The Mugen name is a synonym for high performance nitro racing buggies for nearly two decades now. Becoming 1990 World Champion in the hands of Mugen’s Kohji Sanada, the Super Sport started the long line of winning buggies with the like of the aforementioned Super Sport, the Athlete and nowadays the MBX range of cars starting from the MBX-4 that hit the market at the end of the 1990’s to the all-new MBX-6!
Serpent have released the full details on their new 1/8th scale chassis, the 966. As we know from previous releases, and from our coverage at the toy fair, the car sports a most alloy rear end for precise alignment of everything and most of the changes focus around this area. The car also of course has a new chassis plate to cater for the new rear end, as well as new braking system which sees the mechanism as low as possible in the car, as well as other small improvements including updated RCC shock absorbers.
After publishing the review of Traxxas’ Slash CORR racing truck last week now it’s time for an even madder machine: the Team Associated SC8. Developed during 2008 at Team Associated’s so called ‘Area 51’ and released towards the end of the year the SC8 is probably the most authentic race truck so far. Based on the Associated RC8T chassis it not only offers a very scale looking CORR truck body but also (according to Team Associated) “… scale specifications of the full-size short course race trucks. It’s all there, from the scale suspension travel, to the roll-cage tube diameter, to the functional mud flaps.”
Incorporating all the latest technology, the O’Donnell Z01-B Team Limited Edition kit offers modelers two kits in one – at no additional cost. Focusing on a completely new front end design with longer wheelbase and lighter weight materials, this Limited Edition kit features new front arms, caster blocks, steering knuckles and shock tower. Lightweight extended front wheel hubs and a redesigned carbon front fibre top plate are part of the package. A revised carbon fiber servo tray, Ackerman steering rack and lightweight large diameter 83mm x 43mm dish wheels are included. Add in a compact battery box with carbon fibre support plate and two lids (one for LiPo and one for NiMH), a compact receiver box and an extended wing mount for improved stability. The Z01-B Team Upgrade Kit will be packaged together (for a limited time) with the original Z01-B, giving modelers a choice of building options.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNSU6PJoIP0[/youtube]
Shown for the first time at the Toy Fair in Germany earlier this month, this video was on show at the LRP booth and shows both the company’s new 1/8th scale brushless system and the S8BXe. Shot on a cold day in Germany, the video shows the capabilities of the new Vector 8 X12 motor and the super small, by 1/8th BL standards, SPX 8 Speed controller. The product is still in testing and what was shown at the fair, and is in use in the video, are not the final versions. Expect a mid August release for the S8BXe, which may or may not be the same release date for the electronics too, as well as a truggy version following soon after.
The video can also be downloaded from the LRP site here.
X-Factory were in contact to tell us that they have now shipped the new X-6 Squared Kits to their distributors. The first Kits were shipped last Friday, and more went out on Saturday and at the beginning of this week, so they should all start arriving at distributors soon. They will now turn their attentions to sending the kits directly to dealers. X Factory president Chazz had the following to say:
The X-6 Squared is the biggest product launch we’ve ever had at X Factory. We have almost as many Kits pre-sold to the distributor and dealer Family as we sold in the entire year 2007. The Squared will go up on our web site for retail sales late this week. Everybody will be able to get their Squared most quickly through their local hobby store.
Source: X-Factory [xfactoryrc.com]
German company Alien Power have sent us a teaser shot of their first entry into the car market, the Raptor 18TC. Very little is known about the new car, other than it will be a 4wd belt driven high end touring car platform and that it will be made mostly of carbon fibre, a sign of its racing intentions. More photos and details will be available in the near future.
Source: Alien Power [alienpower.net]
As we know already, the guys at Capricorn RC in Italy have been very busy lately with their new Serpent 960 Electric conversion set, which we showed you the first parts from last week. They have been in touch to update us with their progress and by the looks of the new photos, they have a track ready car to test. The plan is to now go testing and based on their findings they will make some final optimizations prior to releasing the conversion set. We will of course keep you posted of further developments.
