X10 to be reviewed in RC Car Action...

[psteers]

I was under a deadline and there were delays with parts being delivered to me. If the steering plate didn't fail the second time I drove the car, I would have had two more weeks to test it.

It's not up to me whether the updates get published in the magazine. I'm supposed to be writing updates on the RC Car Action forums, and we're doing a 4wd shootout for the mag in the near future, so the long-term testing of the car can be evident there.

I haven't seen the final layout of the article yet. In fact, I haven't eeeven read the final version of the print yet. I'm not sure if your tips made it in or not, although I doubt they did. I'll post them in the updated threads at the RC Car Action forums when I can.

As for the british distribution, I'm not sure. I don't think there's any reason why you can't buy the issue from Air Age Media and have the magazine shipped to you. As for newsstands, that's a different situation. I'll get back to you about suppliers in the UK.

Pete

[psteers]

You'll get your stickers...... I've sent your addresses to my editor.

[darren]

With alll due respect Peter, your article, while well written, seemed to lack any sort of enthusiasm for this technical masterpiece.
YOu mention on a few occasions about the X drive on the TTech cars, but did you ask yourseld "why" they are like that? <--no more stripped pins, and the taper allows for a truly perfect fit, unlike the competitors. I also have heard that Ttech are working on an adapter to rectify peoples b*#ching. I can't recall any other article in RCCA or otherwise where they reviewer blamed the lack of springs for their inability to drive, or fail to mention that you have no experience at all with this car, or how to set it up for the large US tracks. There is a wealth of knowledge in the US and Canada, the UK and Europe that could have walked you through it. As was earlier mentioned, this car isn't for someone who doesn't know what they are doing, this car was designed from the ground up to compete - perhaps the review should have gone to someone with a little more experience. Please don't get me wrong, while I appreciate the time and effort that went into this car and review, and I do love the car, I just feel that you failed to mention more of the technical genious that is apparent in its design. As for parts support, there are people on this site (DTCRC) who have parts in stock in Canada and I know can ship to the US, I have had nothing but success with them too. I dunno, it just seems that more time should have been spent on what CAN be done instead of what has to be changed.
It's my .02 cents to give - and frankly, after buying all those raffle tickets, I don't know if I can afford it!!!

On another note, I was talking to one of the guys from DTCRC and they said that the next batch of preds they are getting will have purple/yellow springs to better suit the north american market.
Long live the PREDATOR!!!!

[TTECHAMERICA]

WOOO!!
Slow down Darren, I am sure that Pete was thrilled with the car and was unaware of the support in Canada and the US that was available to him.
We should all give Pete a big thanks for showing the rest of the USA what the Predator has to offer...

[psteers]

Thanks for your input, Darren.

Your concern is justified. More attention should have been paid to the specific technical advancements that went into the design of the car. That raises issues, though.

I had only a limited amout of space to describe individual parts, like the drive hex example you mentioned. I wrote basic synopses about specific aspects that went into the car, i.e. the chassis layout (including pre-tapped holes), the drivetrain (main shaft material, differential design and materials), suspension (rocker descriptions and shock analysis), etc. If I was allotted more words, I would have written more. In fact, I did write more, but my explanations were cut down in processing.

Also, I was not blaming the lack of springs for my inability to drive. I was stating that the stock springs did not have enough stiffness to lift the front end more than a few millimeters off the ground, which would cause problems in any off-road situation I can think of.

I have been racing for over 10 years. I'm also currently a Technology Management student at Central Connecticut State University. I am admittedly not a regular a-main driver, but I can proudly say that I can beat a handful of the other RC Car Action writers on a regular basis. ;D Driving ability should not be used as criteria for judging the accuracy of a car or its written review.

Again, to the Hex drive system. I have never seen a stripped pin or hex on any offroad car under normal racing conditions. I have many good friends who run xx-4s, xxx-4s, BJ4s, and x-5s who have never had problems with their small hex and pin drive axles. The widely manufactured Associated and Losi rims are plenty strong. I saw no real reason to create a completely unique drive system. The Jconcepts buggy employs either associed or losi rear wheels, and Losi front wheels, and the design has received nothing but praise since its production.

I used the stock recommended setup from the factory to test the car, as was instructed, for the first part of the test. As you can read, this setup worked very well for the first track I drove on - an outdoor track typical of many I have raced on in the US. For the second round, when I did adjust the car to the new track, a completely unrelated part failed and I was not able to continue.

As you say, "this car isn't for someone who doesn't know what they are doing." A mass produced vehicle kit shouldn't be described in that way. Other comparable 4wd kits are easy to build and maintain. Again, we will see if they will hold up to the Predator in competition.

You obviously love your X10, and I have a feeling I did not change your views on the article much with my reply. I just thought I needed to explain myself a little more.

My intentions are never to insult or debate with anyone here. I'm just trying to voice my own opinions on the car. You are all welcome to voice your own opinions as well.

Thanks.
Pete

[strobex10]

When is there going to be a review of the X10 in the UK mags?

[chris burgess]

psteers said:

If the steering plate didn't fail the second time I drove the car, I would have had two more weeks to test it.

Haven't we all felt the same?! ;D

I'm sure there is a cure for this problem detailed somewhere within this forum.... ;D

I have not read the article, so I am not prepared to comment on it's contents, but I do think that unless the car was praised to the maximum, then on a forum as unbiased as this one (!), that peter is a very brave man to return to these pages. No matter what he is thinking at least his replies have been constructive and have attempted to explain the circumstances under which he wrote the article.

[Northy]

Lets see the article then!

[oople]

My lil review got to 7 A4 pages of text and i stopped counting

right now on my big monitor its 15 screens down, and its not finished... sorry if it bores anyone, I think ive gone a bit over the top. ;D

heres a tease
www.oople.com/rc/photos/reviewx10/main-logo.jpg

[psteers]

Chris - I mentioned your ball cup idea in the online tips section of my write-up. This, incidentally, is the section that, I believe, got cut.

Now with the steel plate out, this fix is not going to be the most common. But, if you ask me, I think your design should have been the way it came from the factory! I love ballcups.

[Cooper]

oople said:

heres a tease
www.oople.com/rc/photos/reviewx10/main-logo.jpg

That is very..eeeuh .... WHITE

[oople]

Yes It makes me sad also... I was a cheap skate and didnt buy a new shell, wish i had now as it would look ace in orange !!!

[Northy]

Jimmy, if I go here:

www.oople.com/rc/photos/reviewx10/

It says I'm a sneaky bugger! ;D

[bigboss]

Jimmy is bad mouthing you G.
dang Jimmy I'm blind......that thing is bright allright.

[oople]

hehe, yea northy didn't want anyone jumping the gun there! They might notice my terrible spelling before i fixed it... !! ;D


Yea the shell, what can i say, i apologise, mind you that neon orange i like so much burns just retinas even faster!