Servo - July 2009

Dave Brown Lite
Flite wheels
proved popular
among
beginners,
as well as
veterans.

The Sabertooth 5 is a solid, medium priced ESC.

carbon fiber, as well as the classics:
aluminum, UHMW, or polycarbon-
ate. OnlineMetals has a nice
selection of polycarbonate, in sizes
like 12” x 12” x 0.25, for around
$10 ( www.onlinemetals.com).
I remain true to my Kevlar
honeycomb with titanium overlay,
or else a good old hunk of solid Ti.

Radio Systems

TABLE 2 ITEM

• Drive Motor

• Wheels

• Hubs

• Drive ESC

• Drive Batteries

• Weapon Motor

• Weapon ESC

• Armor

• Radio Receiver*

• Power Switch

• Fittings/Parts

DESCRIPTION
Two B16 gearboxes with HS180 motors
Two 1.75” Lite Flites
Dave’s
Sabertooth 5
Thunderpower 1300 mAh 3S, 11.1V
Axi 2820
Creations Phoenix 45
0.25” polycarbonate
BR6000 Spektrum
Dean’s Ultra Connector Link
Various

PRICE $70 $5 $21 $60 $45 $100 $120 $20 $50 $5 $30

New builders should be aimed at the 2. 4 Ghz systems, so they can be compatible with rules for all future events. The Spektrum DX5e ($73) with BR6000 ($50) from Robot MarketPlace is the preferred, and possibly only RFL compliant, system, and a real bargin in most builder’s opinions.

Power Switch

Spektrum DX5e five-channel transmitter ($73) is considered part of infrastructure, like the battery charger ($50-$100).

All three builders went with a Dean’s connector link. No argument from me, except I tend to use Anderson Powerpoles for this; $2 a pair from Robot MarketPlace.

TABLE 3

• Drive Motor

• Wheels

• Hubs

• Drive ESC

• Battery

• Weapon Motor

• Weapon ESC

• Armor

• Radio Receiver

• Power Switch

• Fittings/Parts

• Transmitter

• Charger

Total

ULTIMATE $70 $4 $21 $60 $45 $100 $120 $60 $50 $5 $30 $565

$73

$50

$688

VALUE $64 $4 $4 $60 $20 $25 $35 $20 $50 $5 $30 $317

$73

$50

$440

Pusher guts — not for the faint of heart!

the equivalent Axi is $70-$100.

Weapon Controller

Fasteners, Fittings, and Parts

The Turnigy Plush 40 amp speed controller, ($35 Hobby City), Jeti Advance Plus 40a ($100 at Hobby-Lobby), and the Castle Creations Phoenix 45 ($120 Castle Creations) all come highly recommended.

Top builders use top quality parts. McMaster-Carr and SDP-SI are the bomb, parts-wise (www. sdp-si.com; www.mcmaster.com).

Today’s Beetle

Armor

A potpourri of responses came in, of course, titanium or

Putting it all together, our shopping list is in Table 2 (assuming high-end parts where we gave a choice).

This totals up to $526 for the bones of a highly competitive beetleweight. Depending on the builder’s abilities, the cost for the frame, fittings, weapon, wire, etc., will vary from free to another $200 or so.