JConcepts have released an updated version of their Punisher body to accommodate for the slightly longer chassis of the RC8.2 FT. It features the sexy distinctive forward cab design which not only provides extra downforce, but keeps your engine cooler too!
Check out the JConcepts website for full details!
We just heard from JConcepts they now have the Illuzion B4.1 Finnisher Worlds Body. It fits the Associated B4.1 and B4 models with the +8mm extended chassis.
It has a increased windshield to help with air flow in the jumps and the spaces between the body and chassis have been tightened up to help keep the air from getting all up in your grill.
The body will also come with 2 of the latest 6.5″ wide Hi-Clearance rear wings.
Head over to the JConcepts website for more info.
In the beginning of May, Brian posted his review on the Traxxas Stampede 4×4. We actually have a couple of these trucks floating around the office and they really are a great vehicle. However, Brian made mention of a major design flaw (aesthetics wise) in his review that seems to be a common theme; the way the body sits on the truck. The stock body posts are very tall, making the body sit extremely high on the vehicle. In most people’s opinions, too high. Brian also pointed out that the fenders don’t line up with tires. The body looks almost silly sitting on the truck, like it doesn’t fit. While, you can’t exactly fix the fender alignment issue, there is an option for lowering the body. JConcepts has created a Lowered Body Mount Kit for the Stampede 4×4, and here is 5 minutes…on it!
The kit comes in around $18 bucks. It includes 4 semi-gloss black aluminum body posts. I’ve been known to grind body posts off like I held them on a belt sander, so these being alloy are a huge plus. The JConcepts posts measure just .19 inches while the stock Traxxas post measure just over .75 inches from bottom to the base where the body will rest. They are a direct replacement for the stock posts, and include the little groves cut into the bottom to help them line up on the body mount bar. They also have holes drilled through in a 4-way design instead of a 2-way design like the stock posts. This just means you can orient them however you want on the body mount bar and can change the placement of your body clips with ease.
Installation was a snap. Just remove the stock posts, put a little threadlocker on the stock hex screws, and reinstall the new JConcepts posts in the same places you removed the stock posts from. It’s good to do these one at a time, that way you can be sure you line everything up correctly. Nothing ticks you off more than getting everything tightened down just to find out that your posts no longer align with the holes in your body… Am I speaking from experience? What do you think… 
Now for the real test… The before and after shots!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Some of this relies on personal preference, but I believe the JConcepts Lowered Body Mount Kit drastically improves the overall appearance of the Traxxas Stampede 4×4. It doesn’t quite slam the body down so low that it looks like a buggy, but it doesn’t leave it sitting up so high that it looks like your ‘Pede 4×4 has the wrong body posts on it either. It’s a little hard to tell in the pictures, but from some angles it almost looks just the tiniest bit Revo…ish. Either way, unless you want the serious jacked-up monster truck look, these body posts are a great investment for anyone who has a Stampede 4×4.
In case you were wondering, since the photo shoot, my ‘Pede 4×4 has been out and about quite a bit. I’m happy to report that the body posts are still intact and in perfect working order despite the miscalculated backflip attempts, full speed roof slides on tarmac, and several run-ins with first-time drivers and hard things like trees, fence posts, and a car tire or two. All in all, the JConcepts Lowered Body Mount Kit is just one word…TENTACLES! Make sure you head over to the JConcepts website or visit your LHS to pick up a set of these babies!
Got something you want to hear about in 5 minutes or less? Do you have some feedback on something I’ve said already? Are you just lonely? Shoot me an e-mail at evan(at)bigsquidrc.com (replace the (at) with @) and let me know! I’d be glad to hear from you. Bash heavy!
From JConcepts we have another Punisher body… Wait… That doesn’t look right… Could it be? Has JConcepts released a body that ISN”T a Punisher cab forward body?! They have! They have released a body that isn’t a Punisher body! Well, I do believe it’s time for a celebration. Maybe that’s overstating it a bit. But anywho, this new body from JConcepts is another in the Hi-Flow line, this time for Durango’s high-end DNX408 nitro buggy. As with all JConcepts bodies, it’ll come with a full complement of decals, masks, and overspray film.
Keep an eye on the JConcepts website for more info.
