My return to racing- GT12 Class- Schumacher Atom 2

[Stormbringer]

Well done tho mate really impressed how you got on 

Guess youl be reading all the new rules and start tweaking the car for next time 

[PraetoR]

Thank you. Yeah, I'll be trying to work out how to squeeze more performance out of it.

 

It might be limited, how much I can actually claw back, as my motor is only 3050Kv and some of the guys are using the new, Hobbywing, 3600Kv motor!

[Shergar]

You must be pleased as punch 🏆

 

Do you think there might be a few new Schumacher’s at the next round? 

[PraetoR]

24 minutes ago, Shergar said:

You must be pleased as punch 🏆

 

Do you think there might be a few new Schumacher’s at the next round? 

I certainly am. Didn't think it would go that smoothly.

 

Well, I'm not too sure, it was almost-all Schumachers, already! Only one guy I know of has a Zen. There maybe be a couple more, but I never saw any.

[Stormbringer]

At least it will give you confidence going forward now and again well done 

 

[PraetoR]

9 hours ago, Stormbringer said:

At least it will give you confidence going forward now and again well done 

 

It certainly will. Thanks!

[Retro Racer]

On 03/03/2022 at 21:16, PraetoR said:

It's the same Futaba T2HR system I have on my Losi XXX-S touring car. Nice and ergonomic, with the ability to set the throttle stick back, giving more throw, allowing for greater control.

 

 

What do you think of the Futaba T2HR transmitter? Do you find it better than a steering wheel and trigger transmitter?

[PraetoR]

28 minutes ago, Retro Racer said:

What do you think of the Futaba T2HR transmitter? Do you find it better than a steering wheel and trigger transmitter?

Depends on what set-up you prefer. I am much better with stick transmitters and I really like the T2HR; it's comfortable and has the features I want (albeit, not many of them).

However, I know people who MUCH prefer steering wheel transmitters and can't drive sticks! All depends on which feels better.

 

If you are looking for a stick setup and you don't need a lot of features, the T2HR is great.

[PraetoR]

OK, so week 2 was... umm... almost a week ago, but better late than never!

 

Picking-up where I left off; my car was too slow and I found out that not only are you allowed to adjust the timing on your motor, everyone-else already had!

Mine came with 30 degrees standard and it goes up to 50 degrees. I decided to try 40 degrees, as turning it up too high will cause overheating and premature motor death.

Increasing the timing increases the RPM, but reduces the torque (as well as spiking the temps), so I decided to down-gear it; from a 27t pinion, to a 25t.

 

One other thing I did was program the ESC to the radio gear. I hadn't done that, before. It worked fine, but I was supposed to do it.

Previously, when I released the stick, the motor would automatically brake. After programming, that no longer happened; it just free-wheeled. If I wanted brakes, I'd have to slam the stick back.

 

Anyway, a few changes made, so, on my second race meeting, I was interested to see what would happen:

 

RACE 1

I was put a class above where I was last time. Makes sense; but with more people here this time, I was still in the "C" heats. It just so happened that there was now a "D" heat, as well.

Started fourth, as car number 4.

I messed, straight away! End of the first lap, at the end of the start/finish straight, I came off-throttle, expecting brakes, but of-course... there weren't any! Last week, my car would have braked. This week, it went straight-on, into the wall!

And... I did it again, the very next lap! Requiring a marshal. So, two laps completed and I was already almost a lap behind! Great!

 

What about the speed? Well... it certainly drove harder, out the corners! I was pleased with the way it would pick-up. Definitely better. Not super sharp; certainly, still nowhere-near some of the other cars, but better.

At the end of longer straight, it still needed a little more legs.

 

However, speed was the least of my issues! It was UNDERSTEERING LIKE CRAZY!! It turned like a lorry!

I hadn't touched the setup, but the carpet was new and bedding-in. Grip was increasing with every run. A few race meetings and it'll be at peak performance.

With increased surface grip, comes less steering. My car wasn't set-up aggressive enough to deal with it. Couldn't get on-throttle for AGES, while rounding corners; every other car was pulling YARDS! Man, it felt like a boat!

 

HOWEVER!! Even THAT wasn't my biggest issue!

 

 

Yeeeaaahhhh... no signal from my transponder. Nor for the number 3 car.

 

A few people had issues, throughout the night. Resetting the telemetry system seemed to help, but myself and few other didn't have accurate readings all night. From Race 2-onwards, the telemetry guy had to manually count my missed laps. Not ideal.

Anyway, I reckon I finished 3rd, in Race 1. Despite the poor turn-in, I made very few other mistakes and the guy in-front was making quite a lot. Pretty sure I overhauled him.

 

Moving on!

 

After that race, I decided to increase by 1 tooth on the pinion, to 26. Needed just a little more top-end. According to MATHS, 27/28 teeth would be optimal, but my motor temps were definitely higher, with the increased timing. I didn't want to push it.

Also increased my front tow-out, to try and make the front end more aggressive.

 

RACE 2

Happier. Car was faster down the straights. Turned in a little better, but not yet good enough.

 

As said, my telemetry issues were not behind me, but most laps were now being counted. Some had to be logged manually, which depends on the guy on the computer, so lap times were probably not 100% accurate.

Nevertheless, I drove better, with a slightly faster car. I was still struggling with the lack of turn-in, but not as much.

 

This race was the first time I can say that my car was holding it's own, down the long straight (at this competition level, anyway).

 

But, I didn't drive particularly great; too many mistakes. Not the most (that guy finished fourth), but I left a lot of time on the table.

Part of that was still trying to get used to the fact that brakes worked differently from last time.

 

This time I finished third, with proof! 

