by sunny on March 28, 2013
Kyosho has announced availability of a new 1:10-scale monster truck. Called the Kyosho DMT VE-R, it combines the offroad talents of a big-tire vehicle with the handling and control of a beefy racing machine.
Armed with full time 4WD, long span arms and double wishbone suspension, it boasts precision surface tracing and superb handling, regardless of whether you're riding over paved, gravel or rough road surfaces. Kyosho claims it brings driving mechanics "never before realized in a monster truck." Given that we've tried some really good monster RCs in our time, that certainly sounds like something to be excited for.
Core specs of the Kyosho DMT VE-R 4WD Monster Truck include a 4-pole sensorless Orion brushless motor, a Vortex R10 ESC, and 3S-compatible battery slots, allowing it to push the pace at up to 60 mph and perform wheelies right out of the box. Details include double wishbone 4-wheel independent suspension, interchangeable suspension arms, big bore shocks, low center of gravity, an aluminum motor mount, and high grip tires.
It features multi-point setting adjustments for flexible operation, allowing you to revise chassis height, camber, track width, front and rear toe-ins, and more. It's sold as a "readyset" and comes fully assembled, complete with a prepainted body and all components thrown in (just add batteries to get it up and running).
While the 1:10 scale and mid-size profile doesn't make it a beastly monster that can run over your lot of short course racers, the Kyosho DMT VE-R 4WD sure is quite the chunky vehicle. It's available now, priced at $379.95.
[Kyosho America]
Specifications:
Size: 1/10th
Length: 485mm (19in)
Width: 385mm (15.1in)
Height: 212mm (8.3in)
Wheelbase: 320mm (12.5in)
Gear Ration: 16.34:1
Weight: 2,780g
Motor: KV2400 Vortex 10 Brushless
Battery: 7.2 – 8.4volt NiMH or 7.4 – 11.1volt LiPO Battery Type with Deans Plug
ESC: Vortex R10 Sport
by sunny on April 3, 2012
Those 1/10-scale monster trucks a little too big for your backyard bashing needs? Not a problem, as they recently released a 1/16-scale version of the Traxxas Grave Digger, complete with a novelty packaging that makes it quite the fun gift to your weekend bashing young'uns.
What makes the packaging so different? Mostly, it's the fact that the truck doesn't come in a box. Instead, it ships crammed inside a matching Grave Digger backpack that just makes you want to take out the car, so you can use the backpack to go to school. Oh wait, school was, like, years ago. But it's that fun.
Just like its 1/10-scale cousin, the 1/16-scale 2WD Traxxas Grave Digger is an officially-licensed Monster Jam reproduction, complete with detailed and colorful graphics. It's got them authentic Monster Jam wheels and tires (with detailed tread design), too, so everything feels like the real gargantuan machine it borrows from.
Packing muscle inside and out, it uses a modified Titan 12T 550 motor, paired with an XL-2.5 ESC, which boasts high current handling, three drive profiles, thermal shutdown connection and very low resistance. Design is built on the track-proven Revo and E-Revo models, borrowing its rocker-actuated inboard suspension technology, which works with the smaller scale without compromising performance, and rear wheel monster truck setup. Other details include waterproof electronics, sealed differential, torque-control slipper clutch and metric hex hardware. It's also fully upgradeable to a 4WD drivetrain, if you so wish.
The Traxxas 1/16-Scale Grave Digger is available now, both online and in stores. Amazon price is $199.99.
[Traxxas]
by sunny on March 7, 2012
With the HPI Savage turning 10 this year, it's just fitting for a new special edition to come around. And that's exactly what HPI is doing with their Savage X 4.6 RTR SE.
We guess "special edition" isn't just a clever marketing term here, since they're really doing numbered vehicles (markings on the TVP chassis plates) with only 1,000 examples rolling out. The "special edition" extends to the vehicle, of course, which comes loaded with options and upgrades that will make your friendly neighborhood monster truck fiend blush.
The HPI Savage X 4.6 SE ships fully assembled in its unmistakable 1/8-scale monster truck frame. Sporting a Dodge Charger R/T body, it boasts orange anodized chassis parts, original Savage monster truck tires on black Warlock wheels, a polished aluminum tune pipe, dual fiber disc brakes, a full set of aluminum Big Bore shocks, and a selection of bulletproof drivetrain options. You get a Nitro Star F4.6 big block nitro engine inside, paired with an SB-5 steering servo, an SF-20W throttle/brake servo and a 2.4GHz radio system.
Whether for backyard bashing, performing big-air stunts, or just showing off to friends, this Special Edition HPI Savage X 4.6 should get the job done. It's available now, priced at $699.99.
