X6 Photos

[jimmy]

Thanks to Chazz @ Xfactory, I've been able to get some world exclusive photos of the X6 in its almost production status. They will be uploaded SOON. :)

[jimmy]

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/x6/ (http://www.oople.com/forums/../rc/photos/x6/)

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/x6/title.jpg

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/x6/ (http://www.oople.com/forums/../rc/photos/x6/)

[Oscar]

Is it just a little deceptive, or is the chassis really wide??
Car looks quite good though:)

[PaulRotheram]

i like it, you getting one john?

[Cockerill]

1.5mm wider than a B4 chassis

[DCM]

Looks like a Venom B4 shell, lol, soz, typical JConcepts, all swoopy and no shape.

Anyhows, technical things....

How strong are the wing mounts?

Whats with the funky angle on the rear camber link?

Chassis looks good.

How did it go??

[OldTimer]

Got to say i am not a fan of the shell design, but i can understand the reason why its the wedge shape for downforce. Do you have any side shots with the shell on jimmy ?.

Steve, i see what you mean about the rear camber link angle when you look down on the car.

I guess saturday will be the real test for the car :D

[jimmy]

There are changes already in process and this literally is the first test car with all the moulded parts. The Shell is the first draft by JConcepts and not finished.

I have to say the chassis and all the mouldings look fantastic.

[Stu]

Looks like it's been stood on by a fat marshall.
When the XXX4 came out it looked ugly but you sort-of get used to it.

[jimmy]

I have to say, the shell needs some stickers!!! I can't handle a car without any stickers, its just not right.:D

[DCM]

I think the rear of the shell is like that as they beleive in the shell giving downforce. It is good that they kept it symetrical, looks far better like that, plus the expanse of red draws your attention to it... like lycra and fat hips... never been a great fan of JConcepts but they are a means to an end I guess... keep dirt out.

As for the rear link, looking at it, they can't go much further forward witht he mount as it will hit the spur gear.

[bigred5765]

love the wing mounting brkts ace, looks good and as you say i guess saturday will be the tester

[jimmy]

DCM, wouldnt worry about the camber links, its the first time the moulded car has been together like this. Things are still in prototype stage even though they "look" finished.
Dan and Chris are really looking forward to testing the cars out properly, should be great to see something other than a B4 / XXX go round.

[YoungChazz]

For now we're running X - 5 wings. The New Math will have its own wing. The center will follow the shock tower and the outsides will not have the kick-up necessary to accomodate the X - 5's rear wheels.

There also will be some modification of the body at the rear next to the cabin to allow cooling ducts.

It's a work in process, done out in the open so you can see and give suggestions. We think it's a new, better way to do things. Keeping it a "secret" and then "springing" a new model on the public is so last year...

[Chrislong]

Well spotted on the camber link angle...

We are supposed to run B4 hubs on the rear, on oposite sides and the camber link is straighter, but I ran the Rayspeed 1/2degree hubs and the holes are central on these, so the angle was increased.

Notice also, we'll be running a camber link hole slightly further forward on future shock towers. and then the camber link will be straight. There is room for this.

Also, I had been running a home made toe in brace (with very little inboard toe in - which is why I put those hubs on). Literally as Jimmy arrived to take pictures, Dan arrived with parts (Challenge Aneka stylee), so I put the right toe in brace on quickly, cut the shell quickly and Jimmy took loads of photos..... but I hadn't noticed that the increased inboard toe in had given like -5 degree of rear camber. It was all rush rush rush, crazeh

I will have a better prepared car for weekend, and fingers crossed Jimmy will be able to take pictures of mine and Dan's to add to the X-6 gallery.

[DCM]

Chazz, to offer some contructive feedback on the shell to make it look nicer and less, hows the nice way to put this... jelly mould like, ask JConcepts to square up the corner between the horizontal and vertical part of the side pod and loose the raked up part of the shell on the outside of the spur gear hump, it will give the shell more 'shape' to it and make it look less ungainly. Just my opinion though.

What will be used to hold the cells in eventualy and is there room to add lead weight in the rear to aide traction if need be?? And what will spares availability be like in the UK?

[Chrislong]

Hi Steve,
I refitted my shell lower and recut the side 1/4inch higher and the shell looks a lot better for this. There'll be pictures courtesey if Jimmy after weekend.

There is going to be a moulded plastic cell strap, it'll hold cells in properly one way, and Li-pos if turned over.

Plenty of area to stick weight to if need be around the chassis and rear shock tower, but me and Dan felt no need for the lead in the rear, infact we experimented with putting lead in our noses instead. Traction is great.

Spares will be fully backed up by Lesro models in the UK. Daryl already has many drivers who'll be running the car including himself, and he'll have heaps of spares. No worries here, he is a very reliable guy and shop.

Me and Dan will try to answer as many questions as we can, to save Chazz some time, im sure Chazz will be on too to add to anything we have missed?

Chris

[DCM]

whats the rear chassis flex like Chris, one of the pics appears to show some noticeable chassis flex (weighted side being twisted up and distorting the shock tower)?

