Big Squid RC

For Bashers, By Bashers!
Recent Reviews

What's new: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Blade Nano QX RTF and BNF
Today the “big” news in the nano quadcopter world comes from the guys over at Blade with the announcement of their new Nano QX RTF and BNF. At first look it’s easy to see that the Nano QX features rotor protectors but inside is where the bigger news lies, SAFE Technology. SAFE Technology is sophisticated flight control software that keeps the quad ultra stable and easy to fly. In fact, if things get out of hand while flying just let off the sticks and the Nano QX goes straight into a stable hover.

The Nano QX weighs just over a half ounce and has a width of just 5.5 inches. Two bodies and extra rotors come with the quad and everything you need to get flying comes right in the box.

The RTF (ready to fly) version of the Nano QX has a part number of #BLH7600 and a street price of $89. For the BNF (bind and fly) the part number is #BLH7680 and the street price drops to $69. To get more information on the new Blade Nano QX’s hit THIS LINK.

Have you read our quadcopter shootout? If not you can check it out HERE.

Hot Racing Diff Lock Twin Hammers
A working front diff in your Vaterra Twin Hammers is great for general driving and bashing, but if you want to do some hardcore crawling you really need to lock that thing up. Hot Racing makes that task easy and sanitary with their new aluminum diff lock. The Hot Racing front diff lock for the Twin Hammers is made out of CNC machined aluminum and drilled out to save weight. The part number is VTH125F and it comes with the differential locking hub and two lock pins. Street price is just under $10 and they are available right now.

For more information on all the hop-up parts that Hot Racing makes THIS is the link to their website.

Have you read our Vaterra Twin Hammers review? If not you can check it out Right Here.

Cubby

Great lipo reviews!
Hi Big Squid,
I rarely write in to websites, but your lipo reviews have been very good: i.e. the recent ProTek: LiPo Testing a 30a draw is very realistic for 2s packs, and the extra 60a graph is nice (that must have put out some heat!). Lots of packs seem to have dips in voltage after 25-30a… so that 60a test pretty much proves it will work well at a race-pace. It must have been an investment to buy gear that can test at that draw, and I appreciate it.

Two thumbs up from this Canadian, eh? :)
Mike K

Cubby- Hey ya Mike, what’s up hoser? I haven’t made it to your fine country lately, I need to get back up there and enjoy some donuts and high test Molson, eh.

Thanks for the props on the ProTek 100C 2S 5600 review, we certainly put some serious time into that one. A bunch of time on the bench, and even more in the field. We’ve got another review coming up in a couple of weeks on a ProTek 100C 2S 7000. I think you’ll find it quite interesting to see the performance differences between the ProTek 5600 and 7000 pack.

Ya, for sure, the information gained from the West Mountain CBA discharger is important. Steady state continuous loads really do work a pack hard and make it easy to see differences, but… I am still a big believer that the ultimate test is the continuously variable loads produced in a car. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is how fast a pack scoots your rig around the track/bash spot and we should probably put more emphasis on that in our battery reviews.

Just fyi- the ProTek was one of “those” packs that put a big smile on our faces when we first pulled the trigger. We drive 6-7 days a week with dozens of different packs, we know pretty quickly when a pack has it and when it doesn’t, the ProTek was one of those packs that noticeably had more yank on tap than an average Lipo.


Hi guys,
So i am an RC guy but i ride a bike for living. I have been an rc guy since i can remember, hell i burned my house down with a lipo. Well, i’m back in my house now and i have a track in the back yard. My question to you is. Is there anyone that makes a 2 wheel drive short course 8 scale truck?

I’m a 2 wheel guy and was thinking that i could make 4×4 8 scale into a 2 wheel drive but would it be any good?
I ask because the current 10 scale stuff is not up for the beat down and wear out parts and over heat. My track is designed for drift and backing it into the corners. I have blitz ESE that has very few parts stock built to be tough.

The problem with 10 scales is drive lines, diffs, bearings and the lack of full compatibility with a 550 can motor spur and pin gears. Bottom line is i want some beef and drive more, work on it less. Thanks and hope i’m not busting balls but you seem to be on top of stuff.

