Cyrul responds to criticism of latest Cerberus Racing body design

Having published news of Cerberus Racing’s new GT12 body just before boarding our flight back from Shanghai after attending Hobby Culture Festival China (HCFC) over the weekend, it has recieved a barrage of negative comments on the design leading designer & brand owner Josh Cyrul to respond with his own post on social media.  The veteran America racer agrees that these bodies are ‘smashed’ but explains that it is designed to meet the rules and that a properly scale shell GT3 body would not actually fit the cars it is intended for.

It’s difficult to be a body mfg and designer in the RC world these days but I’m going to give my .02 as I’ve seen quite a few negative posts on the Red RC one from people saying I am “ruining the class”.  So here’s a peek behind the curtain…  Yes, I design all our molds in a 10+ year old version of Solidworks.  It’s tough and not the best software for this but it’s what I have.

Yes, I scanned both competitors bodies (it’s called competitive benchmarking) as well as diecast models or hunt down free or pay for proper full vehicle scans to try and get accurate representations for reference. So if another body is legal – for sure mine will be as well as nothing I am making is way out of the norm like the Avalon was for example (no shade on them either, nothing wrong with pushing the limits at times).

Yes, the bodies are absolutely smushed — Why? Because the proportions of the cars do not match.  Scale down a real GT3 to the correct track width and in the case of the car I used, the wheel base is massively longer and roof is higher by a huge margin. So. You smash those to the wheel base needed and then to match the roof height of the RULES and bodies that other mfgs are selling in the segment.

No, what I drew is not perfect nor a 100% replica because of licensing. I consider those images I use.  The scans I use as a guide to make something in the feel of the car I am referencing – not a replica. IMO – Stefano Bitty Rabitti and Bitty design make the absolute best and closest replica bodies. I do not. I make race cars to the mm of the rule.

I tried before making bodies that were best for what I thought the industry needed -easier to drive, more realistic… They didn’t sell.

Last, I don’t write the rules. I’m not going to spend time on arguing the rules. Don’t like the way the cars look? Be a part of the solution and help the associations fix the rules. Don’t just complain endlessly online. Actually do something positive instead of negative.

That’s all for now. Happy racing and best of luck to everyone for the coming events.

Oh yeah, and don’t worry. I’m drawing more so there will be loads more to complain about soon.

Source: Josh Cyrul [Facebook]