WHAT I LIKE TO DO

There is a wide interest in what I like to do.  It is as follows:

                                          (In no particular order)

1) COMPUTER
     One of the things I find myself doing a lot lately is spending time on my computer. Surfing the net is an almost daily activity, as I like to see what new information is out and I don't have a TV.  So, the web is my intertainment and news. Also, it serves as a great source of reseach for class reports and projects, and some classes even require that you have web access as the assignments are only on the web! I also spend time online to work on this site, which is nice to see it finally taking a more definate shape.  Besides being on the web, I like to use my 3D CAD program, Vector Works, to design things. I also like racing sims, especially SCGT, and that's what the other side to my site is about !   Also I enjoy listening to music and watching DVD movies on my computer as it's a real intertainment machine. My system includes some of  the following items:

300 MHz PII
112 MB memory
ATI Rage Fury graphics board - 32MB memory with excellent DVD support.
Sound Blaster Live! Value audio board
Camridge Works Four Point Surround speaker system
Creative PC-DVD x2 Drive
19" Digital Research monitor

For an image of my computer system click HERE (taken with my D-340R digital camera - see next page)

2) DRAWING
     I have always liked to draw things, mostly machines and animals. Going though school, I often took the art and drafting classes as electives.  The way I draw is in a technical and precise manner - to actually recreate the subject rather than give a flowing impression or alternative perspective of it. I have two examples of my work for you to see.  The images are cropped for file size reasons and enhanced so that they appear almost like the originals.

                                                  Tyrannosaurus Rex
I think this is my favorite drawing, I like the detail and shading with it.

                                                   Ferarri 288 GTO
The first drawing that I felt I did a very good job of shading with and that I could finally "get the tires right". Also, the Ferarri symbol on the front grill proved to give unwanted results - that's why the grill is black, as the drawing would have to be made larger to get that detail in.

3) R/C CARS
    Since I was little I always wanted an R/C car.  In my teenage years, I finally had two - of the toy kind that is put out by NIKKO that is.  But about four years ago I discovered that there were "REAL" R/C cars.  These are the ones that go 20 - 40 mph and last only about four to six minutes per charge. That is because they are actually designed to be raced and modified as in real auto racing. Initially I wanted an F1 style racecar but decided that there really would be no place to run it.  That's when I decided on an off-road stadium truck: I could run that baby anywhere - except big water puddles of course! So I did some research (internet, R/C magazines, and hobby shop advice) and decided on an Associated Electric RC10T.  What is great about the "REAL" types of R/C cars is that they are in kit form, so you get to assemble them yourself: to me that was the best part, and driving it didn't seem as that big of a deal afterwards. Even though they are kits they are still kind of expensive. The whole kit I purchased from the hobby center was $350.00, but that included everything needed to operate the vehicle, even the battery charger.  Once assemled it ran great! But I could not leave that car stock - after all, they were meant to be upgraded.  So I decided to change the stock truck body and turn it onto an "onroad" vehicle dedicated to performance.
    First, after the body, I changed the stock mechanical speed control to an Electronic Speed Control (ESC). An ESC uses hardly any of the battery and gets rid of the servo used for the mechanical speed control so your battery has more power dedicated to the motor and doesn't drain as fast.  Next I changed the wheels and tires to good on-road ones.  I also changed all the screws to aluminum ones and changed all the turnbuckles (adjustable rods) to titanium Lundsford ones.  Also, instead of the double sided sticky tape used to hold down the steering servo, I used the nylon blocks included in the kit - that way I can remove everything from the cassis if necessary.  The ESC and radio receiver are mounted with Velcro instead of the double sided sticky tape for the same reasons.  The stock motor hasn't been replaced but I have replaced the standard Stealth transmission.  In its place is a two-speed HPI transmission, which has an adjustable shift point. This way you can gear the vehicle to achiever a faster top speed or faster acceleration. Thats where my tweaking has ended thusfar and as my car is back home at Texas, I don't think much will be done with it for a few years.  Really, I want to sell it and maybe get an HPI touring car chassis instead - maybe  even a gas powered model.

PICTURES OF MY RC10T - These are rather large files (100k+ to 300k+) and can take a few minutes to load.

Front Suspension                Vehicle Electronics                2 Speed Tranny

                          Side View                                Top View