Full text of ' THE BEST IN RC USA $4.99 Canada $7.50 •/JibW 0 0 1 Lightning RR Tamiya F2001 Four-wheel-drive FI! OFNA MBX R2 Plus Nitro RTR powerhouse!

Serpent Impulse Pro Su'per snake! Dynamite Rocket Racer Mini-machine, pan-car V'. Performance Behind the wheel ' with the OFNA DOMINAIOR AirAGE CONTENTS TJFNA MBX R2 Plus Picco-powered and RTR'i by Steve Pond ■ TRACK TESTS COLUMNS RESOURCES VOLUME 1*V NUMBER 7 JULY 2002 K first loqk: Hot Bodies Lightning RR Atsushi Hare's New Wheels by the staff of RC Car Action ^ Power Up! ^The big four upgrades and how much faster you'll go bytoe staff of??C CacAcboi, HD rrst drwe:'DFNA Dominator A leaner, meaner monster by Paul Onorato UR Readers’ Choice Awards^t)02 The votes are In! By the staff of RC CarActjfHU ^ 7C Mike Boylan’s Snowbirds Nationals Oval meets on-road at the hot-rod hotePb^terVieka ion World’s Quickest Draggers^ The world's fastest nitre and electric dragsters face off in the quickest race in history! B^itotiOgfe 7j]2 howto: Nitro Engine Tough Tasks Learn the tricks of the trade by Stephen Bess Serpent Impulse Pro Super snake by Stephen Bess Tamiya F2001 Four-wheel-drive Ferrari by Steve Pond Dynamite Rocket Racer Mini-size pan performer by Peter Vieira 56 Pit Tips Illustrations by David Baker 66 Troubleshooting by George M.

Gonzalez 161 Racer News by Greg Vogel & Peter Vieira 212 Piston Power Carb restricter pro's and cons by Stephen Bess 222 4x4 Monsterize your canned Tyco in 6 easy steps by Kevin Hetmanski 236 Body Shop No masking required by Bob Hastings 265 Backlot by Peter Vieira 254 rcstore.com 257 Track directory 264 Index of advertisers 264 Customer service information ON THE COVER: Hot Bodies' new Lightning RR, cornin' at ya. Walter Sidas snapped the shot and got out of the way. Also pictured: Trinity's latest engine, the Sirio.21. See the details in 'Inside Scoop.' 22 26 31 40 Starting Une Readers Write Inside Scoop Readers' Rides * L r t Lilt Trend Watching R emember when trends seemed to come one at a time? If someone asked “What's big in RC right now?,” you could confidently answer with a simple, “Nitro,' or “Touring cars,' etc. Everything is hot now, and predicting which trend will emerge as the big-biggie is just about impossible; but it’s fun to try.

1 Braz Med Chem. 2 WelcomeMessage Dear Colleagues, The 7th Brazilian Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (BrazMedChem2014) is now receiving all participants at the Campos do Jordo Convention Center, in Campos do JordaoSP, Brazil, to discuss some hot topics in medicinal chemistry and drug.

So here goes. Group Edttor ln Chlol TOM ATWOOD Executive Editor PETER VIEIRA Senior Edlton GEORGE M GONZALEZ. STEVE POND Associate Editor GREG VOGEL AuLstunt Edlton BOB HASTINGS. KEVIN HETMANSKI, PAUL ONORATO Editorial Coordinator DANA DONIA More Maxx-like monsters. This one is a no-brainer; everybody is still playing catch-up with Mr. Maxx, but it’s interesting how different the takes are.

Kyosho went for smaller truck with the MegaForce and then came way out of left field with the wild and woolly 3-speed Mad Force (which you’ve seen in RC Nitro as “Monster X'). Meanwhile, Tamiya went big (literally) with the upsized Terra Crusher, and both OFNA and DuraTrax have retooled the traditional buggy-monster concept for greater agility in a bid to unseat the Maxx from its king-of-the-hill status. Flave any succeeded? Does it matter? All I know is that there are more kick-ass trucks to choose from than ever before!

Minis, micros and tiny stuff. Kyosho reinvented sub- l /i2-scale RC with the Mini-Z line; then HPI upped the performance and upgradability of the class with the Micro-RSzi line and simultane- ously renewed interest in other micro-machines from BRP, ABC and others. Now Dynamite is on the act with the Rocket Racer (reviewed in this issue), and who knows which cars are coming next? One thing is for certain: they are coming! Sorry if I’m spoiling a “Readers’ Choice Awards' result for you, but the Nitro Elements ArtAttack snowmobile won in “Best Innovation.' You guys dig this thing! And why shouldn't you?

It really is cool (wintry pun not intended) and about as different as “something different” gets. The popularity of RC snowmobiles could be limited to the availability of snow, but a lack of snow doesn’t seem to slow down full-scale-sled fans, so maybe not. And what about 4WD Fi?

Tamiya's F200L (also reviewed in this issue) is the trickest Fi car ever; it eliminates all the stumbling blocks that hampered the popularity of yesterday’s solid- axle, 2WD designs. Might the F2001 be the car that brings open-wheel RC back to prominence? Copy Director LYNNE SEWELL Senior Copyeditor MOLLY Z. O'BYRNE Copyeditors COREY WEBER, PAIGE L HAMILTON ART/OKSIQN Corporate Art Director BETTY K. NERO Senior Art Director ALAN J. PALERMO Promotional Art Olrector 1ESUE COSTA Promo Designer CHRISTOPHER CHU Associate Art Directors VICTORIA HOWELL COREY W. SMITH Senior Photographer WAITER SIDAS Staff Photographer PETER HALL ADVKRTISINO Director of Advertising SHARON WARNER Assistant to Director of Advertising/ Associate Publisher SIRI A.

WHEELER Lead/Training Account Executive MONA TASSONE Senior Account Executive KATHRYN GEARHART Advertising Account Executive ANITA LEO Junior Account Executives SHERRY MORGAN, CINCH VANDEMARK Advertising Coordinator ANN T. WIEBER CIRCULATION Circulation Director MARC UU Circulation Manager CARMINA M. McGOVERN Media Marfcetlng Manager VANESSA LAfERRIERE Just something to think about, gang. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Director. N«w Business RICK VANDERVOORN Peter Vieira Executive Editor Vou say you want a revolution?

BGlz 0 ■ m Ws, If your ride Is layin' out rollin' on dubs, engine bungin' and sys- f / tom kickin', you'll definitely want to check out the BF ^ * Goodrich Import EvoluUon-but not just because of the C* *«xy shoot metal on display. In addition to unbelievable 1 show cars, bikini-dad models, music and general motor mayhem, you'll find a new four-wheel wrinkle on the scone: RC! Radio Control Car Action hns partnered with Vision Entertainment to host an RC Car Action Zone at three Import Revolution events: the theme?- 'Nltro/ Micro Revolution.’ Demo cars will be available for show attendees to sample, end there will be RC manufacturer displays to check out It's gonna bo huge, and everybody wins; If you're Into RC. Nothing could ha cooler than a getting a little wheel time at an awesome car show, and for the Import scene makers who haven't yet discovered RC. Well, how will they bo able to resist joining the hope to see you there I O □ Look for the RC Revolution at the following Import Revolution Events Anaheim, CA— May 25 San Mateo, CA — August 31 CMcago, II— October 26 ^ Issf?

— b Lssfi JU — >a p C R AT IONS Director of Operations DAVID BOWERS Senior Digital Production Coordinator CHRISTINE BACHMANN CORI Digital Production Coordinator CHRISTINA MASCHKE-MILEO Production Associate TOMLINSON S. WHEELER Production Assistant BOBBI-JO BALDWICK INTERNET Director, Electronic Communications GARY KOLESAR Web Developers HOLLY HANSEN. LEO FICKS Database Coordinator DANIEL WELSH Web Programmer JAIME TORRES PUBUSHINO Group Publishers LOUIS V. DEFRANCESCO JR. DEFRANCESCO Associate Publisher SHARON WARNER CORPORATI Chairman of the Board A LOO DEFRANCESCO President and CEO LOUIS DEFRANCESCO JR Secretary and Executive Vice President YVONNE M. DEFRANCESCO Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer CAROL SHEPHERD M0A Member Audit Bureau Magazine Publishers of Circulations of America A AirAGE 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT US RCCARACTION.COM 2?

RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION rnilulUJ IN MIL U jit READERS WRIIE YOU’RE WELCOME “Micro-Car Meltdown' (June 2002) was awesome! Showing the cars’ actual sizes was brilliant; it really helped me decide which one to buy (I ordered an HPI Micro RSz*). I can’t wait until it shows up! I also ordered a 6-cell pack for it; i8mph sounds a lot more appealing than i3mph and almost an hour of run time is more than enough. Now, all I need is one of those Speedmind bags and some Hardcore wheels, and I'll be all set! (email] Ralph Mead GET REAL I wonder if Tamiya has ever con- sidered re-releasing the Sand Scorcher?

