HPI Brings Us the Bandit

I am no country music fan, but there is one song that I know and love. This song is "Eastbound & Down" by Jerry Reed. That is the theme song from "Smokey and the Bandit" a movie that shaped my life. I still don't have a mustache but I have had more than my share of police chases (7-1 that one time I didn't know they were chasing me). I can tell you the police need to be within a certain distance to turn on their lights and call in a chase, never let them get that close. I have also had a few Firebirds. I still haven't got my hands on a Trans Am yet. HPI has now made it easier.

Tamiya MP4/6 Retro F1 Beauty

Everybody loves Ayrton Senna. I didn't. I was a huge Alain Prost fan. Senna and Prost defined the term epic with their battles. Prost was the master technician while Senna was the visionary that could see and walk the fine line between death and glory. I was originally a Mclaren Honda fan. I was turned off to Senna's style when I saw him in too many incidents. I didn't know much about racing but Senna looked dangerous out there while Prost seemed always in control. Here's a few more reasons why I liked Prost better. This car is a new release from Tamiya. You are all aware of Tamiya's self imposed ban on tobacco advertising. that means you will need to seek out a third party decal maker to have correct livery. You may also notice the photo below isn't of the actual kit. There are no press photos yet so I used a pic of the old one and some pics of the real car. Now enjoy this blast from the F1 past.

PS If they start revolting in Australia I am going to be all kinds of pissed.

The McLaren MP4/6 was the first McLaren to be powered by Honda's V12 engine which was controlled by the H-pattern manual gearbox. The 1991 F1 season saw team driver Aryton Senna win the season's first four races including the Brazilian GP. The MP4/6 went on to earn McLaren their fourth straight constructors' championship and also saw Senna claim his third and last drivers' championship.

Specs and Features:

• 1/10 R/C assembly kit model of the 1991 McLaren MP4/6
• Length: 413mm, Width: 200mm, Height: 98mm.
• The F104W chassis features a longitudinal battery layout .
• The F104W chassis incorporates F103 front arms to mimic the wider dimensions of earlier F1 machines.
• Durable polycarbonate body
• Transmission: RWD-2WD, Direct Drive, Solid Axle
• Ball bearings included for rear axle, with bushings in the front
• Friction rear damper with coil spring
• Front king-pin coil spring independent suspension
• Foam tires
• Spur gear with built in ball differential
• Friction pads for chassis roll adjustment
• A resin bumper is equipped under the front wing to protect against shocks and crashes.

RC Videos Are Radical

So I've been debating adding a video page to this blog. I have a lot of cool video's but I don't want to get a cease and desist letter or even worse, a bill. Of course while my peers were watching Sesame Street and Electric Factory I was watching Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run so I do what I want until I get caught. I need some more HD space before I can edit and upload, that is on it's way from China so we'll see what happens. In the mean time check out these pretty cool promotional videos from Tamiya.

Tamiya Vintage F1 Lotus

Sadly Tamiya is against tobacco. Personally I think its gross but the money they spend on racing cars makes them OK in my book. Tamiya on the other hand to the detriment of their scale realism refuses to reproduce their decals with tobacco names. That means the eponymous JPS Lotus is now just the black and gold one. Very corny. Fortunately for me I found a Tamiya Road Wizard decal set on the bay for cheap. In case you didn't now the Road Wizard came with two decal sets, the original/Honda type and the JPS livery. So yes I have a set of John Player Special decals. I also have an unpainted Road Wizard body. If I ever get around to restoring my Road Wizard it will be a JPS car. This thing looks sexy though. If I find one for cheap I may use my decals on it.

