[TC12] Fire Ant - One-minute pitch

[Didumos69]

One thing about ants; they are known to work together very well. And they stack together to survive big threads. You make book of that !

Edited September 12, 2017 by Didumos69

[Aventador2004]

3 hours ago, Didumos69 said:

One thing about ants; they are known to work together very well. And they stack together to survive big threads. You make book of that !

Whah!?! How?!

[Didumos69]

13 hours ago, Aventador2004 said:

Whah!?! How?!

It is what they do, but I'm not serious about implementing this of course. It would go beyond my budget. I was just trying to intimidate the other contestants 

[Aventador2004]

2 hours ago, Didumos69 said:

It is what they do, but I'm not serious about implementing this of course. It would go beyond my budget. I was just trying to intimidate the other contestants 

No, I meant how did you build those? copy paste?

[Didumos69]

2 hours ago, LvdH said:

What!? No DBG chassis?   

Looks really cool though... It seems like a little brother to your Rugged Supercar; similar body style (pythagorean triangles, the angled liftarms), the rigidity, and of course the colour  

Haha, no, no DBG chassis. I would like to have it DBG, but it would be too visible and I prefer having 2 colors. Black and red works fine imo. Two contrasting colors give the opportunity to emphaszie the elements that define the perceived shape. Btw, I'm happy that you see the resemblance with my rugged supercar, both in style and rigidity . Here you go (also the inclined lines in the go-cart's nose are similar to the ones on the supercar's trunk door):

1 hour ago, Aventador2004 said:

No, I meant how did you build those? copy paste?

Yep, copy and past. In LDD that is. I started with stacking a few tires and than clicked the rest of the car in. Btw, as the ants can only drive forward, the middle layer had to face backwards to actually contribute. These ants are smart .

[Didumos69]

I added exhausts. I have tried many things, but I simply don't like screeming exhausts. I've also tried to add exhaust pipes but it makes the whole engine block to massive and detailed compared to the rest of the model. So I think I'll stick to a set of modest exhaust that stick up from the bottom of the rear segment.

Edited September 13, 2017 by Didumos69

[Didumos69]

Added simple head and tail lights. I think I leave it at that. EDIT: I have two options for the head lights. Which one is better? I slightly favor the second image, because it looks less messy.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Didumos69

[schraubedrin]

Those lights are a nice addition.
For me, the first version looks more like a creature, the second more like a buggy.

[Thirdwigg]

I like the lights lower.

While I am liking the look of the car, it's missing a visual transversal horizontal element. The Car is missing width. Could you add something simple over the rear wheels that gives a little visual width? What about adding a simple rear light bar or spoiler made with the #21 panels?

Edited September 14, 2017 by Thirdwigg
clarity

[Andy D]

I am liking the changes. The exhaust looks great! I prefer the second version of the headlights. Not sure how crazy you need to go visually. I really like the turning function, that is "whacky" enough. Keep it tasteful, you don't have to go too cartoony to have a great "whacky" vehicle.

Andy D

[Didumos69]

So I'll go with the lower lights.

6 hours ago, schraubedrin said:

Those lights are a nice addition.
For me, the first version looks more like a creature, the second more like a buggy.

I had the same feeling and I guess I prefer buggy over creature. So far all my models have been referred to as buggy, haha. I played with a miniature buggy as a kid, maybe that's why .

4 hours ago, Thirdwigg said:

While I am liking the look of the car, it's missing a visual transversal horizontal element. The Car is missing width. Could you add something simple over the rear wheels that gives a little visual width? What about adding a simple rear light bar or spoiler made with the #21 panels?

I think you have a valid point. I'll see if I can do anything simple about it. Thanks!

3 hours ago, Andy D said:

I am liking the changes. The exhaust looks great! I prefer the second version of the headlights. Not sure how crazy you need to go visually. I really like the turning function, that is "whacky" enough. Keep it tasteful, you don't have to go too cartoony to have a great "whacky" vehicle.

Andy D

Thanks! This is exactly what I will do. I might give it a very small touch here or there, but in essence this is it. It's a V4 go-cart with a wacky turning function. In the end, the contest is a race, so getting there fast and keeping speed in turns while not loosing any parts, is this guys sole purpose.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Didumos69

[Isamudyson]

When i looked at the 2 images of the lights really quick it looks like as if the lights can move between the top and bottom.  

I like the lower lights as well.

[Didumos69]

20 minutes ago, Isamudyson said:

When i looked at the 2 images of the lights really quick it looks like as if the lights can move between the top and bottom.  

I like the lower lights as well.

