BigSquidRC.com

Hey guys, in my spare time (hahah, yeah, right), I have been doing a little work on some drawings for some new drag wheels. Most available out there IMO is mismatched, appropriated from some other form of RC car, too expensive or just too damn hard to find or get a hold of. That, or what has been used offers little choice for racers wanting something different or more contemporary.

At first, I'm interested in looks above performance, with a consideration for strength, durability and lightness. I want them to look good on the cars, which so few wheels do today. I want nice looking aluminum wheels like we used to have back when LazerLite and Tecnacraft were making R/C wheels that were gorgeous. However, I also an interested in making the wheels out of Delrin and/or 6/6 Nylon as well, for actual race use. These will all be machined and not molded, so I can be flexible with design styles in small quantities.

What are the things that you would look for in wheels? Appearance? Color? Styles? Lightness? Durability?

What styles would most interest you? What sizes?


My first step is some rough scale drawings of a few ideas, followed by a materials and production quote based on a small run of wheels. I've begun working though some front wheel designs (below), but I figure once wheel blanks are made, then there should be an easy leap to different styles. I'm also planning both aluminum (looks) and plastic (racing), but I do want to make the aluminum versions race-worthy.

Here's a couple of roughs of the first few designs for 2" fronts...

Alumastar


Trakstar


Trakstar II


Magnum


Spyder (needs some adjustments still)


Prostar




Let me know what you think. At first, the idea is for 1/10th front and rears, but if there isn't enough interest to do these in any reasonable quantities, I may not pursue this much further.



doug

Very COOL !!! I like them all... I would definatly like to buy some once thay are in production. Have you an idea on pricing for the plastic versions and will they be availale in any other color other than black or white?

Right now, there is no pricing, as I'm just trying to gauge a need for new wheels. The idea will be to do them in polished aluminum, gold anodized aluminum and a dyable white Delrin. Dyable is good, as you will be able to make them any color you want.

I should say that if I can't do them for less than $40 a pair (aluminum) and $20 a pair (Delrin), I probably won't pursue this too much on a large scale.

i'd be in for sure nothing better than cool wheels

One more potential design...






Shell drawings should be going out today to be reviewed. I'm hoping to know rough production costs sometime next week, and maybe I will be able to figure out other costs that will need to be built into potential pricing on these to get an idea for everyone.

Thats cool doug u can count me in on some aluminium, and the nylon when u go into full prod.Nice job........ We do need a change in some wheels.I got one how about somthin a little offset,say hurricaine style?in nylon or alum.That would be sweet........ Just my thoughts.TTYL Eric "Evenflow Graphics"

Whelp, I got my pricing back on the front wheels, and it's within my cost tolerances.

The drawings for the rear wheels will go out by the end of the week, but the 2-bolt hub design is causing some design issues. I'm working out the aesthetics on the rears, but the fronts where a helluva lot easier to design.

As far as production goes, everything looks like it's in line to put into motion. I don't have any time frames yet, but things look very doable by the end of the summer.

Looks like the Delrin versions might be more complicated than I had expected, too, so we will need to do some prototyping before putting those into production.


More news as it develops...



doug

Sounds good Doug Keep us posted........ I know ill be grabbin some when ur ready..... TTYL Eric "Evenflow Graphics"