Flat bed Trailer, Aussie style!!

[Aussie]

Went through my shed today and found some remnants of a trailer I built a long time ago, Thought I would try ressurect the old girl....

Homemade Frame rails..



Two Tamiya Flatbed trailer bases, cut & shut and some 12mm x 12mm Alum angle for sides & left over Tamiya cross braces attached to make a scale 42 ft aussie trailer



Deck Frame almost complete...



Next, adding tie down rails using scrap timber and coat hanger wire....





In the process of soldering up LED's for side lights......Stay tuned, more to come....

[Big Run]

Looking great! Interested to see it finished.

[Aussie]

Thanks Matey, It's coming up well, Soldered a few LED's together today, not realising that the more I put together, the less light they give off.....will have to have a re-think...

Cheers Paul

[doodlebug]

Hey Paul, try this thread? http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...read.php?t=441 Hope this helps. Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

[Aussie]

Thanks for the link, Neil,

I did read a lot of that thread, but, Must have got lost somewhere along the way, still don't know how to wire up 10 x 3mm LED's to my trailer. Might have to leave that one to the experts.....Lol!!!

BTW, Can someone tell me if there is an alternative system to the MFU, I'm lookiong for something different nin sound and lighting.

Cheers Paul

[Quad-Dog]

Hi Paul,

its not a big deal with the leds! You didn't watch the voltage of a single led. So if you run a 12V system and want to use 3.2V leds you can only put (12V/3.2V=3.75) three together and still need a resistor for the remaining (12V-(3.2Vx3)=2.4V).
You have 12V and these 12V have to be shared by all the leds you put in one line. If one led gets more than the optimal voltage which might be between 2.somethingV and 3.somethingV it won't work for too long. If it has to share the 12V with to many and gets less than the optimal voltage it won't be as bright as it should be or won't work at all.
And for the case that you have 12V and 4 single leds with 3V each, you still need a tiny resistor as leds should never be used without one.
You find calculators on the web:
http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz
When you work it out keep in mind that the actual voltage of a fully charged 12V battery is more than 12V. So if you work out the number of leds you can work with 12V but if you want to calculate the size of the resistor, better work with 13V.
Just let me know if you need help.
There are alternative systems. It only depends on how much you want to spend. Tight a... solutions start at a few dollars for manual switches. If you mind bending your knees you can get switches for RC use. I got a "servonaut" smx sound in my Volvo, but thats nearly 300 bucks. Speaker goes extra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8AG7jNNHRo
...not my scania...

[Aussie]

Thank you so much for the Info, very helpful!!

Tell me more about the Servonaut, Please, Is it similar to the MFU as in a complete sound and light unit or are the lights a different unit altogether?

Also, I looked on the board and couldn't find much info on servonaut, are there any links to where I could read up on them or even purchase one??

Many thanks, Paul

[Cossett]

Hi Paul, try these links

http://rctruckandconstruction.com/sh...ight=Servonaut

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25235

Cheers Tracy

[Aussie]

z
Hello tracy,

Thanks for the links, got a little more insight into Servonaut now, Better hit the books and learn German so I can understand the Websites....

Paul

[ddc333]

Hi Paul


Here is the best explanation of servonaut I've found. It's on a Norwegian website so you may need to use a translator

http://www.rclastebil.no/forum/showthread.php?t=1692

[diesel950]

hey paul good to see you here as well!
ask josh about the servonaut as he is running it
in his aeromax

[Quad-Dog]

No worries Paul!

There is no need for learning german as they have an english page as well. Could be handy though
Well the MFU is speed controler, light in sound all in one. The SMX is only for the sound. If you want a really good speed controller as well go for the S20. There are other ones (more expensive) with a cruise control as well. From my point of view: This function is just crap and those with a light system included are just overpriced.
Yes I know this function is pretty popular in Europe (...) but after a few years they noticed that not all of us were utterly convinced and they came up with regular ones as well.

Get a S20, SMX+speaker (don't forget to put it in a box for better sound) and get yourself a tiny RC swich from CTI.
Sorry mate, its only in german!
http://www.flymotec.de/product_info....ul-4-fach.html
But all you need to know is the size, the price and that you can turn 4 light functions on and off by only using one RC channel. Oh and up to 4 amps each. So you could use this one for your parking lights, low beam, high beam and fog lights. You'll find a similar switch including a function for indicators as well.

If you decide so make sure that they take out GST (19% in Germany)

[glorydays24]

You snuck over here didn't you Paul...Glad to have you aboard buddy, and i'm sure your trailers will turn out supurb as usaul.

Big John

[Aussie]

Thanks again for your great replies, I now have some insight into what I need to set one of these up.

Basically I am looking at a S20(I'm assuming this is the speed controller), SMX(sound module) and speaker...right??

Now, for lights, are they part of this or are they bought seperately??

Oh, What size speaker am I looking for??

BTW, I have a Futaba 4EX FM Radio, Dunno if that makes a difference to all this or not!!

So many questions...Lol!!!

Thanks again, Paul

[Quad-Dog]

Hi Paul!

Oh thats a problem! As your radio only got 4 channels.
-steering
-motor controller
-smx needs one
that makes three. What about a gearbox? If you have a 3 speed one you have to look into buying a new radio as well

You have to buy the leds seperately. Servonaut has a set on offer but in Germany its cheaper buying it somewere else. If you want to buy it all together, got for it.
The speaker depends on the voltage so 12V or 7.2V. They sell the speakers as well. "LAUT85" and "LAUT45".

[Pippoe]

Hi there!

I run a M20+ w/o sound but with an added switch module.. using a 4-ch radio.

The M20 needs two channels, one for throttle control and one for the lights (turn signals, low beams, high beams, four ways)

Channel 3 is used for the steering servo and channel 4 for the switch module (search light, more lights, flash-to-pass, <unused>).

.. you could hook up your horn on channel 4, provided you don't want to add more than basic functions to your truck and run it with a 4ch radio.

I don't use the automatic coupler.

Cheers

Pip

[Aussie]

This is all very good and helpful information, Thank you again for your input!!

Small Trailer Update:

While still hunting down Axles & Wheels for the Flatbed trailer, I decided to take the next step and get me the first Tanker for the "B" Double Build to go on with,

Built Box Stock except for moving the axles back a little and up to "lower" the chassis rails a bit....







Not sure whether to make it a Tri-Axle or not, wadda ya think??

[Car5858]

I vote for Tri-Axle

[Aussie]

Whilst waiting for the Tami Flatbed Donor to arrive to finish my Flatbed, I stumbled across a low loader I started making a long time ago,

Here's a few pic's, still in the early stages...

















Paul

[Aussie]

Fly Wheels? that sounds familiar, they could be, If I remember, I got them from "Toys "R" Us", and I faintly remember Shaun sending me a few as well!!

Didn't think of the weight issue with the dolly, I might give it a run with a couple of bricks on and see what happens...

Paul