robk

iTrader: (22)

I absolutely believe in aerodynamics in 1:10 but I do not believe that a successful full scale design involving elements unavailable in 1:10 (like the specifics of the underside of a full size racer) will translate 100%. I think, from my experience, that as long as certain elements are present a body will be good. A decent splitter, a non ginormus cab area and a decent wing are most of the ingredients. How long or short the body is will determine a lot as well.

I have tried a lot of stuff that doesn't work. I had an old Protoform 3 series BMW from the early days of touring car that looked wicked but pushed off the track..too tall no splitter. The HPI Saleen S7 looks awesome but is a limo because it's too long. It can work on really big tracks though. HPI RX7...meh, kinda pushy. Tamiya Skyline...long, kinda pushy, not much front end downforce. Might be too boxy.

The thing is I will take any and all Protoform Corvettes (non-WGT) that you can find, over any prototype or anything else. It's like Mazda 6, it just feels good and works in almost all situations and they are all gone

robk

iTrader: (22)

Thats your opinion

k_bojar

iTrader: (30)

I ran the Tamiya Nissan GT-R (sumo power version) and it felt perfect all weekend at the Southern Nationals...plus it was heavy enough that I didn't have to add any weight to my Tamiya Ta05V2 - whereas if I went with my HPI Porsche GT3, I had to add weight

both had scale (ie, kit wings) that were pretty much straight and didn't have all the aerodynamic bends and such that some of the molded HPI wings offer - nor did it have the huge scoop or side dams like the TC-based wings offer

beemerfan

iTrader: (39)

What is the eBay seller "Team Blue Groove" 190mm Corvette a reproduction of? Maybe Tamiya? I know I've found all kinds of discontinued bodies that they reproduce, only thing is they don't include any mask or decals.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-C5-...item2333d57758

robk

iTrader: (22)

It's probably the Tamiya. The Hpi has no splitter at all if I remember right

mooby64

iTrader: (3)

That body appears to be an HPI corvette.

tdu verney

Then it's a 200 mm....???

DARKSIDE

iTrader: (2)

90% of all the bodies work....it all depends on your chassis setup....if the body gives your ride a push, give it more steering ect...it can work...just got to do the work to make it work

Racer X

iTrader: (2)

I'm SURE bodies make a difference, which is why I originally asked the question as to what bodies everyone was running now. Back in the day, almost everyone ran a NSX...there was a reason, it was faster. With the NSX gone, I was just wondering if there was a definitive body that everyone was running. Sounds like there isn't (except ALMs bodies seem to be quickly growing) and it seems to make some sense as to why.

Aero is aero...if you don't think that aerodynamics plays a big part in RC cars racing, take off your TC wing and try (and I do mean TRY) to do one lap at speed without spinning out. If you are running a body with a very wide and high windshield, you are pushing more air and it will be slower on a large track (but the higher downforce may make it faster on a small tight track). Underbody areo (ground effects) don't make much of a difference in RC because instead of having several inches between the nose of the car and the ground, and a large distance to the rear of the car, we generally have maybe 1/2 inch (or hopefully less) to the ground and a foot or so to the rear of the car. There just isn't much air getting in there and it doesn't have very far to move to create much of an effect.

In USGT, the motors limit how fast the car can go which makes aero at speed about the same (if a car is going 25mph and another is 10% slower, that's much less noticeable than a car going 45mph and another 10% slower). I'm SURE that there is a difference in lap times depending on the body, but it is most likely measured in the 1/10ths of a second, but it could still be significant (maybe up to 1/2 second a lap) depending on the track type and length, but that isn't easy to see unless its the same driver, same car, same everything except the body and I'm not convinced that it has really been tested. Also, being slightly slower in the straight may be compensated by the increased downforce in the corners (making a car faster on the infield). The trick is finding a body that is low profile enough to be fast in the straights yet still enough downforce to be planted in the corners. The NSX had that combination...sounds like the 350z may also have qualified (low profile but good downforce).

I just don't want to see the class taken over with ALM bodies. I agree, discouraged is a word that should always be discouraged, especially in rules. What it says to me is 'this may be an advantage, but we hope you will choose not to use it'. Rules are supposed to be YES and NO, not maybe. Still, I've noticed that there are more and more people running the ALM bodies in USGT. If they are not better than current USGT bodies, why run them? If bodies don't make any difference in RC racing, try running a TC with a Alpha Romeo body and then a Speed 6 or LRT or any other TC body and tell me you don't notice the change in the car.

Rant over (this didn't start out to be a rant)...

robk

iTrader: (22)

Yes aero is important but ALMS bodies are not magical. A lot of people seem to think they are for some reason, yet the races I go to I almost never see them in the A main.

StephenSobottka

iTrader: (8)

I am going to be outside of the norm? I am going to run a skyline R34 from HPI this weekend and let everyone know how it goes. I am running a one way in a shaft drive car also. Weight transfer has a lot to do on tight tracks, guess if I can't make it work, it just won't? LOL

howardcano

iTrader: (37)

I've noticed many guys don't take the time to (or even know that they can!) adjust the wing on the body they use. This is a very important tuning tool, yet some guys put on a body, notice that it makes the car too pushy or loose, then dump it for another body. When I ask if they tried to adjust it, they just give me a quizzical look.

Even a good body can be a turd if it's not adjusted properly.

StephenSobottka

iTrader: (8)

Ready to rip!

Dobbs

iTrader: (31)

That is awesome! Nice job

Kevin K

iTrader: (32)

This whole body issue has been talked about ad nauseam. The core issue is perception VS reality. Look at some of the "GT" bodies they are not too far from ALMS bodies people are concerned with. Then look at the results from some of the larger USGT races and see what is "actually" being raced. Dont let your preconceived idea about a body's shape or aero fool you. Racers will always end up with what works....look at the results.

In the end just have fun with the body that you like and works for your driving style.