Which CAT 2000 for clay track ?

[stulec52]

Hi all,

I have parts enough to build a nice CAT2K to go race on a new local clay track.
I know it's an old car, but guys there still run XX4s and the like, and I'm thinking with Li-Po and a mild brushless setup it should be good enough to run some laps, if not quite compete at the sharp end...

So, my question is, which one to build??

I have enough parts in my collection I could build it as original, EC, or 98, or any mixture thereof.
Anyone tried a 2000 on a clay track?
It'll be pretty smooth, with fair sized jumps.
I'm thinking EC as the chassis will make Li-Po fitment easy, but I dont know about laydown shocks for the larger jumps.

all opinions and thoughts welcomed !!

Stu

[schmacher]

not sure if they will fit, but you could try the big bores all around on the ec

[MattW]

Id go with Hybrid. I'd use the EC/SE chassis, with the newer SE/98 transmission. You could then use either the old style stand up shocks or lay down. I think both of them had some sucess on clay, I think Craig won a Euros with the stand up car, and Jukka won a euros with the laydown car.

The laydown car is likely to be much easier to drive, with the stand up car potentially being better on jumps and having maybe a touch more traction. I think i'd start with laydown and see how it goes.

[slow coach]

used to race the original cat2000 on loose dirt and liked the way the car handled then upgraded to the EC version and never got on with it tbh, it just was never as good on our track, maybe i just never got on top of the handling with the EC, as the tracks adapted to more multi surface/astro and went away from all dirt the cat2k changed to suit and for those of us on pure dirt lost some of the traits of the original car

[stulec52]

Matt,
I actually own THE car that Craig won the euros with !
Although it might be too cool/ rare to race with again
But I might use some pointers from it for my build

Thanks for the ideas guys!

[isobarik]

Matt,
I actually own THE car that Craig won the euros with !
Although it might be too cool/ rare to race with again
But I might use some pointers from it for my build

Thanks for the ideas guys!

you got to snap some pics.

mvh isobarik

[stulec52]

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=83550&id=2

I should take some better pics and link to the model cars and RRC mag articles of the time as well.... Maybe one day
I have a shelf full of older Schumacher stuff omy collection, and boxes of parts from mid 90s CATs and cougars, so I think running one again could be fun.

I do also have some 3000 stuff, but I never raced that car as much and didn't think ( at the time) it was a huge advance from the 2000.

[schmacher]

i have both the 2000 ec and the 3000...i found that i drove better with the 2000 ec

[Northy]

I remember running at Aire Valley back in the day with stand up shocks on the rear and lay down shocks on the front :woot:

[stulec52]

I remember running at Aire Valley back in the day with stand up shocks on the rear and lay down shocks on the front :woot:

Hey Graham,
I was actually thinking that might work quite well.
mind you I was also crazy enough to try front wheels all around on my old MID when we ran on low grip indoor tracks, only to find out that it worked great !

[stulec52]

I also meant to ask, has anyone actually run Li-Po in a CAT2K ?
just looking for pics as to how best to mount cells.
Looking like they have to go down one side, which worries me for balance.

thanks !

[terry.sc]

I also meant to ask, has anyone actually run Li-Po in a CAT2K ?
just looking for pics as to how best to mount cells.
Looking like they have to go down one side, which worries me for balance.

thanks !
:confused:
Saddle pack lipos fit in the same place cells fit.

If the problem is you've only got stick pack lipos then run it down the side like the Cat 98 did. Add a few stick on weights to balance it all up if needed. If you need something to fit the lipo down the side how about the Radshape lipo tray (http://www.radshaperc.com/batterytrays.html), should be easy to modify to bolt to the cat chassis.

If you need any setups have a look here. http://web.archive.org/web/19981201205412/http://www.racing-cars.com/setups.htm Not the best quality but thye are from a time when we were all on dial-up.

[malkusson]

I always prefered the car with stand up shocks rather than with laydowns.
Attach photos of the car I drove at the Euros 2009 in Bilbao Spain.
I was using Corally saddlepacks at the time and they fitted perfectly placed at standard battery-position.
Car performed really good, was only the drivetrain that didn't like brushless and lipos ;-)


//Kenneth

[stulec52]

Terry,

I only have normal Li-Po packs, not the saddle type, and the thought to use those ( or should I say spend money on them) never occured to me !
I did just find a nice used B44 buggy, which uses saddle packs, so I think I'll build my CAT like in Kenneth pics. Great pics by the way, and hope that I can build something nice enough to have some fun with . Losi shocks?? looks great !

oh, and thanks for the links to that site Terry, they make some nice looking stuff !

[terry.sc]

RadshapeRC is run by TC member Sideways-King, which is why they do lots of vintage Tamiya parts. The main business is known for sheet metal work on full size cars. (http://www.radshape.co.uk/projects.html):woot:


Stand up shocks should be better on large jumps. The laydown shocks are great in getting the CoG low down, but they don't work so well when landing from jumps.

You could always build one of each.

[stulec52]

I should drop him a note then me thinks !
His hex adaptors look just the thing I need for my little fellas Grasshopper !

and yes, I COULD build 2 CATs, but I know already the jumps will be large although the surface will be smooth, so I'm thinking stand up style shocks would work best.
although I think some better shocks would help.
been fun digging out lots of parts for this project already, trying to think what would work best.
I do have a nice Fibre Lyte top deck I think would work well, it's nice and stiff, so that's going on. some new belts and hinge pins too, it should work fine I think.

[Conrad]

used to race the original cat2000 on loose dirt and liked the way the car handled then upgraded to the EC version and never got on with it tbh

Same here, original 2k all the way :D

If you only have stick pack lipo's then you should be able to use the 98 chassis, you would just have to make a cell tray for it, you need to do this for the normal saddle chassis anyway. If you want a cheap fix you can use some lead weight on top of the chassis to stop it moving or glue/double side tape a piece of grp/cf under the lipo to fall in to the cell slot. You will need some long battery posts as well.