How to Build a 1/87 Scale RC truck a.k.a.TTTT

[race2c]

Hello All, I am getting taken in by the TTTT phenomoen here on Tinyrc.com and have decided to try and build one. I am going to try and get the basic parts out of the way at the lhs. But, I have a few ?'s. The first is how do you connect the steering linkage to the actual axle? Also, when it comes to electronics i'm not a wiz by any mean and would like a few sites or tutorials on how to do those things?

If anybody knows of any more english sites featuring TTTT could you please post them or even email or pm me.

[Overlander]

WElcome to the facinating world of sub-scale off-road trucks.

I know it is a lot of reading, but the answers to all of your questions are here in this very thread.



Hopefully this will get you started:
The steering is connected with small diameter brass wire from the servo to the steering linkage.
The electronics are very basic and mimic any larger scale RC system.
I suggest you use Babblefish to translate the German/European websites. English sites are few and far between so far.

FYI, I am personally planning to start a small buisiness manufacturing and selling TTTT kits (did that get your attention arch?) so in the future, I will have some English content on the web.

Good luck and happy reading!

[race2c]

Thanks for the info overlander; I really appreciate you all helping n00bs to the TTTT figure it out and get them going.

[arch2b]

, i'm there!

oh, incase you don't know...minizracer had some sever problems yesterday and yours and my album, maybe some others, are missing pictures. well, in your case, all of them . mini z mentioned restoring a backup....you'll have to email him.

[race2c]

I read the WHOLE thread and have a few more questions.


arch2b- On your order to that guy for your electronics what are the first things listed?? Also, did he say he would sell more stuff like that as a package to someone else?

Also, I may have misread a little bit but where can I find a gearbox for a TTTT truck? Also, can most of the batteries be purchased at a radioshack or similar type of place? Did someone also say that you can make a speedcontroler (ESC) and a motor out of servo?

Thanks for all the help. I am asking so many questions because I am going to chicago in a couple of weeks and will try and find most of the stuff up there. There are a few hobby shops down here but they are few and far between.

[arch2b]

my order from that consisted of:
one tx
2 pico servo's
one rx
as for the charger...do killer's cell phone charger mod
these are all the electronics you will need

gearboxes are home made...unless you get one from someplace like tttt-parts.org. (overlander said he will be making parts...i trust his skills!) you can pick up all kinds of gears from train hobby shops.

you can find the batteries in the shop here (bit scetion). they might be hard to find in a store. i think they are 1/3AAA size...

yes, use a servo pcb for a speed controller, again, use killer's servo/speed controller mod. he made it pretty much idiot proof for me

i hope i've answered your questions...

[Overlander]

My first gearbox was from an HO model train. A company called North West Short Line www.NWSL.com sells some neat ones. I used the 50:1 box with the 2mm shafts.

Some people use the gears from Faller Car System cars. Neither way is cheap.


My plans to make TTT parts are for chassis and axles first. Gearboxes I have not thought about yet, but I am still in the initial stages of what exactly I want to offer.

My first step is to purchase a CNC setup. After that, I'll see what I can make in a cost effective way. Right now, I use manual machine tools that take way too long to produce parts that I could make money with.

[race2c]

Is there any programes/sites/etc. that show how to build a gearbox?? Or would I be better off just to buy a model train/faller car system and use one of them??

[arch2b]

having bought the faller vehicle...go to a train hobby shop and ask if they have gears....much cheaper and in my case, the owner gave me some. he had a nice size work bench with a box full of them...it can be done much cheaper than buying a train of faller vehicle.

[race2c]

I was wandering around on TTTTparts.org and on one of the pages (About the technics) below what they sell they are building a truck to show you and they say you can use a Lemo or KG series gearbox...Is there anywhere I can find these or similar in the U.S.??

Anyone have an idea about that gearbox????

[arch2b]

found this through a link to a page with a link to a page, etc...

very useful for those that can make these themselves!
front axels schemaitc drawing

[arch2b]

killer,
i've really been refining my brass work and soldering skills! check out what i made for my overland in less than an hour!
post with rear tailgate on mzr

[squeegee]

I would LOVE to have an Ovelrand.......but I'm saving for TTTT parts. Your work on the Overland is absolutely amazing. You should make dublicates of the parts you have made and sell them.
Even though I don't own an Overland yet.......I would still buy all your parts!

[killer]

Originally posted by arch2b
killer,
i've really been refining my brass work and soldering skills! check out what i made for my overland in less than an hour!
post with rear tailgate on mzr

:ö: your skills with brasswork are unmatched Arch2b , that is sooooo awesome, really is a sucker for realism
-æ

[arch2b]

thanks for the kind words.... .

i spoke with miniz/tinyrc about the possibility of having my parts duplicated....it's being looked into. have to wait and see, only time will tell.

while i am confident in my skills at 1:28 scale...my skills at smaller scales is much less than that of killer . my 1:87 was a real learning experience and is what helped develope my skills at larger scales. once you cut, sand, grind, solder brass at 1:87...1:28 seems much easier

on a side note: has anyone seen/heard from overlander? i know he travels alot but it has been a very long time.....hate to see such a talented builder leave