TORNADO - The Team with the Comedy Flying Cow
TORNADO BUDGET

If you like what we're doing and can offer sponsorship, then it would be gratefully received - please see our Press Information Page.

Overall cost of Tornado so far - £2162.14

| Series 4 || Series 5 and Extreme 1 || Series 6 and Extreme 2 || Series 7 |

Series 4
Even ignoring costs such as petrol (I was covering 110 extra miles a week to get to Daves house), take away food, phone calls, internet access, and electricity, or the piles of parts we already posessed or have managed to blag, we are certain that this budget is not complete. When you look at the true cost of building a competitive robot everything must be considered, so we have included all the tools, consumables etc. we didn't have before and bought specially for the robot, and the things we bought but didn't use. Some of the tools and surplus purchases will be useful when the robot is finished of course.

How did we divide the costs amoung the three of us? In the beginning, Andrew was the only team member, and financed many of the early purchases. As Dave and then Bryan joined, we divided the costs between the three of us by our responsibility. Dave paid for the electronics, Bryan for the pneumatics and Andrew for the chassis and drivetrain. Alternatively, some items (like our T-Shirts) we paid for jointly.
Item
Robot Wars Club
Angle Grinder + discs
SIP Migmate 105 Welder
Hi-Tec Ranger 3 RC combo
Hawker SBS15 Batteries
1st Weapons motor
Steel, plastic, motors
Other bits and Pieces
Electronics bits
Failsafe
Bosch GPA750W motors
Spring Balance
Hi-Tec RC #2 + bits
Kiel 18AH Batteries
More Electronics bits
Shock Absorbers
Kart parts
Hi-Tec 40MHz RC crystals
Battery Postage
Scales #2
Drill Bit
Welding Gas Cylinder
Drive Gears
Pneumatics Parts
More Electronics bits
Welding Wire
Welding stuff
Batteries Refund
Aluminium Sheet
Steel Bar and Tube
Polycarbonate, Nylon
Chain Breaker
17mm drill
1/4" (M6!) bolts
1/4" drill
Pillar Drill
Fire Extinguishers
1/4" bolts, drill
Welding Gas Cylinder
M6 hardware
Regulators, Gas
Various Tools
Taps, Pneumatics
17mm dia Steel
Steel, drills
Nitrogen pneumatics gas
Hose Clips
Hand Cleaner
M8 Studding
Spray Paint
17mm dia Steel
Electronics etc
Gas Tanks, Adaptors
M5 Hardware
Angle Grinder + discs
Removable link etc
Spanners
