RC Cars

The Internet And The Hobby Shop

Daniel Switkin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:46:47 -0600

Sales of radio control products, like many other categories, are moving more and more online. There's no disputing that this has taken a heavy toll on local hobby shops, which are struggling, and often closing.

There's an assumption that internet shopping is taking over solely because of lower prices. I'd like to dispute that. Certainly online stores can and often do have better prices, but I've been to local stores which are competitive, and the online shipping usually cancels out the local sales tax.

For me, a much bigger issue is selection. The hobby shops I've visited carry vastly fewer products than the big online retailers, and inevitably a number of things I need are out of stock. This negates one of the best reasons to go to a local store: instant gratification. I think most of us would pay a little more to have that new toy today.

To see how bad the selection problem is, I tried an experiment. I currently own six planes and four helicopters, ranging from a $100 RTF to a thousand dollar all-up heli. They come from a variety of major brands and are all fairly popular. I wanted to see how many of these ten I could purchase locally, regardless of cost:

ElectriFly Reactor
E-flite Taylorcraft 450
E-flite Enticement
MS Composit S2 Bulldog
Multiplex AcroMaster
LightFlite RC Bug
Esky Lama V4
Esky Honey Bee Fixed Pitch
Align T-Rex 450S
Century Swift 16

First, I had to locate some local hobby shops. This is difficult in-and-of itself. Searching for "hobby shop" on Google Maps gives some results, but it also turns up crafts stores, model train dealers, and the like. There are also dedicated sites like US Hobby Shops which can help. The AMA web site has a hobby shop finder, but none of these are complete. One surprisingly good source was to visit Horizon Hobbies and search for local dealers.

I was surprised to see how many listings were old and wrong. Those that were current often had only an address and a phone number. It's hard to believe that so few local stores have a web site with a few pictures, directions, and their hours posted. I'm not talking about a shopping cart - just a minimal presence to let people know you exist.

In the end I located and visited five local hobby stores in northern New Jersey. (The nearest was a 25 minute drive away.) Many were dominated by cars and trucks, which is surprising because there are AMA clubs in the area. Most had only one out of my ten models, the ubiquitous T-Rex 450. Even then, I had trouble finding the 450S kit with the plastic head.

The best store carried 3 out of my 10 models, and had only limited parts for them. In other words, if I was starting from scratch, I couldn't buy my fleet locally if I wanted to. I'd have to buy online just to find the planes and helicopters I prefer.

So why is the local selection problem so bad? No doubt carrying a lot of inventory is expensive, but I've been to a hobby shop in northern California that carries the majority of what I fly. I've seen one trend that explains this. In an effort to attract business, two stores near me have installed large, indoor tracks for racing small cars.

These tracks are great for RC car fans, but they take up a lot of floor space.

On one hand, bringing in customers to do something they can't do online, and getting repeat business from it, is smart. On the other hand, these tracks take up a ton of room. In both stores, the tracks occupy about 75% of the floor space. That's exactly where all the products I can't find would be! For every person who comes in to race on the track, there's another like me who can't find what he needs, and doesn't come back.

If selection is a problem, that means no instant gratification, so what other advantages do local stores have? A big one is the ability to get advice. This is still true for a lot of people, however the web is encroaching here too. Sites like RCGroups have an almost endless supply of good information. For helicopters, the Finless Bob build videos are better than the manuals. It's just not as important to ask questions face to face as it used to be, although I still enjoy the conversations.

The last big advantage to local stores is being able to see a product before you buy it. Depending on the item, this can be invaluable, and I'm willing to pay a little more for it. In practice, this doesn't always work out. For example, I'm in the market for a high end radio at the moment. Let's put aside the selection problem and assume I can find a store which carries the transmitters I'm considering. In my experience, retail stores tend to hide things like this behind the counter. I'd much rather be able to look them over by myself. Because the units are expensive, they can't afford to have a demo model, but the employees are also reluctant to crack open a factory fresh box. In the end, I'm not that much better off than buying online.

There is a flip side to this, for which consumers are to blame. Many people check out a product at the local store, then go home and buy it online. The store owners hate this, and I don't blame them. Unless the store is really overcharging, I think you owe it to them to buy the item locally. If the local price is higher, ask if they can come down to the minimum advertised price (MAP). That way, you get a fair price, and the store does too.

