Detroit Worlds Schumacher Cougar prototype Kevin Moore

[Djerk]

(Proto Cougar Detroit Report part 1)

Okay, I haven’t released too many projects lately, but… there is a good reason!

As we all love old RC racers, and a benchmark of vintage racing was the Detroit Worlds 91’… we all know who won it, for 2WD.
This has been confirmed al lotta times, with the stunning Masami RC10 replica’s.

As some of you might know, i’m a Schumacher Cougar guy.
I like ‘m, and i have my reasons for it.

So, i started this project about 2 years ago, with my friend Philippe… we talked about the “ultimate vintage Cougar”…. And we ended up to focus on this one, Kevin Moore his prototype from the Detroit worlds!
He finished 4th, after qualifying 7th.

I started to make a study, so i knew what i was up against, and this was horribly confusing to get all info straight… which we concluded it was impossible to build this car.

So, i (and Philippe) started to look out for the right Parts, and got this one going !

I am still thinking how to present this build, but… i am trying to do posts, once in a time… it’s just too much for one post, done.

So here we go, the start!!

First of all, you see the 4 pictures i needed to work with, and that set the goal.

Problem 1, lotta prototype parts, which are impossible to find… i thought.

Then we started to ask around in our networks, and hunt down EVERY advert which was related to Schumacher in general…

Then i made contact with Guy, which was there at the Worlds in person. From that point we had a good start, because I gathered a lotta info from him, and some sweeeet parts!!

The collecting had begun, but only started the actual build two months ago.
At this point, when i had like 95% of the parts together, i contacted Kevin himself, and asked him if wanted to collaborate in the finalization of the project… i showed him the parts we found, and Kevin was immediately 100% connected!
During the actual build, he pointed out all the missing details, and slowly we together made this one REAL!!

Is this a re-build, or a replica, or as-close-as-the-real-car build?! I dunno… i did not picked the right words for it…

Thanks, and enjoy for now!

[1911Colt]

[Retro rc]

You have my attention

[1911Colt]

What is the small bracket in pic 3? Does that tie the motor plate to the chassis for extra strength?

[Djerk]

What is the small bracket in pic 3? Does that tie the motor plate to the chassis for extra strength?

That will be revealed with the next post, but it’s a 100% original part which has been used at the Worlds in 91’…

[Djerk]

(Proto Cougar Detroit Report part 2)

Well… here i am again, this time i hope i can write some more detailed information about some parts, and the actual start of the build.

As said before, i have been collecting the parts for about 2 years, and two months ago I started this build (see report 1).

Now i had almost all the parts together, i started with the chassis, as you can see i needed to bend the rear end, so it free’s up the rear, but also protects the motor. Pretty smart i would say, because it also gives a better cooling of the motor.
The chassis i had, was from a later cougar, which had a bit of a structure on the surface, and started to polish it. After 1 week of sanding and buffing… the result was not as i would of liked… and decided to buy another Cougar in the UK, which had the original Topcat shiney chassis. This is not a new one, and actually i like it shows some usage.

All original parts show a bit of wear, and to me it gives the car the feeling it just came of the track bitd.

Now the tranny was the next step, this part was very hard… Kevin his car had the alloy gear housing, which is (almost) impossible to find… so i asked Manobet - la Manufacture d'Objets to reproduce this item… it took a bit of a while but finally he came up with the housing produced in 3 pieces of 7075 grade alloy. He needed to create it in 3 pieces… because his machinery could not take the whole thickness. In the end.. i am very happy with the end result!!

The tranny is build with the superdiff, and the MK1 slipper, and i used the Works belt. Found 2 original new black sideplates and the alloy excentrics (also used again at detroit!!).

