My favorite project...the eveolution of the Mini-T

[cowboysir03]

Hi!

So this project has evolved over the years that I've been in electric RC. I like to call this bad boy "The Uber-T" since I've done so many things to it it's almost indestructible.(I'm sure I'll figure out a way to break it though...)

It started in the summer of 2006 when I bought a basic Mini-T with a few cool tidbits from a guy at XMW.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/mini-t.jpg

Well, it took me all of three minutes to break a rear knuckle on a curb so it was the start of the evolution of my Mini-T.

A host of alloy later it was fairly strong...until i hit a concrete wall doing 40mph.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/mini-tdamage003.jpg

So right around Christmas 2006 i came across a smoking deal from the UK where a guy had a CF chassis roller with some tasty alloy that I could keep as spares...that and some li-po and I was off again to test it's limits.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/mini-tupgraded002.jpg

I tried some different stuff to make the rear grip better, including some DIY 1/10th sedan wheel conversion that turned out fine until I blew the tires right off the rims at 55mph or so.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Mini-Twheelconversion011.jpg

So after an epic bashing session at the Whistler Skate park, I landed a bad jump nose first and seriously bent the front end where the alloy bulkhead joined the CF chassis. I decided to try fabricating a cool item i saw online to stiffen up the front end....

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/mini-tworks002.jpg

So that worked pretty well except I kept breaking the screws that held it in place. I decided to make a one piece unit that combined the brace and the top deck so impacts would be absorbed across the entire chassis instead of localized in the front.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/mini-twurks2004.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Mini-Twurks3003.jpg

So that worked really well until last year when i absolutely blew a double backflip and had the truck tumble from about 20 feet in the air...destroyed the brace and a few key alloy bit so it was time to rework it on an epic scale...

The next post will show you all the workings of the Uber-T...

[zippo855]

looks like a very nice project. as some of the other projects of yours i have seen. it should turn out to be a very quick awesome bashing truck :) one question though, does it flip very much? i know my propulse with the sidewinder has to be lowered almost all the way to the ground in order to keep it planted.

[suicide_star]

wow man, that's a badass mini t...i love the brace that you fabbed up, these little things can become quite the moneypit.

[cowboysir03]

( I thought I'd break it up because most php boards have a 10 picture limit...)

1. Rebuilt the top deck with two layers of 1.5mmCF laminate
2. Mounted an insert in the top bulkhead to screw in the top deck
3. Made a CF brace of the rear tower (don't know how many times i broke shock wings off)
4. Structurally braced the front shock tower with alloy tubing and a bit of creative mounting
5. Structurally braced the rear tower to stop it from bending in a top down crash
6. Found a cool steering linkage online to reinforce the silly GPM steering arms (I've broken at least 6 of these things.:roll: )

Built it all up and you've got...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T001.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T003.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T010.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T007.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T008.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T012.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T014.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a258/CowboySiR/Uber-T018.jpg

Well, I can attest to it's near indestructability...the only worry i have right now is a roof landing doing double backflips at the skate park. to that end I'll be buying a new shell this summer and fiberglassing it to increase the rigidity. I hope to have enough strength to try for a triple back this summer( which involves blasting full tilt at the concrete 10 foot quarterpipe to get at least 15feet of air off the top of the wall).

Let's hope it works.:lol:

[cowboysir03]

looks like a very nice project. as some of the other projects of yours i have seen. it should turn out to be a very quick awesome bashing truck :) one question though, does it flip very much? i know my propulse with the sidewinder has to be lowered almost all the way to the ground in order to keep it planted.

I tend to ease onto the throttle and then mash it when it gets some speed. I
For backflips I get it towards the wall full tilt, coast up the transition and floor the throttle midair...it spins real good then.:lol:

[lol]

OMG. ITS YOU COWBOY! HIA. You Remember Me? XD Wish I had a Mini-T. Seems Very moddable and fun especially if it is very ridgid and you do crazy crap with it.

[supraracer]

Ahh! There it is, i havent seen this for awhile(cant get on infernal).
You know ill deffinitly be adapting some of these reinforcements to mine, im sure stuff will be breaking soon.

Last i saw you just started the front bulk head brace(the silver metal one). this thing looks nasty now you could run that into anything lol.

[supraracer]

hey what do you use when cutting your carbon fiber bits?