Power Kite Forum

Well...here's my next two buggies

popeyethewelder - 16-3-2009 at 01:12 PM

I know I have been quiet on here for a few weeks, well here's the reason why....for me, these two buggies are the ultimate...perfect in handling and performance, rigid where they need to be, and comfort and smoothness via the leading links, that iron out any ripple or bump on the beach...hope you like them

Well this is how the new Dominator 2 turned out


What small changes I made are below

PTW Dominator 2


I have also finished making the PTW Cheetah, purpose built for barrow tyres


..and the details for this below


PTW Cheetah

It getting more like a buggy factory in my garage....below is a photo of the Dominator against the wall, the Dominator 2 and the Cheetah on the trailer and a Cougar 2....:eek:



Top notch work from Jon and Helen again, great seats and covers etc... [;)]

SCREWYFITS - 16-3-2009 at 01:55 PM

Sick as ever... those are the baddest designed bugs yet...
You've been busy...
Nice job...

BeamerBob - 16-3-2009 at 02:10 PM

Nice improvements on the side rails. That will add lots of support and stability for the pilot. The 12mm bracing tubing looks MUCH more balanced than the full size tubing on the D-1. I can't wait to hear how they like the sand Popeye. You have an idea about weight reduction?

heliboy50 - 16-3-2009 at 08:53 PM

Wow. Serious hero worship.

Bucky - 17-3-2009 at 09:41 AM

WOW!!!!!

(I can't think of anything more appropriate to say.)

PHREERIDER - 17-3-2009 at 11:00 AM

love the ladder bar look

i want that (hand ram) manual pipe bender

ragden - 17-3-2009 at 04:08 PM

Truly amazing pieces of work. I wish I could afford to get one of those... maybe someday. :)

flexiblade - 18-3-2009 at 08:28 AM

As usual you keep the standard high for the rest of us - very high. Beautiful craftsmanship - I'm real interested to know what you normally fabricate at your work.

The cheetah almost looks like a cross between the wildcat and the dominator. How much do each of those weigh? Did you build the cheetah solely to break your speed record? That's the sole reason I keep modding my bug. Very nice work.

awindofchange - 18-3-2009 at 06:03 PM

Popeye, as always you have produced some masterpieces that are inspiring and also amazing.

revpaul - 18-3-2009 at 08:38 PM

imagine cruising down a beach on one of those, holy :Ange09::Ange09::singing::singing:
Paul

popeyethewelder - 28-3-2009 at 06:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by flexiblade
As usual you keep the standard high for the rest of us - very high. Beautiful craftsmanship - I'm real interested to know what you normally fabricate at your work.

The cheetah almost looks like a cross between the wildcat and the dominator. How much do each of those weigh? Did you build the cheetah solely to break your speed record? That's the sole reason I keep modding my bug. Very nice work.


The Dominator 2 weighs in at 67kg
The Cheetah weighs in at 37kg

How I weigh a buggy is to get three bathroom scales and put one under each wheel, in the Dominator's case, the front weighed 29kg and the rear two 19kgs each

The Dominator 2 has already been sold....

popeyethewelder - 28-3-2009 at 06:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
Nice improvements on the side rails. That will add lots of support and stability for the pilot. The 12mm bracing tubing looks MUCH more balanced than the full size tubing on the D-1. I can't wait to hear how they like the sand Popeye. You have an idea about weight reduction?


Well Bob, although I reduced the bracings and head stock, I refuse to compromise anything else, the D1 was weighed with the Nike Tick forks and weighed 67kg, this one with the reductions but using the leading link still weighed 67kg

The Cheetah is the same overall size but smaller tubing and wheels obviously and smaller swan neck and weighs 37kgs, with the low cog and small wheels, this would be an awesome buggy at Ivanpah, I still have the overall length and width of the D2 so it is very stable and super responsive

BeamerBob - 29-3-2009 at 06:56 PM

For the worlds top gun custom kite buggy, there just can't be any compromises. I'd say let it weigh what it weighs because it works like it works. I can't see any ways you could really make it better. You might find ways to do things differently, but I think you are in that 99th percentile, where any improvements are minuscule.

WELDNGOD - 30-3-2009 at 07:19 PM

:o Bada$$ , Those are works of art. Priceless....

popeyethewelder - 27-4-2009 at 11:33 PM

Had my first run out in the Cheetah at the weekend at Atmosphere 09 kite festival, the wind was cross shore and the middle of the beach was a very soft boggy area about 60m wide, after moving my front axle to the nearest hole to the pilot, the buggy seemed perfectly set up...the wind was 25-30mph and it seemed perfectly well balanced, I was more than happy with how it performed, as I mentioned the runs were blighted by the soft areas but still managed just under 50mph with this buggy and a 4m Access....bring on a good beach and strong winds and this buggy will fly....not literally of course (I hope)

By the way, the leading link front end worked superbly, and ironed out any ripples and bumps on the beach, giving a smooth ride to the pilot.....this IS the way forward imho








The last pic was after an accident and a helicopter was called for the rescue, so kites down, fortunately he was ok.

Pics by Shrimpo and Martin Cooke

heliboy50 - 28-4-2009 at 03:11 AM

Once again...Wow. That link is pretty slick. Keeping the overall design rigid but something to take out the bumps. Way cool. Popeye, you are the man.

Kamikuza - 28-4-2009 at 03:37 AM

Damn that's a huge buggy!!! :wow: You didn't photochop this pic?
http://i112.piczo.com/view/1/e/3/v/0/x/3/2/3/5/e/h/img/i2543...
You should rename it "The M1 Abrams" or "The Challenger 2" or something :o