by sunny on December 29, 2010
Need something beefier for short course thrills than your 1/10th racer? Upsize to the HPI Baja 5SC, a 1/5th scale short course truck for tackling your favorite dirt arena shoulder to shoulder with other racers.
Why go bigger? Well, imagine your RC doing those jumps, taking on those straight sections and hitting those corners. Now, double the size of your vehicle and feast your eyes on that. Way more awesome, right?
The HPI Baja 5SC features even more realistic looks, coming in with a wide short course body (pre-painted in either red or black), a new skid-plate front bumper and a large rear bumper with rubber mud flaps. Running a massive 26cc Fuelie engine (uses regular unleaded pump gasoline), it can blow dirt at speeds topping 40 mph for over 45 minutes on a single full tank.
It comes ready to run under extreme off-road conditions, with a 2.4GHz radio system in tow. Notable stock features include TR-10 bead-lock truck wheels, HB Rodeoo tires, Super Heavy Duty 9mm drive shafts, updated rear hub carriers, HD front hex hubs, dual vented disk brakes, 6mm diameter shock shafts, threaded shock bodies and long-stroke VVC/HD shock absorbers.
Can't find pricing info for the HPI Baja 5SC, but expect it at around $1,200 (or higher) when the ride comes out in January.
[HPI Racing]
Specifications
Chassis Length: 900mm
Width F/R: FRONT 440mm / REAR 460mm
Height: 320mm
Track F/R: FRONT 370mm / REAR 380mm
Wheelbase: 570mm
Weight: 12.6kg / 27.9lb (without fuel)
by sunny on December 16, 2010
Can't get enough of those Tamiya buggy reissues? Here's one more to join your Buggy Champ and Hotshot: the Tamiya Avante.
During its first release in 1988, the electric buggy made some heads turn for its innovative design. Sporting a formula-type body, a double-deck chassis layout, and longitudinal motor and battery positions, it brought a sophistication to the RC scene that has kept it a nostalgic favorite among the current crop of buggy enthusiasts. In fact, unopened examples of the original vehicle continue to fetch a higher price today compared to any other Tamiya collectible from the same period.
The 2011 Tamiya Avante sticks to the same general design and dimensions of the classic RC, but gets a number of improvements to bring it up to par with today's crop of buggy racers. Updates include the use of carbon fiber for the main frame and various parts (instead of fiber-reinforced plastic composite), universal shafts at both front and rear to reduce friction, easier damper maintenance, duralumin front knuckles and pin-secured wheel axles.
It's compatible with all of Tamiya's current radio systems (including 2.4Ghz), as well as their wide range of battery packs. Just to further feed your sense of nostalgia, they're releasing it in the original packaging, with all parts stored in blister packs.
The 1/10-scale 2011 Tamiya Avante will hit store shelves starting January, with an MSRP of $745.
[TamiyaUSA]
Specifications:
- Length: 420mm
- Width: 240mm
- Height: 115mm
- Wheelbase: 260mm
- Tread (L/R): 200mm
- Minimum Ground Clearance: 40mm
- Weight: 1300g
- Double-Deck Frame
- Tires (F/R): 38/88mm
- Polycarbonate Body
- F/R Multi-Link Suspension
- F/R Metal Oil Dampers
- Gear Ratio: 1:8.33
by sunny on December 6, 2010
One of the more interesting RC releases to hit the shelves this holiday season, the Traxxas Stampede 4x4 VXL injects one of the scene's most popular monster trucks with a full-time 4WD. Not only is the ride brutish in appearance, the performance should live up to everything you expect from anything that looks this badass.
Fully-assembled and painted, the truck can be driven right out of the box at over 40 mph. Trade in the default batteries (Power Cell 8.4V NiMH) for a 3S LiPo and that shoots up to a whopping 60 mph over whatever terrain you can throw its way.
The Stampede 4x4 VXL comes with an all new rigid chassis, based partly on the design from the award-winning Slash 4X4, that fully integrates the individual components for an efficient and compact layout . Details of the truck include a brushless Velineon 3500 motor, VXL-3S ESC, fully-waterproofed electronics, adjustable four-position wheelie bar, dual-bellcrank steering, unique shock guards for the suspension arms and shocks, new heavy-duty driveshafts, All-Star black chrome wheels and Talon multi-terrain tires.
All-weather and all-terrain, the Traxxas Stampede 4x4 VXL is being billed as a 100% monster truck that handles like a racing machine. It's available now, priced at $695.
