by Adam Hilliker

Thanksgiving weekend usually means nothing happening in the r/c industry (or anywhere else for that matter), at least here in the States. So to fill the great void left by the darth of information from the r/c companies, here’s a special Long Thanksgiving Weekend edition of R/C Around the Web. Hopefully there’s enough here to keep you occupied till everybody returns to their offices and computers on Monday.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Savings: Be sure to hit up some of these sales.

Build Log – The Beginning: “Traxxas Zero” – It’s not quite a Stampede 4×4, not quite a Revo, not quite a Savage Flux but is inspired by all three. A very impressive build that’s finally finished.

Build Log II – Son of Build Log: Bender from Axial posted a step-by-step build of the new Wraith kits on the Axial blog. Some informative stuff if you’re thinking about turning some screws on one of these kits.

Build Log III – Build Log’s Revenge: Building a Speed Run Car – Here’s a peek into what it takes to build a car for all out speed and nothing else.

Cool Idea: Rhino Lining your R/C truck’s bed. Looks pretty cool, I might use this on my newest body.

Engineers Think Different Than The Rest of Us: Reinventing independent suspension, found via scans from this forum thread on RC Nitro Talk.

Five Word Review: Wing Tote Pro Roller Buggy pit bag – Big… really big. Love it.

Giveaway: Look at the sticky post at the top of our front page for a contest. We’re giving away a Duratrax Onyx 245 Charger to one lucky Facebook fan.

Good Cause: Squirrel from The Toyz online hobby shop/forum is having his usual Christmas raffle, buy a ticket to support Toyz Toys for Totz Tots and get a chance to win a customized Wraith or a Savage Flux XS. Cutoff for raffle ticket sales is December 15th and the drawing is December 16th. Check out this forum thread for a bit more info. Also give a visit to Squirrel’s YouTube channel for a bunch of useful vids.

How-To: Here’s a cool timelapse video showing the body prep and painting process using rattle cans with tape and newspaper for masking. Personally, I love Fasmask liquid mask for painting now.

Plenty of More Photos Worthy of Mention: In the Big Squid RC group on Flickr. Check them out.

Traxxas Speculation – I was one of the first to guess that Traxxas’ super announcement will be a 1/5 scale. After more info came to light, I’ve since revised my guess to a 1/10 or 1/8 scale vechile with one awesome feature: FPV. You know, kinda like our track drone from IHobby only with a headset monitor rather than a TV. Either that or a R/C Zamboni. Regardless, only a couple more days to wait for the official announcement.

Totally Creepy Random Thing: Back during IHobby Evan busted my balls for having a huge crush on Hope McCall of the Radio Control Show. But it’s cool. Evan’s an ok guy. And Hope is an awesome photographer which is the source of my total crushing.

Winter is coming: Get yourself a TransMitten.

Video of the Week Special Edition:

by Michael Johns

Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb tomorrow, got my tickets.  Will Monster Tojima or somebody else finally break the 10:00 minute barrier this year?   The weather is supposed to be good so fingers are crossed.  I’ll probably be up around the Devil’s Playground area with family and friends.

Build Log: XR10 Tuber

Good Question: Is cheap best in RC? Are the budget kits just as good? Should I really spend the extra cash?

Long Shot: But keep an eye out for this car, especially if you’re in the California or Washington areas.

The More You Know: High Voltage + Low K_v or Low Voltage with High K_v? That is the question.

Video of the Week:

AXIAL Wraith by JKRC – PART 2

by Gaelen Norman

If Brian remembers to put this up in the morning, hopefully you’re packing up your stuff and heading out the door to our Back to our Roots bash.  If he forgets and doesn’t post this until after he gets home, then I hope you had a great time at our Back to our Roots bash.

Build Log: Novak – Short Course Scale Truck

Contest: TC Destruction Contest – Win a dyable Team Chase roll cage for your Baja 5.

Earth shattering…?: Or common knowledge? Or much ado about nothing?

Friendly Reminder: Tomorrow is Father’s Day, call your dad.

Reviewed: Castle Sidewinder SCT @ Ultimate RC (check out our review here)

Video of the Week:

Revo vs. Rottweilers

Scott S. – Summit Killer

Scott wanted to share a few of his crazy contraptions based on the Traxxas E-Maxx.  The one pictured above is what he calls his “Summit Killer.”  It features a custom four link suspension using locked Maxx axles and arms, 2-speed transmission, 7″ tires, and a VXL ESC/Tekin T8 2250 combo to get those massive tires turning.

Click the Read More button to see his other crazy Maxx.

Scott S. – 6×6 Maxx

Scott’s other Maxx creation is this full 6×6 monster.  It’s powered by a Traxxas Titan 775 motor for the necessary power to get all the wheels turning.  It also features a 2-speed and plenty of custom body work.

Thanks Scott, for sharing these awesome trucks.

If you want your car or truck featured on the Squid Showcase email a good, clear photo with a description (types of electronics, hop-ups, any custom mods) to pics[at]bigsquidrc.com or post it to our Facebook Wall.

by Michael Appleman

Have you ever looked around the internets and said to yourself “man…  for all this great technology and freedom of communication, people sure use it for some stupid crap.”  I had a moment like that while looking for cool links for this post.  It occurred at one of the large forums and involved a stupid argument over specific brands of rock crawlers.  The stupid part is the initiator/instigator was trying so hard to get an argument going but nobody was biting, so he ended up looking like a complete tool.  Some days I think maybe I should quit the internet as it’s running out of good things.

Build Log: Project: Tundra

How-To: Make a Hub Guard for your Baja 5 – Help keep your front hubs free of debris and spinning right.

