H2riku front suspension mod v.1 and v.2

Lately, impressed by the Japanese drifters, i decided to make a H2riku conversion. It actually makes a lot sense, as it is an easy and effective way to set up the high-caster KPI steering.

In my v.1 mod, i used DIB shafts, which are longer, so benefits of minnimum scrub radius were totally gone. Also, upper rod ends limit suspension movement a lot.

Flowery Vertex S15

Here is something new in my garage.

When i was in Japan, i saw this body which absolutely blew my mind away. It looked like nothing i saw before. Of course there are air-brushed bodies but they simply can not achieve this kind of details.

When i came up to the man, who made this body, and asked him, how he did it, he only gave me a piece of special paper, and smiled to me. Another great example of how generous can people in Japan be.

So, i had this piece of paper lying around for almost 8 months now, and finally, i got to it. I chose Vertex S15 promo body for my experiments. It looks good on it's own, but it is even better with a little "extra".

Projects pending

In the meantime, i have a pile of bodies, waiting for my attention. 

Gp sports s15 for the most aggressive look i have ever done. Totally takahiro kawakami style. It, and mark X will be our new DL team bodies. 

Alongside, a vertex S15 sits quietly , waiting for a touch of colorful japanese paper treatment. Has to look good with pearl white coating.

H2riku setup

I mentioned before that i have significant plans for my DIB. Partly, that involves a H2riku conversion, bagi suspension and some other things.

Parts start to arrive already. The downside is, i can only use yokomo-approved brands. No fancy wrap-up arms for me.

By mistake, i ordered DPM suspension arms. Will have to change them for DIB ones.

MIlestone. DL DIB

This is a big milestone in my RC-drift life. I had ARD for the most of my hobby career and now it is gone. I need  a new chassis, right?

Since I'm with Team Yokomo now, the choice is rather obvious. I once had a DIB before, when I went to YIDM 2012 in december. It was a great experience. But, I had ARD at the moment, so I gave DIB to my teammate.

Now, It's time to build my own. DL DIB

ARD CER. Sold.

Almost one and a half year, since I bought my ARD CER. It was my first serious chassis, that made me grow in a way, I could never imagine. Before it, I only had HPI sprint, where settings didn't mean anything, and drifting was for fun only. ARD changed the game, oriented me to getting familiar with settings and made me excited about championships.

DL Verossa: Finished look

Verossa is coming to it's final shape now. To bring balance to it's, somehow, slick back, I added a big wing.  The wing also helps you with orienting the car, makes it easier to identify the direction, the car is going.

I almost forgot, that I had these beautiful wheels, bought for Vertex promo as well. I thing it is a perfect match. What do you think?

DL Verossa: stickers

Having found some stickers lying around, I decided to put them into work.

Stickers are always a tricky thing. Too many, not enough, too colorful, or not colorful enough - make a tiny mistake and the style can be ruined. Good thing, stickers are easy to remove (most of the time).

Arisa Ueno was very kind to provide me with this huge vertex stickers, which in my opinion, make a huge addition to this body.

Leftovers again. Great pink window sticker from Russian RC drift series. It is totally out of the concept, which makes it even cooler.

Back window - an unofficial way to trade team stickers and show you have friends abroad. These are just a small part, of what I have. I save most of them for my new team body.
Will have to clean off the body lines and do them again. Midnight is not exactly a time for such precise work.

If you have some spare team stickers - I would be very glad to put them on my window. I also have my team stickers which I'd love to share, even with people from abroad. Post charges on me guys! Let's share the love of RC-drifting.

DL Verossa: Carbon

Verossa going out for the first time. Now, with some "special" in it.
Since I saw full Carbon  Silvia of Yoshihiro Kawamoto, I try to find more creative ways of using real carbon in RC body works. I have to admit, it is a pain in the ass to make it look good, but if done properly, the effect is totally worth it.

This is the most colorful body I have ever made. It is totally unlike most of bodies in Russia, which are usually painted in 1 plain color. That is why there are not so many fans of this work here.

It is simply great to see, how these +12 Top line Mars wheels, whichI painted in Japan, while waiting for my Top 16 finals, make every other body look better.

DL Verossa. Color first

Hello there my fellow friends.

Keeping a blog up to date can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

For the third time, I'll try to bring it up and running. Luckily for me, a lot has happened since my last visit.

Here is something to start with - DL Verossa. 

Purpose for this build was a necessity for a Vertex promo body for my shop.

After a while, I made the most random pattern I could imagine and picked my paint leftovers, which were green and orange. Pretty random.

Looks weird and unfinished now. Next thing to do - carbon, to add a little "special" in this promo body

Recent activity

And there I am again. Missing out on my blog.

