RC Car Action September 2022

Summer is ending and the temperatures may be falling, but it’s still great weather to get out and enjoy RC activities. What are your RC plans this month? We’re looking forward to upcoming events on the horizon such as Axialfest, Pro-Line by the Fire and a few local races. But first, we were stoked to be able to attend Monster Jam World Finals XXI to get our fill of real 1:1 as well as RC monster trucks. Read about the exciting event in Monster Sized Action later on in this issue. Also in this issue, we’ve got a large and varied selection of RC models for you to check out. From small-scale to large, we have the latest in RC vehicles covered. Starting off with the small, we take a look…

1. SOR LoadOut Tactical Vehicle Transportation LoadOut is an inexpensive truck carrying system consisting of four attachment points for use on tactical-style backpacks with MOLLE webbing. The kit consists of two pushbutton quick-release clips that fasten around the truck’s rear axle (max. axle tube diameter is 13mm). At the bottom are two bungee cord straps with MOLLE attachments that stretch around the front axle. The kit comes packaged in a convenient hardcase that’s perfect for keeping valuables safe and dry. MSRP: $9.99 shopsorgraphics.com 2. Traxxas 2085X Servo Upgrade Perfect for the Traxxas X-Maxx and Maxx, this 2085X upgraded steering servo includes full metal gears and ball bearings with 23% more torque than the standard 2085 servo to take on the most extreme environments. The kit also includes a stiffer servo saver spring and steel steering…

Glenn started with an Axial Wraith Spawn RTR rock crawler and converted it to a monster truck. He tells us that he chose a Pro-Line ’80s Blazer body to complete the look. It features homemade links to get the wheelbase right. The Behemoth is also outfitted with an ESS Sense sound system that gives the monster truck realistic V8 sounds. Glenn reports that it took a while to get the truck’s suspension, including the sway bar, limiting straps and shocks, dialed in. It looks like it was well worth the effort, fantastic job Glenn! BUILD HIGHLIGHTS - Chassis: Axial Wraith Spawn - Body: Pro-Line 1980 Blazer - Motor: Axial 27T - Speed Control: Axial AE-5 ESC - Battery: Turnigy 5000mAh 2S LiPo - Wheels and Tires: JConcepts Tribute wheels, GoldenYears tires, JConcepts white beadlock rings - Shocks: Generic…

Alec tells us that he’s been a huge fan of Herbie since he was a kid. When he saw that FMS/RocHobby was releasing a Beetle, he knew he had to build a Herbie out of it. Alec goes on to say, “I saw your recent review of the version done by RC Patina Guy, who did an amazing job on his Kommandeurwagen. Mine is a little cleaner, for now. I customized the bumpers, the paint and decals, but kept some artifacts from the source material that I appreciated, like the stealth light, split rear window, interior and rolltop color. The plates are from RC Plate Shop and the emblems are from Giuseppe Musumeci at rc-crawler.it. I hope you like it!” We sure do Alec, it’s a great looking Herbie. Great…

This is Andy’s tribute to the Ford Ranger that he first saw in a Tamiya RC Guide Book all the way back in 1984. While that original Ranger was based on Tamiya’s SRB chassis, Andy’s truck is based on the company’s ORV chassis, which is the foundation of legends such as the Tamiya Brat, Frog, Blackfoot and others. Andy goes on to say, “I began with a new Blackfoot kit and substituted the giant monster truck wheels for the more scale-appearing Tamiya Brat wheels. Gearing was then adjusted accordingly. I swapped the red Blackfoot frame for a gray Frog frame, which was easier to cover in Duplicolor aluminum-colored paint. The front suspension is courtesy of my Frog's spare parts box and features concealed springs with no shocks. (An upgrade might…

Michael has been buying, building and customizing hobby-grade RC vehicles for over 30 years. He’s also been building and racing full size (1:1 scale) entry level drag cars since he was a teenager. Michael further informs us, “My grandfather, my father, a few of my uncles and myself were all mechanics. And even one of my sons is a mechanic now. So, naturally we’ve all been involved in auto racing, but I am brand-new to the RC drag race scene. I’m a Ford and Mustang guy myself and I currently own two Fox body Mustangs. So it was pre-ordained that all of my RC vehicles would have to include a Mustang or other Ford body, lol. For this current project, I converted a Traxxas Jato chassis over to electric power…