up at least 2 (and sometimes 3) sets of tires during a typical 1/12th scale race day........not to mention the need to carry multiple sets of a couple of different tire compounds...... just in case my usual tire choice isn't working so well on a given weekend. IMO, the tire bill has become the biggest downside to 1/12th scale racing. A spec tire (even if it were a rubber one) could go a long way towards reducing the cost of tires. This is not to mention that nobody enjoys spending inordinate amounts of time at the tire truing station. I'd suggest a durable and peel resistant foam tire that would come at a raceable size right out out of the package, perhaps in combination with a minimum tire size rule (to discourage tire truing).
I think a lot of it is a problem with perception - guys see people cutting tires down to almost nothing and only running them a couple of times, think that it is what's required in order to be competitive. They also think you need a hauler bag full of tires of varying compounds, sizes etc.
We all know that's not really true, unless perhaps you're competing at the very top of the class at national or international level. However, like it or not, it is the way our class is perceived by a lot of people on the outside.
If there was a 'spec' tire, colour banded, hard-ish wearing and readily available for a reasonable price then I think it has mileage. The difficulty is in getting the ball rolling. I think that if one of the major series or races (IIC, Snowbirds, BRCA Nationals, JMRCA Nationals etc...) adopted a control tyre, perhaps only for its stock class, then the concept would quickly gather steam and propagate to club level which is perhaps where it is most needed.
In the UK the above has been discussed at length, but strangely most folk seem opoosed to the idea, and some won't even entertain it as an option.
It's a difficult one, and I'm not sure what the answer is, if there even is one!
05-20-2014, 01:44 AM
#964
There's already been a whole thread dedicated to the topic of a spec tire in 1/12th.
05-20-2014, 08:21 AM
#965
Tech Master
iTrader: (6)
I was hoping someone might say that in response to my question! Whilst I am not really in favour of rubber tyres (mainly because I don't think they'd actually work very well on our cars) I do think that as a class we should think seriously about spec tires in order to limit the costs for the average racer. If a newcomer knew that he could buy a couple of sets of spec tires and be on what everyone else is, the class becomes more attractive to him because the costs are more evident and it's easier to achieve a level playing field if everyone's running the same stuff.
I think a lot of it is a problem with perception - guys see people cutting tires down to almost nothing and only running them a couple of times, think that it is what's required in order to be competitive. They also think you need a hauler bag full of tires of varying compounds, sizes etc.
We all know that's not really true, unless perhaps you're competing at the very top of the class at national or international level. However, like it or not, it is the way our class is perceived by a lot of people on the outside.
If there was a 'spec' tire, colour banded, hard-ish wearing and readily available for a reasonable price then I think it has mileage. The difficulty is in getting the ball rolling. I think that if one of the major series or races (IIC, Snowbirds, BRCA Nationals, JMRCA Nationals etc...) adopted a control tyre, perhaps only for its stock class, then the concept would quickly gather steam and propagate to club level which is perhaps where it is most needed.
In the UK the above has been discussed at length, but strangely most folk seem opoosed to the idea, and some won't even entertain it as an option.
It's a difficult one, and I'm not sure what the answer is, if there even is one!
I think a lot of it is a problem with perception - guys see people cutting tires down to almost nothing and only running them a couple of times, think that it is what's required in order to be competitive. They also think you need a hauler bag full of tires of varying compounds, sizes etc.
We all know that's not really true, unless perhaps you're competing at the very top of the class at national or international level. However, like it or not, it is the way our class is perceived by a lot of people on the outside.
If there was a 'spec' tire, colour banded, hard-ish wearing and readily available for a reasonable price then I think it has mileage. The difficulty is in getting the ball rolling. I think that if one of the major series or races (IIC, Snowbirds, BRCA Nationals, JMRCA Nationals etc...) adopted a control tyre, perhaps only for its stock class, then the concept would quickly gather steam and propagate to club level which is perhaps where it is most needed.
In the UK the above has been discussed at length, but strangely most folk seem opoosed to the idea, and some won't even entertain it as an option.
It's a difficult one, and I'm not sure what the answer is, if there even is one!
