Nosram have released the Racing Starter box Evolution, a specially developed robust and lightweight starter box. Tested and developed by their Worldwide factory team, the new upgraded starter box features a higher positioned starter wheel for faster and more comfortable engine starts. Suitable for starting competition engines from .12 - .32 (2.11 – 5.24ccm), it is driven by a powerful oversized big block 750 motor that is powered by two 7.2v stick packs or an external 12V power supply.

Source: Nosram [nosram.com]

Craft RC have added a new body template to their product line, with the addition of new Mugen MBX-6 stock body skins. Designed by professional designers, the decals are available in 22 different designs, and are available for a whole gaggle of the most popular buggy shells on the market. Pre cut, they are made from top quality material that is easy to apply, fuel resistant and will stay good a long time.

Source: Craft RC [craftrc.com]

Hudy have announced this pit apron for mechanics to keep them clean while wrenching. Lightweight nylon for high strength and durability, and featuring a modern look with full-color graphics, it has been made with high-quality European materials and craftsmanship. It features two purpose-designed pockets to accommodate long engine-tuning screwdrivers, and two large pockets for standard equipment and accessories that a mechanic needs. Adjustable straps with nylon locker make the apron super easy to adjust.

Source: Hudy [hudy.net]

JConcepts have given the Mugen MBX-6T the Illuzion treatment with the release of the their new Hi-Flow body. With its tough overall look, combining the “black out” headlight and grill treatment with recessed windows and roof line, the Hi-Flow is indeed best in show. Its styling presents a smooth yet detailed design while incorporating many of the features from the original MBX5-T body that made it a racer favorite. Race inspired aggressive styling, Illuzionized features and durable design are just some of the features that make this new body stand out.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

Reedy have announced the release of three all-new carburetor venturis for the 121VR series engine. These new venturis are available in 5.0mm, 5.5mm, and 6.0mm and serve as a useful fine tuning option for serious nitro racers. Smaller venturis help increase fuel mileage, which translates into longer run times between pit stops. Reducing the number of pit stops over the course of a main event could mean the difference between winning and finishing off the podium. They are also an effective way to reduce power output and improve drivability on low-grip or blown-out track surfaces. Each restrictor is sold individually and features laser etching of the venturis’ size for easy identification.

Source: Reedy [rc10.com]

Also new from LRP is their updated line of budget battery packs. These new products represent the next generation of powerful NiMh stick packs featuring higher capacity, outstanding power delivery, lower internal resistance and a completely new design. All battery packs are supplied pre-assembled and ready-to-use, including connectors, and are made using only single-cell shrink wrapped cells by LRP. Each cell has passed quality control and durability tests before its used.

Source: LRP [lrp.cc]

Shown for the first time back in the beginning of 2008, LRP have finally released the NEXXT 4X Sensorless System. This super lightweight sensorless brushless and brushed speedo uses revolutionary software to provides sensored drivability even without hall sensors. Providing 8 power profiles for finest adjustments to all classes and motors this waterproof speedo sets new benchmarks in drivability and reliability. This ultra small speed controller can either be used in 1/18 scale cars without motor limit or even in 1/10 scale cars down to 7,5T.

Features:
- Sensorless brushless+ brushed speed control
- Sensorless design
- 2.0A B.E.C.
- 100% Waterproof
- ADPCTM - Advanced Digital Phase Control
- Advanced Digital with 4 adjustable modes
- Auto Cell System – Automatic NiMH/LiPo adaptation
- Multifunction menu
- Internal-Temp-Check-System
- Launch control
- High frequency
- Fail safe
- External solder posts
- 1.5mm² power wire
- 3.5mm gold connector

Source: LRP [lrp.cc]

Sweep Racing have introduced this specifically developed ’strong tire glue type A’. As well as a catchy name, it features a thin viscosity, staying liquid for about 5-7 seconds before drying, when it will permanently bond your tires and wheels with little or no clean up needed after.

Source: Sweep Racing [sweepracing.com]

1/8 scale nitro off-road truggies are still a growing class, although the release of new kits has declined a bit during the last 12 month, nearly all of the important manufacturers have released at least one truck the last couple of years. Hot Bodies’ new D8T is the latest 1/8 scale nitro truggy on the block and heavily borrows from the HB D8 buggy that Atsushi Hara drove to victory at the 2008 nitro buggy World Championships in North Carolina/USA. Most of the changes or updates take place chassis side, in combination with longer wishbones plus some other refinements, to make sure the D8T not only matches but aims to exceed the performance of the current breed of nitro competition truggies.

Front
The build of Hot Bodies’ D8T starts with the double bell crank steering assembly. As usual with nearly every 1/8 scale buggy and truggy the steering set-up includes a built-in and adjustable servo saver with full ball bearings, but surprisingly no adjustable Ackermann geometry. Only one location hole for the steering linkage is offered on the connection bar. Same applies to the outer steering spindles. That’s not much of a problem but unusual for a competition buggy with their billions of different set-ups to choose from. Anyway, back to the steering assembly.

The inner levers are sandwiched between the 4 mm thick alloy chassis plate and a plastic upper steering plate. The hard coated chassis is of a light weight thanks to the fact that it’s heavily machined. The steering posts sit in slotted holes so you do not need to counter them while tightening the screws. The front chassis brace is a plastic item to control the amount of flex the chassis offers. Normally plastic braces offer more flex over alloy items and therefore make for more controllable grip especially on rougher track surfaces.

Next up is the geared front differential with internal spider gears. The plastic housings offer a metal insert for the outer ball bearing and the outdrive to avoid premature wear on the housing. The spiral bevel gear makes for a long lasting, silent and efficient drivetrain. Hot Bodies supplies two tiny bottles of #7.000 oil for the front and middle differential. After assembling the differential case the 2.4 mm front sway bar as well as the front hub carrier assembly are taken care of. The hub carrier is supplied with 10 degrees of caster giving the front steering spindles a total of 20 degrees as the chassis plate has 10 degrees of kick-up.

The front universal drive shafts come factory assembled, the couplings are lightly greased and the grub screws are secured with thread-lock which means installing them is a no-brainer. The wheel hexes have minimal off-set giving the front wheels only a slight amount of roll radius which stands for low steering forces and therefore faster steering response compared to truggies with large off-set wheel hexes. In turn this means the front and rear wishbones are quite long, around 128mm between the inner and outer suspension shaft, but strength is guaranteed due to the unusual design. What’s so unusual with it? Different from other manufacturers Hot Bodies opted not to open the spaces between the internal webbing of the wishbones giving them higher strength without a vast amount of additional weight. This design was introduced with the D8 buggy and proved successful even in the loamy conditions experienced at the 2008 World Championships.

The wishbones are located by alloy front and rear suspension holders. This makes for a very sturdy front end in combination with the ‘full surface’ wishbones. The front aluminium shock tower that attaches to the differential case is 4 mm thick and is heavily machined just like the chassis plate. The front shocks are 16mm big-bore diameter and 97mm long – just as the ones found on the buggy. Hot Bodies supplies a supplemental instruction sheet for the front and rear shocks but more of that later. Included in the kit are CW (clockwise) and CCW (counter clock wise) thread screws to attach the shocks to the wishbones. Do not mix them up as otherwise the screws may come loose during the constant up and down movement of the wishbones during racing.

Tourex have proved that they are serious about next weeks European Championships in Austria with the development of their new X-500 tire. Designed using the experience gained at the Warm up race held on the track back in April, the German company have created this new pattern that sports a narrow and shallow profile and are great for hard and fast dirt tracks. We will find out next week if they work as expected.

Source: Tourex [tourex-competition.com]