I wish I had a large hobby shop near me dedicated to planes and helicopters. I'd be happy to support them, and would probably spend $1000 a year there. Perhaps the situation is worse in the Northeast U.S. where the flying season is so much shorter. If you have a great local store, please give them your business and keep them going. Otherwise, for better or worse, the internet may soon be the only way to buy RC products.

HPI Racing Brama 10B RTR 4WD Overview

Zero — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0600

All components of the RTR kit

One of the latest releases from HPI Racing is the Brama 10B RTR 4WD buggy. This 1/10th scale is designed for low maintenance and has a good price for a 1/10th-scale 4WD. Unlike Hot Bodies, which is the racing division for HPI Racing, this car is more for the novice or sportsman as an entry-level 4WD RC car. It claims good durability, but has extensive use of mostly nylon/composite plastic components. Some seem very durable, but this car probably would need some upgrades for serious off-road competitive racing. For fun in the neighborhood and just getting started, it looks like a great choice and has some great features.

Tough Nylon Front Bumper

HPI Racing Brama 10B RTR 4WD 1/10th scale buggy is a sharp looking RC vehicle. It has some nice features for an entry level 4WD buggy. Based on the E10 chassis, this vehicle should have great handling characteristics. The video on the HPI Racing website shows the vehicle handling nicely and taking curbs and jumps with ease. Being a RTR, you just need to install the AA batteries in the transmitter, charge the vehicle's battery and your ready to run. One feature I really like, is the enclosed 4WD drive shaft, as they claim it helps protect from rocks and loose dirt getting into the drive train and slowing you down. This will keep your car running great in the harshest conditions. It has oil-filled shocks, ball bearings in the drivetrain, a nice tub chassis, a double wishbone suspension, good shock adjust abilities and much more. With a low street price, this should be a great buggy to get started in 1/10th scale 4WD.

Shaft Driven 4WD

For more information, check out the HPI website.

CEN Racing 1/8th GSR 5.0 Nitro Monster Truck Overview

Zero — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0600

The GSR 5.0 on the dirt

Light-weight 23 mm hex 6 spoke wheel with super soft all terrain tire

This is one monster truck ready and willing to tear-up the track. CEN Racing claims a 2nd Place finish at the 2007 Monster Truck Nationals and their website exclaims that they were the only truck that didn't break in the A-main finals. Sporting a 5.0 cc Corsa engine and a 2-speed transmission, this truck is claims to reach speeds of about 45 mph. That is some Monster truck.

The CEN Racing 1/8th GSR 5.0 Nitro Monster Truck is loaded with some nice features which makes the claim of durability very believable. It has features like the Corsa 5.0 cc engine, a two speed transmission, Aluminum chassis, Aluminum shock towers, a protected radio box, "MTM" metal brake system which sports 4 disc brakes, and much more.

Downforce Racing Wing

Additional Features:

New super stiff shock springs to launch your GSR off ramps and dirt jumps!
Light-weight 23 mm hex 6 spoke wheel with super soft all terrain tire
Light-weight composite two piece tuned pipe
All new racing wing and wing mount with adjustable down-force! Provides added stability while jumping and traction at high speeds.
Powerful and durable rear exhaust 5.0cc Corsa engine with tons of power!
Newly designed body scheme that comes pre-painted and decaled.
Heavy duty Metal to Metal Brake system for superior stopping power.
Extremely lightweight composite drive-train for reduced rotating mass
Equipped with easy to use Allen hex screws
Machined one-piece engine mount with cooling fins suitable for most big block engines
Front and rear racing differentials with super hard steel gears for extreme durability.
Dual Vertical Chassis design that provides ultra rigid support
High impact skid plate bumpers to improve durability (front and rear)
Hardened steel 8 mm constant velocity axles
Heavy duty spindles and caster blocks with alloy wheel hubs
Protected radio box and battery case
Oil filled shocks with functional reservoirs to absorb all types of terrain.

