Zig Zag "Stock Car" races

[Monitor]

Hello everyone

This is the first time I have ever posted on any message board, so forgive me if I don't follow all the proper procedures.

I have a nice small fleet of zig zag boats I bought on clearance for about $30 each at a local farm shop. I am in the process of painting them up and adding stickers to them so they match NASCAR teams.

I would love to also take one of the boats and trick it out with custom radios, motors, props and such, but I can't find anyone who has documented what they have done IN DETAIL. I have read several posts with bits and pieces of what they did, but that's it. I even read one guy who said that his zz is so fast it is on the verge of uncontrollable! :) I would like to have a definate list of parts, radios, motors, props, etc required for such a project, since I have been out of RC for almost 20 years, and need lots of help with all the new technology.

So.... if anyone would be willing to help me with how to really customize this cute little boat with seemingly lots of potential, I would appreciate it a great deal.

Thanks,

Monitor

[Doubledog]

Check out Tower Hobbies. Punch in "STICKERS" for a search and you'll get your hands full of graphics from NASCAR to airplane stripes.

As far as the boat, from what I've read here, I'd buy one.

[MikDee]

Goto www.offshoreelectrics for "hop ups" for the Zig Zag

[Chris LaPanse]

Check out this link for a video of a mod zig zag racer on 8 cells :D :D :D
Modified Zig Zag Racer (http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/Videos/zig_zag.wmv) Also, if you want to get yours to go faster, the first thing you need to replace is the prop. Offshore electrics offers an adapter from the 2mm threaded shaft to the 4mm shaft. They also have a number of CF props that fit a 4mm threaded shaft :D Also, they have a Graupner 26mm CF prop for a 2mm threaded shaft. Also, if you don't mind voiding the warranty, they have an extensively tested 7 cell pack. They've never had any problems, but, as I said, it does void the warranty. They also have a hop up kit for it listed as "Coming Soon" on their hop up page.

[Monitor]

I have seen that video several times.... it is pretty cool.

Do you have any suggestions on what props to actually use? Would one of these different props speed things up with the stock battery pack?

I have ordered a few of those 7 cell packs, so that is a start! I hope offshoreelectrics updates thier site soon with that hop up kit.

[Chris LaPanse]

For the best speed, I would try the "S" series (equivalent to an Octura X6**), but I haven't got a clue what diameter. What size is the stock one (rough approximation w/ ruler is all that's needed). I would start with one that is the same or slightly smaller diameter than stock (I'm assuming the stock doesn't have a pitch-diameter ratio of 1.6-1). Or, alternatively, if you are looking for the most runtime and consistency, try a CF 3 blade prop (pitch ratio 1.2-1) Also, I think a 3 blade will put slightly less strain on the motor. By the way, did you notice that in that video, the Racer was at about half throttle most of the time (judging by the sound). Imagine what it could do at WOT :D :D

note: yes, the right prop will improve performance with everything else the same. The problem is finding the right prop ;)

[TXTRCR]

i just got through, well actually i just got started hopping my up. i still have the stock motor, pc board, and drive line. i took the prop from a ProBoat 1/12 miss budweiser boat which is an octura x535 i think, and i took two cells from an old reciever pack and added them to the stock battery pack for a total of 8 cells. the thing takes off so quick that it will litterally jump out of the water then nose dive to the bottom of the lake if your not easy on the throttle and i would say its about 10 boat lengths faster than a stock zig zag on a long stretch. i have yet to run it on a full charged pack that is why i say im just getting started but from a half charged battery it shows real promise. ill keep you posted.

[Chris LaPanse]

How did you hook up a y535? Doesn't it use a drive dog? Also, how could the zig zag racer "nose dive to the bottom of the lake"?. It is watertight and self righting. Also, what do you mean 10 "boat lengths" faster? That is a distance, not a speed. :confused: Overall, your post makes very little sense to me. Please answer my questions. If I could figure out how to put a 3/16" drive dog prop on it, I would have bought many more a long time ago.

[scorpien boats]

!!!! chris ur in superior!! i was just there lOL!!! do you know kelly or Mike Sanchez?

sorry for the ot, i wanna see a vidio of one of these zig zags can anyone give me a link?

