Lowriderbike.com
Model Tech
< 5 of 7 >
RC Lowrider

RC Lowrider

Trurning your model car into a remote control cruiser.
June, 2009
Author: Rene Vargas
01Sprlrb Rc20 Zoom
01Sprlrb Rc19 Zoom
Notice the distance between... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc19 Zoom
Notice the distance between the wheelwells from the car that came with the Kyosho remote control kit and our El Camino. The distances are very noticeable, the '59 is almost an inch and a half bigger than the Nissan Skyline.
01Sprlrb Rc18 Zoom
Notice how big the frame of... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc18 Zoom
Notice how big the frame of the remote control car is, it's only about 5 inches long. This means that we have a lot of minor adjustments and a few bits of construction to do.
01Sprlrb Rc07 Zoom
The first step for David Anthony... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc07 Zoom
The first step for David Anthony Garcia was to take apart the wiring system of the remote car, as well as the adjustable lower bracket.
01Sprlrb Rc06 Zoom
01Sprlrb Rc05 Zoom
David measured the thickness... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc05 Zoom
David measured the thickness of the piece, which was 3/8th of an inch, in order to duplicate the center.
01Sprlrb Rc04 Zoom
David then moved on to cutting... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc04 Zoom
David then moved on to cutting the 3/8-inch thick and 21/2 inches long piece out of plastic.
01Sprlrb Rc03 Zoom
David's next step was to glue... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc03 Zoom
David's next step was to glue the pieces together giving the rear those extra-added inches that it needed. It would be best if you use one solid piece of plastic to ensure extra added strength.
01Sprlrb Rc02 Zoom
David thought that it would... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc02 Zoom
David thought that it would be good to add a support bar out of metal, shaped as a "U."
01Sprlrb Rc01 Zoom
We used a lot of glue in order... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc01 Zoom
We used a lot of glue in order to hold the two pieces together properly. Like we said, it's better to use one piece of plastic for best results.
01Sprlrb Rc41 Zoom
We thought that it would be... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc41 Zoom
We thought that it would be cool to add a rear shock to the back of the car. Sorry we didn't show you how to put it on, but when you buy the shock it comes with detailed instructions. We did do one thing that wasn't shown in the instructions; we made a rear metal pole in order for the shock system to work properly.
01Sprlrb Rc40 Zoom
The next step is a tricky... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc40 Zoom
The next step is a tricky one. David Anthony grabbed his soldering iron, heated it up and made sure that it was hot enough before he removed the ground and power wire. He then heated up the solder, so that it would melt and make it easier to remove the wires.
01Sprlrb Rc39 Zoom
Next we carefully solder the... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc39 Zoom
Next we carefully solder the wires back on, after making the wires a few inches longer. Make sure that you don't place the wires on the wrong post (positive and negative).
01Sprlrb Rc38 Zoom
We were almost done with the... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc38 Zoom
We were almost done with the frame, all we had to do was connect the wires to the server.
01Sprlrb Rc37 Zoom
We thought that it would be... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc37 Zoom
We thought that it would be cool to add some spoke rims to our RC car, but it would be a lot of work. The first thing that David did to ensure this step was to remove the bearing from the original wheel.
01Sprlrb Rc36 Zoom
As you can see, David marked... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc36 Zoom
As you can see, David marked where we were going to cut up the rim.
01Sprlrb Rc35 Zoom
Using a small dremel bit,... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc35 Zoom
Using a small dremel bit, David carefully removes all of the unwanted material in order for our little project to work. Remember, don't go too deep because you might go through the spokes, and also don't try to go too close to the edge, because then the bearing will fall out or you might mess up the rim.
01Sprlrb Rc34 Zoom
David now carefully places... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc34 Zoom
David now carefully places the bearing in its proper place, using a pair of tweezers.
01Sprlrb Rc33 Zoom
Now we had to make some spacers.... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc33 Zoom
Now we had to make some spacers. David used some plastic pipe lying around the shop. There's no specs, as long as the rim can be placed on properly without too much wiggling, and as long as the plastic pipe fits around the spindle, you're fine.
01Sprlrb Rc32 Zoom
We wanted the full effect... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc32 Zoom
We wanted the full effect of the Dayton, so we wanted to use the knock-off. So what David did was drill a smaller hole than the spindle as you can see. The smaller hole will enable you to thread the knock-off on (almost like a real Dayton).