Specifications:

The GSR 5.0 on the dirt

Length: 22.4 inch / 570 mm
Weight: 12.5 lbs / 5.7kg
Engine: CORSA 5.0 engine
Width: 16.5 inch / 420 mm
Wheel size: 3.7inch / 94 mm
Transmission: 2 Speed Forward
Ground clearance: 3.15 inch / 80 mm
Tires: 6.2inch / 157 mm
Drive System: V Shaft Driven, 4 wheel drive
Overall Height: 9.84 inch / 250 mm
Wheelbase: 15.63inch /397 mm
Radio System: FM Digital Spec Radio
Fuel tank capacity: 220 cc
Chassis type: Dual VPC (Vertical Plate Chassis)
Differential type: Sealed 6-Gear Differential

For more information, check out the CEN Racing website.

Team Associated TC4 RTR Touring Car Overview

fastie — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0500

Team Associated TC4 RTR Touring Car

Some critical characteristics to an excellent road racing car is weight-distribution for good balance and handling, excellent power to weight ratio for quick acceleration, and an efficient drive train system for getting good range for sustained performance. Wait, we are talking about RC cars right? Well, even in RC racing, these are some key characteristics to winning races and the Team Associated TC4 RTR Touring Car comes well prepared for competitive RC racing. It has some of these race winning design features such as an efficient shaft drive system, good weight distribution of the motor versus the battery pack and excellent use of graphite components for low weight for good acceleration, but the strength and stiffness needed for good handling.

Reedy Radon 17-turn motor

Built to improve on the race winning design of the TC3 chasis, the TC4 provides some nice design features to give you a competitive edge in your touring races. Looking at the layout of the components on the chasis, Team Associated has thought about the centerline balance for good roll characteristics of the car as it transitions through the turns quickly. Having better balance makes the car easier to tune and the oil-filled shocks help dampen the motions on your most challenging tracks. More grip from good tuning, equals better power to the tires and the on-board Reedy Motor provides good power to the driveshaft 4WD system. Also, included with the car is a LRP digital speed control, Team Associated XP2 Radio system installed, and many factory team parts as well. All that is needed is a 6 cell battery pack and charger to get your model on the track. One downside is that in the configuration as shown, this model is not set-up for using LiPo battery packs. Also, as of this post Associated also has a TC5 model in kit form which is worth considering. But, for RTR action the TC4 is tough to beat and will get the beginner out racing in no time.

Specifications:

Team Associated TC4 RTR Touring Car chassis

Scale: 1:10
Power: Electric
Type: Touring Car
Length: 373mm
Width: 190mm
Weight: 1375g
Wheelbase: 273mm
Internal Gear Ratio: 2.5:1
Drive: 4WD

Features:

Treaded tires mounted on chrome 8-spoke wheels.

Body Painted V-Type Touring Car (190mm)
Electrical Motor, speed control, radio system
Shocks Composite-body VCS
Differential Carbide-ball Associated differential
Wheels & tires 8-spoke chrome wheels (standard 12mm hex) & treaded tires
Driveshafts Composite CVDs
Turnbuckles Steel
Ball bearings shielded bearings

See Team Associated's website for all the details.

O'Donnell Z01-B Nitro 4WD Buggy Overview

fastie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0500

O'Donnell Z01-B Nitro 4WD Buggy in action

Designed and built for competitive 1/8th scale nitro buggy racing, Steve O'Donnell crafted an exceptional platform. Being a kit and made for serious competitors, this model will require your choice of radio, engine, and even racing tires. The parts and materials chosen are first class for this type of RC buggy, positioning of components on the chasis are ideal for excellent performance. With it's race proven chasis, O'Donnell's Z01-B would be an excellent choice for the serious buggy racer looking for an adjustable, race-capable platform moving up from the RTR models popular in your clubs.

O'Donnell Z01-B Nitro 4WD Buggy in action

O'Donnell Racing's website has detailed descriptions for this competition capable 1/8th scale buggy platform. The features of this model include CNC-machined and hard-anodized aluminum parts, nickel-plated drive components which reduce wear and friction, carbon fiber mounting plates for servos and accessories, and nicely crafted aluminum full bodied shocks. A good race car comes with adjustability for the track and environment you are racing at, and this car has adjustable caster, camber and rear ride-height. If purchasing this kit, please also make note of the "tech notice" advertised on the Z01-B website it refers to some construction tips missing from the issues manual. Below are also some of the specs on the buggy.