 

 

 

RACE 3

Added yet more tow-out. Actually, it turned out to be too much, but I wanted to try something! I don't yet know enough about these cars to start seriously adjusting setup.

 

Race 3 was basically like Race 2, except I drove much better.

 

I probably made the least mistakes of everyone in the race, but that was balanced-out by the fact that (because of my boat-like handling) I had the slowest car over a lap.

Getting into a rhythm helps, as I would adopt a sort of "swoopy" driving style; with wide, sweeping lines. Overtaking was... uhh... tricky. 

 

Anyway, this time I finished hot on the heels of the guy in second. Not too bad, really.

 

 

 

Anyway, finals time.

 

I was put in the C Final, which was actually as good as the B Final, from last week. As I said; there were more people here, this time.

Furthermore, I had exactly the same 3 people in my final, as I had in my heat. Fair enough!

 

Before the race, two of the gurus came over, to try and help with my lack of turn-in. I didn't have the materials (or time) on-hand to drastically change the setup, so I was given some advice for next time.

As for this race, I was given a "plaster-over-a-broken-leg" kind of fix... by removing two structurally-integral screws! This was far from an ideal solution, but it would introduce some chassis flex, allowing the car to turn harder.

 

FINAL

It worked! The car could turn-in!

It wasn't brilliant, it didn't handle all that great and it sort of felt like something was wrong... although that might have been placebo.

Anyway, it was quicker over a lap, so that's all that matters!

 

I drove worse than Races 1 & 3. Maybe even worse than 2. I made plenty of errors. But, it was quicker, so I was quicker.

I did the same number of laps as Race 3, despite my poor driving, so that shows how much faster the car was.

 

More importantly, with about 30 seconds to go, I pressured the 2nd-placed driver into a mistake and overtook him.

I managed to stay ahead and finish the final in 2nd. I was pleased with that; not a bad effort! 

 

 

 

With the advice from Guru 1 and Guru 2 buried in my brain, I went home with a plan...

 

So, over the last couple of days, I've done this:

- Reset the front tow-in to an acceptable ~1-1.5 degree tow-out.

- Fitted the "green-rating" front springs.

- Set my rear droop to ~1mm.

- Change the oil in the rear/central shock absorber to 50k (from standard 30k).

 

I've also changed the camber strap on the front, from the kit standard, to the optional "Number 1" version (there are 3 optional straps). Number 1 gives 1.5 degrees negative camber and 5 degrees of castor angle.

I've had that from the start, but I was advised to change to it before the final, except I didn't have time.

It's another pretty piece of carbon fibre.

 

 

Finally (and what I'm most excited about), I bought an upgrade! Which arrived yesterday (as I'm typing this).

 

It's the carbon fibre rear axle (fitted). Replacing the standard aluminium one (in my hand).

Niiiiiiiiiice!

 

 

 

I'm probably more excited about this than I should be, but let me explain!

Reducing rotational mass does approximately 10x more for performance, than reducing non-rotational mass. OK, this is only a few grams, but that might make a difference, with such a small, light machine. Especially with the axle being THE MAIN rotational mass.

Also, the axle friction is slightly better than before; I've obviously done a better job of fitting it.

 

So, with my somewhat-underpowered motor now having to turn less rotational mass, against less rolling resistance, it should spin-up quicker, rev freer and run cooler.

My car should drive harder out of corners and have more pace on the straights.

 

OK, the increments will be tiny, but it pleases me knowing this! This is not a "will it be better?" sort of part... this is a full-on UPGRADE!

Yay! 

 

So, for next time, my car should handle better, turn tighter and go faster. I like it!

Cheers. 

[Stormbringer]

Congrats mate and heres hoping its even better next race night 

[PraetoR]

20 minutes ago, Stormbringer said:

Congrats mate and heres hoping its even better next race night 

Thanking you. Making progress!

[Shergar]

Interesting reading as always - are you going to revert to the old style stick braking?

[PraetoR]

11 hours ago, Shergar said:

Interesting reading as always - are you going to revert to the old style stick braking?

Thank you. Yeah, if that suits the way the cars like to be driven. I haven't fully unlocked the driving style, as yet.

 

Actually, I have far larger problems, as of yesterday. Explanation coming soon!

[Stormbringer]

Ohoh  !!!

[PraetoR]

Oh, forgot to link to the replay of last week's final. Here you go:

 

[Stormbringer]

Good vid mate thx for showing it 

[PraetoR]

So, this is what happened 

 

 

 

 

Few photos, but they don't tell the story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REALLY hoping a new chassis solves it!

[Stormbringer]

Ouch mate really hope the new chassis sorts it out

[lorrylemming]

Sorry to hear about the issues, but I've really enjoyed these race updates. Looking forward to the next one!

[PraetoR]

Cheers, guys. No work on the replacement chassis. It's on back order. I don't think it'll be here in-time for Friday, but I'm still hoping!

[Shergar]

Ouch is all I can say - is this normal in 12th scale throwing the chassis out of alignment or just bad luck?

[PraetoR]

1 hour ago, Shergar said:

Ouch is all I can say - is this normal in 12th scale throwing the chassis out of alignment or just bad luck?

I couldn't really say, I've only been doing it for 3 weeks!

 

It seems the steel chassis is susceptible to tweaking, though.

[supersavage]

The LMP12 car I raced was really prone to chassis tweak and it didn't necessarily have to be a hard impact just one at the right angle to tweak it. I just had to loosen a few screws then re tighten them to get things back in line. 

[PraetoR]

Yeah, sounds familiar. Unfortunately, I tried the screw technique and it didn't help. New chassis has arrived, though!

[Stormbringer]

Cool its good new chassis arrived 

Have you had chance change it out yet ?