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RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION JUNE 2022

UNSTOPPABLE MACHINE

THE ALL-NEW TRAXXAS SLEDGE 6S 1/8 MONSTER TRUCK

TALENT WITHOUT TRAINING IS NOTHING.

AXIAL’S LATEST SCX24 2021 Ford Bronco 4WD

THE MODEL MOTORSPORTS AUTHORITY JUNE 2022 $7.99 US $8.99 CAN

> Tamiya Super Avante TD4 Upgraded & Customized > Resto-Mod: Arrma’s Infraction 4x4 Mega 1/8 RTR > Losi Son-uva Digger LMT Solid Axle Monster Truck > The Basics: Understanding Transmitter Settings > RC Patina Guy x FMS 1/6-Scale Suzuki Jimny LJ1

CONTENTS Volume 37 Number 6 June 2022

FEATURED VEHICLES

DEPARTMENTS

22 › An Unstoppable Machine

06 › Starting Line

We Drive The All-New Traxxas Sledge 6S

32 › Decked Out Upgrading Tamiya’s Super Avante TD4 Off-Road Buggy

40 › Diggin’ It

10 › Gearbox 14 › Reader’s Rides 82 › Tailpipe

Losi Son-uva Digger LMT 4WD Solid Axle Monster Truck

48 › Hardbody Axial’s Latest SCX24: The 2021 Ford Bronco 4WD RTR

56 › Punishing the Pavement Arrma’s 1/8th scale Mega Infraction 4WD Street Bashing RTR

70 › As Real As It Gets A Closer Look At The FMS 1/6-Scale Suzuki Jimny LJ1

78 › Special Project: The Foundation Starting A Scale Crawler Build Based On A GCM Racing CMAX 2 Chassis

FEATURED 54 › Turning Up The Heat

Sights From The 2022 Edition Of The Jimmy Babcock Racing League Nitro Series

62 › Tuning Your Transmitter RC Transmitter Fine Tuning & Adjustments

66 › So Fresh & So Clean Traxxas Unleashes A Revamped Collection For 2022

TEST BENCH 74 › Powerhobby MX53 Internal Spool Brushless Servo Winch 76 › Reef’s RC BLK 900 Smart Programmable Servo ON THE LEFT: Traxxas Sledge 6S

RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION (USPS 001-087; ISSN 0886-1609) is published monthly by Air Age, Inc., 57 Danbury Road, Suite 202, Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Wilton, CT, and additional mailing offices. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40008153. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Go to our website RCCarAction.com.

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Starting Line Where did spring go? This year has been flying by hasn’t it?

We’re suffering through a major heat wave as I write this letter. It’s well over 90-degrees and we’re feeling it. Summer is upon us and it’s scorching hot. What better occasion than to get some RC time? When it comes to RC, there’s plenty to be excited about this summer.

It’s not often that we are treated to a totally new platform that was developed ground up from scratch. Traxxas treats us to the introduction of their latest all-powerful basher, Sledge.

Join us as we examine what makes this one of, if not the best Traxxas trucks to date. We made sure to put the monster truggy through its paces. Also in this issue, we join up with Axial for the release of their latest SCX24, the 2021 Ford Bronco. In an Axial first, it features a highly detailed hard ABS body with loads of details. It may be small in stature, but it’s big on fun.

We also revisit the Tamiya Super Avante, this time loading it up with all the hop up upgrade parts that we could. It sports a new look that we can’t get enough of. Read about it in the article, Decked Out. Monster Jam fans will be glad to see our review of the Losi Son-uva Digger LMT. It’s a great looking solid axle monster truck that’s looking to smash anything that gets in its way.

RCCA IS AT YOUR SERVICE 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

If you are ever dissatisfied, you may cancel your subscription at any time and receive a full refund for all unmailed issues.

Ripping up the tarmac is a hoon-worthy truck, the latest iteration of Arrma’s Infraction. We get to drive the 1/8-scale version that’s powered by Arrma’s Mega 550 system. You’ll want to read what our Features Editor Lauren Short says about it. We also get up close to FMS’s Suzuki Jimny LJ1. It’s a first generation Jimny that’s done up RC Patina Guy style. As RC technology advances, so do the availability of numerous functions found on RC transmitters. We dive into transmitter settings and learn what some of the more obscure features can do for your RC vehicle’s driving setup.

As always, we enjoy seeing what you are doing with your RC vehicles. If you have a build you’d like to share with fellow readers, consider submitting your ride to be included into out Reader’s Rides department. You can find the easy to submit form at RCCarAction.com. It’s never been easier to submit your ride.

Until next time, Jerry Tsai Editorial Director

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est. 1985

EDITORIAL Editorial Director

Jerry Tsai Features Editor

Lauren Short

PUBLISHING Group Publishers

Louis V. DeFrancesco Jr. Yvonne M. DeFrancesco Associate Publisher

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P/N: BAC-0020 MSRP: $45.00 bowhouserc.com

1. SOR S.O.S Scale Vehicle Recovery Kit Save Our Scaler! We’ve all been there, turtled and helpless like a baby fawn with a torn ACL that’s just never going to heal right. Make the recovery of your baby more fun by way of a scale recovery. The kit comes with a 25t low profile servo winch spool, aluminum scale snatch block, steel land anchor, black scale “W” winch hook with latch, large shackle, large hook, winch cable and more.

Choose from Coyote, Black, or Orange hardcases.

MSRP: $24.99 shopsorgraphics.com

10 RCCarAction.com

3. Helios RC 2S 600 45C Battery Pack Looking for more run time on your Axial SCX24 or other 24th scale rig? Helios RC 2S 600 45C pack is the perfect answer for your small scale truck. This battery has a voltage of 7.4 and a capacity of 600mAh. It measures 60 x 30 x 12mm to fit many applications.

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Special features not MPA-rated and may not be Hi-Def or SDH. © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

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READERS RIDES

READERS RIDES A NEW WAY TO SUBMIT YOUR RIDE! We now have an easy new way to submit your Readers Rides to RC Car Action online. Just go to Rccaraction.com/readers-ride-entry-form/ to fill in your vehicle’s info and upload your pix directly to us! As a bonus, it will generate a shareable link that you can send to your friends or share on social media to show off your ride to everyone!

RAMIN' THE COMPETITION RICKY MURRAY « SIERRA VISTA, AZ Ricky tells us that back in 1990 he built his first real RC, a Tamiya Lunchbox, with his dad. He was immediately hooked into RC and especially RC monster trucks. Ricky goes on to say, “After owning my fair share of RC monster trucks over the years, I saw Primal's Raminator. I knew I had to get one. I was blessed to secure one in October 2020 and have been building it into this beast since. I had always wanted a large, scale monster and the Raminator surely fits that bill. With the addition of small details, rear steering and having a gas engine, I couldn't get more scale than this. This truck is truly my go to in my fleet. In case there are any questions about its size, check out the pics of it next to the Tamiya Lunchbox! Special thanks to my fiancé for her continued support during this build. If you would like to see a full build thread on the truck, please visit Largescaleforums. com, under RC Build Logs, Rickdizzle's Raminator Build.”

The Raminator is truly huge, fantastic job Ricky!

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RIDE

M OF THE

ONTH

BUILD HIGHLIGHTS - Chassis: Primal RC Raminator V2 Monster Truck - Body: Raminator Monster Truck, Dodge Ram - Engine: 49CC gas engine using a 2 needle carburetor with Bartolone Racing V2 Velocity stack, Full Force RC high flow fuel fitting kit, Snappy RC fuel kit.

- Fuel: VP Racing 4 cylinder Small Engine Fuel at 94 octane mixed 40:1 with Amsoil Dominator 2 stroke oil.

- Wheels and Tires: Primal Raminator stock wheels and tires. 12"x 7" with 24mm hexes on the wheels, aluminum enclosed wheel nuts - Shocks: 8 total Primal Raminator shocks, 4 with springs and 4 acting as dampeners. Drilled pistons with Team -Associated 10 weight shock oil. Utilizes JS Performance aluminum shock mounts, aluminum spring separators, aluminum spring perches and bushings.

- Axles: Primal Raminator axles with both the front and rear differentials modified for strength and brass bushings added at the output shafts.

- Paint: Pre-painted Raminator body. Testors Spray Enamel for the driver and interior details, applied over Bulldog Adhesion Promotor - Graphics: Licensed decals from Primal RC to emulate the real Raminator Monster Truck and Dodge Ram. Scale "sponsor" decals from Factory Effex.

- Light System: 5 LED mini lights for RII light - Radio System: Futaba 7PXR wrapped in a Gorilla Guard silicon wrap for the transmitter. Futaba R2006GS 6-channel receiver - Other Options: Detailed driver with custom harness and paint. Added and RII (Remote Ignition Interrupter) light on the cage for added scale look.

Primal's rear steer kit for 4 wheel steering, stretched 2 inches using the extended wheelbase kit and also widened using the JS Performance wheel wideners, Taylor RC steering link mounts, complete JS performance steering links front and rear and JS Performance sway bar links, aluminum JS Performance body mounts. Small details were added like a DDM aluminum fuel cap, aluminum pull start handle and aluminum vent added to the gas tank. Savox SB-2274SG servos for throttle and reverse, Primal PM1373 high voltage servos for brake and steering

SPONSORED BY The special “P-L” logo marks the Readers’ Ride of the Month. If you see it on your vehicle, you win a Pro-Line prize pack that includes a T-shirt, cap, and Pro-Line body.

WIN A PRO-LINE PRIZE PACK!

RIDE

M OF THE

ONTH

To submit your vehicle, email your high-resolution JPEG images and a description to readersrides@airage.com. Readers’ Rides is also on Facebook! Visit facebook.com/ rccaraction and post your ride; we’ll message you if we want to feature it here in the mag.

JUNE 2022 15

READERS RIDES

RICK D JOHNSON GENERAL TIRE TROPHY TRUCK TODD MOEN « OREGON, USA

Submitted by Todd Moen hailing from Oregon, this is one of two 1/5-scale trophy trucks that he has created.