Hi-Tec Dual Conv. Receiver, Xtals
Pneumatics valves
Tools, Pneumatics
Angle Grinder + discs
Welding Gas
Pneumatics
Tools etc
Bolts, Grinding disc
Control Snakes
Hose Clips
Tools, Bolts
Gas, Pneumatics etc
Regulator etc
Tap + Pneumatics
1/4" BSP Plugs
19mm Silver Steel Bar
Parcel Tape
Tools etc
Car Jacks
Tools etc
Hi-Tec 40MHz Dual Conv. Crystals
Spray Paint
Plastic Boxes
Blowtorch gas
Elec Parts
Elec Parts
Sledgehammer
Crowbar
Slime (for tyres)
Cable ties
Big Washers
Control Snakes
Sticky backed Vinyl
Robot stickers
Spray Paint
Sweatshirts
More Spray Paint
More Spray Paint
Electronic Bathroom Scales
T-Shirts
SERIES 4 TOTAL
Cost
10
24.65
178
74.99
304.03
10
58
25
45
8.95
190.88
3.49
70.80
55
136.79
15
282.59
10.99
7.95
2.99
3.15
11.95
102
120
102
4.95
42.89
-69.91 (R)
46.80
12.08
145.59
29.38
14.69
1.50
1.50
44.59
25.98
5.12
10.95
5.01
50.33
72.09
19.15
30.76
38.89
21.21
8.75
7.99
1.14
12.47
16.96
366.84
146.88
1.00
19.75
37.97
4.00
50.00
43.12
72.30
12.99
25.90
25.36
35.45
2.45
2.40
9.00
7.93
31.56
91.19
25.10
2.59
28.71
1.00
11.49
2.00
19.91
21.98
7.00
9.95
5.98
85.50
59.90
12.00
2.99
11.00
1.00
1.00
4.00
9.38
70.50
19.47
58.75
2.99
6.49
19.99
39.19
3981.01
Supplier
Mentorn
B&Q
W&E Welding
Model World
Display Electronics
Friend at uni
Scrapyards
various
Maplin
Inwood Model Supplies
Ellis Components
Argos
Model World
Bull Electrical
various
scrapyard
Stratos Karts
Inwood Model Supplies
Parcelforce
Woolworths
Homebase
JB Autospares
HPC Gears
Farnell/J&L
Maplin/RS/Farnell
JB Autospares
RS/Farnell
Display Electronics
Smiths Metal Centres
MacKays
Plastim Services
Stratos Karts
MacKays
MacKays
Homebase
Machine Mart
Halfords
West End DIY
JB Autospares
MacKays
Machine Mart
MacKays
J&L
J&L
J&L
Team Plant
J&L
Great Mills
Scotty's
JB Autospares
J&L
RS/Maplin/Farnell
Life Support Eng.
Maplin
Homebase
RS
Warehouse Clearance
Peterbourough Model
RS
J&L
Homebase
JB Autospares
J&L
Towsure
Scottys
Inwood Models
Scottys
Scottys
Farnell
Team Plant
J&L
J&L
J&L
Warehouse Clearance
Mackays
Scrapyard
Machine Mart
Peterborough Model Shop
JB Autospares
Great Mills
Great Mills
RS
Farnell
LRO Show Billing
LRO Show Billing
LRO Show Billing
LRO Show Billing
LRO Show Billing
Inwood Models
Colemans
Applied Lettering
JB Autospares
Bourne Embroidery
JB Autospares
JB Autospares
Argos
Bourne Embroidery