05-20-2014, 02:03 PM
#967
Would two wheel offsets cover all 12ths? If there was one brand of wheel with one brand of foam and the wheel was offered inn "Yok" offset and what I consider the standard "BSR" offset would that allow every 12th to mount up and race on spec tires? Or are their other pods that would require a 3rd or 4th offsett option. I don't see why 2 wheel options would be such a big deal. more starts get iffy...
05-20-2014, 02:33 PM
#968
Would two wheel offsets cover all 12ths? If there was one brand of wheel with one brand of foam and the wheel was offered inn "Yok" offset and what I consider the standard "BSR" offset would that allow every 12th to mount up and race on spec tires? Or are their other pods that would require a 3rd or 4th offsett option. I don't see why 2 wheel options would be such a big deal. more starts get iffy...
05-20-2014, 03:24 PM
#969
There are 4 different wheel off-sets that I know of: BSR, Jaco, Yokomo, and Pro One. If you used the Jaco off-set that will work for most cars because those that run BSR/CRC can just space out the axle for the difference. The problem will be with the Yokomo and Pro One off-sets as they put the hub in near the center of the wheel.
05-20-2014, 03:40 PM
#970
There are 4 different wheel off-sets that I know of: BSR, Jaco, Yokomo, and Pro One. If you used the Jaco off-set that will work for most cars because those that run BSR/CRC can just space out the axle for the difference. The problem will be with the Yokomo and Pro One off-sets as they put the hub in near the center of the wheel.
05-20-2014, 03:40 PM
#971
Not being snarky...I've never even heard of Pro One. Is that another chassis-specific wheel?
On a related note: at some point there's a downside to proprietary designs. It's not that one doesn't sympathize with or have respect for those racing an outlying car, but if the upsides to rallying around a single spec are great enough, it may be that the Yokomo or others can either adapt or be set aside for mod (or the shelf.)
I've been skeptical about the need for a spec tire. But, listening to those in our club who are considering 1/12th, and having some respect for their doubts and not merely waving them off with an eye roll, I'm beginning to think there is some merit in the idea.
On a related note: at some point there's a downside to proprietary designs. It's not that one doesn't sympathize with or have respect for those racing an outlying car, but if the upsides to rallying around a single spec are great enough, it may be that the Yokomo or others can either adapt or be set aside for mod (or the shelf.)
I've been skeptical about the need for a spec tire. But, listening to those in our club who are considering 1/12th, and having some respect for their doubts and not merely waving them off with an eye roll, I'm beginning to think there is some merit in the idea.
05-20-2014, 05:28 PM
#972
As I understand it...the Pro One design was the one that Josh Cyrul created and was selling. He then sold the design to Steve Dunn who sells them under the name Pro One. Hope I didn't get any of the names wrong.
https://www.facebook.com/ProOneRc
https://www.facebook.com/ProOneRc
05-20-2014, 06:06 PM
#973
awful lot of stuff here for 1/12 . my fave I guess with F1 as well.
My thing is whats the deal? I can open a 3000 pack or two and break them down to 4 cells and go like stink all day long with no problems and go just as fast or slow as I like.
Race cheap, race forever.
My thing is whats the deal? I can open a 3000 pack or two and break them down to 4 cells and go like stink all day long with no problems and go just as fast or slow as I like.
Race cheap, race forever.
05-20-2014, 06:14 PM
#974
pro-one already offers a spec tire set, we are half way there?
http://www.discountrcstore.com/Pro_O...p/prof1225.htm
http://www.discountrcstore.com/Pro_O...p/pror1310.htm
I would expect this covers the yokomo offset situation?
http://www.discountrcstore.com/Pro_O...p/prof1225.htm
http://www.discountrcstore.com/Pro_O...p/pror1310.htm
I would expect this covers the yokomo offset situation?
05-20-2014, 06:35 PM
#975
http://www.rcmxstore.com/index.php?m...rt=20a&page=17
If you scroll down the page you'll see some spec tire donuts available from Morotech. This is helpful for those who like to make their own tires.
I might give them a try and see how they work.
When it comes to spec tires, I quite like the idea. I've been using Kyosho's new F1 spec foam tires. They work really well, and I've won every club race while using them.
If you scroll down the page you'll see some spec tire donuts available from Morotech. This is helpful for those who like to make their own tires.
I might give them a try and see how they work.
When it comes to spec tires, I quite like the idea. I've been using Kyosho's new F1 spec foam tires. They work really well, and I've won every club race while using them.