On eBay, those old bug- gies are selling like gold. My first RC car was a Sand Scorcher, and its realism compared with the real buggy was unreal.

Nothing like bombing through mud and sand with a sealed radio box and drive train. Ahh, the memories; I sure miss that thing.(email] Guido I really agree the realism was really unreal, and I miss those really real cars, too, but don’t expect a reissue anytime soon. Despite the devotion of Tamiya collectors, it’s doubtful there are enough potential buyers to make a Sand Scorcher reissue a viable business decision, even if it is an emotional no-brainer. For every modeler who fondly recalls the mostly metal Sand Scorcher (or its buggy predecessor, the Rough Rider) and would pay the no- doubt dear cost of a reissue, there are likely hundreds of less history- conscious RC'ers who would see it as an expensive anachronism. —Pete IT'S A NITRO THING. NOT A TRAXXAS THING My brother just bought a Traxxas Nitro Rustler, and he says that I should get one, too; but I want to get a Triple-XNT Sport RTR. Now I’m not sure what to buy because he’s had his Nitro Rustler for only a week, and he’s had a few prob- lems with it.

I have an older Team Losi Junior 2, which is very nice. And I've only had one problem with it. I’m not sure who to go with: Team Losi or Traxxas.

What do you think I should do? Mike Ferreira Swansea, MA I've got a feeling this isn’t really a Losi vs. Traxxas thing, Mike; it sounds more like a classic case of electric vs. Nitro vehicles are more maintenance- and tuning-intensive than electrics and will always have more “prob- lems” than battery-carriers. But the problems generally have nothing to do with the vehicle or engine quality and everything to do with how well it’s maintained and how carefully it's tuned. Since your brother already has a Nitro Rustler, I think you should also get one.

That way, you’ll be able to share parts, your trucks will be evenly matched, and you’ll know how to fix each other’s trucks. On the other hand, if you're more interested in roost- ing your brother on a racetrack, can appreciate the extra features of a JR-XR2 radio and want pro- caliber handling, get the Triple- XNT Sport. —Pete ANY BODY I just finished reading the April issue— good stuff!

Your article “Budget Blasters!' Got me to wondering where I can find after- market bodies that will fit the Evader.

I would appreciate your help; keep up the good work, [email] Steve If you’re looking for direct-fit, designed-for-the-Evader bodies. Ya got me; there aren't any. But with creative trimming, you can make just about any body fit any vehicle. Adapting a stadium truck intended for one brand to fit another can be as simple as relo- cating the body-post holes.

I've found that bodies designed for Team Losi’s Triple-XT are the best fit on the Evader. Bolink, Pro-Line, Parma, Hot Bodies and others have bodies that you can make fit, and Trinity will probably be in on the act soon with a Reference shell, too.

—Pete ALEX’S IDEA You guys must have so much fun making those killer project cars; you have everyone’s dream job. Why not let more people in on the fun? You spend $2,000 bucks on a project. I will never get to spend that, have my car look like that or have that much fun— and neither will thousands of other RC Car Action readers. My parents think it’s crazy to spend $300 dollars on an RC car project, but I would spend $5,000. What I suggest, is that you have a special column in which every month a reader gets to choose a car and customize it any way he wants.

They should get to write about the experience of building and driving it. And they should also get to keep it. This awesome idea would let the average RC’er have a whole bunch of fun.

[email] Alex Teehee Sounds great, but how many all- aluminum T-Maxxes does the world realty need? —Pete RC is not nerdy” I was on an Internet RC bulletin board and found a thread that amazed me. It said that RC is nerdy.

My jaw almost hit the floor. Anyone who thinks RC is nerdy is either doing something wrong or thinks they are too cool for it. Free Download Organic Chemistry Loudon 5th Edition Programs To Help. When I run my T-Maxx or my Maximum ST-Pro, people gather all along my street to see what the commotion is, and they are amazed.

So far, I have gotten more than four kids into RC, and I only moved to this street four months ago. I hope more will follow. As always guys, keep up the great mag. [email] Alfred Hummel I.

For one, would never consider myself to be a nerd. I’m more of a geek. — Pete ■ Peter Vieira: peterywairage.com ■ George M. Gonzalez: georgegPairagc.com ■ Bob Hastings: bobhPairage.com ■ Kevin Hetmanski: kcvinhPairage.com ■ Paul Onorato: pauloPairage.com ■ Steve Pond: stevepPairage.com ■ Greg Vogel: gregvpairage.com 26 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION IDER INFD Q_ Sirio.21, Outlaw.12 & ROAR.12 engines Trinity has announced it will be the exclusive distributor of the Italian Sirio engine and acces- sories line, which will bring Trinity into the high-performance,.21-engine market The hall- ^ mark feature of these engines is their AAC construction E (Aluminum piston, Chrome-plated Aluminum V sleeve). An aluminum sleeve has 7 important advantages; it will expand and contract at the same rate as the aluminum pis- '.

That allows the engine to maintain its tolerances at high operating temperatures, and its performance will be consistent from start to fin- ish. At press time, Trinity plans to offer three Sirio engines: the SP21BR Pro off-road.21 buggy engine, SP12TR ROAR-legal.12 and the SP12TRP Pro.

An 'outlaw' 5-port engine. Trinity Products (732) 635-1600; teamtrinity.com. SP21BR PRO.21 BUGGY ■ AAC piston and sleeve »>■ Turbo head ■ Hardened turbo crank ■ Hardened carburetor barrel insert ■ 3-needle carb with ball joint and rubber boot ■ Carb accepts 7-, 7.5-, 8-, 8.5- and 9mm restricters SP12TRP PRO OUTLAW (SG shaft SP12TRP PRO T (threaded shaft) ■ 'Outlaw' (not ROAR-legal) 5-port design ■ AAC construction ■ Button turbo head ■ Slide carb SP12TRP (SG shaft) AS SP12TRPT (threaded snah) ■ ROAR-legal ABC piston and sleeve ■ 4-port design ■ Slide carb..

• J you're so serious about nitro racing that you bring backup engines and alternate pipes to the track, then this is one item you need to get. Using the same fabric case and heavy-duty-cardboard Inner box as its battery and motor bags. Trinity has constructed a new engine and pipe carrier with a litted-loam liner that guar- antees your precious powerplants and their premium pipes will arrive without bent needles, dented bodies, or otherwise dinged. Another advantage of using one of these bags is that you'll look like the baddest nitro pimp In the pit when you display your piston-power arsenal.

Never underestimate the psyche-out factor. Trinity Products (732) 635-1600: teamtrinity.com. JULY 2 0 0 2 31 Pro-Line's CROWD PLEAZER Team Losi's Triple-XNT was £. _ „ D O 1 0 (~^ 'T' the first nitro truck to get Pro- (J I liU I U U I Line's Crowd Pleazer look. And now Associated's RC10GT gets a piece of the action. The mold has been tweaked for the GT, but the Crowd Pleazer concept is the same: slammed and swoopy for a low CG and minimum aero drag. Oh yeah, it looks cool, too.

Pro-Line (909) 849-9781; prolineracing.com. As naans vision IN CASE YOU MISSED ITS original appearance in the May edition of “Inside Scoop,' the GS Racing Vision will be offered in an RTR version with a JR radio and as a Pro kit with all the racing goodies, including a graphite upper deck and 2-speed. GS sent over a new body-on shot but didn't reveal any new tech stuff. When I learn more, you'll learn more.

GS Racing; distributed by Horizon Hobby Inc. (217) 355-9511; horizonhobby.com. Super Safe & Environme Way To Clean Your Nitr Mtnn Mcaa/ nonflammable Biodegradable nrrrt gfl>riT Protoform Opel Astra DTM Coupe L ook closely at the wing on Protoform's new Opel stunner instead of using nubs molded in the rear deck, separate plastic struts hold up the wing. In addition to looking way more trick than nub-tech, the struts can be trimmed to adjust the wing height to suit your aero needs or sense of style. And, speaking of style, the Astra's rakish profile and flares-to-there look epitomizes touring car good taste. Get the Opel in 190- or 200mm, with window masks, overspray film and decals Profoform; distributed by Pro-Line (909) 849-9781: pro-lineracing.com. TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE CAR I - HPI Micro Light Set S Micro Pro ESC -WITH BRIGHT BLUEWHfTE HEADLIGHTS AND RED TAILUGHTS, this A will be a hugely popular option part for any Micro enthusiast!'

I gotta agree! The light kit plugs in between the battery and ESC and stays lit as long as the pack has power. HPI also offers optional auxiliary lamps that plug Into the light kit for use as driving lights or to create an authentic four-beam look. In other microelectronic news. HPI now has its own ESC for the Micro RS4. The Micro Pro Control reversing ESC will run any HPt stock or modified motor and requires absolutely no setup-just plug and play. The new Connector Holder Set is included to keep the wiring neat and out of harm s way.

And the required motor and battery plugs are installed. The tiny ESC features thermal-overload protection - ust in case.