RC Lotus Type 79 - F104W Item #84122

OFNA Re-releases The OB4 (I Must Be Doing Something Right)

[church voice] What a joyful day! The RC manufacturers have really been shining upon us. The have blessed us once again with the rerelease of classic! The glorious OFNA OB4 has returned to us. [/church voice] I really wanted one back in the day until I got my hands on a Z10 Pro. That was the lowest quality touring car kit I have built to date. After I got my RC Labs 777 I was over the whole mid motor thing. I was however, secretly intrigued by the pivot ball suspension. Despite it being quite popular with nitro touring cars, it is a rare feature on an electric touring car. I have a Yokomo GT-4 that was purchased with the intent to make it an electric PBS car but the box of many parts turned up a mint Yokomo 200mm RTH (Racing Truck Head) body that was made for the GT-4. It sits in a box awaiting its fate, a nitro shelf queen, a project, or sold to fund another idea. We need to be back on topic. That topic is the new OFNA JL10e Drift (still a wack name). Did I tell you that some retailers have it listed for $89.99? Oh snap 1997 prices yo! I don't know what I'm buying myself for Christmas this year. I was nearly settled on a TA05 Ferrari FXX but the low price of this puppy is screaming "buy me". 80% assembled is telling me to get the Tamiya. Maybe I will make enough money to buy both. Or maybe instead of buying gifts for other people I'll just lay low this holiday season. I can pretend I went on vacation and just hide out in the basement playing with RC cars. OK I do that anyways.

OFNA JL10e Drift - 1/10th Electric Sedan PART #34722 - 80% Assembled

Introducing The JL DRIFT 1/10th scale belted drift car from OFNA. If you're looking to get sideways, this is the kit for you. Great for beginners and veterans alike. This kit offers everything you need to get drifting. With hard compound tires, mid motor design, fiber pressed double deck chassis and adjustable front and rear diffs you can press the limits of high speed drifting or gracefully slide into a corner to an almost dead stop with the wheels still spinning. The JL10 drift works with all 200mm bodies on the market giving you many options from which to choose. Priced economically this kit will fit your budget. So get one and get sideways!

Technical Data:
Length:         13.5 in/342 mm
Width:          7.5 in/190 mm
Weight:        1.65 lbs/748 g
Wheelbase:  10.25 in/260 mm

Features:

• PBS Suspension
• Mid Motor Design
• Fiber Woven Chassis, Upper Decks and Shock Towers
• Hard Rubber Drift Tires
• Composite Lexan Shocks
• 14 Ball Bearings
• Light Weight Spoked Wheels
• High Impact Foam Bumper
• Adjustable Caster, Camber and Steering Links
• Oil Filled Front and Rear Differentials
• Adjustable Track Width
• Light Weight Shock Bodies
• Chrome Y Spoke Wheels
• Spring Loaded Servo Saver
• Integrated Battery Holder
• Multiple Shock Positions

Schumacher Re-releases the Mission

How about that? A touring car rere! The only others were the short lived Losi Drift-R (xxx-s) and the Tamiya Ta03F-Drift. This is like new money (I think that's how the kids use the phrase). I never understood why manufacturers would quit producing certain kits. In the model world they are still selling kits that have been molded before I was born. I am glad to see that manufacturers recognize the integrity of their past models. I'm not holding my breath for the Tamiya Blackfoot re-release because I was holding my breathe for Gran Turismo 5 to come out on Nov. 2 and Kazunori Yamauchi decided to push it back. I think the Japanese are secretly plotting against my happiness. Whoa too much crazy slipped out, enjoy the re-release.

Schumacher Mi1 1/10th Touring 4WD

The NEW Schumacher Mi1 is the ideal first “Race Car”. The Mi1 is simple to maintain, durable and above all, great to drive! With an efficient transmission and precise CNC machined motor plate, it handles like a dream. Using tried and tested suspension, with CNC alloy shocks the Mi1 offers a higher specification than other “entry level” touring cars.

Designed to use the latest LiPo batteries and with a excellent range of easy adjustments and option parts available, the Mi1 is fully tuneable for what ever track you decide to race on. Schumacher Mi1, when you want to race.

Prototype model shown, some details and specifications may vary.