Since my last visit, I have attended the D1-10 and started up some projects both in and out of the Hobby.
Here is a little to warm up the interest:

These a 2 promo bodies I am making at the moment. I don't plan too much for them.
Verossa will have 3 colors (which I have left from my small spray paint collection) and some carbon elements. No engine bay or roll cage - keeping it simple. Maybe a functional, Japanese style cage/tube reinforcement. I kinda liked a super stiff body.

Next - a S14 Top Art body. This will be even more simple - one color, minimum stickers. I want is to be as clean as possible, and not boring like most Russian clean bodies, at the same time. We'll see how it goes.

Stay tuned.

DL-DIB.RS

My first experience with Yokomo DIB.RS took place at YIDM 2012. There, I had a chance to hold it and examine all over. But I didn't, because the schedule was very very tight, and all I could think of, were the finals. THe only thing I could remember - it was plastic :-)

Recently, I ordered one myself, to see it, and most importantly, to test it. And to tell you the truth, I was pleasantly surprised.

DL-86 recent progress

Updating the blog was really tought for a couple of weeks now. But I'm back on it, hopefully with a lot of new stuff.

To start up - a taste of Dl-86 that is getting into its shape.

Drift Lab GT86

It's time i told you about my new project - Drift lab GT86.
After making my first GT, I fell in love with the body. It's very stylish, it has it's own character and it really opens up the track, thanks to its short rear bumper.



So, I needed something to impress at the D1-10 event this year. If you have ever seen Team Orange bodies, you probably understand, that competing with them is extremely difficult. These guys make pure shelf queens and put them on the track.

DL-Roll Cage

Weekend, chilling music, and a boost of creativity - awesome time to try something I always wanted to do. This time it's a roll cage. Made from 5mm brass tubes. Light and stiff. It's not the best soldering I've done though, but it's the first time I make a cage. 

Now I need to figure out, what body I want to put it in and what color to paint it.

Digging deeper: ARD CER steering mod V.3.1/ Suspension Mod V.1

This idea of customizing my chassis caught me. Now I can't stop. I just hope it's all for good.
As I shown before, Alex is now rocking a full Yokomo front suspension. So, what has been done?

Digging deeper: ARD CER steering mod V.3

I missed out on V.2 modification. Basically I wanted more lock, so I just widened the steering rack with a new custom tensioner plate. Nothing interesting.

But recently, i found that trimmed plastic C-hubs and plastic arms tend to flex a lot. And therefore, I have more play than I could. So I decided to swap my front Suspension for DIB one. This is functional, expensive, and it is RED!!!

Still, I need 4 bearings, new longer camber turnbuckles, and a TS plate to extend the knuckles.  A few more DIB parts are to come, like shock mounts f.e.

The steering geo is so wrong in this picture. Let's hope I can fix that efficiently.

Red, Stiff, awesome. Never mind the weird turnbuckle.

Video: EERC drift championship, Stage 2

A couple of videos form the event:

First one can not be embedded, so please follow the link here

EERC drift championship, Stage 2

It has been a very busy week for me and my team mate, as we prepared the event for Evil Empire.
Stage 1 was prepared 2 hours before the start, so there was a lot to improve. So, I asked if they needed our help.
As a result, Drift Lab planned and held stage 2, having a lot of grateful comments. This is a very good sign, and we hope to improve our events further and further.

DL 180SX Koguchi

Here are some fresh pics of my team body, which has won the "Body of the month" contest and will be featured in a magazine.

Duck attack video review

Here is a short video of the event, that took place in Moscow.

SPB arena random video

Here is a video from early days of our track, made by a professional cameraman. Not much impressive driving, but the edit is worth watching.

Team "Drift Lab" promo video

Here is a small promo me and my team mate made during the weekend. Hope you enjoy. 

Team "Drift Lab"

My team is now officially complete. 

My good friend Ilya, whom I taught a few "tricks", filled the spot.  He have chosen this GP sports 180SX, which I do appreciate.

You might see, that the color is slightly different. Well, I was short on Translucent orange and Semi-gloss silver, so I used whatever orange I had left and backed it with LRP chrome. 

Drift Lab Koguchi 180SX

So, after establishing my own team, I needed to make a team body as well. Lack of Tamiya PS paint in local hobby stores and an option of waiting 1 month for paint to arrive from e-bay, I decided that this body will be the team body. I even have leftovers for my teammate to finish his body.

The body is still unfinished. I left some space left for team stickers, and sponsor decals. It's serious now, I am looking for sponsors for local championships and D1-10 event in Amsterdam (for now. Malaysia and Japan events when they are confirmed).