Nitro Mardave V12
 

Hey,

Now you might be wondering what a mardave is, if so take a trip over to google images and everything will soon become apparent! They were commonly used for indoor electric racing on 4.8v NiMH / NiCD batteries powering stock spec brushed motors.

Over a year ago, a mate of mine suggested that we should get one of his old mardave chassis's and one day convert it to nitro with an odd small block engine we had lying around.

So we did... and the turn out was great.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9278/cimg0020og.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1273/cimg0026x.jpg

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2015/cimg0044z.jpg

So the mardave platform has moved pretty far since when it was really big around onroad tracks. But the chassis we used was a fairly old one which is a wafer thin sheet of ali. We bolted the engine on and carved the chassis to allow for the starter box wheel and motor backplate. We glued the original mardave gear to a spare one which was lying around in a old parts box which meshed perfectly with the clutch bell. Talking of which, we are using my Kyosho GX -.12 Engine, on 20% nitro fuel.

We drilled out an m3 hole at each end of the axle to allow for a pin to go through to hold the hex's on for the wheels. This was a challenge with limited equipment but we did it.

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/3575/cimg0001ns.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1226/cimg0011rv.jpg

We mounted the throttle servo with some inspiration from other nitro buggies. I had the idea of using a 90 degree piece of plastic to connect everything up. This works great so far.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1528/cimg0029d.jpg

We mounted the steering servo with double sided M3 plastic velcro, and we used a brand new fuel tank which I had for my Kyosho Onroad car.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6108/cimg0028c.jpg

I will mention that we had no plans at all to go by, so it's truly unique as far as we can see!

We have tested it, it starts well via the starter box, but some fine tuning needs to be done to the throttle and steering to keep it going, and going straight.

We do plan on sorting the front end out, and mounting some equally larger tyres as the back as some mini pins or something similar so it can be run on short grass. Will also change the rears.

What do you think?

"Man in shed with tools" engineering projects are great :)
Well done fella :)

Thats bloody great!

They are tiny! so good job. It will be great, if you can get it to go straight!

Hehe yeah, Was great fun to build! :D

thanks mate :)

Haha yeah, you notices that the wheels are aligned right eh :p

It works really good for a few hours work ;) just need to set the servo up properly but ill save that for another day ;)

Kool

the first thing i fort when i saw it,was...........will it wheelie lol

That's what the bumper at the back is for, just in case.

I will need to build up a roll cage, because it rolls far too easily.

It will probably wheelie if I sort the wheels and tyres out for grass :D

silly thing is, my parents race, 1/8 stockcars, so my dad is going other way to you, by building a brushless powered 1/8 stockcar

Awesome mate, should get sum pics up on the forum of them when they're done.

just noticed this one! did this a few years ago, did away with the rear suspension and made alloy mounting blocks to attach axle to chassis. mounted an os 12czz with an associated truck clutch to the chassis. if i remember correctly the mounts were from a shumacher nitro truck and a bit tall. just used standard spur gears but drilled and pinned them to axle. the car didnt last too long, although i think i still have all the bits somewhere. i used rubber tyres from a m1 racing mini (small t27's) glued to the larger mardave rims. it went well in a straight line if you could get it past the powerband without spinning, but it wouldnt corner at all unless the clutch had disengaged. will have a look and see if i can find a picture anywhere