August 24, 2016

Chassis Focus – Viktor Wilck

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Chassis – Serpent Project 4-X
Motor – Speedpassion 4.5T
ESC –  Speedpassion GT2
Battery – Gens Ace 6500mAh
Tires (handout) – Sweep
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – Protoform LTC-R

Remarks – Viktor Wilck is running an almost production ready Project 4-X from Serpent, only some anodising missing compared to the final car. Having tested a lot in southern China in Xiamen, he started the day with the setup from that test which worked well early on but with the grip coming up and lacking forward bite and steering he will make his first setup change. In the search for traction he will change both spings and oil for the down and side shocks.

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August 24, 2016

Track Focus – Fengtai R/C Model Area

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Track Name – Fengtai R/C Model Area
Host –  Car Modelling Association of China
Country – China
Location – Beijing Fengtai
Direction – Anti-clockwise
Surface – Asphalt

Having successfully hosted the 1:12 World Championship indoors in the Fengtai Science, Technology and Sports building, the Touring Car Worlds moves outdoors to another part of the Fengtai Sports Center which centres around the 2008 Beijing Olympics Softball stadium.  They say first impressions last and on arriving at the track one cannot but be impressed.  Obviously putting some of their Olympic experience to good use on entering the facility you immediately get the feeling this is something a bit special.  Situated next to the offroad track that was built to host the 2013 1:8 Offroad FEMCA Championship, the unique aspect of the 9th running of the 1:10 Electric Touring Car World’s is that the surface and layout has never been driven on prior to the opening round of free practice.  Originally built in September of last year, the track got new asphalt last month in preparation for China’s first hosting of an IFMAR World Championship, it expected to host its second next year for 1:10 Offroad, and with no teams or drivers having run on it before it has added a extra element to this year’s title.

Arriving to a security check, where you pass through a scanner, you then enter the massively long pit area.  120-metres long and all glass down the right hand side about half way down is the door to the track and impressive driver stand structure which houses everything needed to run a World Championship event.  Such is its size that on the same floor as where the drivers stand for their races there is a press room on one side with race control mirroring it on the opposite side.  Two stairways up to the top floor keep the flow of drivers, officials and press flowing without disturbance to racers.  One nice touch of these and the 1:12 event is a drinks area just off the pit area for racers where they can get complimentary juices, tea, coffee and bottles of water.  For lunch, a huge marquee has been erected across the street with this also set to be used for Saturday night’s award ceremony.

In terms of the track, which is over looked by a 300 + seater grandstand, it covers an area 68-metre long by 38-metre deep.  Featuring 16 turns, the layout is defined by steel dividers with the infield painted blue. Commenting on the layout as he watched the first heats of practice, reigning World Champion Naoto Matsukura said, ‘It’s a good layout, I think I will like it’.  Designed by Lung Chuan Lee from Tawian, who has designed many tracks in China include the Fengtai R/C Model Area offroad track, Matsukura feels the layout maybe a little tight.  He also pointed out that the curbing is nice and low in some areas but quite high in others and with a straight edge on the inside of the higher ones he said if you go off you will be stuck inside the curbing.

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August 22, 2016

New in the Pits – Hobbywing

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Hobbywing are debuting their new 1S speed controller called the Xr10 Pro 1S, used a number of drivers including Japanese ace Hideo Kitazawa. Taking on baord the advice of their US users they have made the new ESC considerably lighter and lower while still maintaining strength given from the all aluminium case.  Perfect for stock 1/12th drivers in its standard form there is an optional case top that integrates a heatsink and fan mount which can be mounted easily to the standard unit giving it the ability to handle modified 1/12th with ease. Featuring integrated capacitor and BEC it also runs the same new software that comes with their recently released 2s speed control that was used by Bruno Coelho with win the ETS title this season. This is still a prototype and no word has been given on the planned release date.

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August 21, 2016

New in the Pits – Xenon & Sanwa

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Xenon Racing have shown off their new VSS front end shock conversion which is compatible with the Associated car which means it also works on the Roche and Morotech amongst others. Best suited to bumpy tracks it is the only 1/12th front end with a damper that is compatible with all these cars and has a better leverage ratio compared to all the others available, meaning the shock absorber functions more effectively. Adjustable through greasing the damper tube it makes the car less twitchy over bumps and makes it turn in smoother at high speed, as well as giving more traction. Available as a set with just the top plastic parts shown in the assembly or as part of the new soon to be released Destiny VD12 chassis.

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New from Sanwa, comes their second generation Super Vortex 1S & 2S electronic speed controller. Featuring an all aluminium casing it has a unique air duct cooling system to channel air from the on board fan to the bottom of the ESC where the CPU and regulator are positioned. Another neat feature is that as normal you can set the speedo through a program box as well as update the firmware using the same box and connecting it via your PC but if you have the M12S or Exces ZZ and use the latest receiver you can update the settings through your transmitter while on the track. Through the radio you can change the rpm for the boost, turbo percentage and neutral dead points plus more. The Gen2 can also handle 35% more current than its predecessor and can be used with 4.5T using 2 cells and 3.5T with 1 cell. Supplied with fan, duct, wires, sensor cable, 2 capacitors and shrink sleeving.

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August 21, 2016

Chassis Focus – Hideo Kitazawa

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Chassis – Morotech 12WX
Motor – Trinity D3.5
ESC – Hobbywing XR10
Battery – Trinity 7100mAh
Tires – Morotech
Radio/Servo – Futaba
Body – Protoform AMR

Remarks – Multiple Worlds finalist Hideo Kitazawa is using a prototype car from Morotech which features a new chassis plate and front side aluminium stiffeners mounted between the chassis and front blocks. His first time racing on ETS carpet as well as his first race with the new car, he has had to make a number of changes to find the right front and rear balance as well as combat the low grip and huge tire wear.

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