JConcepts has a new 1/8 scale truggy tire based on the Subculture tread, their multi-tiered design that a lot of people swear by. The interesting thing about this new tire isn’t the tread though, it’s the tire bead, or rather the lack of one. JConcepts has taken the bead and thrown it out the window, instead opting for a sort of extended sidewall design that curls further under the tire and provides a large contact patch for gluing. They call this the Elevated Bead, and as you might expect, it’s not compatible with traditional wheels, you’ll have to use one of JConcepts’ new Elevated wheels to go along with them. JConcepts says this new bead design not only reduces the weight of the tire by removing excess rubber, it also allows the use of slimmer and lighter inserts.
The new Subculture tires will be available in JConcepts’ yellow (medium), blue (soft), and green (super-soft) compounds with a retail price of $32.00, $34.00, and $35.00 respectively per pair. The Elevated wheels will be available in yellow and white colors with a retail price of $25.00. And premounts featuring the Subculture tire and Elevated wheels in various combinations will also be available for $50.00.
Keep an eye on the JConcepts website for more info.
One of these days the world is going to run out of 1/8 scale buggy platforms, and when that day comes, what is JConcepts going to do? Until then, they’re going to make sure that every buggy has a Punisher body available for it. This new release is for Mugen’s high-end brushless MBX-6 ECO buggy. Like all the other versions of the Punisher, JConcepts says that the cab forward design and blended wing/body style helps increase drivability, corner speed, and jump control. The low-profile rear deck provides less directional loading at the rear allowing for quick rotation in tight corners. The body is formed out of clear polycarbonate, ready for paint, with window masks, overspray film, and decals included.
When it hits store shelves you can expect to pay around $29.00 for this iteration of the Punisher. Keep an eye on JConcepts’ website for more info.
Dear Cubby,
Who makes the body lowering kit for the Traxxas Stampede 4×4 and where can I buy one?
Your truly,
Billy D.
Cubby- Funny you should ask that question the same week that Brian posted his Pede 4×4 review. I trust you are loving your truck except for its overly lifted body. If it came murdered out in flat black paint you’d think the truck came straight outta the 909.
Who makes the lowering kit? Jason Ruona and his crew over at JConcepts do. The part number is #2083- the new mounts are black anodized aluminum, and they instantly make a Pede look much more realistic.
Where can you buy these at? You should be able to get them from any LHS that buys from Great Planes, or if that isn’t an option Tower Hobbies has’em in stock for $18.
Cheers, and go fast/turn right.
Hey Cubby,
I am in the market for a new 2wd short course truck. I am looking for one that is good for bashing but also has a lot extra parts that I can get for it. What is your opinion?
Aaron D
Cubby- Wow… for such a short lil’ question, there could be a very long answer. So let me attempt to be brief.
To boil it down, your criteria are-
1. 2wd SC truck
2. Good for bashing
3. Lots of after-market parts
So what’s the “best” 2wd SC truck? IMO it’s the HPI Blitz. It doesn’t turn as sharp as a Venom Gambler or SC10, but its overall handling is perhaps the best of the bunch. But, all the trucks have their merits, wish we had more time to shoot’em out.
What’s the best “basher” in the class? The Blitz is super tough, IMO even more so than the Slash, but… the Slash has greater ground clearance than anything else in its class. If you are gonna bash, the extra ground clearance of the Slash is going to come in mighty handy for grass, curbs, etc. So I gotta give the overall “bash” title to the Slash.
Which 2wd SC has the best after-market support? That’s easy- the Traxxas Slash. You can get upgrades for nearly (or perhaps all of them!) every part on the Slash. None of the others in the class come close. And, if you are looking for just stock replacement parts, the Slash again wins hands down, as far more LHS’s stock Traxxas parts than AE, Venom, Losi or Kyosho.
So taking your criteria into consideration- the truck I recommend to you is- the Traxxas Slash. Buy one, trick it out, and enjoy!
Hey Cubby,
I remember reading several months ago that you had hoped the industry would have gone more scale in 2010. Well, so far 2011 is off to a good start with the release of the Axial Wraith and the Losi SCB. Sure, a few more brands released their short course trucks but it’s nice to see something new and different AND scale. Personally, I would like to see more touring and drift cars from all the major brands. I’m hoping the drift cars will bring back on-road rc back to the masses since (I may be wrong here) you really don’t need a high-tech, super expensive, uber engineered chassis to get sideways and have some fun in the parking lot plus their relatively cheap and have the cool scale look. So I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what’s in store for 2011….
keep up the good work,
Joe C
Cubby- I know there will be some that would argue with me, but on-road is D-E-A-D. There are many contributing factors to what killed it- but if I had to boil it down, it died simply because it was too hardcore. Everything goes is cycles, it will come back, but what is it going to take?
