Re: QUESTION ?

[Frank Pittelli <frank-at-rctankcombat.com>]

Richard Davis wrote:
>  
> So whats the ideal situation, lightweight or heavy, excluding battery
> weight factor?
>                                                                             

Without regard for all other variables, lighter is better, allowing 
better acceleration, quicker turning, and better battery life.

However, lighter is usually more expensive in terms of time to build 
and/or money.  For example, plastic roller chain sprockets cost a lot 
more than steel, but are also much lighter.  Steel tubing can be used 
instead of solid rod for axles, but you need to adjust the design to 
yield the same strength.  A kevlar/epoxy hull would be very light, but 
also requires lots of building time and money.  A fiberglass/luan/resin 
hull is heavier and less expensive, while a solid plywood hull is the 
heaviest, but also the cheapest in terms of time and money.

My best advice is pick technologies and components that (a) fit your 
budget, (b) fit your building abilities and (c) fit your collection of 
tools.  Over the years, I've experimented with lots of different 
approaches to learn which suit my purposes, focusing mostly on 
reliability, repeatability and repairability.

        Frank P.