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Losi TEN T – “The Most Advanced R/C Car.”

rcgawker — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:13:36 +0000

“The Most Advanced R/C Car.- says Popular Science” The new 1/10th scale Losi TEN T is one of the coolest new cars to come out since the traxxas T-max. This new RTR truggy is packed with new innovation and performance. Losi’s revolutionary Remote Onboard Starting System (R.O.S.S.) and Spektrum’s DX3S radio system with integrated Telemetry means you can not only start your RC car with a touch of a button on your remote, you can also see the speed temperature RX voltage and more. All this and a spectrum radio to boot.

The engine is a jaw dropping 3.4cc 34000 rpm with a beautiful ionized aluminum heat sink.
Some of the main features of this truggy are..

Threaded, Anodized Shocks
The TEN-T’s big-bore, 12mm machined aluminum shock bodies are blue anodized for smooth operation and wear resistance. Threaded shock collars offer easy yet precise adjustment of pre-load and ride height. Shock pistons and bladders are specifically designed for the TEN-T’s chassis design and weight provide optimum ride and handling.

2-Shoe Clutch
The TEN-T’s 2-shoe clutch is based on Losi’s race-oriented clutch design for incredible durability and acceleration. Whether you’re racing on a track or tearing up the backyard, the clutch design will give you the power you need.

4mm Tie Rods with Captured Ends.
We’ve designed the TEN-T’s tie-rods with captured ends to stand up to extreme impacts and virtually any terrain you’ll encounter. Captured rod ends prevent accidental disconnection and keep the suspension solid and reliable.

Black Anodized Aluminum Chassis
Precision formed and machined from 3mm thick premium aluminum alloy, the TEN-T’s chassis provides a rock-solid foundation for unbeatable strength and stability. The chassis plate features a black anodized coating for increased durability and resistance to the elements.

Losi Digital High-Torque Steering Servo
The Ten-T’s high-torque digital servo gives you incredibly strong, fast and precise steering response and control.

I would not be surprised to see this as the next big movement in RTR Nitro cars. The bar has been raise again!

Some good rc rock crawler videos

rcgawker — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:39:06 +0000

If you ever thought about getting into rc rock crawling here are a few videos that might inspire you. It’s amazing to watch these trucks climb what looks to be impossible angles and rocks. Your Traxxas Revo would be on it top attempting this

Which RC car to get? Electric, nitro, or gas.

rcgawker — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:16:22 +0000

Those of us who are looking to get started in the RC world have to make a tough decision very early on: Electric vs. Gas powered RC cars. Since start up costs can be expensive, most people can’t afford to invest in both.

What many newcomers don’t realize is that gas powered RC cars should actually be sub-divided into two categories: Nitro, and Gas. Here are some of the key differences I gathered from wikipedia. Hopefully this helps you make an informed decision!

Electric:
Electric powered RC cars use high capacity compact batteries to drive brushed or brushless motors via an electronic speed control(ESC). Electric models tend to be lighter than Nitro models, due to having fewer components in the drive system. Electric cars have more consistent, and more torque than Nitro models. Also, they also have faster throttle response.

Electric batteries, however, take some time to charge; peak chargers can accomplish this in about fifteen to forty-five minutes. Stock top speeds for Electric models are around 30 mph, but depend greatly on the model and motor.

Nitro:
Nitro powered RC cars can reach moderate speeds unmodified. Maximum power is generally achieved at medium to high speeds, and a slightly slower throttle response than electrically powered vehicles is to be expected. Electric motors effectively produce instantaneous torque, where nitro engines, like full-sized gasoline engines, take time for the engine to spool up and for the clutch to engage. Nitro (and gas) powered cars may be refueled and returned to action in a few seconds, as opposed to electrics needing to remove the body shell and battery fasteners to replace a discharged battery.

Because of higher stock performance and their ability to be driven for longer periods of time, mechanical wear in nitro vehicles is generally greater than in electric vehicles. In addition, the increased speed and weight of fuel-powered vehicles generally lead to higher speed collisions, causing greater damage to the collided vehicles, and a greater degree of safety concern needs to be taken into account. However, nitro vehicles are more durable due to stronger components to sustain the greater stresses of more power.

Gas:
Gas powered RC cars, also known as “fuelies” or “gassers”, run on premixed gasoline and oil. They cost much more (usually $800-$3000 rtr) than nitro and electric cars. They are also much bigger and therefore require much more space to run. They don’t usually have high top end speeds (compared to nitro and some electrics) but have lots of power and don’t take a lot of fuel to run, and run times average 45 minutes. Over time the cost of a gas powered car can be less than some nitro powered vehicles, because of the high cost of nitro fuel and buying new nitro motors to replace worn out ones. In addition, gas powered motors rarely if ever require tuning and have a very long lifespan.

So, you can see there are definitely some major differences to consider.

Remembering back to 1984.

rcgawker — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:50:19 +0000

The year was 1984. The Apple Macintosh had just been revealed, Micheal Jackson was still black and drinking pepsi, and Miami Vice burst on to the scene. But if you’re older like me (38) you might remember another fun fact. The Tamiya Hornet, it was, at the time one of the most popular RC cars out there. In fact it is THE very reason I am even interested in radio control in the first place. I remember thinking it was so fast! My Revo would eat its lunch. So If you had one of these cars enjoy this video.