Not trying to be picky but is seems pretty much a large deflection when comparing that pic to a BK2 or B4 on the same corner. Otherwise looking good though, and be nice to see the shell more defined but thats only cosmetics.

[Northy]

When I had a quick go with Dan's on an all grass track it had loads of rear traction. I felt it was a little pointy for me, and could have done with the steering calming down a bit. Guess this is because there is more weight forward.

G

[Chrislong]

Steve, you'll have to show me the picture. I have had a look through and couldn't spot it.

The chassis flex is slight to the point it may be non-existent, certainly less flex than my Graphite BK2. The rear end is clamped solid through the gearbox into chassis with threaded steel inserts used, this goes through the tower. Then braced futher through the motorplate into a bracket in front of the motor (can be seen in one of Jimmys pictures) - this gives a lot of strength to the rear of the chassis. If this front bracket is left loose then the flex is increased very slightly, but even so, it isn't a lot - as the chassis is well moulded and strong to the rear too.

[PaulRotheram]

the only picture that i can see any hints of flex from is this one:

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/x6/imagepages/X6oople-15.html

but this just seems to me that the shell is mounted unevenly, as you can see at the front on the shock tower - the shell has been placed on crooked.

all but 3 other pictures are static images and i cannot find any signs of flex anywhere?

[DCM]

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/x6/imagepages/X6oople-14.html

Only reason I point it out, as I am not sure, chatted to Jim about it, but there 'appears' to be a significant delfection between the wing mounts and definately a difference in height of the wing mounts.

But I might be wrong, or it is an exageration of minor flex as the tower is mounted behind the box so any twist will be amplified.

[PaulRotheram]

i think thats just distortion from the wing mate, my x5 wing is very flexable, as are most others.

my wing is cut roughly the same as chris's on that picture and when going around high speed corners you can actually hear my wing rubbing on the tyre because it is flexing!

the wing mounts are spaced out, i presume only to reduce the flexing that the x5 gets and it looks very minor, and could be tricking the eye to think it is the rest of the car flexing?

i think it is just the wing though, i would'nt look too far in to it :)

[DCM]

I dunno, one part of me says, phot angle etc but my engineering mind has already calculated how a wing deflection like that can happen, lol.... Distortion shouldn't happen if the mounts are reasonably stiff and that distance apart, the whole idea of it is to stop the ends of the wings from flapping.

As I say, it could be a slight twist in the chassis (which most cars do) being over amplified due to it being further away from the 'stiff' part of the chassis.

[jimmy]

I will pull the picture if people aren't sensible about this. The photo is 1/2000th of a second in time.. this car is not flexing around a corner, it is landing from being airborne and the wing is deflecting.
I have photos of other cars on the same corner with more wing deflection than that - but because of the X6's wing mounts being further apart the middle can twist. Like paul said, this is thin plastic after all.

I have explained this on RC10b4.com as someone pointed it out there, people just need to be sensible about things. I see so many photos like this.

[jimmy]

I dunno, one part of me says, phot angle etc but my engineering mind has already calculated how a wing deflection like that can happen, lol.... Distortion shouldn't happen if the mounts are reasonably stiff and that distance apart, the whole idea of it is to stop the ends of the wings from flapping.

As I say, it could be a slight twist in the chassis (which most cars do) being over amplified due to it being further away from the 'stiff' part of the chassis.


Hi steve, the wing mount height hasnt changed. The right rear corner of the wing has been deflected down, the wing, pivoting on the wing mount, has pushed the centre of the wing upwards, twisting it in exactly the same way as all the photos I showed you of other cars. The only difference is the way the wing is mounted- the twisting from landing is the same.

This is a very very silly conversation though I have to say. :p

[DCM]

I think it is probably me over-analyzing Jim.

[Chrislong]

The wing is still a bit loose on the wing mounts. Imagine fitting a wing to a B4 without those plastic shims? it wobbles a lot doesn't it.... well that is how the wing sits right now as I need some of those B4 shims. So the wing is literally rattling all over the place - the car certainly isn't flexing as much as it would need to if it was distorting the wing that much, as it would snap - its rigid.

Anybody got any of the B4 wing shims spare? :flower:

Steve, if it had faults - you would know about them, just have a read on 2wdrc.com and Chazz is 100% open on everything. Please keep the questions coming, but also please don't pick holes where there are none.

[Chrislong]

I think it is probably me over-anal-yzing Jim.

Agreed :jimmeh

[jimmy]

How about some of that chassis protective sheet under the wing holes chris ? I have some of that I can bring on friday ? just to stop it rattling about.

[PaulRotheram]

ive got some of them shims here you can have chris, or go with jimmys option. ill remember to put them in my pocket for the weekend if you want them :p

[jimmy]

John price has his secret team driver tip, he has the middle of another wing under his wing, so it supports it really well where it matters and stops it deflecting.. You'd be able to quench the rumours as well! haha:D

[Chris Doughty]

trouble is, people that see pictures know more about the cars in the pictures than the people that design them.

I don't know if you read the thread on RCTech about Ellis' car, someone was convinced that it was a xx4 body and it is was pretty much a xx4 with a 2WD front end attached...