Next Weekend/Shameless Self Promotion Combo Link: Join some of the Big Squid gang at our Back to our Roots bash!  Next Saturday, June 18th in Lyons, IL at the White Eagle Picnic Preserve.   We’re keepin’ it real yo, hangin’ with the little people fellow bashers.

Reviewed: MaxAmps 6500mAh True 150C Race Edition LiPo @ Ultimate RC; UberRC HD Ball Drive System for Bajas @ Baja-Forum.

Video of the Week:

Formula offroad bash

by froitrish01

My weekend will be spent repairing my Highroller after a cliff diving expedition a couple weekends ago, to prepare it for another cliff diving expedition next weekend.  This time the cliff will be higher and a ramp will be on the end.  Part of the rebuild is painting a new body for which I’m devising a new paint scheme right now in the Photoshop.  I also feel the need to take my boat out again so that’s on the agenda as well.

On another note, we’re working up a new regular column featuring your cars and trucks.  If you want to show it off, send a pic and description to pics [at] bigsquidrc.com or start sharing them on our FaceBook wall.  Of course the True Fans out there will have Big Squid stickers on their ride, and they’ll get some special attention, so make sure you buy some before you send your pic in.  Though stickers aren’t required to get your car featured.

Also, it’s Brian’s fault this is so late, he was out having too much fun at our Huckfest.  Video and pics coming soon!

Build Log: Easy to make waterproof camera case – It’s designed for subs, but there’s plenty of other uses for it.

Charity: The Bill Bridges Benefit Raffle and RockCandy RCC Victory Junction Raffle are still selling tickets.

How-To: Properly Build And Break In a Ball Differential

Reviewed: A couple reviews @ MyRCBox.com: RB Killer 10 .21 Engine & DE Racing Mud Guards, MIP X-Duty Slash 4×4 & Stampede 4×4 CVDs @ Ultimate RC

Video of the Week:

Jet Boating, it’s like rock crawling on water.

by Ethan.K

It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the good ol’ US of A.  A three day weekend for most (though not us, Brian doesn’t believe in days off) filled with much partying, as it’s the unofficial start of summer.   But Memorial Day is much more important than just drinking, grilling, and The Indy 500.  It’s a day to remember the men and women of our armed forces that made their last trip home in a flag-draped casket.  So while you’re out doing your thing, keep them in your thoughts and raise a glass in their honor.  And if you fly the Colors on the day of, remember to keep it at half-staff until noon.

Charity Begins at the Track: The Bill Bridges Benefit Raffle is still selling tickets through eBay, buy a chance to win Adam Drake’s 8ight-T 2.0 or Dustin Evans’ TLR 22.

Charity also Begins at the Rock Course: RockCandy RCC is going to raffle off a couple of souped up Axial rigs at the Axial West Coast Championships with all the proceeds going to the Victory Junction Gang.

Friendly Reminder: Time is running out to get your name in the hat to win a Venom Gambler Brushless short course truck.

How-To: Get your wheels balanced – This may seem like something only racers need to worry about, but it can be an important step to increasing the durability of your ride.  Out of balance wheels can cause all kinds of crazy vibrations that can damage bearings, drive shafts, and other drive train components.

Memorial Weekend Deals: GH Racing Sale, TGN Mystery Markdown Sale.

Video of the Week:

by SingNShoot

I decided to do a How-To roundup with this edition.  There’s some good tips and tricks here.  In other news, I’ve been working on the review for the Thunder Tiger KT8 racing kart.  Early impressions, I think I like it, you’ll have to wait for the review to know for sure.

How To: How to solder correctly – Help keep your solder joints strong and tidy.

How 2: How to crimp servo plugs/pins – Help keep things short and tidy.

How 3: How to use a gyro as a wheely bar – Help keep the front wheels on the ground.

How 4: How to remove a stripped screw – Not the most elegant solution, but it’s one I’ve used many times and it works in a pinch.

Video of the Week:

Radio Control FPV Car Racing

by Paul Jarvis, he sent it via email, get yours to us the same way.

You know, I think I need to set up a reminder of some sort, so I stop forgetting to post this on Saturday.  Of course, knowing me, I’d just ignore it like I do all the other reminders I’ve set up.  I’m not very good at remembering… stuff… what was I writing about?  But for the record, it’s my brother’s fault.  He totally snookered me into hitting the trails with his RZR yesterday.  It was a good time until the temperature dropped 20 degrees in about 30 minutes and it started snowing on us.  In other news, I broke out the ol’ SV27 for some laps around the lake at the park earlier this week. The first boat outing of the year is always nice.

Build Log: R/C Wall-E – It’s still in the somewhat early stages, but the craftsmanship is excellent. Gotta keep an eye on this one.

Contest: Traxxas is having a weekly photo contest via their FaceBook page. Post a pic of your Traxxas vehicle on their wall and you might win something.

Know Your History: What was the first Ready-To-Run vehicle?

Video of the Week:

How not to drive a Vorza

by Roberto Pompeu

Contest: RedCat is hosting a vehicle naming contest for a new line of 1/6 scale vehicles they have coming.  If you come up with a name they like, and they use it, you’ll win one of the new vehicles.

Know your history: Here’s an old video, from Team Associated, outlining the design process of their original RC10, from 1986.  In five parts: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5

Nerdgasm Follow Up: Remember that Killer Krawler that was built for NASA from last weeks Around the Web?  It has a robotic arm on it now.  Plus a new video about the NASA Innovation Program as well.

Reviewed: Tekin Redline SC4X Short Course Motor @ Area 52.

Shameless Self Promotion: You have a chance to Win a Venom Gambler because we reached 500 friends on FaceBook.  Twitter is next, when we get to a certain number that ends with two zeros we might give something else away.  So make sure you, your friends, your family, and every random stranger you meet are following us on Twitter.

Video of the Week:

FPV Traxxas Summit Night Offroading