As a self-professed trophy truck fan, Todd shares his sharp looking 1/5-scale Kraken nitro powered RC trophy truck with us. His custom painted General Tire trophy truck body sits on a Kraken RC KV5TT chassis. The body is hand painted in Tamiya Color paints. Impressive work, great job Todd!

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BUILD HIGHLIGHTS - Chassis: Kraken RC KV5TT - Body: Kraken RC KV5TT - Engine: 50cc Big Bore - Fuel: Zenoah 320rc - Wheels and Tires: Losi 5T - Shocks: Kraken RC - Paint: Tamiya Color - Graphics: Custom by Todd Moen - Light System: RC4WD and Killer RcRPP Hobby - Radio System: Futaba 7PX, Spektrum DX5 pro - Other Options: HiTech Servos, window nets custom created by ToddCreated, trophy truck rear racing lights custom build.

JUNE 2022 17

READERS RIDES

79 BEAST

JOHN KELLOGG « OAKLEY, IL John bought this Traxxas TRX4 around two years ago, not long after he finished restoring a Tamiya Super Blackfoot that he got for Christmas back in 1993.

We’ll let John tell us about the 79 Beast in his own words “This project started as a scale version of the original Bigfoot until I realized that it would have limited off-road capability if I had the tires close to the fenders like the original. That’s when the ‘79 Beast’ was born.

I wanted a truck that would laugh at the snow and mud and it does just that.” Fantastic job John, it turned out great!

BUILD HIGHLIGHTS - Chassis: Traxxas TRX4 - Body: JConcepts 79 Ford F250 - Motor: Castle Creations Mamba X14 series 2850kv sensored brushless Crawler edition - Speed Control: Castle Creations Mamba X Waterproof 25.2v Crawler Edition - Battery: HRB 6000mAh 14.8v 50c - Wheels and Tires: JConcepts Midwest 2.2” MT wheels on JConcepts Fling Kings Jr 2.2” tires - Shocks: Traxxas Long Arm Lift kit - Axles: Hot Racing +10mm S2 spring steel portal drive stub axles - Paint: Tamiya Color PS-5 Black, PS-14 Copper, PS-48 Silver, PS-31 Smoke - Graphics: JConcepts 79 Ford decal sheet - Radio System: Traxxas TQi, Dsservo 35kg waterproof Coreless digital servo for steering - Other Options: Traxxas Bigfoot air cleaners, Hot Racing steel truck nuts

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ELECTRIC R/C CAR SERIES

XV-02 PRO CHASSIS KIT

X-CEPTIONAL! This shaft-driven 4WD chassis kit features a front midship motor and transmits power from the spur gear in the center via identical length front and rear long propeller shafts, which allows running on surfaces KWTR TS WTFI YT ‫ܫ‬FY INWY 9 differential

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FEATURE

AN UNSTOPPA

WE DRIVE THE ALL-NEW TRAXXAS SLEDGE 6S

Text by Jerry Tsai Images by the author and Traxxas

Are you looking for a go fast, go anywhere vehicle that can shrug off damage that would prove to be fatal for most other RCs? How do good looks, smart design and thoughtful engineering sound to you? If any or all of that appeals to you, then you’ll want to read on as we take a close up look at the monster truck they call Sledge. Rarely can an RC vehicle be all things to all people. In the case of the all-new Traxxas Sledge, we dare say that this truck comes awfully close.

The Sledge is an all-new platform for Traxxas, which

22 RCCarAction.com

ABLE MACHINE AT A GLANCE TYPE Monster Truck SCALE 1/8 DRIVETRAIN 4WD POWER Electric BUILD RTR PRICE $799.99

is exciting news to us RC enthusiasts. The Traxxas brand is loved by radio control fans for its line of iconic RC vehicles, as is its commitment to bringing us fun, powerful and problem free vehicles. Slash, X-Maxx, E-Revo… no matter which Traxxas vehicle you call your favorite, you’ll find some serious history behind it. The Sledge is the latest entry into the company’s storied line-up and we’re glad we’re here to experience it first hand.

Officially Traxxas calls the Sledge a monster truck

but by the looks it, Sledge looks more like a truggy to us. Regardless of what it is classified as, it’s clear that its purpose of existence is to provide pure nonstop bashing fun. Our time with it reminded us of another machine that was as brutally powerful as it was virtually unstoppable. Like a T-800 Terminator cyborg, the Sledge is a machine that doesn’t know how to quit. The four-wheel-drive monster truggy is purpose-built to exert power and absorb any and all punishment that it faces. Seriously, this thing is an unstoppable beast.

JUNE 2022 23

FEATURE

A TRUE BEAST Sledge is a ground up build that shares little to no parts with any other vehicle in the Traxxas stable. Aside from maybe the shocks and electronics, the truck began life on a clean sheet of paper.

What this meant for the engineers was that they were not limited to pulling any existing parts off the shelf to make them work with this vehicle. They were free to design and engineer this truck to be the ultimate bashing machine that it is.

Starting with a 3.2mm thick aluminum chassis that is ribbed and contoured for enhanced strength, you’ll immediately notice just how over-built this truck really is. The chassis features formed edges for improved strength as well as a thick T-Bar brace running from front to rear for added rigidity. This T-shaped bar is made of solid aluminum and is stronger than the rounded bars that are found in some other RC vehicles. The T-Bar is surrounded by a series of braces that help make the Sledge one of the most rigid and toughest chassis that we’ve ever encountered.

Sledge’s powerful Velineon 2000kV brushless motor is solidly mounted in a dedicated aluminum cradle mount.

24 RCCarAction.com

It’s seriously impressive stuff.

The monster truggy’s shock towers are made of thick 5mm 6061-T6 aluminum that utilize oversized 4mm hardware. These robust units feature high-strength buttressing to keep them ultra stiff and ready for serious impacts. The chassis is based on a low center of gravity layout that improves stability and handling.

The blue anodized chassis is framed around its edges with high durability plastic side guards that deflect debris and provide a seamless, finished look. Examining the chassis in detail revealed very tight tolerances between each of its interlocking components.

On the chassis, you’ll find a rugged locking battery compartment with a quick-release door. The battery tray can hold a single or dual 3S LiPo batteries. The two 3S batteries sit together in the tray on their spines and can be securely held in place with two body clips that lock the battery compartment’s quick-release door, leaving no chance that the

batteries will fall out. When two batteries are combined, they fuel Sledge with 6S levels of power. Sledge is rated to drive 55 miles per hour straight out of the box while running 6S power. Changing the gearing will get it up to a factory rated top speed exceeding 70 miles per hour. Is there such thing as going too fast?

POWER & CONTROL Powering the Sledge to 55 miles per hour and beyond is a Traxxas Velineon brushless system that consists of a VXL-6s waterproof electronic speed control and a monstrous 2000kV brushless motor.

The motor features a finned body for better heat dissipation. It is mounted in an aluminum motor cradle mount that supports the entire motor and

Sledge rides on oversized 6.7-inch diameter Sledgehammer tires that are mounted and glued to 3.8-inch wheels.

“Sledge is the latest entry into Traxxas’ storied line-up and we’re glad we’re here to experience it Ãghi ]VcY#¹ JUNE 2022 25

FEATURE Sledge’s 3.2mm thick aluminum chassis is ribbed for enhanced strength.

High durability side guards provide a finished look.

reduces flex for longer life.

All this power must be controlled and thanks to Sledge’s built-in Traxxas Stability Management (TSM), this daunting task is manageable. Think of TSM as electronic driver aids that you would find in real life cars such as traction control or even a sports car’s launch control. TSM makes the Sledge much easier to control on slippery surfaces such as loose dirt, smooth concrete, and even ice and snow. TSM can be fine-tuned or deactivated by adjusting the multi-function knob on the TQi transmitter or in the Traxxas link app.

The truck’s drivetrain is equally robust and features heavy-duty steel driveshafts with large 8mm steel stub axles and a steel dog bone center driveline. Does this sound overbuilt? You bet. But that’s what Sledge is all about. The transmission is built with a fixed gear mesh system and Torque-Biasing Center Drive. TorqueBiasing Center Drive is made to absorb shocks that may shock the driveline. The center drive is also filled with impossibly thick silicone fluid that helps distribute power evenly throughout the driveline to all four wheels seamlessly via robust sealed differentials.

The differential is key to handling 6S power and Sledge’s steel-gear diffs are up for the challenge. They consist of oversized coarse pitch gears that are much more robust and physically larger than traditional 1/8-scale components.

Not only is it designed for oversize 8mm output shafts, but it also has easyaccess bulkheads to make quick work of maintenance duties.

26 RCCarAction.com

Helping Sledge glide over rough terrain are its oil-filled GT-Maxx shocks. Similar to the ones found on the X-Maxx, these shocks feature an extra-large bore and additional oil capacity along with a large-diameter damper shaft for smooth yet efficient dampening. The GT-Maxx shocks work in concert with ultra-tough composite arms to form an impressive suspension package. Details found on the suspension arms include

A low slung stance helps keep the Sledge stable.

rear rock deflectors as well as molded inserts for a more refined look. Sledge rides on oversized 6.7-inch diameter Sledgehammer all-terrain tires that are mounted and glued to 3.8-inch black wheels. The wheels are sized for 17mm aluminum axle hubs, which are pretty much mandatory to handle all the power being put down.

Robust oil-filled GT-Maxx shocks provide a smooth ride.

LET’S DRIVE As you may surmise by now, Sledge is made to take abuse and keep on running and we’ll tell you first hand just how durable it is. We took Sledge on a few gnarly bash sessions including a special visit to jump ramp maker, Freshpark, in order to jump over their building. Yes, you read that right. Sledge jumped over an industrial building and survived to tell the tale. Read more about that visit in the accompanying sidebar, The Adventures of Sledge.

We also took Sledge out to the local park to have a go at some dirt berms and other obstacles. The truck was powerful yet predictable to control, which is a nice feeling. Having access to incredible amounts of power is one thing, but having it under your control is a whole other thing and we liked it. TSM helped keep the beast under control but with it on, we Two 3S batteries combine to provide Sledge with 6S power.

JUNE 2022 27

FEATURE

did sense a tendency to understeer.

