by sunny on September 18, 2011
Back when the Mitsubishi Pajero (or Montero, in parts of the world where "pajero" can mean "wanker") first came out, it came loaded with features that were previously unseen in the same category. A four-wheel drive that comes integrated with passenger car amenities, it was a pretty big deal in its day, made even bigger by its participation in many off-road races. Now, you can enjoy this classic in an RC package with the Tamiya Montero Wheelie.
Sold as a 1/10-scale assembly kit, the vehicle is based on the racing-configured models that were used in events like the Dakar Rally. It's only a 2WD, though, so don't expect all that capable off-road performance. Looks mighty badass driven through relatively tame terrain, though.
The Tamiya Montero Wheelie uses a box-type 2WD chassis, equipped with a front swing axle and rear rolling rigid suspension. Body is injection-molded for durability, with a spare tire, roll cage and cargo bed details thrown in for realism.
It features a fully-enclosed gearbox for keeping off dirt and debris, 115mm tires, a wheelie bar, a Tamiya 540-type brushed motor and TEU-104BK ESC. Since it's a kit, you need your own tools and paint to get the ride done, along with a two-channel radio and battery.
No pricing yet, but the Tamiya Montero Wheelie should hit stores this October.
[Tamiya]
by sunny on September 7, 2011
Serpent has announced a new racer that they claim "sets new standards in 1/10-scale race chassis design." The vehicle is the Serpent 733 Team Edition, it gets many practical updates, stemming from real-world use by the team and factory drivers.
Boasting high cornering speeds, superb braking and a wide sweet spot, the vehicle should prove easier to race than any of the 733's previous iterations. Serpent also claims the ride features a newly-developed geometry, improved weight balance and very responsive steering.
The Serpent 733 Team Edition uses a 3mm machined aluminum chassis, with countersunk and chamfered edges that makes for a closed, rigid design. It has a mono-type engine mount for securely holding the engine, as well as a side bracket assembly (for mounting the receiver, switch, antenna and both servos) and a carbon fiber bracket on the opposite side of the front-mounted fuel tank for seating the battery, making for one compact layout. Sold as a kit, the racer comes with the new SL6 gearbox, an updated 75cc fuel tank with a Cobra tank-cap and seal system, the Direct Link system, rear-end aluminum-rubber connector set, rear camber bracket, rod-type stiffener and a whole load of other additions.
We can't find pricing or availability information anywhere in the web for now, but Serpent has already raced the 733 Team Edition last month (at the 1/10 scale 200mm Euros in Germany) and will probably figure in a few more events entered in by the team (including the US Nationals later this year). You can also check out the link below for more information.
Specs:
Class: 200mm 1/10th Scale 200mm
Purpose: 200mm Touring Car Racer
Chassis: 3mm aluminum, 7075 aerospace quality, CNC machined
Suspension: Independent double wishbone suspension
Radio plate: 2.5mm carbon fiber, CNC machined
Shock absorbers: RCCX shock absorbers
Fuel tank: 75cc design with new lid
Drive system: 4wd through kevlar reinforced timing belts
Clutch system: Centax-III clutch system
Front axle: Gear Differential (Optional One way axle )
Rear axle: Gear Differential
Gearbox: Lightweight SL6 2-speed with interchangeable fine pitch gears
Weight: 1.695kg (depending on radio gear)
Max. speed: 105km/h +
Acceleration: 0-90km/h 3.0 seconds
Instructions: Full color instruction manual, reference guide
Not included: Engine and pipe, body, radio equipment, battery pack, tires
[Serpent]
by sunny on August 26, 2011
Tamiya has been reissuing plenty of their classic models over the years -- some have been great, while a few have been underwhelming. The Tamiya Sand Rover, however, is bound to inspire a lot of excitement.
Originally released in 1981, the dune buggy has been a consistent favorite among fans of classic RCs, with its simple construction and downright fun handling. This reboot of the vehicle sounds like it's bound to evoke the same welcome reaction from hobbyists, with its true-to-form old-school body mounted on a completely modern RC.
The Tamiya Sand Rover is a 1/10 scale kit, built upon the relatively newbie-friendly DT-02 chassis. While past reissues built upon the platform have been "hit or miss," this one looks like a complete bullseye, with the gorgeously retro body, sick-looking paddle tires and a detailed driver figure. We do hope they offer add-on driver figures, because that could make playing with this car tons more fun.
Details of the kit include a 4-wheel independent suspension (with coil spring dampers), a Type 380 motor (can take Type 540 as an upgrade option, too), 10T pinion gear, ribbed front and spiked rear tires, and TEU-104BK ESC. Gearbox is fully-enclosed, since you'll likely be slumming this thing in dirty surfaces (I mean, it just begs for it).
If you're in the market for a real classic from the '80s, the Tamiya Sand Rover brings the entire look and feel of the original, paired with a modern chassis and RC system. It's coming in October, priced at $187.
[TamiyaUSA]
by sunny on August 23, 2011
While the name sounds like it's lifted straight off the Kama Sutra, there's nothing Tantric about the Tamiya Vajra. Instead, it's an electric 4WD racing truck based off the 2011 Avante chassis.
Sold as a kit, the 1/10-scale truggy is built on the shaft-driven 4WD Avante that's been converted to a truck with a locked center differential in place of the ball diff and ball diffs in place of the open gear units in the front and rear. It retains the longitudinally mounted motor and battery pack, as well as all the other properties that made the platform quite the attractive racer.
The Tamiya Vajra uses 2mm-thick carbon fiber for the upper and lower decks, as well as a 2mm carbon plate steering rack. Other details include a 4-wheel double wishbone suspension (with aluminum front knuckles and durable resin suspension arms), universal drive shafts, aluminum wheel hex hubs, 3.5mm-thick carbon fiber damper stays, and bumper guards (both front and rear).