Specifications:

O'Donnell Z01-B Nitro 4WD Buggy

Length: 20 in (510 mm)
Width: 12 in (305 mm)
Height: 7.5 in (190 mm)
Weight: 6 lb (2,720 g)
Wheelbase: 13 in (330 mm)
F/R Track: 10.25/10.5 in (260/275 mm)

DuraTrax Mini Quake 4WD RTR Truck Overview

fastie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0500

DuraTrax Mini Quake 4WD RTR Truck

The DuraTrax Mini Quake is a 1/18th scale 4WD truck with Monster Truck styling. It should have good performance with it's 8 oil filled shocks and a simple, but effective chasis layout. DuraTrax also offers the 1 year Stress-Tech Guarantee on i's plastic components. This model is an excellent choice for someone just starting out in RC or even a seasoned RC racer looking for something to run around the yard for fun.

Custom Multi-color Body

DuraTrax has combined some nice features in this a value based 4WD Monster truck. You have a choice of 6 nicely detailed body colors, the chasis is already assembled and Ready-to-Run (RTR), a 2-channel Radio, electronic speed control, and even the 6-cell NiCad battery and wall charger. So, with this kit it isn't just RTR, but everything is included - just charge and go. At just under 10" long, the performance of the truck should be pretty good with the included 380 sized motor. And, when your ready the list of hop-up parts is impressive including some graphite components which should reduce the weight quite well.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Length: 9.5 in (240 mm)
Width: 7.4 in (185 mm)

Factory Assembled Chassis

Height: 4.7 in (120 mm)
Weight: 25 oz (725 g)
Ground Clearance: 1.25 in (32 mm)
Includes: 2-channel DuraTrax® pistol radio made by Futaba® with RX-100 receiver, SX-100 servo and 8 "AA" batteries, ESC5000 Electronic Speed Control, 6-cell, 600mAh NiCd, AC Wall Charger

For more information, check out the DuraTrax Website.

DuraTrax Evader EXB Electric RC Buggy Overview

fastie — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:00:00 -0500

DuraTrax Evader EXB Electric R/C Buggy

Evader EXB in action at the track

The DuraTrax Evader EXB is a 1/0th scale RTR electric 2WD racing buggy that has what it takes to get starter in this exciting hobby. Designed as an entry level 1/10th scale machine, this buggy is very capable and has some nice standard equipment for the aspiring racer. This buggy is also RTR so you will be racing in no time after a quick charger and some basic set-up at the track.

Evader EXB showing the knobby rear tires

The DuraTrax Evader EXB is not your ordinary entry-level racing buggy. This car comes with some nice standard features including a 2-channel Tactic Radio, the Sprit 2 ESC, and a Photon Speed 2 540 electric motor. Being 2WD, the entry-level racer will find this buggy easy to set-up and with Duratrax Stress Tech 1 year guarantee on the plastic components your racing will be backed-up with nice protection. The DuraTrax Evader EXB also comes with your choice of 6 color schemes and nicely detailed graphics. And, when you are ready there is even more excitement with the array of nice aluminum and graphite parts to hop-up the performance of your racer. So, what are you waiting for, this buggy is sure to help you launch an exciting hobby as an R/C racer. Check out all the awesome details at Duratrax Evader EXB's website.

Duratrax Evader EXT RTR Race Truck Overview

fastie — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Duratrax Evader EXT RTR Race Truck

Duratrax Evader EXT RTR Race Truck is a great 1/10th-scale 2WD electric stadium truck for the aspiring RC racer. Being Ready-To-Run, you will be enjoying your truck at your local track in short order. The truck features a Photon Speed 2 540 motor which will give your great performance as you kick-up that dirt on the corners and fly off the jumps.

Duratrax Evader EXT RTR Race Truck in Action

The 1/10th-scale Duratrax Evader EXT Stadium truck is ready for action right out of the box. It has included a capable 2-channel Tactic radio, a Photon Speed 540 motor for excellent stock performance and a Sprint 2 ESC for controlling your speed as it races through the turns or down the straights. The truck is available in six awesome color schemes and sports a rear spoiler for great looks. Duratrax also offers on this model the Stress Tech Guarantee on their plastic parts to keep you enjoying many days at the track. See Duratrax's website for all the further details on this great entry level stadium truck R/C racer including the optional parts available and a copy of the manual.