Now i started to mount the gearbox, and there you go… the greatest part I received from Guy, the little alloy bracket! He searched for this part for 1 hour when i was there.. and there it was!!
Kevin did told me, he did not used it himself, but this part was again 100% sure used at Detroit.. so, I mounted it, and Kevin told me, if he could if had it, he definitely would have used it.
I like it… a lot!! These parts represent the true 90’s, this is what we all did in some sort of way!

At this time i started to work on the rear end, and again… one of the most Iconic parts of this car… the LWB prototype white rear wishbones…!! Mannn…. I just LOVE these!! Same as the white grey steering levers!!
Imo, these parts make the car feel all original!

Now i mounted the rear GRO white bulkhead, and started to work on the shock tower.
My friend Philippe helped with the template, and i opened the NIP Storm tower, and started to dremel the tower… (bit sketchy tbh.. 🫣)
Again, very happy about the result!!

At this point the front end was pretty easy.
Everything was a straight fit, the triangled tower fitted, and adjusted the front meduim length shocks (thank you Chris!!!!) with the right soft springs, together with the rosejoint ends, and Kevin told me he used the 5deg castor (white dot) yokes. Again… another detail which i never would have guessed.

As you will see, with these special bits and extra information from Kevin, the car is really coming together now… and, the story continues at another time, with report nmbr 3.

Enjoy the pictures!

[Djerk]

Extra pictures from report 2…

[Moggie XL]

I have always wondered what the modifications looked like on these Cougar prototypes pre Cougar 2. Thanks for posting these pictures and I can't wait to see your car build finished

[Djerk]

(Proto Cougar Detroit Report part 3)

Hi RC friends… it’s me again, with another bookwork… 🫣

In this report, i will go further in some details, but also the final steps of the electronics.

As you have seen on the last photos the shocks where mounted on the rear and front.
Kevin pointed out he was using the softest springs he could have used, due to the high bumps/ruts on the track.
Gladly i had the same springs in stock, and as you can see a bit, the springs are bended, same as on his car.
Same as the front springs, they are really soft as well.

Now the Proto is pretty much setup, same as Kevin’s car… and i am really happy with the result!!
Upto this point, I really felt i was back in the 90’s… can’t explain why, but digging into the details as much i could, reading old magazines, asking Kevin for feedback etc.. made it feel quite “real”…

From this point i started to prepare the electronics!

The first part which stands out, is the way the batteries are hold in place, the original battery holder has been mounted upside down on the rear side! So.. drilling holes in these chassis, is never comfortable.
I had the original Cougar 2 teams battery holder (still looking for another one!). And from this point i started to work with the servo.
As you see, it’s the Ko Propo FET PS-87 version, there are no pictures from Kevin his actual Final car from the inside, and he believes he mounted this version for the finals.

Then i dismantled the case from the KOPROPO KR-293A receiver, and schrinkwrapped it together with the wires in, VERY 90’s!
Put a nice alloy antenna holder in place, and the translucent tube (original vintage Schumacher part).

Now i needed to sort out those receiver pack batteries, which my friend Pro Fess helped me out how to manage that. As he is THE specialist when it becomes to these kind of details… and bought some N-50AAA cells, re-did the schrinkwrap with yellow ones, and soldered them together, blue schrinkwrap to pack them up, and put the LRP logo on it. Done!

As for the 1700SCE cells… well, i went for a restoration of these, i know for a fact this could have been done better by just sourcing original ones… maybe i will see some passing bye, but i did not wanted to wait before making the build “finisched”…. I bought the Sanyo 1700SCE decals from MCI and used old Sanyo cells i had laying around. (Still vintage enough imo)
Soldered some Nickel strips on them, and short wires, becauce direct connectors didn’t fit.

My friend Philippe helped me out with one of the main components, the LRP LE 25 AMS ESC. Kevin explained he never used a switch, so… i did the same, and soldered the wires.
The external potential meter was not there no more, but Kevin was also not sure he would of used it.
I fixed the wires as good as possible.. i know, this can be done better, but then i would of needed some original wires, which was too much of this OCD process…

After the ESC was installed, i went on with with the motor, the LRP Blue SE (13x3) was an easy installation, soldered the wires, and done!