HPI Racing (949) 753-1099: hplracing.com vibration to your brim train tor a oener nsiwiinfj csn Balances: I/IB On-Road l/IOth Oual l/IOth Couring l/IOth Buggy l/IOth [ruck Ball Bearings Red flnodieed cmFiaoo. Oos.oo Atsushi Hara is now top gun for HPI and Hot Bodies, but you may recall that the reigning IFMAR touring-car champ was briefly tied to the SpeedMind Daytona, and that caused a stir amongst the competition-touring cognoscenti. Trick as it was, the overseas exotic never made it stateside-until now. The SpeedMind Daytona RS's impressive list of go-fast goodies includes a carbon-graphite chassis and shock towers, titanium tumbuckles and screws, aluminum threaded shocks, full ball bearings, CV-style universal shafts, rear toe-in plates and more. Keep your eyes open for a track test of the Daytona RS in an upcoming issue. SpeedMind; distributed by Magma Inti. (905) 886-1808: magma.com.

And your wife says there s no passion left in you. Radio Control Cars I won't show my age by reciting the lyrics to the Spiderman cartoon theme song, but I will say that Parma's Spidey-flavored shell does a perfect job ot bringing the web- slinger's signature look to RC just as capably as the full-scale version does for the Monster Jam circuit.

What the heck. I'll sing the last line from the Spidey theme song. Here comes the Spider-maaaaaaaaaan! In color' Parma/PSE (440) 237-8650; parmapse.com.

IvlarslS’TER _IFUVl EFIRIVIR f 3 LITTLE CAR, LITTLE PRICE MICROSIZERS HOBBICO IS BEHIND THE MICROSIZER LINE so you won't have to look hard to find a Microsizer of your own. The 2-channel, 27MHz transmitter doesn’t just control the tiny car-it charges it! It takes 45 seconds to charge the car's Ni-Cd battery for a 2-minute run, and paddle controls give forward/reverse and left/right commands. The MicroSizers will be offered in Honda S2000, Mazda RX7, Nissan Skyline, Toyota Celica, Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Lancer and Toyota bB versions (each in two colors), and hop-up parts will be available as well.

Hobbico/Great Planes Models Distributors (800) 682-8948; hobbico.com. Model Rockets Model Airplt Monster Kits Your hobby is our hobby too. For great finds on whatever you're into, check out eBay.com. AOL Keyword: eBay happy hunting 02002 eBay Inc Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. All items subject to availability ICONTIAC H PI's latest Nltro Star mill Is standard equipment in the new Nltro RS4 3 SS and Is likely to find a home In other high-performance cars as well, thanks to a claimed output of over lhp and the durability of true ABC construc- tion.

A pull-start, 2-needle rotary carb and 'aggressive porting' should make the 12R SS a competitive and conven- ient.12 power choice. HPI Racing (949) 753-1099; hplracing.com. HPI NITRO STAR 12RSS ENGINE HPI Ni't*o PS4 3 Type SS You saw the Nitro RS4 RTR 3 in the June issue; the new Type SS is the kit version, but itis much more than an unassembled version of the RTR car.

The you-build-it model includes the new Nitro Star 12R SS engine, which HPI claims is good for more than lhp. Sounds like enough grunt to pull a tail, single-speed gear ratio, but the new mill won’t have to, thanks to the SS car's 2-speed tranny. Engine breathing should be improved as well because of a high-flow tube header. The RTR’s best features return with the kit model: fuss-free, shaft-driven 4WD, quick-release radio tray, bevel-gear drffs (with “tuned' front diff), D-compound X-pattem tires, foam bumper and more. HPI is ready to offer the SS kit in Chevy Camaro SS and Acura RSX versions.

HPI Racing (949) 753-1099; hpiracing.com. A PICTURE IS WORTH 1.000 WORDS, and since you can see the new shell for yourself, why should I bother penning another 974? The LS430 is available in 190mm and 200mm versions, with factory-applied overspray film, an add-on spoiler with hardware and a detailed decal sheet Make that 948 words. Pro-Line (909)849-9781: prolineracing.com. ■ 36 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION BY BOB HASTINGS YOUR BEST BUILDS /j/f r -©AVE STRANGE HAWTHORNE, NV MUGEN MBX-4XR According to Dave, his Mugen yfe-scale buggy hauls! To see for yourself, watch the action at TCI Ho^blfTs track in Hawthorne, NV.

The MBX is stock,*-* 5 (cept for the Pro-Line tires used for street running. The buggy is powered by a Collari.21 engine outfitted with an RB Concepts header and pipe, and Dave runs Hitec 945MG servos controlled by an Airtronics M8 radio. Patriotism has been a popular theme among many ot our 'Readers ' Rides ' submissions; what better time to do a little Uag-waving than in our July issue! ROBERT RUEKER LOWPOINT, IL TRAXXAS NITRO STAMPEDE Robert has owned this Stampede for a year and finally got around to painting the shell after he saw the flag “how to' in the February 2002 “Body Shop” column. I think you’ll agree, it’s a great effort for a first-time painter!

Aside from the custom paint, the Traxxas monster sits in stock trim. GARY HERRMANN CORAM, NY TRAXXAS T-MAXX Beneath the stars and stripes of this Pro-Line F350 body, Gary’s T-Maxx has Powerline aluminum shocks, a New Era exhaust header coupled to a CVEC muffler system and aluminum skidplates. Future plans include an engine upgrade and more aluminum components. MARTIN WOODY HONOLULU, HI HPI NITRO RS4 Don’t be fooled by the beauty of this Dodge Stratus: it packs a mean punch to back up its good looks. The HPI Nitro RS4 has an aluminum and carbon- fiber chassis with a Novarossi XT 12.

The engine is coupled to a Paris 6-ring turbo tuned pipe and a 2-speed tranny for added oomph. Martin controls the sedan with a Futaba 3P) radio. WIN A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION MAGAZINE!

Send a sharp, uncluttered, well-exposed color photo of your vehicle (no Polarolds) and a brief description to “Readers' Rides.' RC Car Action. 100 East Ridge. If we publish your photo, you'll receive a free, one-year subscription to RC Car Action and will be eligible to win the “Reader’s Ride of the Year Contest.'

Write your address and phone number on your letter and on the back of every photo you send. 40 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION TONY KRAMER APPLETON, Wl TRAXXAS E-MAXX Here's an E-Maxx that shows its colors from top to bottom. The body is Pro-Line's Urban Hummer shell with Parma graphics. Tony outfitted the truck with RPM's blue Clawz rims and Pro-Line Maxx Mulcher tires plus a bunch of anodized aluminum from Trinity and Traxxas.

A pair of the Trinity Wild 550 motors powers this monster. DARYL UNDERWDDD MADI5DNVILLE, TN □ FNA ULTRA MBX Judging by those three big trophies. Daryl has been quite successful with this OFNA '/s-scale buggy. Instead of running on a typical off- road “bumps and jumps” -type track, the buggy races on the dirt oval at Speed Zone raceway in Sweetwater. To kick things up for this year’s race season, the MBX now has a Novarossi SBK01 powerplant, Picco pipe and R radio system.

'j'Jbmijjji JiJjJlJJL /UJJJ SULlJUj' VlSIt OUT- WL’t lKIte- www.teamassociated.com uuuuuu r-r 1 n r- n m inds Available: *376 *381 *393 14 Dbl. #729 Quasar Touring Competition brushes Originality, great looks and close attention to detail; all of these qualities make John's converted Tamiya truck truly stand out. TONY MARTINEZ MCALLEN, TX HPI NITRO RS4 RTR Here's a nice combination of paint design and cool photography.

Tony’s HPt RTR Corvette has MIP CVDs, and the chassis is highlighted by threaded aluminum shocks, a tuned pipe and an aluminum flywheel, too. BEECHER LAFAYETTE, IN TAMIYA LUNCHBOX CONVERSION You'd never know that this burly pickup began life as a Tamiya Lunchbox.

This Dodge shed Its former van skin and now sports the cool Parma Dodge body. The heart of the truck is a homebuilt and polished aluminum chassis that John calls “The Sting.' Check out the subtle details, such as the driver's uniform that matches the inlays on the dummy engine in the truck's bed. Send lor you A Division of Associated Electrics, Inc. 3585 Cadillac Ave„ Costa Mesa. CA 92626 r~7 ^ >n ocn no/in r7-i /n oc;n a ■Reedy European Touring Car Race of Champions Craig Drescher / Reedy Ti •Canadian Touring Car Nationals Winner: Thad Gamer / Reedy Ti •Reedy Touring Car Race of Champions Winner: Mark Pavidis / Reedy Ti •NORRCA Touring World Cup Winner: Atsushi Hara / Reedy Ti Tfuii nuduuu-nw Reedy Extreme Cells (Cycled, matched, voltage treated, unassembled) #622 RC3000-HV Reedy Extreme “World' Cells (Cycled, matched, voltage treated, unassembled.

