July 9, 2009

New in the pits – Part 2

Continuing on from our earlier instalment on whats new in the pits, we have come across some other goodies. From Team Orion, Adrien Bertin took us aside to show us some new items for their Alpha line of engines. Firstly there is a new range of shims, that uniquely go under the liner before placing it in the crankcase which helps adjust the timing on the engine to have more lower or higher end power. The shims will be sold in a set of 3 pieces, in 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2mm thick and should be used in conjunction with taking out a shim from under the combustion chamber for every shim you put under the liner.

Also from Team Orion is this all new carburettor. Currently machined from aluminium, the final version will be cast aluminium and is said to have close to a perfect idle. To avoid issues like vapour lock, the carb mount will be wrapped in plastic to isolate it from getting too hot. The carburettor will be suitable for all Alpha engines and will also have a new line of venturis available for it.

Seen earlier in the week Team Durango have their 1/8th scale buggy here. An evolution of the design by Gerd Strenge, this current version is being tested with a hydraulic braking system, which we were asked not to photograph. A very neatly made system, it is slightly heavier than the standard braking system and maybe an optional part for the car when it is released later this year.

Yesterday’s pace setter Miguel Matias is running a prototype CLX buggy from GS Racing that he is developing to suit European tracks better. Using the front end from the older CL1, the car he is running also sports some extra options including the use of dual front shock towers which are supporting Mugen shocks.

Yuichi Kanai of Kyosho is here and he has brought with him a number of new items that we weren’t allowed to photograph, including stronger rear uprights and front upper wishbones as well as a number of other updated items that were given to Kyosho drivers.

View our event image gallery here.

July 7, 2009

New in the pits – Part 1

Wandering around the pit area we came across a number of new items on show starting with this modified LRP S8 BX. Spotted immediately is the new shape bodyshell that mounts the cockpit further forward for better airflow around the engine and rear wing and gives more space around the airfilter. This body will be released soon, but the car also features a number of new prototype parts that the LRP team are testing.

The biggest change being the new rear lower wishbones that, combined with the new lower bracket, gives the car less active caster than the standard kit version. The car also sports a new braking system that they are trying out, which has a larger brake piston for better braking. Finally they have mounted the RX battery to the outside front of the car for a change to the overall chassis balance. Track time will show whether these changes will have a positive effect on the car’s handling around this track.

Other new items include the previously mentioned Tourex X500 tires, which have been specially designed for this track and will take to the track for the first time later today. For team drivers only, RB Products have their new 45% nitro mix here and will be running it with a view to releasing the blend in the near future. More new products later.

View our event image gallery here.

January 9, 2009

New in the pits – Corally RDX Phi 2

Seen in the Corally pits here at the DHI Cup is the new, yet to be released follow up to the RDX Phi, the Phi 2. Featuring a new chassis as well as new front and rear bulkheads, the car has essentially been designed to accept LiPo cells. Retaining the same transmission from the previous car, the upper deck is now higher thanks to changes made to the bulk heads and this enables the LiPo packs to fit. Some other new changes include wider set lower wishbone supports as well as the all new chassis itself.

View more photos of the car in our event image gallery here.

November 10, 2008

New in the pits – Much More

Mr Jang Ji-Hyun from Korean company Much More is here at the RCS track in Thailand, providing support to his customers. With him is a number of new items including the new RC Stopwatch that we featured on our news site recently. Also on show is a new bearing tool for the new Team Orion brushless motors, which helps with the removal and replacement of the motor’s bearings, ensuring that they are perfectly aligned at all times.

Another interesting product we were shown is the new tire warming blankets that are to be used with the company’s CTX-W tire warmer. Featuring a flexible carbon element in place of metal, the element is placed within a blanket that can be wrapped around both large and small diameter tires thanks to the use of Velcro and is currently in use by Atsushi Hara on his 1/12th scale. We were also told of the impending update of the entire Much More electronics range with a new 40W power supply and innovative new charger with scroll wheel and reduced buttons, as well as new docking system. Expect to see this update available in about 2 months.

View our event image gallery here.

November 9, 2008

New in the Pits – LRP X12 & SXX

LRP Electronic are here in force with Reto Koenig and Jurgen Lautenbach on hand to help their team drivers get the best out of their electronics this week. On Friday we had the first exclusive shots of the new Vector X12 brushless motor from LRP and of course that is the motor that the team are using here during the 1/12th scale Worlds.

Also new is the company’s prototype ESC, called the SXX, which is making its race debut here at the RCS. Much smaller than the previously available Sphere TC spec ESC, the new controller uses a metal plate set into a plastic frame, to which a heatsink fan combo can be applied but currently isn’t necessary for the 4 cell 1:12th scale class. The new ESC, which is also here in Nosram colours, features a revolutionary copper core cooling technology to keep the internals at a low temperature, while the controller software now has 10 power profiles to select from for finer adjustment of power delivery. Also new is what the company calls X.Brake which provides stronger braking, and it too has 10 adjustment settings which can be set by the 2 new externally mounted buttons. Expect a March 2009 release.

View our event image gallery for more photos. 

November 9, 2008

New in the pits – Xray XII

As mentioned yesterday on our news page as well as in our 1:12th scale introduction piece, Xray are the latest manufacturer to enter the market, with the XII. We were able to get up close and personal with the LRP X12 powered example belonging to Factory Xray driver Alexander Hagberg from Sweden. Already in it’s second version, following feedback from the team after a recent test at the RCS track, the car is in appearance at least very similar to other brands on the market. Chief designer Juraj Hudy, who has limited experience of the class, says that while the car may be similar in appearance to others out there, that is more a reflection of the state of development of the class which has seen chassis design developed to a point where extra performance can only be found in small refinements. Featuring a T-bar, which some believe would be more suited to a lower traction surface, as opposed to the trailing link design seen on the CRC and Associated cars, the cars debut later today will be closely watched by all racers and manufacturers present.

More images of the XII can be found in our event gallery here.