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Scratchbuilt controller

Started by MSwiss , Dec 09 2016 12:48 PM

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#1 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 12:48 PM

I dug this up while foraging through my crawl space, looking for a couple tool racks.

I'm not sure if I ever posted this before, but this is what a scratchbuilt controller looks like.

con1.jpg

con2.jpg
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Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559




#2 Cheater

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 12:52 PM

Yours, Mike?

 

When was that controller built/used?


Gregory Wells

Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap

#3 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 01:00 PM

I built it in probably early 2002.

I won three Nats Championships with it, in 2002 and 2003.

Among its features are:

1/4" Lexan sheet frame/handle.
Solid brass bar trigger.
Telescoping, spring-loaded wiper button (basically a miniature shock absorber).
Paint job by me.


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Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

#4 tonyp

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 01:22 PM

Pretty cool you saved it.
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Anthony 'Tonyp' Przybylowicz

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#5 kvanpelt

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 01:46 PM

Tony, I don't think Mike throws anything away! :)


Kevin VanPelt
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#6 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 02:02 PM

With the amount of work I have in it, there is very little chance I'll throw it away.

Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

#7 Racer36

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 02:03 PM

Is K24 the model number? What did K22 look like? And K16?


Dennis Dominey

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#8 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 02:14 PM

It stood for Koford 24 band.

I think at the the time, 15 bands was the max any commercial controller had.

The switch block was made from K&S brass strip, Plastruct tubing, a couple Koford 3/32" axles, and diaplane material.


Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

#9 The Number of

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 02:49 PM

The Chinese can build it for about a $1.50 now. :)


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#10 Eddie Fleming

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 03:25 PM

Electronic or resistor?


Eddie Fleming

#11 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 03:36 PM

Resisitor(s)

300 watts of them.

con3.jpg


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Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

#12 Eddie Fleming

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 03:39 PM

Oh that bottom part is as good as the top. Very cool.


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Eddie Fleming

#13 Half Fast

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 03:40 PM

It's interesting that Group 7 racers went from resistor controllers to electronic and back to resistors again (simplicity and easy to repair).

 

Cheers.


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#14 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 04:10 PM

That was the theory.

I was seeing too many electronic controller failures (probably from hooking up wrong).

You really couldn't blow this thing.


Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

#15 Howie Ursaner

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 04:23 PM

Love the "telescoping, spring-loaded wiper button" 


Howie Ursaner

#16 don.siegel

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 04:24 PM

Mike, 

 

I may have missed something in the evolution of the resistor controller, but where do all those wires go? 

 

Don 


#17 The Sawdust Man

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 04:28 PM

Wow. You must have over 100 hours in that build!


Robert Manzitti

#18 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 04:40 PM

To the three connected resistors coming out of the side of the box.

It's just an external resistor controller, but with three resistors instead of one.

Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

#19 MSwiss

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Posted 09 December 2016 - 05:17 PM

Wow. You must have over 100 hours in that build!


I never kept track.

When people used to ask, I would guess 80 hours, plus or minus 30 hours.

Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

#20 Bryan Warmack

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Posted 10 December 2016 - 01:06 AM

And another scratchbuilt controller... :laugh2:
 
DSC06327.JPG
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#21 Cheater

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Posted 10 December 2016 - 01:18 AM

A little earlier than Mike's methinks...

Gregory Wells

Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap

#22 chasbeeman

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Posted 23 February 2017 - 01:06 PM

When I graduated from plastic track to racing on wood, approx 88/89 I had no commercial type stuff and little money. I crafted this for club racing using materials I had except for the ohmite 4 ohm resistor. Let's see if anyone can identify the origin of the handle! 20170223_115450.jpg

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Charles Beeman

#23 don.siegel

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Posted 23 February 2017 - 01:12 PM

Bike or motorcycle grip? 

 

Don 


#24 chasbeeman

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Posted 23 February 2017 - 01:21 PM

Your close Don but not quite.

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Charles Beeman

#25 MSwiss

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Posted 23 February 2017 - 01:27 PM

Very cool, Chas.

(Chas is a mail order customer of mine)

Is the grip something to do with archery?

Mike Swiss
 
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

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