Sledge doesn’t come with a wheelie bar but it does like to wheelie when you punch it. What ended up happing is that the truck would take off on its hind wheels and ride its rear wing acting as if it were a wheelie bar. The Sledgehammer tires were made to minimize “donut-ing”, but the sheer power that the motor puts out make that an impossible task. The tires do donut, but they didn’t seem any worse for wear even after turning into flying saucers as they skimmed the dirt time and time again.

Although we didn’t have the space to get it up to 55 miles per hour, we were left with no doubt that it could easily achieve the factory rated top speed. The truck is seriously quick and at nearly 15 pounds

with batteries installed, we needed to be careful that we didn’t run Sledge into any people or anything that we would hurt by accident. This truck is so fast and robust that caution must be taken when driving it. We did however ram the side of a gutter as well as a concrete building by accident and to our surprise nothing broke.

After bashing about, we found that Sledge was designed with attributes that allow it to survive what would be catastrophic impacts for other RCs. To name just a few, we notice that the arms have enough flex to bounce back before snapping and that there are many easily replaceable skid plates mounted throughout the truck including bumpers that protect the chassis in the front and rear and roof skid protectors that shield the body. The chassis and shock tower bracing is robust

as is the motor mount and heavy-duty servo saver with aluminum posts. This truck is made to survive some rough RC bash sessions.

Speaking of body, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the awesome job that Traxxas did in regards to Sledge’s body. The inside of the body features a rigid internal frame that keeps the body in shape even after multiple heavy impacts. Also, the body’s new clipless body mounting system is the real star of the show. It’s super secure and is so easy to use. You only need one hand to mount the body and secure it to the chassis.

Removing the body is almost as easy and just as quick. We’re huge fans of this clipless method of body mounting and we hope to see this design migrate to all of Traxxas’ other vehicles.

The Adventures of Sledge We took Sledge down to jump ramp maker Freshpark to see what they thought of it. Freshpark did what they do best and set up a jump ramp to see if Sledge could clear their industrial building. Check out what happened in the video The Adventures of Sledge on YouTube by scanning the QR code.

28 RCCarAction.com

Takes A Beatin’ But Keeps On Revvin’!

All this damage and Sledge keeps on running. The superficial damage shown here is a good indicator of the abuse that we put Sledge through.

The best thing is that nothing broke and many of the skid plates can be swapped out for fresh units to keep Sledge looking new.

TRAXXAS SLEDGE 1/8 BRUSHLESS ELECTRIC MONSTER TRUCK SPECS Height: 8.43 in. (214mm) Length: 23.78 in. (604mm) Width: 18.10 in. (459mm) Wheelbase: 15.10 in. (604mm) Ground Clearance: 1.95 in. (50mm) Scale: 1/8 Price: $799.99 P/N: 95076-4 Weight as tested: 12 lbs. 12 oz. (5.77kg) Chassis: 3.2mm aluminum plate Shocks: Oil-filled GT-Maxx shocks Suspension: 4-wheel independent Differential: Sealed, hardened steel bevel, limited slip Driveshafts: Heavy-duty steel driveshafts Body: Pre-painted, decorated, pre-cut polycarbonate Wheels: 3.8” wheels, pre-glued Sledgehammer® Tires & foam inserts; 6.7x3.8 Tires: 6.7” Sledgehammer all-terrain tires Speed Control: Velineon VXL-6s Motor: Velineon 2000kV Brushless Steering Servo: Traxxas #2275 metal gear servo Radio: TQi 2.4GHz Transmitter Receiver: 5-Channel TSM Receiver

FINAL WORD Now back to the question at hand. Can the Sledge be all things to all people? With its good looks, impressive power and incredible robustness, it’s really a hard package to beat.

During our limited time with it, Sledge has quickly become one of our favorite bashers and we can’t wait to take it out for some more amazing bash sessions. Others be warned, Traxxas just threw the basher gauntlet down and its name is Sledge.

Source: Traxxas traxxas.com

JUNE 2022 29

WATCH THE VIDEO!

FEATURE VEHICLE

DECKED

UPGRADING TAMIYA’S SUPER AVANTE TD4 OFF-ROAD BUGGY

Text and Images by Jerry Tsai

A few issues ago, we built, drove and reviewed Tamiya’s latest off-road four-wheel-drive buggy, the Super Avante. Based on an all-new TD4 chassis, the high performance buggy features forward thinking design and intricate engineering. Right out of the box, the buggy performed as promised. It’s easy to drive, handles great and looks good on the track. As with many of our RC projects, we just couldn’t leave well 32 RCCarAction.com

enough alone. We got antsy with the Super Avante and decided to heap a load of upgrade parts onto it. Read on to learn what we did when we tackled the project.

Our goals with the upgrades were to primarily make it faster, fine tune its handling characteristics, beef up its reliability and increase its bling appeal. What can we say; we love making our RCs look good and go

OUT fast. As mentioned earlier, the Super Avante handles splendidly in its stock form but if we can add even more performance, we’re going to do it.

Our Super Avante started out bone stock with a brushed Tamiya Sport Tuned motor, plastic geared KO Propo steering servo and a HobbyWing Quicrun ESC. The kit already comes with a full set of ball bearings so we didn’t need to shell out for another set. We took a look at Tamiya USA’s website to see just what factory upgrades they make for the TD4 chassis. As it turns out, the answer is “a lot.”

JUNE 2022 33

FEATURE VEHICLE

THE MASTER PLAN It seems that Tamiya makes their famed blue anodized aluminum parts to replace just about every major component of the TD4. Everything from steering components like the steering bridge, steering arms, and crank arm are furnished in their trademark blue aluminum. These hop up parts even come with smooth rolling bearings preinstalled in them too. Other parts such as aluminum servo stays and steel universal shafts are available too. We decided to snap up every part that Tamiya USA offered on their website.

The non-factory parts that we planned to use included a XeRun XR10 brushless motor and ESC combo from HobbyWing. This power plant set up would immediately increase the Super Avante’s top speed and acceleration.

We also wanted to increase the TD4’s steering response with a Reefs RC 299:LP racing servo. The TD4 chassis requires a low profile servo and the Reefs RC unit fits the

Plenty of Tamiya’s blue aluminum upgrades can be seen here. Note that the Reefs RC low-profile 299:LP servo fits perfectly in the TD4 chassis.

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“The Super Avante features a unique in-board front suspension set up...”

bill. With a casing height that fits the chassis perfectly, the metalgeared servo is capable of 299 ounces of torque and smooth and quick operation.

HOP UPS GALORE We started our upgrades in the front end of the chassis by installing the upgraded steering components.

The Super Avante features a unique in-board front suspension set up so we went ahead and installed a few suspension upgrades as well.

Tamiya’s TD4 aluminum rocker arms contribute to improved suspension feel. Compared to the standard plastic parts, these parts have less flex and contribute to more direct feel from the suspension. The Reefs RC servo fit like a glove on the blue aluminum servo stays. We also installed a Tamiya aluminum adjustable servo horn. This horn allows for fine-

tuning the chassis’ steering geometry.

Once we saw Tamiya’s big bore aeration dampers, we had to grab them. We really like these big bore shocks because they carry more oil in them and are butter smooth in their actuation. One thing we failed to notice is that the shocks don’t come with springs and Tamiya USA didn’t have them in stock. When we looked up the springs on eBay, we found that they are selling for about $60 per set for the fronts and the rears. $120 for springs is a bit much so we found an alternative. Team Associated 12mm big bore springs for the B6 and B64 springs fit perfectly and at about $8 a pair, we decided to go that route instead. With the front end complete, we moved on to the other hop ups.

The motor compartment is really tight.

Consider the space constraints when choosing your brushless motor.

HICCUPS If you recall, our original assessment of the Super Avante mentioned that we had a challenging time building

The TD4’s aluminum steering hop up parts come with smooth rolling bearings preinstalled.

TIGHTER TURNING If you’re scratching your head about the Super Avante’s not-sotight-turning radius, we were too. We found out from Tamiya USA that many TD4 builders (such as ourselves) overlooked a key note on step 40 in the Super Avante instruction manual.

Removing spacers A1 and A2 will give the TD4 the super tight turning radius that you may be searching for.

JUNE 2022 35

FEATURE VEHICLE

the kit. We have to report that upgrading the buggy was no different. While most parts went on without a hitch, others were a challenge or in this case, not possible. When we looked to install the HobbyWing XeRun XR10 brushless motor, we realized that the clearance for the motor was really tight. The XR10’s “piggyback” position motor terminals would not clear the tight confines of the motor cavity. After an hour of trying to get it to somehow fit, we backed off and decided to reinstall the Tamiya Sport Tuned brushed motor we had in it originally. Because of that, the ESC remained unchanged as well. We have since learned that a brushless motor with wire terminals that stick out the end of the motor would allow it to fit.

36 RCCarAction.com

We’ll have to save this upgrade for another time.

THE BACKEND While we had the rear end apart, we installed a Tamiya TD4 slipper clutch as well as a differential nut and screw set.

Both of these hop ups greatly increase the TD4’s drivetrain performance. The slipper clutch protects your drivetrain from overload but also adjusts traction during acceleration. Another detail we didn’t anticipate was the need for a 48P pinion gear to interface with the clutch’s new top gear, as the stock pinion gear doesn’t work with it.

We also installed universal drive shafts to replace the traditional dog

bones. These drive shafts are used for more efficient power transmission to the wheels. As with the frontend, we also installed a pair of Tamiya big bore aeration dampers with Team Associated 12mm big bore springs in the rear. We captured the rear suspension parts with Tamiya’s TD4 aluminum rear suspension mount. This upgraded rear suspension mount replaces the standard plastic part with an aluminum version that includes finer tuning settings.

A NEW LOOK Since we completely refreshed the Super Avante performance wise, it made sense to give it a new look

too. Since we first saw the buggy, we immediately thought that its cigar shape looked reminiscent of a 1960’s era F1 or Indy car. To that end, we painted up a body in a livery that is inspired by Honda’s RA-series F1 cars from the mid to late 1960s using Tamiya Color spray paint. The simple white color scheme look seemed right for such an advanced looking car.

