by sunny on April 15, 2013
Want a powerful racing buggy kit with proven credentials in the track? No need to look further than the Kyosho Inferno MP9e TKI, a 1/8-scale kit based off the seven-time world champion TKI3.
Unlike its championship-winning namesake (which Kyosho bills as "the most successful chassis in history"), this new release doesn't run on nitro fuel. Instead, it's an electric-powered 4WD that brings the same premium performance for those who prefer racing in a brushless platform.
The Kyosho Inferno MP9e TKI boasts a low center of gravity, which combines with a lightweight frame and optimal weight distribution to deliver some serious racing chops. It comes with a new body design that's slimmer and lower in height, as well as a bolted-on large wing that generates powerful down force and a new suspension design that allows for easier maintenance. Notable features include a 7075 aluminum chassis, threaded aluminum shocks, an upright-mounted servo, an aluminum wing stay collar, light weight outdrives, reinforced bulkheads, and HD universals. Do note, it doesn't come with its own motor and ESC, so you can pick up whichever ones will satisfy your desire for power.
Seriously, if you want to set up a racing buggy that can do serious damage in the tracks, the Kyosho Inferno MP9e TKI is about as awesome as you can get. It hits stores in July, with an MSRP of $1,299.99.
[Kyosho]
SPECIFICATIONS
Scale: 1/8th
Length: 490mm
Width: 307mm
Height: 180
Wheelbase: 325mm
Gear Ratio: 12.6:1
Weigh Approx: 3370g
by sunny on January 30, 2013
The next stage of Serpent's 411 platform is here. It comes in the form of the Serpent 411 Eryx 2.0, a touring car the company touts as packing "great features" and "top quality materials."
A competition level 1/10-scale touring car, it boasts a carbon fiber chassis and top deck, ensuring it's as light as it is durable. It comes with coded anti-roll bars front and rear, ensuring stable runs along your favorite tracks.
Most notable of the upgrades from the last generation include a lighter gear differential for less rotating mass and smoother runs, a lowered steering system for a more direct feel, an innovative floating servo-holder to minimize flex influence, lowered shock towers, improved shock action, and a new chassis plate. Suspension has been particularly improved, using separately-mounted suspension brackets on both front and rear, split type inner brackets, and mirror-type split suspension blocks. It also features easily recognizable number indicator for the suspension settings used, allowing drivers to easily review and adjust depending on what you need.
Sold as a kit, the Serpent 411 Eryx 2.0 comes without body, tires, spur gear or electronics, all of which you can purchase separately to build your ideal racing machine. It's available now.
[Serpent]
Specifications
Class: 1/10th scale 190mm Electric
Purpose: 190mm Competition touring car
Chassis: 2.25mm carbon fibre, CNC machined
Suspension: Front C-Hub suspension system
Rear axle: Rear gear- differential v2 with composite gears
Front axle: Front spool
Drive system: 4wd through 2 kevlar reinforced timing belts
Shock absorbers: Super-Short RCM shock absorbers
Wheel base: 254mm +/- 4mm
Track-width front: 190mm /- 6mm
Track-width rear: 190mm /- 6mm
Adjustability: Camber, Caster, Down-stops, Up-stops, Toe-in, Track width & Roll centres
by sunny on July 29, 2012
Team Losi has announced a new short course truck -- it's the kit they've been teasing the past few weeks. The vehicle is the Team Losi 22SCT, a 1/10-scale short course truck designed from the ground up to be a serious competition racer.
Based on the ROAR National Champion 22 Buggy, the vehicle is being billed as one of the most innovative and durable racers to ever enter the category. While time will prove that to be true or false, there's no denying the specs sheet sounds like they really dropped a load of some serious power its way.
Looking to make a serious dent in the 1/10-scale short course world, the Team Losi 22SCT Kit borrows heavily from the field-tested elements found in TLR's championship-winning 22 platform, leading to one of the most unique short course racers currently in the market. Most notable are the flexible motor placement (either rear- or mid-mounting is accommodated), multiple spur gears and two full sets of tires (8 wheels total), allowing drivers to tune their vehicles for best performance, regardless of track style and surface.
It features all metric hardware for easier maintenance, along with a laundry list of high-end components. Details include a 2.5mm hard-anodized aluminum chassis, full ball bearings (including steering), heavy duty 4mm turnbuckles, dish inserts for the wheels, slide rack steering, an optimized suspension package, gullwing-style front arms, maximum front nose clearance, molded gear cover, steel drive shafts and more.
No word yet on release date or pricing for the Team Losi 22SCT Kit, but the car has reportedly debuted at events for demonstration during the last week. Expect this to be a big seller.
[Losi Racing]
Specifications
Type: 2wd SCT Truck
Scale: 1/10
Length: 21.65 in. (500mm)
Width: 12.99 in. (330mm)
Height: 5.63 in. (143mm)
Wheelbase: 11.3-11.41 in. (286-290mm)
Weight: 66 oz. (1870g)
Chassis: Aluminum
Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive
Kit/RTR: Kit
by sunny on March 1, 2010
If you've been shopping for an eight-scale buggy, you must have come across the Tamiya TRF801X, the company's competition-level off-road kit. While we have heard some complaints about it (mostly the heft), our own experience was actually very satisfying.