[HPIRacing]
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 21" (534mm)
Width: 16.8" (427mm)
Height: 10" (254mm)
Wheelbase: 13.24" (336.5mm)
Suspension Travel: 5.9" (152mm)
by sunny on November 1, 2011
Billed as the "perfect 1/18th scale fun package," the HPI Mini Recon is a tiny bundle of monster truck awesomeness that will have you mini-bashing the afternoon away. Small but durable, you can smash it into everything in sight and the damn nugget will just keep running.
Sold as an RTR, this miniature RC model comes painted, trimmed and decaled, ready to have its shiny finish muddied and put through a real backyard workout. It's decked in an "extremely tough composite material" on the body, tub chassis, shock towers and suspensions parts, though, so you don't have to worry about breaking it in a day. Maybe a week. Just kidding. HPI claims this thing is "nearly indestructible."
The HPI Mini Recon features a heavy-duty 4WD shaft system that capably handles the travails of your favorite outdoor tracks. A high-torque RM-18 motor (370-size) pumps the power, allowing it to push at an impressive pace both on pavements and trails. Other details include "super smooth" ball differentials, factory-fitted long-stoke shocks, twin point steering, fully covered electrics, six-spoke rims and high-grip Micro Block tires.
Designed for novice hobbyists, it comes with everything you need to get cracking, including an HPI TF-40 radio set, 7.2V NiMh battery, charger and AA batteries for the transmitter. All you have to do is take it out of the box and drive.
Seriously, this thing sound gnarly for a 1/18th scale ride. The HPI Mini Recon is available now, priced at $179.
SPECIFICATIONS:
CHASSIS LENGTH: 232mm
WIDTH: 174mm
HEIGHT: 108mm
TRACK: 145mm
WHEELBASE: 160mm
DRIVE SYSTEM: Shaft 4WD
TIRES: Micro Block
[HPIRacing]
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 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 April 2, 2010
Robitronic's growing line of entry-level RC cars just got a big, new friend. Called the Robitronic Shadow Monster Truck, the 1/10th scale off-roader brings the same qualities we've seen from the company's previous releases: easy to use, economically-priced and rigged to perform.
Built as an RTR out of the box, the vehicle ships fully assembled with a pre-finished, airbrushed-style Lexan body, four-dualspoked chrome wheels and chunky high-grip tires. Stock motor (unspecified model) isn't likely to deliver all that much power, but with a 12-turn capable ESC pre-installed, it allows for plenty of upgrade potential - something you will likely want to do once you've gotten the hang of driving your new monster truck.
Chassis is specially-engineered for bashing on bumpy ground, with Robitronic claiming it's capable of "braving even the highest and widest jumps without breaking a sweat" (which it won't, by the way, since cars don't sweat). With a suspension already fine-tuned for stable driving and a beefy steering servo, it should deliver stability and agility that rivals more expensive contemporaries in the field. Other features include an adjustable slipper-clutch, front and rear bumper guards and maintenance-friendly rear wheel drive.
The Robitronic Shadow Monster Truck is fully ball raced and ships with a 27MHz wheel type radio. It's available now for around $160.
[Robitronic]
Specifications:
Wheelbase: 290mm
Length: 470mm
Width: 335mm
Height: 205mm
by sunny on February 9, 2010
Everybody loves a good monster truck. Not everybody likes their big-wheeled, scale model car crushers to take up lots of space, though. That niche is what the CEN Racing MG-16 should ably fill up, bringing monster truck action in a 1/16th scale frame.
Can't get excited for such a small package? It may be small, but it wields huge fun. Boasting massive nitro power, four-wheel drive and authentic monster truck looks, you may have to eat your words when experiencing the entertainment it has to offer.
MG-16 comes with a pre-painted, pre-decorated body shell, with attractive colors. Granted, it comes across as more adorable than mean, but the scale is well-done, with good proportions for the 2.2-inch off-road wheels and suspension. Overall, it's a great-looking RC automobile.
While other might belittle this truck's durability because of the size, the vehicle's chassis does a great job of absorbing bumps and crashes. Reinforced by a high-impact composite material, you can rest assured this won't break on you at the wrong time. Most parts of the drivetrain are sealed and protected too.
Powered by a 2.5cc pull-start nitro engine, the MG-16 manages impressively quick acceleration that can ably stand up to larger monster truck RCs. The four coil-over, oil-filled shocks and long suspension arm works very smoothly, providing the necessary help to keep the mini-monster stable through any terrain.
One caveat: this truck can't do very good jumps. When you use it for such stunts, make sure to let it settle upon landing before grabbing the throttle. Otherwise, you'll have it turning over and spinning. Badly.
Despite that, the CEN MG-16 remains a solid bundle of fun with enough durability to make it worth your while. You won't regret getting one.
More info at CEN Racing Site.