The top percent- age of cells for serious racers) Tho most DOMINANT Motor/Battery Combo In Touring Car Racing todayl m z o BRISTLE BUDDY When you soak brushes in thinner, use a clothespin to grip the paintbrush so the bristles hang clear of the bottom. This will prevent the bristles from bending.

GREG BOND Waterford. N) HOMEMADE CORNER DOTS An inexpensive way to make your own corner dots is by using plastic plates. Spray-paint the bottom of the plates with a fluorescent color of your choice, then glue a large metal washer onto the inside of each plate. The washer adds enough weight to keep the dots in place. BRAD HALL Martinsville, VA TIGHT GEARBOX FIX If the gears in your new RC car feel tight, try breaking them in using a drill press. Remove the gearbox from your chassis, chuck the top shaft into the drill, secure the gearbox so it doesn’t turn, and let it spin for about an hour.

Make sure the outdrives spin freely. KENJEFFAN Shamong, Nl FIGURING OUT TOP SPEED Want to figure out how fast your RC car is really going?

Make two lines across the track too feet apart. Have your buddy stand with a stopwatch between the two lines. He should start the stop- watch when you cross the first line, and stop it once the car passes the second line. (Make sure your car is at top speed when it crosses the first line.) Here is how to calculate your speed: 100 feet divided by the time taken (in seconds): then multiply the answer by 0.68 to arrive at mph. (Mph - distance covered (too feet] + time taken (seconds] x 0.68). [email] ANDYKENSON PAINT MASK OPTION Try using hot glue as a mask for painting your bodies.

When using a hot glue gun, be sure its tip doesn’t touch the body, or the body will melt. CHARLIE KLASSEN Baltimore, MD WIN AN OFNA YO-YO, OFNA OB4 AND RC CAR ACTION SUBSCRIPTION! SEE NEXT PAGE FOR DETAILS. 56 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION ANTENNA TUBE KEEPER A good-looking and effective way to prevent your antenna tube from coming off is to use the rub- ber grommets that come with servos. Put one in the hole of the body where the tube passes through. If the tube comes off the chassis mount, the rubber grom- met will prevent it from coming out of the body.

ERIC LEWIS Hart. Ml HPI NITRO MT SUSPENSION FIX The MT’s inboard camber link ball ends are prone to breakage. To remedy this, remove the ball end, cut the plastic nub off the front side of the shock tower, replace the ball end, and thread a nut onto it for increased strength. NELSON DELGADO Virginia Beach.

VA FUEL DRIP STOP When you bring your car inside, the residual fuel in the exhaust pipe can drip out and make a mess. Take a cotton swab and insert it in the pipe; the cotton will absorb the leftover fuel. NICKREZAC Macedonia, OH WHEEL KEEPER A threaded rod, a nut, two washers and a wing nut are all you need to make an effective wheel organizer/carrier.

Put a nut with a washer on one end to act as a stop, place the tires onto the threaded rod, then add the other washer and screw on the wing nut. BILL BOOTE Livonia, Ml If you want to run your off-road vehicle on the street, you can protect the tread and achieve better traction by using an inner tube from a bicycle. Measure the tire’s width, and cut the tube to that size; then stretch the rubber onto the tire. MARK LOIZOU Yonkers, NY 'Pit Tips' are submitted by readers and are screened for functionality, feasibility and safety but are not tested by Radio Control Car Action. Radio Control Car Action and the submitting authors are not responsible for personal Injury or damage to models or tools resulting from readers' use of 'Pit Tips.' WIN AN OFNA YO-YO AND RC CAR ACTION SUBSCRIPTION!

Radio Control Car Action will give a 6-month subscription (or extend an existing subscription) and an OFNA Yo-Yo to the author of each idea used in “Pit Tips.' The “Top Tip' winners will also be considered for 'Tip of the Year' to be selected at the end of each year. The “Tip of the Year' winner will receive an OFNA 0B4 International RTR electric car kit. Send a rough sketch to 'Pit Tips,' c/o Radio Control Car Action, 100 East Ridge.

Ridgefield, a USA. BE SURE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ARE CLEARLY PRINTED ON EACH SKETCH, PHOTO AND NOTE YOU SUBMIT. We're unable to publish many good tips because we don't have the sender's name and address. Please note: because of the number of ideas we receive, we can neither acknowledge every one nor return unused matenal.

58 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION r-j r-J Z o CD LlJ CD OZ O LlJ CD >- CQ SPONSORED BY e&Dimswm, vnu'vE nnT prdhlfms? We’ve gdt fixer GETTING THE BUGS OUT I hope you guys can help me fix some problems that I have with my brand-new Factory Team GT. I built the truck according to the instructions, but the right rear suspension arm rubs against the spur gear.

The space between the spur gear and the portion of the suspension arm that pivots on the inner hinge pin is very small. I thought that I might have improperly installed the rear suspension arm mounts, so I rebuilt it. The problem still exists. I considered grinding the suspension arm slightly, but I’m afraid that I might weaken it. I also have a clutch problem; the truck won’t stay still while the engine idles— it always wants to roll away.

[email] Randy Nestor PfflBimJXgUW I've had the same problem with my RC 10 GT. After looking the truck over I noticed that the mounting screws for the rear blocks had backed out. When they back out even a little, the rear block wilt move around. As you noticed on your truck, the gap between the gear and suspension arm is very small, and it doesn't take much movement for that suspension arm to hit the spur gear. Remove the screws that hold the suspension blocks in place and coat the threads with a little gasket sealant. Then replace the screws and tighten them.

The sealant will prevent the screws from backing out. The reason your truck wants to roll away when the engine idles is because the idle is set too high. When the engine reaches a certain rpm, the clutch shoes are thrown against the clutch bell, and that causes the truck to move. If the idle is set too high, the clutch will never disengage from the clutch bell and the truck will keep moving. Lower the idle to reduce the engine rpm, but don't lower it too much; you want the engine to continue to run at idle. The RCioGT's clutch shoes are always engaged.

To keep the screws from backing out of the suspen- sion blocks, use gasket sealant on the threads. A top view of the GT shows how tight the gap is between the spur gear and the suspension block. REAL PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS! Nitro and T/E-Maxx Accessory Spun 48P Absolute Series Pinions Traxxas Lightened Spur And Double-Disc™ Slipper Kits Super hard, lightened precision Gre* with any spur, but with an Absolute spur, even on oft noise is gone! Available ln4BPm16T thru 28T suet RRP 1416 RRP 1428 48P / 64P Superlite Aluminum Pinions A wide range of spurs fit our Double-Disc Slipper Kits, □loose from machined Super-Tough plastic spurs in 66. 72 and 76T sires, RRP 82XX, or CNC machined steel spurs available in 65.

72 and 76T sires. RRP 83XX Small Clutch Plate/Gear Adaptor fits 65 thru 70T spurs Large Clutch Plate/Gear Adaptor fits 72 thru 76T spurs. RRPs NEW line of Lightened Spur and Double-Disc Slipper Kits for Traxxas Nitro and T/E-Maxx bucks are designed to improve performance and increase reliability This combo incorporates a machined stBel or Super-Tough plastic spur, a Vented Aluminum Clutch-Plate/Gear Adaptor (small or large). 2 Slipper Pads and 2 Plates to deliver the adjustability you need and the increased performance that you demand Complete Slipper Kits are available in the following sues RRP 8166 Slipper Kit with 66T Super- Tough plastic spur (Stock Site) lor E-Maxx RRP 8172 Slipper Kit with 72T Super-Tough plastic spur for Traxxas Nitro RRP 8465 Slipper Kit with 65T Steel Spur lor Traxxas Nitro RRP 8472 Slipper Kit with 72T Steel Spur (Stock Site) for T-Maxx Spurs. Clutch-Plate/Gear Adaptor and Slipper Pads also sold separately. Available m 48P in 16T thru 28T, and 64P in 24T thru 38T RRP 30XX (48P) and RRP31XXI64PI Traxxas Nitro Hardened Steel Clutchbells CNC Machined from — solid steel these bells are built to last. They jf — J >take the 5x1 1 bearing A / (NOT included).

Kt Available in 19T. RRP ■■■L ~D-fp 8119 20TRRP8120.

21 T RRP 81 21 and 23T 48P Hard Nickel Plated Steel Pinions ® These precision cut gears have an extremely hard coating mat makes them really fast Available m 12T RRP 1012 RRP 1035 T-Maxx Forward ONLY Hardened Gear Kit T-Maxx Hardened Forward Primary Gear xUki Machined from y y} solid aluminum J and hard coated —. - l.A t Atlirecl dill replacement for A W '£ fhe stock gear ■ ■ V ft RRP 8528 Make No Compromises. This kit contains a 26T hardened aluminum output gear, a forward drive hub adaptor and spacer RRP 8585 PESKY BALL JOINTS Please help! I have a Team Losi Triple-XNT that keeps breaking ball studs.

