RC Car Magazine 2010/02

HOW-TO’S YOU GOTTA KNOW! UPGRADE•CLEAN•REBUILD•TUNE CCC 02987

FEBRUARY 2010

URSE CLASS HPI ATTACKS THE SHORT CO

TESTED: »LOSI STRIKE »KYOSHO INFERNO VE »PROTEK iCHARGERS »WERKS TEAM LINE B5 .21

Attn. retailer: Please display until Jan. 28

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FEBRUARY 2010, VOLUME 13, NO. 2

CONTENTS TEST DRIVES 32

Kyosho Inferno VE Controllable, fun to drive brushless RTR anyone?

40

32

Losi Strike Full count, bases loaded, here’s the pitch…

48

HPI Switch RTR Switch from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive. Get it?

54

HPI Blitz RTR Stephen’s new SC truck, since ad-guy took all of the Slashes.

DEPARTMENTS 18

Driver Stand The future of 1/8-scale brushless is…a Traxxas truck?

20

Where’s Waldo Welcome back, gimpy!

24

Readers Rigs Check out our winners on Hobzob.com.

28

Feedback You write to us, we occasionally respond.

114

Extra Pics Inadvertently offending people by the dozens!

118

Pit Lane Check out the newest gear here.

118

Vintage RC We love you too, foreign subscribers!

124 ETC JBRL Series results, etc.

130 Last Lap It’s a poster of a car!

54 On The Cover: HPI’s Blitz rips up Hot Rods; photo by Jason “Why Am I Shaking?” Yu, driven by John “Oops I Bent The Dogbones” Irwin.

In This Issue: Nitro stuff, electric stuff, off-road stuff, on-road stu…well, actually not any on-road stuff. If anyone actually reads this and wants on-road content, let me know ‘cause I ain’t hearing any. Lots of race coverage, a few editorials that will get under someone’s skin, and tons of feedback on our jump video.

•8•

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32

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FEBRUARY 2010, VOLUME 13, NO. 2

CONTENTS FEATURES 64

Race Report: 2009 Reedy Truck Race of Champions The best of the best compete at Hot Rod Hobbies.

70

Race Report: 2009 Nitro-X World Championships Not exactly a Worlds, but still big and awesome.

78

First Look: Team Associated SC18 RTR Short course trucks get hit with the shrink-ray.

108 Race Report: 2009 Byron On-Road Fuel Challenge

100

Byron gives back.

HOW-TO’S 78

Understand Suspension Basics More than enough to keep you busy ‘till next month.

84

Upgrade Your RTR Radio System Toss that AM system and install some 2.4 GHz all up in there.

88

Build A Ball Differential Don’t ask Irwin how to build one unless you want a solid axle.

92

Clean Brushless Motors They aren’t truly maintenance free, but close.

PRODUCT TESTS 82

Robinson Racing Slipper Clutches

70

Add durability to your Revo and Maxx trucks.

96

Duratrax Onyx Batteries Entry level power at the right price.

100 Engine Test: Werks Racing B5 .21 Buggy We test Werks’ revised power plant.

104 ProTek iChargers Three chargers to fulfill your every charging need.

64

R/C Car Magazine (ISSN 1534-3529, Canada GST 12500#9266RT), CPC. PUB MAIL #40024492, Volume 13, Number 2, February 2010 published monthly by Daisy/Hi-Torque Publishing Company, Inc., with editorial offices at 25233 Anza Dr., Valencia, CA 91355. Subscriptions $19.99 for 12 issues (one year). Canada add $12 additional postage for one year, $24 for two years. Foreign add $15 additional postage for one year, $30 for two years. Copyright ©2009 by Daisy/Hi-Torque Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted in whole or in part, by any means, without the express permission of the publisher. Contributors: Photographic submissions must be 5x7 or 8x10 glossy black and white, or 35mm and larger color slides. Please mark each photo with owner’s name and address. Manuscripts should be typewritten. Unsolicited contributions, manuscripts, photographs and illustrations must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Unless special arrangements are made in advance, all published material becomes the sole property of Daisy/Hi-Torque Publishing Company, Inc. The publisher does not assume responsibility for unsolicited material. PERIODICALS: postage paid at Santa Clarita, CA 91383 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to R/C Car Magazine, P.O. Box 958, Valencia, CA 91380-9058. Printed in U.S.A. For Canadian returns mail to: Bleuchip International P.O. Box 25542 London, ON N6C 6B2.

• 10 •

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EDITOR Stephen Bess stephen@hi-torque.com

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Jason Yu Aaron Waldron

jasonu@hi-torque.com aaron@hi-torque.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jason Yu

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tony Arnold Jimmy Babcock Scott Cramer Stephen Sohl

Darryn Johnson Mike Myers Eric Schutt Tim “Lumpy” Tolleson

ONLINE EDITIORS GRAPHIC DESIGN When up, do more push W hen yyou ou sstart t ar t iitt u p, yyou’ll o u ’l l d om ore tthan han jjust u st p u sh a button.

You’ll push t to n . Y o u ’l l p ush yyour our llimits imit s .

John Irwin

- IIntegrated ntegrated ttelemetry ele m et r y -3 3.4 .4 engine—the engine —the most most powerful power ful iin n iits ts cclass lass - LiPo pack LiPo receiver r e c e i ve r p ac k

One push push of of a button. but ton. That’s That ’s all all it it takes takes to to start st ar t the the TEN-T TEN-T™.

It’ss eequipped quipped w with ith a Losi Losi Remote Remote Onboard Onboard Starting St ar ting System System O.S.S.) and and a ton ton of of other other cool cool ffeatures: e a t u r e s: (R.O.S.S.) R .O

PHOTO ARTIST Pat Carrigan

COPY EDITOR Lindsay Worden

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ADVERTISING NATIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Robert Rex

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HI-TORQUE PUBLICATIONS PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Roland Hinz

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ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT Cassandra Mittelberg Katharine Mccoy Tom Hinz

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ONE PUSH OF A BUTTON TURNS ENGINES. AND HEADS.

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DRIVERS STAND WILL BRUSHLESS 1/8-SCALE REINVENT ITSELF? the class’ t has me concerned for considerable weight tha ’s car shbru ale > The future of 1/8-sc longevity. weighs

BY STEPHEN BESS D, or e 1/8-scale nitro buggy the Traxxas Slash 4W It’s ? ing rac gy Consider that an averag en piloted less bug Wh h. mp the 40 of e g just returned from pounds and is capabl ht eig und aro ses track something like it. Havin cau d stunne -of-control nitro buggy Chicago, Illinois, I was novice drivers, an out by y like a wa iHobby trade show in the the of on s out gie p ale brushless bug p, tap dance and jum lea to als rsh ma 18.5-volt , by the number of 1/8-sc 5S , brushhit. Strap a 6000mAh nufacturer has its own tador to avoid getting ma oltage h-v market. Nearly every ma of hig a ies into cop st ap t waiting to bur al of which are che battery brick (that’s jus less buggy now (sever a 2500kV, threemy and , ) yet rch d wto An ). blo a icle e like inal veh k runaway thermal flam another company’s orig ued at the same buggy, and trac ale brushless was piq electric motor into the er ow sep hor s. Why the excitement for 1/8-sc sile by mis h er mp rath 60 but nt gy, sile g gin -scale bug k marshals are then dod show not by a true 1/8 k at the t torque, lightning-quic se truck. I took one loo nce? It’s called instan ere diff have r stic dra eve uld Traxxas’ new short-cour sho it as a 1/8 power than any RC’er I couldn’t stop seeing p in acceleration and more sna s new Slash 4WD, and ssi cha ale gy -sc bug 1/8 n brushless This is where the at his fingertips. I’ve see drive axles scale brushless buggy. n completely off, and tor ns sio pen sus t ng. fron f, hal races than at class is goi ale d -sc avi 1/8 an n ess R/C Car has bee spears at more brushl into d are she y’re too As most of you know, The . the . For attended in my career ess and LiPo movement of the nitro races I’ve ale all -sc supporter of the brushl 1/8 a ing ans tch me expensive. Wa /winter/early spring heavy, too fast and too majority of the U.S., fall the bulls in fun a of ’t g isn nin run ply sim the ing ing rac tch wa oor nitro brushless race is like indoor racing, and ind just an at least one overpowshless buggies aren’t ou’re guaranteed to see —y ona pal Pam o is just trying ity. or healthy endeavor. Bru a necess enseless pipsqueak wh of the country, they’re d beast take out a def ere , option; in many parts ing tun no r: -brushless is popula to get out of the way. ess setup is It’s easy to see why 1/8 into a 1/8-scale brushl (although I prefer a ripse noi no ly ual virt t, The initial cost of getting payments. age ive no exhaus rtg ess mo of exc s and nth aust tone any day) expensive than two mo re mo n the ofte into ple snortin’ two-stroke exh the ed and ng to get more peo speed. It’s this crazy spe I thought we were tryi look on the n see you ve Ha out? hobby, not chase them it t tha her en you tell him or a non-RC’ers face wh racale -sc 1/8 ess shl bru get into “only” costs $1500 to and ds, hea 17 e you like you hav ing? Most will look at then turn and run away. that pler chassis alternative How about a lighter, sim motors ess shl bru e -siz 550 e or uses standard 540-siz w affordable battery? Ho and a single, smaller and low 40to 30h hig the in s out about a vehicle that top t can run e and small tracks, tha mph range on both larg s than a les s igh we t tha tery for 20 minutes on a bat that s icle veh of s a class cinder block? Perhap marshg stin roa kid fat a doesn’t roast tires like convention would be mallows at a s’mores mit it: If we wanted to Ad . more cost-effective r, buggy racing, a smalle bring more people into The it. do uld wo gy bug ale lighter, cheaper 1/8-sc less for longer run times and Slash 4WD is lighter— and a sintor mo r alle sm a s use danger to marshals. It e, and less gain for longer run tim gle, smaller battery—a longer. You t las s Tire ts. cos lower excessive speeds and a Boeing ing tart capable of jump-s don’t need a charger rdable. affo is s ssi cha the d An tery.

747 to charge the bat The rs. pte ada eel sh buggy wh AKA already makes Sla now. t righ gy bug ale -sc 1/8 truck is practically an gies have arrived, but 1/8-scale brushless bug versions of what they red we they’re bloated, overpo form the D can, in my opinion, could be. The Slash 4W 1/8dly ien r-fr use , ible ess acc foundation for a more ter, ligh a for Are you ready scale brushless class. alternative? ive ens exp s les r, quicke ar.com it my blog at www.rc-c Vis nt? me Care to com and let’s discuss it.

Good Racing, Stephen Bess Stephen@hi-torque.com @

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THE NEW TEAM LINE

B5

SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR POWER, PERFORMANCE & PRICE IN A RACE PROVEN DESIGN!

A-MAIN 2009 ROAR BUGGY NATIONALS & PODIUM FINISH 2009 RC PRO SERIES AUSTRALIA! FULL FLEDGED ITALIAN RACING ENGINE, SPORT ENGINE PRICE. ONLY AVAILABLE AT YOUR FINER HOBBY SHOPS. STROKE: 16.50MM, BORE: 16.30MM, RPM RANGE: 3000 TO 39000 OUTPUT: 2.6HP AT 33000 RPM, SLEEVE: 5 PORT, ABC CONSTRUCTION CRABURETOR: COMPOSITE 2 NEEDLE CARBURETOR WITH ADJUSTAB LE VENTURI, PISTON: CNC MACHINED, BILLET HIGH-SILICON CONTENT ALUMINUM ALLOY, ROD: 7075T6 ALUMINUM ALLOY, KNIFE EDGED

WERKS RACING, 1702-L MERIDIAN AVE #152, SAN JOSE, CA 95125 TEL: (408) 365-1000 WWW.WERKSRACING.COM www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com

WHERE’S WALDO A HOBBY FOR THE MIND labaloo lately across N> Despite all of the hul

BY AARON WALDRO sport, racing a radio a as R/C t ng to marke the Interwebs about tryi requires only little nts highest echelon of eve control car at even the on one’s two feet. nd sta to ded nee than what is e about how more physical fitness tim the all whining) from racers I hear comments (read: arly deserves cle it t tha nse inte petitive and ling what we do is so com work staples like bow ecially over sports net esp e, tim ), air R/C ion n vis tha tele exertion s much more physical (which, even still, require National Spelling Bee the and ), ain (ag nis golf (likewise), table ten nation’s youth than any far more good for our (which I believe does begin to talk about the course, let’s not even of the above). And, of tional opportunities, mo pro ssg dollars, cro potential for advertisin mple, Denny’s really care about (for exa etc. that the networks Association. ng wli Bo nal the Professio Restaurants promotes we have?)

Comparatively, what do by as an activity tead is embrace this hob ins do uld sho What we required to n atio The hand-eye coordin ation, rivals for the mind. Seriously. loc or e fac sur the , no matter al level. And carve a seamless corner tion rea rec k-and-ball sport at a that of playing any stic both interpretck, etra rac the on happening processing the events iphering the actions r own car as well as dec you of e tud atti the ing still. No doubt racers is even more difficult of other competitors, sical. but very little of it is phy exert plenty of effort, involved to get on n atio par pre re’s the And then, of course, the re serious racers mo , place. Understandably the course in the first en a Major we bet nce ere and the diff prepare more seriously, very similar para ws ying Little League dra pla ld chi a and r gue Lea Champion from a ting a ROAR National allel to the gap separa according to the kit Assembling a racing Sportsman local racer. several breakin wn sho ’ve we g, but as instructions is one thin ple years, the cou t las racing rigs over the downs of professional rlds-level Wo a and R RT uilt n a well-b severance differences between eve per and ce . The practice, patien competitor are minute noteworthy. is kit ing rac el -lev intain a top to build, tune and ma s, suspension effect of gearing change Too, understanding the al applications of ctic pra are s ice cho adjustments, and tire till in every ins to e s hop subjects that our school rs. doo the ugh thro ses student who pas not discount that the s let’ e, tim e sam the At ned at local facilities days spent and laps bur als instill solid fundament across the country to over jumps, end t fron the e rais (apply throttle to corcarry more speed on hit the brakes early to g racks otin sho n tha nt ere diff ner exit, etc.) is no se free-throw line to increa of basketballs from the one’s percentage. or even a grade e to be a boy genius, Although you don’t hav ps and encourelo dev R/C by, oy this hob school student, to enj high school any ich t processes of wh ages habits and though uld wo ch coa cer soc ghborhood physics teacher or nei at we do for fun each wh of h ngt stre l rea approve. That’s the well not to forget it. weekend, and we’d do hout it, ter than a good day wit bet is A bad day in R/C Aaron Waldron Associate Editor aaron@hi-torque.com @

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READERS’ RIGS FREE ZINIO SUBSCRIPTION

Send us your photos of your RC creations, and if the photos get printed, we’ll send you a free one-year Zinio digital subscription to R/C Car Magazine! Cars winning “Best in Show” will receive R/C Car Magazine decals and a new Pro-Line body! Be sure to send your complete mailing address and all the vital hop-up info about your personal ride. E-mail your photos to rccar@hi-torque.com

GOOD TALK

SCX10 specs Kit: Axial SCX10 oster ESC: Novak Super Ro P-9 ity Trin 10t Motor: Radio: Airtronics M11 Servo: Hitec 5955TG Silverado Body: Pro-Line Chevy series BAMF-1R h -inc 2.0 C CA Wheels: G8 w/memory foam Iron t Tires: Pro-Line Fla g Big Bores Shocks: Traxxas XX Lon minum C hub carrium knuckles, Axial alu min alu al , Hop-up parts: Axi Scorpion universal set r axle lockouts, AX10 g kit. erin ste s. ers, Axial aluminum rea Bro nd Ha te, Axial AX10 motor pla Axial driveshaft rings, an item Mark Wh Springfield, Illinois

FULL METAL JACKET I thought I'd send you guys some pictures of my Tamiya Clodbuster. It's been extensively modified with a RC4WD Full Metal Rockbull chassis, Novak Super Rooster, 5 bolt widened hubs, Tamiya oil-filled shocks and a Tamiya Brat body. It's my first crawler and definitely a lot of fun.

Adam Purkhardt Dorval,QC Canada • 24 •

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brought to you by:

IDENTITY CRISIS? Hello, My name is Matthew. I just finished my SC10. I think it turned out okay.

I have installed the Traxxas 12-turn motor in it so I can race in the Slash class at my local track. Though, there are still naysayers. I have an LRP IPC V7.1 speed control in it.

A Futaba FASST radio complements the kit just fine. I love this truck.

Thanks for the opportunity to share my photos.

Matthew Hill Lewistown, Pennsylvania

S TAKING A BATH SPLISH, SPLASH, I WA Hi, it. Until today, custom Traxxas Summ Here’s a few pics of my job dirty. Well, new two-day-old paint I didn’t want to get the This thing s. ture pic you enjoy the that all changed! Hope rocks!!!

Russ

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• 25 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

READERS’ RIGS

brought to you by:

MONSTER MASH

for over and I have been into R/C Hi, my name is Chad, e and prid my g you a few pictures of . It’s 20 years. I am sendin 290 GP CY ed om chr ck. It has a joy, an FG Monster Tru Jet a h wit 3.5 horsepower motor a 29cc, stuffed crank, er, along with adds 1-1.5 horsepow t tha e pip Pro silenced shoes. It ing and reversed clutch an 8000 rpm clutch spr -filter and pre ck dne Re N kes, a TG has front cable disc bra ec 5745 for Hit a g nin run am I . an aluminum servo tray kes, all 5 for the throttle and bra steering and a Hitec 795 controller. This MS 3P r libe Ca s nic controlled with an Airtro mph, and I was the local police at 44 has been clocked by still gaining speed. ge R/C” rk, and keep the “Vinta Keep up the good wo orite part! coming—that’s my fav e, tim r you Thanks for Chad Gibbs Jackson, Michigan

HERE IS A SUBSCRIPTION FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT! Hi here is my fleet for your enjoyment: -Team Losi 8IGHT 2.0 -Team Losi 8IGHT-T 2.0 -Traxxas Revo Platinum Both Losi’s have O.S. VSpec .21 World editions, JP 4 Pipes, Hitec 7955 and 7956 servos, Spektrum SR3100 receiver with a DX3R Controller.

The Platinum is stock, with crime fighter LPR tires and Spektrum SR3100 with DX3R. Shawn Sloan Ontario, Canada @

• 26 •

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FEEDBACK Jump Video Tidal Wave

Shootout Request

I just watched your YouTube jump videos, and I have to say, those are the funniest, most entertaining R/C videos I have ever seen! Keep up the great work!

Garret Neusome (e-mail)

With so many truggies on the market, when am I going to be treated to a full-blown R/C Car shootout? There are too many options and not enough sources that write real reviews. I’m waiting at my mailbox for your shootout!

Carl Thomas (e-mail)

Hey Stephen, nice try, but Aaron Waldron won the jump contest. ’Nuff said.

Colin Harrison Yes, I know; and my truck had rockets strapped to its rear end. ’Nuff said.

We are…umm…working on it. Shootouts are like Thanksgiving dinners—way too complicated to prepare, but worth it in the end.

We are currently in the “preparing the stuffing” stage, if that makes sense... @

Lame + &*$# (from YouTube) Hi R/C Car, Waldo won. Why is Stephen crying about it in the video if his truck didn’t jump the longest distance?!

Although I agree, the rockets were AWESOME. Todd Greenston (e-mail) Just how much did Waldo pay you and Mr. Harrison to write these e-mails?

I wanted to comment on Aaron’s editorial about how you test cars. It’s pretty apparent when I read you guys’ magazine that you do things differently. No reason to pound it into the ground. My bigger concern is this: Why haven’t you made more videos like that jump contest video? Simply stunning. It’s not fair that that’s your job. Your videos are the standard for R/C videos, by a long shot.

Victor Simpson (e-mail)

MP-9 Decisions Bess has lost his mind. In his Kyosho MP9 SE review, he says that the car is “essentially the same” except for some of the coatings on the parts. Either the MP9 TKI edition is worth the $800 or it’s not, making the MP9 SE either a great deal or a sportsman buggy. Which is it?

Michael Feldbaum (e-mail) You’re asking for a judgment call.

For many, the MP9 TKI is worth every penny, while others have found the SE kit a better deal. It’s up to you and your wallet.

• 28 •

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1512 1-y 2650kv up to 4s buggies

1512 1.5-y 1800kv for 1/8 buggies

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TEST DRIVE PHOTOS BY JASON YU

• 32 •

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TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS At first glance, you’re probably thinking the same thing I did: Great, they installed a brushless ESC and motor into the Inferno RTR and pulled a new Lexan body for it. As my boss says, “big woop.” But then I thought about it; take a chassis that is world-renowned for solid performance (after all, it is based on the seven-time IFMAR World Champion Kyosho Inferno platform), include running gear to get the buggy from the box to the track as quickly as possible, and strap in something that can fix the boring factor of any Ready-to-Run on the market: big horsepower. Well, that changes everything.

BY AARON WALDRON>

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• 33 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE KIT FEATURES 7.5-style suspension. Based on the MP-7.5 buggy platform (the US Sports 2 RTR, to be precise), the Inferno VE benefits from a totally developed pedigree derived from a racing chassis that has garnered considerable success over the last decade. Totally adjustable turnbuckles can be found at each corner, along with a plethora of tuning options to configure an already well-sorted car to suit any track condition.