[Chris LaPanse]

Yep, I am in Superior :p . Where do you live? And no, I don't know either one, although I think I've heard their names before ;) . For a vid of a modified one, check the link I posted earlier. as far as a vid stock, I don't know. Anyway, mod is better than stock ;)

[Chris LaPanse]

I found some videos of a stock ZZ Racer.
Here are the links ;)
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/Videos/zig_zag.mov
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/Videos/zig_zag1.mov
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/Videos/zig_zag3.mov
Also, an unrelated, but crazy vid:
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/Videos/pool_racing.wmv
Enjoy :D

[scorpien boats]

right now im in Ogden Dunes IN on lake michigan

but we r moving in July to Cape Coral FL

Superior is a cool town lol the food court at your mall is like as big as the mall we have here lol, like they say, when you cross the Indiana state line you set your clock back 20 years lol

but i have been skiing since i was 3 and have a condo in Crested Butte.... (wish i could move to CO but my dad cant find a job there..... :(

im just learning how to telliemark :)

[Chris LaPanse]

Yep, I downhill. Copper Mountain is the best!! As for our mall, that is technically broomfeild, but u r right, it is huge. It is like the 3rd largest in america! It actually covers more land than the Mall of America, but the Mall of America has 3 stories. It is really convenient. It takes me less time to bike from my house to the mall (5 mins) than it takes me to walk from one side of the mall to the other(15 mins).

[RcLaB1]

hello, am a Newbie

I just acquired a Zig Zag Racer 2

I also ordered the

7 Cell Pack (from OffShore Electrics.com)

now what Motor should i also get
BrushLess Preferably (am a NewBie)

and what are 4mm Prop Treaded Shaft?

please explain, these boats are soooo much fun!

[TXTRCR]

Chris, Sorry i must have missed the email notification when you replied to the post i made.

Octura Y535 prop: I had two of them i used one on a mono hull i built, the spare one i put on the zig zag. I did this by removing the shaft and prop from the boat not an easy thing to do. I chucked it up in a drill and used sand paper, files, knives, just anything i could find that could cut. I cut the blades off the prop and made the hub smaller so that the octura prop would slide onto the hub ( what was left of the original prop after grinding). i then used a very strong instant glue, the kind the hobby shop sells for 6 dollars a bottle. i glued the new prop to the hub and reassebled the boat.

Boat lengths: this means that i could fit 9 or 10 zig zag boats between mine and the stock zig zag that was running behind me.

Nose diving: obviously you have never hit a turtle or log in the water. the rudder points straight down so when you hit something the bow goes down and the transom goes up and if you dont let off the throttle the prop will push the boat all the way to the bottom of the body of water where you are running. try it, set the zig zag in the water and push the nose down far enough that the prop is submerged and hit the gas. the boat will take off towards the bottom of the lake. although the air traped in the hull pretty much keeps it from sinking completely.

My results from the mods i made were very good but didnt last long. it seams that i didnt seal the radio box completely when i put the boat back together and it got a little water in there and started working on the electronics pretty good, this along with the added voltage and amperage from the batts i added eventually rendered by boat useless and the price of the new pc and radio pretty much kills about 75% of the price tag of a brand new one.

I have moved on the Gasoline powered boats now so i dont need another zig zag boat.

[Chris LaPanse]

Yes, but if it is running 10 boat lengths ahead, but not gaining, then it is the same speed as stock, just with faster acceleration. Also, how did you manage to glue the blades on exactly even? BTW - which gas boat did you get? They really are awesome, aren't they?

[TXTRCR]

the pond we were running them in was small thats just how far i was ahead of the stocker before i had to turn around. the actual top speed wasnt that much faster than stock but it surely got out of the hole quicker. I ground down the stock prop small enough for the new prop to slide over it. i didnt cut the new one at all.

I got a WHH Enforcer Super G, from a member of these boards by the name of Jamie, aka doubledog. I bought the hull and zen 230 pum engine from him and the rest of the parts i bought either new or used from members of another board not sure if i can say which board here. all WHH parts though, they make some of the best quality stuff with the lowest impact on the wallet. you know im sure you have a WHH boat. this weekend is the maiden voyage wish me luck, although im sure it wont be needed with this boat.