Tamiya’s optional clear body set comes with everything you need to complete the Super Avante body. Those familiar with the Super Avante will know that the body is pretty intricate, requiring many add ons such as screws, nuts, o-rings and tape. These parts are all included as well as a driver figure and

decal sheet.

To make it look more like an F1 car from that timeframe, we decided to leave the Super Avante’s fenders and rear wing clear to give it a transparent, almost not there, look. Since open wheel racecars of the time didn’t have rear wings or fenders, we thought this look was appropriate for the theme. The body was completed with decals from MCI Racing as well as Mr. Hop-Up. We also swapped the stock neon yellow wheels with dark grey colored ones from the Tamiya Aero Avante.

a local dirt track to see what it could do. As expected, the buggy handled predictably and its larger big bore shocks soaked up the bumps and allowed it to glide over the terrain smoothly. The steering components, Reefs RC servo and suspension upgrades combined to make the buggy turn razor sharp and handle jumps with ease. There are so many ways to fine-tune the buggy that we’ll be trying different settings for a long time to come. It was great fun to drive.

ON TRACK With the Super Avante upgraded, we hit JUNE 2022 37

BASE VEHICLE: TAMIYA SUPER AVANTE TD4 Scale: 1/10 Price: $449 P/N: 58696

TAMIYA UPGRADE PARTS RC TD4 Assembly Univ Shafts, P/N: 22028 RC TD4 Diff Nut/Screw Set, P/N: 22029 RC TD4 Aluminum Servo Stays, P/N: 22030 RC TD4 Slipper Clutch Set, P/N: 22031 RC TD4 Alum Steering Bridge, P/N: 22032 RC TD4 Alum Steering Arms, P/N: 22033 RC TD4 Alum Crank Arm, P/N: 22034 RC TD4 Alum Rocker Arms, P/N: 22036 RC TD4 Stabilizer Set, P/N: 22037 RC TD4 Alum Rear Sus Mount, P/N: 22038 RC TD4 Stabilizer Set, P/N: 22037 RC Buggy Big Bore Damper Front, P/N: 54504 RC Buggy Big Bore Damper Rear, P/N: 54505 RC Alum Adjustable Servo Horn, P/N: 54893 RC Clamp Type Alu Wheel Hub, P/N: 53823 RC 48P Pinion Gear (18T, 19T), P/N: 53965

OTHER UPGRADE PARTS Reefs RC 299:LP Servo, reefsrc.com Team Associated FT 12mm Springs, associatedelectrics.com

BODY PARTS Tamiya Super Avante Body Set, P/N: 51676 Tamiya Color Spray Paint PS-1 White, P/N: 86001 Mr. Hop-Up Decal Sheet C “Enjoy The Ride”, mrhopup.com MCI Racing GP3D 2 Honda RA273 Decal Sheet, mciracing.ca

FINAL THOUGHTS Achieving most of the goals we set out to accomplish, we’d say that the hop ups that we installed on the Super Avante has made it an even more nimble, fine-tunable, robust buggy that looks mighty sharp on the track. We are looking forward to getting a brushless motor and ESC set up in the near future to see just how fast the Super Avante can go. In the meantime, we’ll still be having fun driving it wherever and whenever we can.

Tamiya’s optional stabilizer set provides enhanced cornering stability by controlling how much the car’s suspension leans into a turn without sacrificing suspension dampening. Both soft and hard stabilizer rods are included for tuning purposes.

38 RCCarAction.com

Source: Tamiya America tamiyausa.com

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FEATURE

DIGGIN' IT LOSI SON-UVA DIGGER LMT 4WD SOLID AXLE MONSTER TRUCK Text and Images by Jerry Tsai

No other event screams monster-sized trucks like Monster Jam. The traveling, adrenaline pumped series features giant trucks jumping, bouncing and flipping in death defying acts that your eyes have to see to believe. Losi brings that excitement home with their 1/10-scale Son-uva Digger 4WD solid axle monster truck.

40 RCCarAction.com

Based on Losi’s venerable LMT platform, the scaled replica of the crowd favorite, Son-uva Digger, is ready for your very own backyard jam. The LMT runs on a four-wheel drive drivetrain that can take it anywhere and over anything you dare to drive it. It comes as a ready to run (RTR) kit so there’s no building involved.

Just charge up the batteries and it’s good to go.

AT A GLANCE TYPE Monster Truck SCALE 1/10 DRIVETRAIN 4WD POWER Electric BUILD RTR PRICE $649.99

JUNE 2022 41

FEATURE

READY TO JAM Son-uva Digger is a solid axle truck that is designed

by Losi to combine all-out monster truck performance with incredible scale detail. Its LMT chassis features a twin vertical plate layout that is crafted to provide all of the performance adjustments that you may require of the truck. The chassis is designed to accommodate multiple shock setups to keep the truck tracking straight, no matter the terrain.

Because this is a monster truck, it’s designed with oversized components to assure monster performance.

The 1/10-scale Son-uva Digger is endowed with an oversized 1/8th scale drivetrain that is complete with multi-piece axle housings. Additionally, the Losi team thought ahead and provided the LMT with an easy access center transmission with a center differential that allows for quick changes with an optional spool for wheel standing action. True monster truck fans will be

The LMT rides on BKT monster truck tires that are mounted on Monster Jam accurate wheels.

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happy to know that 4-wheel steering capability available as an option. The LMT’s fluid filled center differential allows for performance tuning with the added protection of a torque dampening Cush Drive. The Cush Drive is a rubber elastomer system that absorbs the high impact forces from the motor and big landings to minimize the shock on the drivetrain, providing a very durable and reliable drivetrain.

Monster trucks ride high in part because of their tall suspension as well as tall wheels and tires. The LMT’s long travel coilover shocks come with rubber bump stops that provide superior dampening and handling characteristics. These proprietary shocks and springs have been tuned to mount directly to the truck’s axle housings. They offer great performance as well as a very scale look.

The wheels and tires are modeled after Monster Jam units but these RC wheels feature short course style wheel

“...the Losi team thought ahead and provided the LMT with an easy access center transmission...”

JUNE 2022 43

FEATURE The chassis is designed to accommodate multiple shock setups.

attachment points with replaceable center hubs. The wheels’ 17mm wheel hex helps reduce the rotating mass of the tire while providing additional clearance for all of the steering components. The replaceable center hubs allow for optional offsets, as well as increased durability. Losi also offers an optional 12mm center hub for greater wheel choice and versatility.

Son-uva Digger is powered by a Spektrum Firma Smart 130 Amp ESC and 3150kv 4-pole Brushless motor. This power combination allows the truck to unleash plenty of speed and power from 2S and 3S LiPo batteries. A dependable Spektrum DX3 transmitter and a SR315 DSMR 3-Channel Sport Receiver, which comes with the RTR set, control this monster truck.

A powerful Spektrum servo guides Son-uva Digger over dirt berms and crushed cars alike.

ALL IN THE DETAILS The real Son-uva Digger’s body is based on a 1950 Willys Jeep and this scale replica is no different. Looking just like its bigger cousin, this 22-inch long RC monster truck is a spitting image of the original if we’ve ever seen one. Extra scale details like exhaust headers and LED headlights help to complete the truck’s scale look so it looks even more like the real thing.

We all have our favorite drivers and this LMT is no different. A scale driver figure sits in the center of the truck safely strapped into a Monster Jam inspired safety seat. Is the driver Ryan Anderson, the driver of the real Son-uva Digger? Or is it you? You can decide that.

The truck’s chassis is accessed via a composite flip top cage that adds scale realism and protection. It’s functional too, allowing easy access to the LMT’s battery and electronics.

THE DRIVE We strapped in a Spektrum LiPo battery into the LMT’s Losi elastomer battery mounting system for secure installation of the battery. This stretchable battery strap allows for the use of a wide variety shaped and sizes of batteries. After getting the feel of the truck on a loose dirt yet relatively flat surface, we let Sonuva Digger rip.

The monster truck did what monster trucks do. It quickly popped wheels and tumbled around. It was great fun to drive for sure. We adjusted the truck’s twoposition wheelie bar to find the optimum

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wheel angle. Son-uva Digger’s wheelie bar utilizes a large roller supported by ball bearings on each side for smooth wheelie action. The bar can be placed in one of two fixed positions for the optimal wheelie angle. We had a ton of fun driving Son-uva Digger around and even crushed a few cars that got in our way during out bash session. We didn’t need to adjust anything right out of the box, but it’s good to know that the LMT chassis allows for plenty of tuning when needed.

Son-uva Digger’s signature look is replicated in detail on this 1/10-scale body.

FINAL THOUGHTS If you’re looking for a fun monster truck to recreate your favorite Monster Jam moments with, we think Sonuva Digger should be a heavy contender on your “next RC truck” list.

If you’re looking for the Son-uva Digger’s pop, you’ll be happy to know that Grave Digger is also available as a Losi LMT RTR kit. For those of us who are entertaining the idea of building a monster truck from ground up, you’ll be glad to know that a Losi LMT roller kit is available too.

With so many options, it’s easy to find an LMT that suits you best.

Source Horizon Hobby horizonhobby.com

JUNE 2022 45

Learn more about Talion EXB:

ARA8707 1/8 Scale ARRMA TALION 6S EXB ed tires.

FEATURE VEHICLE

HARD AT A GLANCE TYPE Rock Crawler SCALE 1/24 DRIVETRAIN 4WD POWER Electric BUILD RTR PRICE $159.99

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BODY

AXIAL’S LATEST SCX24: THE 2021 FORD BRONCO 4WD RTR Text and Images by Jerry Tsai

Hands down one of the most exciting off road vehicles to hit the trails in recent years is the all-new Ford Bronco.

This purpose designed and built off roaders is the first serious challenger to Jeep’s dominance in the adventure rig, trail crawling and overland genres. We’ve been out on the trails in the Bronco and can report that the vehicle definitely lives up to its hype.

Another new Bronco release that has been garnering plenty of hoopla is Axial’s 1/24-scale version of the popular go-anywhere SUV. Based on Axial’s SCX24, the miniaturized RC platform is a 1/24-scale version of the company’s hugely popular SCX10 line of scale crawlers.

