Welcome back everyone to another week of TWIRC! This week wasn’t the most exciting in terms of releases but the parts we did get did not disappoint! Despite the lingering temperatures companies including JConcepts, Team Associated and Losi pushed through and got a slew of new releases out to us RC enthusiasts. Let’s dive in and see what’s new!
JCONCEPTS
New from the fine Floridians at JConcepts this week are a trio of releases including new 2.0″ tires for the vintage crowd and two new bodies for the Schumacher Cat PB.
First up this week we have new 2.0″ tire options for vintage racers looking for some modern rubber to outfit their vintage buggy. JConcepts has adapted their X-Bite pin rear and 4-Ribber (yes, that’s what it’s called!) front tire to fit their classic 2.0″ size wheels (wheel #3478 front and 3479 rear, respectively). For the X-Bite, JConcepts offers the tire in their “how is this tire this sticky and soft” green compound while the 4-Ribber is molded in the soft-but-not-quite-green-soft blue compound that is a good, all-around option that balances traction with tread life without sacrificing either. While the front 4-Ribber’s include JC’s new And-1 open-cell foam inserts (these are a firmer foam that excels on low-grip and bumpy surfaces and is also available for 2.2″ front and rear wheels) the rears eschew inserts leaving that crucial choice to the racer.
X-Bite
4-Ribbers
Item #4191-02 X-Bite 2.0″ Rear 2wd/4wd Buggy Tires, Pair, Green Compound
#4192-01 4-Ribber Front 2wd Buggy Tire, Pair, Blue Compound
Link: https://blog.jconcepts.net/2026/08/jconcepts-new-release-2-0-tires/
Moving away from the vintage side of racing and back toward the modern racing scene JConcepts has two new bodies designed to wrap around the Schumacher Cat PB 2wd chassis like a glove. First up is their new Striker body design that features a long, low cab that blends into JC’s signature “fin” design ini the rear for increased lateral stability without sacrificing drag or overall balanced downforce. Wide side boards provide a smooth surface that balances air pressure between the front and rear axles, reducing twitchiness due to an imbalance of fore/aft downforce. The longer rear section smooths air flow as it travels over the cab and flows toward the rear wing; reducing turbulence here packs fmore air onto the rear wing, increasing its effectiveness without creating unnecessary drag. JConcepts includes precision cut window masks, overspray film, a universal rear wing and a full-color decal sheet to outfit the body in a JC Team livery. For stock class racers JConcepts also offers this body in a lightweight configuration molded in thinner polycarbonate to save a few precious grams (part #0744L).
Item #0744 Striker Body for Schumacher Cat PB
#0744L Striker Body for Schumacher Car PB
Link: https://blog.jconcepts.net/2026/08/jconcepts-new-release-striker-schumacher-cat-pb-body/
For racers who prefer a snappier driving experience of race on tighter, twistier tracks JConcepts offers the S15LP body, also fitting the Cat PB. This body features a stubbier cab section than the Striker, a design that creates more rear downforce thanks to its it large, flat rear section leading to the rear wing. This body retains the flat side boards of the Striker, but increases the height of the cab slightly; this design forces the air up slightly compared to the slammed cab of the aforementioned Striker, instead seeing the air flow downward at a faster rate and steeper angle onto the rear of the body, increasing downforce at the expense of a bit of drag. Included in the package are the usual overspray film, detail decals and window masks plus a universal use rear wing. Like the Striker the S15LP is available in both standard and lightweight versions.
Item #0751 S15LP Body for Schumacher Cat PB, Standard Weight
#0751L S15LP Body for Schumacher Cat PB, Lightweight
Link: https://blog.jconcepts.net/2026/08/jconcepts-new-release-s15lp-schumacher-cat-pb-body/
TEAM ASSOCIATED
If your favorite rally stage is located in your living room or basement Team Associated has just the car for you with their new RC24 ZOOM Rally Car. This mini sized 4wd rally machine is equipped with a host of hobby-grade parts and pieces that set it apart from other cars in its class and price range including a 2-in-1 ESC/RX combo, a 2.4gHz transmitter, ball bearings throughout, durable gear differentials, grippy rally style tires, independent suspension with steel hinge pins and a pre-finished rally style body. Also included in the package are a 2s lithium battery and a USB-style charger to get you going quickly. If the car isn’t fast enough for where you run Reedy’s line of micro-sized motors, ESC’s and servos can be easily installed for a boost in power and speed.
Item #20210 RC24 RTR Rally Car https://60years.associatedelectrics.com/rc24-zoom-rally-rtr/
LOSI
When Losi releases the 5ive-T 3.0 in electric form fans of the huge platform were disappointed that it didn’t continue the tradition of being propelled by an oil-spewing 2-stroke gas engine. Losi listened and is now offering the 5ive-TG 3.0 as a gasser, now powered by a Fujiwara FJ35ORC 35.2cc engine. Underpinned by the new longer-wheelbase chassis first seen on the electric 3.0 the TG features easy access differentials that make tuning a snap while 32mm diameter shocks keep the truck under control when the track gets rough. New Spektrum SPMSS1000MT metal-top high-torque steering servo and SPMSS1000 throttle servo provide all the torque and speed a large-scale truck could ever need. Sending the signals to the truck is a Spektrum DX3 Smart transmitter paired with an SR615 DSMR receiver, all of which get their juice from a Spektrum 2s 4000mAh LiPO receiver pack. Officially licensed KMC KM549 wheels fitted with Pro-Line’s Pro-Loc beadlock system provide great scale looks combined with the durability of PL’s beadlock system that securely clamps the tire, no matter how much yank that big engine puts out. Pro-Line also provides the rubber for this big behemoth, including a set of Mirage TT tires that not only look scale but perform on a variety of surfaces. Playing into the durability factor are injection molded body panels that retain their color even with deep gouges, shrugging off tumbles and looking great while doing it.
Item #LOS05025 5ive-TG 1/5 Gas Trophy Truck, RTR https://www.losi.com/product/losi-1-5-5ive-tg-3.0-gas-4wd-desert-truck-rtr/LOS05025.html
THOUGHTS FROM THE WORKBENCH
This week was a weird one. Life made it clear that I shouldn’t be spending time getting a particular project finished when, without having a battery plugged in, the truck fried two AM32 ESC’s and I had two Radiolink R4FGM receivers, as well as discovering a snapped front axle shaft in the Temu-sourced SCX10 1 aluminum clone axle. So far standard SCX10 axles shafts do not fit and there’s been no reply from the seller regarding spare parts. I cannot figure out what happened with the ESC’s; when the battery was plugged in the receiver would power on, showing the BEC inside the ESC was working, but the status light did not light up and the motor did not tone. This happened on two ESC’s from the same brand. back to back, and neither ESC had ever been plugged in up to that point. The receivers are a different story, to a point. Both were brand new and both would light up with a “bound” solid light, denoting that they were properly linked to my RC8X, however there was no response with the truck. No steering, no throttle (of course this is a product of the ESC not working); two receivers from the same seller, bought at the same time and never used up to this point. I’ve never had an issue with Radiolink receivers in the past. They’ve been reliable and even worked well enough after a tumble cut the antenna in half on an R6F that I was using in a crawler. I can’t explain it but it was a definite kick in the pills to work for around eight hours and have nothing to show for it at the end of the wrench session. The lesson here: sometimes you’re the bug, sometimes you’re the windshield. In the end we just have to take our lumps and move on, despite not learning what the cause was.
That brings us to the end of another edition of TWIRC; we thank you one and all for tuning in again. Until next time, be good to yourself, be good to each other, be good to your RC.