Mi1 Specification

Power Source:    ELECTRIC
Model Type:      4WD, ON-ROAD, COMPETITION
Length:               300mm
Wheelbase:        275mm
Width:                190mm
Top Speed:        40 MPH+

Features:

• Twin Track, ballraced, limited slip ball differentials. With Tungsten Carbide balls. - Offers long life with super smooth action, low rotating mass for awsome acceleration.
• Tough S1 composite chassis, top deck and shock towers.
• Rear in-board toe-in options - For excellent traction on slippery surfaces.
• Front in-board toe-out options - For more front end bite on slippery surfaces.
• Simple Alloy shock absorbers.
• Includes front differential for ease of use and transmission reliability
• Fully Adjustable Camber, Caster, Roll Centre and toe in/out
• Dual belt transmission - efficient, fast and great run times.
• Large differential and layshaft pulleys - Minimises belt loading without the belt jumping and maximises belt efficiency.
• Purple alloy motor mount - Strength and motor heat dissipation.
• 24 piece ball bearing set - Ultra low rolling resistance, includes ballraced steering!
• Front and rear anti-roll bars included.
• Lightweight foam bumper - Weight saving protection.
• Optimum weight distribution with stick pack lipo layout.
• Ultra narrow chassis design to minimise grounding on roll.
• Speed secret parts available to fine tune to all track conditions.

Touring Cars and Parking Lots, A Match Made in Heaven

I have had trouble getting to shoot the feature cars I had planned for this week. You will see them soon. I have noticed touring cars have been on the decline. I have been thinking about this situation and have come up with my (crazy) interpretation.

When touring cars blew up pan cars were at a very low point and electric off-road was about to plateau. People who wanted street cars finally had a full suspension 4wd on-road genre. We went nuts and bought our favorite cars and bodies and built our own little racers. We would go out to our local mall parking lots and have a blast. As touring cars gained popularity the seriousness of the racers also increased.

Soon luxury cars came out and were more suited to well groomed and indoor carpet tracks. The racers hung up their realistic looking bodies and wheels and bought stratus' and dish wheels. Without people bench racing and match racing in parking lots the demand for mid level cars diminished. People stopped buying extensive hop-ups as well. Drifting has created a mini resurgence but that too seems to be dwindling.

I will always build and drive touring cars. Since childhood I have enjoyed building tuning and driving on road RC cars. Pan cars had too little suspension for the hard streets of West New Jersey. I started with a Kyosho Scale Car series Ferrari Testarossa (With a 67 Nova body) and fell in love with getting it to handle and go faster. There was a big gap 91-97 then I bought my precious Tamiya TA02 and Kyosho TF-2 type-R . These two cars were a world of entertainment for me. The Kyosho has evolved into a shelf queen and the Tamiya has evolved from this into this .

Anyhow, all this was a setup for this. A slideshow from the TCS race in Maryland 2006. I loved the old school parking lot racing atmosphere and everyone was friendly and willing to show off their cars. It was an amazing time. That is also when I learned that I knew very little about how to build a fast car considering the silvercan class was nearly as fast as the 27T stock class. Look at the pics, see the awesome rides, and the smiles on faces.

Convert Your Old Radios to 2.4ghz

So you love that old Futaba Magnum Jr. radio from the 80's. You don 't use it because its AM and has less range than a super soaker. You know you need to get rid of it but you can't because it's in excellent shape. what do you do? Well now there is a solution. Corona (not the beer) has come up with a DIY conversion to convert old radios to 2.4ghz! Bam, dope right? Of course it is. As soon as I get a chance I'm getting one. I don't know what radio I want to convert but probably an old Kyosho Pulsar or a Magnum jr. I know it says FM but there are many people who have used this successfully on AM radios as well.

Corona 2.4Ghz DIY Module & RX (DSSS)
Upgrade your FM/PPM radio to the new 2.4Ghz DSSS technology with a Corona DIY system.
Compatible with all Corona 2.4Ghz receivers.

Size: 38.5*21.8*6.5mm
Voltage : 8V - 13V
Weight: 5g
Range : more than 1500m
Operating current : 100 MA
Resolution : 10bit
Latency : 22ms

Included:

• 2.4Ghz Module
• Antenna
• 2.4Ghz Receiver

Picture Day!

I took pictures of some of my cars. Click to embiggin.