Replicated in a size that can tackle the outdoors as well as desktop trails, this pint-

sized crawler can keep the fun going indoors as well as out. Designed to replicate the latest generation Ford Bronco, this detailed scale replica is perfect for Ford and off roader enthusiasts alike.

The SCX24 runs on a fourwheel drive drivetrain that can take it anywhere you dare to drive it. It comes as a ready to run (RTR) kit so there’s no building involved. Just charge up the batteries and it’s ready to go. If you’re a beginner or looking for a good ride to entrust to a beginner RC driver, you’ll be glad to know that no previous radio control experience is needed because this Jeep JT is easy to drive.

That’s not to say that expert drivers won’t have fun with it either, because we’re sure they will. We sure did.

JUNE 2022 49

FEATURE VEHICLE

FULLY CAPABLE

LED lights come standard on the Bronco.

The Bronco is based on the well-proven Axial SCX24 chassis, which means that it not only looks great but performs well, too. To keep the body proportions correct for the Bronco, Axial chose a shorter version of its SCX24 chassis to act as its foundation. We like design details like this. The smaller 1/24-scale means it measures just shy of 9-inches in length. This allows the rig to be just the right size to make any spot a great setting for your RC adventures. We even drove it on piled up books on our desk at work. If you’ve got a messy room, you’re hard work has paid off. You already have a crawling course that’s ripe for the crawling.

Thanks to its full-time 4-wheel drive and articulating 3-link front/4-link rear suspension, the SCX24 is capable of tackling some real trails. Bronco features realistic steel frame rails for rigidity and worm gears on its axles increase ground clearance. The SCX24 is motivated by

A full-sized spare tire is mounted on the Bronco’s rear door.

50 RCCarAction.com

The Horizon AS-1 steering servo’s front mounted position provides ideal weight distribution for the crawler.

a Dynamite 88T motor and is powered by an included 2S LiPo battery. An Axial 2-channel radio system also comes with the RTR kit for easy control.

Axial calls this kit an RTR and when they say RTR, they really mean it. It comes with not only the vehicle’s LiPo battery and USB charging cable, but AA batteries for the transmitter as well. The Bronco’s body is secured with Velcro in the front with hinges in the rear. To access the chassis, you pull the front up to release the Velcro and the body simply scissors open. It’s quick, easy and there are no body clips to lose.

ALL IN THE DETAILS The Bronco is endowed with an ABS hard plastic scale body and includes a driver figure and a detailed interior.

The hard body is a first for the SCX24 line and we hope to see more like it in future releases. Being molded in hard plastic allows the Bronco’s body to be even more detailed than the SCX24 models that came before it. The SCX24 Ford Bronco achieves a whole new level of scale realism by including

The Dynamite 88T brushed motor may be small, but provides enough power to get this rig anywhere it needs to go.

JUNE 2022 51

FEATURE VEHICLE details such as molded door handles, mirrors, and roof rails.

Other scale details you’ll find on the Bronco include Scale Tuff Stuff Overland accessories that are mounted on the roof rack. The rig is also fitted with officially licensed Nitto Trail Grappler tires on replica Ford Wildtrak wheels for a good dose of realism and confident grip onand off-road. There’s also a mounted fullsize spare tire, plus an optional second decal sheet for adding your personal touch.

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This Ford also comes with working LED lights on the front corners of the scale Ford Bronco body and in the front bumper. All four corners of the body feature molded lenses. The Bronco is available in your choice of three colors based on the current factory colors, Race Red, Cactus Gray and Velocity Blue.

THE DRIVE We took the SCX24 out for trail runs in several areas including, as we mentioned earlier, on our work desk and at the

local park. We even crawled it on a pile of pillows on top of our bed at home.

It’s easy to have fun with it just about anywhere. We found that the Bronco likes to shy away from being too aggressive on drastic inclines and descents. It does have an ABS body and carries accessories on its roof after all, so it tends to be a bit top heavy. Adding some weights down low might resolve this issue. Overall it’s a really fun rig to run, especially for those just getting into the hobby or for the little ones.

Scale details such as recovery boards and gas cans are found on the roof rack.

AXIAL SCX24 2021 FORD BRONCO 4WD RTR SPECS Height: 4.625 in. (117mm) tLength: 8.75 in. (222mm) Width: 3.875 in. (98mm) Wheelbase: 5.19 in. (132mm) Ground Clearance: 1.06 in. (27mm) Scale: 1/24 Price: $159.99 P/N: AXI00006T2 Chassis: Steel C-Channel Chassis Frame Rails Shocks: Friction Coilover Shocks Suspension: 4-wheel independent Differential: Front and rear differentials, worm gears Driveshafts: Splined Body: Pre-painted, decorated, pre-cut polycarbonate Wheels: Ford Wildtrak Tires: Nitto Trail Grappler M/T Speed Control: Horizon HRZ00015 Motor: Dynamite 88T Brushed Electric Motor Steering Servo: Horizon AS-1 Radio: Horizon 2.4GHz 2-Channel Radio System Receiver: Horizon HRZ00015 Battery: Dynamite 350mAh 2S LiPo 7.4V

FINAL WORD With an allinclusive retail price of only $160, this miniBronco is an incredible value.

Axial’s SCX24 is a platform that has already won over many crawler enthusiasts and now it’s available in the latest Ford Bronco body style; what’s not to be excited about? We sure are.

Source: Axial axialracing.com Horizon Hobby horizonhobby.com

JUNE 2022 53

EVENT

TURN UP THE HEAT SIGHTS FROM THE 2022 EDITION OF THE JIMMY BABCOCK RACING LEAGUE NITRO SERIES Text and Images by Joel Navarro

Having a great pit person is just as important of having great driving skills to be successful.

Jimmy Babcock and crew make every race in the nitro series run like a well-oiled machine.

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There are many great RC race series in the U.S., but none are arguably as famous as the JBRL race series that is held in Southern California. Going on for close to two decades, the Jimmy Babcock Racing League (JBRL) tours the hottest tracks around the SoCal area attracting hundreds of racers to each stop. Each of these racers are looking to score a podium spot and to accumulate series points in order to claim the over all JBRL series win.

Competing in a JBRL event is no walk in the park as many of the racers in attendance are top drivers in the industry.

This collection of competitors could on any given day include National and World

Champions to boot. Offered in both Nitro and Electric series flavors, there are many drivers that partake in both series to maximize their track time and fun. Let’s take a closer look.

JBLR NITRO SERIES Created by Jimmy Babcock and usually kicking off around the beginning of spring time every year, the 2022 season starts its first of six stops at The Dirt Race Park at Perris, California, the same track that hosted The Dirt Nitro Challenge earlier this year.

Moving on to more hot racing under the

The JBRL Nitro series always has the bestdressed pit crew.

Pit row is usually a busy area as drivers and pit crew are in communication making car and engine adjustments.

Huge outdoor tracks are the normal at the JBRL Nitro Series.

SoCal sun, the rest of the stops include Thunder Alley Raceway, Pro-Line Raceway, Freedom Park Raceway, Palm Desert Raceway with the series finishing out at the world famous Hot Rod Hobbies. Usually pushing the limits of entries, a couple of hundred of entries are the norm at a JBLR race and the days are usually long, but always very fun and rewarding for the driver in the end.

WRAP UP With not much racing going on the last couple of years because of certain restrictions, racers are itching to get out and race! Racing series all over the U.S. are full throttle now and in the JBRL Nitro Series’ case, it’s fully ready to fulfill the needs of drivers with intense racing action, intense competition along with the smell of nitro early in the morning.

With that being said, it’s important to note that these kinds of RC racing series need your support as drivers and that your participation helps to keep the series and series like it going year in and year out.

Will you be racing at your local race series this summer? Tell us about the racing series going in your part of the world. Until then, we will see you on the track.

Winning a JBRL Series title means collecting awesome hardware and a cash prize.

JUNE 2022 55

FEATURE

PUNISHING TH AT A GLANCE TYPE All-Road SCALE 1/8 DRIVETRAIN 4WD POWER Electric BUILD RTR PRICE $319.99

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ARRMA’S 1/8TH SCALE MEGA INFRACTION 4WD STREET BASHING RTR Text and Images by Lauren Short

HE PAVEMENT

Most of us live around the city these days, and though we may have plenty of parks and fields to play around in we are still mostly surrounded by the urban jungle.

The urban landscape provides us with plenty of benefits but can sometimes be an awkward fit for the RC hobby. Paved roads aren’t always so fun with purely off-road kits, and all too often the

pavement itself can be too rough to run any kind of dedicated onroad vehicle. Because of this we are always in need of more urbanfriendly RC bashers, something that can take on the punishing pavement, rough industrial alleyways, and even manage some dirt in the process.

To answer this call Arrma has

designed their latest All-Road basher, the Mega Infraction 1/8th scale 4x4 Resto-Mod truck. This seriously sweet street-basher answers the call of enthusiasts looking to take advantage of multiple styles of terrain with a single vehicle. Join us as we take the Mega Infraction out for a spin around the mean streets of the city.

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FEATURE

BUILD TO BASH Arrma designed the 1/8th scale Mega Infraction as a true all-road street bashing machine, ready to take on all kinds of urban terrain.

Its sleek, low-slung chassis and aggressive body design evoke rebellious vibes and some serious performance. Like other models in the Arrma lineup, this truck is meant to not just bash, but blast.

Starting with the foundation, the low-slung, perfectly flat chassis limits the risk of snagging on hang-ups and slides nicely over bumps and obstacles.

The chassis and related core parts, along with the front and rear suspension towers, side pods, bumpers, and suspension arms are all constructed from a durable composite plastic material that is designed to take plenty of abuse. Arrma has also designed the truck for ease of maintenance with easily removable diff covers, along with easily removable electronics and drivetrain modules, all making regular maintenance smooth and simple.

The truck features fully independent, double wishbone suspension front and rear and rests on fully adjustable, threaded composite shocks. The shocks are sealed with silicone o-rings for smooth performance and include threaded top caps that act as the spring adjuster. High strength arms are installed at the bottom along with adjustable length upper links at the top of each corner of the truck.

