with apologies for large images
Hiya roboteers ^^
As most of you are aware, I am now what Peter Waller refers to as a 'poor university student' so my opportunities for constructing robots are a bit more limited, but after being ill over the Christmas period - as everybody in attendance at Snibston unfortunately experienced, apologies for that >_< - I have resolved to try and be a little bit more productive and, more importantly, finish at least some of the projects I start.
Also, there's a build diary bandwagon leaving and I'm jumping on it, hehe
so here you may find updates on the status and plans for all my robots (except Spall).JIGSAW
Presently, Jigsaw looks like this:
I have been making some attempts to fix the damage sustained against Variant at Snibston (note to self: the correct way of dealing with a deadly embrace with one of Peter's spinny things does *not* involve opening the flipper right into said rotating mass, heh) and it's just awaiting a new flipper linkage and a few new bolts. After that, hopefully it can be competitive, and if I can get it self righting I might start to allow myself one eye on the AWS trophy again...^^
Aim for 2012: Attempt to keep it in one piece! This may involve some creative driving should Kwijebo show itself...^^;
CATATONIA
Catatonia has been going pretty well so far, it is somehow the Fleaweight World Series champion and if the truth be told there's nothing I desperately want to change about it.
It could be a little bit faster - maybe one day I shall replace the gearbox motors with HP versions and see how that goes - but for now no changes are planned, just keep on fightin' ^^Aim for 2012: As with Jigsaw, keep it in one piece and hopefully keep it competitive.
ARCUS
Aim for 2012: Try and throw the Leveson Inquiry off the scent...
NEW (ISH) ROBOTS:
THE HURTING*:
Some people know about this from MSN as I have been talking about it for a while, but I have made some steps towards building this:
<picture withheld due to lack of artistic ability; suffice to say, imagine Hazard, only stripy, and with two less wheels and as an antweight, heh ^^;>
The concept is best described as 'a big Catatonia with a big spinning thing on top', or more specifically 50:1 HP gearmotors on Scalextric wheels for drive with Waller, Spektrum, and Ripmax electronics and an Axi motor powering the weapon, made of polycarbonate and titanium and lots of hacked apart VHS cases.
In theory this will be something to fear, but in practice my track record with spinners (Little Yellow Taxi) is not great and...well...it's a Team Picus robot, the idea of it causing damage to anyone is a bit outlandish XDAim for 2012: Get it built and hopefully spinning and fighting by the March AWS, or failing that the summer.
HIDE AND SEEK*:
This is sort of cheating as technically, it's not really mine:
The more observant amongst you will recognise this as being Josh Valman's former fleaweight, which after a brief sojourn with Team Shock has found itself in my possession. Me being me, I managed to end up ordering about £100 worth of new components for it, so when I'm done hopefully all that remains of what I bought is the design, the battery, and the quite ("Hexy" - Uncle Joe Stalin) carbon fibre shell. ^^ The MG90 servos, electronics and chassis will all be new hopefully, I have enlisted Josh to get me some new parts printed
Aim for 2012: Get it built hopefully in time for the March AWS, or potentially even earlier.
THINGS WHICH MAY HAPPEN:
The Data Fields: I have ordered many new parts for this but it's taken a slight back seat to The Hurting, antweight-wise; I hope to be able to come back to this in the summer.
Possible walker: I have some very large continuous rotation servos and a lot of 40mhz gear which I picked up with the intention of constructing a walker; as with T.D.F. though it has to wait until time and motivation allows. ^^;
Featherweight: It has been pointed out to me that I have, over the years, accumulated enough parts and material for at least three separate featherweights, but a combination of lack of inspiration and some disillusionment with the current featherweight scene has kept it as parts and material. Whether they end up as three featherweights or as some great giveaway of parts is yet to be determined, but I can't see a conclusion being reached any time soon.
Hopefully this can be educational for some people as well as helping to motivate me - even if in the field of 'this is not how to construct radio controlled fighting machines in a safe and correct manner' - and I apologise to everyone who read this far for making you read the tired ramblings of a learned lazy long-haired layabout from Lancaster
*yes, these are named for songs ^^ there will be a cookie for whoever gets them!
