Toy Fair 2009 – Shepherd
German company Shepherd had their new Velox V10 on display and when they stated earlier that the car would be revolutionary, they weren’t really kidding. This car looks the part, all decked out in aluminum, while still in protoype stage the car will retain the current balance between aluminium and plastic. Most noticeable thing on the car is the Velox braking system on the rear which clamps the rear gear differential. Similar in function to that of its larger stable mate, it has been reduced in size to fit.
The theme of this car, besides performance, is ease of adjustment and maintenance. Take for example the rear upper a-arm, whose pivot pin is mounted in place by a upper an lower grub screw, their position raising or lower the pin for different roll centre adjustments. The adjustment doesnt end there because if you loosen both grub screws the roll pivot pin can be pushed into an inner mounting position with the grub screws once more holding it in place. This means this whole adjustment can be done in little or no time with no need to take the rear apart. This system is also used on the front for the upper pivot pins and for the lower rear, a simple removal of 2 screws allows the pin insert to be removed and adjusted.
The front axle, which is a very small diameter gear differential, can be removed in a matter of seconds by taking the screws out of the very simple to adjust belt tension system. The system gives 3 holes on the bearing mount which when rotated and placed in a different position tighten or loosen the belt, the removal of these screws means you can just pop the front diff out. Whats neat is these screws for the tension can be adjusted without removing any other parts. This is a similar system to the rear, but requires removing the braking system (2 extra screws) to remove the rear differential.
As with the 1/8th scale car, the front ackerman can be easily adjusted both by position the servo saver to the front of rear of a supplied slot, but alsk by lengthening the reach of the front of the servo saver, using 1 screw. Another neat feature is that the downstop adjustment has been seperated from the anti-roll bar, so these adjustements do not effect each other. The system uses a carbon fibre lever on either side, which when the suspension is activate, moves with the wishbone, stopping when it comes in contact with the downstop screw.
The car will go on the track for the first time in about 3 weeks and providing everything goes well, will go on sale in the summer.
Also on the same booth is the 2009 spec Velox, which has been renamed Velox V8, to bring clarity to the line. The new car will come standard with the Euro Conversion set, low C of G bulkheads, machined chassis with front brass weight and the new rear uprights with aluminium insert all as standard. The car sports a new anodised finish, which has been first sandblasted and then coloured blue, a treatment the V10 will also receive.
Check out our image gallery embedded below.
