Recent Posts

Home / Review: RC Cars

Review: Robitronics Scooby Horton Scalpel 0

CompetitionX Product Review

Project: Robitronics Scooby Horton Scalpel

Project: Robitronics Scooby Horton Scalpel

My first drive of a Robitronics Scalpel was back in late 2009 when I tested a bone stock 4-cell Pro kit. On carpet with foam tires, this little rocket was fast, nimble and a whole lot of fun! Skip ahead a couple months and to the release of the new Scooby Horton Edition. This longer-wheelbase chassis not only accepts a 6-cell pack, but rumor has it that it also handles like a micro-1/12 scale! I decided to put that rumor to the test but with a slight twist…I’m taking it to a high-speed asphalt track!

Read More

Posted on: 12-16-2010
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: ABC Hobby Genetic Mini 0

CompetitionX Product Review

ABC Hobby Genetic Mini

ABC Hobby Genetic Mini

My first experience with ABC Hobby and the “Genetic” Mini was about 3 or 4 years ago. I had attended a 1:1 scale import car show for, of course, the cars, but also because HPI was putting on a drift demo there. While cruising the pits, I came across a small booth with a gorgeous M-scale BRE Datsun 510 kit. ABC Hobby was the company name, and they were bringing these little gems over to the US for sale. I ordered my 510 and when I received it, I painted the body with the nostalgic BRE red-white-and blue paint scheme and set it on the shelf.

Read More

Posted on: 12-13-2010
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: CEN Matrix 5-B 0

CompetitionX Product Review

Review: CEN Matrix 5-B

Review: CEN Matrix 5-B

Large-scale RC cars have been slowly growing in popularity over the past couple years. With events like Bajafest, Dunetoberfest, and 5th Scale Power Jam, there are plenty of places for you to race the vehicle you once thought was a big gas-powered toy. And, with the massive 5th scale aftermarket support, it’s not unusual to see $2000+, highly-modified racers and bashers! But the one thing that has been missing in this niche of the industry is an affordable 4wd vehicle. That wait is over. CEN has stepped up to the plate with the Matrix 5-B, a high-powered, definitely affordable 4wd buggy! For this test session, I made my way over to Milestone RC (Home of the 2008 Baja Nationals) and met up with Andrew Smolnik (CEN Product Development), Chris Lee(CEN Head Technician) and Rodney Roberts II (CEN Account Executive) to throw down some hot laps and see if the 5-B could deliver. After a quick overview, we fueled up the buggies and headed for the track.

Read More

Posted on: 12-13-2010
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Kyosho TF-5S Kit 0

CompetitionX Product Review

Review: Kyosho TF-5S Kit

Review: Kyosho TF-5S Kit

One of the most popular racing classes at my local track is the RCGT class. The beauty of this class is the scale realism and, no matter how you paint the bodies, you can tell what type of car it is. Add to the mix spoked wheels and spec treaded tires and you have an inexpensive racing class that not only has a bright future but is also fun to participate in.

Read More

Posted on: 12-8-2010
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: RJ Speed Digger 0

CompetitionX Product Review

Review: RJ Speed Digger

Review: RJ Speed Digger

When I started playing with RC cars back in, um, well, a long time ago, my buddy and I actually owned a pair of the Diggers. They were fun cars that we beat up on a daily basis, seeing who could do the longest wheelie and trying to set crazy speed records down our street. Once we found the local track, our little Diggers disappeared into the garage, never to be seen again. I do remember, however, how much fun they were.

Read More

Posted on: 12-6-2010
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Tamiya M05 Pro 0

CompetitionX Product Review

Review: Tamiya M-05 Pro

Review: Tamiya M05 Pro

Tamiya has recently released a race-spec version of the M-05 chassis, designated the M-05 Pro. The new M-Chassis includes quite a few of Tamiya’s aftermarket option parts and, as with all of Tamiya’s Mini cars, this one has multiple personalities. You can assemble the M-05 Pro in a variety of wheelbases: short, to fit the old school Mini Cooper body; long, to fit the newer BMW Mini body; or mid-length, to fit the Suzuki Swift body. Growing up, the Mini Cooper has always been one of my favorite cars. In fact, before I was born, my dad had a bone stock 1961 Cooper. Bummer for me, he sold it before I was old enough to enjoy it, but since then my dad and I have collected all kinds of Mini Cooper toys; static models, Hot Wheels and other assorted die cast replicas. When I mentioned to him that I was going to review Tamiya’s newest Mini, he was very interested in checking it out. Let’s see if this Mini car can provide as much entertainment for me as the 1961 Cooper did for my dad.

Read More

Posted on: 12-6-2010
Posted in: Review: RC Cars

Review: Tamiya FF-03 Pro 6

CompetitionX Product Review

Tamiya FF-03 Pro

Tamiya FF-03 Pro

Over the years Tamiya has released a few strange chassis layouts that, fortunately, have gained huge followings. One of them was the FF-01, a FWD, plastic-tub chassis that really had no place in the RC world…or did it? This car was extremely popular and had quite a bit of aftermarket support. Jump ahead some 15 years to the release of Tamiya’s next-gen FWD, the FF-03 Pro. This new FWD is not your standard tubbed chassis with some suspension bolted to it; it’s a super-sleek, low profile racing machine with just the right amount of TRF goodies thrown in. This time around, Tamiya means business!

Read More

Posted on: 12-3-2010
Posted in: Review: RC Cars
Page 4 of 4«1234