Bomb-proof drivetrain. Front universals replace dogbones to make the already-tough drivetrain virtually bombproof. A steel center spur gear, 17mm hubs, and spiral-cut diff ring and pinion gears (all of which ride on a full set of

ball bearings) all make for a tough system to transfer the power of the Orion brushless system to the tires. Kyosho’s Readyset cars go a step further than simply assembling the car, filling both the shocks and differentials with silicone oil to provide a decent starting spot for the buggy’s setup.

Ready, set, go! The star of the show here is clearly Orion’s Vortex Experience motor and ESC, which utilize sensorless throttle control and are compatible with 6-12 NiCD or NiMH cells, as well as 2S to 4S LiPo packs complete with adjustable voltage cutoff and built-in six-volt BEC. Kyosho’s KT6 radio system and trusty KDS-102BK servo make a return in the Inferno VE, offering solid,

but whistle-free, control over the Inferno VE in all of its brushless powered glory.

PERFORMANCE TESTING I had two expectations for the Inferno VE prior to getting it on the track: I guessed that the Orion system would be brutally quick, and that the buggy would suffer from TRS, or Typical RTR Syndrome, with a slow steering servo, clumsy suspension setup, and grip-less tires. Yeah, well, I’ve been wrong before.

Acceleration is strong, certainly fast enough to clear all but the biggest gaps at your local track, but it’s not overwhelming in the least bit. The power is very tractable, and I’m really impressed with the Orion Experience sensorless

• 34 •

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• 35 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE system. I didn’t notice any cogging or slow-speed stuttering, and power builds linearly and strongly. Braking is typical electric; immediate and easily controlled. So far, so good.

I was caught even further off guard when I got to the first corner at Hot Rod. The lagging servo, icy feeling of the tires, and general handling awkwardness of most non-racing based RTRs couldn’t have been further from the truth. Turn-in is crisp, traction is very respectable for kit tires, and the chassis doesn’t waste time with unnecessary weight transfer. Tight 180 degree corners are no big deal, sweepers are carved with plenty of corner speed, and negotiating elevation changes produces no pucker factor. Even the dreaded Sturn sections that send many RTR cars and trucks into fits were a piece of cake. Yet it’s not twitchy or nervous, but incredibly easy to drive. Simply cutting through the infield of Hot Rod’s tricky

infield sections made it easy to forget that I was piloting a sub-$500 RTR, and that’s perhaps the best compliment I could ever give.

It jumps well, though not like the most recent generation of nitro buggies.

Rather than spring off the lip of the ramp and launch through the air like a small child on a pogo stick, the car glides up the jump and flies low and flat. The power of the Orion motor is again a benefit here; there’s no clutch stall, no tuning required, just instant and manageable torque that propels the VE out of the preceding corner and up the face of the jump. The 2050 Kv motor used in the VE could not be a better match for the chassis or intended driving atmosphere. It’s worth repeating that the Orion Experience system feels that good. Landings are, once again, less dramatic than I expected though still produce quite the waffle-stomp if you overshoot the land-

ing ramp. In either case, the car settles quickly when reunited with terra firma.

When blasting around an open lot, the stable and consistent handling translates into a stable and consistent basher. Lacking the ground clearance of a monster truck isn’t much of an issue, as the chassis plows and slides its way over most terrain reasonably tackled by an RC car. The same jumpclearing, corner blasting, bump-navigating prowess that makes the VE docile and confidence-inspiring on the track makes for a fun and fantastic bashing experience. You can shred berms, throw up roost, and head onto the next obstacle without worrying about flipping and needing to walk over and right the vehicle before continuing. If you’re fast with your throttle finger, there is enough instant power on tap to level the chassis when jumping from any surface undulation.

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g one of the best handlin Inferno 7.5 was, by far, The gy!

The bug e. tim fun d a ut goo a JASON: Talk abo electric buggy is just the have converted it to an and not feel like it’s on t, fas buggies of all time. To it e driv can you t tha is it’s VE l, dfu rno han Infe a the best part about it’s not insane, it’s not It’s not over powered, nce n. ma ctio for tru per des the r out utte of ing verge thing in balanc k Kyosho did a good in a basic RTR just fast and fun. I thin mming a crazed motor cra of d tea ins er pow of t oun am t righ with the buggy chassis. a l Inferno 7.5 chassis, overlook the old-schoo to be y ma it ess as shl lt Bru icu 9 MP STEPHEN: As diff forget all about it. An tem. ugh the VE and you’ll s of the VE’s power sys fan e few battery packs thro hug are e her us e of thre e all siz t but righ e, nic the t n would have bee shless motor seems jus meter Orion Vortex bru ess buggies. It The long can/small dia motors in other brushl ess shl bru ed siz ck tru ckhave more Ma compared to the ess motors do. You’ll gy like most 1/8 brushl bug the r we rpo ove t doesn’ es. ich equals faster lap tim control over the VE, wh

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• 37 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE

WHAT DID WE LIKE? The VE is the easiest to drive and most manageable RTR buggy we’ve ever tested, regardless of power source. In fact, it’s one of the most enjoyable and stress-free electric buggies we’ve tested either. Even with stock tires and on a variety of surfaces, traction was never an issue. Neither was the car’s ability to make short work of whatever turn, jump, or combination of the two that lay in its path. The VE is also extremely versatile; you can sit back and cruise at a leisurely pace, or drive hard and hustle the car, and the VE responds to either with accommodating patience and grace. The VE feels equally at home on the track or in the backyard, and shreds both well.

KYOSHO INFERNO VE Type: 1/8-scale electric buggy Street Price: $450 Class Rivals: Losi 8IGHT-E 2.0, HPI Vorza, Hot Bodies Ve8,

TEST EQUIPMENT Radio: ..............................Kyosho KT6 Perfex 27 MHz 2-channel AM (included) Servos:......................................................Kyosho KDS-102BK Servo (included) Motor: ..............................................Team Orion Experience 2050 kV (included) Battery: ..................(2) Team Orion Carbon Edition 3800 (ORI14009, $90 each) ESC: ....................................Team Orion Experience sensorless ESC (included) Body: ..........................................................................................Stock (included) Tires: ..........................................................................................Stock (included)

WHAT WOULD WE CHANGE? Since this section is my chance to be picky, I’d ask for a little more power. The VE, in box-stock form, has just enough power to get you out of trouble but not quite enough to get you into any. I was incredibly excited about the opportunity for tire-torching torque, so the realization that the car is mild-mannered was actually kind of a letdown. Other than that, the VE is everything we could ask for: fun and tough.

Brilliant. Before I even opened the box, I was disappointed that I wouldn’t find an electric-powered MP9 with 2.4 GHz radio equipment. After driving the car in multiple disciplines, I feel ashamed that I gave the VE such little respect before driving it.

CONCLUSION This is the RTR we have been dreaming would grace the Kyosho line-up. It’s plenty fast, incredibly fun, and tough as nails.

Drivers of all ability levels will find handling traits to love, the car is equally capable in a plethora of environments, and it does everything well. I spent several battery packs trying to unearth details about the car that I didn’t like, and couldn’t really find any. The Inferno VE not only does what it is supposed to do and does it well, but represents the standard of user-friendliness to which all RTR’s should be held. @ Highs: Incredibly easy and fun to drive.

Lows: Based on old technology.

The Final Call: The best-driving RTR buggy, maybe ever.

TEST SETUP Setup we used: ........................................................................................Stock Test track: ....................................Anza Drive construction site, bike path, and Hot Rod Hobbies’ track Track conditions: Varied, from loose to hardpack and from smooth to rough.

DIMENSIONS DIM DI ME EN NS SIO ON NS S Width: ........................................................................................12.09 in. (307mm) Wheelbase: ............................................................ 12.71-12.91 in. (323-328mm) Length: .................................................................................... 18.46 in. (469mm) Weight:........................................................................................125.2 oz. (3550g) Ground clearance: ..........................................................................1.1 in. (28mm) Chassis:..........................................................................Stamped aluminum plate Thickness: ...................................................................................... 0.12 in. (3mm) Suspension: ........................................................................4-wheel indespendent Damping: ......................................................................Aluminum oil-filled shocks Sway bars:........................................................................................................N/A Drivetrain: ..............................................................................................Shaft drive Pinion/spur: .................................................................................................. 12/48 Final gear ratio:.......................................................................................... 10.56:1 Differentials: ..............................................................................Sealed bevel gear Bearings: ........................................................................................Metal shielded

PERFORMANCE DATA 0-100ft: ......................................................................................... 2.91 seconds 0-top speed: ................................................................................. 4.90 seconds Stalker ATS verified top speed: ........................................................... 35.2 mph

35 30 25 20

SOURCES

15

Kyosho America, 20322 Valencia Circle, Lake Forest, CA 92630-8158 (949) 454-8854; fax (949) 454-8881 Team Orion USA, 20322 Valencia Circle, Lake Forest, CA 92630-8158 (949) 454-8854; fax (949) 454-8881

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4.0

5.0

6.0

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TEST DRIVE PHOTOS BY JASON YU

• 40 •

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A STRIKE? OR A STRIKEOUT? When compared to all other classes of cars within this hobby, the short-course truck is among the newest. And yet the Losi Strike SCT already presents a mixture of features seen on its competitors along with a couple very new concepts that are totally foreign to short-course trucks. How does it stack up against the competition?

BY AARON WALDRON>

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• 41 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE KIT FEATURES Chassis design. The Strike SCT owes much of its chassis and suspension design to the High Roller 2WD monster truck, which was also built to take on a specific competitor in its own class, the Traxxas Stampede. It makes sense, then, that the ground-clearanceminded design of the Strike’s chassis is much like that of the Traxxas Slash. The ultra-thin chassis layout is only slightly wider than a standard-size battery pack, yet is neatly organized with the ESC stacked above the rear portion of the battery compartment.

Shocking absorbers. One of the most colorful differences between the Strike and its competitors are the blueanodized, threaded aluminum shocks at

all four corners. The shocks, as well as the camber links, attach at a number of different shock mounting options that can be used to help fine-tune the performance of the truck.

Transmission with a mission. The biggest difference between the Strike and all other offerings in the shortcourse truck class occurs in the guts of the truck, the transmission. The threegear tranny, with High Roller- and 1/10Slider-familiar three-gear differential, has been flipped to fit in front of the rear shock tower rather than hang out the rear of the truck. This serves to help centralize all the truck’s mass closer to the battery and offer more protection for the motor.

Bumpers, body, and bits and pieces. Class-correct front and rear bumpers protect against impacts at either end, while body-supporting sideimpact bumpers cushion against the inevitable block pass and prevent two trucks from interlocking wheels and flipping over. Though the body, wheels and tires are all off-brand rather than fully licensed replicas of full-size racing trucks, they fit the template for what is expected on a short-course racer. Losi includes their 2.4 GHz radio system with the Strike, a class first, along with a digital steering servo, water-resistant and LiPo-compatible ESC, and a 550sized, sealed endbell motor.

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• 43 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE BND—BIND-N-DRIVE

Horizon Hobby, Losi’s parent company, has come up with a cool, its RTR cars and trucks new way to offer , and RTF flying model s: Give the consumer the transmitter in case a chance to omit he already has a DSMcapable radio (like one own transmitters, or a of Spektrum’s Spektrum module for a pro-level radio) and street price a few buc knock down the ks. Losi’s first offering in the Bind-N-Drive pro SCT, and I think the ide gram is the Strike a is a good one.

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PERFORMANCE TESTING Bonus points for the Strike are immediately awarded due to the ESC including a low-voltage cutoff to allow for safe LiPo use. The chances of new, incoming hobbyists buying LiPo batteries continues to increase as battery and charger technology improves, and not even the use of Losi’s proprietary, brand-specific EC3 connector can discourage me from awarding applause for the ESC. Though it’s close.

Charge the truck, put it on the track, and punch it; oh no, maybe the mid-motor setup wasn’t the best idea after all. What the Strike stands to gain in directionchanging agility and track-dicing athleticism due to the weight centralization of the forward-mounted transmission I would give up in a heartbeat for more rear grip.

It’s not uncontrollable

(most of the time), but I firmly believe that RTR cars and trucks should err on the side of caution, and caution in this case would be traction and drivability.

What the weight distribution does help is jumping. The centralized weight of the truck’s chassis helps maintain control through buts and bumps, and the Strike stays controlled in the air despite of how little of the body’s huge underlying space is occupied by chassis plate. I feared that the Strike would turn into a kite or parachute when landing gaps and even jumping into a slight breeze, but leaping through the air proved to be the Strike’s strongest trait. Landing jumps is done safely as well, with the truck’s wide footprint making for a stable platform when landing. Bumps that don’t require the truck to leave the ground are just as easily negotiated, as the bumpers don’t hang over too far and catch on the ground when encountering abrupt elevation changes.

Out of the box, the Strike accelerates quickly (when grip is available) and has a

decent top speed, no doubt aided by the LiPo pack. Steering is smooth and responsive, if not a bit wandery, and there’s no denying the value of the included electronics for an RTR in this price range. For this truck’s intents and purposes, as long as the surface on which you’re driving offers lots of traction, you’re golden.

WHAT DID WE LIKE? That Losi has a habit of including worthwhile equipment with its RTR’s is no doubt the Strike’s saving grace, and the ability to run LiPo packs without having to guess the battery’s remaining capacity or cutting a run short (or worse, puffing a pack) is great in itself. The Strike’s Spektrum-ized radio system means this is the only RTR in its class that won’t ever run into frequency conflicts at the local track or bashing area, and I think the Bind-N-Drive option could revolutionize how the R/C industry buys RTR’s (not to mention we might have the option to shrink the bins and baskets we have of RTR transmitters).

… rket with a ON THE OTHER HAND ourse stadium truck ma ortedly jumping into the short-c

i for ce can holders that rep Stephen: Kudos to Los e part? The dual 12-oun the orit fav My ck. tru ed ge delivery vehicle in modestly pric y mounts. Cold bevera bod e uld /sid wo ars s f-b tire ner e SC may also be used as of J-Concepts or Pro-Lin mance side, a fresh set house! On the perfor up immensely. likely wake this truck ilar layout, with the this car. It’s a very sim Slash, you might like able opponent. One mid for a is ike Jason: If you love the eel drive layout, the Str wh r rea its truck’s weight disand h the hig ize battery up which will help central , out lay r oto -m mid advantage I see is the near future. otout coming up in the tribution. I sense a sho

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• 45 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE

Vehicle: ........................................................................................Losi Strike SCT Type:................................................1/10-Scale electric 2WD short-course truck Street price:..................................................................................................$230 Class rivals:..........Associated SC10 RTR, HPI Racing Blitz RTR, Traxxas Slash

TEST EQUIPMENT WHAT WOULD WE CHANGE? I’ll try to be nice about this one; the chassis, transmission, body, wheels and tires. Out of the box and on a variety of surfaces on which the truck is likely to be driven, the Strike borderlines on frustrating. Testing the truck’s out-of-the-box performance ranked right up with the Associated SC10 in terms of how much my patience was tested while trying to string consistent laps together. What’s worse is that none of the XXX-Tbased hop-ups, parts or tuning options will fit on the Strike. And since the truck is thrust into a class of vehicles that are aimed at looking like real cars and trucks, it’s tough to defend the cartoon-ish body, and poorly performing tires.

CONCLUSION When Team Associated released the SC10 as the brand’s answer to the Traxxas Slash and the shortcourse truck craze started by the mighty RTR, racers were immediately excited about the potential for hop-up potential and race-proven pedigree.

While the RTR SC10 requires a bit of work out of the box to work properly, the truck has plenty of potential (and has a ROAR National Championship to show for it). Losi fans were hoping for the same, and the Strike comes up short. Sure, there are plenty of cool features and ideas incorporated into the truck, but the overall package just fails to meet expectations. @

Radio: ......Losi LSR-3000 2-channel system with Spektrum 2.4 GHz (included) Servo: ................................................................................Losi MSX digital servo Motor: ..................................................................Losi 12T 550 motor (included) Battery: ..............Losi 5000mAh 20C 2S LiPo hard-case pack (LOSB9861, $85) ESC: ........................................................................................Losi 12T (included) Body:......................................................................................Losi SCT (included) Tires: ....................................................................Losi All-Terrain SCT (included)

TEST SETUP Test setup we used: ..................................................................................Stock Test track: ........................................................Hot Rod Hobbies in Saugus, CA Track conditions: ....................................................Rough and slightly watered

DIMENSIONS DIM DI ME EN NS SIO ON NS S Width: ........................................................................................11.7 in. (296mm) Wheelbase: ................................................................................13.7 in. (348mm) Length: ......................................................................................22.8 in. (578mm) Weight: ............................................................................................5 lbs. (2268g) Ground clearance: ......................................................................1.54 in. (39mm) Chassis:............................................................................Molded composite tub Thickness: .................................................................................... 0.08 in. (2mm) Suspension: ..............................................Four-wheel independent suspension Damping:............................Aluminum, threaded-body, oil-filled coilover shocks Drivetrain: ......................................................2WD with three-gear transmission Pinion/spur: ................................................................................................20/90 Final gear ratio: ........................................................................................11.48:1 Differential: ............................................................Sealed three-gear differential Bearings: ..................................................................rubber-sealed ball bearings

PERFORMANCE DATA 0-100ft: .......................................................................................... 3.91 seconds 0-top speed: .................................................................................. 5.38 seconds Stalker ATS verified top speed:........................................................ 22.17 mph

25

THE FINAL CALL Highs: Big size, tough construction Lows: Slippery on all but the most high-bite surfaces. Not ROAR legal.

The Final Call: Capable, but needs work.

20 15 10

SOURCES Losi, a division of Horizon Hobby, Inc. 4710 E. Guasti Rd. Ontario, CA 91761 • ph. (909) 390-9595 • www.losi.com

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3.0

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FIRST LOOK

HPI SWITCH DRIVING THE FRONT

Think about this for a minute: When a car accelerates, what happens? Weight shifts toward the back of the car. That’s why your head snaps back when you stomp on the gas. So logically, it makes sense to have a rear-wheel (or fourwheel) drive car. As the weight shifts back, the load is transferred to the rear wheels, pushing them into the ground, and providing traction as the power is applied. This formula has been proven time and time again in automotive engineering.

BY JASON YU>

So why on Earth would anyone want to go with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) setup?

Logically, it doesn’t make sense. When a FWD car accelerates, the weight shifts to the back of the car. In doing so, the front wheels go light and they lose traction, resulting in tire spin as power is applied. All that effort becomes wasted energy.

Which is exactly why it surprised me to find that one of the fastest car manufacturers in R/C would produce such a car. HPI’s newest offering, the Switch, features an entirely new front-wheel-drive mini chassis.

We took the new car out for a spin to find out whether the Switch lives up to the hype, or if it’s just wasted energy.

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• 49 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

FIRST LOOK

HPI SWITCH FEATURES OVERVIEW It’s plainly obvious who HPI was targeting with the new Switch. The front-wheeldrive mini class features only one other competitor, so it’s self-evident that HPI had their sights locked on to Tamiya’s M chassis. In hopes of reviving the FWD mini class, the Switch will certainly add some color to the otherwise monopolized class and light a fire up under some tailpipes.

The Switch is unique to the HPI line, as it’s the company’s very first front-wheeldrive chassis. In it, the car features many of today’s modern designs. The Switch makes due with a plastic tub chassis for rigidity, a sealed gearbox up front for a reliable, silky smooth driveline, bell crank steering and a very low center of gravity.

The motor, receiver, speed control and servo all sit on the left side of the chassis while the battery pack is strapped in to the opposite side. What’s nice about this layout is that it not only spreads the weight fairly evenly along the chassis, but it also allows everything to sit extremely low, keeping the heft near the floor of the chassis.

Inside the gearbox is the sole bevel gear differential. The case isn’t sealed, so we wouldn’t recommend diff fluid to tune the car, though it may not be necessary given FWD’s tendency to understeer. However, if you’re adamant about tuning the diff, I’m sure an optional ball diff will soon be available for the car.

For the most part, the features are very typical in a touring car chassis. But what really makes this car unique is the peculiar

setup sitting behind each wheel. The new Switch may be HPI’s first front-wheel-drive car, but it’s also the very first R/C car that features a MacPherson strut-style suspension. Yes way! In place of the upper arm is a giant strut tower that spans nearly the width of the suspension. The spindle sandwiches a tiny spring between the strut tower through the kingpin. The rear carries the same setup, but toe angles are tied in to the chassis via fixed suspension linkage.

Unfortunately, there’s no strut in this setup, so the car lacks any real damping.

However, there are grooves molded into the front gearbox and mounts on the arm, implying a very certain cylindrical addition to the chassis. How lucky!

TESTING The car was taken to our on-road testing facility and let loose. First impression: well, it’s got ambition, and we like that about a car. The battery is a tad less than what anyone would consider punchy, but it was certainly enough to get the tires spinning on acceleration. As the Abarth accelerated to top speed, I couldn’t help but think how cool it looked cruising across the track and how an overcast day and maybe some rain and greenery would make the entire scene look so much more European. The car would look at home in conditions like that. Maybe tearing up the streets of Barcelona, or circling the

Magic Roundabout in Swindon, or maybe even running a few quick laps in Monza; the car looks the part with its Euro styling and Italian panache.

