Welcome back everyone! The heat of the summer is still bearing down on us without relent, keeping us indoors in order to not melt into a puddle so the outdoor action is going to have to wait but don’t fret, we are working behind the scenes to get things ready for when the weather does break! This weak only saw releases from JConcepts and Pro-Line but those releases are sure to satiate your appetite for another week. Let’s take a closer look!
JCONCEPTS
First up this week from JConcepts is the new MT size 1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty, a 13″ wheelbase single cab replica of the first generation Super Duty “Snoopy Nose” trucks that ran from 1999 to 2007. While sold separately previously the racerback and visor detail pieces are now included in the package should you wish to attach them. As usual, window masks, overspray film and full-color detail decals are included, making finishing this stunning shell a snap.
Item #0678 1999 Ford F-250 Single Cab MT Body Shell https://jconcepts.net/1999-ford-f-250-single-cab-13-wheelbase
Also new this week are a set of Radial NMB bearings for the RC10 and RC10T Factory Team variants. These 18 piece kits include everything needed to remove as much friction from the car’s rotating parts as possible. Constructed from stainless steel and having tolerances much tighter than other bearings on the market means these pieces will make your car feel the smoothest it has ever felt and will maintain that performance advantage for longer.
Item #5372 Radial NMB Bearing Kit for RC10/T Factory Team https://jconcepts.net/rc10-rc10t-factory-team-radial-nmb-bearing-set
PRO-LINE RACING
New this week from Pro-Line are a duo of Vintage Trans Am (VTA) bodies along with the staggered tires to match for the Losi NASCAR platform, as well as a set of scale competition shocks for rigs running a 97mm length shock.
First up are the new VTA bodies for the Losi NASCAR 1/12 chassis; this time a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and a 1968 Ford Mustang. The size and proportions of this chassis lends itself to scale looking race cars such as these VTA competitors, especially when paired with Pro-Line’s new pre-mounted Goodyear Blue Streak staggered front and rear tires. Both shells include window masks, Paint-Then-Peel overspray film and detailed decal sheets plus both shells are pre-cut, saving time and hassle.
Item #PRO37281 Pre-Cut 1968 Ford Mustang VTA Body Shell, 1/12 https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/pro-line-racing-1-12-pre-cut-1968-ford-mustang-clear-vta-body-losi-nascar-race-car/PRO372817.html
Item #PRO372717 Pre-Cut 1968 Chevrolet Camaro VTA Body Shell, 1/12 https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/pro-line-racing-1-12-pre-cut-1968-chevy-camaro-clear-vta-body-losi-nascar-race-car/PRO372717.html
As for the tires, Pro-Line offers both a wider rear (and narrower front tires to suit these VTA bodies. A bold Goodyear logo is stenciled onto the sidewall of each tire for that authentic vintage flair while the grey wheels fully bring the look home. Each tire is a direct fit to the NASCART chassis with its 8mm wheel hexes and the heights are the same so there’s no worries about drivetrain damage. While the compound is not listed it would be fair to assume these are molded in a medium compound such as the M2 for a mix of tread life and traction given that the tires are supported by soft, open-cell foam inserts.
REAR:
Item #PRO1036410 1/12 Goodyear Blue Streak VTA Rear Tire https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/pro-line-racing-1-12-goodyear-blue-streak-vta-rear-tires-mounted-8mm-gray-wheels-2-losi-nascar-race-car/PRO1036410.html
FRONT:
Item #PRO1036310 1/12 Goodyear Blue Streak VTA Front Tire https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/pro-line-racing-1-12-goodyear-blue-streak-vta-front-tires-mounted-8mm-gray-wheels-2-losi-nascar-race-car/PRO1036310.html
Rounding out this weeks new releases Pro-Line has a set of Pro-Comp Scaler shocks for rigs running a shock in the neighborhood of 97mm in length. These CNC machined dampers feature dual O-ring seals for smooth performance and improved oil retention while the internal spring design retains the scale aesthetic. A decal sheet is included to further customize the look of these shocks to match your build. Included in the package are two pre-built shocks, two each of the soft and hard springs for both short and long lengths, allowing users to fully dial in their setup with no extra parts to buy.
Item #PRO641001 Pro-Comp Scaler Shocks, Pair https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/pro-line-racing-pro-comp-front-rear-97mm-scaler-shocks-blue-2-1-10-rock-crawlers/PRO641001.html
While working on our Team Associated RC10DS Classic Kit this week I found that fitting a modern LiPO battery was a real challenge. None of our full=size 2s would fit into the pocket that is created by the rear bulkhead as they were too wide and too tall, plus that pocket is fairly sharp, putting the pack in danger of a puncture should the pack move around at all. There are several 3d printed options on the market for installing shorty packs into the DS but I don’t like using O-rings to retain the battery and would instead prefer to use something a little more “permanent” instead. This got me thinking… all of the “7” series of AE vehicles come with optional battery mounts to move the battery for and aft, why not use something similar to that?
Rather than using something similar I chose to just use that system in the DS! I lined up five of the extra mounts and drilled them straight through to allow them to be screwed together into one unit. Once I had a singular assembly I drilled the chassis from below and mounted the rear portion of the battery mount with two countersunk screws. The thumb screw that rotates to secure the pack is also the screw that holds the assembly together; making for a somewhat clean, quasi-OEM looking battery tray that holds my Ovonic 4500mAh shorty packs perfectly with no danger to the pack and without the need for O-rings.
All in all, I am pretty happy with how this came out. It fits the pack, doesn’t look bodged together and didn’t ruin the chassis from being returned to 100% stock (minus two extra countersunk holes in the chassis that look like they should have been there all along). Let me know what you think in the comments below!
That does it for another weekly edition of TWIRC! We’d like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your continued readership; your patronage is what keeps us going and we cannot thank you enough. Until next time, be good to yourself, be good to each other, be good to your RC.