Hobbyweights anyone?

[team_ireland]

I know this is the featherweight part of the forum but this seemed the most appropriate place to post this.

I was surfing around some american websites when I came accross hobbyweights. The basically have all the same american rules with the weight limit being set at 12pounds. I liked the look of that so I decided to give it a try. I looked around a few websites and saw that people were using drill motors for drive and around 2000mah batteries. I liked the look of that and I also had a lot of spare parts around so currently I am building one.

The biggest problem I have is the weight. 12pounds is 5.443108kg. Now I cannot decide what weight limit we should use over here. First I thought 5.5kg but then I thought well thats slightly over the limit so maybe 5kg. The after some Instant messanger conversations with a few people (you know who you are) the surgestion of 6kg was made. Personally I dont mind. I reckon I could build a robot to any of those weight limits but the reasons for 6kg are at present the best. Its Half a Featherweight!

What are peoples opinions of this? I am currently recomending that we use the FRA rules (including a power light) and Perhaps a 6kg limit. I will hopefully finnish the hobby weight very soon as I have nothing to do until my polycarb arrives for the Featherweight.

Would anyone else be intrested in building a Hobbyweight?

Please post your opinions here

Regards
Ian

[jim]

Hobbyweights anyone?

I might be interested. I had a go at building a featherweight recently with drill motors and the whole thing weighed in at just over 3kg, without any weapons so I could resurrect it for a 6kg class.

I think at the lower weight limit you would probably be looking at fights which are less of a spectator sport and more of, well, a hobby, as the name suggests.

At this weight limit it may be practical to convert some of the larger remote control toy cars to FRA spec, which would make it more accesible.

[knightrous]

Hobbyweights anyone?

A few Hobbyweights use cordless screwdrivers over volted to 12v with good results.

If you dont think that the hobbyweights will draw the crowds, go to: http://www.teamcosmos.comwww.teamcosmos.com and look at Xenophobia. Xenophobia is a very sweet machine and packs quite a punch.

[robotic_ants]

Hobbyweights anyone?

Yeah i think i might give it a go, Ive seen how the Americans do it and it can be fun. Ill keep you posted if i go ahead with the bot or bots.

Chris - http://www.featherweights.org/forum

[maddox]

Hobbyweights anyone?

The Germans have a simular weightclass running, the Raptors, 5.4 kg.

I myself dont like another weightclass. The lightweights and middleweights dont get that much attention.And in the Netherlands the Feathers are in progress, but the heavies are the main part of the fun at the moment.

[stu]

Hobbyweights anyone?

Not another weight class. Deary me.
Na well - if a couple of you build them, then you can team up and form a Feather Weight cluster bot and fight the feather weights also. hehe.
One thing that jumped out at me -
Now I cannot decide what weight limit we should use over here - not for you to decide Ian.

Good luck, never know, i may build one in the summer if these kick off.

Mr Stu

[ewan]

Hobbyweights anyone?

Id rather have a kilobot (1kg) class than hobbyweight really... beacuse at 6kg you cant scavenge most of the parts from an RC car...

[typhoon_driver]

Hobbyweights anyone?

dont the americans have a 1kg weight class aswell? I believe its called the bug or beetle class. Although we have to watch that we dont create too many weight classes as this would lead to the FRA and roboteering community becoming overstretched.

I would like to see more attention given to lightweights and middleweights though because there is a big gap between heavies and feathers, both of which are good but I think it would be good to try and encourage competition in these other current weight categories.

[james...venom]

Hobbyweights anyone?

Rc Wars have been running a 6kg class for 4 years. But there are things in the pipline at the moment so i would surgest not to commence building just yet as there maybe an official 5kg weight class if things go well

[robotic_ants]

Hobbyweights anyone?

Well really at the moment the weight classes that have mass appeal are..

AntWeight (150g) FeatherWeight (12Kg) HeavyWeight (100Kg)
There is big gaps between them all but the other less publicised classes are ....

FleaWeight (75g)
Super AntWeight (250g ?)
Kilobot (1Kg)
LightWeights
MiddleWeights

Chris - http://www.featherweights.org/forum

[team_ireland]

Hobbyweights anyone?

Now I cannot decide what weight limit we should use over here - not for you to decide Ian.

Stu thats what my post says I cannot Decide the weight limit that can be used.

I am going to build one to a 5kg limit which means that if the weight limit is raised i have more weight to put on. I will hopefully be travelling to newark so I should hopefully have my feather and Hobby ready for then.

Regards
Ian

[grant_ploughbot]

Hobbyweights anyone?

Rc Wars was origionally 6kg robots, if anyone saw PloughBot at its first major showing in wrexham rumble that was 6kg with a 5kg steel shell bolted ontop to keep up the weight.
6kg are very easy to build and yet very competative.
Team Rc Wars currently have 5 6kg robots either made or in the making, including flippers, FBS. pushers and axes.
We have had some very impressive ideas tested with ploughbots chassis and another super pusher is going to be built, and should even be very competative against featherweight robots.

[jamesb]

Hobbyweights anyone?

My personal opinion is that if 100kg robots top the bill, middleweights are 1/2 that at 50 kg, 1/2 that at 25kg are lightweights, 1/2 again is the 12kg feathweights (give or take), and 1/2 that should be 6kg robots, call them what you like.

As james and grant have said, RcWars has successfully run 6 kg robots for 4 years, and continues to do so. If the weight decided on is 6 kg, there are 5 (potentially 11) robots ready to go, if its 5kg, maybe one or 2 can be modified to get into the weight, but I dont think it would be worth the expense at this time.

If brought up as a proposed weight calss at an FRA meeting Id vote for 6kg, but if its not brought up Im not too bothered as we have been using this calss without problem for so long it wont reall yeffect us anyway.

[jamesb]

Hobbyweights anyone?

class.... class.... how did I get that wrong twice?

[grant_ploughbot]

Hobbyweights anyone?

I will build them and fight them whatever anyone says, and if there is no official 6kg weight class set, then whoever would like to build one is welcome to fight them at Rc Wars at any event we hold, we have lots of them and will hope to see more.
Thanks
Grant