Thanks. The lights themselves can rotate (the pins with pinhole they are attached to), but the (+0)-liftarms are attached to a secured axle with their +-sides. Also in the second image the (+0)-liftarms switched places with two adjacent red bushings.

[Andy D]

10 hours ago, Didumos69 said:

...snip

Thanks! This is exactly what I will do. I might give it a very small touch here or there, but in essence this is it. It's a V4 go-cart with a wacky turning function. In the end, the contest is a race, so getting there fast and keeping speed in turns while not loosing any parts, is this guys sole purpose.

I think as you do.  A 4 cylinder GoCart with a wacky turning function is wacky enough... Keep it wacky-classy! Yeah, right wacky and classy in the same breath.

Andy D

[Didumos69]

5 hours ago, Andy D said:

I think as you do.  A 4 cylinder GoCart with a wacky turning function is wacky enough... Keep it wacky-classy! Yeah, right wacky and classy in the same breath.

Andy D

Wacky and classy, that's a nice marriage! And if it doesn't look wacky, the driver's experience sure will be .

@Thirdwigg, I tried to add some 'width' to it, also with the small panels you suggested, but everything I try deviates from the concept. I managed to add a single wide element (wings above the rear wheels), but it would only fit if there was more width in the other sections too. And that's where it would lead to compromises, because the middle section must be able to tilt without touching the ground. So it has to be narrow, at least at the bottom side. So I decided to leave it as is.

I did some final form-locking to live up to my own standards and in that process I also added pedals (yellow). The pedals can actually be reached in case you were wondering where the driver's feet should go.

Edited September 15, 2017 by Didumos69

[Thirdwigg]

Thanks for giving it a try. Still a great design.

[Lipko]

I like the model very much, but I'm wondering what the PTO will be used for.

[Andy D]

1 hour ago, Lipko said:

I like the model very much, but I'm wondering what the PTO will be used for.

Maybe a whipped cream Gatling gun?

Andy D

[Didumos69]

2 hours ago, Lipko said:

I like the model very much, but I'm wondering what the PTO will be used for.

Thanks! Haha, to be honest I had to google what a PTO is.

48 minutes ago, Andy D said:

Maybe a whipped cream Gatling gun?

Andy D

LOL. Maybe it reveals there is a secret feature. But for now it is for manual drive, in case one would not want to push this model around. I might add a 12t gear: HoG driven, Hand of God driven, sounds wacky

Edited September 15, 2017 by Didumos69

[Lipko]

By the way, it's interesting that you mentioned the Unrollable by @kodlovag, because these are two models that I would build (hopefully I won't forget this when I'll have time to build).

[Didumos69]

12 minutes ago, Lipko said:

By the way, it's interesting that you mentioned the Unrollable by @kodlovag, because these are two models that I would build (hopefully I won't forget this when I'll have time to build).

I think @kodlovag's model is quite remarkable and his work is what got me started. I hope his model will work out fine in real life. It's been quiet for a while on his thread. I think I'm enough pacifist to favor models that are designed to win without actually affecting other contesting vehicles.

[JDL1967]

When are you going to post WIP of actual build? I am looking forward to see them. LDD looks nice but i prefer the real build of it. I keep following this topic, i am sure that real build of the ant would be amazing.!!

[Didumos69]

I'm currently checking parts availibility, have a problem with 4 red thin 6L beams that I want to use, but after solving all that I will order parts and build it. That should be in about two weeks or so.

Edited September 15, 2017 by Didumos69

[thekitchenscientist]

Looking at the rear of the vehicle it seems like it could perhaps have a  manual wheelie function, or fold up so the wheel base shortens. You have a good eye for clean lines. 

[Didumos69]

On 15-9-2017 at 10:47 PM, thekitchenscientist said:

Looking at the rear of the vehicle it seems like it could perhaps have a  manual wheelie function, or fold up so the wheel base shortens. You have a good eye for clean lines. 

Thanks! A wheelie function sounds nice, but the middle and front segments would hang in the air free to rotate. I wouldn't know how to shorten the wheel base, but I reckon the 4-wheel steering will give the car a very nice turning radius. I think I will leave it at the turning function.

On 15-9-2017 at 9:58 PM, Didumos69 said:

I'm currently checking parts availibility, have a problem with 4 red thin 6L beams that I want to use, but after solving all that I will order parts and build it.

Problem solved: I now use two bent liftarms instead of the 4 thin beams. See the liftarms embracing the seat. EDIT: I also changed the front lights a little. The slanted red lines running over the front are a little less blurred this way.

Edited September 21, 2017 by Didumos69