November 4, 2014

Shepherd Velox E8 1/8th electric on-road kit – Preview

Shepherd Velox E8 1/8th electric on-road kit – Preview

Shepherd have a first official preview of the Velox E8 1/8th electric on-road kit available. After collecting first experience with a conversion kit developed in cooperation with Swiss company TTB Shepherd now introduce a purpose-designed car based on the European Championship winning Velox V8 EC. The car features some new design approaches such as the use of a single 6S LiPo mounted in the same area as the fuel tank on nitro-powered cars with a suitable battery being available soon from Shepherd and other manufacturers. Taken over from the nitro sibling are the suspension, the 3-belt drive train and other features like the laydown steering servo. Another feature is the possibility to mount standard 1/8 brushless motors and ESCs as well as the high-end components of Swiss company TTB without any additional parts needed. For the use of standard components a 7075-T6 aluminium motor mount and a carbon plate for the ESC are included in the kit while the TTB combo can be mounted directly to the chassis plate. Also included will be a high-quality 7075 T6 aluminium chassis plate for optimized engine cooling with a carbon insert to protect the battery from heating up. The kit is set for a release in December with more details and images becoming available soon.

Source: Shepherd [team-shepherd.com]


November 4, 2014

Mugen MBX7R Evo 1/8th E-buggy kit

Mugen MBX7R Evo 1/8th E-buggy kit

Based off of the MBX7R is Mugen’s latest 1/8th E-buggy kit, the MBX7R Eco. The kit features some subtle design changes and updated parts compared to the MBX7 Eco, as are the 7075 aluminium chassis with optimised side angles for increases strength and better on-track feeling on all surfaces. Also part of the package are newly designed front uprights with a trailing axle position and 8x16mm bearings. Additionally the rear hubs received a make over to allow the use of 8×16 or 15x21mm bearings in combination with the newly designed rear driveshafts. While being in the suspension compartment, the 7R Eco also features new 1.6mm shorter front A-arms to allow the use of a spacer between the arm and the pivot ball while the rear arms are adapted to make way for the new rear universals. Other new parts include a revised Ackermann plate with five mounting positions for the steering links, and a new wing stay to move the wing forward as far as 10.5mm for improved traction. The kit is rounded out by a set of 16mm front and rear big bore shock absorbers.

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November 3, 2014

Pro-Line Pro-MT 1/10th 2WD monster truck kit

Pro-Line Pro-MT 1/10th 2WD monster truck kit

Pro-Line introduce the Pro-MT 1/10th scale 2WD monster truck kit. Based off of the Pro-2 short course truck platform the truck features a 3mm 7075 aluminium chassis and the new Performance HD Transmission with all-metal gears for improved durability when using 2S and 3S brushless setups. Also included with the partly pre-assembled kit are PowerStroke aluminium shock absorbers, the ProTrack suspension kit, Pro-Spline HD driveshafts and Trencher 2.8″ tyres on F-11 wheels. The package is rounded out by a Sentinel clear truck body and the Secure-Loc body mounts.

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October 31, 2014

Tamiya TT-02 Type-S touring car kit

Tamiya TT-02 Type-S touring car kit

The Tamiya TT-02 Type-S chassis builds upon the shaft-driven efficiency of the original TT-02 4WD platform and provides it with new suspension parts plus other race-proven features. The enhanced version of the TT-02 targets hobbyists looking to make the step up from beginner-level chassis to more advanced set-ups. Included with the Type-S kit come 3mm thick FRP damper stays, metal suspension mounts, long reversible suspension arms, CVA oil shocks, adjustable turnbuckles and metal cup joints. Also part of the package are cast aluminium wheel hex hubs, medium-narrow radial tyres and a Torque Tuned brushed motor.

Source: Tamiya [tamiyausa.com]


October 31, 2014

Tamiya TRF419 touring car kit

Tamiya TRF419 touring car kit

Seen for the first time at the recent All Japan Hobby Show Tamiya now release a first official image of their forthcoming TRF419 touring car kit. The successor to the TRF418 has been heavily tweaked and optimised to give racers an even better platform for racing at all sorts of levels – from club racing to the World Championships. The kit inherits the TRF418 suspension parts but aside from those, the rest of the chassis features a whole range of updates and new parts. Carbon fibre upper and lower decks have been redesigned for optimum chassis balance and to maximise the potential of new drivetrain parts. The dampers follow a new design, and combined with updated carbon fibre stays will provide improved traction on a range of track surface conditions. The new aluminium motor mount ensures that the chassis’ flexibility is fed back more efficiently while the motor position is altered to optimise weight distribution. The kit also features newly-designed bulkheads and gear differential unit and it will become available around end of December.

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October 29, 2014

Serpent Spyder 2WD RTR short course truck

Serpent Spyder 2WD RTR short course truck

Following the full-blown race version Serpent now introduce a ready-to-run package based off of the competition variant. Using the same suspension geometry and composite tub chassis as the top-of-the-foodchain kit, the RTR comes with slightly simplified shock absorber units with plastic top caps, a gear differential unit and a solid slipper clutch with the kit being easily upgraded to a ball diff and slipper if conditions call for it. Also part of the RTR version is a 9T sensorless brushless motor with 45A speed controller, a 2.4GHz 10-model memory transmitter, pre-glued high-grip tyres and a pre-decorated bodyshell.

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October 29, 2014

VBC Racing Wildfire D07 touring car kit

VBC Racing Wildfire D07 touring car kit

VBC Racing Australia have first images of the forthcoming Wildfire D07 electric touring car kit available. The latest incarnation of the company’s touring car platform will be based on a 2.5mm carbon fibre main chassis with 2mm upperdeck and an innovative “floating” steering design that decouples the steering bellcrank posts from the chassis to allow for improved front flex characteristics. A sturdy aluminium centre pod still makes for accurate steering response while different flex settings help to fine-tune the setup. Also new to the D07 is an improved motor mount for optimised left-to-right flex characteristics of the rear part of the chassis while the new Zero Tolerance Pulley system makes for an ultra smooth drivetrain operation. Other new features include an updated anti-roll bar mount on the A-arms, a new suspension geometry using carbon composite parts, all-new 3.5mm carbon shock towers, new centre arm mounts with adjustable flex settings and more.

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October 24, 2014

Axial Wraith Spawn Rock Racer RTR

Axial Wraith Spawn Rock Racer RTR

Axial introduce the full bodied version of the Axial Wraith Rock Racer, the Wraith Spawn. The kit retains many of the components that made this vehicle famous. The AR60 OCP axles are ready take the Spawn through its paces whether blasting through the wide open desert or hammering its way through the toughest rock trails. The Ripsaw 2.2 tyres wrapped around industry proven Method IFD beadlock wheels make for good grip in many track conditions while the 20T brushed motor and waterproof AE-5 speed controller propel the vehicle trough the track. Included with the RTR kit comes a water-resistant TSX45 MG metal gear servo as well as a two channel 2.4GHz radio system.

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