Mark Weir

Cubby- Yo Mark what’s up? Still crush’n'em with your Cannondale? So… in your spare time you burn down houses with Lipo’s and pound rc cars into piles of rubble. You sound core basher to me, hell ya.

On to your questions…

Can you turn a 4wd 8th scale buggy/truggy into a 2wd? Sure ya can, locking the center diff and dumping all the front drive-shafts is super easy and might just be the cats meow for your driving style. But… I’ve never personally done it so I can’t say first hand it sucks, converting a 4wd 8th scaler to 2wd is not normally done for good reason. Why is that? Because there is a better way to get what you are looking for.

You are looking for something you can pound the hell out of and put stupid power in, yet can haul ass around a track. That screams 8th scale buggy/truggy platform. However… on your track a normal electric 8th scale or 4wd SCT has too much front brake causing the front end to dig in and push in corners. You want more rear braking to slide the rear end around and to initiate drifts.

So here is my super-sano-satisfaction-guaranteed answer for you- buy a nitro 8th scale and convert it to electric. Not to 2wd, but just to electric. Be sure to use a servo to control the brakes and a clutchbell set-up on the brushless motor. On nitro 8th scalers they use two brake discs, one in front of the center diff and one behind it, this allows the driver to adjust the brake bias front to rear. With a properly adjusted brake bias you can pivot your rig on a fleas butt going into corners and still have all the upsides of 4wd- the ability to power hard out of corners, greater control in the air, and easier to drift without spinning out.

Have fun, go fast, and shoot us a pic of what you put together.


That’s it for this week ya freaks, send me your questions to Cubby at BigSquidRC.com. If your email makes the big time you’ll get a free sticker pack and if I proclaim yours as letter of the month we’ll ship you out a BSRC t-shirt. YOUR Cub Reporter

Pro-Line Trencher 2.2 Traxxas Mini 1/16th Revo
After a Sneak Peak, Pro-Line have officially announced their new Trencher tires for Traxxas 1:16 Revo. All you hardcore bashers out there already know how kick butt Trenchers are- they give great traction on nearly any surface and last a very long time. Trenchers might very well be the best basher tire that money can buy and now you can get them for your Mini Revo.

The Trencher 2.2 uses horizontal “H” shaped tread for outstanding forward bite and have a height of 3.62″ and a width of 1.73″. Their part number is #1194-00, street price is $16 a pair and they are available right now for your bashing pleasure. To read more about them hit up THIS LINK over on Pro-Line’s website.

What else has Pro-Line been up to lately? Check out THIS LINK right here on BigSquidRC.

What's new: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Don’t call it a comeback, we’ve been here for years, rockin ours peers and puttin suckas in fear.

The show is now over.. thanks to all the viewers for hanging out! Catch the replay on Youtube here:

Enjoy the show!

top flite giant scale spitfire
The crew over at Top Flite have just posted a new video on their Giant Scale Spitfire ARF. The video showcases the aerial abilities of this huge, perfectly scaled beast. The Giant Scale Spitfire ARF sports a wingspan of over 86″, a street price of right at $750, and it should be hitting your local hobby shop any day now.

Check out THIS LINK for more information on the Spitfire and THIS LINK for more air news right here on BigSquidRC.

jeff_eyes A reminder that tonight at 9pm CST we will be live! We’ll talk about recent RC news, answer questions from viewers, the usual train wreck, but to ease the pain, we will be giving away a Durango Vehicle tonight! Must be present and watching the LIVE show for a chance to win! Watch for more details as we get closer to 9pm cst.

Traxxas Models without battery
Notice how much Traxxas prices have went up lately? You can save some cash as Traxxas is now offering many of their Lipo ready models without battery packs. This saves you money and nobody likes paying extra for battery packs they don’t want or need. Traxxas still includes a Lipo battery charger with all the trucks, two chargers on models that use dual battery packs.