There isn't much to distinguish it in the looks department, although we found it to be an attractive ride all the same. Building does require some amount of time (designed for advanced hobbyists, beginners will definitely find the manual a little lacking), although the decision to bundle screws with the parts that use them made sorting through the pile a heck of a lot easier (thanks for that, Tamiya).
Equipped with an anodized duralumin chassis and enclosed by a tough body shell, the TRF801X fosters dependable strength all while offering good mobility. It does feel a little hefty (while driving) compared to other top players in the class, which actually helps with stability, although it's nowhere near "tank-like" as some people have described.
Overall vehicle performance is great. The drivetrain is very smooth (Mugen-like quality), the acceleration is downright quick and handling is very forgiving. Driving it against other buggies, you'll notice the car practically saving itself while everyone else's vehicles are tipping over during corners and rough patches of ground. Jumps are a little harder, though, because of the weight, which tends to result in its falling nose-down a little more than other models in the same class. You should be able to iron it out with a little tuning, so give it time - this is the kind of ride that grows on you.
The Tamiya TRF801X 1/8 Off Road Competition Buggy is easily one of the best vehicles in its class. Like all top-of-the-line performers, it requires a little getting used to. The time you put in should be worth it, though.
Tamiya TRF801X Specifications:
Wheelbase: 320-327mm
Length: 495mm
Width: 307mm
Gear ratio: 11.34:1
Kit/RTR: Kit
Experience Level: Advanced
Items Needed for Completion:
- .21 Off Road Nitro Engine
- Tuned Exhaust System
- 2 Channel Radio System & 8AA Batteries
- High Torque Steering & Brake Servo's (2)
- 6V Receiver Battery
- Glow Driver
- Starter Box & Batteries
- Nitro Fuel & Fuel Bottle
- Paint for Body
- Charger for Reciever Pack & Starter Box Batteries
- Tires & Tire Glue
by sunny on February 25, 2010
Based on the successful RC8 platform from Team Associated, the Factory Team RC8T is a 1/8th scale truggy with a reputation to live up to. The buggy version, which came out months before, was heavily-lauded and the company did take their sweet time entering the newer market.
Since it's sold as a kit, you'll have to build the vehicle yourself. The shocks, differentials and turnbuckles are, fortunately, already set up, saving some of the hassles you'll otherwise slave through. Assembly isn't that hard, but it isn't easy either. Expect to reserve a full workday for it (or more, if you're not used to kits).
Team Associated has said that the Factory Team RC8T is a full-blown race truggy out of the box and they aren't kidding. Suspension, with the new big bore shocks featuring 16mm six-hole pistons and 4mm gold shock shafts, worked wonders, absorbing problems in the tracks handily, making for very smooth driving. It clears jumps with ease and can adjust effectively even while in the air. Handling, with on and off power steering, is very precise. Out of corners, you can accelerate hard with 4.30:1 gear boxes that provide maximum punch.
The car is specially light and agile, making for good runtimes even with no further modifications. It exhibited decent durability too, with its milled 3mm hard-coated 7075 aluminum chassis, aluminum top plate and aluminum steering rack. Other notable high-performance features include aluminum wheel hexes, a full ball bearing drivetrain, two-piece split-center diff mounts, an innovative clutch design and the Free Float Caliper brake system.
Overall, the Team Associated Factory Team RC8T Truggy Kit is an excellent box, even over a year after its first release. It's easy to drive, follows movements accurately and is very friendly even with less-skilled drivers. A great buy for the $500-something marked down price (yes, it's the going price now).
Specifications:
- Scale: 1:8
- Power: Nitro
- Type: Off Road
- Length: 571.5mm
- Width: 419mm
- Weight: 3946 (no rec. pack or body)
- Wheelbase: 375mm
- Internal Gear Ratio: 4.3:1
- Drive: 4WD
by sunny on February 8, 2010
As another one in a long line of Tamiya reissues, the Tamiya Boomerang definitely deserves the new leash on life. Like the original Hotshot-based model, the revived buggy is a kit, albeit featuring enhancements that make it both easier to assemble and more fun to ride.
Let's face it. Many of us buy reissues for the meaning they used to have for us. For one of my friends who bought one, a second-hand Boomerang is the first RC he ever owned and this re-release brings that timeless, classic look back to its full glory. The soft edges, the craft-like shape and that big-ass rear wing are all recreated with precision - just beautiful.
The older Boomerang had parts that were a pain in the neck to put together. This new 1/10th scale model kicks that complication to the curb and turns in easy-to-assemble parts. Paired with improvements on the chassis, gearbox, suspension and drivetrain, as well as new placement for the drive shaft, this 21st century model takes everything up a notch.
