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Aug. 29, 2013, 8:28 a.m.
8/29/2013
By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com
For years Team Losi Racing fans have been waiting for a new 1:10 4wd buggy, and just last month LiveRC revealed the TLR team testing what is thought to be this new buggy at Silver Dollar Raceway. Since then, buzz about the new buggy has been swarming the industry as everyone is wanting to know more and more about the buggy.
While we have not yet uncovered any further details of the ACTUAL Team Losi Racing 4wd buggy, we have in fact found a VERY cool project TLR 4wd buggy from Switzerland. It is unsure at this point whether or not this car will ever be put into production by Team Hofmann, or just simply used by their drivers.
What you see here is a TLR 22 2wd buggy that a very dedicated father converted to a 4wd buggy in order for his TLR driving son to race the 1:10 4wd buggy class.
Rolf Hofmann is the man behind this project, and here is what he has to say about it:
"The story began in summer of 2012. We love our TLR Twenty-two’s. I am very proud of my 12 year old son Tim who can catch up with the Swiss elite drivers and even could win various podiums. But now it's time for 4WD! Unfortunately TLR has nothing to offer so far and we can’t wait! We tested some “plastic” solutions but we could not get a Team-Losi Feeling. And the story took his way.
I tell you. I've stopped counting the hours for this project. But I brought it to great end.
The first ideas in summer 2012
- The front axle is designed as 4WD.
- The weight distribution is close to 4WD common when the battery is placed in front.
- The large distance between the motor and diff. Gear is a part of the above-mentioned facts.
- The steering with slider rack provides more space for the gears.
- From "Twentytwo". The mass can be maintained centered. Drive belt above the centered battery.
- We can also install a shorty batteries
What material should I use? How can I make parts of it? At this time came 3D printing to the project. Purpose, the parts had to be designed with 3D CAD. Even that was new to me. In the next few weeks, I learned to draw part.
At Christmas 2012, I ordered a 3D printer. After initial experiments with PLA plastic and ABS plastic, the device had to be extended in order to obtain the necessary accuracy. Now I am able to produce precision parts. Thus, the first own ABS plastic parts created. The belt drive brought another challenge. Again passed with a few weeks. End of April 2013, the first true ride on the track. Again, some changes had to be made. Since June 2013, the new race car has run smaller races.
The future depends on what TLR will announce – if they will – at the World's 2013 in California.
For our small team, with a young talented driver, the new 4WD Car has already brought good respectable results on last two Rounds of Swiss Nationals. A-final on a carpet race track at the first use of Minipin tires. B-final with top 6 Pace on dirt track. Unfortunately, too many errors on the difficult track. The last run in the B-final would have been enough in the last A-Final to rank fourth.
I arrived at the destination. My son Tim can ride his first season with 2WD and 4WD. And this with a "TLR" vehicle. I think that this project is so successful that it is of interest to other racers. But it is also a reference for today's 3D home printer. The project brought me tons of input and some new friends. And for the future I hope a lot of fun and good results."
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