I've had to replace the rear shock tower twice because of this problem. I've also broken a ball stud on a steering block and on one a hub carrier. I'll admit that my track is brutal, but none of my truck- racing buddies have this problem. I’ve also bent a couple of tie rods, but I could bend them back into shape instead of replacing them, [emaill Travis Portala Titanium turnbuckles are available in lengths to fit various vehicles. If you can’t find a set to fit yours, you can buy them individually. Measure your vehicle’s turnbuckles and replace them with titanium units of the same size. Travis, I have one word for you: titanium.

Titanium is stronger than steel and considerably lighter. If you race your truck on a brutal track that's riddled with ruts, bumps and jumps, you might want to replace your truck’s ball studs and tie rods with titanium units.

Team Losi and Robinson Racing have titanium ball studs for your truck, and Lunsford makes the strongest titanium tie rods in the business. Installing titanium should solve your problems. ROBINSON RACING PRODUCTS T-Maiu Vented Flywheels aircraft grade billet aluminum this Forward ONLY Racing Gearbox will give your T-Maxx a serious competitive r £ » r,(r CAN’T STOP THIS What’s the best way to turn off an RC engine? I've heard that putting your thumb over the tuned-pipe stinger or carb is the best way to stop an engine. Is that true? What about pinching the fuel line? Will an abrupt cutoff of the engine’s fuel supply harm the engine?

[email] lustin Palmero V >Another method to stop a glow engine is to use your shoe to stop the flywheel. You forgot one method, Justin: you can also shut the engine down by stopping the flywheel with your shoe. To shut down my engines, I usually pinch the fuel line, but that doesn’t mean it's the best way; all of these methods will do the trick. I’ve heard compelling arguments on the pros and cons of each technique.

Just stick to the method you’re most comfortable with, and your engine won’t complain. Performance and RRP 1570 RRP 1571 Pull Start RS4 / Pro / Pro2 / Nitro Aluminum Outdrives RS4 Top Shaft Pulley RS4 Nitro Small Aluminum Drive Pulleys C Auj ^ Hardened /~v drive Q Kmk P ' lleyS ' i Wi -3 n! ' nwi ' W pairs “V RRP 1538 One piece pulley and shah are precision cut and hard anodized Purple anodized side flanges are pressed on. RRP 1527 40% lighter than stock ball diff outdrives RRP 1585 www.robinsonracing.com RS4 Diff Pulleys RS4 Nitro Lightened Gear Adapter RS4 Complete Ball Diff Units This lightened gear adapter includes a machined nylon spur that's tougher than the slock gear and will Iasi longer RRP 1535 Hatdenod steel outdrives, ground and polished thrust washots. 2 5x8mm ball bearings, ami aluminum pulley RRP 1590 1 loctnc RRP 1595 Nitro Precision machined, hard anodized aluminum diff pulleys RRP 1539 nitre sedans RRP 1528 electric sedans RS4 Nitre 32 Pitch Conversion Kit is available RRP 1536 MICRO RS* EATS MICROSERVOS I have an HPI Micro RS4 that breaks steering servos.

I use a Hitec HS-8i, and I’ve had to replace the internal gears three times. I decided to try the HS-81MG, which has the same specs but is equipped with metal gears. That servo lasted a bit longer, but it failed, too. Which microservo do you recommend? I’m tired of buying servos that don’t last.

John Patrick, Canoga Park, CA Above: here's a Micro RS4 with a standard servo installed. The only modifies- ) longer run times and / higher top speeds.

Batman has the Joker. Howard Stern H has Lee Stapp has Fred Durst, and if you're speed, your enemy is friction. Ball bearings are speed's secret weapon; installing a set is like finding free power. More of the motor's power goes into spinning the wheels instead of overcoming the friction of metal or plastic bushings. When shopping for bearings, keep in mind that bearings are not all alike. Metal- shlelded bearings are the least expensive, and they're reasonably well-protected against dirt, but they still require regular cleaning to give their best performance. Rubber-sealed bearings are maintenance-free, but they spin with slightly more drag, especially when new.

Teflon- or fiber-shielded bearings split the difference between free spinning action and contamination prevention. Whichever you choose, you'll be stepping way up from bushings. Top speed is most commonly used to determine who is the king of the parking lot or backyard, but when handling matters, getting the right tires for your. Track or play m space Is very ' important Most entry-level sedans Include firm tires that offer long wear but little grip. Likewise, off-road buggies and trucks usually include long- wearing rubber with lugged treads that might not be ideal for your conditions. Check out what the locals run for the hot setup.

LIGHTEN The less weight your car to carry, the faster K will go. Tamlya offers a light chassis and carbon drive shaft for the T101, and most other cars and trucks have their own lightweight factory options. The best place to reduce weight is in the transmission and wheels; a gram shaved off a rotating part has a much bigger impact than a gram taken away from a static pari We use a high-tech radar gun for speed and acceleration testing, but If all you want to know Is your car's top speed, you don't need anything more than chalk, a stop- watch. 100 feet of blacktop and a little brain power. Use your chalk to draw two lines 100 feet apart; this is your speed trap. Make sure there's enough room on either end of the trap for the car to accelerate to full speed before entering the trap and to slow down safely after exiting.

Using a stopwatch, record how long it takes for your car to cross the trap. Remember: the car must enter and exit the trap at full speed. It helps to have a friend work the stopwatch while you drive. To calculate your car's speed, use this formula: We installed a set of Trinity's new ceramic bearings in our testTLOl and measured its top speed. We performed the test with Trinity's Amethyst motor as installed for the mod-motor testing. Top speed with stock bushings: 21.47 Top speed with Trinity ceramic bearings: 23.2 Installed: Trinity ceramic bearings Ceramic bearings offer the ultimate in low friction.

Don't be misled by the term 'ceramic': the bearings aren't made of the same stuff as your mom's Hummel figurines. The “ceramic' is the ceramic-nitride coating applied to the hard steel balls within the bearing. Trinity ceramic bearings-various part numbers; price varies with bearing kit. More bearings: beanngs can be purchased individually and in sets tailored to your vehicle and in all sorts of varieties, as mentioned elsewhere.

Acer Racing, DuraTrax, Boca Bearing and your car or truck's manufacturer are all good sources. (100 + time in seconds) x 0.68 = mph For example. If your car made it through the speed trap in 1.8 seconds, you’ll get this: 1. 100 + 1.8 - 55.55 2. 55.55 x 0.68 - 37.77 3. Your car went at 37.77mph! RCCARACTION.COM CAN CHECK OUTO ONUNE SPEED OR; USE FT TOP D MORE!

88 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION We ran the stock-motor-equipped TL01 until its 1400mAh pack was so drained that driving the car wasn't fun. After letting the motor cool, we went back out with a 2400mAh pack. Run time with 1400mAh pack: 10 minutes Run time with 2400mAh pack: 19.5 minutes HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY PAY $25 to $60 jr. GET longer run time.

Battery capacities and prices vary widely. Basically, it all comes down to the number on the pack; the bigger the num- ber. The longer your truck will run on a charge.

The number on the pack refers to Its capacity in milliamp hours (mAh). For example, a 3000mAh battery can deliver 3000 milliamps (or 3 amps) for one Installed: Sanyo RC2400 pack hour. An RC car draws more amps than that, though; to keep the math simple, let's say a car's motor draws an average of 12 amps during a run.

If a 3000mAh pack can deliver 3 amps for an hour, It can provide four times as much amperage (12 amps) for V 4 hour (15 minutes). Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) cells are the Sanyo RC2400 cells are available from all the big brands: Trinity, Orion, DuraTrax, SMC and others are easy to find. Sanyo 2400 6-cell pack-various manufacturers and part numbers; $40 to S60.

Capacity kings at 3000mAh, but they're expensive and should be charged with NIMH-specific chargers for best performance. Nickel-cadmium (Nl-Cd) cells are the old standbys, and with a maximum capacity of 2400mAh, they come close to NiMH endurance yet are less expensive.

Ni-Cd packs are also available in 2000, 1800, 1700, 1500 and 1400mAh capacities, each at a lower price than the next. So let your wallet be your guide, and keep the math In mind; you might get more run time by buying three less expensive, lower-capacity packs than you would by spending the same sum on two higher-capacity packs.

And always remember that your vehicle's speed isn’t affected by battery capacity; whether you buy a cheapie 1400 pack or an expensive 3000, you'll get 7.2 volts of power. ■ SOURCE GUIDE ACER RACING (310) 472-8090; acermcm* com BOCA BEARING (800) 3324286. Oocsbssrinfs.com DURATRAX; OMiKmAMS Or Grow Plane* (800) 637-7660; duratm.com. LRP distributed by Team Associated (714) 880-9347. Teemessodeted.com NOVAK ELECTRONICS (949) 833-8873.

