by sunny on April 29, 2010
Losi just announced the 1/10th-scale Bind-N-Drive Night Crawler, a transmitter-less version of a similar RTR from the company. It's pretty much the same vehicle as the original Night Crawler with the exception of the Spektrum DSM 2.4GHz Technology transmitter removed from the package.
What separates a regular rock crawler from a night crawler? I honestly didn't know. Turns out, they're specifically designed for scaling rocks in the dark, when you're not likely to see what's going on in the ground. To facilitate that, the Night Crawler BND sports a red-accented black body, red wheel rings and brilliant LED lights (both front and rear) to easily distinguish it on the course during after hours.
The Night Crawler BND comes with a 540-sized crawler-specific 55T motor and high-torque metal gear steering servo, a combination that should work well for scaling tricky obstacles in rocky terrain. Front and rear solid axle features a worm gear drive (for extra brakes when there's no power), with a smaller differential case for higher ground clearance. Other notable features include red anodized vertical chassis plates, 4-inch adjustable aluminum shocks, three-piece 2.2 beadlock chrome wheels, Losi Rock Claw tires, molded 4-link suspension setup and competition-legal Grappler Pro body.
Many crawlers in the market require a few modifications before being truly ready for the rocks. Losi claims that's as far from the case here. Armed with an electronics package with a LiPo-compatible, crawler-programmed ESC, all you need to do is bind it to a DSM-equipped transmitter and it's ready to run out of the box.
Pretty hot, right? The Losi 1/10 Bind-N-Drive Night Crawler is now available for $299.
[Losi]
Specifications:
Type:Rock Crawler
Scale:1/10 (2.2)
Length:17.5 in (444.5mm)
Width:9.875 in (250.8mm)
Wheelbase:12.3 in (312.4mm)
Weight:4.18 lb (1.9 kg)
by sunny on April 26, 2010
Looking to take your RC down the tracks for the first time? No need to mince words, you'll probably lose. Just because your chances of winning are slim doesn't mean you shouldn't do your best, right? After all, giving it all is how you improve in this game.
1. Aim for consistency. Your first couple of times racing should be about trying to get consistent lap times. Forget about beating that obnoxious loud dude and his beefed-up truck. Instead, aim to run a consistent course lap to lap.
2. Let faster trucks have their way. Sure, you can be competitive and refuse to give way during tangles. Do realize it's the easiest way to slow everyone down, including yourself, apart from heightening the chances of accidents occurring. Unless you've got a good shot at winning, wrecking your truck isn't worth the ego boost. You can get them later - after putting in some practice time.
3. Make sure your car can handle the occasional nervous driving. Racing brings out everyone's nerves. That means a potentially disastrous trigger finger at the most inopportune times. As long as your vehicle can recover and keep itself from spinning out, you'll be fine.
4. Watch experienced racers run the course. If you get the chance, watch some of the more experienced drivers handle the course. What lines are they talking? Where do they go fast or slow? Which jumps are they going for and which ones are they passing on? Seeing that gives you a good idea of how you should handle the tracks come race time.
by sunny on April 20, 2010
Schumacher just announced an update to one of the fastest cars in their roster. Boasting blistering speeds, the new Schumacher 2010 Nitro Fusion 28 Turbo is officially one of the most insanely neck-breaking RC models in the planet.
How fast can it go? A crazy top speed of over 80 mph, according to the company, which means it's going to leave me on my 50mph scooter in a head-to-head race. Powered by Picco's 4.5cc Schumacher X28 engine, it produces a hefty 3.25 horsepower and 40,000 rpm (compared to the 2.85 hp at 33,000 rpm of the previous Fusion 28), making for a fully race-tuned monster.
The Schumacher Fusion 28 Turbo is a four-wheel drive roadburner, with the street-savvy looks to match its awesome power. It comes with a pre-painted silver body with a either a blue or red trim, 12mm touring car wheel hex and high-grip ATS competition foam tires. Control is provided by a 2.4GHz digital radio system, with most everything you need ready to run out of the box.
Notable features of the 1/10th-scale model includes a 3-speed transmission, a CNC alloy tuned pipe, a 4mm thick anodized aluminum chassis, a fully-adjustable suspension based on the Fusion R12 and alloy shocks. Schumacher is also offering a full range of option parts compatible with the ride.
Available now, the Schumacher Fusion 28 Turbo is priced at £399.99.
