custom Zoid: Rabbot R2

(Scout / Electronic Surveillance)

This is the story of my 11th Zoids custom. (completed October 2005)

In late 2004 I stumbled across Darth Tom's Rabbot web page, where he discusses the practical joke Roger Harris played on the Zoids community some years back. Roger used an altered image to fool some into thinking a new "Rabbit Type" Zoid had become available.

Inspired by the image, Darth Tom went and created his own version of a Rabbot out of a Hellcat. (See his web page here). He describes how he altered one of the cranks so that the legs move together, in a motion similar to a rabbit hopping. Although the windup motor was not strong enough to propel Rabbot forward when placed on the ground, he found the hopping motion quite amusing....

While shopping in Toys R Us in late 2005, I find a Battle Cougar on clearance. I pick it up, mainly because it is cheap and I'm thinking I can use the guns, wings, and tail on various future projects.

In the following days, my thoughts keep returning to Rabbot. Finally it become clear: I need to make my own version. And Battle Cougar will be my unsuspecting victim....

Motor Modification

Battle Cougar is ideal for this project since the walking action is simple and stiff-legged, similar to a wind-up Zoid. The motor and gearbox is simple since only one axle is powered. Once the rump cover is removed (one screw) the motor cover comes off (3 clips). The output axle is square, so it is very easy to remove one output cog, rotate it 180 degrees, and reinstall it in its new position on the shaft. Note the cam on the output shaft, perhaps Tomy also intended this gearbox for use on some other Zoid.

Get A Head

I modified a leftover Pteramander head to look more like a rabbit head. First I rounded the lower portions of the ears, then relocated the ear mounting pegs from the cheeks to the new positions high up on the head. Bits of sprue make up the gaps. I also shortened the nose and trimmed off the gun between the ears. Later I use Epoxy to fill in some gaps at the nose. I attempt to have the jaw open and close using the cam on the motor, but the motion is so small (less than 1/8 of an inch at the tip of the jaws) that I abandon the effort. (Real rabbits don't open their mouths much, anyways.)

Since my Rabbot is a improved version, and since it uses a Pteremander head, I decide to call my custom "Rabbot R2". (This also pays homage to the rare Salamander F2.)

Legs and Links

This picture shows the legs being modified. The front legs were shortened and the angle changed. Some BrachioZilla feet are used as new front feet, and BrachioZilla links are modified to connect the front and rear legs on each side. The fins on the rear legs are removed to help make them less bird-like and more rabbit-like.

No Forward Progress

At this point, I assemble all the parts and make a test run. I am disappointed: while there is lots of motion, there is no forward progress. The front and rear legs have neither friction nor weight transfers, hence my custom only stretches and contracts without moving anywhere. Experiments with weight distribution (ie relocate the battery) yield no improvement.

Trick Wheels

The solution came to me a couple of days later: I needed to change the friction dynamics somehow. My inspiration came from a pullback toy: free rolling in one direction, but not in reverse. So I came up with a binding wheel concept. The frame (shown inverted) allows free rolling in one direction, but the asymetric design does not permit free rolling in reverse. In reverse, the axle rolls along the frame until the wheel rim binds on the frame.

The frame is scratch built from CD case liner (CDCL). The wheels were fabicated from RayZilla leg armor posts and modified Zoids rubber caps. The axle is a coat hanger.

Do It Again

I had intended to mount the frame shown above directly in the rear legs, but it was too big. So after some study, I decided to build new and smaller frames in place. It took some filing and some careful cutting but eventually the job was done.

Forward and Final Mods

A test run shows success: my custom now moves forward, although only on optimal surfaces, and even then somewhat slowly. But it is good enough for me to continue.

I am about to mount the head when it hits me: rabbits and eagles have much different bodies. A bird has most of its muscle up front, powering the wings, whereas a rabbit has its muscles in the back and rear legs, to allow it to hop rapidly. With this in mind, I trim off the top front of the gearbox and fabricate a new sloped cover out of CDCL. I salvage the wing mounts and glue them on top of the new cover.

After filling some gaps with epoxy, I add the final tweaks. I modify a Gojulas belly gun and mount it to the back, using a new custom swivel mount. I add a modified CP-13 radar disk as a "tail", and cut down the CP-13 "backpack", to integrate it into the rump cover in order to mount the radar.

Paint and Final Assembly

The usual masking of pivot points was done to ensure free movement. I used a general purpose flat gray spray paint overall, flat black on the feet, and a touch of flat white on the belly. I used black caps from Liger Zero X and Bearfighter, and stickers from Battle Cougar and BrachioZilla. Lastly I blackened the gun bores. When Rabbot R2 is turned on, he stretches and contracts, making slow but steady forward progress.

<== Stance closed, radar stowed, ready to move

Stance open, radar deployed, gun turned slightly

Rear quarter shot

walk video on YouTube

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