Power is funneled to the vehicle by a Type 540 motor with TEU-101BK ESC, churning out reliable speed while showing it off your favorite local tracks. Control is a breeze, regardless of skill level. Considering you're probably better now compared to when you were a pimple-faced kid, I have high hopes. All the enhanced parts do make for a better-performing ride, especially during actual runs and turns.
You won't likely be leaving people in the dust with the Tamiya Boomerang, but you'll be driving straight to a trip down memory lane. For many, that should be enough reason to get one. You'll need to purchase a two-channel radio system, battery pack and charger to complete the ride, by the way.
by sunny on February 8, 2010
As one of the few competition-ready 1/10th scale RC crawlers on the market, the Venom Creeper is almost guaranteed to be noticed by fans of this class of vehicles. Boasting terrific climbing abilities, killer looks and easy-to-assemble parts, it's also one of that can appeal to even those still deciding on whether to try their hand at crawling.
Like most kits, you get a clear polycarbonate shell (rock buggy style) upon opening the Creeper's box, along with a nice decal sheet (which includes some metal flake stickers and Venom logos). The anodized parts come in either red or green (the box tells you which ones are inside), which should play a part into how you'll eventually style your own (that one in the picture looks badass, by the way, with its red parts and black shell). Both the thick threaded tires and true bead lock wheels are hella attractive too, apart from being particularly well-suited for the task.
The Creeper's nylon gear transmission case (via aluminum plates bolted to it) ties everything together, making for a thick, protective design that should keep your parts safe during trying runs. Plenty of aluminum parts here, so durability should be far from an issue.
Shocks integrate both external coil springs and internal anti-roll springs. The idea is to reduce the amount of body roll while maintaining maximum ride height, which did seem like the result. It wasn't as pronounced an improvement as I expected, though. Regardless, the shocks should be perfect as is - no need to fiddle with it.
Axles tend to take severe abuse during crawling and the ones here are built out of a combination of steel, aluminum and glass-filled nylon. Suffice to say, these things are strong. You can trust them not to give out for the most part, although I'd still recommend carrying spares just in case.
The kit doesn't include a battery and an engine, so you'll have to spend some time picking which ones to shell out for. Both electronics and drivetrain come with the set, though, so that's two less things to worry about (although you can replace them for even better performance).
Overall, the Venom Creeper is not only good-looking, it's a serious crawler that's ready to face the stiffest competition. Both experts and beginners are bound to get a lot out of this kit - we cannot recommend it enough.
Specifications:
- Length: 17.5" (445mm)
- Height: 8.25" (210mm)
- Width: 10.75" (267mm)
- Wheelbase: 12.5" (317.5mm)
- Tire Dims: 127 x 55 R2.2
- Weight: 5 lb (2.27 kg)
- Chassis: Aluminum Plates
- Drive Train: Shaft Drive
- Radio: Futaba 4PK
- Servos: Venom High Torque Metal Gear
- Batteries:Venom 7.2v 3000mAh NiMh
- Shock Type: Oil Filled Threaded Body
- Body: Clear Poly-Carbonate Body
- Ball Bearings: 30 Ball Bearings
Venom Official Site
by sunny on February 5, 2010
Hailed as one of the best RC cars released in 2008, the HPI Baja 5B SS is as powerful a buggy as you can ask for. This particular kit brought the Baja platform to new heights, bringing tons of improvements that enhanced its speed, power and durability.
Sure to appeal to fans who love to tinker with their cars, the kit allows for plenty of customizations to your Baja buggy racer's looks. The clear body shell leaves itself a blank canvas, allowing you to slap up your choice of paints and designs, using the included pre-cut decals and protective overspray film.
The Baja 5B SS comes with a gunmetal-anodized monocoque main chassis that appears absolutely nasty under the body, all while providing a rigid base for superior performance. Orange anodized Super Sport parts complement the chassis, leaving it even more durable and better-looking.
Power is delivered from a Fuelie 26s gasoline engine, paired with an aluminum tube pipe, delivering faster acceleration and higher top speeds than other desert buggies before it. Working together with the 750cc gasoline tank (which holds enough fuel to see you through 40 to 45 minute runs) and an 8000 RPM clutch (for a quick push during a standing start), it should see you blow through the pack in even the most competitive races. Other notable hop-ups include a new rear shock tower brace, heavy-duty shock set, metal gear steering and ultra-responsive sway bars.
To put it simply, the HPI Baja 5B SS Kit can't be recommended enough. It remains as one of the best buggies in the scene and totally deserves all the praise it has received over the past two years.
Specifications:
- Scale: 1/5th
- Length: 817mm
- Wheelbase: 570mm
- Weight: 21.3lbs. / 9.6kg
- Chassis: Aircraft grade 6061 chassis
- Motor or Engine: Two cycle piston valve gasoline engine
- Servos: High torque waterproof metal gear steering servo w/ 25Kg.cm - Speed 0.16/60 degree
- Kit/RTR: Kit
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 750cc fuel tank
Tons of more pics and info here at HPI
US $16.99
