Steel Tubing

So we were able to purchase our metal square tubing yesterday!  We're going a bit overboard, and went with 1" by 1" square tubing .063" thick.  We cut it up at the shop into the proper length segments with the bandsaw, but we'll be doing the angle cuts right before we weld it.  We also bought some new fuel lines for our engine.  As I was taking it, the old brittle fuel lines snapped.  So now we just need to get some gas...

Progress is made!

There were several things we found out today.  First of all, I picked up a used electric lawnmower the other day, and we've taken it down to just the battery and the motor.  It's a 12V, and since it doesn't have stats on it, we're assuming its about a 12A draw, and probably near 3500rpm?  Today I tested it on a known good lead-acid battery, and it works!  We were getting some lame torque and rpm out of it with the battery in the mower, hence the test.  Also we found a place that we're getting the square tubing from for only $.75 a foot.  Most of it's going to be 1" by 1" at 1/16th thickness, but we're also getting some 1/2" by 1/2".  The only reason I didn't get it today is because they only accept cash or check, which I didn't have.  So I know for a car this size, the frame is most likely overkill, but it allows for more messing around and upgrading later on.  Anyways, I'll get up some pictures of the tubing, when we get it, and the motor.

Concepts, Planning, and Beginning

So this idea formulated a week or two ago, and it has slowly evolved.  We were initially going to do an electric tank.  After doing some research, we found that treads are very difficult to find online, as well as to make.  We are both also poor college students, and LiPo batteries are anything but cheap (not to mention motors).  And thus it is that we decided on trying out a gas powered RC.  On Saturday, I went down to Deseret Industries (a thrift store), and picked up a weedeater for $15, which is shown with its plastic off in the following pictures.  In reality, we still don't know if it works.  We're planning to test it over Thanksgiving break.  All we know is that it has 25cc's, which is decent.  Already we've discovered an issue.  We'll have to come up with an alternative startup method besides a pull-start, because to gain access to the shaft, the pullstart has to be removed.  For the moment, we're going with a drill.  We've also spent some time in front of the whiteboard, drawing out ideas, and visualizing our concepts.  I'll have to get up a rough sketch/image of our design in the next week or so.