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.
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.
Railing solutions. Vinyl?
Came across this canadian hobby shop's site (located in Mississauga). http://www.boytoys.ca/Flex-Z-Track.htm
Looks like they are selling a package of rails for building tracks in the basement. However, I think we can buy these materials at Canadian tire (in the gardening section) for much cheaper. We do have to find a way to fasten them securely on the track though, but it's something to keep in mind.
I also came across another site that sells "ozite" carpets. http://yourautotrim-store.stores.yahoo.net/ozflexcar.html Though these are not specially made for RC racing like the CRC ozite, but I wonder if they are the same thing.
New track layout
Noticed this pic in DaV's previous post regarding track carpet. It seems like a great layout for our track, what do you guys think?
It's fairly similar to what we're used to - with a few back to back hairpins, but also with the addition of a high-speed sweeper. Should be pretty fun running both clock-wise and counter clock-wise.
A viable option for a more permanent track?
I was doing some research on carpets available for RC. It seems that the quality of the carpet is also quite important. Patterns in common carpets can cause drifting and pulling in this scale of cars that might cause the cars to not be able to track straight.
A very popular carpet material for RC indoor racing is called "ozite". I found a website that sells this material here: http://www.teamcrc.com/InventoryJan2000/Inventory%20Pages/Ozite.htm
CRC ozite is used in many large hobby stores with indoor tracks for 1:28 and 1:10 RC racing. I did some calculations, and it seems that the cost of material to cover a track of 180 sqft is under $140 cdn. Perhaps this can be considered in the quest for finding a more permanent solution to building a track?
Warning: Excessive Drooling May Occur
Sorry to do this to you guys, but here are a few more beauty shots of THE ENZO. hee heee heee :D
Current Lap Records
It's time for the Fastest Lap Times for 10 laps of time attack! - Brought to you by Jfer dudes' mini-z fun!
At the original Mini-Z fun track:
(Times posted are the fastest ever achieved for each particular car.)
0-min, 58-secs -- Woodone Tom's AWD Supra (MA-010 AWD)
Setup: 2x1 7317 FET, XSpeed V AWD motor, loose diff, hard springs all around, 1 degree camber all around, 1degree toe-in front and back, 30 degree tires.
1-min, 01-secs -- Xanavi Nismo Fairlady Z (MR-02 94mm MM)
Setup: 2x2 7317 FET, Atomic Stock motor, loose diff, soft springs front, 2 degree camber front, loose Damper plate springs, 30 degree tires
1-min, 02-secs -- Epson NSX (MR-02 94mm RM)
Setup: Stock FET, PN Speedy 05, medium diff, soft springs, 1.5 degree camber front, soft side damper springs, 30 degree tires
1-min, 02-secs -- Jaegermeister (934RSR) 911 Turbo (MR-01 86mm RM)
Setup: 2x1 7317 FET, Atomic Stock motor, medium diff, hard springs, 1 degree camber front, medium damper plate springs, 30 degree tires
1-min, 04-secs -- D2 DTM Mercedes CLK (MR-01 94mm RM)
Setup: External ESC, XSpeed V motor, tight diff, medium springs, 3 degree camber, medium rear damper springs, 30 degree tires front, unknown back
1-min, 05-secs -- Lancia Stratos '77 Monte Carlo (MR-01 86mm RM)
Setup: External ESC, XSpeed V motor, tight diff, hard springs, 2 degree camber, no rear damper, 30 degree tires front, unknown back
1-min, 05-secs -- Subaru WRX STi (MR-01 90mm RM)
Setup: 2x1 7317 FET, Stock motor with neo magnets, stock diff, hard springs, 1 degree camber front, no rear damper, 30 degree tires
1-min, 07-secs -- Toyota Altezza 280 (MR-01 94mm RM)
Setups: Stock FET, Stock motor, stock diff, medium springs, 0 degree camber, no rear dampers, 30 degree tires
Not yet available -- Lamborghini Diablo VT (MR-02 98mm MM)
Not yet available -- Loctite NSX (MR-01 94mm RM)
Not yet avialabe -- WRC WRX STi (MR-01 90mm RM)
Da lil' "IS' that could
Da lil' "IS' that could :{
Rumor says it could do 1:07...
Very gentleman ride...not like those punk rockets 350Z, NSXs, and 911 :0
Oh yeah, forgot to mention about that noisy Supra and that CLK too ;O''''''
The new and growing line up!
And the recently "growing" line up of chassis.. wow, looks like we've come a "lot" way :p
Notice that 3 of the originals are already "RIP".. lol.
The Original JFer Mini-Z Lineup!
Here's a memorable pic of what started out as the original JFer mini-z lineup! From right to left: Rockson's tuned/fetted xspeed MR01 CLK-DTM D2 Mercedes; Simon's stock MR02-RM Ferrari 360 GTC; DaV's stock MR01 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (a.k.a "The Fly"); DaV's tuned Atomic stock MR02-RM Ferrari M575 Maranello.
Amazing Track.
I found pictures of an amazing track that's been built in Europe. I don't think that it is necessarily a fun track to run on, but it definitely looks good! Check it out here: http://alain.galluser.free.fr/Z/060611_Rallye_de_Molsheim_2006/default.htm
White Enzo
The lovely Ferrari ENZO body - in rare white! The first - and only - time it'll be put onto a chassis! :D It is going back to the display case!
Welcome to the MiniZ Blog!
Hey guys! Welcome to the Mini-Z Blog! Post photos of your lovely mini-z bodies, share your latest tunning tips, or simply brag about your fastest lap times here! hahaa!
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