Specifications:
Power Source: Nitro
Model Type: 4WD, ON-ROAD, LEISURE
Length: 420mm
Width: 200mm
Top Speed: 80+ mph
Build State: RTR
[Schumacher]
by sunny on April 16, 2010
Kyosho just announced a new model in the Ultima line, which they are billing as "the car to beat for the 2010 season." Called the Kyosho Ultima RB5 SP2 Edition, the buggy features enhancements that the company describes as a "further development of the breed."
The 1/10th scale vehicle comes with the laundry list of standard features that fans will recognize from past Ultima models: carbon composite chassis, externally-adjustable three-gear transmission, low-profile rear shock tower (which improves both cornering ability and crash damage), silky smooth triple cap shocks, hard rod ends and all the usual goodies. It gets a ton of upgrades and new features too.
Noteworthy additions include revised rear suspension arms (2mm longer than the original buggy), updated rear suspension mounts and a medium-sized step wing for better overall control. It also boasts a new sword body, with chiseled lines, flowing sections and bold styling. Kyosho claims the body modifications provide greater downforce, increased traction and better stability at high speeds.
Filled with enhancements tested by Jared Tebo and other notable RC drivers, the Kyosho Ultima RB5 SP2 will be available as kit (radio, servo, motor, ESC, tires and battery not included). No pricing yet, but expect it in stores sometime in May.
Specifications:
Scale: 1:10
Width: 249mm
Length: 380mm
Height: 140mm
Wheelbase (max): 270mm
Weight: 1620g
Final Drive: 2.6:1
[Kyosho America]
by sunny on April 14, 2010
A big block desert race truck, the Redcat Racing Aftershock is a heavyset performer that can handle itself well both in the backyard and on off-road tracks. It's far from the best the category has to offer, but it delivers enough excitement and fun to make it worth anyone's while.
Burly and stocky, it's a tough-looking truck with gorgeous factory-applied paint and decals. From a short distance, the 1/8th scale nitro basher actually looks like an actual truck, especially with the realistic headlights and tires. There's a funny quality to the design that I can't pinpoint, though - almost like it's based on a cartoon design.
The Redcat Racing Aftershock 3.5 claims to do up to 50mph out of the box with its nitro-fueled 3.5 cc .21 SH big block engine. While I could not confirm that threshold, I did come close, so it's quite a lot of power. It comes with a two-shoe aluminum clutch setup and a single stage filter for the carburetor - not ideal for heavy racing, but decent enough for most drivers.
Performance is a mixed bag. It handled tight corners like a seasoned pro and jumped easy enough, but the tires barely held on tougher terrain. For the most part, you'll have to seriously drive this. If you're inexperienced, you'll likely just crash it before the first five minutes. It does have a lot of plastic parts, so racing this stock against other SCTs is probably not a good idea. Make a tough landing and you're almost likely to find something break (or stressed enough to almost get there) - a far cry from the toughness its look suggests.
Available for $300, the Redcat Racing Aftershock 3.5 RTR is very competitively-priced for a 1/8th scale nitro truck. You'll likely need a lot of modifications to turn this into something race-worthy, but it should be good enough for most casual driving.
Specifications:
Length: 19.84"
Width: 12.01"
Wheelbase: 12.80"
Engine: Nitro 3.5cc. (.21SH)
Drive Train: Front and rear sealed differentials. Two speed transmission.
by sunny on April 13, 2010
The gospel of short-course racing is spreading like the plague and it is quickly becoming a part of all the major RC races around the world. It's for good reason too, since the category is one of the most compelling in the industry, dotted with vehicles that easily count as among the most exciting.
1. Traxxas Slash
The most popular short course truck in the market, the Slash is available in both 2WD and 4WD versions. Able to clear 40-mph out of the box with intense durability, generous tuning options and sublime handling to boot, it's easy to see why it continues to win praise among fans, racers and award-giving bodies alike. Beginner-friendly, it's arguably one of the best bashing RC models ever made. While it can race on stock electronics and motor (my first one hung in there with nitro buggies on an impromptu dare with nothing but a 2s LiPo extra), a few hop-ups should be necessary if you want to absolutely destroy competition - and you will.