New models that come without battery include-

2407X Bandit VXL 1/10 scale electric buggy, street- $315
3607X Stampede VXL 1/10 scale monster truck, street- $330
3707X Rustler VXL 1/10 scale stadium truck, street- $325
3908X E-Maxx Brushless Edition 4WD monster truck, street- $640
5607X Summit 4WD electric monster truck, street- $565
5608X E-Revo Brushless Edition 4WD electric racing monster truck, street- $680
6708X Stampede 4X4 VXL electric monster truck, street- $400
6807X Slash 4X4 Ultimate 1/10 Scale 4WD short-course truck, street- $540
6808X Slash 4X4 1/10 Scale 4WD short course racing truck RTR, street- $390

Expected release date on most models is early June, for more information on all things Traxxas THIS is the link to their official website.

What else has Traxxas been up to? Check out THIS LINK right here on BigSquidRC.

Axial polycarbonate hardtop for Jeep Wrangler
The guys over at Axial have announced two new products for all you scale fanatics.

First up is a polycarbonate hardtop for the Axial 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon body. The hardtop is made out of thick .040″ polycarbonate and uses four screws to hold it in place. The hardtop is officially licensed by Jeep and comes with all the mounting hardware, decals and window masks that you need. The part number is #AX04034, the street price is $26 and they are available right now.

For all you hardcore scalers Axial now has heavy duty steel transmission gears for your SCX10, AX10, and Wraith. These CNC machined steel gears are hardened and perfect for extreme use out on the trail. If you are wanting to “bomb proof” your drivetrain, the AX10 locked transmission metal gear set is a must have. The part number for the set is #AX30708 and the MSRP price is $50.

For more information on everything Axial check out THIS LINK over on the official Axial site or THIS LINK right here on BigSquidRC.

What's new: Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

Pro-Line ShockWave Pre-mounts
We really like pre-mounted tires around the office, they save us a bunch of time and work and they keep Brian from gluing his fingers together. Pro-Line is in the business of making lives easier so they’ve announced a bunch of new pre-mounted tire/wheel combo’s.

First up are their new Shockwave 3.8″ pre-mounts. These feature their new Shockwave tires mounted up on 3.8″ F-11 black wheels made to bolt right up on your monster truck. These lightweight tires give better than stock traction on all the surfaces that bashers like- grass, pavement, and of course in the mud. Street price for these monsters is $45 a pair and they have a part number of #1193-13. Click Here for more information.

Pro-Line has announced new Badlands pre-mounts as well. Badlands are perhaps the most popular bash tire here at BigSquidRC and the new pre-mounts come on black Renegade wheels in both Slash rear and Pro-Line ProTrac offsets. Part numbers are #1182-15 for the ProTrac offset and #1182-13 for Slash rear. Street pricing is $35 a pair, simply click THIS LINK for more information.

For you guys that do most of your bashing on the street Pro-Line has introduced new Road Rage 2.8″ pre-mounts. Road Rages give great traction on pavement and seem to wear forever. These come in two different offsets, #1172-12 and #1172-13 to ensure a proper fit on your Traxxas Stampede. Street pricing is $35 a pair and HERE is the link you want to get more information.

On the opposite end of the spectrum Pro-Line has you covered with new Sling Shot paddle tire pre-mounts for short course trucks. The new Sling Shot pre-mounts come in two different offsets on black Renegade wheels. Part numbers are #1158-17 for Slash rear offset and #1158-18 for Pro-Line ProTrac. Street pricing is $35 a pair, for more information THIS is the link you want.

The last set of new pre-mounts are Trencher 3.8″ mounted up on black F-11 wheels. Trenchers are a legendary bash tire that we use on a daily basis here at BigSquid because they work great on nearly every surface. These new pre-mounts come with 17mm hexes to fit vehicles like the Revo and the Summit and have a part number of #1184-13. Street price is $45 a pair and check out THIS LINK for more information (and even a BigSquid mention!).