These suspension arms and links not only allow for great tuning potential but also provide robust strength.

The frontend suspension features heavy-duty c-hubs and steering blocks for extra durability. A large front bumper and foam element finish off the frontend and are profiled to fit perfectly inside the Infraction’s body shell. Finishing off the chassis and suspension package, Arrma includes front and rear sway bars that help keep 58 RCCarAction.com

The Arrma Mega Brushed ESC is waterproof, and compatible with both NiMH and LiPo batteries.

the truck controlled.

The Mega Infraction features a full suite of Spektrum and Arrma Mega electronics.

At the helm of the electronics package is the Arrma Mega brushed ESC. This 35A waterproof speed controller comes outfitted with a red anodized machined aluminum heatsink, and a slick looking red case for accent. The ESC is fitted with a Spektrum IC3 connector and is compatible with both 8.4V 7-cell NiMH and 7.4V 2S LiPo batteries. To power the truck, Arrma has installed a 9T 570 series brushed motor. This large, brushed motor outputs tons of torque and a healthy amount of power, rocketing the Mega Infraction to speeds up to 30mph.

A Spektrum S650 steering servo comes standard and provides a precise, digital signal so the Infraction remains on course the entire time you’re driving it.

The S650 servo is waterproofed to ensure longevity and durability. To finish off the electronics package, Arrma includes a Spektrum SLT3 2.4GHz transmitter and SLR300 3-channel receiver that help to keep you in complete control while whipping the Infraction around the road. The receiver is housed in its own waterproofed compartment, making the entire electronics setup capable of dealing with bashing abuse in both the wet and the dry.

Withstanding the stresses and abuse of street bashing requires some stout drivetrain components, and because of this the Mega Infraction comes equipped with parts that are up to the task. Arrma outfitted the Mega Infraction with heavy-duty composite slip-joint axles front and rear, along with a heavy-duty composite slip-joint center driveshaft.

The composite materials, along with the strong design make the axles and center driveshaft perfect to take on whatever can be thrown at them.

The center drivetrain power module holds the motor and clutch system and comes equipped with a steel pinon gear, composite spur gear, and a castellated slipper. The slipper unit can also be adjusted to optimize traction depending on the running surface. Metal geared, oil-filled differentials also come standard at the front and rear. These are the same, super strong differential units included in Arrma’s larger 4S capable bashers and are a perfect match for the Mega Infraction.

Arrma’s Mega 570 series 9-turn motor comes standard, providing plenty of power and torque to rocket the Infraction to speeds up to 30mph!

“Arrma has also designed the truck for ease of maintenance with easily removable diff covers...”

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FEATURE Moving on to the exterior, the Mega Infraction’s sleek Resto-Mod truck body comes pre-painted and is available in two different colorways. Our test model is the teal and copper version, which looks really unique and is a surefire head-turner. The aggressive lines of the Mega Infraction body are similar to its larger sibling with pronounced vents, side skirts and a design that falls somewhere between vintage and race inspired.

A precut, pre-installed polycarbonate rear spoiler adds extra downforce to the rear tires for improved traction and helps to add that little extra something to the overall look of the truck.

The truck body is finished off with composite plastic skids on the roof for added protection and a composite roll bar to tie it all together. As a finishing touch, Arrma designed a lower rear diffuser that helps to further improve aero of the truck and adds some extra protection on the bottom side. The whole truck sits atop large diameter nylon racing wheels and 3.4” dBoots Katar All-Road tires that can crush all

types of terrain.

and servo keep it under control.

ALL-ROADS MEANS EVERYWHERE

The dBoots Katar All-Road tires do a great job of hooking up on both low and high traction surfaces. The lugged treads allow for just enough sliding in gravel and looser dirt, and then instantly connect back to the road, which allowed for plenty of opportunities to kick the back end of the truck out for some sweet slides and drifting action.

The Mega Infraction was designed as an All-Road Street Basher. What that means in real world terms is that you can drive it anywhere from smooth parking lots to rough alleyways, broken asphalt and baseball diamonds, dirt paths and even on dusty gravel roads.

The Mega Infraction is right at home on any of these surfaces, making it a true multi-terrain vehicle.

As for the performance, we found the Mega Infraction to be quick, controlled, and easy to drive. The speed and torque from the 570 brushed motor make the truck a ton of fun to rocket around on the road, while keeping it more composed than an all-out brushless variant. This meant that we could reliably control the truck, even when sliding around in the gravel and dust of our local lots. The Mega electronics package provides plenty of power to the drivetrain to keep the truck lively and fun, and the Spektrum radio system

The Mega Infraction’s sleek and low to the ground suspension still has plenty of travel to cope with bumps and jumps.

Whether you’re catching air off the side of a curb or finding the perfect break in the pavement to act as a ramp, the Mega Infraction lands smoothly while taking the jumps in stride. The adjustable ride height along with the included spring rates provide excellent suspension performance that works extremely well both on and off the road. The added sway bars help to keep the truck tidy, limiting any type of oversteer or lack of grip. All in all, it’s a super fun truck to drive and bash around.

A LiPo Amps Up The Fun! The Mega Infraction RTR includes a 7-cell 8.4V NiMH battery in the box and while this battery is a great starting point, upgrading to a LiPo can help dial up the fun factor even more. Using a Spektrum 7.4V LiPo pack helped bring out more performance from the truck improving the speed, responsiveness, and the overall runtime. A simple upgrade to a LiPo battery can do a world of wonders.

The strong composite front bumper and precut foam element sit perfectly inside the Infraction’s truck body, protecting the truck from hard impacts.

Heavy-duty composite suspension arms are installed in the front and rear of the truck, ensuring the Infraction can take all kinds of abuse and keep on going.

Heavy-duty steering blocks and c-hubs sit at the front for extra durability, along with strong composite 12mm wheel hexes at all four corners.

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VEHICLE SPECS Height: 6.34 in. (161mm) Length: 22.13 in. (562mm) Width: 10.12in. (257mm) Wheelbase: 13.19 in. (335mm) Scale: 1/8 Price: $319.99 Weight (No Battery): 6lb. 10oz.

Chassis: Composite Tub Shocks: Plastic, oil-filled coilover Suspension: Independent, front and rear Transmission: Direct Drive with Slipper Clutch Differentials: Gear type, front and rear Center Driveshafts: Slip-joint, composite F/R Driveshafts: Sliding Universal Joints Bearings: Rubber-shielded steel ball Body: Polycarbonate, pre-painted Wheels: Molded Nylon Tires: dBoots Katar All-Road ESC: Mega Brushed ESC w/ IC3 connector, waterproof Motor: Mega 9T 570 brushed Steering Servo: Spektrum S650 Digital Radio: Spektrum SLT3 2.4GHz Receiver: Spektrum SLR300 3-channel Battery: Dynamite 3300mAh 8.4V NiMH

FINAL THOUGHTS What I love most about this truck is that you can take it just about anywhere without worrying about the details.

Rather than trying to find the perfect place to run it, it simply conforms to whatever surface you put in on, making it a versatile and enjoyable kit to drive.

These are the types of bashing kits that really come to life in the city as you can simply keep it in the back of your truck or car and take it out when you want to have some fun. The Mega Infraction brings its own take on street-bashing and provides plenty of enjoyment for beginning and advanced enthusiasts alike. If you’re looking for a kit that can be taken anywhere from parking lots to gravel roads, and everything inbetween, I highly suggest you consider picking up an Arrma Mega Infraction, you won’t be disappointed. As always thank you for reading and I’ll catch you in the next one.

Source: Arrma arrma-rc.com

JUNE 2022 61

TECH

TUNING YOUR TRANSMITTER

RC TRANSMITTER FINE TUNING & ADJUSTMENTS Text and Images by Lauren Short

RC transmitters contain a wide array of tuning options and adjustments to meet the needs of enthusiasts and various vehicle types. At times the sheer number of available settings can be somewhat daunting, leading us to never touch the settings to begin with. Well, hopefully with a little clarification and some brief

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explanation you too can enjoy the wide range of tuning capabilities on your own RC radio. This simple article will help demystify some of the common settings found on higher end radios and allow you to custom tailor your radio to perform exactly how you want and need. Let’s get into it.

THE BASICS Starting with the basics, let’s go over the simple adjustments. These basic settings are the keystone to proper vehicle setup and will be the starting point for any enthusiast when taking out a new or newly worked on vehicle.

TRIM Trim allows us to fine tune the neutral position of the steering servo. If you’ve ever wondered why your vehicle might be veering to the left or right when it needs to go straight, it’s most likely a trim adjustment. Assuming that your servo horn is centered properly, we can simply adjust the trim on the radio to get the vehicle to track perfectly straight. To reiterate, Trim adjusts the servo’s neutral point.

END POINT ADJUSTMENT (EPA) End Points, also known as EPA (end point adjustment) are what control the servo’s stopping points, left and right. This is an absolute necessity to program since proper EPA will help to prevent any physical damage to your servo or your vehicle’s steering components. Improperly adjusted end points can lead to steering components binding and possible damage to servo internal parts so always be sure to set your end points before using a new or newly worked-on vehicle.

To adjust end points slowly turn your steering wheel fully to the left or right, checking for any binding when reaching full lock on either side. You should see the steering components of your vehicle reach their physical stopping point when at full lock on the radio steering wheel. If you find that you can still turn your steering wheel, but the physical steering components have stopped then dial back your EPA. As you dial it down to the proper setting, you will notice the steering components moving back in the opposite direction. EPA has been properly adjusted once the steering wheel reaches full lock the same time as the vehicle. Don’t be worried if the left and right EPA settings are different from one another, this is normal as most RC models will have slightly asymmetrical steering.

SUB TRIM To put it simply, Sub-Trim moves the servo’s neutral position and the end points simultaneously. This is a particularly handy adjustment for RC models that have a perfectly centered steering servo, such as on-road pan cars. It is not often used on most other models but can come in handy if you need to adjust both EPA and Trim together on the fly.

