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 March 13, 2010
Racing and bashing RC Monster Trucks is a really fun hobby but can be a little intimidating for the beginners specially when trying to decide which model offers best value, durability, ease of use and off course the fun factor. You don't wanna spend hours and hours on tuning and fixing your truck when you should be out there racing them and having fun with your friends.
Big, bad monster trucks with their oversized wheels and high ground clearance are always a sight to behold. Everybody loves them in any form, whether as full-sized car show staples or miniature backyard models. The following remote-controlled trucks with monster bodies are five of the best the business has to offer and generally offer the best bang for your buck.
Note: When it comes to RCs, ranking the best isn't easy. So take this list as one opinion that you can take into account, rather than an absolute rating of the best the platform has to offer.
1. Traxxas T-Maxx
The best-selling RTR nitro monster truck in the world, the T-Maxx series (the latest is 3.3) is a 1/10th-scale model that everyone, from beginners to more advanced enthusiasts, can embrace. Quick, agile and exceptionally fast, it packs what is arguably the most powerful smallblock engine you can find on the platform. More importantly, it has stamped itself accessible by being both easy to tune and maintain, making it possible for absolute newbies to dive in and partake in the fun. Do note that the newer TRX 3.3 engine can be a bit over-the-top for most beginners, so we'd advise less-experienced drivers to stick to the older, but still very much relevant 2.5 version.
2. Traxxas Revo
When it comes to handling and durability, few monster trucks can hold a candle to the nitro-powered Traxxas Revo (currently 3.3), one of the most dominant 1/10th scale vehicles to appear in the production and small block racing classes. Traxxas took a leap of faith with this vehicle, approaching the category differently from the already popular T-Maxx , and came out with an even more versatile truck that packed similar beastly power. Given a choice, we'd go for the Revo over the T-Maxx for serious competition, although we put the latter at number one due to its general accessibility.
3. HPI Savage
One of the most brutish bashers ever released, the Savage delivers a powerful combination of big block power and extreme durability. This 1/8th scale model should handle most anything you throw at it, giving you a permanent grin while you put it through every imaginable grind. Do note there are several versions of the Savage platform available, with the Savage 25 possibly the most bang-for-your-buck basher of the lot and the Savage X 4.6 as the most well-rounded, in case you're looking for one that can do more than trump everything on the backyard.
4. Losi LST
Combining an easy-to-tune big block motor, huge clearance and plush suspension, the LST brings immense power while remaining very agile for its 1/8th-scale size. Very few trucks this big can pull off the same handling and feel, which successfully mimics the driving characteristics of smaller 1/10th size vehicles. Many areas of the truck do require aftermarket upgrades in case you're serious about competing (even the latest XXL version), but the terrific maneuverability, coupled with brawny looks, make for an excellent base from which to build upon.
5. Duratrax Warhead
Delivering a good balance of power and agility, the Warhead is a very worthy competitor in the big block monster truck category. It was marketed as an excellent alternative to the Savage platform early on, because of the similar size and performance, all while providing the ability to be race-tuned. While probably not as durable (we've seen parts of it wear considerably faster than the Savage), this continues to be a favorite among fans of vertical chassis plate setups.
by sunny on March 6, 2010
The RC10T4 platform has belted out numerous national championships (seven, to be exact), and with the Team Associated RC10T4.1, the company has brought the same fetching engineering qualities into an off-road racing truck. While featuring many parts right out of the RC10T4 Team kit, it adds a new 2.4 GHz XP3-SS 3-Channel radio system and SHV1504 MG metal gear steering servo.
Available as a ready to run vehicle, it features an Interceptor-T polycarbonate body that's completely finished out of the box. The paint scheme and decals are very appealing, making for an attractive-looking truck that you won't be ashamed to show off, whether in your friends' backyards or around the tracks.
Molded composite chassis with set screw antenna tube lock serves as the RC10T4.1’s foundation and base. According to Team Associated, the strategically-placed chassis components allow for optimal center of gravity, providing the truck with good stability and maneuverability while driving.
A factory-installed Reedy 3300kV brushless motor should give this truck ample power for casual races, which they paired with an XP SC450-BL brushless ESC. The 2.6:1 ratio gearbox comes with sealed gear differential, dual-sided adjustable slipper clutch and rubber-sealed ball bearings. Other notable features include a battery strap with twist-lock thumb knobs, rugged steel turnbuckles and aluminum shock bodies with molded pre-load clips.
If you're in the market for a fully-assembled truck with a championship pedigree, the Team Associated RC10T4.1 RTR sounds like an awesome pick. Released just at the start of the year, it's priced rather fairly at $399.
Specifications
Scale: 1:10
Power : Electric
Length: 390mm
Width: 316mm
Track: 270mm
Weight: 1756g
Wheelbase: 288mm
Internal Gear Ratio: 2.6:1
Drive: 2WD
US $134.99
