capri-boy

It's not any hobbywing, as you can see a set button on the esc unit itself. I have had one, just traying to rack my brain as to what it was - 99% certain some chinese off brand or a hobbyking one. This is a version of it: https://www.joom.com/en/products/5dcbabe04831e001010dead2

Having just realised It's the Boss' big birthday that week ( I had planned to come over to shoot some rigs again) I probably won't make it sadly. Who knows though.

Massively overgeared. Truggy sized wheels on buggy gearing, coupled with a motor that's pushed in a 1/8 buggy. ESC is renowned for emitting magic smoke of doom. 40/42mm diameter motor, 74mm long minimum - and even a good one will draw loads of amps in that set up, so i'd drop to 1800kv, run a 150a hobbywing esc and drop some teeth on the pinion. Long term switchout out the f+r diffs for truggy ones (assuming there a lower ratio like almost all brands i've used) will pay dividends. Costly.

They should.... but I've not had one in hand yet nor a good look at manuals. As above, for £40 difference I'd prob buy the FTX and support a UK store - my local will no doubt have one to have a look at and they always do a good cash price - there is a lot of margin in the uk retail price though so as mentioned earlier I'd hope to see a bit of a price drop - UK retail being what it is at the moment though who knows if that'll happen.

yes, there's a buggy version too

Few days ago now, but i'm not online very much atm. Decided to take the emb-MT on hols, a rig i've not used since the pro painter made a mess of the shell and in my disgust I relegated it to the shelf. Using said shell means I needed a new shelfer shell for it, and had this BSR hellseeker shell knocking about. It's slightly too short in length but it'll do (stock shell is also not really deep enough, hence the trimming).

Chinese / English translation issues - depends how hard you look - some call it a Blast, some a Cobra Blast. VRX RH820 - I'd not linked it originally as the price makes a mockery of the FTX . They also list it as a 1/8 but it's clearly the same rig. http://www.vrx-racing.com/en/detail.php?id=142 As for the FTX hate, yes they have niggles - all RC do - the plastic chassis being a common one throughout but easily and usually cheaply rectified. There's a 2 piece all alu, or alu/carbon chassis for this too. Fwiw i've beat on an upgraded outlaw for a long time with no recurring issues. EDIT - upgrade options UPGRADE options via aliexpress

As noted, it's a 'new' chassis. The original (and brushed version) is merely an Outlaw with a trophy truck shell. This is a flat chassis (and still 2 piece! FTX must like to sell upgrades). To me it's an SCT but that's semantics. There's bits to like, such as alu hinge pin braces, two piece adjustable motor mount and included lipo and charger. There's also things that flag up to me as a long time FTX user - the two piece plastic chassis has in previous applications been a common fail point being one. I wonder also on the split top brace - the front one attaches to the plastic diff support, and braces with the top cover to the motor mount and rear brace - that leaves a possibility for flex at the plastic diff support, which will move the centre diff/spur and chew spur gears. Time will tell if that's the case - and if so it's not a difficult fix even if alu chassis / front diff support isn't available. Interestingly the VRX Blast 2.0 as it's know by it's manufacturer, has been on sale quite awhile but there's not much info around about it from owners. I'm also a tight, oft miserable, old fart and the price makes me stop. Sub £200? Sounds good (and it may settle there) but at launch it's £235 on a SRP of £260. There's not much of a bump from that to options from what some would call more upmarket brands.

Thanks to @Tomley RC for making me aware of this. Very intriguing, I'll let you guys and gals pick over it.... Also known as the VRX Blast, and VRX sell it as a buggy etc.

Enjoy the thrill of high speed off road with the latest Zorro Brushless Trophy Truck. Using an all new Etronix 80A 2S/3S rated brushless speed control and 3665 sized brushless motor the Zorro is ready fill your fix for high speed jinx. Using an all new heavy duty moulded chassis platform, the Zorro BL uses a 3 geared-diff drivetrain as used on larger 1/8th models to deliver the drive, resulting in more evenly distribututed power and a more drivable truck. The Zorro BL comes standard with front and rear cast alloy suspension mounts for extra durabilit, along with shock absorbing tubular bumpers and skid plates. Adjustable suspension with anti-roll bars and oil filled shocks mean you can fine tune your truck to suit your terrain and driving style. The semi-scale Trophy Truck inspired bodyshell features a internal moulded rollcage, cockpit with driver figures and a full function spare tyre. With Etronix’s latest 4channel radio, 9kg metal geared waterproof steering servo and Voltz 3250mAH 2S Lipo & charge sack the Zorro BL is truly ready to go when you are! FEATURES 99% Ready-To-Run Etronix EX4P 4ch 2.4ghz Radio Etronix Photon Waterproof 80A Brushless ESC Etronix Photon 3665 Brushless Motor Etronix Waterproof 9kg MG Steering Servo Etronix PowerPal Balance Charger Voltz 3200mAh 2S LiPo Battery Voltz LiPo Charge Sack Front, rear and centre geared differentials Moulded tub chassis 4wd shaft drive Unique gearbox design for low CG Lightweight high impact arms Big bore oil filled adjustable shocks Gearbox metal crown & pinion gear Front universal driveshafts Adjustable wheelbase Adjustable turnbuckles Fully adjustable suspension including, Trophy Truck Body Styling Internal Roll Cage and Driver Cockpit Front & Rear Tubular Bumpers w/Skid Plates Front and Rear Alloy Suspension Mounts Front and Rear Anti-Roll Bars Receiver Box Full Ball Bearings Wide range of option parts available https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/ftx-zorro-1-10-trophy-truck-ep-brushless-4wd-rtr-orange-1338861 Expected by the end of the month View full news article