FX Royal Racing Engines
There is a new nitro engine company on the scene and it is called FX Royal Racing Engines. The man behind the company is Juraj Hudy who is best known for his work at X-Ray. FX Engines will be producing product targeted at the uber high end competition scene, but we know plenty of bashers who only buy “the best” and FX should be one of those types of companies. To check out the new FX Engines website Click HERE.

Are you a big fan of X-Ray? Check out more X-Ray news at THIS LINK right here on BigSquidRC.

driven productions losi mini 8ight shock tower
The latest products from the guys over at TheToyz and Driven Productions are new shock towers for the Losi Mini 8ight buggy. The new towers are not only better than stock but their biggest advantage is they allow the use of different body mounting posts, thus making it easy to mount up all sorts of cool bodies to your buggy.

The new Driven Pro shock towers are made out of high quality delrin and come in three different colors- red, black, and dyeable white. Street price is about $14 each and the part numbers are #DP 705 for the front and #DP 706 for the rear. Hit up THIS LINK for more information over on TheToyz website.

For more Losi news check out THIS LINK right here on BigSquidRC.

What's new: Monday, May 20th, 2013

Showmescalers.com tough truck mud bog
Driving scale trucks is huge right now so Cubby and I decided to hit the Show Me Scalers Top Truck Challenge. The event was put on by the ShowMeScalers.com crew and consisted of three events – rock course, mud bog, and truck pull. The pulling event ended up getting cancelled, but for a good reason, the turnout was so big that they simply ran out of time.

Adam “The Uber Intern” had built a killer STRC equipped Axial Wraith for Cubby to drive and I drove our BSRC review Vaterra Twin Hammers. Both are tough scale machines that worked well for us all day long.

The event was held in Wentzville Missouri, a town on the north-western edge of the St Louis metro area. Competitors were divided into three different classes based on the truck they were driving. The three classes were 1.9, 2.2 and the crazy “unlimited” class.

The 2.2 trucks kicked things off, first competing on the rock course, then going over to the mud bog. The smaller 1.9 trucks got their turn next, and the “Unlimited” class trucks went last. The rock course was quite challenging and the mud bog was just plain fun. I had never competed in a “scale” event before, luckily the Show Me Scalers event was a blast and I look forward to hitting another one soon.

Event results-

1.9 Rock Course

1st – Aaron (Honcho SCX10) – 4:18
2nd – Doug W (SCX10 – 4:45
3rd – Jeff B (SCX10) – 4:56
4th – Brian (SCX10) – 5:06
5th – Bob (SCX10) – 5:34

2.2 Rock Course

1st – Jeff B (Wraith) – 1:48
2nd – John D (AX10) – 1:51
3rd – Chris B (Ax10/X-Trail) – 1:54
4th – Teddy (Wraith) – 2:17
5th – Danny (Wraith) – 2:24

Unlimited Rock Course

1st – Ken (6×6 SCX10) – 1:18
2nd – Curtis (6×6 SCX10) – 1:55
3rd – Chris B. (Summit) – 2:43
4th – Chad (Mad Torque) – 3:44

1.9 Mud Pit

1st – Doug (Rusty Jeep Comanche SCX10) – 5.9 seconds
2nd – Bob O. (SCX10) – 6.4
3rd – Tim (Twin Hammers) – 7.3
4th – Bob O. (Hi-Lift) – 8.0
5th – Doug (SCX10) – 8.1

2.2 Mud Pit

1st – Todd (Wraith) – 4.5 seconds
2nd – Danny (Wraith) – 5.3
3rd (Tie) – Brian (Energy) – 5.7
Brian (Wraith)
5th (Tie) – Jeff (Wraith) – 6.3
Ken (Wraith)

Unlimited Mud Pit

1st – Chris B. (Summit) 3.2 seconds
2nd – Ken (6×6 SCX10) – DNF

For more information on scale trucks and the lifestyle, hit THIS LINK to visit the Show Me Scalers website. Looking for even more information on scale realism? Try THIS LINK right here on BigSquidRC.

Click below on the “Read More” button to see 8 more galleries full of the rock crawling and mud bog action from the event.

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