Large RC Car Bodies

[KingNothing_834]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Ryan and I am a senior in high school. I am currently in an engineering class in which I have to research, collect market data, design and build a working product. Below is a link to a google form regarding my project. Please consider responding to the poll if you have time. Thank you!

 

Link: https://forms.gle/Kv4UksLq562gQdSu8

[GMballistic]

Filled it in for you Ryan. 
Good luck with your school studies. 

If you post in the "Introductions & Welcomes" sub section you might get more people completing the form.
https://www.msuk-forum.co.uk/forums/forum/79-introductions-welcomes/

[Nitroholic]

Filled in the form ...but.....here's some extra advice!

 

Large scale RC generally means 1/5 scale. These are large and heavy vehicles powered either by 20-30cc petrol engines, or large brushless systems. As a result....bodies need to be pretty tough. Same goes for 1/8 scale too really.

This is why the material of choice is generally Lexan.....(OK..polycarbonate...other brands are available.. )

 

Some manufacturers have used ABS plastics, but these are at the budget end of the market, and the shells are prone to fracture.

 

When the shells are made, they are generally vaccuum formed, which as a process gets harder to do as the finished item gets larger. Thicker plastic is needed to allow for the stretching around the corners, which needs care when heating. Costs tend to rise massively as the size of the product goes up. Your highest price is basically what people are currently paying for good 1/8 scale shells.

 

I would back up a little of your research here with some general market research on what is currently in the marketplace, what scale and designs are catered for ( and NOT catered for ) and then also look at what models are common in the scale you want to build. So...for example...if you wanted to cater for a 1/5 scale HPI Baja .....the wheelbase and suspension width would have a major impact on what would work. But get something good...and there are quite a few out there and the market is potentially quite good. Choose something more niche.....and things may not go so well. Offer an Escort Mk1 or Mk2 shell that fits an HPI Baja....and I think you would get a fair bit of interest!