Schumacher U415T Cougar MK1

Introduced in 1990 by Schumacher the RC manufacturer from England, the Cougar was a nice piece of 90’s history. As mentionned on the manual, Schumacher cars had “Performance and technology that YOU CAN BUY !”. And they’re right, even if the quality is lower compare to those other challengers, the Cougar was well armored face to the Team Associated or Losi.

The cougar was the second 2wd buggy from Schumacher, the first was the Top Cat release in 1998 close in design but with different front drivetrain. The TopCat had an “inboard” suspension using cantilevers.
 

 
Let me show you how I refurbished this “Fat Cat” to grab the first places during vintage race.

 

 

 

The chassis is aluminium inspired by the RC10 gold pan.
The original rear mount in plastic is very weak. The previous owner made a part in epoxy sheet cut at the right size to reinforce the mount.

Look at this fantatic ingineer idea to attach the wing to the wing mount with elastic

 

The drives shafts are telescopics like those found on Losi JRX-2 or Traxxas Bullet, both were available on 1988.

 

The rear wishbone mount solution is innovative. The pivot blocks are attach to the chassis with screws and nuts, but you can change the number of “Nylon washer” to increase or decrease the Toe and the Anti Squat. Economic and clever !

 

 

One thing surprise me about this transmission. On the Cougar, all the screws, nuts are “metric”. All the parts for the ball differential are “imperial”
The thrust race, the rear axle, friction washer, thrust washer,….
And you know what ! the balls in pulley are “metric” (3mm)
Disturbing !

There is a friction paper between the washer carrier or the outdrive (as you want) and the pressure plate. Not for me the best solution to prevent the rotation of the pressure plate.

 

 

Borrow from the Top Cat the transmission include a belt. The tension can be adjust with eccentric guide.

The front is also innovative as the rear

 

To change the “kick up” angle of the front drivetrain, just add or remove the spacer. It’s easy, you don’t need option part, just a small spacers and two screws.

 

 

The name “Cougar” were use during five years with eleven declension of the chassis. With Truck version, Economic version, Onroad version, Team version and after 1995 Schumacher change the denomination of their 2wd buggy by “Fireblade”. We have to wait 2010 to see this name reborn with the Cougar SV.

Sometime I really like to refurbish a car with periodic electronics but on this Cougar I relocate the electronics at the rear, I use RC10 battery cup and made some battery tray for my lipo shorty. I really want to drive this car more than 5 minutes on the track. So I put modern electronics 17.5 combo.

On the track the car handles very well, jump in air like a Cougar on is prey. In this article I didn’t spoke about the dampers. They look great but even if I refurbished them with new o-ring, they leak and they are not constant. This car is full of innovative solutions. Try to adjust the drivetrain without option parts is simply the best thing to keep in memory.

David from RC4ON

Video :
 

 
More pictures in gallery :
Crédit photos : Olivier H.