I certainly don’t have the answer to that one, if I did I’d be making a lot of money off of it. Realism isn’t nearly as big of a problem on road as it is off road. The current on road cars drive well and most are quite durable. Maybe the answer to getting on road to blow up again will be scale realism under the body- chassis designs that mimic full scale rides. But who knows? All I do know is that on road and even nitro will be huge again, it’s just a matter of time.
Lastly, you mention the Losi SCB… Horizon thinks I’m the anti-Christ so I’m gonna have to buy mine, but I’ll eagerly do so. I know some of the other staffers here don’t dig it as much as I do, but I can’t wait to get my hands on one. I haven’t “wanted” a new rc car so much since back in the day of the Associated B2. Let’s hope the XXX based SCB works as good as it looks. Oh and, I’ve already got plans to velcro the head of my Losi SCB driver on, so when I get hacked hard my drivers head goes rolling across the track.
That’s it for this week ya bunch of rc freaks. Shoot me your questions, doubts, lies, hate-mail, comments, and Ken Onion knives to- Cubby at BigSquidRC dot com!
YOUR Cub Reporter
It’s been about a month so that means it’s time for the next installment of a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor body announcement. This edition is brought to you by JConcepts. The new version of their Raptor is made for all of the versions of Traxxas’ Rustler. Just like all the others, this one is officially licensed and includes all the official logos and styles, including the overwhelming front grill treatment. You’ll also find the necessary window masks, overspray film, and whatnot to protect the clear body while you’re painting it.
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor body for the Traxxas Rustler should be available soon at a MSRP of $30. Check out the JConcepts website for more info.
The Truth is still out there, and now there’s a better version of it. JConcepts‘ new Truth V2 may share it’s name with the first Truth body, but that’s where the similarities end as the V2 is a completely new design. Though it does take a few design cues from the original, such as the roof scoop, fan treatment, and aero cab, but they’ve all been updated for the new design. One of the nice, new features is added wheel well clearance to reduce tire rubbing. You’ll also find full number and name plates, window masks, decals, and overspray film.
The Truth V2 is made to fit the Slash, Slash 4×4, and SC10. It’s available now at an MSRP of $48.00. Check out the JConcepts site for more info.
Hello rc community, yet another week blown right by us.
Monster Supercross update? Well….. Bel-Ray/Shift rider Chad Reed left Toronto Saturday night with the points lead in the Supercross class. Reed had a horrible 2010, and not many thought he’d even be in the hunt this year, but he’s proving otherwise. Reed finished second in Toronto, vaulting him into the points lead when it matters most- nearing the end of the season.
RV2 went into Toronto with the points lead, but had a horrible race (for the second week in a row) and finished up 9th. Ryan got a bad start in the main, then had a “racing incident” with Bubba on lap 3, he also pulled into the pits for a repair- put those three things together and he was lucky to break into the top 10 by the time the checkered flag fell.
Bubba also had his issues, dropping his bike in the first corner, then the RV2 incident, but eventually he worked his way up to 4th. Bubba can still win the 2011 SX title, but he has to be absolutely flawless the rest of the season, something he has been a lot of trouble with this year.
The star of the race was last years champion Ryan Dungey, who picked up his first win of the season in Toronto. Many “insiders” picked Dungey to win the 2011 title, but a broken chain dnf earlier in the season has kept Ryan behind in the points. It ain’t over till it’s over, Dungey is now second overall in points and is well positioned for his run at the title.
Formula 1 update? Well the opening round from Australia is now in the books, and it was one of the most boring races I’ve watching in some time. Vettel pwn’ed the field, with the biggest surprise being the big Russian Vitaly Petrov placing 3rd.
I saw the movie “Sucker Punch” the other day. There is bad, then there is unwatchable, then there is Sucker Punch. Yes, it is that bad. If you feel like going to watch it- rub your eyeballs with a brillo pad, then pour battery acid in them. Trust me on this one, that would be more fun than watching Sucker Punch.
BigSquid has been making the news lately with our “March Bashness” event/poll/contest. Around the office we thought it’d be some little competition determining what our readers think is the best basher on the market, but it has really blown up. Thanks to everyone who has voted so far, and feel free to spread the word to your rc comrades. Voting for the final 4 is going on now, with the finals starting on Tuesday morning. (Or do like we have around the office, placing little “wagers” on who we think are going to win!)
