Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i RC Car Action

Robert started off by telling us, “Driven this chassis last ten years winning multiple 1st, 2nd and 3rd titles at the local track including a 2nd place win in a 3 hour enduro with two other teammates. This is the second body in that time to replace a well-loved and stitched together HPI ‘70 Cuda.” We love seeing cars that really get driven and it sounds like your T3R Cuda has plenty of miles put on it. You’ve got a winning formula there and we’re loving it! Great job Robert! BUILD HIGHLIGHTS - Chassis: 2012 Xray T3R - Body: HPI ‘70 AAR Cuda - Motor: Novak Ballistic 25.5 - Speed Control: Novak GTB - Battery: Trinity 2S LiPo 5000mAh - Wheels and Tires: HPI Vintage…

In the world of radio-controlled vehicles, few names carry the same weight as Tamiya. Renowned for producing high-quality model kits and radio-controlled cars, Tamiya has left an indelible mark on hobbyists and enthusiasts for decades. This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of their most iconic creations—The Frog RC off-road buggy. With a legacy that continues to thrive, let’s take a journey back to 1983 when this trailblazing model was first released. A LEAP AHEAD OF ITS TIME In the early 1980s, the remote-controlled car scene was in its infancy. Tamiya, however, was determined to redefine the landscape with their cutting-edge designs. Enter The Frog, a 1/10-scale electric off-road buggy that captured the hearts of hobbyists around the world. Upon its release in 1983, The Frog stood out with…

In the electrifying world of radio-controlled vehicles, where innovation meets precision, a remarkable partnership has emerged to create a game-changing masterpiece. Enter Leigh Guarnieri, Associate Publisher of RC Car Action, and Austin Williams, the mastermind behind Corrupt Carbon Works, joining forces to craft a custom-built radio-controlled truck that defies conventions and takes the concept of comp crawling to unprecedented heights. REVOLUTIONIZING THE COMP CRAWLER SCENE The realm of comp crawling has witnessed remarkable growth, and with the recent release of the Axial SCX10 Pro it’s clear that the competition scene is booming. However, the birth of a production-level comp crawler doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a result of years of tireless development and testing by boutique brands that have carved a niche for themselves within the community. One such influential figure…

Team Associated has been an integral part of the 1/8-scale nitro off-road scene for the better part of the past two decades. Starting out with the introduction of their RC8 platform in 2007, and then the RC8T later in 2008, Team AE made its mark on the industry and never looked back. Their dominance and ingenuity in the 1/8-scale segment has been so impactful that several of the company’s world titles have come from their 1/8-scale nitro racing efforts. With their longstanding experience in 1/8-scale racing, they continue to improve upon each of their kits and push the bar every time a new one is released. Lucky for us, we were able to get our hands on one of their newest kits, the RC8T4. This awesome race kit is packed…

FEATURES Eartec offers many communications solutions for RC and sporting enthusiasts, one of which is their UltraPAK belt-mounted transceiver. This handy unit tucks away onto the user’s belt and features a Kenwood-style 2-prong plug so you can hook up a wired headset. Eartec conveniently offers the UltraPAK transceiver with their Cyber Headset, a lightweight wired headset that works perfectly with the UltraPAK unit. Like Eartec’s standalone headsets, the UltraPAK features full duplex communication for completely hands-free operation, eliminating the need for PTT and signal buttons. The UIltraPAK uses the same rechargeable lithium battery as their UltraLITE headsets, making it a great standalone unit or addition to an existing Eartec headset collection. The built-in belt clip allows the unit to be attached to belts, bags, and various other webbing, and can…

Montgomery tells us that his car was run over on the street! It’s hard to believe that it survived. We’ll let him explain, “After driving without major crashes for a year, I managed to get my Arrma Infraction ran over by a car while doing speed runs. Miraculously, the RC car escaped unscathed except for a few bends as well as the loss of its stock resto-mod body. This was the start of my Skyline build. After bending back parts like the shock tower, rebuilding the front right shock and adjusting the toe-out, I found a great Skyline body from Tacoma RC Raceway, as well as a nice blue paint. While painting the body, I noticed that I forgot to put the window paint protectors on and ended up with…

If you’re an automotive history buff, you know that the 1970s were a golden era for trucks. Among the legends of that time the Chevrolet K10 Scottsdale stood out, showcasing rugged American craftsmanship and an indomitable spirit on and off the road. Now, thanks to the meticulous scale artistry of RC4WD, that timeless appeal has been resurrected in the form of the RC4WD Chevrolet K10 Scottsdale Hard Body Trail Finder 2 “LWB” RTR—a radio-controlled vehicle that’s as much an homage to the past as it is a testament to modern engineering. ESSENCE OF A CLASSIC With a nostalgic nod to the Scottsdale trim level of the original K10 trucks, the RC4WD Trail Finder 2 “LWB” is a 1/10-scale replica that pays tribute to the iconic Chevy K10. From its molded…