Suffice it to say, the Switch in box stock form isn’t the fastest car in the world, but it’s nothing to brush off the shoulder either.

In fact, much of the car’s performance revolved around the battery’s low output power. When the kit’s included 1500 pack was replaced with a brand new 3000 pack, all of a sudden, the Switch went from timid and docile to assertively and forcibly shoving mass amounts of air out of its way. I think we found just the right thing to rile this little Fiat up.

The Switch now scurries down the straightaway in a little less time than it took before. It’s also quite audible. The soundtrack, unfortunately, is a bit of a raucous.

Imagine, if you will, an empty blender.

Now, fill it with some vanilla ice cream, a banana, and some strawberries, and set it on puree. That’s essentially what the car sounds like; only less appetizing.

Roll out of the corners, mash the throttle, and the inside tire unloads, then quickly helps pull the car in the intended direction. Shortly after, the car jumps into the next turn where, surprisingly, it oversteers!

Wait, what? Oversteer? That’s so un-frontwheel-drive like. Yeah, the Switch flings that back end around faster than

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SPECS HPI SWITCH Type: 1/10-scale, FWD, on-road electric Est. street price: $200 Class rivals: Tamiya M-chassis

DIMENSIONS D DI IM ME EN NS SIO ON NS S Width: 6.45in. (adjustable) (164mm) Wheelbase: 8.26-8.86 in. (210-225mm) Length: 11.22 in. (285mm) Weight: 38.1 oz. (1080 g) Chassis: Plastic tub Thickness: 2.5mm Suspension (f/r): MacPherson style suspension Damping (f/r): N/A Sway bars: N/A Drivetrain: Front wheel drive Bearings: Metal shielded ball bearings

J-Lo. It’s like the E-brake comes on in every turn, and you’ll find yourself counter steering, which in turn mucks everything up. (Driving tip of the day: Don’t countersteer!) But you know what? It’s tremendous fun. The only problem is that it slows the car down way too much in turns.

However, keep the steering input to a minimum, follow the right apex, ease the brakes, and roll the throttle and you’ll find yourself a surprisingly balanced car. In a way, the Switch reminds me of driving a rear wheel drive car, only you can get way more aggressive with the throttle. Well, that, and the steering goes away completely with heavy braking. (Driving tip #2: No heavy braking.) Ok, check.

THE FINAL CALL

CONCLUSION The Switch is a refreshing, though long overdue, addition to the FWD mini class.

Not only does Tamiya now have someone breathing down their necks, but a very close breather that may as well be reading the tag on their shirts. The Switch is a very cool, very fun car that is not only fun to drive, but it’s also decently priced. For $200, the car is 100 percent ready to rock.

But if you’re wanting that extra juice, a little extra dough for some upgraded battery packs will definitely do the trick. @

suspension, Hits: Cool looks, cool ! car l coo s, ssi cha l coo g linkage.

Misses: Sloppy steerin itch is the Sw The ll: Ca al Fin e Th level onryent for ate ideal candid a low-priced for g kin loo ers rac d roa e. way to buy-in to the gam

SOURCES

Street, Foothill HPI Racing, 70 Icon (949) 753-1099 • ph: • Ranch, CA 92610 w.hpiracing.com fax (949) 753-1098 • ww Price: $200 • 10 327 • Part Number:

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• 51 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

KIND OF LIKE STRAPPING A ROCKET ON YOUR VEHICLE.

www.dynamiterc.com/FUZE ©2009 Horizon Hobby, Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Road, Champaign, IL 61822 USA. Dynamite® is an exclusive brand of Horizon Hobby, Inc.

16910

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GO BRUSHLESS. AND LET THE COUNTDOWN FOR TAKEOFF BEGIN. Don’t just drive your car or truck. Launch it. Upgrade to a Fuze™ brushless system today.

You’ll open doors to incredible speed and power. And you’ll get a much more reliable and low-maintenance system.

Available in affordable 1/10 and 1/18 scales, Fuze brushless systems come in value-packed prewired combos with a motor, ESC and Programming Card, or you can purchase the parts separately. T-minus ten, nine, eight, seven , six . . .

1/10 FUZE BRUSHLESS SYSTEM

1/18 FUZE BRUSHLESS SYSTEM

PROGRAMMING CARD INCLUDED

PROGRAMMING CARD INCLUDED

MUSCLE FOR THE SHORT COURSE Fuze offers a short-course version that’s perfect for the Traxxas Slash, HPI Blitz, Associated SCI0 and many other popular vehicles. We’ve also got hop-ups that will take your truck to the next level and Li-Pos that will give maximum acceleration and run times.

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TEST DRIVE PHOTOS BY JASON YU

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Nearly a year and a half after the Traxxas Slash redefined the club racing scene, other manufacturers are still playing catch-up. As one industry executive told me, “Short-course racing is what has sustained R/C through this horrible economy.” That’s quite a statement for a $200-ish class of trucks that are more basher than racer. Who knew a simple, electric, two-wheel-drive truck could do so much?

BY STEPHEN BESS>

HPI Racing took its time, evaluated the class, and designed their truck—the Blitz RTR tested here— to compete in the class as an easier-to-drive alternative. After spending an afternoon with the Blitz two months ago during our first-look article, Aaron, Jason and I walked away astonished with the Blitz’s rear traction, neutral handling and forgiving on-track attitude. In a class filled primarily with sportsmanlevel drivers, shouldn’t those qualities define what a short-course stadium truck should be?

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• 55 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE KIT FEATURES Maxxis Trepador tires. HPI goes the full distance and outfits the Blitz with fully licensed, replica Maxxas Trepador tires that are copies of the real (full-size) tire. On one hand, the real truck tread simply looks incredible, giving the Blitz a scale appearance that a typical R/C truck tire just can’t duplicate. On the other hand, the Trepador tread pattern and rubber compound actually works, and it works really well. This ain’t your typical basketball rubber RTR compound; the Trepador’s soft rubber digs in, offers traction and helps cut your lap times. That the name “Trepador” sounds a lot like “troubadour”—a wandering singer or poet—is likely a coincidence.

RTR running gear. The Blitz rolls out of the box fully ready to run, minus a battery pack. You’ll find a 15-turn “Firebolt” closed endbell electric motor, HPI SC-15 electronic speed controller (with reverse), and an HPI TF-1 AM transmitter/receiver. HPI recommends a six or seven-cell battery pack, although 2S LiPo packs will work with an external voltage cutoff.

Brushless-ready metal transmission. HPI looked into its crystal ball, and it noticed its customers tearing out the 15-turn Firebolt motor and replacing it with stupid-fast brushless motors. To prevent the inevitable transmission gear implosion, HPI outfits the Blitz with a full metal gear transmission that’s, as HPI puts it, “brushless ready.” There’s no

guarantee that you’ll be able to handle the extra speed, but at least the Blitz’s transmission will.

Fully adjustable suspension.

Designed and built with racing in mind, the Blitz’s suspension is fully adjustable.

You may be surprised, as we were, to find captured hinge pins at all corners, with adjustable suspension bushings that control suspension settings. The Blitz’s suspension looks more like a scaled-down 1/8-scale buggy rather than a two-wheel-drive electric truck, and that’s fine with us. With the Blitz, you can adjust rear toe, anti-squat, antidive, camber and caster, but don’t be overwhelmed; the stock settings work just fine if you’re not a tuner.

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• 57 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE PERFORMANCE TESTING We drove the Blitz at Hot Rod Hobbies, home of arguably the largest short-course stadium truck class in the country, where we routinely see 60-plus truck entries on an average Tuesday night. Just as I remembered from our first drive with HPI two issues ago, our test sled handled predictably and with tons of corner speed.

As fun as short-course racing can be when you’re banging doors with a pack of ten trucks on the track, I became frustrated last year with the “pit maneuvers” that other drivers pulled on me to spin me out. Just a little too much throttle, and the typical short-course truck will swap ends in a corner. Driving a two-wheel-drive truck like a 1/8-scale buggy isn’t always the best idea. Driving the HPI Blitz, however, reminded me of how much fun electric racing can be.

It’s called rear traction, and every truck should have tons of it. The Blitz has more than any other out-of-the-box short-course truck I’ve driven, meaning it suits my heavy throttle finger nicely.

Pull onto the straightaway and punch it; the Blitz hunkers down and shoots away with the 15-turn Firebolt motor whizzing away for its life. Approach sweepers and tight corners that would require massive braking inputs with other trucks, and you’ll practically coast through with the Blitz. There’s a slight front-end push that’s just a hair shy from being perfectly neutral, and it’s this slight push that prevents a snap oversteer mid-corner.

It may not look much different from a typical short-course truck, but the Blitz just feels more forgiving, less edgy and more eager to attack turns. Even with a mild modified brushed or 17.5-turn

brushless motor (see sidebar) and LiPo battery, the Blitz retains its driveability without getting squirrelly. The confidence you feel in the controls translates into quicker lap times, as verified by our results at Hot Rods. Fewer spin-outs equals faster lap times—it’s that simple.

After several weeks-worth of testing, our Blitz still feels fresh, with no broken or overly worn parts to report—and that’s not to say that we didn’t crash our fair share of times. So far, the Blitz’s durability has been excellent.

WHAT DID WE LIKE? It never ceases to amaze me how a few properly tuned suspension settings can make the difference between an RTR that runs “okay” and one that’s dialed in and ready for battle out of the box. The Blitz’s stock suspension settings give the truck stability we never

• 58 •

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... king package?

ON THE OTHER HAND formance in a great loo our e, and entertaining per

had Aaron: Fun, easy to driv whole office when we HPI Blitz impressed our The r. e that I ine pris bra sur nono a s Sounds like nths ago, so it wa with the truck a few mo for the fresh ugh eno ile doc n first driving experience tha It’s more e with our test truck. veteran racers. The really enjoyed the tim n that it just isn’t fun for dow bed dum so not even better than rks wo e kag newbie to control, but pac nsed tire and wheel lice the and t, ng at a loss of par bei the by e vic body looks doing the truck a disser e the huge crib they look. I feel like I’m des to d har it’s ch I like it; words for just how mu driving it. grin on my face while a few months nce to drive the Blitz Jason: We had a cha drive. This it being super easy to back, and I remember version is tion duc pro h the full second time around, wit forgiving and y ver is ck tru The . exactly as I remember throttle steering is reactive, the incredibly stable. The dling is really, han rall ove the and is punchy (enough), easier to drive than the really good. It’s much y car to drive already. eas an Slash, and that’s the y is a little uglier than Sadly, I do think the bod makes up lly rea nce ma for per s rest, but the truck’ ming. for that minor shortco

because the sponsibility, however,

a path of semi-re ?

WANNA GO FASTERthe craving for more speed. We recommend followinged you’re drooling over at the hobby shop counter

: rn modifi g upgrade, take a It’s impossible to ignore the 55,000 rpm, five-tu high-quality, long-lastin -drive truck. That means s off the wheels. For a tire r Blitz into a quick, the w you blo rm y Blitz is still a two-wheel sfo rall lite /ESC system. It will tran ice unless you want to tor mo cho t 5 17. bes ec the Sp ’t r combo, it may isn oto voc ly probab or Novak’s Ha und $150 for the ESC/m ic Spec 17.5-turn motor, undriveable. Priced aro . it g ride kin ed ma rad of look at Novak’s Ballist upg nt r poi the the instant you drive you hout overpowering it to you spent the money d athletic speedster wit gla be ’ll you but for a $200 truck, seem like a lot of coin

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• 59 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

TEST DRIVE

expected to feel on the track. One of the most pleasant surprises is the Blitz’s captured suspension pins and bushing inserts. Want to change the truck’s steering attitude, rear toe or anti-squat? Swap out the bushings, not the entire suspension plate. We like all of that.

WHAT WOULD WE CHANGE? In a perfect world, the shortcourse stadium truck class would have clearly defined “spec” rules, and therefore facilitate a class-standard for motors and ESCs. As it stands, the Blitz’s 15-turn Firebolt motor is a little hotter than other spec-class trucks, but that’s not really a bad thing as long as you’re driving the Blitz. Ideally, we would also like to see more RTR body choices, as well as a 2.4 GHz radio system to avoid 27MHz frequency conflicts that are soooo 1998.

CONCLUSION It’s easy to gauge the Blitz’s outof-the-box performance the first time you drive the truck. From the first battery pack, the Blitz feels hooked up immediately, laying down power without feeling skiddish. The truck’s slight push helps it navigate corners without feeling edgy, and in a purely stock-for-stock comparison, the Blitz just feels faster than everything else.

Time will tell whether the Blitz can make its mark on an already saturated short-course market, but given the Blitz’s excellent quality and performance, we wouldn’t be surprised to see them popping up at local tracks everywhere. @

Highs: Top-of-the-class rear traction and stability out of the box, all-metal brushless-ready gearbox, rubber-sealed ball bearings, topped off with a rippin’ body.

Lows: Only two color choices available.

The Final Call: A little late to the party, but the result is well worth the wait.

HPI Racing, 70 Icon Street, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 • ph. (949) 753-1099 • fax (949) 753-1098 DuraTrax, distributed by Great Planes Model Distributors, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61826-9021 • ph.

(217) 398-6300 • fax (217) 398-0008

www.rc-car.com

TEST EQUIPMENT Radio: ......................................................................HPI TF-1 AM radio (included) Servo: ..............................................................HPI SF-1 steering servo (included) Motor: ....................................................................HPI Firebolt 15-turn (included) Battery:............................................Duratrax Onyx 7-cell 3000, #DTXC2056, $28 Body: ......................................................HPI Blitz “Maxxis” prepainted (included) Tires: ..................................................................HPI Maxxis “Trepador” (included)

TEST SETUP Setup we used: I ran our Blitz as it arrived out of the box, as 99 percent of the racers out there will do. In its stock configuration, the Blitz offers excellent rear traction and stability, so I didn’t attempt to fix what wasn’t broken.

Test track: ..................................................Hot Rod Hobbies, Saugus, California Track conditions: ..................................Prepared, watered and hardpacked dirt.

DIMENSIONS DIM DI ME EN NS SIO ON NS S Width: ..........................................................................................11.6 in. (296mm.)

Wheelbase: ................................................................................12.9 in. (329mm.)

Length: ........................................................................................21.6 in. (548mm.)

Weight: ......................................................................3.8 lb. (1700g) w/out battery Chassis:..............................................................................Molded composite tub Thickness: ......................................................................................................3mm Suspension: ....................................................................Four-wheel independent Damping: ..........................................................................Plastic oil-filled shocks Sway bars: ....................................................................................................None Drivetrain: ........................................................................................2-wheel drive Pinion/spur: ..................................................................................................18/88 Final gear ratio: ..........................................................................................12.71:1 Differentials: ........................................................................Metal gear differential Bearings: ..................................................................Rubber sealed ball bearings

PERFORMANCE DATA 0-100ft: ..............................................................................................3.94 seconds 0-top speed: .................................................................................... 6.78 seconds Stalker ATS verified top speed:............................................................ 23.9 mph

25 20 15

SOURCES

• 60 •

Vehicle:......................................................................................................HPI Blitz Type: ..................................................1/10-scale electric 2WD short-course truck Street price:....................................................................................................$200 Class rivals: ..........................Traxxas Slash, Team Associated SC10, Losi Strike

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1.0

2.0

3.0

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4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

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RACE COVERAGE • 64 •

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SO MANY TRUCKS, YOU’D THINK IT WAS IN TEXAS Most salty R/C racers know the origin of the event name “Reedy Race of Champions.” The original Reedy Race was strictly for 2WD and 4WD buggies, competing in Open Modified and Invitational classes. For many years, the prestige of winning the Reedy Race rivaled that of the IFMAR Worlds, as the fastest names from Europe and Asia traveled to Southern California’s best indoor tracks to dice with America’s best more often than every two years. Since the days of the original Reedy Race, events for other types of cars have been held in different locations, like the annual Truck-only event that has spent more than the last half-decade at Hot Rod Hobbies in Southern California. The original Reedy Race is long gone, but some of the format ideas and the prestige of winning an event with the name “Reedy Race of Champions” have remained.

BY AARON WALDRON>

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• 65 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

RACE COVERAGE

E ROAR SHORT-COURS TRUCK consis-

had a Hot Rod Hobbies has se truck our rt-c sho e siv res tently imp sh was Sla s xxa turnout since the Tra se to sen de ma y onl it so , introduced edy Re the into include the divisions d driver ate oci Ass m Tea ce.

Truck Ra the TQ in the Cody Turner grabbed ss, which mancla e urs -Co ort ROAR Sh motors, but ess shl dated 17.5-turn bru n’t come did p shi ion mp cha the overall k Lasley Nic t pilo i easily for Turner. Los of Turner to ad ahe A2 in iter l-b won a nai e an A3 with his even the score and forc AR SCT RO t rren Cu ck.

Strike tru ch won A3, Ko Bill National Champion ond-place sec two ’s ner Tur s but it wa win in A1 his h wit finishes combined y ahead of tor vic rall ove the k that too Lasley and Koch.

STOCK TRUCK

Truck National Current ROAR Stock sped off from rt Champion Brent Calve first two A the win to n itio his TQ pos second one the mains of this class, but ition from pet com s iou ser t hou wasn’t wit h Zac ter ngs Bakersfield-based you rall podiove the off fell s ger Rogers. Ro to back up with um, however, by failing in A2 with sh fini ace -pl his second g Danny vin lea another solid finish, ckwell to Bla n aw Sh and Stojakovic . round out the podium

finish in A2, but it mate, including a 1-2 as he won A1 ne was Tebo’s day to shi ahead of title the up sew and A3 to ld.

Cavalieri and Maifie

MODIFIED TRUCK

ampion 2003 Modified Truck Ch return from a his Shawn Blackwell made Brent ruin in aga e onc to long hiatus mpicha ss cla Calvert’s quest for two K UC sn’t TR wa rt K lve OC Ca ST nt.

R eve PE the SU onships at e within only a starting spot into Shawn Blackwell cam able to convert his TQ per Su the ing eep and giving sw of fifth s ng ond shi sec fini , few a win in A1 the ing tak t, righ out going into the ss age cla Stock Truck ckwell a big advant ore falling behind Bla bef he won over A1 as and ins n ma itio d pos thir TQ second and A2. in rt lve Ca sho competint Bre Kyo al Hot Rod loc Losi driver Casper and in A3 to take the returned the ded ell oun ckw reb Bla ell g. ckw Pan Bla tor Jayson ffie.

Du Mc an Bri race after and the rt of lve win over Ca favor in A2, falling out rt to win lve Ca g win allo and three laps TRUCK D FIE DI MO Dunford Yn OR K Rya CT of OC FA ROOKIE ST over the Ultima RT5’s ed Tebo guarshootout the be ss was all about to Kyosho team pilot Jar cla e ved oki pro Ro A3 The and Pang.

TQ tion-ready Ultima the duc n pro dow and now led nai for, the o g wh eed kin , ant Wayne Wyrick that everyone was loo into the world of A mains in lvert by only .13 RT5 a grand entrance t and won the first two spo g Blackwell edged out Ca yin alif -qu tro top by big ing the rac ure ck sec tru to m with Dunford n diu hio win sta convincing fas seconds to take the y Modified Truck A3 was good overall in y The tor k. vic and winning the Factor bac d’s s Bir ond J . phy only six sec ered rig. for pow Jr. onley Ori Las k his e order. h Nic wit sam out t ss e tha cla enough to edg results ended up in tional champions n. itio pos Former and current Na -up ner run the n Maifield put Ryan Cavalieri and Rya r teamme for ir the on re ssu serious pre

• 66 •

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EC TRAXXAS SLASH SP

to the Slash Brent Bisbee laid waste ning the first win and ’ing TQ Spec class, rgins and then ma g cin two mains by convin main to watch the sitting out the third A for second place. rest of the class battle the third A main win to ded nee Nick Vivas grid to beat the from the third spot on ner-up spot, and run the for ler Michael Fow ting the final A ina he did just that by dom main.

UCK OPEN 1/8-NITRO TR e Nitro

0-Scal The demise of the 1/1 brought along ago rs yea few a Truck class ro Truck into Nit ale the entrance of 1/8-Sc m. Hot Rod gra pro ce Ra ck the Reedy Tru A main ss Cla y local and former Factor from the rted sta le ant term Win finalist Brad ughthro TQ g nin ear front of the grid after away to a d lke wa n the and , out qualifying r Kevin Kasten and four-lap advantage ove most impressive the up k loc D.J. Silva to victory of the weekend.

TRUCK FACTORY 1/8-NITRO ck hotshoe,

-tru Team Associated’s 1/8 National AR RO t ren cur and class TQ ldn’t stand cou ld ifie Ma Champion Ryan pped out of the dro and y) rall (lite t the hea heat exhaustion.

45-minute A-final with ieri assumed the Teammate Ryan Caval rement and led reti ld’s point after Maifie a tire failure ore bef e rac the of most Tebo to catch up ed Jar allowed Kyosho’s win by 2.5 seconds and ultimately take the eep of the Factory sw an to complete a cle divisions.

