Welcome back, one and all, to another edition of TWIRC, your weekly source for the best that the RC industry has to offer. This week saw new releases from Upgrade RC, JConcepts, Team Associated and SkyRC. Work outside was a no-go again this week thanks to the heat and humidity being in a range not fit for human consumption so unfortunately our previously mentioned shop upgrades had to be put on the back burner once again, as did any hope of getting out and enjoying an RC for the afternoon. While my trigger hand is healing, slowly but surely, I still have a fair bit of pain in the wrist where the actual denervation was performed and that makes repetitive movements and holding weight steady an uncomfortable affair, further limiting my time behind the transmitter. I am hoping that the discomfort will subside soon as I’m currently looking at nearly a dozen new projects that are waiting to hit the dirt or the trails so that I can bring these projects and reviews to you! In the meantime let’s dive in and take a peek at what’s new in our corner of the hobby!
UPGRADE RC
New this week from Upgrade RC, the house brand from AMain Hobbies, are both Class 3 and Class 2 Razor Wire Rock Terrain tires. Aimed at the scale comp segment of the hobby these tires feature widely spaced, thick and thin tread blocks that are siped for compliance and should also clean out quite well should the terrain get sloppy. The 2.2″ version stands 5.25″ tall, fitting into the “LP” category of Class 3 while the 1.9″ versions are a class legal maximum of 4.75″ in height. These rollers are molded in Upgrade’s Super Soft compound and filled with soft, open-cell foam inserts.
First up, the 2.2’s:
And finally, the 1.9’s
Item #10030 Razor Wire Class 3 Tire, Super Soft, (2) https://www.amainhobbies.com/upgrade-rc-razor-wire-2.2-class-3-razorinspired-tread-rock-crawler-tires-2-upg-10030/p1851278?v=1799359
Item #UPG-10023 2.2″ Razor Wire Class 2 Tire, Super Soft, (2) https://www.amainhobbies.com/upgrade-rc-razor-wire-1.9-class-2-razorinspired-rock-crawler-tires-2-upg-10023/p1795786?v=1674251
JCONCEPTS
The fast Floridians at JConcepts have a quartet of new products for us this week that includes two colors of their new 8/32″ locking wheel nuts as well as expanding their MT tire lineup to include Firestorm and Big Cheese offerings in their Gold compound.
Vintage racers looking to shave a gram or two while also adding a touch of style or a pop of color have two new options when looking for wheel nuts with JConcepts Illuzion 8/32″ wheel nut sets. These flanged and serrated nuts bit into the wheel to prevent loosening during use and are sold in packs of four, in both black or blue. These nuts are a perfect fit for the RC10, RC10T, RC10GT, B2, B3, B4, T2, T3, T4 and SC10.
Item #2075 Blue Locking 8/32″ Nuts
#2076 Black Locking 8/32″ Nuts
Link: https://jconcepts.net/8-32-locking-wheel-nut
Everyone knows that JConcepts makes some of the best 1/10 solid axle MT tires in the business and now that lineup is even more comprehensive thanks to the addition of the Gold compound option for the Firestorm and Big Cheese tires. This compound is considered “medium” in JC’s range of compounds and is especially useful when the softer “blue” is too soft and causing traction rolling. Both the retro-inspired Firestorm (a tribute to the Firestone Ag tires of early 1:1 monster trucking and the modern looking (and greatest name ever for a tire) Big Cheese now have this option and are unchanged otherwise; size, shape and foam insert material are the same as their softer counterparts.
Item #3169-05 Firestorm MT Tire, Gold Compound, (2) https://jconcepts.net/firestorm-monster-truck-tire
Item #4179-05 Big Cheese MT Tire, Gold Compound, (2) https://jconcepts.net/big-cheese–monster-truck-tire
TEAM ASSOCIATED
Team Associated is giving racers another option for their Vintage race weapon with this new RC10 4×4 Factory Team Edition. More than just a cosmetic upgrade with some shiny bits added, this car is updated from stem to stern with improvements to both performance and durability; the fact that is also looks great is a bonus! Beginning with the chassis tub AE anodized the plate in a beautiful bronze color to separate the FT car visually from the standard “Team” kit, while also bathing the motor plate in the same finish to tie the theme together. Stepping away from the vintage white nylon of other RC10 kits, the new FT 4×4 includes all black plastics for a more modern appearance. Performance upgrades include new Fox Kashima coated 13mm big bore dampers, captured hinge pins all around, 12mm hexes front and rear, new caster and steering blocks to suit the new front axles, a B7 wing fitted to a B6 wing mount, new LCG carbon fiber shock towers, new carbon fiber steering plates, black anodized chassis stiffeners and nose tubes, a carbon fiber transmission brace, redesigned servo mounts and belt guide system, Stealth transmissions at both ends connected by a low-friction belt and tensioner system, adjustable ball differentials front and rear, 3.5mm HD ball cups, ball studs and steel turnbuckles, B84 12mm hex wheels included, new Worlds steering bellcrank set, all topped off with a Mirage Pro clear Lexan body shell.
Item #6055 RC10 4×4 Factory Team Kit https://60years.associatedelectrics.com/rc10-4wd-factory-team-kit/?searchid=0&search_query=6055
SKYRC
Rounding out this week’s news is a tool from SkyRC that will help racers and bashers alike. Most of us would like to think we’re pretty good at building shocks and can get them smooth and air-free the first time, every time, but realistically there’s still some amount of air in there creating that inconsistent “squish” feeling that we try to ignore. With the new SkyRC Shock Oil Bubble Buster you can get every last molecule of air out of your shocks before hitting the track or bash spot, ensuring your shocks are working their best at all times. This vacuum chamber fits many sizes of dampers, from 1/8 off road to 1/10 touring cars and everything in between this machine can handle it while also being able to do a single shock or a batch all at once. The vacuum chamber can be tailored to the viscosity of oil used as well; thicker oils require more vacuum force to release the trapped air and vice-versa. The unit can be powered by either USB-C or the included XT-60 connector for easy, trackside or pit table use and can even be used with foam tires to increase the absorption of tire additives by removing air from the microscopic pores of the foam. When atmospheric pressure is reapplied the tire sauce absorbs deeper into the tire, increasing its effectiveness.
Link: https://www.skyrc.com/shock-oil-bubble-buster?from=Ad-Redrc-shock-oil-bubble-buster-2607
Thank you all once again for joining us for another week of TWIRC, your continued patronage does not go unnoticed. Until next time, be good to yourself, be good to each other, be good to your RC.