LeamnovaK.com SMC (840) 298-7706: unc-raclnc.com TAMIYA AMERICA (800) 8264927 lamlyaiisa.com XTM RACING: distributed by Global Hobby (714) 964-0827 globalhobby.com CfE. Y y 1 -TT J When it con^^^H^IT racing, th^jfference between leading and following is determin^^BB^^thing, POWER. With this in mind, extensive research and simulati^BHSj^Cur engineers in conjunction with hours of on-track testing by ou drivers resulted in the creation of the most powerful — — ^ Team Orion^tock motor ever, the Core Stock RS. »-tuned race versioo^HTcludes a balanced armatur Htiintitator, race soCc brushes and sprin^^HHM^ printout. A standard version is available^^^^^^^TOMt- ^^Rhusiast. Fore StoekHS 'ore Stock RS Dyn!•** LlJ l, 'j • /:• *» - ■'’’ ’’t!

■'■'■;e W FIRST DRIVE » DOMINATOR FEATURES T he Dominator looks all new, but there's still plenty of Pirate in the truck. That's a good thing; the Monster Pirate Is a well-proven truck, and many items from OFNA's deep pool of upgrades can be bolted onto the new truck. Here’s what's new to the Dominator and what's off-the-shelf from the Pirate.

NEW DOMINATOR FEATURES ©SLIPPER CLUTCH. OFNA wisely speed an adjustable slipper clutch for the Dominator. Mounted on the spur gear to spare the drive- line parts from extreme peak stresses, it softens the jolts from high-traction launches, throttle-on landings and high-speed runs on rough terrain. ©BUMPERS AND SKIDPLATES. Chromeplated front and rear bumpers mounted to the shock towers with beefy plastic standoffs add style, and thick, plastic skidplates pro- tect the chassis and allow the truck to just skip off raised obstacles instead of being stopped by them. ©SHOCKS AND SWAYBARS. The addition of front and rear swaybars and new larger- volume shocks increases the SPECIFICATIONS MODEL Dominator MANUFACTURER OFNA SCALE ta PRICE $560 Price varies with dealers DIMENSIONS Wheelbase 12.75 in.

(324mm) Width 15.5 in. (394mm) WEIGHT Total, as tested 163 o z. (4,621g) CHASSIS Type Channeled plate Material Aluminum DRIVE TRAIN Type Shaft Primary Clutch bell/spur Drive shafts (F/R) Universal/ dogbones Differentials Planetary Bearing type Shielded bearings SUSPENSION Type (F/R) Lower A-arm with adjustable upper A-arm/lower A-arm with adjustable upper link Shocks Coil-over, oil-filled WHEELS Type Split 3-spoke Dimensions 3.5x2.25 in. (88.9x 57.15mm) TIRES Type Treaded “swoosh' pattern Dominator's bump-handling capability. Soft silicone boots shield the shafts from dirt. ©BODY, WHEELS AND TIRES. OFNA gets high marks for the Dominator's good-looking, pickup truck body that sports a red-to-white fade paint job and a chrome-plated roll bar and side-view mirrors.

This body Is a keeper. New, light, low-profile wheels and tires found their way onto the Dominator and significantly add to its updated appearance. ©NEW CHASSIS BRACES.

On the Pirate, to reduce chassis flex, OFNA used two braces made of threaded steel rods and heavy-duty ball ends: one between the rear shock tower and center bulkhead and another from the bulkhead to the front gearbox support. The Dominator has a similar design but varies it with a longer front brace that's mounted directly on the front shock tower. RETURNING MONSTER PIRATE FEATURES ©ALUMINUM CHASSIS. A 3mm-thick, blue- anodized chassis plate makes its return as the Dominator's backbone. Channeled plate sides make It an extremely rigid platform. ©SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.

Upper links on both ends of the truck are adjustable, and the front units were designed for caster changes. The lower A-arms are made of thick plastic and are built with some forgiv- ing flex instead of part-breaking rigidity. ©DRIVE TRAIN. Robust drive components were transplanted from the Pirate to the Dominator. Dogbones receive the spin from a centrally located, steel spur gear and feed grease-filled planetary gear diffs. Up front, CV-joint front axles use dogbones to turn the rear wheels.

©HYPER.21 ENGINE. The huge, black 8-fin head cools the big.21 powerplant that fea- tures a rear-mounted pull-start, a 3-needle carb and true ABC piston-and-sleeve con- struction.

The exhaust exits from the rear of the engine into a large header with a big tuned pipe. What you get — and what you’ll need O FNA continues to push into the RTR scene by offering the Dominator with the full factory built and painted treatment, plus a few extras. Here's what you get; the only thing left to add is transmitter batteries. © AIRTRONICS BLAZER SPORT TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER This is Airtronics' base-line radio system, and it's quite capable of controlling the Dominator. It has all the necessities: throttle and steering trims, servo-reversing switches, an LED battery-status indicator and a charging jack for use with optional Ni-Cd batteries. ©AIRTRONICS 94102 STEERING AND THROTTLE SERVOS These servos are standard Airtronics units; they perform reliably and produce about 40 oz.-in.

The standard servo does a satisfactory job of pulling the throttle open and closed and will squeeze the brake tightly enough to stop the truck in a reasonable distance, but the 94102 steering servo just doesn't have the grunt needed for a big.21 truck. Unless you plan to make only w-i-d-e turns, an upgrade to a steering servo with 100 oz.-in. Of torque (or more) is strongly suggested. © MEGATECH HIGH VELOCITY RACING FUEL OFNA even includes a bottle of fuel with the Dominator! The Megatech High Velocity juice features a 'Syntol oil blend' and a mixture of 25-percent nitro. © OFNA GLOW STARTER This plastic glow starter isn't sexy, but it does a good job of heating the truck's glow plug.

The glow starter accepts sub-C rechargeables as well as full-size C alkalines. HO RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION 'OQQQQ ) O Q Bottom left: the large, cast-alumi- num steeling knuckles are clearly built to last. For a stiffer front end, the front chassis brace links the center bulkhead with the front shock Bottom right: new front and rear skidplates protect the chassis.

Except for the four mounting screws, all of the screw heads are flush with the chassis FIRST DRIVE » The big Hyper.21 Turbo launches the truck off the line with authority. Proper engine tuning is possible thanks to the 3-needle slide cart). Right: soft silicone boots shield the shock shafts from dirt. The swaybar improves handling. WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD I t's an old racers' adage: 'If you can save one ounce of rotating weight, it’s as good as saving two ounces of stat- ic weight.' The numbers probably don't work out quite that perfectly, but the theory is sound. A reduction in rotat- ing weight contributes significantly more to a vehicle's performance than if the same amount of mass is trimmed from non-rotating parts.

And on a monster truck, nothing accounts for more rotating weight than the wheels and tires. OFNA whacked out a big chunk of heft by chucking the Monster Pirate's Shaquille-O'Neal-size sneakers in favor of more svelte shoes (and as long as I'm working the footwear analogy. I'll point out that the Ooninator’s treads appear to be made up of Nike swooshes). How much heft is gone? Each of the Monster Pirate's wheels and lugged tires rolls in at 14.7 ounces, and the Dominator, with more rim and less tire, steps lightly at 9.8 ounces.

That’s a difference of 5 ounces per wheel-a total of 20 ounces or 1)4 pounds! As any racer will tell you, that's as good as lopping 2fe pounds from the chassis. I DRIVE IT To see just how well it steers in out-of-the-box trim, I took the Dominator for a quick jaunt with its standard steering servo. As expected, the servo strained to point the truck's wide tires, and only when it was up to speed could it manage wide, sweeping turns.

I figured that any true trucker would quickly install a stronger steering servo, so that's what I did. Out came the factory-installed 94102, and in went an Airtronics 94358Z with 200 oz.-in. The Dominator attacked the track with new vigor and impressed me with its buggy-like handling.

The large-diameter rims and low-profile rubber make the Dominator far more responsive than the Monster Pirate ever was (or could be), and because of the reduction in rotating mass, it launched harder than any previous OFNA monster. The “Big D” quickly gets up to a top speed of 38mph and sounds as if it could go still faster with a taller gear— if that’s your goal. As is, the truck has mounds of torque to flatten any hill or slog through grass and sand, and it’s probably better left with its stock gearing. Cruising rough terrain wasn’t a problem. In addition to the noted accel- eration improvements (thanks to the Dorn’s lighter rolling stock), OFNA’s weight-loss program also improves suspension action.

The lighter rubber can cycle up and down over bumps much more quickly, and that makes the truck feel far more in touch with terra firma. In the turns, the swaybars keep the chassis relatively fiat and pitching the truck into corners reveals a slight push that is easily overcome with a blip of brake. OFNA added a slipper clutch to protect the drive train in hard landings.

A large metal, vented disc brake with padded calipers brings the Dominator to a stop. I set up the trusty RC Car Action skateboard ramps to flight-test the Dominator and began blasting out some Knievels. Big-tire trucks can be a real handful in the air because they usually drop their rear wheels and need a big clamp on the brakes to level out, but flying the Dominator was cake. Its quick acceleration made it easy to squirt off the ramps with a short run-up, and it generally launched flat or just slightly nose-high. The biggest launches caused the Dorn to add a rebound hop to the land- ings, but the truck held its line well.