LL FOR WHAT’S ON THE BI NEXT YEAR? t stick around

OPEN 1/8-NITRO TRUCK 1. Brad Wintermantle 2. Kevin Kasten 3. D.J. Silva

tha Like all racing events rs, the Reedy Truck for more than a few yea htly from its original Race has changed slig same basic the format while retaining Truck race? the for a ide ic bas ideas. The . See you fun big and Big tires, big names next year. @

TRAXXAS SLASH SPEC 1. Brent Bisbee 2. Nick Vivas 3. Michael Fowler

ROOKIE STOCK FACTORY MODIFIED TRUCK 1. Jared Tebo

2. Ryan Cavalieri

3. Ryan Maifield

1. Wayne Wyrick 2. J Bird 3. Nick Lasley Jr.

ROAR SHORT-COURSE TRUCK 1. Cody Turner 2. Nick Lasley 3. Bill Koch

STOCK TRUCK 1. Brent Calvert 2. Danny Stojakovic 3. Shawn Blackwell

SUPER STOCK TRUCK 1. Shawn Blackwell 2. Brent Calvert 3. Brian McDuffie

MODIFIED TRUCK FACTORY 1/8-NITRO TRUCK 1. Jared Tebo

2. Ryan Cavalieri

3. Chad Bradley

1. Shawn Blackwell 2. Brent Calvert 3. Ryan Dunford

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• 67 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

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X” logo

--with the “N

s, a whoops

camber turn

ntic double n and a giga

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S S O R C O s R p i T h I s n Nworld champio

2009

cluded offfast layout in ’s X oitr N The dirt. built into the

AE prepped four Lucas Oil RC8T After an awesome Team Associated/ RS trucks (Carl Renezeder’s shown Lucas Oil promo race, two lucky kids here) for their promo race. took home prizes. s s

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Grammar isn’t the priority when YOUR on the lookout for dangerous critters!

Ever wonder what $25,000 in checks looks like? Cavalieri took home both $5000 checks.

Jammin’s Chad Bradley

Mmmmmm, Nitro Pit

Tamiya’s Jimmy Wright and Ryan Lutz prepare the TRF Pumpkin for a firey start to the Dash for Cash.

Tamiya’s Ryan Lutz pumped up the crowd with his radio-controlled flaming TRF pumpkin.

BBQ!

Tamiya’s Ryan Lutz on the track, when he wasn’t setting pumpkins on fire.

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s 71 s FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

It was sitting-room only for the Pro Truggy A-Main start. Note the Tebo take-out.

XRay’s Josh Wheeler is

’s Cody King.

tailed closely by Kyosho

AE’s Ryan Cavalieri dominated 1/8 buggy and took home $5000 for his win.

or threat in HoBao’s Jeremy Kor tz was a maj took him re the Pro Buggy main until a failu out.

2009

S S O R C NwoIrlTd RchaOmpionships

Cavalieri and M ai pounce onto th field e track from pit lane.

” Picou on the

Upgrade R/C’s Wayne “Crash track.

Byron Fuels’ Ryan Godbersen wa soak up the Arizona sun, and s on hand to provide suppor t for all Byron drivers.

en cash is on the line!

wh nage. Racing gets aggressive

starting car Intermediate Truggy A-Main s s

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Where scale realism Meets the 4x4 crawler

CC-01 CHASSIS Item: 58445 The new Toyota Landcruiser 40 features a 4WD shaft driven bathtub chassis with front double wishbone & rear 4-link suspension. The kit includes a LED light unit with front & rear lights, ESC (TEU-104BK), polycarbonate body, & 540 Motor.

TAMIYA AMERICA, INC. 36 DISCOVERY SUITE 200, IRVINE CA, 92618 Š2009 TAMIYA AMERICA, INC. www.tamiyausa.com

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2009

S S O R C O NwoIrlTd Rchampionships

INVITATIONAL TRUGGY: 1. Ryan Cavalieri

INVITATIONAL BUGGY:

2. Ty Tessman

3. Ryan Lutz

2. Brent Theilke

3. Cris Wheeler

EXPERT TRUGGY: 1. Matt Schrefer

2. Billy Fischer

3. Jared Tebo

2. Chris Wheeler

3. Brent Theilke

EXPERT BUGGY:

INTERMEDIATE TRUGGY: 1. Troy Sears 2. Mac Mitchell 3. Danny Trevino

1. Ryan Cavalieri

1. Casey Peck

1/8 INTERMEDIATE BUGGY 1. John Guest 2. Bailey 3. Dave Enstrom

NOVICE TRUGGY:

1/8 NOVICE BUGGY:

1. Ronnie Haynes 2. Stephen Burdell 3. Keith Kittrel

1. Dennis Muntean 2. Cecelia Halliburton 3. Brian McMichael

1/8 ELECTRIC BUGGY 1. Travis Amezcua 2. Casey Peck 3. Dakota Phend

The lovely ladies of the Nitro Pit.

s 4 s

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FIRST DRIVE:

TEAM ASSOCIATED SC18 What’s smaller than short course? Mini course?

As magazine editors, we’re spoiled. We get to cover a hobby that we enjoy and form friendships with company representatives due to the small size of our industry. As longtime hobbyists who just happen to be magazine editors, we’re absolutely in R/C heaven. We get the chance to play around with new equipment months before consumers, and when Team Associated called to schedule a “show and tell” with a new product that no one knew existed, it was only natural to get excited. Getting to drive what we came to look at made it only that much better.

BY AARON WALDRON>

• 76 •

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THE CONCEPT Short-course racing is sweeping across the local racing scene in the U.S., and Team Associated is one of a handful of companies that has made big-time connections in the full-scale off-road racing world. Team Associated has plenty of experience in the 1/18-scale market, but wanted to design a chassis that was longer to allow for realistic, scale-correct dimensions while utilizing a more efficient drivetrain to better make use of the brushless and LiPo power so popular in the world of minis.

THE FEATURES RC18-inspired suspension. While some new parts exist for the sake of making things fit, the general concept for the suspension layout found at both ends of the SC18 is based on the RC18 platform that saw life as a truck, buggy and rally car. The steering system, however, is all new—the engineers involved with the SC18 project wanted to solve the feeling of disconnected, wandery steering often associated with minis.

Sealed belt-drive transmission. A dual-belt-drive system offers full-time 4WD through the use of front and rear ball differentials and center shaft-mounted slipper clutch. Belt drive is not only more efficient, says Team Associated, but offers more consistent handling and will make the SC18 platform more brushless friendly.

Short-course bodies, wheels and tires. Like Associated’s SC8 and SC10 offerings, the SC18 will include tires and wheels that fit the part of a short-course racing truck, and the body will do the same. Also like the SC18’s larger siblings, Associated will offer optional bodies with fully licensed paint schemes that mimic some of the biggest names in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Series.

THE FIRST OPINION The obvious charm of mini cars and trucks is the ability to run any time, anywhere. Team Associated does not have an on-site track, but that didn’t stop a couple of the guys from carving a cool mini-sized course into the side of a hill behind the warehouse; the neighboring business

doesn’t seem to mind, and office-fueled grudge matches can be settled during a lunch break.

We ran trucks outfitted with stock equipment and were surprised with not only the acceleration, but also the jumping ability of the tiny trucks. The full-fendered body does not provide as much of a hindrance as they do with 1/10-scale and 1/8-scale short-coursers because the chassis fills up so much of the body’s footprint. Cornering ability is very akin to that of the 4WD SC8, with body roll that respects the full-size trucks that the SC18 is modeled after, while still providing good turn-in and entertaining corner speed.

THE CONCLUSION Minis have always been a regional phenomenon, flourishing in the Northeast and other areas where cold winters force the R/C action to head indoors for a few months. So where will the SC18 find success? The charm and scale short-course looks suggest that it’s capable of catching on across the country, while the sealed belt drive indicates that the truck is ready to take on both big brushless horsepower and any terrain in its way. Stay tuned to R/C Car magazine for more on this mighty mini! @

SOURCES

Inc., 26021 Associated Electrics, e Forest, CA 92630 Lak Dr. re ent erc mm Co (949) 544-7501 fax 00 -75 • ph. (949) 544 om www.teamassociated.c

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• 77 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

HOW TO: BASIC SUSPENSION TUNING Adjust your way into the winner’s cirlce

rOne of the most impo C n a basic toy-store R/ tant differences betwee , is y at a true hobby shop car and those you bu the d tune all aspects of the ability to adjust an e me tuning options, lik car’s performance. So ; ms purchasing new ite changing tires, require mber angles or adjustothers, like dialing in ca e e. And some items lik ing ride height, are fre n be had for only a few shock oil or springs ca bucks. More X O speed, for little or TOOLB ols To y bl em ss •A ke? no cost? What Will This Ta How Long ur til yo could be better? r it takes un N>

BY AARON WALDRO

Whateve t! car is perfec

RIDE HEIGHT

WHEELBASE

Ride height is simply the gap between the ground and the track surface. You can alter not only the overall ride height but also the front-to-rear attitude by changing the car’s ride height.

The wheelbase of many cars is adjustable by moving the rear hubs along the outer hinge pin.

How to adjust: Adjusting ride height involves moving the shock collars up or down the shock body, either by turning the collars on a threaded body or by using plastic clips to space the spring lower or higher.

How to adjust: Use the spacers between the hub and rear arm to slide the hub along the hinge pin and secure it in place.

On-track effect: Raising the overall height of the car will help it go through jumps and bumps, as well as increase forward and aft weight transfer, which will increase straight-line traction. Lowering the ride height will increase lateral grip and make the car more stable during cornering. Raising the front end of the car in regards to the rear will help it jump better and navigate ruts, and make the rear end of the car swing around in corners. Lowering the front in relation to the rear will make the car turn-in more aggressively, but rough track performance will suffer.

On-track effect: Moving the rear hubs forward to shorten the wheelbase will add traction in both a straight line and during cornering, since more of the car’s weight will be placed over the rear tires. Lengthening the wheelbase will take away grip but add stability.

wheelbase

ride height

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CAMBER Camber is the angle of the tire with regards to the ground, and is adjusted by shortening or lengthening the upper A-arm or turnbuckle. When the tire is straight up and down, that is zero camber. A tire that leans in toward the center of the car is said to have negative camber, while a tire that leans outward at the top has positive camber.

How to adjust: Use a turnbuckle wrench to crank the turnbuckle in the appropriate direction to either shorten or lengthen the camber link. Use a camber gauge to measure the angle of the tire.

On-track effect: More negative camber on the front tires will make the car smoother and easier to drive, especially entering corners. More negative camber will also go through rough terrain better by lessening the chances that the front tires will catch on any bumps or ruts. Less negative camber, or even positive camber, will take away overall steering but make the car turn in more aggressively.

In the rear, more negative camber will decrease traction during cornering. This will add steering, making the car more likely to whip around. As with the front tires, more negative camber will help the car go

through bumps and ruts more smoothly.

Less negative camber, or going to positive camber, will hurt rough track performance but increase responsiveness. The car will gain grip and change directions more quickly.

CAMBER LINK POSITIONS Moving the locations in which the camber links are attached to the shock towers or bulkheads, as well as at the hub, will also change how the car works by altering how much camber the tire gains as the suspension compresses, which is called camber rise.

How to adjust: Use the appropriate tools to remove the camber link from its current location and replace in another.

Use a camber gauge to adjust the angle of the tire back to its original camber measurement to ensure that you’re only making one change at a time.

On-track effect: By moving the front camber link to a shorter location on the front steering block, the tire will have more camber gain and smoother turn-in while having more steering through the middle and exit of the corner. On the shock tower, raising the link to a higher location will make the car stay more flat, smoothing out the car’s steering response and making it easier to drive. A lower location will add body roll and more aggressive steering.

In the rear, moving the link to a shorter location on either the hub or shock tower will again add camber rise, as well as more traction and rough-track performance. The

longer link offers less camber rise and body roll. Moving the link up higher on the rear shock tower will eliminate body roll and is a good adjustment to make on a smooth track with lots of grip. Lowering the link will add camber rise and make the car more forgiving when the track is rough.

TOE-IN/TOE-OUT Toe-in and toe-out is the angle of the tires compared to the centerline of the car. Tires that are pigeon-toed, or pointing inward, have toe-in. Tires that point outward are said to have toe-out.

How to adjust: Adjusting front toe angles again requires using the turnbuckle wrench to lengthen or shorten the steering tie-rods equally on both sides; shortening the link will add toeout, while lengthening the link will increase toe-in. For some cars (usually on-road), rear toe is adjusted in the

same fashion, while most require changing pivot blocks, suspension bushings, or rear hubs to change the angle of the tire.

On-track effect: Front toe-in will increase initial steering response, while front toe-out will make the car smoother and easier to drive, as well as increasing low-speed steering. More rear toe-in will add both straight-line and lateral traction. Less rear toe-in means less grip, but it will go through rough sections better. Rear toe-out is never used.

CASTER Caster is the relation of the kingpin, or the point around which the steering knuckle rotates, in relation to the ground. Positive caster means that the kingpin is leaning rearward; this is easy to see on all off-road cars.

How to adjust: Some 1/8-scale buggies and trucks use clips on the upper, inner hinge pin to slide the upper A-arm forward or rearward. Otherwise, most

cars require changing the front steering knuckle or caster block to change the caster angle.

On-track effect: More caster will decrease turn-in while increasing exit steering. More caster will also go through ruts better. Less caster adds steering into the corner and decreases steering through the rest of the corner.

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• 79 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

HOW TO: BASIC SUSPENSION TUNING ANTI-SQUAT Anti-squat is the angle of the rear inner hinge pins in relation to the ground. When the front of the pin is higher than the rear, the car has anti-squat. If the rear of the pin is higher than the front, it has pro-squat; pro-squat is not used.

How to adjust: Adjusting anti-squat requires disassembly; you’ll either need to change the pivot blocks, or add or remove spacers underneath the pivot blocks in order to change the angle of the pin.

On-track effect: Increasing anti-squat will add onpower steering, straight-line traction, and make the car jump higher. Decreasing anti-squat will decrease on-power steering, increase lateral traction, and make the car stay lower over jumps.

SHOCK POSITIONS Altering the locations in which the shocks are fastened to the shock towers and suspension arms will change the leverage the tires have on the shocks as well as the rate at which the shock progressively gets stiffer as it compresses.

How to adjust: Like changing camber link locations, you’ll have to remove the shock from either the tower or the arm and reattach it in a different spot.

On-track effect: Moving the shock inward on the tower will make the shock more progressive, adding body roll and overall grip as the shock will be softer initially. Going out on the tower will make the shock feel more linear, as well as free up the car, reduce body roll, and make it jump better. On the arm, moving inward will make the car feel softer and less stable, but will handle a rough track more smoothly. Moving further out on the arm will make the car feel more stable as well as rotate more during cornering.

SHOCK OIL AND PISTONS Silicone oil is used inside the shock body to provide dampening. The oil is forced through the holes in the shock piston to slow the action of the shock when hitting surface changes.

How to adjust: To change oil or pistons, you’ll have to disassemble the shock and re-bleed according to instructions.

On track effect: Thicker shock oil will handle larger bumps and jumps, and be more consistent in hotter weather.

Likewise, thinner oil will soak up smaller bumps better and work best in cold weather. Shock pistons with larger holes are best saved for tracks with fewer jumps, while smaller pistons are good for tracks littered with ramps and gaps since they will slow the shock down.

SHOCK SPRINGS It’s pretty easy to tell what the shock spring does; they provide cushion when the car hits a jump or bump, and extend the shock after compression.

How to adjust: The disassembly required to change springs is a piece of cake; remove the bottom of the shock from the shaft, slide the spring off of the shock and replace.

• 80 •

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On-track effect: Stiffer springs will make the shock rebound more quickly, helping the car jump better and absorb big bumps that are taken at speed. Softer springs slow down the shock’s action, making the car easier to drive, albeit more lazy. @

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THE ORIGINAL

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PRODUCT TEST: ROBINSON RACING T-MAXX, REVO & SLAYER SLIPPER CLUTCH A more efficient mousetrap

Traxxas’ stable have The monster trucks in they’re fast, g the industry’s best; on am ing be for n tio earned a reputa handle an imprestough. They’re built to y, ntl rta po im st mo d fun, an ible jump or l away from an incred rol en oft d an e, us ab sive amount of ing wide-open y terrain (with the ensu arl gn gh ou thr run ted ham-fis ery product ely unscathed. But ev let mp co ) ard erw aft el throttle cartwhe btle improvement; er, leaves room for su oth y an e lik , try us ind in our cing Slipper clutch. enter the Robinson Ra

N>

BY AARON WALDRO

FEATURES OVERVIEW The original Traxxas slipper clutch design uses small rubber pegs that fit into the center of the spur gear and provide friction against two metal slipper plates, while the Robinson gears and pads update the stock clutch to the now-typical slipper setup which uses a one-piece slipper pad that keys into the side of the gear to replace the rubber pegs of the stock unit.

The Robinson gears are made of hardened

steel to resist wear and all but eliminate tooth breakage, while the pads themselves are made of a long-lasting composite material and are built thick to withstand plenty of use.

TESTING We here at R/C Car might all be racers at heart, but there’s just something to be said for grabbing a monster truck and heading to the nearest construction site,

mountain bike trail, or dry wash.

Fortunately for us, we’ve got all three within walking distance from the office. I grabbed a well-used T-Maxx laying in the office, bolted the new system in place, and headed outside for some real-world testing and abuse. Installation is straight-forward; remove the old stuff and slide the new parts in place. Done.

After thrashing through the wash, which consists of soft sand that bogs down

• 82 •

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motors and has torched many a clutch unit, it quickly became evident that the strongest suit of the Robinson system isn’t just durability, which has proven excellent, but also the ease of adjustment. The “sweet spot”, or range of usability, is much higher for the Robinson pads than that of the stock units. No longer must a tight rope be walked between “locked down” and “slipping excessively.” While it should be noted that the slipper clutch is supposed to serve as a damper of drivetrain shock when landing off of jumps, especially in a heavy 4WD truck, there is peace of mind knowing that you’re not going to cook the pads and destroy other parts when pulling wheelies through soft sand and muck.

CONCLUSION When your company has made a name for itself improving on the spectacular, there’s constant pressure to churn out new products that work better than the stock units they replace. Is there a drawback to this system? No. The gear is tough, the pads are tough and offer more adjustment, and both bolt into place with no extra work required. If you’ve got a Traxxas monster truck and thirty bucks, this is a smart upgrade. @

MOVING? For subscription questions and address changes, please call:

1-800-767-0345 or e-mail: wanda@hi-torque.com or mail to: Hi-Torque Publications Attn: Circulation Dept.

P.O. Box 957 Valencia, CA 91380-9057

THE FINAL CALL

life, wide range Hits: Works well, long of adjustment. miss when a Misses: How do you ter? bet rks wo product just the investment. rth Wo ll: Ca al Fin e Th

SO UR CE S ducts 4968 Robinson Racing Pro sa, CA 95338 ripo Ma Dr. Meadow View om • Part • www.robinsonracing.c $28.50 ce: Pri • Number: varies

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• 83 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

HOW TO:

DITCH YOUR RTR RADIO I can has a upgrade!

TOOLBOX

nsmitter & • New radio system (tra receiver) • Zip-ties e? About How Long Will This Tak s ute 30-45 min

vehicle quality is lightToday’s Ready-to-Run ll include years ago, but many sti ten m fro R’s RT of d ea years ah grades you can make One of the easiest up cheap radio systems. her an FM or el computer radio in eit lev dmi a is le hic ve to your tter control, almost . As well as offering be 2.4 GHz configuration that allow you ltiple model memories mu ve ha ios rad el lev all midy wait? Ditch your hicles into the radio. Wh to program multiple ve you won’t tall an upgraded radio— ins d an io rad R RT l ve entry-le . in control and precision believe the difference

BY STEPHEN BESS>

• 84 •

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0 out your budget. A $35 LD I BUY? available. First, figure s ion opt frea ny of ma WHICH RADIO SHOU s so nce h can increase the cha be a daunting task wit

cheap AM RTR radio sugBuying a new radio can into a pro racer, but a 200 price range. Our you rm sfo tran ally gic available in the $150-$ are radio ios rad his radio will not ma at —t gre ber ny can allow, and remem expensive runaway. Ma tor in ive) that your budget fac ens quency conflict and an you exp if re se, mo ly cha ual pur (us io t-quality radio njamins on a single rad Be few higha p we , gestion: Buy the highes dro ose to g cho y stin tter which radio you long time. While it ma your omes a bargain. No ma on will be with you for a bec n io tur t rad 0 Jus . $25 a ays t, aw radio will las ls, glitching and run the number of years this which eliminates crysta h 2.4GHz technology, wit ng goi nd me om ly rec ! radio and start driving

Step 1. Remove the old radio.

Once you’ve chosen your new radio, you’ll need to yank the old receiver out of your vehicle. Open the radio box, and unplug the servos and on/off switch input.

Pull the receiver antenna out of the antenna tube, and free the receiver from the radio box. You may need to pry the receiver out if it is servo-taped to the box; you can use a small flathead screwdriver to pop it off the servo tape.

system and set Step 2. Turn on the new . everything to neutral receiver, power up Before you install the ke certain it ma your new system and itch into the sw off on/ the g works. Plu close attention ing pay power input (while plugs!), and the for y arit pol t rec to the cor steering and the n Tur . plug in both servos your transmiton uts inp ttle thro check the if they are ter for proper operation; radio’s servonew r you ess acc reversed, nual) and ma the eck reversing menu (ch . Assuming ded nee as uts inp the reverse ve on to the next everything works, mo step.

