This Week in RC – Lots of Micro Stuff and the Return of Element RC
This week brought us a miniature extreme crawler, several serious racing machines, a sprint car hiding inside a Traxxas Slash and the return Element RC – so excited!
Most of the cars this week have gotten smaller, however their specifications and price tags have apparently declined to participate.
Traxxas Takes the Mini Crawler to Extremes
Traxxas announced the TXC-4M Extreme Crawler, a 1/18-scale RTR crawler with portal axles, 60-degree steering and 3S brushless power.
The little truck also receives a transverse metal-gear steering servo, beadlock wheels and a clipless tube-frame body. A 3S battery and USB charger are included, making this a complete package rather than the beginning of an immediate shopping list.
The TXC-4M was announced at approximately $299.95 and is listed as coming soon.
120074-1 Traxxas TXC-4M Extreme Crawler
Link: www.Traxxas.com
Element RC Goes Rear-Wheel Drive
The new Element RC Gaterunner 2WD Kit combines independent front suspension with a solid rear axle and trailing arms.
Its front suspension borrows from Team Associated’s B6 buggy family, while the new rear axle uses a metal-gear open differential. The kit also includes licensed General Grabber tires, Method beadlock wheels and a detailed desert-truck body and cage.
The $379.99 kit is available for preorder, with shipping planned for October. Since it’s a kit, electronics must be supplied separately.
40144 Element RC Gaterunner 2WD Kit
Link: www.AMainHobbies.com
Mugen Enters the 1/10 4WD Buggy Fight
Mugen Seiki revealed the MSX1 1/10-scale 4WD racing buggy this week.
Confirmed features include height-adjustable front and rear gearboxes, a slipper clutch and a 2.5mm chassis. The gearbox adjustments should help racers tune driveshaft angles and chassis behavior for different track conditions.
This is an international announcement. Pricing, release timing and U.S. availability have not yet been confirmed.
TBA Mugen Seiki MSX1 4WD Offroad Buggy
Link: www.AMainHobbies.com
Carisma Tries a Different Kind of FWD Car
The Carisma M40F is a mid-motor, front-wheel-drive competition kit with an unconventional torsion-plate rear suspension.
Carisma places the ESC near the front and provides an adjustable 257–260mm wheelbase. A future independent rear-suspension conversion is also planned, giving tuners another direction to explore after they have finished discussing chassis flex.
The international listing prices the kit at $299.99 and U.S. distribution has not yet been confirmed, but it does look like a really fun (and different) vehicle to give a go in FWD racing!
91668 Carisma M40F FWD Touring Car
Link: www.Carisma-Shop.com
HPI Builds a Mustang for the Tabletop
The HPI nano-TTR Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5 packs rear-wheel drive and proportional steering into a 1/64-scale car.
Its licensed hard body includes headlights, brake lights, reverse lights and turn signals. HPI also claims up to 45 minutes of runtime, which should be enough time to establish several household track records and annoy at least one cat.
The Mustang has been officially announced internationally, but U.S. pricing and release timing remain unconfirmed.
161429 HPI Nano-TTR Table Top Racer
Link: www.AMainHobbies.com
A Traxxas Slash Becomes a Sprint Car
The new 1RC Racing 1/7 Sprint Car Conversion transforms a two-wheel-drive Traxxas Slash into something very different.
The conversion includes a purpose-built composite chassis, rear-motor arrangement, roll cage, body panels, bumpers and adjustable top wing. It even adds eight degrees of left-rear toe for oval racing.
The kit costs $199.99 and is available to order, with shipping expected in mid-November. A compatible Slash donor and several completion items are still required.
1RC1028 1RC Racing 1/7th Sprint Car Conversion Kit
Link: www.1RC-Racing.com
Reflex Racing Updates Its Tiny Flagship
Reflex Racing opened preorders for the RX28WE World’s Edition.
The revised 1/28 racer receives a narrower, lower chassis, repositioned side links, a forward-mounted center shock and a more heavily braced motor mount. Ball and gear differentials are included, but electronics and a body are not.
At $530, this is a specialized competition kit rather than an introductory micro car. It may fit in one hand, but it definitely belongs in the serious-racing category.
RX28WE-KIT Reflex Racing RX28WE Chassis Kit
Link: www.ReflexRacing.net
KO Propo Fully Reveals the EX-10
After teasing the radio last week, KO Propo officially unveiled the new EX-10 transmitter at the All Japan Model & Hobby Show.
The reveal confirms that the famous EX-10 name is returning as a modern competition system. However, complete package options, regional pricing and U.S. availability are still pending.
TBA KO Propo EX10 Radio
Link: www.AMainHobbies.com