We just scraped Tornado in below 4 grand for Series 4... thank goodness we are competitive!

Series 5 and Extreme 1
Again our budget is not going to be totally complete, but we have still included everything we bought specially for the robot, not just the parts we ended up using. Things that are luxuries (such as Bryan's lathe and Dave's oscilloscope) we have not included. We agreed at the start of Series 5 to split all the costs equally between the team, unless they were the aforementioned luxuries...
Item
Bosch Motor Magnets to Alistair O'Neil
Welding/Grinding bits
Weapon motor
Kart Chain
Kart Chain
Titanium Sheet
Welding Gas Regulator
Welding Gas
Kart Parts
Video Tapes
Tyres Foam
M6 Studding etc
Plastic Boxes
Axles Ally Bar
Chassis/misc metal
Lathe Tools
Robot Wars Club
Bearings and Threadlock
Pinions
Extention Lead
Spare Motors
14mm Silver Steel, Tap
25mm PTFE Bar
Current Transducer, Diodes
Spare Chains
Welding Gas
Welding and grinding bits
M6 Hardware
Countersinks
Hardware, bolts, tools
Piano Wire
Steel Discs
Bearings, Connectors etc
Steel bar/box
Gas bottle Spanner
Aluminium Bits
Kiels
Tools etc
Spare Motor
Web Hosting, Petrol
Titanium
Grinding Discs
Lathe Tools + Steel
Silver Steel, Gagues etc
Tyres Foam
Bolts and Cutting Discs
Propane Cylinder
Tool Steel, Left Handed Cutters
Welding Gas
Rewound Motor
Steel and Aluminium
Bolts, Tools
M8 Hardware, Grinder
Rivets
Electronics bits and belts
M8/M10 bolts etc
Welding Gas
Tools
Electronics parts
Electronics parts
Paint
Electronics parts
Electronics parts
Stickers
Boxes, Blowlamp Gas
Bolts, Spare hinges
Spare Chains
Bolts
Spare Belts etc
Bungee Cords
Gloves, Drill etc
Underground Tickets
Underground Tickets
Underground Tickets
Electronics parts
Underground Tickets
Disc Tooth Steel
Bit Driver
50mm PTFE Bar
Chairs
1/4" Rachet
Various Tools etc
Car Fan Motors
Kart Sprockets etc
Cable Ties
Steel
Paint
Paint
Tap, Cutter, Welding Wire
Fuses(?)
Bulbs, Spanner, Tape etc
Steel + Ally
Welding Gas
M8 Bolts
Stickers
Bolts, Grinding Discs
Disc Teeth
SERIES 5 COSTS
MINUS SPONSORSHIP AND FEES
SERIES 5 TOTAL
OVERALL AT END OF SERIES 5
(TOTAL NOT INCLUDING INCOME)
Cost
-20.00
22.94
10.00
50.00
52.50
9.00
73.67
66.80
296.17
5.00
42.00
2.00
9.95
36.28
35.23
22.45
-12.95
40.78
36.79
4.99
199.28
42.28
11.49
34.25
70.50
33.43
47.71
21.19
27.06
56.66
1.70
103.40
103.67
55.79
1.95
257.80
117.38
295.20
103.17
55.00
10.00
9.66
19.20
87.66
42.00
16.53
8.00
16.50
66.86
50.00
13.98
49.50
108.92
2.55
99.93
8.15
33.43
61.74
215.17
49.04
41.20
11.66
22.91
41.13
12.94
12.84
70.50
6.94
52.61
4.25
5.00
11.40
11.40
11.40
15.06
5.70
18.35
3.35
13.74
21.50
3.00
24.00
40.00
40.07
3.98
33.53
10.95
7.00
23.44
14.10
60.10
33.35
33.43
4.76
31.13
11.09
159.80
4318.94
-3398.45
920.49
4901.50
8346.95
Supplier
Team Tornado
Machine Mart
Scrapyard
Spellfame Karting
Spellfame Karting
Hanningfield Metals
Team Plant
Team Plant
Stratos Karts
Tesco
Fabric Warehouse
Scottys
Great Mills
Smiths
Mackays
J&L
Mentorn
RS
HPC Gears
Maplin
Ellis Components
J&L
EDP
Farnell
Dartford Karting
Team Plant
J&L
Scottys
J&L
Scottys
Inwood Models
Barclay + Mathieson Ltd
Farnell
Mackays
Mackays
Smiths
Bull Electrical
Machine Mart
Ellis Components
Vivid Concepts
Various
Scottys
J&L
J&L
Tom Smith Covers
Scottys
Team Plant
J&L
Team Plant
Rush Electrical Services
Mackays
J&L
Scottys
Scottys
RS
Scottys
Team Plant
J&L
Farnell
RS
J B Autospares
Maplin
Farnell
Applied Lettering
Focus
Scottys
Dartford Karting
Scottys
RS
Sports and Fashions
J&L
London Underground
London Underground
London Underground
Farnell
London Underground
Mackays
Mackays
EDP
Anchor Supplies (Billing)
Billing
Billing
Scrapyard
Dartford Karting
Maplin
Mackays
JB Autospares
JB Autospares
J&L
RS
Farnell
Mackays
Team Plant
Scottys
Applied Lettering
Scottys
Bowd Engineering





Series 5 cost us less than a grand - we managed to save a lot of money through sponsorship of the speed controller FETs and circuit boards, armour and batteries. Going to Robot Wars Extreme 1 helped keep our costs under control, mainly through the prize money won in the 2nd World Championships!