2. Associated RC10
Maintenance can be a pain in the ass, but you can't fault the RC10 for its durability and performance. It may be a step down in ruggedness compared to either the Slash or the Blitz (sadly, it's true), but add the right upgrades and it can offer noticeably better performance. Very, very noticeably heightened performance. The construction is topnotch too, although some stock parts are quite flimsy to begin with. One thing to note is that it's geared for racing as much as it for bashing - a quality that you'll appreciate if you're getting a short course racer specifically for the purposes of competing.
3. Kyosho Ultima SC
Based on the RT5, the Ultima SC is one of the newer short course racers to hit the scene and it's doing so in all the right ways. Designed for race performance and strict compliance with ROAR regulations, it's literally ready to race the moment you hit the pavement. It doesn't mean you'll beat my Traxxas, of course, but the stock G20 Turn HP Electric Motor should do a good job all on its own. As a side bonus, you don't see many drivers take this to the races too, so you'll have something unique to let loose on the unsuspecting masses.
4. HPI Blitz
Widely recognized for its impressive strength and durability, the Blitz isn't too shabby a performer either. In fact, it strikes a good balance between those qualities. Arguably the toughest short course racer around, we've seen it take beatings that no RC deserves - yet still manage to keep running. It will likely require a bit more aftermarket parts to be truly competitive on tracks, but it's one vehicle that will literally last you for the long haul.
5. Losi Strike
While it doesn't come with the most flattering looks, the Losi Strike does offer good off-road performance with decent durability. It's far from the most popular short course truck around not because it's a poor model. Mostly, it's simply for the sheer fact that the top dogs of the category are too damn good and it has a lot of catching up to do. Regardless, it offers excellent toughness during races, with all-metal gears and that heavyset frame. Do note that the added size might make it ineligible for some of your local SCT races, so better make sure before buying.
by sunny on April 12, 2010
Relatively new compared to other categories of model racers, short course trucks are probably the most exciting vehicles to come out of the radio-controlled scene in a while. Quite literally, they have taken off-course racing by storm. How did they do that? For the very simple reason that they're awesome. Here's why.
1. They're realistic as hell. As fun as truggies and buggies are, rarely (if ever) do you see them going neck-to-neck in real life. Short course trucks, on the other hand, are based on popular off-road racers. Which ones do you think would folks rather drive?
2. They're durable. Full-fendered, short course race trucks just absorb contact better than many off-road racing vehicles. Designed to hold their ground even during slight collisions, they leave truggies and buggies in the dirt, as far as durability is concerned.
3. They're great for bashing. While built for racing, the extra durability makes short course trucks just as perfect as backyard bashers. Who needs a monster truck when you can bash with a ride that you can take down the tracks for serious racing too?
4. They handle and perform similar to real trucks. The rear squats down when accelerating, the brakes dive down when halting and the long-travel suspension helps it powerslide through corners. Simply put, RC short course trucks drive just as loosely as their real-life counterparts, making this one of the most realistic racers in both looks and performance.
5. They're very affordable. Given how amazing short course trucks are, they're extremely affordable. All you have to do is look at top short course trucks, like the Traxxas Slash and the Associated SC10, to realize that you can take home the top of the class for such a modest amount.
by sunny on April 6, 2010
So, you want to fly an RC plane? Unlike cars, which beginners can pull out of the box and drive without worry (for the most part), a few more things can go wrong with flying machines. From crashing your park flyer into a nearby lake to breaking the brand new HDTV with an indoor crash, planes kind of raise the stakes a bit.
One option is to buy a couple of cheap, sub-$100 indoors planes ,then flying them in an empty gym or warehouse. If you crash them, you'll only be down a small amount, which shouldn't be so bad. Of course, you'll still be wasting money, so it might not be a solution everyone can be comfortable with.
A better alternative should be to get a handle on flying radio-controlled planes using an RC flight simulator software. There are both paid and free versions of these types of software, so there's a good amount of options for everyone. In case you're looking to research them further, you can begin with popular titles, such as FMS, RealFlight and Clearview.
Don't think you can learn without a real radio controller? You're in luck, since a few RC flight simulators actually come with their own peripherals (they can get pricey, though) and some even work with a variety of RC controllers (like the ones real RC planes came with) via an interface cable. Even better, they can simulate flight for a variety of RC models, so there's a good chance you will find the exact brand and type of plane you're planning to use.
As a precaution, we do recommend keeping your expectations reasonable. While using an RC flight simulator might warm you up with flying your TRex 450, it doesn't guarantee you won't make mistakes once you begin flying the planes in real life.