In all respects, the Dominator is an impressive machine and should be greeted with approval by anyone who appreciates a truck with more athletic handling capabilities. Those who just want the biggest tires and the highest-riding truck probably won’t be too stoked with the Dominator’s smaller rolling stock (that’s why OFNA will still offer the Monster Pirate), but for performance-minded MT fans, the Dominator is the OFNA to get. ■ SOURCE GUIDE AIRTRONICS (714) 978-1895: OFNA RACING (949) 586-2910: airtronlcs.net. MEGATECH INTL. (201) 662-8500: megatech.com.

142 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION Ui BO THE STUFF OF HHBIO ( On 1 HOI (HR HI I ton Traxxas T-tflaxx The Traxxas T-Maxx returns as your favorite In this category. This really isn't surprising; the T-Maxx has been a top seller for the past two years. With its 2-speed reversing transmission and super-plush suspension with more than 3.5 Inches of suspension travel, it sets new standards in the monster truck category.

Everyone from first-time hobbyists to seasoned racers loves the T-Maxx. And that's why It tops the Nitro Truck category for the second consecutive year.

Fter hours of sorting and counting, it’s time to reveal the winners of the 2002 Readers' Choice Awards. You’ll find that many of your favorites have passed the test of time and have returned to claim the top spots; others have stepped down to make way for the latest trend-setters. Did your picks win? Let's find out. Team La si Triple -X Himuaid Edition The Team Losl Triple-X is back for a third term, but this time, the Kinwald Edition was the clear winner. It features a full graphite package, titanium turnbuckles. A lightweight top shaft and blue-anodized components that World Champion Brian Kinwald uses on his buggy — all for a price that's way below what you’d pay for the upgrades separately.

OUain Associated B3 €1 Traxxas Bandit f ■' W- 9 ^ i*' 1 ■ A 148 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION Team Associated TT3 Tho TC3 returns for the third consecutive year as your favorite electric touring car. Given Its popularity at the track and Its huge aftermarket support, wo weren't surprised that you voted It Into the number-one spot again. Traxxas E-Ulaxx The Traxxas E-Maxx barely edged out the Team Lost Triple-XT Matt Francis edition to win In this category, but we're not splitting hairs here. Like the T-Maxx. The E-Maxx has raised the bar In monster trucking.

Note Its twin. Fan-cooled motors. 14.4V power system, 2-speed, shlft-on-the-fly transmission, 3-channel radio system and Novak-built ESC. 0 Team Lost Triple-XT Matt Francis Edition O Team Associated T3 W« S / It- / Team Associated AitroTTJ The production Nltro TC3 was released only a few months ago. And it's already your favorite nitro-powered on-road car. We're not surprised: the Nltro TC3 Is jammed with racing features, and It’s Incredibly easy to set up and drive.

The shaft-drive 4WD system gets the power to the ground efficiently, and a precision disc-brake system slows the TC3 down. It's also easy to build and maintain — a major bonus that racers and other enthusiasts appreciate. O Trinity Reflex NT © HPI Super Nitro RS4 JULY 2 0 0 2 149 y//*#//////j y//#//// flitrn Elements HrtHttack Snow mobile This is the first time our 'RC Innovation’ award has gone to an RC snowmobile. But until Nitro Elements came along, there just wasn't a production RC snowmobile! The ArtAttack combines a scale snow- mobile drive train and suspension with big-block nitro power for a unique wintertime experience. It's a blast to drive in snow, and with its optional front ski-wheels, it can even take on dirt and pavement.

Car action Kyashn InFerna fPP 7.S The five-time IFMAR World Champ NIP 7.5 is back as your number-one choice. Its race-proven suspension.

Low-CG drive train and rugged construction contribute to its success, and its benchmark track performance earns it the right to bask in the limelight for the second year in a row. 0 GS Racing Storm 0 OFNA Hyper 7 Pro-Line M.ixx Race Conversion HPI Micro RS4 Trinity monster Horsepower Once again, Trinity's Monster Horsepower comes out on top. Maybe you picked It because Trinity says It's blended with 99 percent pure methanol and nitromethane and Includes a 12-percent blend of synthetic and castor oils.

Or maybe you chose it because the stuff just works! 0 Dynamite Blue Thunder 0 DuraTrax O’Donnell Hirtranics mti Alrtronics has dominated this category since we started handing out awards in 1996. With its 10-model memory, easy programming and comfortable, well-balanced design, it isn't surprising that the M8 is used by more pro drivers than any other radio system. Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare Multiplayer Crack Tpb. It's your favorite radio system, too — for five straight years, no less! 0 Futaba 3PJ 0 Hitec Lynx 3 A Trinity competition stock motor has topped this category since our awards were introduced. Trinity's latest Stocker, the P2k2, Is a higher-rpm A version of the original. Get the A standard model or the factory- f ^ tuned Pro version with high- output springs and brushes: either way, it's your top pick.

Trinity fl5-IJ1atched Panasonic Stuck metal Hydride Team Tells Trinity owns this category; since the Sanyo 2000s won in '97, Trinity VIS-Matched cells have always taken the top spot. For the last three years, VIS-Matched Panasonic 3000mAh cells have been your favorites — first with the originals in 2000 and then with the Stock Metals in 2001. They're back as your favorites this year — no doubt because they have the right capacity for modified racing and the punch you need for stock racing.

0 Trinity Team Matched Sanyo 3000 HV 0 Reedy Zappers 3000 HV Pro-Line fflaxx masher Pro-Line off-road tires have been your favorites for six years in a row. Most recently, the company's Maxx Mashers have held the top spot, but that isn't surprising; after all, there’s no bet- ter way to add style and improve your Maxx Truck's handling than by installing Maxx Masher tires. Pro-Line sweeps this category and takes the second- and third-place honors, too. & Pro-Una Dirt Hawg 2 0 Pro-Una Bow Tia matt Francis Team Trinity/Team Losi's Matt Francis is your favorite driver this time around In the biggest upset in the 2002 'Readers' Choice Awards. ' In addition to being a fine racer. Matt is a true RC spokesman and a hell of a guy.

You earned it. C3mUTSE>r READERS’ CHOICE REGULARS Since we presented our First Readers' Choice Awards back in '96, several of your favorite brands have consistently taken the top spots. These category leaders have been your top choices for more than half a decade. Brand Category Readers’ Choice wins Products Novak ESC 7 Tempest Pro (’96), Cyclone (’97-2001), Cyclone C2 (2002) Trinity Motor 7 Midnight (’96-’97), Midnight 2 (’98), Paradox (’99), P2k (2000), 04 (2001), P2k2 (2002) Trinity Battery 6 Sanyo 2000 C97-’99), Panasonic 3000 (2000), Panasonic Stock Metal Hydride (2001-2) Pro-Line Tire B Square Fuuie (’97), Dirt Hawg II (’98), Bow lie (’99), Dirt Hawg II (2000), Masher (2001), Maxx Masher (2002) Airtronics Transmitter 7 Caliber 3PS ('36 -’97), M8 (’98-2002) Associated Truck 5 RC10T2 ('97 -’98), T3 (’99-2001) JULY 2 0 0 2 151 0.5. 15 Ev-R The O.S.

CV is still your favorite: a heap of entries arrived with the CV checked off in the engine column. The.12 CV engine took the top spot last year, but now It's the,15's turn.

Engines are known for their high quality, high performance and rock-solid reliability. No wonder you chose O.S. € 3 * eleethome VUXHIMHI 1UNI Rnvak fRillennium Prn The Millennium has been your favorite charger for ‘i T >,.

' 1 » i »*f.*.* v ■ ■ ' a carefully refined NiMH- specific algorithm and triple detection system to safely charge your NiMH cells) and built-in Pit Wizard software (which allows you adjust the various parameters of any programmable Novak ESC), the Millennium Pro has what It takes to carry on the winning tradition. .hi* 'fil-m C3 J.r.WVIH.IM Rnvak OyElnne E Novak will have to install another display case in its lobby to make room for Its seventh 'Readers' Choice Awards' trophy. It earned six trophies for the Cyclone series ESCs, but the C2 has been your favorite for the last two years. This isn’t surprising when you consider that the C2 is completely programmable (via the Pit Wizard software built into the Novak Millennium Pro or with the handheld Pit Wizard). Even if you don't have the Pit Wizard software, you can still choose from three built-in profiles to suit your particular needs. 0 Novak Super Rooster 0 LRP Quantum P Prn-Linn Jeep EJB Pro-Line's Maxx truck bodies are extremely popular and have enjoyed top honors in this category for the past two years.

With that in mind. It's no wonder that the Jeep CJ-8 has become your favorite. The CJ-8 body fits the T-Maxx chassis perfectly and captures the classic squared-off body panels and egg-slicer front grill that have always been Jeep trademarks. ■ C2ijgai.!gi3?i n mfmr?r» 152 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION Prototype Team Losi 4-wheeler wins Off-Road Champs While at the Team Losi Off-Road Championships, Kevin spotted Matt Francis testing a 4WD buggy prototype built around a Triple-XS single-belt drive train that Matt used to win the event.