Very nice! Some spares are still around, and I've a sneaky feeling some Serpent bits might fit... Enjoy

No problems from me for cheap entry grade RC... though i'm unable to find a picture under the hood, and the US pricing of $190 seems frankly ridiculous for the specs when you consider that the Vantage is £110 at MS, and the absima (strada type) is a little more RTR, or £80 as a kit. Yes the absima parts support has been iffy, something you can't say for FTX and Carisma's past record with the M40's isn't exactly stellar. Will wait to reserve final judgement though, but from specs, US pricing and exterior shots I'm almost there.

I'll take a look Chris, drop me a pm else i'm liable to forget before getting home.

Arrma Mojave roll cages. Bnip, project didn't pan out so no need for these, Mojave shell already moved on. Parts ARA480031, ARA480033 fits 1/7 Mojave inc EXB. Retail looks around £30 so £15 each plus post NET. Welcome to collect / local meet up (I'm E mids)

For BL conversions they can be trimmed down / heated and bent up. Other brand side guards are a common mod (mugen mbx5 or 6 iirc). On my own I usually run hong nor ultra LX2e shells. Fit with no mods though the sideguards push slightly on the shell. Has tall side profile too so a cinch running lipos underneath. One the sideguard issue is addressed many 1/8 buggy shells will work if you don't mind trimming them to fit. Addendum L Old school kyosho shells are also a good bet, as the h7 was based on? cloned from? copied? the inspiration? for the old Kyosho's....

Are the current, non EXB models, still having issues? V37 or whatever they're on at the moment. On one hand these EXB kinda annoy me, on the other I was always one for sourcing the Pro models of RC when available where it represented good value. I guess ARRMA made it worse for themselves, for me at least, with the marketing of the 'standard' models. Arrma tough ...😄

My experience with Absima carries a caveat - in that some parts have been pretty poor - slide parts of motor mounts for example - and failed when they really shouldn't, but also long term spares availability and pricing... Pricing almost certainly influenced by supply, or lack thereof. A quick look at the current stoke 2.0 for example shows the motor mount main piece (not the motor insert bit) at a very reasonable £7, yet on the older TR8's it was £50 and more towards the end of their run.

To add to the liquid mask - i experimented with liquid latex some years ago - mainly as a cost thing - worked fine for sprayed paint - just needed a few layers of latex painting on.

Seems stock is thin on the ground.... perhaps https://www.customcoatingsandracing.co.uk/store/Hobao-New-Hyper-7-Body-and-Decals-H87610-p288253699 and a tin of paint?

Awaiting a video with interest. Would love to send all my basher shells out to be pro painted but £, so end up with basic one or two colour designs done myself. Dipping seems a way to get an interesting finish without the cost.

Missing a desert buggy in my collection.. new or as new pref / used or project - rtr's, rollers to a box of bits... Would be interested in: FTX DR8 / Associated DB8 Losi SCBe / Tenacity DB Pro HPI Apache DT Or anything along these cosmetic lines - such as DT bodied modded 8th scale - try me. PM's pref to save post getting messy. Thanks

I like this image to help think about meshing: http://www-mdp.eng.cam.ac.uk/web/library/enginfo/textbooks_dvd_only/DAN/gears/meshing/gearAnimation.gif

ST Pro is far far stronger as a basher than a standard VSe and whilst i've not ran a VS Pro the ST should be similar with slight plus/minus due to the different styles. Cost wise a new ST Pro is an expensive conversion done well - your well into Arrma money BUT i'd take one everytime.

VS Pro was a good buy, and if you can get one for just a £50 premium over the basic model bite their hand off. Chassis alone would cost you more.