Swiss after market parts maker SMP have released some new titanium wheel axles for the Serpent 720. Weighing only 6.8 grams each, they are 40% lighter than the standard axles which helps increase responsiveness and of course lowers the overall weight of the car.
Source: SMP [smp-slide.ch]
Serpent have released this brass counter weight for use on their 960’08 1/8th scale chassis. Weighing in at 50g it is mounted alongside the chassis stiffener to balance the car when using a lightweight LiPo receiver-pack.
Source: Serpent [serpent.com]
The future of Serpent, one of the pioneering companies of the on rc racing scene, has been the subject of much industry talk lately and today the men behind the company, Ronald Baar & Michael Salven, issued a statement to try and clear up some of the rumours doing the rounds. In the statement they clarify a number of issues including the fact the company will still have its HQ, albeit on a smaller scale, in The Netherlands. Under the company’s new structure it will have three main locations in SerpentAsia, SerpentAmerica and SerpentEurope which will support the 45 Serpent distributors World Wide. Backing up the statement is Serpent’s presence at the iHobby Expo in the Chicago this weekend where their new US distributor has a booth.
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We have received the following statement from Dutch company Serpent MRC outlining their latest restructuring plan. An established company, in existence for over 25 years, it has had to release this statement to counter other unfounded reports of their demise that started to spring up on the internet last night. The release states that the company is still going strong and has in fact only moved all of its production to Asia, which will have an effect on how distributors will purchase their products. Their headquarters in the Netherlands will continue to operate, but will now only handle R&D, Sales and Marketing.
Read the complete statement here… content
Kept under wraps at the Toy Fair back in February, Serpent have just released the full information on their long awaited 1/12th scale chassis, the S120. The S120 chassis consists of 2 main elements, the 2.5mm thick carbon fibre chassis plate and the rear single piece aluminium motor pod. The chassis uses a T-bar system, which has adjustable tension thanks to its unique tweaking system is damped using a conventional centrally mounted shock absorber together with a laterally mounted floating monoshock. The front end of the car is completely adjustable and utilises the now standard fixed lower suspension arms combined with active top wishbones, which together with kingpin mounted springs ensure that the car is able to corner at high speeds and soak up any small bumps found on the racing surface. In shops early August.
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Serpent are reporting on the 3rd round of the Brazilian Nationals where Ricardo Perez driving a Serpent 720 ’08 took the win. Saturday’s qualifying saw round 2 winner and another Serpent racer Henrique Winik TQ the event ahead of Flavio Elias and Perez. The finals on Sunday, which were held in very hot conditions, saw car no.1 of Winik in top form and he was able to run a lap time below the previous record. Unfortunately engine problems would rule him out of back to back victories, but team-mate Perez took up the lead where he would stay till the end to take the win. This moves him into the lead of the standings and bring him closer to becoming 2008 Brazilian Champion.
Source: Serpent [serpent.com]
Also new for the Serpent 960 is this aluminium radio plate support with brass weight. Similar in structure to the previous aluminium bracket, this version has been modified to accept the brass weight and will come as standard in future 960-08 kits. The accompanying brass weight adds 50 grams to very centre of the car and is mounted as low as possible in this area so as not to adversely affect the centre of gravity. Similar in concept to the previously released brass battery holder, this system gives a more neutral handling characteristic than that of the battery holder yet has the same benefits.
Click more to see the brass weight mounted in the bracket… content
Serpent have announced the release of this new shock tower for the rear of the Serpent 960. Made from 3.5mm thick carbon fibre, the new shock tower features a 2nd, higher mounting hole for the centring pin. This hole allows for the rear body mount to be set at its highest setting, while still being able to be centred. Some new low body shells work best when they are raised at the rear and this new shock tower facilitates that. This part will come as standard in future 960-08 kits.
Source: Serpent [serpent.com]