01Sprlrb Rc31 Zoom
David carefully thread the... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc31 Zoom
David carefully thread the knock-off on to the spindle, making sure to not to over-tighten the knock-off because it might break.
01Sprlrb Rc30 Zoom
The real hard part came when... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc30 Zoom
The real hard part came when we got to the rear rim. We sat there and pondered for a while, and finally it hit us that we needed to cut out the center of the rear rim.
01Sprlrb Rc29 Zoom
Once removing the center of... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc29 Zoom
Once removing the center of the rim, David rounded off the hook-up by sanding. This allowed us to glue it to the back of the Dayton.
01Sprlrb Rc28 Zoom
Finally we were on the home... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc28 Zoom
Finally we were on the home stretch. David sanded the back of the rim flat. This allowed us to glue the original piece of the rim to the back of the Dayton.
01Sprlrb Rc27 Zoom
Check out our finished frame,... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc27 Zoom
Check out our finished frame, now we move onto our body.
01Sprlrb Rc26 Zoom
The first step that we took... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc26 Zoom
The first step that we took for the body was to remove the firewall and fenders with the dremel tool. We used the round cutter bit.
01Sprlrb Rc25 Zoom
You should only remove the... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc25 Zoom
You should only remove the fenders and firewall as pictured, this will allow you to sit the server in its proper place.
01Sprlrb Rc24 Zoom
David thought that it would... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc24 Zoom
David thought that it would be a good idea to remove the back section as well. Doing this will allow the rear shock to set in place.
01Sprlrb Rc23 Zoom
In order for the frame to... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc23 Zoom
In order for the frame to snap right into place, we had to trace the shape that needed to be cut out, check it out.
01Sprlrb Rc22 Zoom
01Sprlrb Rc21 Zoom
Use the same circular bit... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc21 Zoom
Use the same circular bit to cut out this piece. Try to get in as close as possible, and follow the line to its specs.
01Sprlrb Rc17 Zoom
After cutting out the piece,... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc17 Zoom
After cutting out the piece, we needed to make sure that it would stay in place so we added two pieces of plastic that would hold the front of the frame in its proper place. If you skip this step your body won't be centered.
01Sprlrb Rc16 Zoom
Next we removed the side body... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc16 Zoom
Next we removed the side body clips of the Skyline.
01Sprlrb Rc15 Zoom
When we removed the body clips... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc15 Zoom
When we removed the body clips we placed them onto a piece of 1/4-inch thick plastic and the same width as the clips. After gluing, we had to cut the body clip of the piece of plastic. Do the same to the other side.
01Sprlrb Rc14 Zoom
01Sprlrb Rc13 Zoom
We placed the two body clips... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc13 Zoom
We placed the two body clips onto the frame, using pieces of tape to hold the body clips in place like so.
01Sprlrb Rc12 Zoom
We used a lot of glue on the... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc12 Zoom
We used a lot of glue on the back of the body clips, and held them in place where they belong on the body of our El Camino and sprayed on the hardener when we thought that it was centered.
01Sprlrb Rc11 Zoom
01Sprlrb Rc08 Zoom
Check out all of the different... 
   
  read full caption
01Sprlrb Rc08 Zoom
Check out all of the different body styles that you can use. From our '59 El Camino to a '63 Chevy Impala to a Ford Explorer, this frame can virtually go under any model. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with.
01Sprlrb Rc09 Zoom
01Sprlrb Rc10 Zoom
Read More
The next champion that you need to know is Isidro Juarez from Houston, Texas. Isidro, the family and their "Prophecy" '71 Schwinn from Rollerz Only Car Club are now officially titled the 2004 Lowrider...
If you've ever wondered what it's like to ride with the wind in your hair and bugs up your nose, just jump on one of the new ; it's a wild ride that's going to get wilder, so let us crank up the pedal...
Body Work
By Miguel Murillo
In most cases, when building a model car of any kind, you will probably have to do a little bodywork to achieve the look of divine immaculate perfection. Whether your bodywork may be filling a low spot,...
Subcultures rarely reach aboveground. Most are survived by only a small sect that barely keeps the blood pumping in a dying breed. Some, on the other hand, strive to make their mark and carve out a path...
It was in meritorious fashion that Mr. Isidro Juarez took the biggest piece of the cake at this year's Las Vegas, Nevada, Lowrider Magazine Super Show where the task was to crown the best and baddest...