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• 85 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

HOW TO:

DITCH YOUR RTR RADIO Step 3. Install the new receiver.

Install your new receiver in the same spot as the original RTR receiver. Thread the new antenna through the radio box (if necessary) and into the antenna tube, allowing several inches of spare antenna wire inside the box. If your receiver was servo-taped down, install the new receiver the same way. Next, plug all of the plugs into the new receiver, paying close attention to the polarity orientation. Use foam padding as necessary to cushion the receiver if your vehicle uses a large radio box.

Step 4. Dial in the transmitter.

Now you need to trim out the transmitter for the final touch before hitting the track. Turn the transmitter and vehicle on, and check the throttle trim first. If your vehicle wants to accelerate or move with the trigger in neutral, you should set the sub-trim on your radio menu to bring the throttle to neutral. Next, check the steering trim. Are the front wheels pointing perfectly forward, and not left or right? If not, add steering sub-trim to bring the wheels to neutral.

Finally, set the EPA (end point adjustment) to prevent the steering and/or throttle servos from over-stressing and burning out. Turn the steering wheel full lock left and right, and listen for servo strain. Reduce the steering/throttle EPA one point at a time until the servo does not strain against the linkages. You know the servo is straining when you can hear the servo motor buzzing, or you can see the servo itself shift in the servo mounts. A proper EPA setting will prevent premature servo failure and is the last setting you need before running your car!

Step 5. Enjoy the new radio.

Get out and run your car with your new radio! Take some time to familiarize yourself with your new transmitter’s functions and settings, and actually read the owner’s manual. Most RC’ers only use handful of the available settings on a computer radio (sub-trim, EPA, servo reversing), but it’s always nice to know what each setting does. You’re now well on your way to being a seasoned R/C veteran. @

• 86 •

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HOW TO: BALL DIFFERENTIAL BUILDING TRICKS Grease on metal

There’s a certain art to building smooth ball diffs. But unlike actual art, diff building is not an extraordinarily difficult skill to master. Like painting, there are little tricks to getting that “look” that is so intriguing to so many. Be it a certain twist of the brush, or a certain mixture of paint, technique is ultimately what accentuates style.

Building ball differentials doesn’t necessarily entail creating avant-garde building styles, but certain techniques will definitely help make your diff the best it can be. So go grab your manual, and let’s Dali your diff up.

BY JASON YU>

TOOLBOX

2mm screw• Either a flathead or ich your diff wh on ing end driver, dep rs, siliplie e bolt uses, needle nos grease, diff ck bla , ase gre cone diff manual. e? 5 to 10 How Long Will This Tak minutes

• 88 •

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ether very similarball differentials go tog Generally speaking, all sure you know ke ma uld still check and ly. Nonetheless, you sho truction manual is l goes together. The ins how your ball differentia . tion rma this tidbit of info the perfect place to find olve fitting the g a ball diff typically inv The first steps in buildin the bearings need so, ng doi In r. gea the diff little ball bearings into gear. Instead of to fitting them into the to be lubricated prior m up in the little bag the ase gre lf, gear itse greasing them up in the lubricant into the e littl a came in. Squeeze that the ball bearings grease. This will the in und aro s l bearing bag, and mush the bal enough lubrication. e vid coverage and pro give the bearings ample d to attract more dirt too much, as it will ten Be careful not to use rings are all lubed up, bea car. Once the ball when the diff is in the gear. slip them into the diff

Next, grab the outdrives and diff rings.

There are two sides to the diff rings: the round edge side and the sharp edge side.

Look closely at the diff rings and find the sharp side at the edge of the rings. This is the side you want butted up against the outdrive. Place a very, very small smudge of grease at the 12 and six o’clock positions on that side of the ring to help it stick to the outdrive. This will help make your diff build a little easier.

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• 89 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

HOW TO: BALL DIFFERENTIAL BUILDING TRICKS

If you thought the ball bearings were bad, the thrust bearings are a little trickier. Since they are smaller than the main ball bearings in the diff, thrust bearings are easier to lose. However, if you use the same technique as the primary ball bearings, you won’t have a problem. Like the diff bearings, squeeze a little black grease into the bag the thrust bearings are in. Squish the grease and thrust balls around until they get good coverage, and sandwich them between the thrust washers.

instructions, but for will include this in the Some manufacturers break in the diff p hel to is a good little tip those that don’t, this diff spring a couple pliers and squeeze the spring. Grab a pair of rboard and crush ove go to Remember not times to help it settle. between the coils. ugh to close the gap the spring, but just eno

With the differential completely assembled, tighten the diff bolt until it stops. Do not try to over-tighten the diff because you’ll end up denting the diff rings or flat-spotting the ball bearings. A good starting point for ball differential setting is to loosen the diff bolt anywhere from a quarter to half a turn from lock.

Check your diff setting by using two hex wrenches that will fit into the outdrive slots. Slide a wrench into each slot and spin the gear. If the gear slips easily, tighten the diff bolt a little more. If it doesn’t slip at all, the diff is ready to go!

One final adjustment is the setting on the differential after you run your car. After a few minutes of actually working, the diff will loosen up a tad. This is because the parts are wearing in to each other and the spring is starting to settle in even more. Take the time to readjust the diff bolt after your run to make sure the settings are right again.

CONCLUSION That little masterpiece in the gearbox should be perfect after these few extra tips. If this was your first time doing this, keep in mind that each of these techniques translates to just about every ball differential that exists. Rebuilding ball differentials during maintenance time will require the same steps, just be sure to use new parts when doing so. The build may seem arduous at first, but once you get it down, the results make a diff! @ • 90 •

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HOW TO: MAINTAIN BRUSHLESS MOTORS So fresh and so clean clean!

motors are s times that brushless It’s been said numerou e. The truth of the is only partially accurat ich wh ,” ee -fr ce an er“mainten less work than the av Yes, they require much n. the d an matter is, they’re not. ery now still need a little TLC ev y the t bu , tor mo ed rage brush up on your little powe s to be done to keep less sh bru So what exactly need ep your step-by-step to help ke ick qu a s re’ he ll, We house? performance. motor running in peak

BY JASON YU>

TOOLBOX

, motor spray, • Brush, screwdrivers rag e, bearing lub e? 2 to 15 How Long Will This Tak minutes

THE QUICK CLEAN Most of the time, brushless motors only need a quick dusting.

With the motor out of the car, dust off the front and rear bearings with a soft bristle brush. Do not use any spray cleaner, as this could force dirt into the motor and potentially do more harm than help. In most cases, a little brushing is all the motor needs.

• 92 •

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THE THOROUGH CLEAN This is when we break into the motor and get down and dirty.

The main parts to a brushless motor are the endbell(s), the stator/can, and the rotor. Each motor comes apart a little differently.

Motors from Novak separate into four different components, whereas motors from LRP will only separate into three parts. Be sure to take a look at your motor’s instruction manual so you know what you’re getting into.

Let’s start pulling the can apart. In most brushless motors, there are three screws that hold the entire assembly together.

Undo those screws and carefully remove them from the can. If they don’t come out of the can, don’t worry too much. You’ll still be able to take everything apart. If there is a rear cover on the motor, remove that as well.

Once the screws are removed from the motor, it’s time to start pulling the can apart. Start with either side of the endbell and pull it away from the can. Some endbells are harder than others to pull away or out of the can. One easy trick is to use something to push the backside of the rotor, which will force it through the front. Once the endbell is removed, be sure to pay particularly close attention to shims that may be on the rotor and in the endbell, and make sure not to lose them.

If your stator separates from the rear endbell, take it apart, but if it’s connected, leave it be. Again, watch out for any shims that may be in there.

Once the endbell is removed, pull the rotor out. The magnets will want to keep it in the can, but with a gentle yet assertive tug, the rotor will come out.

With the motor apart, grab your motor spray and blast the bejeebies out of each part. Wipe everything down with a rag or paper towel afterwards.

Done properly, everything is now clean. That’s the good news.

The bad news is, all the lubricant has probably been cleaned out of the bearings as well. So grab your bearing lube and dab a small drop of lubricant in each bearing.

Reassemble the motor, once again paying close attention to the shims and where they go. Tighten the screws back up, and reinstall the motor into your car.

CONCLUSION That wasn’t too bad now, was it? The quick motor maintenance should be done about every run. The more extensive thorough cleaning should be performed maybe every two hours worth of run time with off-road cars, and about every three hours of run time with on-road. Do this, and your motor will stay in tip-top condition.

@

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• 93 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

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PRODUCT TEST: DURATRAX ONYX BATTERIES Black gold

BY JASON YU> This economic slump has hit a lot of us, effectively dropping a formidable speed bump in front of our spending habits, forcing us to think twice. Duratrax understands this dilemma, and has addressed the needs of the electric crowd with their new line of affordable battery packs. The new Onyx packs feature a wide range of capacities, voltages, as well as plugs.

FEATURES OVERVIEW

TESTING

Duratrax has long been in the business of providing great products for a reasonable price. The Onyx batteries are no exception, helping bashers and newbies get off to a good start. If you just need a basic pack to get your nitro car started, or if you’re in need of a simple, inexpensive pack for your car or truck, the 1800 is the perfect option.

Your choices doesn’t stop there. Above the 1800, there are also the 2000 packs, the 2500 packs, and the 3000 packs to pick from. And even better, if you’re wanting more power, both the 2500 and 3000 packs are available in seven-cell stick or hump packs. All Onyx packs are available with Tamiya or Traxxas plugs.

We’ve been testing each pack in several of our test cars, and we’ve all come to one conclusion. They’re good! Really good! Of course, they’re not as punchy as a set of matched cells, but for less than half the cost, we couldn’t be happier with their performance.

THE FINAL CALL

, great price, Hits: Great performance great taste! in anything Misses: Not available Ah above 3000m a good performThe Final Call: Need The Onyx ks? buc s ing pack for les get perfectly. bud r you fit l wil ks pac

CONCLUSION If you’re in need of some inexpensive, well-performing battery packs, be sure to look in the way of Duratrax. The Onyx packs are a wallet-friendly way to get your cars going. @

SOURCES

by Great Planes DuraTrax, distributed 4 Research Rd., 290 rs, uto trib Dis del Mo 1• 902 26618 Champaign, IL (217) 398-6300 • ph.

• m .co trax ura w.d ww e: $10-30 fax (217) 398-0008 • pric

• 96 •

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ENGINE REVIEW WERKS B5 TEAM LINE A familiar name relaunches its engine line

Werks Racing is well-known for its competition nitro fuel, which has won countless races in the hands of Jeremy Kortz, Chad Bradley and other pro drivers. The .21 buggy engine market proved more difficult to crack. Werks’ B7 .21 buggy engine provided plenty of revs and power, but it wasn’t known for its fuel efficiency or clockwork reliability. Werks went back to the drawing board and redesigned their buggy engine, molding it into a competition-level five-port known now as the B5 Team Line. With a simpler design, two fewer ports, new carb and an ultra-competitive street price at the $200 mark, the B5 Team Line looks to recapture Werks’ place in the competition .21 marketplace.

SPECS

BY STEPHEN BESS>

Engine: ....................Werks B5 Team Line Part number: ................................TL21B5 Price: ................................................$199 Displacement:..................0.21.ci (3.49cc) Bore: ..........................................16.30mm Stroke:........................................16.50mm Ports: ......................................................5 Construction: ....................................ABC Crankshaft diameter: ....................14mm Crankshaft type: ........................SG-style Glow plug type: ..............................Turbo Exhaust: ............................................Rear Carb:............................................2-needle Intended classes: ..1/8 buggy, 1/8 truggy

• 100 •

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FEATURES Piston/sleeve. The B5 Team Line’s internals look like they come from an engine costing twice as much as the $200 B5. A knife-edge connecting rod with a lubrication hole attaches to a high-silicon content piston with two oil retention grooves at the crown. Before you cry foul at the B5’s nomenclature—the sleeve does technically have seven “ports”—I’ll point out that only five ports are active in the induction/exhaust cycle. In front, a single wide-mouth induction port couples with twin boost ports on the left and right sides (for five ports total). Below the boost ports are single rectangular bypass ports that help pack the incoming fuel/air charge but never actually open or close as part of the combustion cycle itself. For a $200 engine, the B5’s sleeve receives some major TLC.

DEGREES OF SEPARATION

0˚

90˚

180˚

270˚

Crankshaft. Ever wonder what makes an engine tick? It’s primarily the crankshaft, which controls overall fuel/air induction, as well as stroke distance. The B5 Team Line is a long-stroke engine, which typically suggests strong low-end torque.

A wide induction mouth on the crank gulps the incoming fuel/air charge, but given the engine’s price, it’s no surprise that the crank is not drilled or lightened or epoxy ramped. Still, the machine work is smooth and well-finished, and a large turbo cut on the crank’s counterweight ensures maximum efficiency.

Case. One of the few items that looks nearly identical to the original B7 engine is the B5’s crankcase. Reinforcement fins help strengthen the case while cooling it as well, with Werks’ signature “header tube”-looking design on the right and left sides. A thick rubber O-ring seats inside the carb neck to seal the carb from air leaks, with metal front and rear bearings to support the crankshaft.

Head/button. The black ten-fin, fourbolt cooling head carries over directly from the B7 engine, but with a new “B5” etched into the top fin. A separate head button accepts turbo plugs.

Carburetor. A good carb can make or break an engine, so Werks specs their B5 Team Line with a top-of-the-line, two-needle carb with replaceable venturi inserts.

The composite/metal body hybrid carb uses a metal carb neck mated to a composite plastic carb body, with a fixed midrange needle and adjustable high-end and low-end needles. A red 7mm carb insert is included, designated with “7.0” etched into the venturi.

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• 101 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

ENGINE REVIEW WERKS B5 TEAM LINE TESTING After a long break-in that consumed nearly a gallon of fuel while waiting for the tight pinch to break at top-dead-center, the B5 was ready for club racing. I used Werks 30 percent nitro fuel and installed an O’Donnell 97T glow plug for testing, and installed the engine in our Mugen MBX-6 M Spec test sled.

On the track, the B5 Team Line feels similar to the B7, but with a more linear, torquey, lowend powerband. When tuned to kill, the B5 runs slightly warm—ours ran anywhere from 230F to 270F—and the engine seems to like a precise tune on the low-speed needle. Top speed rpm is excellent, as the B5 winds out quickly and carries its rpm through long sweepers and straightaways. Through chicanes and tight corners, the B5 feels as though it has stump-pulling torque, enough to pull an extra tooth on the clutchbell for larger tracks. In the Mugen, the B5 feels at home with a 13-tooth clutchbell, giving the engine a gear ratio that keeps the B5 in its mid-rpm sweet spot most of the time.

My test time was limited to only a few gallons of fuel, and while I’m convinced that most modern .21 engines require three or four gallons before they are truly freed up enough to run their best, our B5 Team Line wrapped up its testing with strong results. Fuel mileage is drastically improved over the B7, although I did not manage to set any fuel mileage records with our mill. Pitting at nine minutes seems realistic, with ten-minute run times achievable with a smooth throttle finger and a near-perfect run that doesn’t waste any fuel. Run times will obviously vary according to the track type, driver type, tuning and fuel brand, but given my experience with other engines, the B5 does exhibit strong fuel mileage…just not classleading fuel mileage.

CONCLUSION The B5 Team Line has the performance and especially the price point to take Werks engines back into the spotlight. Club racers seemed to have grown wary of the B7’s reliability and fuel mileage, and Werks had to answer with a better product. Our testing indicates that the B5 Team Line is in fact a better engine, with improved fuel mileage and linear power. At any price, the B5 .21 buggy engine is an excellent performer, but at its $200 price point, the B5 Team Line represents one of the best values on the .21 engine market. @

THE FINAL CALL

lity. e point, Italian build qua mileage, excellent pric Highs: Improved fuel y want. the fuel miser some ma to pit at 11 minutes Lows: Still isn’t quite $200, but don’t expect at ue val nt elle exc The Final Call: An with the big boys.

SOURCES

Aiello Drive Unit B, Werks Racing, 2814 ph. (408) 365-1000 • 11 San Jose, CA 951

• 102 •

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PRODUCT TEST: PROTEK iCHARGERS

BY STEPHEN BESS> As lithium-polymer battery technology continues to skyrocket in both overall voltage and capacity, the need for high-powered chargers continues to increase. A charger once thought of as powerful only two years ago is considered average now, with 10,000-plus mAh batteries requiring huge loads of charge current. A Main Hobbies’ ProTek line of chargers are designed to address these high-power needs. Available in three models, ProTek’s DCpowered chargers are competitively priced, and the charging capabilities are directly proportional to how much you spend.

THE SPECS We tested all three ProTek chargers: the 106B+, the 1010B+, and the most powerful of the bunch, the 208B. Describing each charger’s full list of specs would require multiple pages, so for fully detailed specs on each charger, visit www.protekrc.com. All three chargers operate on DC current only, which means you will need your own power supply capable of 10A or 20A operation. The three chargers each use gold-plated bullet connectors with alligator clips to connect to your power supply. Large green backlit

2x16 character LCD screens provide all of the necessary charging data on the three chargers, while four black push-buttons are used to scroll through menus and input the desired charging/discharging settings.

The iChargers even include a CD-ROM for programming multiple model memories and charging parameters into the charger using your PC with the included USB cable.

TESTING We tested each charger using a variety of battery packs in our office, from NiMh to

LiPo and LiFe batteries from multiple manufacturers. We powered each charger with a variety of power supplies, from a 10A Novak and LRP supply to a 20A Pyramid power supply that could jump-start a Mack truck. Each charger starts up quickly, beeps to life, and presents a clear LCD screen of information to begin charging.

Setting up the chargers is simple, provided you can navigate the basic screens and follow the intuitive button commands.

Unlike some chargers on the market that use a forward-only menu path (meaning you can only cycle forward through menus,

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PRODUCT TEST: PROTEK iCHARGERS and if you skip one, you must cycle back through to get to it again), you can cycle through the iCharger menus easily forward or backward.

Once you’ve inputted your charging or discharging parameters, just press a button and the process begins. Input voltage, pack voltage and temperature (if using the temp sensor) are all displayed on the LCD. I highly recommend picking up ProTek’s optional balance board for multi-cell LiPo packs, as the 1010B+ and 208B iChargers can simultaneously balance two 5S, two 4S or even three 2S packs at the same

time. This option allows you charge multiple packs quickly, which is a major bonus for brushless monster trucks or boats that use twin battery packs. All of our batteries charged properly, with full capacity voltage and milliamps indicated, and we did not encounter a single hiccup.

CONCLUSION ProTek’s iChargers offer virtually every option you could want in a high-level, “pro”-style charger, all under $200. No matter what type of battery configuration you have, whether for airplane, car or boat

use, the iChargers are nearly guaranteed to meet your requirements. In an ideal world, these chargers would be AC powered (to plug directly into your wall without an external power supply), but all things considered, the iChargers bring ultra-powerful charging capabilities to your workbench at competitive price points. Even the most “expensive” charger in the lineup cashes in under $200. It’s difficult to find that kind of charging power elsewhere without spending nearly double the money. @

THE FINAL CALL

configurations Highs: Three charger ion imaginopt ry eve 0, $20 under and use interm gra able, easy to pro face. charger Lows: No AC-powered to supply d nee you and le, availab s. tor your own connec argers are The Final Call: The iCh of R/C s ive the Swiss Army Kn all. it do y the rs; charge

SOURCES ProTek R/C, a division of A Main Hobbies. 424 Otterson Drive, Suite 160, Chico, CA 95928 • ph. (800) 7052215 PROTEK 106B+ Input voltage range: 10.0 - 18.0VDC Charge current range: 0.05 - 10.0A Discharge current range: 0.05 - 7.0A Maximum charge power capacity: 250W @ input voltage > 13.5V Maximum discharge power capacity: 20W Maximum external discharge power capacity: 170W @ 25V/7A Current drain for balancing: <300mA Balance accuracy: <10mV Lithium (LiPo/LiIo/LiFe) Battery cell count: 1 - 6 series (In nonbalance mode, expand LiFe to 8s) NiCd/NiMH battery cell count: 1 - 17 series Pb battery cell count: 1 - 12 series (2 24V) Battery setup memories: 10 Intelligent temperature control: Yes PC connect: USB port Weight: 350g Dimensions (LxWxD): 134x83x25mm 5.28x3.27x0.98 in.

PROTEK 1010B+ SPECS Input voltage range: 10.0-18.0VDC Charge current range: 0.05 - 10.0A Discharge current range: 0.05 - 7.0A Maximum charge power capacity: 300W @ Input voltage > 13.5V Maximum discharge power capacity: 30W maximum internal Discharge power capacity: 280W @ 40V/7A Current drain for balancing: <300mA Balance accuracy: <10mV Lithium (LiPo/LiIo/LiFe) battery cell count: 1 - 10 series (in non-balance mode, expand LiFe to 12s) NiCd/NiMH battery cell count: 1 - 25 series Pb battery cell count: 1 - 18 series (2 36V) Battery setup memories: 10 Intelligent temperature control: Yes PC connect: USB port Weight: 410g Dimensions (LxWxD): 143x97x26mm 5.63x3.82x1.02 in.

