JConcepts have introduced the Finnisher body design specifically for 1/10th truck racing. The TLR 22-T Finnisher body is a drop fit for the popular vehicle and bears a stunning look with its massive front headlight and grill coverage. Increased windshield angle provides a steady force upfront during mid-flight wind gusts on large jumps. Forward cab placement changes performance / visible bias which helps steering rotation in low traction corners. The side body panels have a strong and chiseled look, including a recessed area in the center that extends forward, ending near the front wheel well. The front hood has been simplified removing unwanted changes in height to neutralize the at-speed handling. The chassis side-guard to body fit has been tightened up by way of a bendable flap. Where applicable, the flap touches off against the side-guard which helps eliminate large empty voids that contribute to mid-flight directional changes.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

SRC have sent us a sneak peek at their all new Lola 012 1/8th scale on road body shell. Set to be unveiled at this week’s Nuremberg toy fair, the new shell offers lots of downforce and great turn in as well as increased engine cooling thanks to its very low top surface. EFRA homologated (31529), it comes in high quality 0.75mm and 1mm thick polycarbonate.

Source: SRC [srcspecialparts.com]

FTW Racing Components today added to its 1:8 buggy lineup with the introduction of the new Night Fox body for Mugen’s MBX6R. The newest Night Fox exhibits the same proven handling characteristics and striking stealth-inspired styling for which FTW is known. “As you will see, with the Night Fox for MBX6R we’ve maintained all that has made the Night Fox series popular—the stability and downforce it adds to the handling of the car, the quality, durability, and of course the stealth-inspired styling,” said FTW co-founder John Riewe. “Plus, Night Fox’s low roof line leaves more of the engine head exposed for better cooling without making the car look like a truck,” added FTW co-founder Joshua Riewe. Night Fox for MBX6R is packaged with window masks and a decal sheet.

Source: FTW [ftwrc.com]

New from Pro-Line for the Associated RC8.2 is the 2012 Bulldog. Ryan Cavalieri is preparing for the IFMAR World Championships in 2012 and has developed the most advanced body yet. He took great care in refining the design for 2012 to create even more stability with enhanced steering to gain an advantage on the track. The windshield is steeper to create more down force over the front wheels and the roof ridges have been raised to channel the air flow over the middle of the body for increased high-speed stability. The rear of the roof has been lowered and fins have been added to achieve maximum engine head cooling and stable air flow over the body. The fins also add rigidity to the body to increase aerodynamic efficiency.

Source: Pro-Line [prolineracing.com]

JConcepts have announced that their Finnisher body shell is now available for the Kyosho RB-5 WC. Increased windshield angle provides a steady force upfront during mid-flight wind gusts on large jumps. Forward cab placement changes performance / visible bias which helps steering rotation in low traction corners. The side-pods have been simplified and JC chamfered to remove unwanted changes in height to neutralize the at-speed handling. The chassis to body fit has been tightened up where applicable, which helps eliminates large empty voids that contribute to mid-flight directional changes. The rear of the cab has a new step feature and a louver which can be trimmed to allow air to escape at the top of the body through its V-shaped design. In addition to the newly designed body, JConcepts has included 2 of the latest 6.5″ wide Hi-Clearance rear wings which have been specifically designed to fit on the RB-5 buggy.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

Phat Bodies have released 3 new shells that you’ve all long been waiting for. Suitable for all the Losi Mini-8ight, Carisma GT14B and the LRP Shark LWB there is the ‘Phat Head’ which is a cab forward shell, the ‘Piranha’ which is the semi cab forward shell and ‘For Four’ which features a more conventional cab position.

Source: Phat Bodies [phatbodies.co.uk]

AS Hobby Racing in Italy have released the their 1/8th Zytech Ginetta body. Designed by Pietro Corradini, who has worked in the Ferrari Formula 1 team for 35 years, the body has been tested on the track of Cassino “Lamberto Collari” and Fiorano “Jody Scheckter” with excellent results.

Source: AS Hobby Racing [ashobbyracing.it]

Team Titan have released their new Blitz Mini GTI, new M-Class Sedan body with 225mm wheelbase. Designed to fit most 1/10 Mini cars with the same wheelbase, it comes supplied with an optional wing which can be used to create more downforce for faster cornering. Tested on standard Mini cars and FF type Mini cars such as the Tamiya M-05M with great stability and handling. Available in 1.0mm and 0.8mm light versions with optional wing and high quality decal / window masks included.