Now i needed to finish some details on the car itself.

The car is pretty much done so far, and mounted the NIP Team Yokomo Hot-Laps tires, TF-320 in front, and Kevin pointed out i needed to cut both outer and inner rows.
As you maybe can see, the front rims are dark grey on the inside, these are again prototype wheels, which are a bit harder. It is also very noticeable they have been sprayed with a rattle can probably. We are not sure they would of used these wheels… but, these are just too special for not showing them, especially on this car.
The rear tires are the Team Yokomo Hot-Laps TR-32’s. I have taken old NIP rear wheels, and put it all together.

Well… another looong story to read for you people… i hope it’s a joy!

Next time… the reveal from the paint and body and wing!!

[Moggie XL]

I really like this car and the fact it has parts that were used for the worlds 91 race makes it even more special,.

[Djerk]

I really like this car and the fact it has parts that were used for the worlds 91 race makes it even more special,.

Thanks a lot!! And yes indeed, those parts are key for this car/build.

[Retro rc]

Those rims a very cool I have seen a brand new set of them that a friend of mine has from a worlds handout pack.

It’s crazy how hard they are they, almost like a fibreglass wheel with a spray painted face

[Djerk]

Those rims a very cool I have seen a brand new set of them that a friend of mine has from a worlds handout pack.

It’s crazy how hard they are they, almost like a fibreglass wheel with a spray painted face

Yes indeed! As what i wrote, they are sooo hard, I don’t think it was beneficial for that event. They are just too cool to not show them!

[Djerk]

(Proto Cougar Detroit Report part 4 final)

Well… this is it, the last report of this special build.
I have to say, writing down all the details again, and trying to remember all the phases i went through really has giving this build a next level experience.
Also getting the feedback during the first 3 chapters made me feel pretty satisfied !

As this will be the “big reveal”… you all have already seen 85% of the car. But… getting the body, wing, paint and decals all good… was pretty challenging again.

I had only 2 good pictures from the car, which actually where pretty good.

The rear wing is a TopCat wing, with bigger sideplates. All coated white.
The Detroit Worlds orange chassis number “238” was a discovery from Kevin, which he pointed out from one other picture.

The body showed some decals, and 1 especially was impossible for me to know shat it said… also Kevin needed a few days to think what it was… and then.. he came back to me. “The Bully Boys” he said! This was a group of friends he used to race with at his local club bitd!! Who would of expected that… using such a typical decal on a Worlds Prototype Finals car.. 🫣!!
2 decals i have received from Christian, the bigger green one, and the pink one on the battery tray. Pretty sweet again that also the body has a touch of originality again!

The paintjob wasn’t the most difficult part, i have the idea Kevin didn’t made his life too hard also here, as it was (almost) 2 pieces of tape, and done..
But, me getting this far, i really wanted to have it perrrfect again. Haha.
There are 4 colors, the black and blue was a little bit tricky, the white easy, and the red i tweaked it with yellow to make it more orange (which maybe could have been more orange, but maybe it’s good though, not 100% sure).

All decals i have designed myself, and this was a couple of days work on the MCI Website… as they have all templates, i just needed to do a lotta measurements!!
After the third try, and checked every decal 3 times again… i hitted the “buy it now” button… waiting to receive them was a bit of an excitement… you never know for sure, until you have ‘m… 🫣!

And then i started to finish it all off… and, i can only say… i was VERY happy!!! Man… it is such a thrill when i finally saw the whole car coming together!!! Including the 3 holes in the body…

Also Kevin was really excited.. and there are a few screenshots from his response…

So… people, this is it… the final!
I hope to inspire you all to keep sourcing, collecting and building your own projects!
Keep ‘m going.. you all have inspired me to make this one happening!!

[MarkyDents]

Came out phenomenal !!