[Amazon]
Specifications
Length: 19.69 Inches (500mm) / 15.63 Inches (397mm) without wheelie bar
Front Track: 13.39 Inches (340mm)
Rear Track: 13.39 Inches (340mm)
Center Ground Clearance: 2.90 Inches (74mm)
Weight: 66.45oz (1.88kg)
Height (overall): 9.21 Inches (234mm)
Wheelbase: 10.83 Inches (275mm)
Shock Length: Long (front), XXLong (rear)
Tire Diameter: 4.80 Inches (122mm) (front and rear)
Wheels (front/rear): 2.8" Black-Chrome (All-Star™)
Wheel Diameter: 2.8 Inches (72mm) Outer; 2.8 Inches (72mm) Inner
by sunny on November 8, 2010
Want to replicate Ken Block's gymkhana antics plastered all over YouTube? Perform your on-road acrobatics in scaled-down mode with the Traxxas Ken Block Gymkhana Fiesta, which mimics the champion driver's full-size Ford Fiesta competition car.
Just like in a real gymkhana course, you can use the 1/16th-scale vehicle to perform reversals, figure 8s, drifts, 180-degree spins, 360-degree spins and other acrobatic skills. Even better, you'll be doing your tire-smoking obstacle clearing with a finely-tuned machine, clad with an unmistakable replica of the Ken Block Monster Energy graphics found on the original ride, with paint job courtesy of ProGraphix.
The Traxxas Ken Block Gymkhana Fiesta comes fully-assembled and ready to race, with a Velineon 380 brushless motor, a VXL-3m ESC, a 7.2-volt 6-cell NiMH battery and a TQ 2.4GHz radio system. The full-time 4WD can do 30 mph on the included battery, which you can extend to over 50mph with additional juice and a Traxxas speed connector.
It utilizes the same F1-inspired suspension system used in the Traxxas Revo, engineered to offer precise and accurate control with the new vehicle's 1/16th frame. Other details include threaded-body GTR shocks, rally-tuned progressive-rate springs, waterproof electronics, sealed differentials, Volk TE37 racing wheels and Gymkhana-compound slick tires.
If you've ever watched a competition along a gymkhana course, you can imagine just how fun and challenging that can be. Now, you can enjoy it at the local course with the Traxxas Ken Block Gymkhana Fiesta. No pricing yet, but expect it to drop just in time for the year-end holidays.
[Traxxas]
by sunny on August 19, 2010
XRAY just announced a new electric off-road buggy that sounds like an enthusiast's wet dream. Called the XRAY XB808E, the 1/8-scale racer is the battery-powered version of the company's much-lauded nitro buggy, the XB808.
First, the biggest selling point: it's an XB808 ported to run on an electric motor. If you're familiar with the platform, you'll know just how much acclaim and awards it's received since the first model dropped back in 2004, practically affirming the new vehicle's racing credentials.
Chassis has been redesigned for the XB808E, taking into account the different load requirements of the all-electric model. Built with 7075 T6 hard-anodized aluminum, it has been strategically machined in low-stress areas to provide lightness, without affecting strength. It's robotically hardcoated too, with countersunk screw holes on the bottom.
It uses the proven Zero Kingpin suspension found on the nitro versions, with the suspension geometry fine-tuned for even better handling. Drivetrain is similarly carried over from the XB808, with direct central shaft connection to pinion gears, optimal ratios and 22 high-speed, rubber-sealed bearings for maximum performance. Notable details include chassis-centralized parts for a low center of gravity, optimized weight balance for easy jumps, HUDY pinions, spurs and crown gears, front and rear anti-roll bars, graphite shock towers and adjustable HUDY turnbuckles.
The XRAY XB808E is only available as a kit, with a badass-looking ultra-low body. You'll need to supply the batteries and motors, apart from having to build the whole thing, so this should be better suited for intermediate and advanced racers. No exact release date yet, but it's being priced at around $510.
[Team XRAY]
by sunny on July 29, 2010
Venom recently introduced a new entry to the increasingly popular short course racing class of RC trucks. Called the Venom Gambler, the 2WD vehicle brings the sporty LOORRS (Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series) racing trucks into the hands of short course RC fans.
According to the company, the vehicle was devised from the ground up, incorporating all the latest innovations in truck design into its 1/10-scale frame. Most notable of the features is the MORdrive system, which lets you adjust the truck's center of gravity by changing the rear transmission's position from mid-motor to rear-motor on the fly. Yep, just like having two chassis in a single ride.