MULTI-MODEL STORAGE This one is simple, but still doesn’t hurt to go over. Most radios beyond the very basic ones allow us to store multiple model profiles in the radio’s memory. This allows us to keep all the settings for individual RC models at the ready and easily accessible. This also means that you will only need that single transmitter to control multiple models.

I can say from personal experience that having a single radio customized to your liking that can control several models is such a great tool to have in the RC hobby. I of course have my fair share of various RTR remotes, but for my regular fleet I only need to reach for that one single transmitter, and that surely makes me happy.

JUNE 2022 63

TECH NORMAL VS. REVERSE “Normal” and “Reverse” refer to the transmitter signal being sent to your servo or ESC. It’s a simple concept, and only requires that you pay attention to the direction which your servo or motor are running. If you hit the throttle and the car goes backwards, you need to reverse the throttle input. If you steer to the left and the car goes right, you need to reverse the steering input. It’s as simple as that, and only requires a few moments of time to set properly.

FAILSAFE This is one of the settings that we should program every time we set up a new car. The Failsafe is actually a receiver function but is set up in tandem with the remote. The failsafe adjustment acts as the default mode when the receiver loses connection to the transmitter.

For nitro cars it’s especially important to set the failsafe, as you never want a runaway car.

It’s always best practice to set up the failsafe so the vehicle puts on the brakes. This will ensure that any time connection is lost, say from transmitter batteries dying or just simply losing signal, the car will brake and slow to a halt rather than rocketing off uncontrollably into the distance.

ADVANCED SETTINGS Higher end transmitters will include many advanced settings that can further help us tune our radios to perform exactly how we’d like them to. You may think that many of these settings are only for racing or the most dedicated of enthusiasts but having these adjustments at your fingertips can help improve the overall experience and enjoyment of even the most basic RC models.

STEERING RATE Steering Rate is a quick adjustment that directly limits the max amount of steering travel in both directions. This may sound exactly like EPA, but in fact Steering Rate works within the end point limitations. Think of it like this: You set the EPA so that your radio’s steering wheel coincides with your vehicle’s physical steering travel. Steering Rate then allows us to fine tune just how much of that steering travel we use. So, if you’re looking for a little less steering, say on a large track with a lot of sweeping turns, or a loose dirt field where the steering feels twitchy, simply dial your Steering Rate down and you should notice an improvement.

EXPO Expo adjustments allow us to fine-tune how quickly and how far the steering servo will travel relative to the input from radio’s steering wheel. By default, almost all radios come pre-programmed to output a linear signal, meaning that if you steer to 50% steering the servo will go to 50% of its travel. Expo curves are also available for throttle, and do much the same thing, allowing us to adjust the amount of throttle output relative to throttle trigger input.

Adjusting the expo curve fine-tunes exactly how the vehicle responds to our input on the transmitter. In practical terms, if something feels twitchy then a bit of negative expo will help smooth it out. If something feels lethargic, some positive expo will help sharpen it up.

The expo adjustment simply allows for much more refined control over how our RC models react to radio input.

FINAL THOUGHTS And that about wraps it up. There are of course some more specialty settings out there, but these are what we felt are the real core adjustments on our RC radios. Hopefully this article helps to shed some light on some of the finer points of radio adjustment and helps you to further your own enjoyment with RC. Thanks for reading; I’ll catch you in the next one.

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FEATURE

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JUNE 2022 69

FEATURE

AS REAL A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FMS 1/6-SCALE SUZUKI JIMNY LJ1 Text and Images by Jerry Tsai

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Every legend has a beginning. Well into its fourth generation, the Suzuki Jimny has had a long career that specializes in bringing compact off road capability to enthusiasts worldwide. Designated the LJ1, the first generation Jimny first hit the trails in 1970. The open air, no door, Jeep-like ride was an instant success for Japanese automaker, Suzuki.

FMS brings the first generation Suzuki Jimny into the hands of RC and scale model enthusiasts in a big way.

The giant 1/6-scale LJ1 is an impressively large and

detailed RC vehicle that is as detailed as any static model that we’ve encountered before.

1970 saw the introduction of the LJ10, which weighed a mere 1,300 pounds and was powered by a 359cc two-stroke inline twin-cylinder engine. With its highly touted reliability, small displacement, small size, low price and unique market position, the Jimny LJ1 was made to break the traditional views on off-road vehicles. The FMS rendition of this unique off roader is set to do the same in the RC world.

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FEATURE

DETAIL PACKED FMS’ officially licensed Jimny LJ1 is a rather large version RC for such a real-life compact vehicle. The 1/6-scale RC measures almost 21-and-a-half inches in length and is scaled perfectly to fit most 1/6-scale figures. The vehicle’s realistic foundation is based on a metal beam, non-load bearing chassis that contains front and rear leaf spring suspension and universal joints.

LJ1’s interior features soft-rubber-wrapped seats that have a cushion-like softness and can be folded forward to access the Jimny’s rear compartment. The interior detailing is simply stunning. From the adjustable windshield and safety bars at the door positions on both sides to the real fender-mounted mirrors, this RC is detailed in every way. Examining the instrument panel reveals a miniature shadow instrument panel complete with mechanical buttons.

Looking beyond the dash, you’ll also find a manual gearshift, a set of foot pedals and even a steering wheel that is linked to the steering servo. This means that the steering wheel will turn as the vehicle is driven. How is that for life-like realism? In the rear, the tailgate can be lowered and the spare tire carrier swings out to the right.

An adjustable anti-roll bar provides convenient methods for future upgrades and customization options.

With all this detail, where are the “guts” of this RC you may be wondering. We were too actually. Popping the hood reveals the 550-type motor, ESC, receiver, power switch and battery in the engine bay. Just open the hinged hood for full access.

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FMS 1/6-SCALE SUZUKI JIMNY LJ1 SPECS Scale: 1/6 Price: $379.99 Chassis: Metal beam Suspension: Leaf spring, front and rear Motor: 550-type Body: Hard plastic Lighting: LED lights throughout Transmitter: 4-channel 2.4Ghz

Lighting always makes an RC look more realistic and this first generation Jimny does not slack in that department. LED lights are included with the LJ1 and its headlights are always on by default. Provisions are built-in for front and rear turn signals and taillight upgrades if you so choose to install them.

CUSTOMIZED As great as the Jimny LJ1 already looked directly out of the box, avid RCCA readers should know that we also like to push things a little further in the customization department.

We called up RC Patina Guy himself, Erick Padilla to see what magic he could do with it. With paintbrush in hand, he turned around a fully patina’d masterpiece.

Complete with a realistic patina paint job, Padilla added the aesthetics that a well-used and abused fifty year old Jimny may look like out on the trails. The worn metallic look really gives this Jimny the trail cred that we think it deserves. Even the vinyl driver’s seat is patched up and we absolutely love the rusted metal bars that are seen throughout the vehicle. All we need now is a 1/6-inch figure to round out this great looking RC.

POWERED UP We charged up and installed a VolantexRC LiPo battery in it and hit the trail. When powered up, the LJ1 cruised around quite well and looked really good, especially with its LED lights on. The four-wheel drive vehicle performed as well as a scaled down leaf spring suspension rig would, bobbing and moving about on the trail.

Seeing the steering wheel moving, as it turned was especially cool.

It’s worth noting that we consider

A fully detailed interior with working steering wheel comes standard.

The battery and electronics are accessed from under the hood.

THe LJ1 uses realistic leaf spring suspension in the front and rear.

this Jimny a fully detailed model kit that can be driven and not necessarily a fully capable crawler. That said, it’s still fun to drive and its size is impressive to say the least. It really does look great wherever it drives.

FINAL WORD FMS really did a fantastic job in terms of the Suzuki Jimny’s scale looks and life-like detailed features.

After seeing the weathered treatment Erick “RC Patina Guy” Padilla applied to the LJ1, we’re excited to see how other enthusiasts further modify this highly accurate off road vehicle.

Source FMS fmsmodel.com JUNE 2022 73

TEST BENCH

TEST BENCH RC PRODUCTS TESTED & EVALUATED Text and Images by Lauren Short

POWERHOBBY MX53 INTERNAL SPOOL BRUSHLESS SERVO WINCH 74 RCCarAction.com

FEATURES The Powerhobby MX53 is an internal spool, digital winch servo designed for demanding RC crawler applications. The servo features a machined aluminum case, hard anodized for wear resistance and laser etched with Powerhobby and MX53 logos. The MX53 includes metal internal gears along with a brushless motor for smooth, reliable operation.

The case is waterproofed to further improve the versatility and durability of the winch.

Rounded cutouts are located on three sides of the servo allowing for the winch line to be run in multiple directions. That, combined with the servo’s limitless rotation, allows for almost universal mounting and spooling options. The internal spool is made from anodized machined

aluminum and features an eyelet for easily threading and capturing of your winch line. The MX53 includes a full length of braided synthetic line along with a red clevis hook for a true to scale look and feel. The MX53 provides ample performance with spool speeds up to 118RPM and Stall Torque of up to 625oz-in with 8.4V supplied power.

TESTING The first thing was to spool the line.

I started with a simple overhand knot at the end and threaded the line through the spool eyelet, with the overhand knot catching on the eyelet to keep the line in place. This took a little bit of work as such a small line can be fiddly, but once threaded through, the synthetic line was fully secured. I opted to program the winch to a manual switch on my radio,

which allowed me to incrementally adjust the servo speed. This made spooling the winch line a simple and enjoyable process. Once spooled, I needed to attach the clevis hook to the end of the winch line. I did this with a simple Palomar Knot to ensure the hook remained securely in place.

Tying anything more complicated than an overhand knot onto such a small line can take some time and practice but it is very worthwhile.

The overall fit and finish of the servo, the winch line, and the clevis hook are excellent.

As for testing, I suspended the winch with a heavy-duty clamp. This allowed me to rig up the winch with the payload directly below for stress testing. In our case the payload was a pack of soda bottles weighing in at around 4lbs. The MX53 handled this pack of soda with ease, smoothly hoisting into the air with no signs of strain or hesitation, up or down at varying operating speeds. Yes, many RC crawlers weigh far beyond 4lbs, but remember that when used properly you will be utilizing both the winch and your vehicle’s own power to get it out of sticky situations.

