Mini-Z Fun!: 2006

Hector's new FORD GT!!!

Tuner transformation! MR01 RM to 02 MM!!

The parts for the conversion arrived today along w/ other parts. So let the tuner transformation begin!!
The original MR-01 chassis ==> Chassis opened:

==> Guts out, ready to transplant:

Adding a servo saver ==> Saver installed

==> Power supply connected:

New front suspension parts ==> Front suspension installed

==> Mid-mount alloy motor pod:

MM motor pod and new ball differential is installed

==> Dampers are installed:

Well, the top-shock was rubbing underneath the low-slung body of the GT, so it had to go. Additional mods will need to be done to the back of the body in order to get the shock to fit.

Total hours conversion = 3.5hrs, w/ hourly rate of $150! hahaha.. That's a total bill of.... But it's okay, I'll give Hector a 100% discount on labour.. . it'll be my belated x'mas present. :P

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Edit: Just test drove it after rebuilding the temporary track.. broke my back doing it.. but I couldn't wait to see how it handles. My goodness.... what a world of difference!! It just doesn't drive like it has the same electronics and motor.. this thing is planted! Hector, you're going to enjoy this.. :)

Video link of first test drvie: http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3829405057567702171

1st run on new track!

The temporary foam mat track is complete! It has great traction compared to tar-paper and I think it would last much longer. Here are a few photos and videos of first runs on the new track, plus a video of my first attempt at drifting on a track!!

Test run w/ mr02 mm Enzo:
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3814796742109173785
First attempt at drifting(!):
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7898887796310925626

FORD!!!

BOY! BOY! Better watch out ur "Ar ZO" soon cus a very FAST andFurious FORD is out looking for prey!

look out for another 01 to 02 hybird coming soon...hint hint!

BTW, the lil 'IS' that could be history very soon...

New track surface tryout!

Saw these anti-fatique pads avaialable at Costco last night for cheap.. around $15 for 8 of them. that's much better than $30 for 6 at Wally's!

Quick! Snap some pics before it's completely ruin!!

This was supposed to be a "basher"... cheap cheap body from an alternative maker that needs to be "reworked" to fit. But looking at it, I still feel the ache of having it wrecked up and paint stripped... so.. in memory of what it used to look like. "sniff....sniff....."

Test laps with "Night-rider" NSX

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8316106840156939859

Gloss coat solution.

There just might be a cheap solution to getting that gloss coat on the mini-z bodies. Info is in this tread: http://www.minizracer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19605&page=1&pp=15. Specifically, the complete list and instructions could be found here: http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

Home built track

Came across this home built track. http://www.geekjoan.com/latencyproject.htm pretty impressive stuff. Apparently, a lot more details were added later on.. but the pictures are no longer available.

Head and tail lights~~!!

Here comes the NSX, "Night-Rider" version! hee hee heee :D

Tuning and Upgrades. Part-1

You might already know this, but I thought I'd share with you some of my tuning tips and what I think is essential in terms of upgrades to make the car fast and most importantly, easy to control. They will be listed in order of priority.

1. Tires, Tires Tires. This is the only part of the car (rolling and skidding upside down aside) that comes in contact with the track's surface. If the front tires doesn't grip, you'll have no steering and push wide at every turn; nevermind trying to change directions in order to avoid head on collisions with a fellow trackmate, or to negotiate that S-curve with any sort of velocity. If the back tires doesn't grip, the car's tail will spin around everytime you try to negotiate a turn. If the grip levels are not balanced left to right and vice versa, you'll find that the car will push wide turning to one side, but over steering going to the other. If all of the tires doesn't grip, you might as well try running without tires on, as it won't make much of a difference :p It's simple stuff, but often overlooked when trying to figure out why the car doesn't handle the way you'd like it to handle.

2. T-plate (or H-plate for MR01). This is the crucial component for the back "suspension" mechanism on all mini-z's with the exception of the MA-0101 AWD mini-z, which has an independent suspension at the back as well. On 2wd mini-z's, the rear end is essentially a live-axle suspension setup with the T-plate holding the rear axle and motor to the chassis' body. All the stock T-plate does is this.. hold the back together. It lacks the proper twisting resistence and "spring" rate force to allow the car to carry any sort of speed through corners. With aftermarket upgrades, there are usually several widths and therefore hardness to choose from.

Discounting the effects of a working rear damper system for the moment, generally speaking a soft t-plate allows more body roll, allowing for more mechanical grip for low traction conditions, and hard t-plates allow the car's responses to be quicker with higher grip conditions.. I say generally because some of the effects of soft and hard t-plates can change with the inclusion of damper systems and top-shocks, and more importantly the hardness in relations to the front spring rates, which will be discussed later on.