Showing Evader EXT Chassis

You will need a charger and battery pack, but the Evader EXT comes with these components:

Chassis
Body
Body Clips (Qty 4)
Transmitter
Transmitter Antenna
Receiver Antenna Tube
Decal Sheet
Instruction Manual
Exploded View/Parts Listing
Transmitter Frequency Flag

Check Duratrax's website for the full gallery and videos.

Traxxas Rustler VXL Electric RC Truck Overview

fastie — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0500

Traxxas Rustler VXL Electric RC Truck

The 1/10th-scale Traxxas Rustler VXL Electric R/C Stadium Truck is a wickedly fast 2WD racer designed with brushless technology for blazing speed and LiPo battery performance. Traxxas has taken it's popular Rustler stadium truck and maxed it out with a "Verlineon extreme brushless horsepower". The results will give you exciting thrills at your local track with this RTR stadium truck R/C racer.

Traxxas Rustler VXL electric RC truck taking a jump

Claiming speeds of up to or exceding 70mph, Traxxas has morphed their standard Rustler into an awesome power packed 1/10th-scale stadium racer. The brushless technology is seemlessly designed as a complete system with the 3500 brushless motor coupled to a VXL-3s Electronic Speed Control (ESC). This RTR model also comes ready to run with excellent hardware able to handle LiPo power for connecting the battery pack. The Traxxas website has many other details highlight and be sure to checkout their videos.

Chassis of Rustler VXL

The features include:

Traxxas High-Current Connector
Maxx® Cable 12-guage wiring
Digital high-torque steering servo
Precision steel turnbuckles with heavy-duty rod ends
Metric hex hardware
Front suspension tie bar
Steel transmission gears
5x11 rubber sealed ball bearings at the wheels

Pure power of the brushless system

Specifications

Length 17.5 inches (445mm)
Front Track 12.25 inches (311mm)
Rear Track 12.25 inches (311mm)
Weight 59.6oz (1.69kg)
Height (overall) 7 inches (178mm)
Wheelbase 11.375 inches (289mm)
Front Shock Length Long
Rear Shock Length XXLong
Front Tires Alias™ Ribbed 2.8"
Rear Tires Alias™ Step-Pin 2.8"
Front Wheels 2.8" Black-Chome (All-Stars™)
Rear Wheels 2.8" Black-Chome (All-Stars™)
Speed Control Type VXL-3s™ Electronic Speed Control
Motor (electric) Velineon™ 3500 Brushless
Gear Ratio (internal) 2.72 (final drive: 9.05)
Differential Type Planetary
Gear Pitch 48-Pitch
Transmission Magnum 272™
Steering Bellcrank
Chassis Type Modified Tub
Chassis Material Composite Nylon

Duratrax Kwik-Pit Universal Starter Box

fastie — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0500

Duratrax Kwik-Pit Universal Starter Box

In the beginning of on-road RC car racing, racers had to build their own starter boxes from wood and a simple motor. I remember having one that I covered with monokote film to protect the wood from the racing fuel and grease. The advantages of a home-made box was that it was sized perfect for your car and you could add a draw or other nice features. But, these boxes where very heavy and seemed to always need adjusting.

Showing set-up with a 12V field battery

Today, the modern racer has the choice of several excellent starter boxes with Duratrax's Kwik-Pit Universal Starter Box being a great choice for the 1/8-scale or 1/10th scale on-road and off-road nitro racer. This box is build with a nice powder-coated steel box for durability and easy clean-up. The features of this box include powerful twin 540 motors, a durable belt drive for the starting wheel, and ball bearings on the starter wheel to handle the powerful torque. The timing of the start switch is adjustable without having to disassemble the box, this allows perfect set-up for placing the car on the box and getting the wheel starter right when it engages the starting wheel to the motor's flywheel. Comes mostly assembled with alligator clips and rubber pad for the steel box. The website shows how the box could be set-up with two stick battery packs or a single larger size 12V/7A field battery.