Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

That works great Reg!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Have thought about the vibrator motors out of electric toothbrushes ? Maybe they would be smaller/slimmer to make for a better fit.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Lots of vibrator micro motors on aliexpress but shipping time sucks

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

There are a few choices but it seems that most of the "disk" type are rated for 1.5-3v. I'm not sure how well they would work on 7.2v. They might turn into projectiles!:eek: I want to run them on simple RC switching relays so they will be on at full voltage. Space is a premium inside these things so I need to keep them simple... That and my brain doesn't process complicated stuff well...:confused:

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Reg, wire them in series for the desired operating voltage, like Christmas tree lights.
Cheers!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Too many vibrators may over stimulate the machine?:eek:

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

The Cat is going to get aroused! :D:lol:

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

MEOW!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Reg, what paint did you use? Cat paint or ??

I need to paint my wheels now since I've finally got them.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Yellow spray paint from Rona is the closest I can find Ben. I don't think you guys have Rona in the US though do you?

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Could always try Lowes I guess since they bought Rona

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

I was thinking the same thing Brandon. The Rona paint is definitely not made by them so it must be available elsewhere. With about three coats it is nearly a dead on match for the Bruder plastic.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Ok. I've never even heard of them. I'll take a piece with me and see what I can best match it to.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

They list it as lemon yellow but it is not really "lemon" colored as far as my eyes see. Part number is R36010EA522.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Good work on the vibrator, some is better than none.

What's your guesstimate in time on both of these?

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Thanks Joe. I took just the roller itself outside and sat it on some soft gravel, then turned on the vibrator. It did sink slightly the first few moments it was turned on so it does help. The whole machine without a battery weighs approx 5.3 lbs. If I get mine finished today and it stops raining I will do an outdoor test.

I'm into my third week of working on these but I only worked on them two days last week. The 4 wheels alone took about 12hrs from round stock to painted. I would say there is at least 80 hours in the pair with a couple of hours left to go. About twice what I was planning for.:( Cost of materials and electronics but not including the models themselves is up to about $170US each.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

we need to come up with something really hard for you
to nuild next!!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Hey Bigford have you seen this guys work"? lol of course you have you got one of his trailers. I dunno if there is something hard for him. Lol

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Beautiful job as always!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Haha, you guys crack me up. Everything is a challenge for me! Generally my biggest challenge is getting stuff done in a timely fashion. I spend too much time fiddling with stuff to get it how I think it should be. Most of the time it would work just as well if it were built more simple. Oh well, that's what makes my stuff so great right?:rolleyes:

Here's a few pictures while a test video is uploading.

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psluisnrty.jpg

There's always a gratuitous Beaver shot for Bo... vibrators and beavers:eek: Here we go again...:rolleyes:

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9rvtu6en.jpg

Weight of the vibrator assembly

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psy9qgs1jk.jpg

Some dirt shots

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psifabee1z.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psvzmhpgnj.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...pskjswodka.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psqwevaqrv.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/...psjbgl4end.jpg

Test video to follow shortly!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Great job as always Reg! :cool:

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Thanks Brandon. Here's the first full on dirt test. https://youtu.be/8sPC6El7xpk I'm only running 4 AA batteries (6v)because it was the only thing I could make up quickly to fit under the hood. If I decide to keep this setup I will add a few ounces of weight to the rear to aid traction. Even still I think it works fairly well and on topsoil it will probably work even better.

Reg

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

How strong is the sidewall of the tire for packing it BBs... big tires like those you'd be close to 2lbs a piece.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Tires are very soft if the foams are removed. They are 1.9 tires and I have installed 2.2 foams like I did in my loader tires. That gives them an almost perfect squish. You could add a little weight to them but filling them with lead would be too heavy. I think pushing this model up to 10+ pounds is a bad idea. Making it a lot heavier will no doubt aid traction but then you would need to add more to the front or it would push the roller sideways in a turn. Add more there and the steering servo and drive motors would be too weak. A little larger battery and a few ounces of weight will get it going a little better without taxing the drive train. It got great traction with a standard 7.2V pack so I will adjust the weight of mine to roughly match that and call it good. You have to keep in mind that it is just a plastic toy and not a full metal machine.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

What's your thoughts on powering the front drum? That would seem to resolve the traction problems if its possible.

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Yes I think powering the front drum would more than solve the traction issue completely. It's just all about time and cost. How much does someone want to spend on a toy like this? Powering the front drum would require some big changes to the drum itself and the frame(at least in my mind). I'm not saying that it would be a bad idea but then this thing is going to cost a lot more. Maybe someone would pay $1500US for it but I don't know? We tried to do these at a lower cost so I have to stop somewhere and be satisfied with the results.:)

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Maybe you need another test area :rolleyes: ship it my way and I'll put it to the test. :D are you sure you never want to make another? :rolleyes::D

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Well your place is a little flatter Mario. I think your soil has less rock in it too. Maybe you do need one for testing purposes...

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

I think Reg need to ship more than the Bruder Cat Compactor Conversion....
How about ship all of you to Marios super event in august.....:cool:

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

There is no rock in my soil at all. It would be interesting to see compaction after a few passes. Of course I would take care of the float cost to get it here.;):D

If your gonna dream, may as well be in colour I always say. :)

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

i can haul that little roller for you mario, no prob

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

reg if were going to drive from the east coast of the usa then you could drive from the wet coast

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Hey Reg found another video. They really look like fun models you can hear the vibrator working :)

http://youtu.be/Sw9oMebOnfY

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Maybe I can put myself in a container and be trucked out east?lol I just need to get about 10K worth of orders to be picked up at Mario's and I'll make he drive.:D

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Ok everyone, you heard the man. Get your wallets out and start placing orders for the 2016 RCP summer editions ! :cop::D

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Great model rcp! Couple questions: on the vibratory assembly, how does one connect (as it looks like you did) a motor without battery/esc leads to the battery and stuff? Like just a general rc motor with no wires attached?
And if you need to get a connector to do that, where do you get them (or what category do I search on rc shops) and, to be honest, what are the connectors in general (I know: lol ����)? General stuff like: if I have two motors, how do I connect them to ONE terminal? I think I've seen a Y connector? And what type of wires do you use and which ones for which motor and where do I get them and, come to think of it, how's the voltage of a motor match up with an esc and battery???Please Help! Lol
Thanks!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Thanks,

No fancy tricks there. The vibrator motor is wired up just like all of the others. It runs off of an RC switch rather than an esc so it is only on or off.

I'm not positive of what you mean with two motors on one terminal but if you want to run two off of one esc just make your own Y harness. Speaker wire works well for smaller brushed motor hook ups. It can be found everywhere and it's reasonably priced. I use smaller wire on the tiny motors that drive my tarps and operate the blades on these rollers. You asked on the other loader thread about wiring multiple motors to one esc. It's easy, just wire them so that one side of the machines motor connections are +/- and the other is -/+ otherwise it will go in circles. Connect those wires to the +/- coming out of your esc and your good!

Re: Bruder Cat Compactor Coversion
 

Bueno, Bueno, Bueno!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!! That help ALOT.
But I'm not out of the woods yet. Speaking more on wiring small brushed motors: so I just take speaker wire from the hardware store and connect the positive and negative and so on?
And about the rc switch: what's the deal with those? What are they exactly? Does having an esc rather than a switch make the motor have variable speed?
Sorry for the peppering, but I'm soooo close to getting it.