PROTEK 208B Input voltage range: 4.5 - 32.0VDC Charge current range: 0.05 - 20.0A Discharge current range: 0.05 - 20.0A Maximum charge power capacity: 350W @ Input voltage > 18V Maximum discharge power capacity: 30W maximum internal Discharge power capacity: 600W @ 30V/20A Current drain for balancing: <350mA Balance accuracy: <10mV Lithium (LiPo/LiIo/LiFe) battery cell count: 1-9 series (In non-balance mode, expand LiFe to 10s) NiCd/NiMH battery cell count: 1 - 25 series Pb battery cell count: 1 - 18 series (2 36V) Log file storage: 16Mbit (36 hours) Battery setup memories: 10 Intelligent temperature control: Yes PC connect: USB port Weight: 420g Dimensions (LxWxD): 143x97x26mm 5.63x3.82x1.02 in.

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RC-CAR .COM

VISIT RC-CAR.COM TO GET THE LATEST NEWS, CAR TESTS, PRODUCT REVIEWS, AND MORE Statement of ownership, management, and cir circulation c culation (Requir (Required ed by 39 U.S.C. 3685): 1. R/C CAR 2. 1097-0711 3. 9/30/2008 4. Monthly 5. 12 6. $19.99 7. Hi-T Hi-Torque H Torque Publications, Inc., 25233 Anza Drive, V Valencia, alencia, CA 91355-1202; Contact: Jef Jeffff Shoop, (661) 295-1910 8. Hi-T Hi-Torque Tor o que Publications, Inc., 25233 Anza Drive, V Valencia, alen alencia, ncia, CA 91355-1202 9.

Roland S. Hinz, Hi-T Hi-Torque Torque Publications, Inc., 25233 Anza Drive, V Valencia, alencia, CA 91355-1202; St Steven teven Bess, Hi-T Hi-Torque Torque Publications, Inc., 25233 Anza Drive, V Valencia, alencia a, CA 91355-1202; Aar Aaron on W Waldron, aldron, Hi-T Hi-Torque Torque Publications, ublications, Inc., 25233 Anza Drive, V Valencia, alencia, CA 91355-1202 10. Ro Roland oland S. Hinz, 25233 Anza Drive, V Valencia, alencia, CA 91355-1202; 1355-1202; Lila Sullivan Hinz, 25233 Anza Drive, V Valencia, alencia, CA 9135591355-1202 -1202 11. None 12. Has not changed during pr preceding e eceding 12 months 13. R/C Car 14. November 2008 15a: 23,743; 26,142 2 15b.(1): 2,393; 2,361 15b.(2): 0; 0 15b.(3): 9,2 9,215; 15; 12,233 15b.(4): 0; 0 15c. 11,608; 14,594 15d.(1): 728; 608 15d. (2): ( 0; 0 15d.(3): 60; 60 15d.(4): 521; 521 15e. 1 1,309; ,309; 1,189 15f. 12,917; 15,783 15g. 10,826; 10,359 15h. 23,743; 26 26,142 6,142 15i. 89.9%; 92.5% 16. January 2009 17. Jeff J f Shoop, 9/25/2008.

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• 107 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

RACE COVERAGE The Fifth Annual Byron Fuel On-Road Nitro Challenge at Leisure Hours Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, is Byron Fuel’s way to support the on-road scene and put some good old-fashioned greenbacks in the hands of their customers.

BY ERIC SCHUTT>

The Challenge is a weekend-long event for all types of nitro on-road R/C action. There were classes for 1/10scale touring car, 1/8-scale open, as well as the popular 1/8-scale GT cars.

The crew from Byron Fuel opened up their checkbooks and treated racers like professionally sponsored honchos.

If you race and do well while using Byron Fuel, chances are you’ll take home some loot. This format is pretty

unique; given payouts are fair game for both Byron-sponsored drivers and “free agents.” Everybody could get a crack at some Benjamins. Over the past five years of Byron putting on this event, they have written over $20,000 in checks. Now that’s giving back!

The event kicked off with practice on Friday. The rainy weather didn’t cooperate, and it would force everybody to

adjust and dial in cars on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, there were three rounds of qualifying, with one final round on Sunday. This event ran tenminute qualifying, and used a “Qualifying Points” format. The tenminute heats were a fresh change and rewarded clean pitstops and consistent driving versus what a typical ballistic five-minute qualifier format.

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The 1/10 touring car A Main rolls out for a clean start for what would be a 60-minute battle.

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• 109 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

RACE COVERAGE On-road might not currently live in the national limelight as far as attendance, but with a facility as nice as the one at Leisure Hours, fans of tarmac should rejoice. Tracks this nice are few and far between. The staff is organized and wellversed on how to run a smooth event.

This helps keep the atmosphere easy going and enjoyable.

While the racing on the track was fierce, the overall event has a fun and casual feel. This isn’t always the case at events with a cash payout on the line.

Everybody was tuning their cars in an effort to put down their best times, but there wasn’t the high pressure sometimes felt around multi-day races. There was a nice mix of national caliber drivers right alongside local fast guys. There were 77 entries, as well as the Byron crew attending from Iowa. They didn’t just mail in their sponsorship, they put their boots on the ground.

In a true show of class, Ryan Godbersen from Byron went out of his way to make one of the spectator’s day. At the end of the event on Sunday, Ryan

Ever wonder what makes an event tick? It’s all about the people, and here’s the crew from Leisure Hours along with the Byron Fuel gang. It’s thanks to these folks that events like the Byron On-road Fuel Challenge continue to be fun and well-run events.

I guess there’s no need to put your name in the tag holder when it’s dye sublimated right into the side. Slick.

R/C Car magazine decals clearly don’t provide impact resistance. Can we please get the ones with the built in force field for this guy?

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RACE COVERAGE

1:8 OPEN A MAIN 1. Ralph Burch 2. Paul Ciccarello 3. Eli Ezrow 4. John Peck 5. Walt Gorczowski 6. Kurt Lechel 7. Jason Conley 8. Bill McLean 9. Ted Hammer 10. Dan Louis

1:8 OPEN B MAIN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Ted Hammer Kurt Lechel Raye Field Mike Saputo Leon Kiggins Ira Armstead Terry Desouza Randy Ramsey Ryan Ramsey

1:8 OPEN C MAIN 1. Ted Hammer 2. Terry Desouza 3. John Mullen

4. Mike Chiappetti 5. Ron Gustin

1:10 TOURING CAR A MAIN 1. Ralph Burch 2. Larry Stone 3. Fabio Evangelista 4. Tom Esposito 5. Jason Conley 6. Steve Lazarus 7. Mike Garcia 8. Mike McBride 9. Chris Doseck 10. Bobby Flack

1:10 TOURING CAR B MAIN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Mike Garcia Steve Lazarus D Dowell Pat Morris Chris Bozik Tony Muhammad Terry Desouza Jeffrey Fogus

1:10 TOURING CAR C MAIN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Ken Echols Leon Kiggins Demetris Lanier James Boyd Josh Little Jim Palansky

GT A MAIN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Matt Flake Bernie Hoogstra Eric Schutt David Trac Walt Gorczowski Mike Lyday Mark Borchert Mike Frazier

GT B MAIN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

David Trac Pete Barton Ryan Godberson Jim Palansky John Hicks Jose Morales

Cool trailer, but I hope they drive better than they write! Can I please buy a vowel?

handed over his fully race prep’d Ofna GT car to James Kiggins.

James had been hanging out and watching all weekend. This kid went from peering at the action from the stands to getting in the game, just like that. Class move by Ryan, no doubt.

After two days and several thousand laps later, the event came to a close. The stand-out performer was clearly Ralph Burch, taking both the 1/8 Open and 1/10 Touring Car A Main wins. Add up both of his hourlong mains, and Burch put down a total of 467 laps—and that’s just the mains! That’s some pretty intense focusing to pull off back-to-back wins.

Looking for an awesome display by some of the country’s top on-road drivers at one of the best facilities anywhere? Wrap everything up in a fun atmosphere, and you have the Byron Challenge. Be sure to put next year’s event on your “to attend” calendar—you won’t regret it. @

Ryan from Byron Originals did an up-and-comer a solid. At the end of the event, Ryan took his freshly built Ofna GT car and handed it over to this lucky spectator. Needless to say, there were smiles all around.

The gang’s all here. The Midwest scene benefits from the continued support from the Byron Fuel crew.

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EXTRA PICS er! ch fun since Warhamm I haven’t had this mu

Go be bald somewhere else!

I wanna go home.

R/C Car t-shirts and wetsuits now available.

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Unngh, sooo sick.

get bent. is how dogbones No, Stephen. THIS the test cars.

Demolition derbying Kthxbai, John es driving in this one.

P.S. Collin and Charl

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• 115 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

EXTRA PICS Sorry, Natalie. .

You’re stuck with him

Hi-Torque’s vicious gu ard dog, Lollipop.

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MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS DIRECTORY Airtronics distributed by Global Hobby Distributors 18480 Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA 92708 phone (800) 854-8471 www.airtronics.net Associated Electrics, Inc. 3585 Cadillac Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Ph: (714) 850-9342 Fax: (714) 850-1744 www.teamassociated.com Blue Thunder Fuel distributed by Horizon Hobby Distributors, Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61821 PH: (217) 355-9511 Byron Originals, Inc. P.O. Box 279 Ida Grove, IA 51445 phone (712) 364-3165 fax (712) 364-3901 www.byronfuels.com Castle Creations 235 S. Kansas Ave. Olathe, KS 66061 Ph: 913.3906939 Fax: 913.3906164 www.castlecreations.com DuraTrax distributed by Great Planes Model Distributors 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61826-9021 phone (217) 398-6300 fax (217) 398-0008 www.duratrax.com Dynamite distributed by Horizon Hobby Distributors, Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61821 phone (217) 355-9511 www.dynamiterc.com Futaba distributed by Great Planes Model Distributors 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61826-9021 phone (217) 398-6300 fax (217) 398-0008 www.futaba-rc.com Great Planes Model Distributors 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61826-9021 phone (217) 398-6300 fax (217) 398-0008 www.greatplanes.com Hakko 28920 Avenue Williams Valencia CA 91355 Ph: 800.88-HAKKO Fax: 661.294.0096 www.hakkousa.com Hitec 12115 Paine St. Poway, CA 92064 phone (858) 748-6948 fax (858) 748-1767 www.hitecrcd.com

Hot Bodies 70 Icon Street Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 phone (949) 753-1099 fax (949) 753-1098 www.hotbodiesonline.com HPI Racing 70 Icon Street Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 phone (949) 753-1099 fax (949) 753-1098 www.hpiracing.com Hudy Special Products Distributed be Hudy USA RC America 167 Turtle Creek Blvd, Suite C Dallas, TX 75207 PH: 800.519.7221 Fax: 214.744.2401 www.hudy.net Integy Technologies, Inc. 1140 Centre Dr. #E City of Industry, CA 91789 phone (909) 444-2766 fax (909) 627-4132 www.integy.com JR Racing distributed by Horizon Hobby Distributors, Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61821 phone (217) 355-9511 www.jrradios.com KO Propo USA, Inc. 1602 S. Western Ave, Suite 308 Gardena, CA 90247 (310) 532-9355 fax (310) 532-9354 www.kopropo.com Kyosho America 20322 Valencia Circle Lake Forest, CA 92630-8158 phone (949) 454-8854 fax (949) 454-8881 www.kyoshoamerica.com LRP distributed by Associated Electrics, Inc. 3585 Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 phone (714) 850-9342 fax (714) 850-1744 www.lrp.cc/en/ Max Amps 14420 W. Charles Rd. Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026 Ph: 888.654.4450 www.maxamps.com MIP 830 W. Golden Grove Way Covina, CA 91722 phone (626) 339-9007 fax (626) 966-2901 www.miponline.com MRC 80 Newfield Ave. Edison, NJ 08818 ph: (732) 225-2100 fax (732) 225-0091 www.modelrc.com

Mugen Seiki Racing Ltd. 20914 Bake Pkwy., Suite 106 Lake Forest, CA 92630 (949) 707-5607 fax (949) 707-5614 www.mugenracing.com New Era Models P.O. Box 7378 Nashua, NH 03060 (603) 888-4453 www.neweramodels.com Novak Electronics, Inc. 17032 Armstrong Ave. Irvine, CA 92614 Ph: (949) 833-8873 fax (949) 833-1631 www.teamnovak.com Novarossi Distributed by Fusion Motorsportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 28382 Meadow Ct. Highland CA 92346-5045 Ph: 909.862.4000 Fax:909.862.4004 www.fusionmotorsports.com O.S. Engines distributed in the U.S. by Great Planes Model Distributors 2904 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61826-9021 phone (217) 398-6300 fax (217) 398-0008 www.osengines.com OFNA Racing 7 Vanderbuilt Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 586-2910 www.ofna.com Parma/PSE 13927 Progress Pkwy.

North Royalton, OH 44133 (440) 237-8650 www.parmapse.com Pro-Line P.O. Box 456 Beaumont, CA 92223 (909) 849-9781 www.pro-lineracing.com PROTOform Race Bodies P.O. Box 456 Beaumont, CA 92223 (909) 849-9781 http://www.pro-lineracing.com/tprotoform.aspx RJ Speed www.rjspeed.com Robinson Racing Products 4968 Meadow View Dr. Mariposa, CA 95338 Ph: (209) 966-2465 fax: (209) 966-5937 www.robinsonracing.com Robitronic Distributed by SK Motion 385 S. Lemon Ave. #E238 Walnut, CA 91789 Ph: 949.849.9781 Fax: 949.266.5936 www.robitronic.com RPM 14978 Sierra Bonita Ln. Chino, CA 91710 Ph: (909) 393-0366 fax: (909) 393-0465 www.rpmrcproducts.com

Schumacher USA, Inc. 6302 Benjamin Rd. Suite 404, Tampa, FL 33634 phone (813) 889-9691 fax (813) 889-9593 http://www.racingcars.com/usa/main.asp Serpent USA 2830 NW 79 Ave. Miami, FL 33122 phone (305) 639-9665 fax (305) 639-9658 www.serpent.com Sidewinder Performance Racing Fuel produced by Morgan Fuels P.O. Box 311201 Enterprise, AL 36331 phone (334) 347-3525 www.morganfuel.com Tamiya America, Inc. 2 Orion Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4200 phone (949) 362-2240 fax (949) 362-2250 www.tamiya.com Team Losi, Inc. 4710 E. Guasti Rd. Ontario, CA (909) 390-9595 www.losi.com Team Orion 20322 Valencia Circle Lake Forest, CA 92630-8158 phone (949) 454-8854 fax (949) 454-8881 www.teamorion.com Traxxas 1100 Klein Rd. Plano, TX 75074 phone (972) 265-8000 fax (972) 265-8011 www.traxxas.com Trinity Products, Inc. 36 Meridian Rd. Edison, NJ 08820 Ph: (732) 635-1600 Fax: (732) 635-1640 www.trinityinc.com Venom Racing phone (800) 705-0620 fax (208) 762-2520 www.venom-group.com W. S. Deans Co. 7628 Jackson St. Paramount, CA 90723 phone (562) 634-9401 fax (562) 634-9403 www.wsdeans.com Xray Distributed by Xray USA RC America 167 Turtle Creek Blvd, Suite C Dallas, TX 75207 PH: 800.519.7221 Fax: 214.744.2401 www.teamxray.com XTM distributed by Global Hobby Distributors 18480 Bandilier Circle Fountain Valley, CA 92708 phone (800) 854-8471 xtm.globalhobby.com

To be added to this directory please contact Charles Charron at (661) 295-1910

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PIT LANE S RC PRODUCT DESIGNk crawler? RC

roc Need a stand for your a new stand (Part #DCProduct Designs has set your crawler on.

Crawl1, $25) for you to ilable. Check out their ava is ing Custom engrav website for more info. .com www.rcproductdesigns

ring lube to has everything from bea ’s new lubes. Lube-It e-It s with a Lub drie h wit and t up it we e lies Lub is a dry film that app 0 600 DF The . lon that lon Tef Tef id grease to liquid and the LT8000 is liqu 7000 is Teflon grease, ited, LTD. TG lim The Un . ix film oen ting Ph ct rica lub lon to lubricate. Conta Tef the ind beh g vin evaporates, lea it D, Huntley, IL 60142.

11514 Smith Drive, Un

LUBE-IT

e for any 1/8-scaler. The DE Racing is a must hav eels A genius little trinket from and holds up to 4 wh e through the center hol erts iins ) add .95 dy ($9 han ike A Sp s. new Tire truggy wheel available for buggy and lded extra mo a is ich wh ), together. Tire Spikes are .95 kit ($4 truck is the Tank Pull tion to your nitro car or form the pull handle. to tie zip a of end handle that fits on the www.deracing.net

DE RACING

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OVERDOSE RACING

ose it’s a car stand. Overd No, it’s not a foot rest, and t pac com to be the most Racing has what has car ’ve seen yet. The new we nd sta car st stronge (Part #OD1010, nd Sta r Ca the ed stand, aptly nam feet, 5 el construction, rubber $TBA) features all-ste e. fac a rubber sur adjustable heights, and om g.c cin era dos ver w.o ww

RPM

ng pumped out of More Slash stuff is bei can install taillights you w No y. tor the RPM fac tail light set new M’s on your Slash with RP taillights and es lud inc Set ). $10 , (Part #81030 o be retrofitals can y the mounts. RPM claims tions as lica er app ted to the SC10 and oth well. om www.rpmrcproducts.c

DURATRAX

ssis for the Losi Mini Duratrax now has a cha TXC0019, $70). The new Rock Crawler (Part #D tical ned aluminum twin ver chi chassis features ma as, are ing unt mo es, new plates, suspension tub e. Be sure to check out and a longer wheelbas info. their website for more www.duratrax.com

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• 119 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

VINTAGE RC TRAXXAS TRX-1

BY DARRYN JOHNSON>

For most people these days, the name Traxxas is not really associated with serious 1/10-buggy competition. For most of us, Traxxas are the cars you use to have a “serious” bash with. The RTR market, one could argue, was created by this forward-thinking American company. This was not always the case, though, as Traxxas had a very serious attempt at a full-bore competition model in the early ’90s. The TRX-1, released initially in 1991, enjoyed several national and regional titles stateside in ’91, ’92, and ’93. The TRX-1 was quite popular in Australia as well, taking our national and a state title in the stock class in 1992. The car was a real contender on the racetrack from its release. With a carbon plate chassis, anodized shocks, slipper clutch and “stealth like” three-gear gearbox, the TRX-1 was asking to be brought headlong into the very competitive 2WD competition market.

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ORIGINAL OR XEROX? The TRX-1 always copped a bit of criticism at the track for having components that were very much like the two other major competitors in 2WD at the time— Losi and Associated. There are definitely elements of the TRX-1’s design that are obviously borrowed from the two brands.

When looking at the buggy, you will note some of the similarities like shocks, driveshafts, suspension arms and other small components. Putting all that aside, though, there are only so many ways you can get a buggy to perform. Geometry and layout are surely similar, but that is still the same situation to this day.

The TRX-1 was equipped with all of the

race-worthy equipment that you would expect on a competition buggy: • Graphite plate chassis with “kick up” • Ball differential • Slipper clutch • Three-gear gearbox • “Slider” driveshafts • Alloy anodized shocks • Turnbuckles The chassis of the TRX-1 was made from a very nicely machined carbon flat plate, with inbuilt “kick up” for the front suspension. This chassis was high-quality and very rigid, giving the suspension a good solid base to work from. The gearbox was a very efficient three-gear design that

looked remarkably similar to the RC10’s newly developed “stealth” transmission.

The gearbox ran very smoothly, especially when coupled to the smooth slipper clutch. This gave the TRX-1 quite an advantage in acceleration on the track.

Coupled to the gearbox were Losi-style “slider” driveshafts. These types of driveshafts were most definitely “flavor of the month” at the time that the TRX-1 was released. Most drivers felt that the “sliders” gave superior performance on rough surfaces. Strangely though, Traxxas decided to have a single grubscrew securing the outdrives to the differential. This was a significant weak spot on the car, as the outdrive was plastic and was prone to strip-

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• 121 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

VINTAGE RC TRAXXAS TRX-1

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ping out very easily.

The shocks on the TRX-1 were butter smooth and very much like the units used on the RC-10. Much like the ’89 Worldswinning RC10, the TRX-1 employed longstroke front and rear shock absorbers. This gave the car the ability to run with significant amounts of “droop,” thereby allowing excellent rough-track handling.

Adjustability was also aided with the factory supplying the car with turnbuckles as standard fitment.

Despite the similarities with other brands, the TRX-1, with its jetfighter-style lines and cockpit, made this car a standout on the track. The body for the car was indeed very different to anything else at the time. The only thing close was the Parma Eagle for the RC10.

WHAT’S IT WORTH? This is where things get very interesting.

The car you see in the pictures is one I

recently won at auction. I picked it up for a miserly $50! Admittedly, it did not have a body shell at all (luckily, I had one floating about from the good old days).

Unfortunately, all of the parts had been dyed black (the standard car was all white parts—another reason for the “Xerox” comments back in the day). I still believe, though, that I got a genuine bargain. The car has hardly been used, the wheels are perfect and the tires have about five minutes of use on them.