We're guessing that it will be called the “Triple-X4' when, or if, Losi ever puts it into production, but it’s way too soon for anything official. No Off-Road Worlds for Masami Word has it that Masami Hirosaka will bow out of the IFMAR Off- Road World Championships scheduled for early May. According to our source, Masami and Masaki (his dad and mechanic) feel that back-to-back running of the On-Road and Off-Road Worlds will not allow them to prepare adequately for both. Masami will run only the On-Road event in both Touring Car and V 12 scale. MM ko R/C V4MO (UW ItMttl* tjf.WII www.team-orion.ch In addition to an all-around site redesign, Orion's home on the Web now features a trick HPI Micro RSq racing game. The Micros can be equipped with hop-up parts to alter their per- formance; the track layout is altered every month; and there are plans for $ 1,000 payout in an organized online race series! And it’s all free!

Orion was stilt testing the software at press time, but the game should be live now. FROM THE RAD1DCONTRDLZONE ■COM BULLETIN BOARD Futaba 3TOF FM radio What do you guys think about this radio? Is it worth the money? Is it glitch-free? I have owned a 3 PDF for almost live years, and I haven't had a singe problem with it I love this radio system. Ite a huge step up from an entry-level radio, and Ift FM with most of the features of the 3PJ. P2k2, P2K, or Green Machine 3?

The debate is now open: the P2k2, P2k. Or Green Machine 3? The P2k is designed for tigit tracks because it has good torque for powering outta the turns.

The P2k2 is for medium-size tracks with a combination of tight and medium turns. The GM3 is for tracks where speed is demanding. For off road, lb go with the P2k Pro. Best touring car? What is the best on-road touring car? I want good off-the-llne power and a lot of speed.

There isn't really a 'best' touring car. You will hear a lot of opin- ions. The Serpent Impulse, Yokomo GT-4 and Mugen MTX-2 are pro-level cars for racers who want true per- formance. The HPI Racer 2 and 0B4 Pro are also great racers and are for drivers who want a pro-level car at an affordable price. The DuraTrax Street Force GP is a good bashing nitre tour- ing sedan that hits 50mph out of the box.

It's good to do a little drag racing. LOG ON AT WWW.RADI0C0NTR0L20NE.COM LOSI’S BIG SHOW Our '4x4' guy. Kevin Hetmanski, recently returned from the first annual Team Losi Off- Road Championships, which he proclaimed a success. The weather was great and the focus was on the local heroes instead of the factory talent, so Team Losi earned a lot of praise from the racers. Brian Kinwald took the prize in Mod Truck, and Matt Francis won 2WD and 4WD, but the Champs was really more about the 'regular guys.' Jason Schlick won 2WD Stock, Jeff DuRocher took the Sportsman Mod Truck and 2WD Mod races, and Pat Townes had a blast winning in Stock Truck.

HARA WINS WORLDS WARM-UP Factory HPI/Team Orion/Hot Bodies honch Atsushi Hara has won the too-scale Touring Car World Championship warm-up race in Krugersdorp, South Africa; this suggests that the defending world champ may very well take another IFMAR title. After setting the TQ pace, Hara went on to win all three A-mains on his way to the highest step on the podium. TOURING CAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WARM-UP RESULTS 1. Hara (Japan) HPI-Team Orion 2.

Surikam (Thailand)-Tamiya, Reedy 3. Hirosaka (Japan)-Yokomo, Reedy 4. Adachi (Japan)-Yokomo, Reedy 5. Tosolinl (USA (-Yokomo. Groskamp (Holland)-XRAY.

Kitazawa (japan)-Yokomo. Kauppinen (Finland)-XRAY, LRP 9. Spashett (UK)-Losi, Trinity 10. Jansen (Holland)-HPI.Team Orion HARDCORE GOES BIG The guys at Hardcore Racing Components may soon be outfitting full-scale Euro hot rods with luxe titanium and aluminum parts. MORE NASCAR Our SoCal source has reported seeing 190mm Chevy Monte Carlo and Ford Taurus bodies from Team Losi: they will join Losi's already available Intrepid shell. GOT A GOOD ONE?

If you've got a rumor to share, email it to rumorniill@airage.com. JULY 2 0 0 2 161 SS=BED^SrHOP Picco.21 0-1BP engine The 0-1 BP is the newest addition to the OFNA Picco line-up. It features ABC construc- tion.

SG-style crankshaft, dual-needle slide carburetor, black-coated crankcase, rear-mounted boost chamber and a large, blue-anodized heat-sink head for maximum cooling. The engine has a claimed horsepower output of 2.7hp at 35,000rpm. 51217; S413.99.

Heavy-duty 2-speed gears for HPI RS4 A blown gear can ruin your day. RS4 owners who run the stock 2-speed tranny are In luck.TMS has released a steel-gear-set upgrade that can be bolted directly onto the RS4's tranny with only about 30 minutes of wrenching time. The set includes two precision-machined gears that replace the 41- and 44-tooth gears.

They are a little heavier than the stock units, but they will last forever. RS4 steel gears for 2-speed tranny-TMS2SG; $60. (401) 333-9430; racingtms.com.

TRINITY Nitro Fuel Kooler It isn't easy to keep your fuel cool on a hot day at the track. You can put it under your table or in your pit box. But it will probably warm up.

Trinity's Fuel Kooler will help keep its temperature down so that you can be sure of opti- mum performance. Shown here: Quart Kooler bag; use it to store metal and plastic fuel containers in quart and 1 gallon sizes. The pack is made of vinyl, it includes a Kooler gel pack and is closed by a top drawstring. Simply put the gel pack in the freezer on the night before a race, and put the pack in the Kooler bag to keep your fuel cool. The bag has a convenient carrying handle and sports the Trinity Nitro Power logo. Quart Fuel Kooler-8124; $17.99.

NITRO BLAST X-l Diff and Gear grease Nitro Blast's new X-l diff and gear grease is formulated to work in ball diffs, gear diffs and other drive- train applications. It's an extra- sticky blend containing a friction- reducing additive to quiet noisy drive systems and stick to the gears under acceleration. Because it's stickier, the grease lengthens the time between rebuilds and makes your gears last longer. It comes in a compact 0.25-ounce container. X-l Grease-30001; $4.95; Nitro Blast (800) 891-1188; nitroblastcom. QUICK PIT Fuel Gun If you're the type of racer who looks for every advantage to get you over the line first here is yet another way to save valuable seconds on the track.

The Quick Pit Fuel Gun is a filler bottle with a handle and a bigger. Simply stick the spout into the tank and pull the bigger; the fuel pours out In less than 1.5 seconds and you’re on your way.

The gun can hold up to 135cc of fuel, so it works well for Mo-scale 75cc tanks and M-scale 125cc tanks. HOT-1288; $25.99.

General Silicones Co. O OFNA Racing (949) 586-2910; ofna.com.

(626) 338-3815; gsweb.com.tw. 162 RADIO CONTROL CAR ACTION I ACER NEWS 152^^3 TAMIYA TA04 lightweight carbon lower deck Carbon-reinforced parts are a popular upgrade for race vehicles.

If you want to race yourTA04 in theTCS Series or a parking-lot race or any other event gain an advantage with Tamiya's lighter, carbon-reinforced chassis. The chassis is a direct replacement that can be bolted in without any modifications to your existing platform. Tamiya even supplies all the screws you need to install the chassis, and there's an instruction sheet to show you how to install it easily and quickly. TA04 carbon lower deck-53494; $34.99. Tamiya America (800) 826-4922; tamiyausa.com..21 Pro Racing buggy engine XTM Check out XTM's new.21 6-port powerplant for Vh-scale buggy competition. The Pro features a large, blue-anodized, heat-sink head for maximum cooling, a button for standard glow plugs, and a black- coated engine case that gives the engine a really cool custom look. The 2 needle slide carb type allows low- and high-end mixture adjust- ments.

XTM claims the power and torque of this particular engine is maximized tor off road surfaces and typical buggy geanng. The Pro boasts a claimed top rpm of 34,000 and a power output of 2.4hp..21 Pro racing engine-32275: $189.99. CORALLY Mounted sedan foam tires Using foam tires offers the easiest way to get your sedan hooked up with very little effort, as they're known to grip prepared asphalt and carpet extremely well. Corally has released 26mm foam tires in three compounds mounted on white, 6-spoke wheels.

The bres are available in Purple Dot. Double Purple Dot and Plaid Dot compounds. 14451 (Purple Dot). 14452 (Double Purple), 14453 (Plaid); $20. Corally USA; distributed by Specialized RC Inti. (407) 681-5905; corallyusa.com. CL ANDED 1NERS TINGS RCCARACTION.COM lift 1 FIN.