The Venom Gambler is powered by a high-performance 3300 Kv brushless motor, with a fully-programmable 80amp waterproof ESC and a VR3S 3-channel 2.4ghz radio. Chassis accommodates a variety of battery packs (6, 7, and 8 cell NiMH and 2 to 3 cell LiPO), boasts a water-resistant radio compartment and conceals all sensitive wires to keep them protected.
Aggressive body is reinforced with rugged bumpers, mud flaps and side nerf bars for short course racing durability. The Beadlox wheels and tires use a three-piece system that feature elliptical tire beads for improved performance.
Available in late September, the Venom Gambler comes in four colors (black, white, red or blue), priced at $289.99.
Specifications
Length: 21.73" (552mm)
Roof Height: 7.89" (200.5mm)
Width: 11.65" (298mm)
Wheelbase: 13.01" (330.5mm)
Ground Clearance: 1.51" (38.5mm)
Motor: V540 3300kv Brushless Motor
ESC: 80amp Waterproof Brushless ESC
Radio: VR3S 2.4Ghz 3-Channel Radio
[Venom]
Cheap stadium trucks may not offer the best performance (nor availability of parts), but find the right one and it can make for plenty of weekend fun. While we doubt the Electrix RC Circuit will be the "right one" for most people, the sales page does offer enough enticements to probably make some folks take a closer look.
A ready-to-run off-road stadium truck, it comes painted and decaled right out of the box, leaving you with nothing to do but to get on a track and drive it. It uses standard components and mounts too, allowing for a decent range of hop-up possibilities, in case the default rig (hey, it's cheap) doesn't sit well enough for your standards.
The Electrix RC Circuit is a 1/10th-scale, 2WD vehicle that boasts "hard to abuse" qualities, being built from durable nylon composite material and, hopefully, halfway decent parts. It comes with a Dynamite 20-turn motor and a novice-friendly snap-lock battery system (clipless) for even simpler set-up.
Let's be honest. If you're anywhere past a beginner, you're probably better off looking past this. With those seeking out a stadium truck starter or an upgradeable machine to play with, however, this could actually work out well. Provided you cross your fingers and pray the "durable" part is at least a minute over half-baked, of course.
You can get the Electrix RC Circuit in either red or gray colors for $119.99 starting in August.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 16.9 in (430mm)
Width: 12.9 in (328mm)
Wheelbase: 11.6 in (295mm)
Weight: 3.44 lb (1560 g)
Chassis: Molded composite
Suspension: 4-wheel independent long-travel
Drivetrain: 2WD with gear differential and slipper clutch
Tire Type: Front: Directional Rib Rear: Spike
Motor or Engine: Dynamite 20T
[Horizon Hobby]<
You may not be able to buy a hydrogen car to park in your garage just yet (there's a good possibility you never will), but you can build one to put on the stand right next to your Traxxas Slash and HPI Blitz. Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies just began shipments for their H-Cell 2.0, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell hybrid powertrain platform for radio-controlled machines.
Emulating the function of real-scale, zero-emission hydrogen powertrains, the system lets you shed the traditional all-electric power source from any RC kit, replacing it with a hydrogen-based hybrid system (such as the Tamiya TRF416 in the picture). We do mean any RC kit, as it can be set up to run on boats, planes and even robots too.
We're still not completely clear on the installation, but you basically get a fuel cell powertrain with two refillable HydroSTICK cartridges lining up with the two sides of the chassis. Each cartridge carries 10L of hydrogen, which translates to about 12Wh of energy to power the vehicle's movement. It works hand-in-hand with a lithium battery that provides peak power for acceleration and high-speed requests, while the hydrogen system handles cruise power, apart from replenishing the battery throughout its use. According to Horizon, this allows hobby-grade RC vehicles to run with 3 to 4 times more endurance than all-electric versions of the exact same model.
But how do you replenish the hydrogen cartridges? You do it using HydroFILL, a separately-sold, small-scale hydrogen refueling station that can recharge your canisters automatically using water and electricity. They also have a solar panel kit that you can use, in case you don't have a wall plug available (like if you find yourself in the middle of the park).
There's still no pricing for the Horizon H-Cell 2.0, but they'll be doing the trade show rounds beginning June. Expect an actual release very soon.
[Horizon Fuel Cell via Engadget]
