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Review: Tamiya Fast Attack Vehicle 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Tamiya Fast Attack Vehicle

Review: Tamiya Fast Attack Vehicle

There are two types of people in every hobby; those that do it for fun and those that do it to win. For example, let’s look at motocross. There are those that want to just go out to the desert and ride and there are those that want to go out ANYWHERE and race. That’s pretty much the same thing with RC. Today, folks, we are going to switch gears and have a look at a fun buggy, Tamiya’s Fast Attack Vehicle. No racing, no competitions and no double back-flips off the big jump. We are heading out and doing what everyone in this hobby started it for…to have fun. So put away those high end radios and stopwatches and let’s hit the dirt!

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Posted on: 02-14-2012
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Team Associated RC8.2 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Team Associated RC8.2

Review: Team Associated RC8.2

In 2010, the world watched as every manufacturer battled it out at the 1/8 World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. Team Associated showed up in force and made a valiant effort to claim the victory, but after a week of driving on the brutal Pattaya track, they fell short. Coming home, the engineers went to work, creating an updated 1/8 scale from all the testing they had learned at the Worlds. The following result was a dominate 1-2 victory at the 2011 ROAR 1/8 Scale Off Road Championships in the hands of Ryan Cavalieri and Ryan Maifield. I’ll be taking my new RC8.2 to the track to see if it all the hype is truly warranted.

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Posted on: 02-14-2012
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

First Look: Axial EXO Terra Buggy 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Axial EXO Terra First Look

Review: Axial EXO Terra First Look

WORDS/PHOTOS: Tony Phalen

Axial has made a name for themselves in the crawling world with releases like their AX10, SCX10 and XR10. Their latest vehicle, the Wraith, was modeled after the KOH (King of Hammers) style rock racers. This truck was a huge hit as it combined the technicality of rock climbing with the sheer speed of open trail racing. When news of a new vehicle came out, the world wondered what Axial had up their sleeve. I introduce to you Axial’s newest creation, the EXO Terra Buggy.

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Posted on: 12-29-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Tamiya M06 Pro Mini 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Tamiya M06 Pro Mini

Review: Tamiya M06 Pro Mini

WORDS/PHOTOS: Tony Phalen
PAINT: Tony Phalen

Here in SoCal, the mini class has always been a hit-or-miss at most parking lot races. Some days you’ll have one or two heats of Minis, other times you might be the only one to show up. One thing is for sure, those that do show up have their FWD Minis hooked up. So how does this newcomer among Minis compare? Will the rear motor/rear wheel drive layout be the big Mini thing? We take the M-06 Pro to the track and throw down some laps against one of Tamiya’s M-05 Pro Minis to find out.

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Posted on: 11-15-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Tamiya TA05 VDF Gold Edition Drift Car 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Tamiya TA05 VDF Gold Edition Drift Car

Review: Tamiya TA05 VDF Gold Edition Drift Car

WORDS: Tony Phalen
PHOTOS: Wayne Phalen
PAINT: Tony Phalen

Living in Southern California, you are exposed to quite an array of motorsporting events. Indy and GT-cars, short course, drag racing, motorcross and, of course, drifting. I’ve driven drifters before (well, SCALE ones!) and even built one for a project, but nothing prepared me for the uber-coolness that Tamiya’s Gold Edition VDF has. Carbon fiber and gold-anodized aluminum are everywhere in this kit, and its front-ish motor and twin belt design provide the optimum balance for drifting. While I’m sure I have the skill to drive the full size versions (uh, ya), I was pretty excited to get behind the wheel of this baby for some slide-time.

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Posted on: 11-7-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Yeah Racing Transformula F103 Conversion 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Yeah Racing Transformula F103 Conversion

Review: Yeah Racing Transformula F103 Conversion

WORDS: Tony Phalen
PHOTOS: Tony Phalen
PAINT: Tony Phalen

Formula 1 is the highest form of racing in the world. The speed, the handling and the incredible sound give most auto racing enthusiasts goosebumps! I’m one of those nuts but, since I don’t have access to a full-scale F1 car, I can only live vicariously through those guys. Thankfully, the RC world has a couple 1:10th scale offerings that allow me to experience the thrills of F1 without the risk of hitting a wall at over 150MPH.

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Posted on: 10-28-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Kyosho DBX 2.0 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Kyosho DBX 2.0

Review: Kyosho DBX 2.0

WORDS: Tony Phalen
PHOTOS: Wayne Phalen
PAINT: Factory

One of the most prestigious racing classes is 1:8th scale. It is like the Formula 1 of RC, and if you’ve been crowned a 1:8th scale World Champion, you are definitely among the elite. This is an enticing thought for some of the newer blood entering our sport, but at the entry level, who can afford the high-dollar supercars it takes to get there? Well Kyosho has a solution. Meet the DBX 2.0, an entry-level 4wd nitro buggy aimed at beginners wanting a taste of 1:8th scale. Unlike the original DBX, the 2.0 features a few upgrades that place it closer to the 1:8th scale family.

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Posted on: 10-24-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Losi 5IVE-T 1/5 Scale 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Losi 5IVE-T 1/5 Scale

Review: Losi 5IVE-T 1/5 Scale

WORDS: Tony Phalen
PHOTOS: Tony Phalen
PAINT: Factory

Losi shocked the world with the announcement of their biggest project yet, the 5IVE-T. This 4WD, 1/5th scale gas-powered beast was designed from the ground up and has quickly become the talk of the industry. With no real competition in the 4WD segment, will this be the next ‘big’ thing in RC? After my exclusive test drive and photo session, I am confident that Losi has hit the nail on the head with this project. Put your 2WD’s away boys and girls, Losi is in town, and they brought a monster of a 4WD with them!

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Posted on: 10-21-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Kyosho Birel R31-SE Go Kart 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Kyosho Birel Nitro Go Kart

Review: Kyosho Birel Nitro Go Kart

WORDS: Tony Phalen
PHOTOS: Tony Phalen
PAINT: Factory

It is well known that Go Karts are the starting point for most full-size racing heros. It is the best school for racing because it is basically F1 in miniature; there is the same competition, mechanics and driving skill needed as in Formula 1. Legends such as Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and the great Ayrton Senna all started off racing Karts at a very young age. Kyosho has given those of us that are a bit, umm, along in years, a chance to have that same thrill without the risk of bodily harm.

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Posted on: 10-21-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Team Associated SC10 4×4 0

CompetitionX RC Product Review

Review: Team Associated SC10 4x4

Review: Team Associated SC10 4×4

WORDS: Tony Phalen
PHOTOS: Tony Phalen
PAINT: Tony Phalen

Some things hit our industry like a ton of bricks; brushless motors, LiPo packs and recently Short Course trucks. Everyone has jumped on the bandwagon and build a purpose-built SC truck, most basing them off of their 1/10th scale stadium trucks. The next phase in SC trucks, 4wd, has manufacturers scrambling to build shrunken-down 1/8th scale truggies with oversized bodies. One company, however, loaded up its engineers with some energy drinks and said “Let’s make something innovative and original”. What you see here is Team Associated’s entry into the 4wd Short Course battlefield, the SC10 4×4. This truck is taking no prisoners!

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Posted on: 10-20-2011
Posted in: Review: RC Cars
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