TOPIC:

Way too expensive and time consuming. A guy teamed up with someone a few years ago and was charging about $100 for a front and rear set. Wait a few weeks and you will be able to get 2 complete front and rear sets from me for less, and they will look much more like originals because the prototypes are made from originals.

That was Mark (ap6138) on the Tamiya Club forums. The thread where he developed them is here . They were designed and made in the US and cost a heap, I think he barely covered costs when he sold them. However they were also machined out of Delrin, an acetyl based plastic and were a lot stronger than the original ones. Plus setup right cnc can give you a really nice finish without any extra work. Marks fox arms were also designed more for strength and less about being and exact replacement. So they were good if your car was runner, but not if the car is a shelf queen.

If you want the parts in a runner, acetyl is probably one of the best plastics to use as its very hard wearing and will take a lot more abuse than ABS. But its really expensive. Mark and I want to try and CNC them ourselves as I now have a small, cheap CNC machine (bought off ebay for work). It'll definitely machine the plastic, and I can make the files needed, but there is still a lengthy setup time in producing the cut files (which it why I haven't done it yet!), plus the cost of the plastic. So even if we succeed and we go to sell what we make, our parts are still going to be pretty pricey.

The prototypes have been made for the FRONT END. Once the molds are made, and I mount a set on my Fox, I will be back here with pictures, and will be ready to take orders. Hang in there!

Mold making is in progress. They take over 40 hours each to make. I should be in full production mode for both the front and rear sets by the end of the month... so once I can cast them and test drive them on my Fox, I will be taking orders. Please wait until I say I am ready, this is a one man operation!

Out of interest, what resin are you using & is there a fibre infil?
I've got a project floating about in my head that requires parts casting rather than machining, I was originally thinking mazak, but that comes with all the problems of what to make the moulds out of that will stand the higher heat but at the same time be easy cheap & quick to make (Not getting involved with sand moulds or die casting).
If the resin you plan to use for these arms is as strong as you say it is, it might suit my needs better than tonkering about with molten metal

I use an extra strong urethane resin.
$100.00 a gallon, not what you would call cheap.

Edou wrote:

I know (but don't really understand) about the rarity of RC shops in New York...A friend of mine went there so I thought that was an opportunity for some US parts.
But I found there's only one or two shops left in the whole area!

I've been to New York, and other cities, and done some parts hunting. Unfortunately it seems, many large cities in the world no longer have any hobby shops worth mentioning.

Compared to New York, we're actually lucky that London still has Hamley's and Sydney still has Hobbyco (large, well stocked stores).

There used to be at least 3 excellent hobby shops in my borough of Queens, New York that had Tamiya stuff. Gone. I can't think of a good place left in NYC. There are some places here and there on Long Island, but not like it used to be, most just push overpriced LiPo powered brushless or nitro ready-made stuff. They cater to rich kids that want to blow 1,000 in five minutes. Main Street in Farmingdale used to have at least 3 hobby shops with cars boats planes helicopters etc one even had a huge slot car track with 8 lanes, maybe more. All gone, along with the indoor dirt track up the road. Willis in Mineola has 3 floors, but they turned the indoor carpet track to a party room, and laughed at me when I went in asking for Fox parts (new or used). I have a feeling that real hobby shops are real easy to find upstate, but have not been up there in a while.

Have you got a brand name for the resin, so I can have a hunt around for it in the UK?

Send me a PM or email.