Top 10 RC Crawler Myths.

rcgawker — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:40:00 +0000

This article was taken from Radio Control Car Action Magazine September 2009 written by Brandon Wilcox.
www.rccaraction.com

[ MYTH ]
Tubers are for looks, not performance
Comp tubers weigh about the same as or sometimes less than a twin vertical plate chassis running a Lexan body. When set up correctly, they can be just as deadly on the rocks. It’s all in the geometry, driving style and setup.

[ MYTH ]
Slower is always better.
Slow and methodical crawling is the key to success on the rocks, but a number of obstacles require wheel speed to get up and over. You want your crawler to have the ability to crawl slowly with high torque as well as the ability to launch, if need be. A 3-cell LiPo and 35-turn or 45-turn motor is a good combo to get the best of both worlds.

[ MYTH ]
Heavier rigs are always better
A light, nimble rig set up correctly with proper forward weight bias will perform better than a heavier rig. It’s basic physics. The heavier something is, the harder it is to go uphill, and the easier it is to flip while side-hilling.

[ MYTH ]
You need tons of articulation
This is a very common misconception. Although lots of articulation might look impressive, your crawler will perform best with around 30 to 45 degrees of articulation. Anymore, and your rig will try to twist and wont’ be stable on the rocks. The truck will also feel less predictable on the rocks since the front and rear axles are not working together and are in extreme positions on the rocks. More often than not, excessive articulation leads to a truck doing an impression of a pretzel when it encounters a difficult obstacle.

[ MYTH ]
Full-size and RC crawlers are very similar
Bogus claim alert. Power plants, transmissions, tire setups and driving style are all different from the RC counterparts. There are, in fact, far more dissimilarities than similarities. The power-to-weight ratios are not even remotely close. The contact patches on the tires, the compounds and the tread designs are not really that much alike. Some of the principles are the same, but what works in the real world might not work in RC and vice versa.

[ MYTH ]
Dig is mandatory
Dig definitely gives you an advantage on courses, but it isn’t necessary. If you can’t compete on a local level without dig, then the course designers are building a “dig-favored” course. Tight corners could definitely make any course more challenging but the rocks themselves should be the obstacle, not the gate markers. The bottom line is: a good driver without dig will still beat a hack with dig.

[ MYTH ]
Crawling is expensive
Crawlers used to be fairly expensive when you had to piece everything together, but many purpose-built kits are now offered and even RTRs are starting to enter this segment. There are a number of inexpensive ways to get into crawling. The axial RTC, Axial RTR, HPI Crawler King and PTI Goliath RTR are all inexpensive ways to get going in crawling, and all you need is a battery and charger.

[ MYTH ]
You need gobs of clearance
Ever see those crawlers that are jacked up to the sky? Lower that monster down to the correct height! You want the bottom skid plate and lower links on your crawler to be almost parallel with the ground or slightly up. Clearance of 2 ½ to 3 inches is usually ideal, and anything over 3 inches is starting to push your limits. After you’ve set up your rig correctly, approach the rocks, and point your tires toward the tallest rocks. This will lift up the axle and keep your axles and skid plate out of harm’s way. You also want your rig to have a super-low center of gravity, so it doesn’t flip on vertical climbs.

[ MYTH ]
Trucks with independent suspensions can’t crawl
Have you seen the Traxxas Summit? It crawls extremely well. Sure, solid axles have the advantage over independent system; but independent-suspension-equipped trucks more than pull their weight on the rocks. With a progressive independent suspension system as used on the Traxxas Summit, trucks can be formidable on the rocks. Will we see independent suspension rigs win comps? No, but you can still crawl with them.

[ MYTH ]
The super class is dead
The 2.2 class is a larger class, but Tamiya, Red Cat Racing, XTM Racing, Gmade and Integy all continue to sell Super class products with success. The 2.2 class might be more popular, but clubs all over the country are still running Supers.

Rocket RC truck, flys?

rcgawker — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:56:34 +0000

How in the hell did this thing get in the air? I love it when people put rockets on shit.

How to buy and sell a RC car.

rcgawker — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:55:57 +0000

I know i have sold my share of RC cars on craigslist. This video explains in plan english how to get top dollar for your kits. So if you looking to sell your car you might want to watch this before you list it.
Highlights:
– Part out your RC if you need top dollar.
– Don’t buy used if you new to the hobby.
– List all upgrades your looking for before you buy.
– Don’t be a sucker for eye candy.
– Ask loaded questions

If you thought 1/5 scale was big. Try quarter scale!

rcgawker — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:52:46 +0000

Here’s a guy in Finland who was not content with just any RC car. No 1/5 scale was to small for him. So he build his own RC car quarter scale.
Main dimensions:
Length: 1150mm
Width: 890mm
Engine: 100cc kart racing engine, 26bhp @ 16.000 rpms
Weight: 61kg

Check out more pics and videos at http://www.quarterscalelegends.com

Mount a boom camera to YOUR RC Car!

rcgawker — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:58:06 +0000

I have seen countless on board cameras but this is one of the coolest i have seen in awhile. This guy build a camera boom for his Traxxas Revo. You really get a since of how well the suspension works. I love when he is driving through the leaves. Great idea!! Bad music in the video.

See more of these types of videos

127mph, could you keep your rc car in a straight line?

rcgawker — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:47:51 +0000

I have a team associated tc3 nitro (ntc3) and it’s fast. So fast in fact that i can hardly control it. I would say it tops out around 50+ mph. So when I see a guy driving an electric version 127 mph I’m impressed. Not because it can go that fast, but because he can keep the damn thing in a straight line! Watch this and see