Serpent have released a first teaser image of their forthcoming Cobra SRX8e 1/8th E-buggy kit. The Billy-Easton-designed buggy is based off of its nitro sibling and will make a first public appearance at this week’s The Dirt Nitro Challenge. The kit is set for a release in April and we bring you more information as soon as they surface.
Source: Serpent [serpent.com]
Coming from Vision Racing Products’ Tools 4 Life line up are the new shock pliers. They feature slots for 3mm, 3.5mm, and 4mm shock shafts while also having 12mm and 17mm cutouts for holding the lower part of the shock, as well as a built in flat section for pressing in shock end or camber link balls. The overall size of these pliers also makes holding the shock shafts much less painful. The tool is made from 6061-T6 aluminium and it comes black anodised and with laser-etched markings.
Source: Vision Racing Products [visionracingproducts.com]
Serpent have introduced the Viper 977-e Evo2 1/8th electric on-road kit. The latest incarnation of the 977-e platform utilises many features of the 977 Evo2 nitro car such as the narrow pivot rear end with long lower A-arms that make for improved traction. The car is based on a 5mm aluminium main chassis plate with 2.5mm carbon fibre top plate, its battery mount takes most 2S and 3S standard-dimension LiPo battery packs and the kit also comes with a 2-belt drivetrain with large belt pulleys for an efficient power transfer. Also part of the package are low-profile shock absorbers, and a sturdy 7075-T6 aluminium motor mount with aluminium fan holder. The kit will hit the stores by the end of February.
View the features and more images here
Coming from Factory RC is the ROAR motor tech plate. This go/no go tech plate allows for quick inspection of any ROAR-approved motor for physical dimension requirements. The plate is machined from 2.25mm carbon look plate to the maximum tolerances allowed by ROAR. This allows the individual inspecting motors for legality to use a non magnetic tool to inspect the rotor and can for dimensions to assure legal racing. The rotor can be inspected using the length and diameter slot which also inspects for the 7.00mm internal OD shaft. There is also a pass through hole for the rotor body as well. Notches help to inspect the can diameter and length, as well as the 14.5mm “plug” go/no go gauge for the can/stack. This leaves only the stack length for inspection with a pair of digital callipers to finalise inspection which is easy to do since the stack is not magnetic. All measurements are clearly marked and the plate has so far been successfully used at various races.
Source: Factory RC [factory-rc.com]
Coming from Factory RC and made for Yokomo’s YZ-4 4WD buggy are new carbon fibre shock towers and a shorty battery brace. Starting with the shock towers, available soon is a “flat” front tower as well as a rear item that offers additional shock mounting holes while also allowing to adjust the rear wing height. Both are cut from high-quality 4mm carbon fibre. Also new is a shorty LiPo brace for sideways mounted batteries and designed for the use with Factory RC’s delrin battery stoppers. All parts are available soon.
JQRacing have released first images and information on the forthcoming Black Edition THECar 1/8th nitro buggy kit. Optimised in all aspects, the 2017 variant will feature a new longer wheelbase 3mm Ergal chassis as well as a range of new suspension parts such as crash resistant hinge pins, an updated caster angle, an updated king pin angle, new carbon fibre steering plates, a new 2.0 Ackermann plate with steel bushings, and it the kit will include special laser-etched alloy parts and a new bodyshell. The buggy is available for pre-order soon with the official release date being set for the April 1st.
View the JQ-optimised features list and more images here
175RC.com have introduced a range of under LiPo weights for shorty battery packs. Made from heavy brass material and coming in four different designs the weights allow not only to up the overall weight of the vehicle but also to simply adjust the weight distribution. Type A is a plain weight available as 18g or 36g variant while Type B, available as 12g and 23g versions, is very versatile. It can be run in 2WD buggies and flipping the plate forth and back allows to adjust the front to rear weight bias while in 4WD buggies it can be used to bring more weight to the inside or outside. The Type C weight, with outer cut outs, makes for a more centralised weight balance while Type D put more weight to the outer sections. The latter two are available as 12g or 23g versions.
View the Type B, C and D weight here
PR Racing soon have new 1/10th scale buggy wheels available. They offer a revised design and are available as new 2WD slim front, 2WD regular wide front, 4WD front and general rear rim in white or fluorescent yellow colour, as pair or 4-pair value packs. The wheels fit PR Racing’s line of 2WD and 4WD buggies and also other brand’s cars.
