Red RC

August 13, 2013

Tamiya FF-03 Evo FWD chassis kit

Available from end of August is Tamiya’s latest front-wheel drive kit called the FF-03 Evo. The high-end FWD touring car makes use of a gear transmission and features a new 2.5mm carbon main chassis and 2.0mm upper deck. The IFS front damper layout with inboard shock absorbers makes for a low centre of gravity and an optimised weight distribution while the new chassis has the drive battery mounted in-line of the left side with the servo and electronics being located on the opposite side of the chassis. Included with the kit come many option parts such as a heatsink motor plate, rear aluminium bulkhead, blue anodised turnbuckles and TRF shock absorbers.

Source: Tamiya [tamiya.com]

August 13, 2013

JQ THECar 2013 radio plate set

JQ Products introduce their 2013 radio plate set for the THECar 1/8th nitro buggy. Seen for the first time at this year’s European Championships the set offers an optimised weight distribution and includes redesigned battery and receiver boxes for a front or rear mounted receiver battery pack, a new CNC radio tray and on/off switch mounting tab. The parts are available as set or as separate items.

Source: JQ Products [jq-products.com]

August 13, 2013

Team Losi Racing 4WD buggy spotted

It has been rumoured for a long time and now LiveRC shot some exclusive photos of the mysterious ‘next generation’ Team Losi Racing 4WD buggy. Only one day after the ROAR 1/10th off-road nationals at the Silver Dollar Raceway TLR came there for their own version of a pre-worlds testing with what appears to be a XX-4 “2.0”. Looking at the pictures it appears that the designers kept most of the iconic XX-4’s design elements such as the suspension geometry, weight distribution and (3?) belt drivetrain. On some of the photos it looks like the 4WD prototype sports the same front motor/front main gear setup as Team Losi’s first 4WD buggy two decades ago. The now aluminium chassis is designed along the “4’s” outer shape and even the suspension geometry with the somewhat widely spaced shocks and the front ‘reverse’ steering knuckle/hub construction can be found in the new buggy but the suspension and bulkhead parts sport a modern look as known from the current 22 line of buggies and trucks. We do not have any other information on the car that is believed to make a first public appearance at the World in September but we keep you posted.

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August 12, 2013

HoBao H4E Pro touring car kit

CML Distribution today released first pictures of HoBao’s forthcoming H4E pro touring car kit. The vehicle is designed for high-end competition use and offers a conventional weight distribution but one or the other unconventional design element such as vertically spilt front and rear bulkheads, tough looking suspension mounts, sturdy steering bellkcranks and a rigid servo mount as well as solid A-arms. The front steering knuckle and hub construction is of a reversed design meaning the steering knuckle is C-shaped with an oval-design hub – pretty similar to the design many 4WD buggy use. Another feature worth mentioning are the short aluminium big bore shock absorbers with large diameter springs, the very narrow carbon fibre chassis design and the self-centring anti-roll bars. We have no information on a release date but we keep you posted.

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August 12, 2013

Mugen MBX7 aluminium wing shims

Made for the Mugen MBX7 buggy are these new wings shims made from hardened 7075 aluminium. They are designed to replace the kit’s plastic shims with more durable ones for a more secure and reliable wing fitting. The parts are available as type A and type B variant with the latter allowing the wing to be mounted in a forward or backward position.

Click here to view the other new parts

August 12, 2013

ROAR electric off-road nationals – Report

The 2013 ROAR 1/10th electric off-road nationals took place in Chico, California at the Silver Dollar Raceway, the host of this year’s World Championships in a couple of weeks time. The organisers opted to sugar-treat the track’s surface as they did at the Worlds warm-up race earlier this year making it a mid-motor friendly affair. The important 2WD buggy class saw Team Associated’s Ryan Cavalieri and Ryan Maifield, TLR’s Dakotah Phend and Ty Tessmann, running a Kyosho RB6, battling out the top 4 positions in qualifying. All four scored a TQ but at the end it was Cavalieri who took the pole position from AE team mate Maifield with Phend and Tessmann in tow. In the triple A mains Dakotah, coming from the third spot in the grid shifted to second gear and stole the win in the first two final legs from Ryan Cavalieri handing him the national championship early. With a win in the third A main Ryan C. secured himself the runner-up spot with TLR’s Dustin Evans completing the podium.

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August 12, 2013

FX 5K 5-port buggy engine

FX introduce their first nitro engine in the form of the 5K 5-port 3.5cc buggy engine. Being made for high-end competition use it offers a long stroke design, a silicium position, hard chrome plated brass sleeve and a 14mm diamond coated silicone filled crankshaft. The European developed, designed, engineered and made engine comes equipped with ceramic front and rear bearings and a thermally isolated 3-needle carburettor with modular venturi inserts.

Click here to view the specifications, features and another photo

August 12, 2013

BRCA Truggy and E8 nationals Rd5 – Report

Deerdale situated in the heart of the country near Mansfield played host for round 5 of the BRCA Truggy and E8 Buggy championship. The track is reckoned by some to be the best 1/8th scale astro-turf track in the country. It is big, but can catch one out with its technical sections. Normal format resumed with the drivers brief and qualifying starting at 9 o’clock. E8 buggies were first, followed by the truggies. Although the attendance was low the weather turned up for the enjoyable days racing. Some of the top buggy drivers and truggy drivers found out first hand in there first run how the track can bite back at you if you don’t respect it.

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