CAT SX - First photos

[muzzy]

For people with concerns about the gears, belts etc, don't worry about any of these things as that is the sort or norm that we do lots of testing with, and there won't be any issues with any of this. As for the motor plate as Matt has tried to explain, its a very simple and effective design, just sooo much easier to explain by showing you rather than trying to explain it in words on a forum, so please be patient until you get to see it, then all will make perfect sense
Also for you guys that don't like it and want something pretty, would you prefer something cute, pink, pretty and slow, or like the new Cat SX, a completely state of the art brand new unique design that is fast!!! Believe me, when you get chance whenever it is to see it go you shall be very pleasantly surprised, this thing is Fassssstttt!!!!!!
Mark

[Wraggy]

Originally Posted by muzzy

like the new Cat SX, a completely state of the art brand new unique design that is fast!!! Believe me, when you get chance whenever it is to see it go you shall be very pleasantly surprised, this thing is Fassssstttt!!!!!!
Mark

so the new Pred is fast and this is fast !!!

so what ur saying is that if i put the same motor in another car then it wont be as fast ??? because its the car thats fast .

sorry i dont buy it

[MattW]

Well, i will say this much. Last time we tested, we first did one run with my xx4 with a Speed Passion 5.5 motor. Then we did a run with the SX and a similar Speed Passion 5.5 motor - and it isn't printable what i said as i went down the main straight on the first lap with the SX.

I'm not going to claim it is purely car - but i will say that on that day on that track with similar motors, the SX had more straight line speed than my own xx4.

[muzzy]

Well the cars will be similiar speed straight line, yes I agree, but due to the balance design and handling characteristics of this car you shall be fast over the laps I guess I should of put, Just wait and see!!! Ha Ha Matt I remember those words that we said when it went down that straight, and your right, not really printable on here was it a blurrrrr or something if I remember
Mark

[Welshy40]

Well its definately a new design and great that these guys are back to designing new stuff instead of copying. however it doesnt appeal to me so Tamiya has my order, and thats a shock as I never thought I would ever buy a tamiya.

[muzzy]

Only thing I would say on that Welshy is make sure you will be able to get spares for your Tamiya if your at a track and break it, or if many others at your local club or friends will run that car to assist with parts. I know most UK shops have pre ordered the new Cat SX and spares will be readily available throughout the Uk, and there will also be team drivers present at lots of big meetings for assistance if needed. Just a couple of things to bear in mind.
Mark

[DaveG28]

Hope it is there SUnday, will be really interesting to see it in the flesh.

Kind of surprised if the straight line speed is strong to be honest when compared to other cars with same motors etc, as that looks a hellishly inefficient drivetrain, motor through spur through a gear then 3 different belts!

Not saying it won't work, just I'd have thought it would be less efficient which probably isn't important now we can all run faster motors than we need and plenty of runtime along with it!

One Q, is that LIPOnot really exposed? Say landing the chassis on a ridge of a jump, if its tilted on that side the LIPO will get a direct hit won't it?

[bender]

I have to say that the lipo fit-ment really looks to be an afterthought - it sticks out of the side of the chassis at the front, requiring the undertray to be cut, plus it moves the servo out on the other side, again requiring the undertray to be cut.

This would seem to be counterproductive to keeping the inside of the car clean, which would be very important on dirt tracks with those exposed gears.

Can someone explain how the front layshaft is mounted? It appears to use a single fixing point like the Mi3? Not sure how well this will hold up considering the size of the pulleys an how far away they are from the mounting point.

It does however look very well balanced and the chassis is certainly slim enough.

How do you adjust the slipper, with that 2mm hex head screw I see on the spur gear?

[antnee]

doesn't wow me now but I will have to see it in the flesh and see it go before I make my mind up completely.

also £350!!



mark; were your chips nice?

[bender]

I just noticed that in the feature list it says "internal gear cover" - I hope that refers to the idlers gears, it will be one less thing to worry about on dirt tracks at least.

Anyone else noticed that the car has Fireblade style UJ shafts rather than rebuildable CVD's?

[schmacher]

is the only difference on the lipo chassis the lack of battery slots? couldn't you in theory mount nimh cells in the same position as the lipo and add some battery stoppers so the batteries don't move ? i like it

[Tim Ward]

re previous comment about the aerial mount - I notice that the aerial is mounted different on the NiMh and LiPo versions in these photos - so guess all you need is a drill!

Personally, regardless of how the transmission looks, I want the car to go well - after all it is from a British company!

Interesting!

2WD next?

[JohnM]

Originally Posted by antnee

also £350!!

I was only just saying to my wife that £350 isn't really alot of money for a top line car nowadays, yes the B44 is super cheap, but when you build one you can see why, but when I think back to paying £340 for a Pred in 1995, cars are cheaper now in real terms then ever before

As for the Cat, I like it, its different, so as long as it works, who cares what it looks like, and at least its been designed over here, on our style of tracks, so shouldn't be the compromise that some of the cars from the rest of the world are when they get here, remember the XXX4, works in the States, not so well here, or even the BJ4, won the worlds, makes a great club racer, but hasn't really lit up our National series has it?

[MattW]

I think John is correct - cars are kind of the same price that they always have been. Sure the B44 is cheap.........in more ways than one, but that isn't really the norm.


Please be aware these are prototype shots and some details are subject to change.

.....................there's a message in there somewhere.

[RogerM]

Originally Posted by schmacher

is the only difference on the lipo chassis the lack of battery slots? couldn't you in theory mount nimh cells in the same position as the lipo and add some battery stoppers so the batteries don't move ? i like it

Not sure why you'd want to do that as it'll be nowhere near as well balanced as arrangement Scumacher have chosen.

[vinny20]

Dont like to be rude but i dont like the car much i just dont like the layout But i have no idea how it will peform

[super__dan]

I'm looking forward to seeing one, I really like how 'out there' some of it is, but out there because of a purpose and design philosophy that is sound and makes sense. It has to be proved if this is reliable enough but at least Schumacher have it out before the start of the year so I'm sure Si and Matt will have it competive quickly and so by mid season we'll all have to see how quick they can make it.

If £350 is all in and needs no further upgrades then that is about the going rate to kit out a race car. The xx4 is cheaper but even that needs a one way which isn't cheap. The B44 is exceptionally cheap and is bringing 4wd to the masses but I hear some parts are not so good quality, as indeed are some of the B4 bits I put on my new X6 in the week but that's another story.

[delanobe]

A nice review would tell the story

[SHY]

C'mon guys!

The design is kinda Volvoish / boxy, but the engineering is very clever indeed! I like it when engineers think for themselves, there are way too many factories just copying successful designs!

Mi first thought was: "Ah! Why haven't anyone thought of that before?!" I mean, the driveline has always been "in the way", so why not move it! I'm sure you all know that for track nitro cars the long belts are put out on the side.

Will be interesting to see how it handles!

Schumacher as far as I know have always been known for making winning cars. Complicated and a bit vulnerable perhaps, but still a winner in the right hands. I'm sure it will be fine after SP1!

Open gears is never ideal, but as well as the body is well closed I guess it should be no biggie... Should be possible to make some wafer thin lexan covers also perhaps?

And don't pick on the shell! It's not too bad! And that's always highly subjective! I mean, I know many like the TRF501-X body. Myself I'm just wondering when it will transform into a robot... I'm qute sure I've seen that car in a Transformers movie!

*applause*

BTW what's the idea behind the Schuey logo??? (the 3 arrows)

[schmacher]

i just don't like the fact of having to have packs that i can only use in this car and can't use in others...kinda sucks