You can just as easily go to the other end of the spectrum, though, especially if you are looking to get a NIB or perfect newly built example. Expect to pay at least $200 for a new build with box and instructions. A NIB kit rarely goes for less than $450, and that is if you can find one! The spare parts scene for the TRX-1 is actually reasonable. Ask around on forums and you will often find people with parts available to purchase. You can often find parts on

auction sites as well. Same old caveat applies. Always ask questions and know what you are looking for. Hardest parts to find for the TRX-1 are most definitely the body and wheels with original tires. Expect to pay a lot for an original body, as they appear to be almost impossible to find.

CONCLUSION The TRX-1 is definitely a historic car.

While it may have never won a world title, it did challenge the established racing brands very seriously for a number of years. Traxxas showed that it could produce and support a high-end race buggy.

The quality of the parts, the design of the swooping body and other cool features like the blue-anodized shocks only make this car more attractive to the vintage enthusiast.

Cheers till next month, Darryn Johnson @

www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com

• 123 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

ETC...

POINTS STANDINGS CING LEAGUE FINAL is in the books, with both RA K OC BC BA MY JIM Babcock Racing League

my end of 2009 Another year of the Jim at Hot Rod Hobbies. The ir respective seasons the sses. A comup cla ng o ppi nitr wra the ies for ser c divisions and the 3rd ctri ele the for every class of r er yea marks the 6th two schedules to cov recognized between the to determine re we ies s ser sse h cla bot 22 in t ed bin -scale buggy taking par 1/8 c ctri ele nds of comth rou (wi ht el car and skill lev ium finishers after eig 0), and here are the pod 201 for ter bet fits ich wh petition.

ELECTRIC 1/8-SCALE BUGGY (ELECTRIC SERIES) 1. Brian Sullivan 2. Josh Alton 3. Scott Petitclerc

EXPERT NITRO BUGGY

EXPERT NITRO 1/8-SCALE TRUCK

1. Ryan Cavalieri 2. Cody King 3. Mark Pavidis

1. Ryan Cavalieri 2. Cody King 3. Mark Pavidis

SPORTSMAN NITRO 1/8-SCALE TRUCK 1. Scott Rapoport 2. Shane Johnson 3. Dock Weatherble

INTERMEDIATE NITRO 1/8SCALE TRUCK 1. Brad Wintermantle 2. Carson Wernimont 3. Tennison Willis

SPORTSMAN NITRO 1/8-SCALE BUGGY 1. Scott Rapoport 2. Jay Neill (not pictured) 3. Gil Alontaga

INTERMEDIATE NITRO 1/8SCALE BUGGY 1. Don Vinkemulder 2. Tennison Willis 3. Brad Wintermantle

ELECTRIC 1/8-SCALE BUGGY (NITRO SERIES) 1. Drew Moller 2. Ryan Hughes 3. Josh Alton (not pictured)

ELECTRIC 1/8-SCALE TRUCK 1. Ryan Hughes 2. Tekno RC (not pictured) 3. Zac Burnside (not pictured)

NITRO 1/10-SCALE TRUCK 1. Mike Curnel 2. Brian Nunez 3. Chuck Myers

• 124 •

www.rc-car.com

www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com

2WD STOCK

STOCK TRUCK

1. Brent Calvert 2. Josh Mitchell 3. Bill Koch

1. Brent Calvert 2. Josh Mitchell 3. Jake McGarvey

2WD SUPER STOCK

SUPER STOCK TRUCK

1. Cody Turner 2. Matthew Olson 3. Doug “Casper” Nielsen

1. Ryan Dunford 2. Mike Friery (not pictured) 3. Doug “Casper” Nielsen

MODIFIED 2WD

MODIFIED TRUCK

1. Frank Root 2. Nick Lasley 3. Ryan Dunford

1. Mike Friery (not pictured) 2. Doug “Casper” Nielsen 3. Brian McDuffie

OPEN SHORT COURSE TRUCK 1. Frank Root 2. Bill Koch 3. Doug “Casper” Nielsen

SPORTSMAN SLASH SPEC 1. Paul Freyre 2. Mike Torgerson 3. Ed Garcia

2WD ROOKIE 1. Kevin Williams 2. Sean Silva 3. Roy Fulk

SUPER STOCK 4WD 1. Brian Sullivan 2. Cody Turner 3. Josh Mitchell

4WD MODIFIED 1. Frank Root 2. Ryan Dunford 3. Brian Sullivan

EXPERT SLASH SPEC 1. Brent Bisbee 2. Jake McGarvey 3. A.J. Freeman (not pictured)

www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com

• 125 • FEBRUARY 2010 R/C CAR

ALABAMA RC HI TECH RACEWAY 3303 MERIDIAN ST. Huntsville ALASKA HOBBYCRAFT. 800 E. DIMOND BLVD., #136 Anchorage ARKANSAS HOBBYTOWN USA 9101 W. MARKHAM STE #18 Little Rock 1415-A HWY. 71 ST. Fort Smith HOBBYTOWN USA HOBBYTOWN USA 1200 S.E. 14TH ST. #18 Bentonville MARKS HOBBY SHOP 2516-G CANTRELL RD. Little Rock ARIZONA COMPETITION HOBBIES 3930 W. COSTCO DR. Tucson 12008 N. 32 ST. Phoenix FRANK’S HOBBY HOUSE HOBBY ACTION 705 E. GUADALUPE RD. Tempe HOBBYTOWN USA 1817 E. BASELINE RD. Gilbert HOBBYTOWN USA 3700 E. SPEEDWAY Tucson HOBBYTOWN USA 8664 E. SHEA BLVD. #42 Scottsdale SCOTTSDALE R/C RACEWAY 3023 N. SCOTTSDALE RD. Scottsdale CALIFORNIA A MAIN HOBBIES 424 OTTERSON DR. #160 Chico 4871 WEST STATE ST. Ontario AIRLAND HOBBIES BEE GEE HOBBIES 234 GOLF CLUB RD. Pleasant Hill BUSY BEE HOBBY SHOP INC. 461 W. HIGHLAND AVE. San Bernardino CONTROLLED CHAOS HOBBIES 570 S. RICHMOND RD. Ridgecrest COVINA HOBBY SHOP 140 N. CITRUS Covina E & H HOBBY ENTRPRSES 2372 BUTTE HOUSE RD. Yuba City ELITE HOBBY SHOP 606 SHOPPERS LN. Covina EXTREME MOTOSPORTS 2750 JEFFERSON Napa FAST TRACK HOBBIES 1833 PASEO PENASCO Roseville FOOTHILL HOBBIES 973 W. FOOTHILL BLVD. San Luis Obispo FRANCISCIAN HOBBIES 1920-A OCEAN AVE. San Francisco GEAR BOX MODEL 2166 ORANGETHORPE AVE. Fullerton GIZMO’S HOBBY 2010 WEST BURBANK BLVD. Burbank 9705 CARROL CENTER RD, STE. 103 San Diego HOBBY CENTRAL HOBBY CITY 148 BROWNS VALLEY PKWY. Vacaville HOBBY PEOPLE 18475 PACIFIC ST. Fountain Valley HOBBYTOWN 2085 MONTIEL RD. #105 San Marcos HOBBYTOWN USA 171 N. McDOWELL BLVD. Petaluma HOBBYTOWN USA 638 BLOSSOM HILL RD San Jose HOBBYTOWN USA 27470 JEFFERSON AVE #1A Temecula HOBBYTOWN USA 2221 N.TRACY BLVD. Tracy HOBBYTOWN USA 4420-A TREAT BLVD. Concord HOBBYTOWN USA 3071 W. BULLARD AV. #107 Fresno HOBBY TOWN USA 39152 FREMONT HUB. Fremont HOBBYTOWN USA 351 MAGNOLIA AV. #101 Corona HOBBIES UNLIMITED 937 MANOR BLVD. San Leandro HOBBY WAREHOUSE 4105 EAST SOUTH ST. Lakewood 25845 SAN FERNANDO RD. #21 Saugus HOT ROD HOBBIES JAKES PERFORMANCE HOBBY 6650 COMMERCE BLVD. #21 Rohnert Park KIT & CABOODLE 425 SAN PABLO AVE. Albany MARTY’S HOBBIES 1728 N. MOORPARK RD. Thousand Oaks MASSIE’S HOBBY HOUSE 9564 E. LAS TUNAS Temple City MODESTO HOBBIES 401 BANGS AVE. H Modesto PACIFIC COAST HOBBIES 1747 PACIFIC COAST HWY. Lomita PARADISE HOBBIES 491 PEARSON RD. Paradise PEAGSUS HOBBIES 5515 MORENO ST. Montclair R/C COUNTRY HOBBIES 6011 FOLSOM BLVD. Sacramento SAVAGE MOTORSPORTS 948 MAIN ST. Ramona SHELTON HOBBIES 2130 TRADE ZONE BLVD. San Jose SONOMA R/C HOBBIES 20091 BROADWAY Sonoma SRS & HOBBIES 407 FRONT ST. Salinas T & T HOBBY 905 19th ST. Bakersfield THE BIKE PALACE 1600 S. PACIFIC AVE. #B San Pedro THE HOBBY PLACE 10549 W. PICO BLVD. Los Angeles ULIMATE HOBBIES 1536 E. KATELLA AVE. Orange COLORADO AMERICAN PASTIMES 1015 W. 29th ST. Pueblo 5934 URBAN COURT Arvada JNC HOBBYTOWN USA 9120 WADSWORTH BLVD. Westminster HOBBYTOWN USA 1935 MAIN ST. Longmont MHOR R/C RACEWAY 15540 E. BATAVIA DR. Aurora HIGH DESERT RACEPLACE & R/C HOBBIES 2892 NORTH AVENUE #C Grand Junction MHOR R/C RACEWA Y 12559 E. KENTUCKY AVE. Aurora CONNECTICUT DANBURY HOBBY CENTER PLUMTREE PLAZA, 61 NEWTON RD. Danbury HOBBYTOWN USA 229 UNIVERSAL DR. N. North Haven THE HOBBY SHOP 1717 FOXON RD. RT 80 N. Branford TIME MACHINE HOBBY LLC 71 HILLIARD ST. Manchester DELAWARE G-FORCE HOBBIES INC. 1626 W. NEWPORT PIKE Stanton FLORIDA ARTS HOBBY SHOP 1475 ATLANTIC BLVD. Neptune Beach BOB’S HOBBY CENTER 7333 LAKE UNDERHILL RD. Orlando COLONIAL PHOTO & HOBBY 634 N. MILLS AVE. Orlando COMPU HOBBIES 2653 N.W. 79TH AVE. Miami CROWN HOBBIES 7439 S.W. 24TH ST. Miami FELIX HOBBY 13394 W. DIXIE HWY. North Miami G & C HOBBIES 1228 HYPOLUXO RD. Lantana GRAND PRIX OF FT. PRC. FORT PIERCE Fort Pierce HIGH FLY HOBBIES 3184 S. RIDGEWOOD AVE. South Daytona HOBBY MAGIC 2061 E. SOUTH STREET Orlando HOBBYTOWN USA 4335 WEST NEW HAVE AVE. West Melbourne

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19804

302-995-9035

32266 32822 32803 33122 33155 33161 33462 34945 32119 32803 32904

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HOBBYTOWN USA 1626 UNIVERSITY BLVD. W HOBBY NUT INC. 12679 DIXIE HWY. HOBBYTOWN USA 11727 N. DALE MABRY HOBBYTOWN USA 1391 E. LaFAYETTE ST. HOBBYTOWN USA 2464 W. BRANDON BLVD. HOBBYTOWN USA 1462 W. GRANADA BLVD. #210 HOBBYTOWN USA 3615 S. FLORIDA AV. #1030 HYPER HOBBIES 11373 SW 211 ST. #12 LEMON BAY HOBBIES 3835 TAMIAMI TRAIL MACHINE’S R/C HOBBIES 1872 UNIVERSITY PKWY. PHIL’S HOBBY SHOP 6050 PARK BLVD. RACING HOBBIES 10722 WILES RD. SUPERIOR HOBBIES 1478 E. SEMORAN BLVD. GEORGIA ANTHONY’S VICTORY LANE 129 EAST HWY. 80 512 CHICKAMAUGA AVE, STE A BATTLEFIELD R/C BIG BOY TOYS HOBBY SHOP 5035 MT. ZION PARKWAY 6889 PEACHTREE INDUST. #H HOBBY MART HOBBYTOWN USA 800 E. BARRETT PKWY HOBBYTOWN USA 3360 SATELLITE BLVD. #14 HOBBYTOWN USA 723 GLYNN ISLES HAWAII THE HOBBY COMPANY 98-1005 MOANALUA RD. IOWA BOX KAR HOBBIES T&C CTR 3655-A FIRST AV. S.E. EXTREME RC 5547 WESTMINSTER DR. EXTREME RC 202 GILBERT RD. HOBBY HAVEN 2575 86th ST. HOBBYTOWN USA 11107 PLUM DR. OUTBACK HOBBIES 709 EVANS ST. IDAHO DAPCO HOBBIES 131 EVANS LN. HOBBYTOWN USA 3317 N. COLE RD. THE TOY SHOP 837 POLELINE RD. ILLINOIS AL’S HOBBY SHOP INC. 121 ADDISON, BOX 449 DEPOT HOBBY SHOP 180 SOUTH SEMINARY ST. HOBBYTOWN USA 15870 S. LaGRANGE RD. HOBBYTOWN USA 3627 EAST MAIN ST. HOBBYTOWN USA 3782 N. ALPINE RD. HOBBYTOWN USA 247 W. GOLF RD. HOBBYTOWN USA 15 CRYSTAL LAKE PLAZA HOBBYTOWN USA, Oak Mill Mall 7900 N. MILWAUKEE AVE. 7282 N. CHERRYVALE MALL DR. MILLENNIUM RACEWAY PAT’S HOBBIES & CRAFTS INC. 5730 W. 95th ST. SPRINGFIELD HAMMERS HOBBIES 2448 S 10th ST. REMOTE CONTROL HOBBIES1550 N. ROUTE 59 #170 214 S. LAKE OF THE WOODS RD. THE RC SHACK TRACK AND HARBOR HOBBIES 1225 SHERIDAN RD. #H THUNDER ROAD HOBBIES 6411 61st ST. INDIANA BE COMICS & KARDS & 130 W. VAN BUREN ST. ROCKETS & HOBBIES BIG BOY HOBBIES 8893 PENDLETON PIKE GRANGER HOBBY STOP 12131 STATE RD. 23 # L HOBBYTOWN USA 8326 CASTLETON CORNER HOBBYTOWN USA 1519 US HIGHWAY 41 HOBBYTOWN USA 7765 SOUTH US 31 JOE’S HOBBY BARN 1950 E. SPRINGHILL DR. LARGE SCALE R/C 6289 NORTH 150 EAST LINVILLE SIGNS & HOBBIES 471 N. HUNTERSVILLE RD. MAPLE CITY HOBBIES 102 SOUTH MAIN PHILS HOBBY SHOP 1722 LAKE AVE. PHIL’S HOBBY SHOP 3112 N. CLINTON P & T HOBBIES & RACEWAY 2412 N. POORFARM RD. TOYS FOREVER MODELS & HOBBIES 311 S. WALNUT KANSAS HOBBY HAVEN 10560 METCALF HOBBYTOWN USA 8113 E. KELLOGG #200 HOBBYTOWN USA 9270 METCALF R/C HOBBIES 115 W. 7TH KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS HOBBIES 274 LAMPTON LN. 12615 SHELBYVILLE RD. HOBBYTOWN USA McDONALD’S MOTOR CYCLE REPAIR 40 STRONG BRANCH RD. SLICK HOBBIES 8591 HIGHWAY 27 X-TREME HOBBIES 1003A BURLEW BLVD. LOUISIANA FASTOYZ 1511 CARNATION AVE. 4529 LEE ST. HARE’S ART & HOBBY HOBBIES X-TREME 1605 BENTON RD. #B HOBBY HUT 5029 VETERANS BLVD. HOBBYTOWN USA 707 TRENTON ST. MAINE GRANITE LEISURE TIME 85 HIGH ST. MARYLAND DOUG’S HOBBY 24404 THREE NOTCH RD. EXTREME HOBBIES & GIFTS 9033 LIBERTY RD. RT. 26 GPA HOBBIES 2431 CROFTON LANE #6 HOBBIE GUYZ LLC MIDDLE

Jacksonville South Miami Tampa Tallahassee Brandon Ormond Beach Lakeland Miami Port Charlotte Sarasota Pinellas Park Coral Springs Casselberry

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sponsored by: CREATING FUN SINCE '86 RIVER HOBBIES 136 CARROLL ISLAND RD. Middle River 21220 HOBBYTOWN USA 919-C NORTH EAST ST. Frederick 21701 HOBBYTOWN USA 6714-D GOVERNOR RITC Glen Burnie 21061 MASSACHUSETTS BARN SPEED HOBBIES 109 CENTER ST. Lee 01238 730 EASTERN AVENUE #96 Malden 02148 HELI DIRECT HOG HEAVEN HOBBIES 494 MAIN ST. Fiskdale 01518 WICKED R/C 280 WORCESTER RD RTE 9E Framingham 01702 MICHIGAN ACTION R/C RACING 1453 WALLI STRASSE Burton 48509 3537 FORT ST. Wyandotte 48192 FST HOBBY SHOP GREAT ESCAPES MOTORSPORTS 136 N. US 31 S. Traverse City 49684 HOBBYTOWN USA 12821 S. SAGINAW Grand Blanc 48439 HOBBY-SPORTS.COM 9782 PORTAGE RD. Portage 49002 KECK HARDWARE & HOBBY 2132 WEST RD. Trenton 48183 Sterling Heights 48314 LARRY’S PERFORMANCE R/C’S 42246 MOUND RD. NAKIN HARDWARE & HOBBY 35101 FORD RD. Westland 48185 MID-MICHIGAN COIN & HOBBY 156 W. VIENNA Clio 48420 P & D HOBBY SHOP 31280 GROESBECK HWY Fraser 48026 RIDER’S HOBBIES 2061 S. LINDEN RD. Flint 48532 RIDER’S HOBBY SHOP 2055 28TH ST S.E. #12 Grand Rapids 49508 RIDER’S HOBBY SHOP 3140 CARPENTER RD. Ypsilanti 48197 ROGER’S HOBBY CENTER 5620 STATE Saginaw 48603 MINNESOTA HOBBY TOWN USA 7916 BROOKLYN BLVD. Minneapolis 55445 82 MINNESOTA AVE. Saint Paul 55117 HUB HOBBY CENTER HUB HOBBY CENTER 6410 PENN AVE. S Minneapolis 55423 R.C. CAR KINGS 1307 EAST HWY 13 Burnsville 55337 MISSOURI CHECKERED FLAG HOBBIES 4491 LeMAY FERRY RD. St. Louis 63129 6265 N. OAK TRAFFIC WAY Kansas City 64118 HOBBYTOWN USA 4418 GRETNA RD. Branson 65616 HOBBYTOWN USA MARK TWAIN HOBBY CTR 2793 WEST CLAY ST. Saint Charles 63301 MISSISSIPPI 5182 OLD HIGHWAY 11, STE. #3 Hattiesburg 39402 HUB CITY HOBBY 2311-A FLOWOOD DR Flowood 39232 NITRO TOYS & HOBBIES MONTANA NORTHLAND HOBBIES INC. 1325 HWY 2 WEST Kalispell 59901 114 S. LOGAN ST. Terry 59349 PRAIRIE UNIQUE THE TREASURE CHEST 1612 BENTON AV. Missoula 59801 NEBRASKA HOBBYTOWN USA EASTPORT200 N. 66th ST. #220 Lincoln 68505 HOBBYTOWN USA 10020 SCOTT CIRCLE Omaha 68122 HOBBYTOWN USA 3404 WEST 13th ST. Grand Island 68803 NEW HAMPSHIRE 106 RACE PARK 743 CLOUGH MILL RD. Pembroke 03275 90 WEST PEARL ST. Nashua 03060 HOBBY ETC. INC. NEW JERSEY BOB’S HOBBIES & CRAFTS 67 S. BROADWAY Pitman 08071 CRISPY CRITTERS HOBBY SHOP 157 UNION BLVD. Totowa 07512 CRUIZIN WITH RC’S 10 FRANKLIN TWPK Waldwick 07463 HOBBYTOWN USA UNIT 15-C RT 206 Hampton Plaza Newton 07860 HOBBY WORKSHOPS 510 WEST KINGS HWY Mount Ephraim 08059 JACKSON HOBBY SHOP 2275 W. COUNTY LINE RD. Jackson 08527 JO JO’S RACING COLLECTIBLES 1826 RT 35 NORTH South Amboy 08879 KENVIL HOBBIES 590 RT #46 Kenvil 07847 TECH TOYS 370 RT 46 W. Parsippany 07054 THE HOBBY SHOP 2716 ROUTE 37 E Toms River 08753 TRENTON R/C LLC 905-B LIBERTY ST. Trenton 08611 WIDE WORLD OF HOBBIES 974 TEANECK RD. Teaneck 07766 NEW MEXICO HOBBIES N’ STUFF 2801 EUBANK N.E., UNIT P Albuquerque 87112 2225-J WYOMING BLVD. N.E. Albuquerque 87112 HOBBY PROZ NEVADA CUTTING EDGE INDOOR R/C 2640 W. BROOKS Las Vegas 89032 DANSEY’S INDOOR R/C HOBBIES 4252 EAST CHARLESTON BLVD. Las Vegas 89104 HOBBYTOWN USA 5085 W. SAHARA AVE. #134 Las Vegas 89146 NEW YORK BIG APPLE HOBBIES 17169 46th AVE. Flushing 11358 COMPETITION HOBBY SUP 1006 LOUDON RD. Cohoes 12047 CRAFT WLD/ACTION HOBB 509 W 3rd ST. Jamestown 14701 ELMSFORD HOBBIES 129 E MAIN ST. Elmsford 10523 GJ’S HOBBIES 103 WASHINGTON AVE. Endicott 13760 HOBBYTOWN USA 3332 SHERIDAN DR. Amherst 14226 HOBBYTOWN USA 1814 CENTRAL AVE. Albany 12205 HURRICANE HOBBIES 2425 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD. Centereach 11720 PERFORMANCE HOBBIES 15 WEST MAIN ST. Webster 14580 RACING CITY HOBBIES 110 MAIN ST. South Glens Falls 12803 RMC HOBBIES 2485 ROCHESTER RD. BLDG. 1 Canandaigua 14424 THE HOBBY HOUSE 2378 LYELL AVE. Rochester 14606 WALT’S HOBBY 2 DWIGHT PARK DR. Syracuse 13209 WILLIS HOBBIES 300 WILLIS AVE. Mineola 11501 XTREME HOBBIES 1815 D DEER PARK AVE. Deer Park` 11729 XTREME HOBBIES 52 S. MAIN ST. Pearl River 10965 NORTH CAROLINA ANDERSON 4R/C 1004 BALL PARK RD. Thomas 27360 CAROLINAS RC 7020 REAMES RD. #A Charlotte 28216 HAYES HOBBY HOUSE 809 ELM ST. Fayetteville 28303 HOBBY BARN 101 S. JEFFERSON AVE. West Jefferson 28694 HOBBYTOWN USA 1410 WESTOVER TERR. #100-B Greensboro 27408