Series 6 and Extreme 2
As with last year we don't expect our budget to be complete, but we do not expect to spend anywhere near as much; we have most of the tools we need, and we do not plan to rebuild Tornado this year. The assistance we get from our sponsors continues to increase - many thanks to all of them for their help.
Item
Hearing Defenders
Beer, Batteries etc
Bit drivers, allen keys
Steel box and tube
Dartford Toll crossing
Cutting Discs
Welding Wire, Tungsten
Dutch Robot Games Travel
Welding Gas
Paint
Inner Tubes
Paint
Bolts
Overnight Accommodation
Dutch Accommodation, Drink
AA Batteries
Cutters, drills etc
Kart Chain
Piano Wire
WD40
Parking
Parking
Tape Measure
Heatshink
Tools, Steel
Cutting Discs, Bolts etc
Double Sided Tape
Linbins
Plastic Boxes
Tools etc
Aluminium Stock
Various Elec
Various Elec
Rivets
Clamps
Magnets
Polycarbonate Scraps
Ti Bar, Plate Tube
Ti Plate and Sheet
Various Tools
Titanium, Fuel
Hacksaw Blades
Hacksaw Blades
Postage
Crystals
Steel Plate
Steel and Aluminium
Bolts and Tools
Crystals Refund
Electronics Parts
M10 Tap
Kart Parts
Tyre Pressure Gauge
ACW Bearings
Aluminium
Postage
Electronics Parts
Bolts, Oiler etc
Bolts, belts etc
Electronics Parts
Bolts and grinding discs
Kart Parts Refund
Membership
Electronics Parts
RC Paint
Bolts, Gloves
Paint
M10s and tools
Pop Rivets
M10 Nylocs
Removeable Spikes
Bosch Brushes + postage
Bead Sealer
Jubillee Clips
G Clamp Sets
Welding Gas
Paint
Postage
Paint
Rewound Motor
Paint
Paintbrushes+Grinder Stand
Various
AA Batteries
Ammo Boxes
SERIES 6 COSTS
MINUS SPONSORSHIP AND FEES
SERIES 6 TOTAL
OVERALL SO FAR
(TOTAL NOT INCLUDING INCOME)
Cost
4.00
19.22
8.24
154.28
2.00
7.93
14.85
53.67
69.21
11.40
18.22
11.40
8.01
39.95
93.46
3.49
107.16
18.80
0.90
1.19
12.00
12.00
1.04
13.00
68.36
35.64
6.85
4.45
9.95
10.17
16.07
162.6
24.59
0.79
1.50
2.00
30.00
47.60
6.00
42.67
49.02
8.93
4.00
6.50
25.73
67.21
78.40
12.64
-11.99
88.73
7.09
199.16
-6.69
37.41
138.27
6.50
4.79
33.17
56.83
45.46
64.19
-41.71
10.00
11.66
2.75
13.20
22.85
17.65
1.59
1.74
95.00
60.00
23.83
1.00
2.00
174.86
3.50
0.57
7.00
50.00
3.75
16.51
40.33
5.98
26.40
2620.47
-4256.12
-1635.65
3312.85
10967.42
Supplier
Stoneleigh
Tesco
Mackays
Mackays
AM
Scottys
Machine Mart
AM
Team Plant
JB Autospares
Dartford Karting
JB Autospares
Scottys
Travelodge
Dutch Robot Games
Tesco
J&L
Dartford Karting
Inwood Models
Wilco
Gareth Dean
NCP
Focus
Maplin
J&L
Screwfix
Screwfix
Swag Shop
Focus
Mackays
Mackays
Farnell
RS
Scottys

WCN Supplies



Machine Mart
Team Storm
J&L
Team Plant
Post Office
SMC
Barclay Mathieson
Mackays
Mackays
SMC
Farnell
J&L
Dartford Karting
AM
Hooper Ltd
Smiths Metals
Post Office
Farnell
Screwfix
RS
Farnell
J&L
Dartford Karting
Roaming Robots
Maplin
Inwood Models
Scottys
JB Autospares
Mackays
Focus
Scottys
Cambmac
Team Storm
Rema Tip Top
Anchor Supplies
Beaman Tools
Team Plant
JB Autospares
Post Office
JB Autospares
Rush Electrical Services
JB Autospares
Screwfix
RS
Woolworths
Anchor Supplies





Series 6 and Extreme 2 produced a significant profit, thanks to the great amount of help from our sponsors, late arriving appearance fees etc from Series 5, but mainly due to the prize money from winning Series 6! It goes a long way towards what Tornado has cost to build and run since Series 4.

Series 7
As always, the budget won't include every penny we spend, and items such as food, fuel and social events will not be included.
Item
Taps
Welding Gas
Welding Gas
Parcel Postage
Kart Sprocket Carriers
SERIES 7 COSTS
MINUS SPONSORSHIP AND FEES
SERIES 7 TOTAL SO FAR
OVERALL SO FAR
(TOTAL NOT INCLUDING INCOME)
Cost
10
34.55
37.54
10.2
20
112.29
-1263.00
-1150.71
2162.14
11079.71
Supplier
JB Cutting Tools
Team Plant
Team Plant
Post Office
Buckmore Kart Shop





Of course we don't know when Series 7 will be filmed as yet, but to remain consistent with the previous years budgets, costs that fall after the end of Extreme 2 must be shown seperately. Currently this small period shows a big profit, this is down to a lot of income appearing on our books at once, including cheques from sponsors and for items sold to other roboteers. Everything goes towards paying for what Tornado has cost us to date - but we're still a couple of grand away from breaking even! It's a bit scary to see we've spent over 11 grand, therefore we've recovered nearly 9 grand...


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