I mean come on, do you not have eyes???

or is it a xx4 with a 2WD front end.... muhahaha ha ha aaa

[Chrislong]

The protective film idea is good for adding strength to the wing too, but I don't think it will be thick enough to stop the rattling. Hope you don't mind me taking you up on that offer Paul, I appreciate it, I'll have a cold beer waiting for you... :D ....

Two losi buttons per side would just about do it too, but I only have 1 pair left which were taken off my BK2. But the B4 shims are what it needs really.

The body is very twisted in that picture. I had fitted it in a rush and it needed more time.... its on well now and will look good for Jimmy at weekend.

[jimmy]

All I know chris, is that the XX4 is flexible!!!!!!! look at that wing

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/southport280506/bigimages/southport4wd63.jpg

lol.. no, I read that post by that fella. I have no idea what XX4 he had seen ! lol. :p

[PaulRotheram]

John price has his secret team driver tip, he has the middle of another wing under his wing, so it supports it really well where it matters and stops it deflecting.. You'd be able to quench the rumours as well! haha:D

not a secret team driver tip no more :o :D

[Chris Doughty]

I did have that big fat red fire engine driving over me in that pic Jimmy!

nice one Tricky

[PaulRotheram]

Hope you don't mind me taking you up on that offer Paul, I appreciate it, I'll have a cold beer waiting for you... :D ...

one beer per shim hey? :drunken: haha nah, really you can have em mate its no probs.

lets give some good criticism about the x-6 though hey. im really impressed with the work that every one at xfactory have done! the mouldings of the car are really professional, clean and look to be up to the job.

ill no doubt be looking out for both chris's and dan's cars on the weekend with alot of interest.

[jimmy]

Having held the car and examined it, I have to say the mouldings and all the Xfactory parts are ace. You really cant tell where the B4 ends and the X6 begins, its that professional.
I cant wait to see the cars at batley this weekend.

[DCM]

Cheapest solution to the rattly wing, go down to any stationary/craft/hobby shop and buy a small sheet of card foam, it is about 3mm thick, cut out a strip, double sided tape to the underside of the wing, covering the holes. Does two things, bridges the gap to stop it rattling and also stops the wing mount from scrathing the paint off to.

Chris, hope your not classing me in the same bracket as the American bafoon :D

[Chris Doughty]

Chris, hope your not classing me in the same bracket as the American bafoon :D

lol, I'm not :D

[DCM]

heehee, like I said to Chris in an email, I see things with an engineering eye before I see anything else.

Chris L, we will be wanting a round by round assesment on the car this weekend, lol.

[Chrislong]

Will you be there Steve? I'll be doing a lot of notes and things for Chazz, as im sure he'll want something for 2wdrc.com.

[DCM]

unfortunately my family commitments stop me from doing any real 'away' races so no, won't be there. Someone taking a Digital Video Camera?

[Chris Doughty]

Jimmy might be talking his...

[Chrislong]

Have a look on www.2wdrc.com, there are more pictures here thank to Jimmy again! These pictures are a little better i think too.

[YoungChazz]

And we are where the action is!

[YoungChazz]

Seriously, we can't thank Jimmy enough for the great job he did last weekend.

Thanks, Jimmy!!!!

[jimmy]

Absolute pleasure to work with you Chazz :)

[jimmy]

Added some more photos of the X6 to the gallery.. these are from Batley National (not seen in the Batley gallery)

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/x6/ (http://www.oople.com/forums/../rc/photos/x6/)

[Chrislong]

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/x6/imagepages/batleyx608.html

Wow Jimmy! You even caught the point that I broke a ball-cup. Impressive.

Great pictures. :D

This weekend the X6 will be run at Bury tomorrow, and Southport on Sunday. I hope you'll be there mate?

[P_B]

X6's looked better and better as todays not-so-secret test went on, mixing it with a few locals and their more traditional machinery.

In the absence of a real photographer, I shot a few pics...

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/invalidblue/adverse.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/invalidblue/Chrispullssexyface.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/invalidblue/dan-o.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/invalidblue/Midmotorlosi.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/invalidblue/redwhitecamo.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/invalidblue/X6bakesinburysun.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/invalidblue/teamwork.jpg

[Chrislong]

Good shots there Pete, keep them coming. :D

Today has been a succesful day, my X-6 has just been getting faster and faster with every change I made today. But as you all know, I am a local to Bury and can drive it fast with my thumbs glued to my knees. So the real test for me will be tomorrow, I'll be taking it to Southport for the NW regional.

[PaulRotheram]

But as you all know, I am a local to Bury and can drive it fast with my thumbs glued to my knees..

then why is your car upside down on the last picture :D

[jimmy]

he's still steering round the corner tho, what a guy

[DCM]

but if he was the right way up, he'd be steering away, roflol

[jimmy]

but he isnt, thats how good he is..

[bigred5765]

have to say the cars did look really good today

[Chrislong]

but he isnt, thats how good he is..

PMSL.
Well, erm, it was like this right. i was going around the corner and Dan rolled but took the ground with him, therefore the ground was on my roof. :jimmeh

[PaulRotheram]

new mad rear wing?

http://www.2wdrc.com/images/Hodapp_X-6.jpg