Made for Serpent’s SRX8 1/8th scale off-road buggy are two lightweight and one not-so-lightweight option part. Starting with the alloy parts, first up are lightweight 0mm and +1mm offset wheel hex adapters. They are machined from 7075-T6 material, come hard-anodised for wear and laser-etched for easy identification. The parts reduce unsprung weight and they include grey anodised serrated wheel nuts.
Yokomo have introduced the Racing Performer Ultra LCG 5000mAh LiPo battery pack. The hardcase battery pack weighs in at a lightweight 274g, making for a perfect chassis balance while the high-performance 70C/140C cells allow the use in both competitive stock and modified racing. On top of this the low profile design makes for an overall lower centre of gravity when compared to standard 25.1mm tall packs. The battery, that utilises 5mm and 4mm connector tubes, becomes available by mid-September.
Source: Yokomo [teamyokomo.com]
Coming from Exotek are a range of option parts for the Team Associated B6 series of buggies. First up are the aluminium wing mounts that are of an heavy duty design for increased rigidity. Machined to be still lightweight the parts weigh in at 10g in total and they use the stock wing spacer and hardware to mount the wing. The mounts fit both the B6 and B6D and they come in black or blue anodising.
Xenon USA have announced the signing of multinational champion, U.S. racer Dave Johnson to drive for new Japanese company Destiny. Along with Josh Cyrul, Dave will use the company’s RX-10S touring cars for the upcoming 2016/17 season and he had this to say:
First I would like to thank Scott Jakes, Josh cyrul, and Xenon USA along with Terutaka Hanaumi as well as David Spashett for this huge opportunity! The kits go together incredibly well and can’t wait to get testing laps down with these awesome cars!
Source: Xenon [xenon-usa.com]
Protoform have introduced a range of new 1/10th and 1/12th scale pan car bodyshells as well as front and rear wings for Formula cars. First up and coming in time for the indoor carpet season is the new BMR-12 1/12th scale body, an addition to the popular AMR-12. The new design features a front splitter and enhanced dive planes on the front fenders for increased front end rigidity and reduced body rubbing. The design features a cab-forward cockpit, simulated roof intake and a unique half-fin and in testing BMR-12 decked out car offered more rotation, more high speed steering, and more corner speed, all without sacrificing stability. The body fits all EFRA/IFMAR, BRCA, ROAR and JMRCA body specs and is offered in both light weight .020″ Lexan for experts and regular weight .030″ for novices. It comes with protective film and includes window masks and a decal sheet.
Spanish brand SRP have introduced their new Ultra ceramic ball bearings. The ball races use high-quality and highly precise Si3N4 balls to ensure a low friction while the dual metal and rubber shields make for both reduced transmission drag and protection from debris. Currently two sets are available, a 14-piece kit containing eight 5x10x4mm bearings, four 10x15x4mm bearings and two 5x8x2.5mm bearings and also an 18-piece set with all of the above plus four 5x8x2.5mm ball races. Both sets are suitable for most of today’s electric touring cars.
Source: SRP [srpqualityproducts.com]
JFT have introduce their new control foam tyre for 1/12th scale pan cars. Spec foam tyre are best known in 1/10th World GT racing where the purple-marked rubber makes for less guess work during scrutineering and they made a first step into 1/12th scale racing courtesy of CRC with JFT being another brand to offer “hand out” control tyres. The pre-mounted and pre-trued tyres come with a blue stripe for easy identification and they are mounted to grey standard off-set 1/12th scale rims suitable for most cars.
Japanese company ABC Hobby, best known for their extraordinary polycarbonate bodyshells, have introduced the Grande Gambado Nissan GT-R LM Nismo 1/10th scale FWD kit. The front wheel drive car is based off of the proven Grande Gambado 190mm chassis that uses a 2.5mm FRP main chassis plate, a front motor design with the power plant sitting behind the front axle and the chassis utilises a separate damper and spring setup. The car is topped off by a replica Nissan GT-R LM Nismo bodyshell; he full-scale counterpart was best known for its popular yet unsuccessful 2015 Le Mans LMP1 class appearance.