Source: Team Titan [team-titan.com.tw]

Bittydesign have tackled the Serpent Cobra, giving it the Force treatment with the release of this dedicated body shell. Featuring a cab forward design, it has been developed to obtain better downforce and improve steering response in low speed turns while the sidepods help obtain higher downforce at the rear of the body in high speed turns. Engine airflow has also been improved with the body helping the engine run cooler by about 5-10°C compared to the stock body. Body is 1mm thick, comes with overspray film, window masks and a set of decals.

Source: Bittydesign [bittydesign.net]

Protoform is celebrating 20 years of race body development and they wanted to share the good news with everyone. And so master mold maker Dale Epp wrote the following piece look back at the company’s history from its humble beginnings making rc funny car bodies to the modern Worlds winning TC shells.

It was early in 1991 that a casual phone conversation with (then stranger) Mike Ogle, the art director at RC Car Model magazine sent my life into an all new direction. I had already begun reading RC Car Action avidly as I was trying to figure out just how to get involved in the exciting world of rc cars.

Mike explained that he was an rc drag racer and he really needed a better “funny car” body to race with. Upon hearing this I immediately started fashioning a new pattern in hopes of meeting his needs. A month later I red labeled him a couple Protoform Dodge Stealth funny car bodies and within 3 days he had used one of them to set a new world record as well as score a victory at the “IEDA WORLDS” in Colton CA. Needless to say this was very encouraging. NASCAR type racing was a large part of the rc on-road scene back then so I knew I needed to try my hand in that venue, a place where aerodynamics played a huge factor. A few months later (a very young) Mike Boylan used our first ever Protoform oval body to lap the Domingues Hills velodrome at over 77 MPH (average) to become the fastest NASCAR bodied rc oval racer ever.

At this point in time I made the decision that I was “all in” on a new career change. As a lifelong car racing enthusiast, I’d already spent years hot rodding and customizing full size cars for myself and friends, so it seemed like a natural “fit” for me. I’d just need to learn how to do things in a smaller scale. So I frantically prepared eight more body styles in preparation for Protoform’s official company debut. Yes, it seems like yesterday, but twenty years ago, in Nov of 1991, my wife and I nervously set up a homemade trade show display at the (then) huge RCCTA show in Chicago in hopes that there was some niche I could fill in this new and exciting world of rc car racing.

Well, the next couple years could be summed up in one word: tumultuous. Long and tedious “coffee fueled” days and slim profits made me wonder at times if Protoform would survive long term. Our NASCAR style bodies were really making a mark in the USA based oval racing scene, but then in 1994 an interesting and crucial thing happened. RC racing legend and mega champion Masami Hirosaka used an off-the-hobbyshop-wall Protoform racebody to win the IFMAR On-Road WORLDS in Germany. American Jon Orr put a second one on the podium to boot! That day, Protoform’s horizon’s expanded immensely.

The next year saw an exciting new chapter in Protoform’s development as we merged with the fine folks at Pro-Line Racing in southern California. Working with Todd Mattson, Tim Clark and the entire Pro-Line team has been an exciting and rewarding time to say the least. The rc racing world has seen the benefits of this move as well. Protoform race bodies have now been used by the winners at 15 different IFMAR On-Road World Championships, as well as being used at every conceivable national and regional title winner around the globe including those of EFRA, ROAR, FAMAR, FEMCA, and the BRCA . It’s been gratifying to personally witness the Protoform brand become the body of choice by competitors at the Reedy Race of Champions, the International Indoor Championships in Las Vegas,  the Snowbirds Nationals in Orlando, and the US Indoor Champs in Cleveland. In the amazing European Touring Car Series, Protoform race bodies have been on every podium.

Without a doubt, the best part of this 20 year journey has been the privilege of meeting so many great people! To the many team racers I’ve met and worked with, and have consistently made me look better than I actually am (with their amazing skills on the track and in the pits) – THANKS!  To the dealers, distributors and race organizers – you’ve also added something to my life that is priceless. It’s so nice to be able to call so many of you “friend”.

At this time I’d like to say a huge “THANK YOU” to all the racers and enthusiasts out there that have used our race bodies over the last two decades.

I recognise that without your support, none of this would be possible. I’d also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my wife Katie, to Pro-Line Racing, to our team drivers, and all our dealers, for the contributions you made toward Protoform’s success over these last 20 years.

I’d also like to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a blessed NEW YEAR!

Dale Epp
Protoform