Anybody else miss Mike Walkers Twister motors? Back in the day they were some of the best available, they ripped hard! Maybe somebody cool will buy the rights to the name and do something special with it…. I do like to dream don’t I?
JConcepts shot out a PR last week about their new officially licensed 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty body intended for Traxxas 2wd and 4wd Stampedes. Sweet looking body from Jason and his crew, but perhaps even better is their new body lowering kit for the Stampede. The JConcepts lowering kit includes new body mounts that position the truck body closer to the chassis for a more realistic look. The Stampede looks sooo much better with the lowering kit, I hope one ends up on every Pede ever made.
Air Age Media (pubs of RCCA) have decided to expand their RCX hobby show to other cities this year. Strangely they’ve chosen to host an RCX less than 2 months before the iHobby expo, and hold it in Chicago. An RCX show 6 months before (or after, same difference) iHobby makes sense, but less than 2 months before and in the same city, now that’s just begging for a flop. On a better note- Orlando Florida will also be getting an RCX show, which should work out well. Floridians are freak’n rabid about rc, and most have never hit a hobby show before, so it should blow up huge. I dig trade shows, and consumers have proven they dig’em too, so the more the merrier (if the venue and dates are well thought out anyways).
The Cactus Classic was quite interesting this year. Seeing “The Dirtinator” Kinwald under the AE banner was interesting (and Awesome!), seeing Mark Pavidis with his head shaved was interesting (he looks tough that way), but….
Some people just don’t F’n get it. At Cactus some of the A-main uber factory shoes didn’t think their Pro-4 SC trucks could complete a 10 minute main without smoke’n their motors, so the race director held two 5 minute mains instead. Yes indeed, 4wd short course trucks arguable present the toughest load to a power system of any class. But…. how big of a pu$$y are you to say your equipment can’t make a 10 minute main now days? Seriously, grow some stones guys… drop a few teeth and let’r eat.
To finally digress, some people just do Not get brushless and Lithium technology, and some of these are considered among the elite in the rc community. Some people are stuck in the year 1990 thinking a 5 minute race is all an rc car is capable of. It’s sickening to us that do “get” BL and Lithium tech to see old school racer types (especially those that are factory guys that carry more influence) not be able to make more than 5 minutes, yet claim that running on 3 or 4S is “too fast”. These guys have no problem gearing their 2S systems to the point of warp core meltdowns, yet are scared to even try a high cell count system for fear it’ll be “too fast too drive”. They just don’t get it. But I do know this- if I were the race director at Cactus and someone came up to me complaining they couldn’t make a 10 minute main, I’d have no problem getting into the computer and bump’n that sucker up to 20, just for good measure.
That’s it for this week folks, support your LHS, local tracks and bash spots!
YOUR Cub Reporter
Have a new Stampede 4×4? Tired of it getting loaded down with crap? Sure you are. JConcepts may have a solution with their new Stampede 4×4 over-tray. The over-tray is designed to have a tight fit around the entire chassis, helping to keep all the dirt and debris out. It’s formed out of clear polycarbonate, ready to be painted to your tastes. It comes with hook and loop fastener for quick and easy mounting to your Stampede 4×4.
The Stampede 4×4 over-tray is available now at a list price of $25.00. Check out the JConcepts website for more info.
Here’s another wheel for the basher crowd from the JConcepts gang. The Rulux wheel is 2.2″ with a 12mm hex drive. The important aspect of this new wheel is that it’s designed to give the 1/16 E-Revo a wider stance, making it more stable and a better performer. The stylish design will also add to the looks of your mini monster.
In addition, these wheels are also available in premount combos with JConcepts’ popular Goose Bumps tires in their sticky green compound.
MSRP for the wheels will be $7.00 per pair, while the premounts will retail for $25.00. Check out the JConcepts web site for more info.
JConcepts has a hot looking new wheel style for a few different Traxxas vehicles. The Tense is a one piece wheel with a cool little added detail, wheel caps. The caps come in two styles, open and closed, with the closed featuring JConcepts’ logo machined on. They’re held on with six button head screws for a realistic look.
For the Slash/Slash 4×4 you can get the standard 2.2″/3.0″ wheel (part #3324 for Slash 2wd rear and Slash 4×4 f/r, part #3323B for Slash 2wd front) and for the Rustler and Stampede there is a 2.2″ wheel (part #3335B for front, part #3336B for rear).
MSRP for all is $11.00 per pair. Check out JConcepts’ site for more info.
