Quote Originally Posted by mrsam View Post
To answer your question as well, Hatchet was end tapped with high tensile m6 bolts ( 50mm long if i remember right) and that fought a dangerous spinner in every qualifying fight and took no significant structural damage, the Hdpe got ground away and torn up but the overall chassis is still being used. I used some 3mm aluminium angle brackets around the back corners to reinforce as well, took a huge hit from Drumroll which threw Hatchet a good 2 feet in the air and upside down and the end tapped corner didn't budge.
Its not that simple. The machine came out of every fight in one piece. But since I have been the one who is repairing and upgrading its armour I have to say that its not the machine it came to the champs as. None of the machine is square anymore. Every original bulkhead is twisted. The whole machine is on slant from left to right. The chain that once ran straight is now at a slight angle.

I would suggest a core metal structure of welded steel (Box or sheet) with thick HDPE outer armour which is attached by countersunk M8 or M10 bolts and can be easily replaced. So long as the core remains undamaged then you will be good to go for many, many fights.