In the grand scheme of monster truck lore, the High Roller Monster Truck holds its own place. Built in 1985 by David Mattingly of Fordsville, Kentucky, its design was heavily influenced by the Original Monster Truck, Bigfoot 1. The truck’s journey saw it change hands and undergo transformations. Greg Coston acquired the High Roller in 1986, initiating a series of car-crushing displays across Ford dealerships, county fairs and jamborees. Subsequent owners modified its appearance, adding larger tires and repainting it red for advertising purposes. The truck’s story came full circle in 2015 when Jeff Krekeler of Farmington, Missouri, purchased it with the intention of building a Bigfoot tribute truck. The unexpected reunion with Rodman Hobbs, who shared in the High Roller’s history, led to a comprehensive restoration in time for…

We recently dropped by one of Tamiya’s company-run retail stores when we visited Tokyo, Japan. If you’re a Tamiya fan or an RC enthusiast in general, we’ve got to say that this is a bucket-list visit if you ever get to go to Tokyo. Tamiya Plamodel Factory is located in a business district of Tokyo and consists of several levels. On the ground floor are Tamiya’s static plastic model kits, paints, modeling tools, reference books, branded merch such as t-shirts and backpacks, and more. The basement level is where the RC goodies are tucked away. Descending into the RC lair is a Tamiya fan’s dream come true. They sell all sorts of items we can only dream about outside of Japan, from individual parts trees to discontinued bodies and unobtanium…

Alec isn’t new to Readers Rides; he submits plenty of great builds. We were particularly excited about his latest submission. It’s perhaps we’re children of the 80s that the A-Team van hits hard for us. It sounds like Alec is of like mind, he tells us, “As a kid of the late-70s/early-80s, every time I see a VW Beetle I want it to be Herbie and every time I see a van, I want it to be the A-Team van. So, when I saw that Hobby Plus had released a builder’s kit version of their CR18P Rock Van, I knew what I had to do! I think it turned out pretty nice! And with the 370 motor and transmission from RCAWD, this thing takes off like a bullet! It will…

Traxxas, a name synonymous with high-quality radio-controlled vehicles, has introduced the latest addition to its Pro Scale lineup, the Traxxas Ford Raptor R. With an impressive blend of scale authenticity and rugged performance, this new release is set to captivate the hearts of RC bashers and enthusiasts alike. Standing as a testament to Traxxas’ commitment to both realism and speed, the Traxxas Raptor R embodies the essence of the Ford Raptor R driving experience. The attention to detail and realistically proportioned design come together seamlessly with the power of a 4X4 drivetrain and the thrust of the Velineon brushless motor. This fusion of the Raptor R’s lifelike realism and unmatched performance is what makes Traxxas Pro Scale vehicles stand out from the crowd. A DETAILED LOOK Bringing out the heart…

I was recently going over my Axial Capra and thinking about potential modifications I could make to tackle certain types of obstacles. Generally speaking, it already performs pretty well on most obstacles but can sometimes struggle on steeper terrain due to its somewhat high center of gravity and long shocks. I’ve already put a decent number of parts onto it to combat this issue, so I was ideally looking for something budget-friendly to try out that might help even further. With that in mind, I remembered seeing a cheap, simple modification online that has gained popularity over the years for various RC crawlers. The modification in question is the “Pen Spring Mod.” This mod uses the inner spring from a clicky-style pen to internally limit shock travel, the goal being…

Just a couple of pages ago in this very issue, we introduced you to Ian Roberts, Product Engineer at Pro-Line Racing. In our Q&A session with him, we found out that he’s big into RC crawlers. That intrigued us enough to ask him about one of his latest builds that we saw at Axialfest. Lo and behold, the Axial SCX10.2 Deadbolt that you see before you. This isn’t just any regular RC truck; it’s a personal creation that showcases Ian’s love for RC, his knack for building things, and his passion for making things better. Technically this crawler started out as a Deadbolt, but in reality it’s a whole other animal now due to the modifications that Ian did to it. The idea for this this build was to create…

FEATURES Smart Workshop’s Smart Starter is an innovative new take on the classic nitro glow plug igniter. The Smart Starter features a rechargeable 3.7V 1800mAh 18500 battery cell fitted within the igniter’s carbon fiber body. The battery is hooked up to an internal DC/DC regulator circuit that manages the output current from the cell, maximizing the igniter’s output to upwards of 6 amps of output current. The internal circuitry has a very low resistance for maximum efficiency which allows for this high output. An integrated USB-C charging port on the side of the igniter makes charging a breeze, no longer requiring the use of the age-old glow igniter charging lead. The igniter can handle up to a 5V/1A charge input, which is about what a standard iPhone charging brick will…