410-335-0707 301-694-7395 410-590-4950 413-243-2651 617-755-5448 508-347-9350 508-405-2244 810-742-1100 734-285-9093 231-943-9800 810-695-9088 616-323-3686 734-676-2282 586-997-4840 734-722-5700 810-564-2646 586-296-6116 810-720-2500 616-247-9933 734-971-6116 989-790-0080 612-424-6052 651-490-1675 612-866-9575 952-895-9643 314-892-5353 816-459-9590 417-334-8374 636-946-2816 601-264-1040 601-992-1353 406-257-1808 406-635-5598 406-549-7992 402-434-5056 402-498-8888 308-382-3451 603-224-7223 603-883-4919 856-589-1777 973-790-3800 201-445-8080 973-300-9799 856-931-2400 732-364-3334 732-553-0200 973-584-1188 973-227-7012 732-270-6590 609-394-0101 201-862-9393 505-293-1217 505-332-3797 702-222-3343 702-453-7223 702-889-9554 718-460-5671 518-786-3622 718-484-1780 914-592-0600 607-754-3003 716-833-7700 518-435-9961 631-737-3157 585-872-4990 518-792-7272 585-394-1210 585-429-6280 315-453-2291 516-746-3944 631-254-9873 845-735-1914 336-476-6917 888-722-2778 910-485-2337 336-846-2276 336-373-1021

HOBBY TOWN USA 8332 PINEVILLE MATHEWS RD. Charlotte 28226 704-544-2303 K/C HOBBY INC 10948-G NORTH MAIN ST. Archdale 27263 336-434-3482 KING R/C 614 S. MAIN ST. King 27021 336-983-3969 THE ANTIQUE BARN 2810 FOREST HILLS RD. Wilson 27893 252-237-6778 ZNZ HOBBIES 972 TALBERT BLVD. Lexington 27292 336-249-6127 NORTH DAKOTA AEROPORT HOBBY SHOPPE 2112 N. BROADWAY Minot 58703 701-838-1658 2650 32nd A SOUTH #C Grnad Forks 58201 701-775-9400 HOBBYTOWN USA OHIO AERO TECH HOBBIES 902 N. MAIN ST. North Canton 44720 330-499-1300 17606 ST. RT 213 Irondale 43932 330-532-1783 BROWN’S HOBBY SHOP DAD’S TOY SHOP 123 W. AUGLAIZE Wapakoneta 45895 419-738-2007 GRANDVIEW HOBBIES 1460 W. 5th AVE. Columbus 43212 614-486-3532 HAVE FU N HOBBIES 3182 WARREN SHARON RD. Vienna 44473 330-856-6275 HOBBYTOWN USA 8000 PLAZA BLVD. STE #9 Mentor 44060 440-946-5588 HOBBYTOWN USA 1574 SPRING MEADOWS DR. Holland 43528 419-867-9490 HOBBYTOWN USA 14785 PEARL RD. Strongsville 44136 440-846-1770 HOBBYTOWN USA 101 E. ALEX BELL RD. #142 Centerville 45459 937-291-8522 HURRICANE HOBBIES 8911 SOUTH OLD STATE RD. Lewis Center 43035 614-848-4386 OHIO MOTO SPORTS 6166 STATE ROUTE 139 Lucasville 45658 740-456-4704 RC PRO SHOP 67 STAR DR. Chillicothe 45601 740-774-6229 ROFFEE’S HOBBY SHOP 256 WEST MAIN ST. Byesville 43723 740-685-8586 SLATER’S INC. 1141 N. MEMORIAL DR. Lancaster 43130 740-654-2204 STRONGSVILLE HOBBY SHOP 13325 PROSPECT RD. Strongsville 44149 440-572-0430 THE HOBBY SHOP 153 N. SPRINGBORO PIKE Miamisburg 45449 937-4366161 OKLAHOMA ACTION HOBBIES 4955 S. MEMORIAL DR. Tulsa 74145 918-663-8998 ENID R/C SPEEDWAY 6216 BRECKENRIDGE Enid 73701 580-554-9400 HOBBYTOWN USA 7166 S. MEMORIAL Tulsa 74133 918-307-2000 OREGON BARGIN BIN 1941 N.E. STEPHENS Roseburg 97470 541-673-8266 HOBBY HABIT 411 FIR LaGrande 97850 800-963-9602 25699 SOUTH WEST ARGYLE Ave. Wilsonville 97070 503-685-7333 HOBBYTOWN USA ISLAND HOBBIES 1224 JANZTEN BEACH CTR Portland 97217 503-285-3917 OREGON TRAIL HOBBIES & GIFTS 272 S. OREGON ST. Ontario 97914 541-889-3747 TAMMIES HOBBIES 12024 S.W. CANYON RD. Beaverton 97005 503-644-4535 RADIO CONTROL PLUS 1685 25th ST. Salem 97302 503-364-9188 R/C ADDICTION 830 S. FRONT ST. Central Point 97502 541-665-2700 REMOTE CONTROL HOBBIES 2155 N.E. BURNSIDE RD. Gresham 97030 503-666-7001 TONY’S HOBBY & VIDEO 84109 HWY. 11 Milton Freewater 97862 541-938-0218 TRUMP’S HOBBIES 2401 N.W. KINGS BLVD. Corvallis 97330 541-753-7540 PENNSYLVANIA A.B. CHARLES HOBBY SHOP 1635 McFARLAND RD. Pittsburgh 15216 412-516-1615 Aliquippa 15001 724-378-3930 AMERICAN HOBBY CENTER 2668 BRODHEAD RD. HI POWER HOBBIES 64 DUCHESS ST. Reedsville 17084 717-667-4629 Cranberry Twnshp 16066 724-779-2000 HOBBY EXPRESS INC. 1713 ROUTE 228 #L 1 Springfield 19064 610-544-7007 HOBBYTOWN USA 150 E. BALTIMORE PIKE HOBBYTOWN USA 1108 PARK MANOR BLVD. Pittsburgh 15205 412-788-1000 HOBBYTOWN USA 12F WINGCO LN. Reading 19605 610-916-4477 HOBBYTOWN USA 1502 WEST CHESTER PIKE West Chester 19382 610-696-9049 HOBBY HUT 609 TROOPER RD. Audubon 19403 610-635-1062 HOBBYS N’ STUFF 119-A W. CRAWFORD AVE. Connellsville 15425 724-628-0228 INFINITE HOVER HOBBY SHOP321 WEST CENTRE ST Shenandoah 17976 646-512-1265 IRON HORSE HOBBY HOUSE 60 SOURTH SIXTH ST. Reading 19602 610-373-6927 J.C. R/C HOBBIES 13 YORK RD. Warminster 18974 215-672-5200 KRANZEL’S R/C RACEWAY & HBBOIES 415-B BOLSER AVE. Lemoyne 17043 717-737-7223 MARSHALL’S HILLTOP HOBB. 55 ALTOONA FARMS LN. Honesdale 18431 570-729-7458 SOUTH CAROLINA BANDITS HOBBIES & MODELS 273 AUCTION AVE. Darlington 29532 843-393-3333 D & S HOBBIES 1265 CELEBRATION BLVD. Florence 29501 843-383-0017 ED’S HOBBY SHOP 704 MAIN ST. Myrtle Beach 29577 843-448-8685 HOBBY & GARDEN CTR. 1710 BYPASS 72 N.E. Greenwood 29649 864-223-2109 4148 CALHOUN MEMORIAL HWY. Easley 29640 864-295-1209 HOBBY CONNECTION HOBBY STOP 939 S. ANDERSON RD. Rock Hill 29730 803-327-4121 SOUTH DAKOTA HOBBYTOWN USA 1007 W. 41st ST. Sioux Falls 57105 605-339-6613 TENNESSEE COOKEVILLE RCWY/HOBBY 880 W. JACKSON ST. #A Cookeville 38501 931-526-6017 HOBBYTOWN USA 2884 WOLFCREEK PARKWAY Memphis 38133 901-213-2682 HOBBYTOWN USA 634 NORTHGATE MALL Chattanooga 37415 423-877-9885 HOBBYTOWN USA 2927 N ROAN ST #101 Johnson City 37601 423-610-1010 HOBBYTOWN USA 536 N.THOMPSON LN. #J Murfreesboro 37129 615-890-6777 MARYVILLE RC RACEWAY 3521 CALDERWOOD HWY. Maryville 37801 865-856-6919 MID SOUTH HOBBIES 733 N.WHITE STATION RD. Memphis 38122 901-682-9402 SPEEDZONE PERFORMANCE RC 2704 EAST AJ HWY. Morristown 37814 423-317-9733 TEXAS AMARILLO HOBBY HOUSE 4127 W. 34th Amarillo 79109 806-355-2921 Longview 75604 903-297-7814 BIG MIKE’S HOBBIES & TOYS 2157 GILMER RD. GERBERS R/C 4250 FIVE POINTS RD. #6 Corpus Christi 78410 361-241-6544 GOTTA RIDE BIKES 28604 1 H 10 W #5 Boerne 78006 830-755-8039 GUADALUPE HOBBY CENTER 200 SIDNEY BAKER S. #5 Kerrville 78028 830-895-5654 LARRY’S HOBBIES 156-F, FM 1960 EAST Houston 77073 281-443-7373 HOBBY CENTER 18177 GULF FREEWAY Webster 77598 281-488-8697 201 WESTGATE PKWY. #H Amarillo 79121 806-352-9660 HOBBY TIME HOBBYTOWN USA 4566 S. BROADWAY Tyler 75703 903-509-3000 HOBBYTOWN USA 4211 S. LaMAR BLVD. #A-4 Austin 78704 512-440-7877 HOBBYTOWN USA 2500 W. PARMER LN. #80 Austin 78727 512-246-8904 HOBBYTOWN USA 1201 AUSTIN HWY #102 San Antonio 78209 210-829-8697 HOBBYTOWN USA 1079 W. ROUND RD. #700 Lewisville 75067 214-488-0980 INDY RC WORLD 2020 SATURN RD. Garland 75041 972-271-4844 MIKE’S HOBBY SHOP 1201 N. I 35 E. Carrollton 75006 972-242-4930

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MIKE’S HOBBIES 21768 E. KNOX DR. R/C WHEELS AND PROPS 3524 AVENUE Q ROY’S HOBBY SHOP 1309 N. NORWOOD DR. T & T R/C CARS 3420 AVENUE K TEAM VALADEZ HOBBIES 6130 MONTANA #204 THE RC HOBBY SHOP 13837 SOUTHWEST FWY VICTORY R/C 11030 KINGSPOINT RD. #4B VICTORY R/C 4609 RED BLUFF RD. UTAH HOBBYTOWN USA 582 E. UNIVERSITY PRKY. VERMONT MIKES HOBBIES 162 NORTH MAIN ST. RC TOY BOX HOBBIES 2176 PORTLAND ST., #2 VIRGINIA AWESOME RC & HOBBIES 261-106 GARRISONVILLE RD. CROSSROADS HOBBIES & CRAFTS 1104 W. MAIN ST. DRCW RACEWAY 1828 S. MILITARY HWY. HOBBY HANGER SPEEDWAY 14014-D SULLYFIELD CIR. HOBBYTOWN USA 12480 DILLINGHAM SQ. HOBBYTOWN USA 4000 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD. #196 RACEWORLD, INC 219 WEEMS LN. EASTCOAST HOBBIES 126 WENDY HILL LN. #2 WASHINGTON FANTASY WORLD HOBBIES 1909 S. 72nd ST. #A-12 19332 60th AVENUE W. GALAXY HOBBY HOBBY OUTLET 1700 MILE HILL DR. #100B HOBBYTOWN USA 9324 N. DIVISION 1130 SE EVERETT MALL WAY #F HOBBYTOWN USA HOBBYTOWN USA 16421-A CLEVELAND ST 13503 SE MILL PLAIN BLVD. #C-6 ISLAND HOBBIES J & S R/C HOBBIES PLUS 10305 STATE AVE. MIKE’S R/C WORLD 3360 AIRPORT DR. NW NITRO RC HOBBIES 412 E. MAIN ST. TACOMA R/C RACEWAY 4802 S. ADAMS ST. THE CLOVERLEAF 4110 MAIN ST. ULTIMATE HOBBIES 131 E. MAIN ST.

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84097

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05701 05819

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Tacoma Lynnwood Port Orchard Spokane Everett Redmond Vancouver Marysville Bellingham Puyallup Tacoma Union Gap Auburn

98408 98036 98366 99218 98208 98052 98684 98271 98225 98372 98409 98903 98002

253-473-6223 425-670-0454 360-874-0971 509-465-3267 425-355-8086 425-558-0312 360-891-5572 360-653-8838 360-733-3662 253-841-4639 253-565-1935 509-453-8959 253-939-2515

REMOTE CONTROL HOBBIES14041 NE WOODINVILLEDUVALL RD. Woodinville 98072 425-482-4328 WISCONSIN CHIPPEWA RC HOBBY 33 W. SPRING ST. Chippewa Falls 54729 715-723-4421 DIRT HEAVEN HOBBY & RACEWAY 6028 COUNTY RD. K New Franken 54229 920-866-9096 DISCOUNT AMERICA HOBBY & MOTORSPORTS 1020 3RD AVE. Monroe 53566 608-325-4502 FOCUS INC. 75 S. MAIN ST. Fond Du Lac 54935 920-922-5999 GALAXY SCIENCE & HOBBY CENTER 1607 N. RICHMOND ST. Appleton 54911 920-730-9220 GARY’S HOBBY CENTER 3701 DURAND AVE. Racine 53405 262-554-8884 GREENFIELD NEWS & HOBBY 6815 W. LAYTON AVE. Greenfield 53220 414-281-1800 HOBBY DEPOT 1524 E. SUMNER ST. Hartford 53027 262-670-6242 HOBBY JUNCTION 1729 STEPHENSON ST. Marinette 54143 715-732-6333 HOBBYTOWN USA 1959 WISCONSIN AVE. Grafton 53024 262-377-6666 HOBBY TOWN USA 2730 HERTIAGE DR. Delafield 53018 262-646-5755 HOBBYTOWN USA 2767 S. ONEIDA ST. Green Bay 54303 920-490-9996 JOHN’S HOBBIES 54 N. MAIN ST. Hartford 53027 262-673-7454 PHIL’S HOBBY & CRAFTS 409 W. MAIN ST. Wautoma 54982 920-787-7232 R/C PERFORMANCE & HOBBIES 4702 E. BROADWAY Madison 53716 608-222-8846 S&N’s TRACKSIDE HOBBIES 3635 N. 124th ST. Brookfield 53005 262-783-4699 THE HOBBY CONNECTION 503 S. GRAND AVE. Rothschild 54474 715-355-4100 WEST VIRGINIA DW REED HOBBY STOP 142 W. MAIN ST Bridgeport 26330 304-842-2742 OUTLAW MOTORSPORTS 3833 EARL L CORE Morgantown 26508 304-284-0480 HOBBYTOWN USA 720 NITRO MARKET PLACE Cross Lanes 25313 304-776-7259 WEST VIRGINIA 12 PUTNAM VILLAGE SHOP CTR. Teays Valley 25569 304-757-6474 HOBBY & CRAFT PUERTO RICO HI SPEED C. RACEWAY 422 SAN CALUDIO AVE. San Juan 00926 787-283-0198 EB-21 #2 ARTURO CADILLA ST. Toa Baja 00949 787-946-9965 PIT LANE HOBBY RACER’S HOBBY 873 SAN PATRICIO AVE. San Juan 00921 787-783-9150 CANADA GALAXY HOBBY 723 CENTRAL PKWY W. #2 ONATRIO Mississauga L5B 4L1 905-848-3368 HOBBY GUYS #1, 222-16 AVE. N.E. CALGARY Alberta T2E 1J8 403-230-8821 PM HOBBY CRAFT 2020 B 32ND AVE. N.E. CALGARY Alberta T2E 6T4 403-291-2733

TO HAVE YOUR SHOP LISTED HERE CALL: 1-800-767-0345. ATTENTION: YOU MUST SELL R/C CAR MAGAZINE TO BE IN THE SHOP LISTING.

ADVERTISER INDEX A-MAIN HOBBIES ........................14, 15, 62, 63 AKA RACING ................................................6, 7 ASSOCIATED ELECTRONICS, INC..16, 17, 103 BYRON ORIGINALS INC.................................39 CAROLINAS RC ........................................30, 31 CASTLE CREATIONS......................................29 DYNAMITE ................................................52, 53 HOBBY TOWN USA ........................................47 HOBZOB ..........................................................27 HOT BODIES ............................................68, 69 HPI RACING ............................................2, 3, 91 INTEGY TECHNOLOGIES INC. ................11, 13 KO PROPO ......................................................75 KYOSHO AMERICA ......................................4, 5 MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS ........117 MAX AMPS.COM ..............................................9 MORGAN INCORPORATED............................21 NITROCROSS................................................113 NOVAROSSI ....................................................61 OUTERWEARS................................................83 RC CAR SUBSCRIPTION ........................98, 99 SPEKTRUM ..........................................130, 131 TAMIYA AMERICA, INC ..................................73 TEAM LOSI ......................................................12 TEKIN ..............................................................97 TRAXXAS ....................................22, 23, 87, 132 UPGRADE RC ..........................................94, 95 VERTIGO PERFOMANCE PRODUCTS........105 WERKS RACING ............................................19 XTREME RACING ........................................107 • 128 •

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SPEKTRUM MAKES WAVES YET AGAIN Look for the DX3S and MR3000 to start shipping with new readyto-run Pro BoatÂŽ models like the HyperSportâ&#x201E;˘ Deep-V (PRB2350) www.proboatmodels.com

30%+425-2# #/Š2009 DSM and DSM2 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, Inc. US patent number 7, 391, 320. Other patents pending.

Spektrum is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. Spektrum radios and accessories are exclusively available from Horizon Hobby, Inc. 15856.1

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Make a Splash with Spektrum’s 2.4GHz Marine Receiver At Spektrum, we are committed to developing superior receivers for every segment in the hobby industry. That’s why we created the 3-channel MR3000 Marine 2.4GHz receiver. It’s the ideal solution for any boat modeler. Not only does it provide you with freedom from interference and frequency conflicts, but it has a water-resistant case and dual throttle and rudder ports. Plus, the ample length of the MR3000’s two coaxial feeder antennas gives you all kinds of flexibility when it comes to installation.

Whether you prefer a large offshore deep-V or a small sailboat, you’ll have no trouble equipping them with the unparalleled precision and response of the MR3000.

For more details on the world’s finest 2.4GHz marine receiver—and to find a Spektrum retailer near you—visit SpektrumRC.com.

SPMMR3000 MARINE RECEIVER - Water-resistant case - Dual rudder and throttle servo outputs - 2 coaxial feeder antennas (14 and 8 inches long) Modulation: Marine Band: 2.4GHz Dimensions (LxWxH): .75 x 1.34 x .20 in (19 x 34 x 5mm) Weight: .2 oz (6 g) Voltage Range: 3.5-9.6V Telemetry: None Compatibility: Spektrum surface systems with marine logo (shown below) and all DSM2 aircraft transmitters

New DX3S systems (SPM3140) that feature the new Marine protocol will have the icon shown here. Earlier DX3S systems can be upgraded with the new technology for a small fee. For complete details, call the Horizon Hobby Service Center at 1-877-504-0233.

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