Although this is a slow time of year for the RC industry Team Associated is keeping our keyboard warm with the introduction of a new Classic kit and two new chassis protectors for the 7th generation trucks, the RC10T7 and RC10SC7. While these were the only news stories that came across our desk this week we do have a new review to check out in which we take a look at the Traxxas line of ProGraphix polycarbonate spray paints. Click this link to check out our thoughts on these value sized options for your next spraying session. On to the news!
TEAM ASSOCIATED
New this week from Team Associated are a pair of chassis protectors for their 7th generation truck platforms as well as a new Yokomo YZ10 Classic Kit, further lightening the wallets of vintage racers everywhere.
Up first are the chassis protectors, a must-have for RC10T7 and RC10SC7 owners who compete on carpet (as this is a track requirement) and outdoor racers who want to extend the life of their expensive aluminum chassis. These protectors are cut from thick, motocross graphic style vinyl and adhere like there’s no tomorrow. Each sheet comes with one main piece that covers from front bulkhead to the transmission and three pieces to cover the rear bulkhead are. Given that the rear of the chassis sees the most abuse, including three pieces for this high-wear area is a nice touch. The graphics are similar in style to other RC10 chassis protectors and the price is hard to argue with at just $14.44 (at the time of print); cheap insurance considering the cost of a new chassis plate is north of $140!
Item #71234 RC10T7 Chassis Protector
#71235 RC10SC7 Chassis Protector
Up next is a throwback to a car that still conjures images of dual stick radios, red, green and white paint schemes and real dirt off-road tracks of the early 90’s: the Yokomo YZ-10, this time in Classic Kit form from Team Associated. When TA team drivers wanted to go 4wd racing they chose the best car on the market at the time, the Yokomo YZ-10, a twin belt drive masterpiece of engineering for the time that was dominant in the hands of drivers such as Masami Hirosaka (hence the twin stick and color reference) and Cliff Lett. This Classic Kit version celebrates that winning heritage with a few modern updates such as a shorty LiPO battery tray. This car includes a G10 fiberglass chassis, fluid-filled gear differentials, ball bearings, threaded boys oil-filled dampers, anti-roll bars, included 21t pinion gear and three servo adapters for the spring loaded servo saver, a chassis protector to keep the chassis fresh and clean and vintage style pin spike tires on multi-piece wheels. The paint scheme shown in the press photos lends itself well to the partnership that Team Associated and Yokomo shared in the late 80’s and early 90’s; however the body arrives clear leaving the paint scheme up to the end user.
Item #9066 Yokomo YZ-10 Classic Kit https://www.associatedelectrics.com/news/latest_products/3017-new-yz-10-classic-kit/
TEAM ASSOCIATED RC10 CLASSIC KIT COUNTER: 2
SITE UPDATES
The week we posted a review of the Traxxas ProGraphix polycarbonate spray paints, of which the link can be found in the intro above, however I’d like to expand on that review slightly here. I used that paint to spray the body for our RC10DS Classic Kit build and, while that body is not large at all, it seems to suck up the paint at an alarming rate. While this isn’t necessarily the case, the Metallic Black Traxxas paint is this and does not cover as well as other brands. The same goes for the Fluorescent Green used on the Pro-Line Sumo (we mentioned this in the article) and this thin-ness negates much of the benefits of the larger Traxxas cans, both the 5oz and 13,5oz units. A 3oz can of Tamiya PS goes nearly as far as the Traxxas 13.5oz does, which, in my opinion, is unacceptable. Traxxas could thicken this paint without affecting the spray-ability of the paint, making the amount of paint go much farther, at least in my opinion. The Metallic Black is a beautiful color, especially in the sunlight, but it is hard to justify the cost when a large can doesn’t seem to go too far. The Metallic Silver, also in a 13.5oz can is thicker and lasts much longer while having the same amount of, if not more, flake suspended in the mixture. I shake my cans with a homebuilt reciprocating saw attachment, ensuring a thoroughly mixed product, pointing to the fact that the black is simply much thinner than the silver and pointing to the issue at hand. Traxxas, if you are reading this, this simple change would be a big help for us hobbyists and would also make for a better finish when sprayed as there would not have to be 10 layers of paint needed to achieve opacity. You’ve done a great job on the other finishes in this line, applying those formulas to the black and fluro green (these are the only colors I’ve noticed this issue with) would take the line from mostly good to great.
Thank you each and every one for stopping by to get your weekly RC fix; your continued support does not go unnoticed. Until next time, be good to yourself, be good to each other, be good to your RC.