That being said, a tiny winch servo hoisting up a 4lb pack of soda bottles from a standstill is no easy task and the MX53 did so with ease. Rest assured that this little servo winch means business. If you’re looking to add a capable digital winch to your own RC crawler, then I would highly recommend considering the Powerhobby MX53.

Powerhobby MX53 Internal Spool Brushless Servo Winch Street Price: $129.95 Model: PHMX53 powerhobby.com

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TEST BENCH

REEF’S RC BLK 900 SMART PROGRAMMABLE SERVO FEATURES Reef’s latest addition to their already expansive lineup is the BLK 900 SMART programmable servo. This multi-use servo was created by Reef’s RC for use as either a powerful steering servo for the most demanding crawler applications, or as a super strong servo winch. The BLK 900 Smart features a machined aluminum outer case with a black anodized finish for excellent wear resistance.

The case features integrated heatsink fins and laser etched Reef’s and model logos all around.

The BLK 900 Smart features metal gears throughout along with internal ball bearings for strength and support. The servo also includes an impressive 4-pole brushless motor that provides up to 940oz-in of torque and a .10s response time with 8.4V

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supplied power. The BLK 900 Smart also features a magnetic angle sensor and programmable PWM for precise control. The servo weighs in at less than 3oz and measures 1.57in x 0.79in x 1.5in (LWH). Like other Reef’s servos, the BLK 900 Smart uses a 25T servo spline and is fully waterproofed and sealed from the elements.

The BLK 900 Smart can be custom programmed using the optional Reef’s USB Link and their free programming software.

TESTING Installing the BLK 900 Smart into the test crawler was simple and easy, as can be expected from a standard sized servo. The BLK 900 Smart has a feel of true quality and craftsmanship that gives one a real appreciation for the Reef’s design team. The machining quality is top-notch, and the weight

and precision of the servo instill confidence in the component.

With it mounted to the crawler I instantly noticed an increase in overall performance, from the strength to the speed and most definitely the precision. Crawler tires tend to get stuck in obstacles at the worst possible times and not having a powerful enough servo to get them out will guarantee a bad time. Nothing can be quite as unfortunate as getting your rig stuck and turning your wheels only to find that you broke your servo. Sometimes it’s the gears, sometimes it’s the spline, but at the end of the day it means the servo just wasn’t up to the task. With the BLK 900 Smart that is most certainly not an issue.

The sheer amount of power the 900 Smart outputs means that the driver receives ultimate control and capability in just about any given crawling situation. In real world terms, the crazy amount of torque that the 900 Smart provided while driving meant that I could make micro adjustments mid-obstacle, even while my tires were twisted and bunched up, allowing me to perfectly fine tune my line while navigating the course.

I will even go so far as to say that I would not recommend the 900 Smart unless you have a good set of beadlock wheels along with high quality tires and foam inserts. It’s just so good at delivering power while remaining so extremely precise that you truly need some high-quality rubber to meet the servo’s high level of performance. As for programming, using the optional Reef’s USB Link and their free software made custom adjusting servo parameters a simple and easy task. The servo is default programmed for steering applications but can be custom set as a winch by using the programming software.

All in all, this servo packs some serious performance in a standard sized footprint. The precision and torque are very impressive, and the overall quality and feel are unmatched. If you’re in the market for a high-performance steering servo or winch for your own crawler, then I’d recommend picking up one of the new BLK 900 Smart servos from Reef’s RC.

Reef’s RC BLK 900 Smart Programmable Servo MSRP: $179 Model: SEHREEFS118 reefsrc.com

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SPECIAL PROJECT

THE FOUNDATION

STARTING A SCALE CRAWLER BUILD BASED ON A GCM RACING CMAX 2 CHASSIS Text by Leigh Guarnieri and Chris Robinson Images by Jerry Tsai

78 RCCarAction.com

chassis called CMAX (2016), GCM redesigned the majority of the rails and other components to have the same great long chassis fitment, but with simple bolt-and-go link suspension and refreshed geometry.

If you could start a scale crawler build from ground up, which chassis would you go with? That’s a question that we pondered for a while and after spending some time in deep meditative thought, we finally figured out a direction to go in. If you’ve ever been at an Ultimate Scale Truck Expo (USTE) event, you’ll know how cool super scale trucks are. To that end, we decided to build our very own “doll house” build by using an ultra realistic foundation from GCM Racing.

When it comes to scale truck chassis, GCM Racing has been pumping them out since 2007.

When it comes to satisfaction and function, there’s nothing like the experience that comes from building a GCM chassis.

Well, that’s what we found out when tackling our latest crawler build from the popular brand.

With designs made for specific truck setups and bodies, it’s no surprise that 2021 showcased another new design from GCM Racing.

CMAX 2 from GCM came from almost half a year of constant design and prototyping, with new suspension geometry and setup, which includes all new axles and body mounting options. With the proven fitment of the long

The CMAX 2’s ladder frame design is manufactured in Canada with billet 6061-T6 aluminum blanks that are filled between the rails with in-house machined cross members and mounts. The girth of the new CMAX2 chassis design makes a setup tough as Chuck Norris, and simple assembly is as sweet as maple syrup.

When combined with GCM’s all-new Nylon-12 ST2 axles, the CMAX 2 offers competition-level anti-squat geometry in the rear, as well as a weight balance that holds center of gravity as low as possible for trail driving stability.

The chassis also boasts all steel drivetrain components that keep it powered with four wheels of off road fun for the long haul.

JUNE 2022 79

SPECIAL PROJECT The transmission comes with the required pinion gear, all hardware, and full ball bearings, as well as a dust sealed case design and super low 53:1 final drive ratio. Ready for epic climbs and side hills? The LRT2 Tcase comes with 11% overdrive already built into the front axle output, so the turns are correct, and drag is limited.

CMAX 2 has all the characteristics of a realistic scale truck, which is precisely why we chose this chassis to embark our build on. It has a completely flat rear frame for box or interior fitment, a super low center section that allows for interior seat mounting, and engine bay-ready motor placement for all our planned under the hood details.

The CMAX 2 kit we are centering our build on is sizes for a Jeep JKU body.

We opted to add GCM’s machined all-aluminum bumper set for proper protection and its scale looks. The rear JK Angle Bumper has all the right lines to match our future rig’s daily driver-weekend warrior look and includes a socket for a trailer hitch. Up front, the bumper includes a couple of different threaded winch mount holes, and six LED light sockets for 5mm lights to keep the trails lit up at night.

We populated the chassis with an ultra compact Castle Creations Mamba Micro X2 ESC and sensored brushless motor combination. We also installed a Reefs RC 422HD v2 servo for smooth and powerful steering.

Connected up front on the bumper is an RC4WD WARN winch for proper pulling with a realistic look. A Spektrum receiver also sits in the chassis ready and waiting to guide this rig over trails when its completed.

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If you’re looking to build your own crawler based on this chassis, you’ll be glad to know that the CMAX 2’s flexible setup options include two wheelbases, 313mm and 323mm, and two steering servo mount positions to match the chosen bodywork. GCM Racing has designed tons of skid plates, side trays, battery, bumper, and body mount files available through the GCM Builder’s Group on patreon.com/ gcmracing. This useful website provides direct fit parts that you can 3D print at home.

The customization options from GCM’s CMAX 2 chassis level are astonishing and we found that the quality of the components is second to none. With the chassis mocked up, we’re excited to get this rig ready for a future USTE event. Stay tuned to see our next steps for this scale crawler build.

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TAILPIPE

CRAWLING THROUGH SCHOOL HOW A SCHOOL, A HOBBY SHOP AND AXIAL RACING ARE UTILIZING RC FOR EDUCATION Text by Jeff Monteith Images by RCCA Staff

Remember sitting in school wondering, when am I ever going to use this information–while daydreaming about RC cars? What if by working with a hobby shop, that gap could be bridged, using RC crawlers as a vehicle for real-world experiences and hands-on learning?

How can we use Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) to emulate the automotive world through the use of models? In an intense twoweek course, seventh and eighth grade students in New Hampton, Iowa are about to embark on that journey.

Teams will assemble the Axial SCX10 III Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JLU 4WD kit and create obstacles to test them on. Each 82 RCCarAction.com

team member will focus on a specialty area such as drivetrain/transmission construction, constructing the frame and attaching components, assembling the wheels, shocks, and electronics, and overseeing the body from design, to prep, and painting.

At the completion of the project, there will be a community showcase night where students will display their crawlers, present the process for building their Axial Jeeps, and demonstrate the obstacles they created. Students will invite local RC enthusiasts to come for a crawler show and shine, and to test their skills and crawlers on the crawling course they have assembled. As an added

incentive for the students, there will be a People’s Choice Award where attendees will vote on their favorite student Axial Jeep build.

Goals for this experience are for students to apply STEAM principles, become familiar with the parts of a vehicle, gain mechanical understandings, and consider possible career paths. Through all aspects of the project students will develop, practice and utilize the necessary 21st century skills of critical thinking, complex communication, collaboration, teamwork, flexibility/ adaptability, creativity, productivity, and accountability, as well as have a little RC crawler fun!

Fully articulating remotely controlled lowrider suspension

1979 Monte Carlo Fully Functional Lowrider

Shimmering Green Metallic

Deep Purple Metallic

Olympic Blue

Midnight Black LR260 Lowrider Chassis

LR6X Radio System Included 6 Channel Multi Function Specifically Designed for the Redcat lowrider models

260mm Wheelbase Chevrolet, Monte Carlo, all related emblems, and vehicle body designs are General Motors Trademarks used under license to Redcat Racing.

REDCATRACING.com

ENGINEERED TO WIN

GET STARTED RIGHT IN NO PREP DRAG RACING Drag Slash has been engineered with thoughtful features and innovative performance to win at any level of skill and experience.

ALL-NEW PRO SERIES MAGNUM 272R™

ULTIMATE TRACTION - PRECISION CONTROL

TRAXXAS TRANS BRAKE

TRANSMIS SION

NEW: DRAG RACE START LIGHT

No-Prep Race Starts Made Easy

GM is used under license to Traxxas.

PART# 6595 (Sold Separately)

™