The polycarbonate truck body (at least, the one on the product photo) looks very ordinary, though. Same with the included V-pattern block tires. Suffice to say, you'll probably want to look for something better to do the Avante chassis the justice it deserves.
MSRP for the Tamiya Vajra is $812. Radio gear, motor, battery and ESC are available separately.
[TamiyaUSA]
by sunny on July 20, 2011
Looking for a new monster truck to wreak backyard havoc with? How about this: the Traxxas Captain's Curse, a 1/10-scale model of the 2007 Monster Jam World Freestyle Champion pickup.
If you're not familiar with the ride, it's a truck based on a 1941 Willy's pickup, decked in red and black paintwork depicting a pirate theme. Traxxas' precise recreation duplicates every bit of the original, complete with pre-applied paint and decals featuring official Monster Jam graphics.
Based on the best-selling Stampede monster truck, the Traxxas Captain's Curse is an electric 2WD pickup, packing a high-torque Titan 550 motor and an XL-5 ESC. Designed for romping through mud, water, snow and other unusual outdoor terrain, it boasts fully-waterproofed electronics, a high four inches of ground clearance and realistic giant tires on beadlock-style wheels.
It can go at top speeds of over 30 mph, with off-road handling ably taken care of by the metal-gear transmission, Torque-Control slipper clutch and planetary gear differential. Whether you're recreating your favorite Monster Jam races or just running over everything in sight at the park, this truck looks fit for the job.
Available as a ready-to-race unit with a bundled TQ AM 2-channel radio system, the Traxxas Captain's Curse is priced at $385.
[Traxxas]
by sunny on June 22, 2011
We love Tamiya's RC releases of Japanese street cars and this sexy beast from 1978 rightfully makes me just a little giddy. I know, that's a stupid thing to say about radio-controlled cars, but the Mazda RX-7 is one of my favorite Japanese machines ever.
The Tamiya Mazda RX-7 is a 1/10-scale model, available in kit form. While you won't exactly be putting together a front mid-engine rotary engine (since it's, you know, a model toy), we reckon you can still geek out assembling this.
The dual-seater coupe body (polycarbonate, with a full set of stickers for the trim) is mounted on an M-06 mini chassis, with a rear wheel drive and a long wheelbase configuration. You get a 4-wheel double wishbone suspension, dog-bone driveshafts, transmission gear differential and oil-filled CVA plastic damper shock units.
Tamiya 540-J brushed motor and ESC are included, but you'll have to buy the radio gear and batteries (it's compatible with NiCad, NiMh, LiPo and LiFe) separately. It uses 60D Radial tires in front and 60D Super Grip Radial tires in the rear.
While this isn't the first time Tamiya released a Mazda RX-7 model, this is the first one I remember with the very first one in the line. It should be available in your local hobby stores now, priced at around $235.
[TamiyaUSA]
by sunny on June 10, 2011
While 1/10-scale short course trucks are all the rage now, their smaller counterparts are gaining traction among fans, too. And this Helion Animus 18SC offers some of the best balance in features and value.
A 1/18-scale short course racer, the 4WD truck comes in RTR form, packing a short course-style body with light bars, stepped bead wheels and tires, and short course-style bumpers in the front and rear. It comes with crystal-less 2.4 GHz radio tech, allowing you to race side by side with your friends without any problems.
The Helion Animus 18SC houses a 370-size 4,200 rpm brushed motor (with 11T pinion gear), allowing it to hit the dirt at speeds of over 20 mph. Helping the motor are a 1,100 mAh battery pack, along with the compact ERS (which integrates the ESC, servo and receiver in one small unit). Other vehicle details include four wheel independent suspension, planetary gear differentials, dual bell crank steering, adjustable coilover shocks and composite chassis.
Designed for novice drivers, the Helion Animus 18SC should be a great starter vehicle for anyone interested in this size of short course race trucks. And that's before you even consider the dirt cheap $100 price. You can get them exclusively from HobbyTown USA.
[Helion]
Want to drive Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s championship-winning drifter? While that's a dream that isn't likely to happen, you can mimic the thrills with this 1/10-scale recreation: the HPI Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Ford Mustang E10 Drift RTR.
A detailed reproduction of the original, this ready-to-run model features a finished body with full Monster Energy/Falken Tire graphics, HRE wheels and Falken Zenis T-Drift tires, all officially licensed from the original manufacturers. While specifically designed for drifting, a few tweaks on existing parts (no additions needed) will let you easily convert it into a street touring machine, effectively extending the enjoyment you can get out of it (you'll need to move the motor and radio equipment to optimize weight balance, though).
The HPI Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Ford Mustang E10 Drift RTR features a full-time 4WD, independent suspension and a large foam bumper to aid in your drifting adventures across paved parking lot surfaces. Providing muscle is a Saturn 27T electric motor, paired with a SC-15WP electronic speed control. The pre-assembled chassis and frame uses standard mounting points, so you can also replace the included Ford Mustang body with different shells currently available from HPI Racing -- an excellent option if you're thinking of using the ride as a touring machine at some point.
All in all, the HPI Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Ford Mustang E10 Drift RTR offers one of the easiest ways to get into the drifting scene. You literally just pop it out of the box, charge and hit the pavement. Price sounds sweet, too, at $349.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 14.8" (375mm)
Width: Adjustable 7.32", 7.56", 7.80" (186, 192, 198mm)
Wheelbase: 10" (255mm)
Weight: 2.8lbs. w/o body (1280g)
Drive System: Shaft Drive 4WD
Drive Ratio: 7.48:1
