For 2015 I decided to make some small changes to my bodyshell design, but keep the same colors.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
TEAM ORION ELECTRONICS
As mentioned before, for the 2015 season, I decided to go with Team Orion.
- The speed controller comes in a big box, including everything but decals...
- Super flex shiny 12awg cables are pre-soldered, and the switch and receiver leads are full black.
- The programming card is not included and sold separately as usual.
- The new, lightweight VST2 motor is a piece of art, and would look even better if it would be black anodized like the stock motors.
Fitting is quite easy, even the capacitors are inside a nice plastic wrapping. I managed to "hide" the huge switch at the back of the servo, so it is not a problem anymore.
After the first tests, I have to admit I am really impressed by the quality and performance of the package. It is super fast and consistent during the runs, with excellent feeling and control.
Here is a video of me practicing at the beautiful X-treme Speedways, recorded by my good friend John Doucakis
After the first tests, I have to admit I am really impressed by the quality and performance of the package. It is super fast and consistent during the runs, with excellent feeling and control.
Here is a video of me practicing at the beautiful X-treme Speedways, recorded by my good friend John Doucakis
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Yokomo BD7 2015 - Build Review
Well, after two years with TOP cars and Muchmore electronics, it was time for a big change!
I had already decided to run TeamOrion electronics for 2015 and on, as back in the "brushed days" I was also running TeamOrion motors and batteries with great success.
After some days trying hard to decide between the lovely blue Tamiya 419 and the sexy black widow Yokomo BD7, the big decision was made, I would go for the BD7 2015!!!
I then made an order to www.rcparadise.gr , which is the new Yokomo distributor for Greece, and after two days I received my new kit!
Even the packaging is of high quality, but the astonishing part comes next, when someone assembles the velvet black aluminum parts on the shinny carbon fiber chassis!
The rear diff comes pre-assembled, so all I had to do was fill it with silicone oil, remove the bubbles and tighten the four screws.
Next is the front spool, and the center pulleys with the spur gear
The car is now starting to look like one...
Now , its time for drive shafts, arms and carriers.The standard rear drive shafts use the traditional set screw, which does not pinch at all, so there is not a problem. I did not try the front drive shafts as I installed the optional Double Cardan drive shafts which made my drive train super smooth. I also have to say that the ball bearings that come in the kit are of premium quality.
The arms are, as expected, excellent, but the c hubs seem like cheap plastic in bad quality mold. Anyway, after some sanding, they where ok, Ball cups are...guess what....perfect, and the optional titanium turnbuckles look great!
Time for the last step, which is making the shocks. I built them with double o-ring (blue) and the black bladders as most setups state.Using the nitride coated shafts, my shocks ended super smooth with zero stiction! Fantastic! I started with the Yokomo pink-blues setup, before trying the standard hpi silver-all around setup that everyone(including me) uses on asphalt.
Final thoughts.
In terms of quality the BD7 2015 is for sure a state of the art kit.
The kit is not only for experts, and even an inexperienced hobbyist will not damage it before its even used on the track. The expert will be exited when assembling, but really bored when trying to fine tune, as it's perfect!
Setup is very easy to find, as the BD7 is very popular, and the setups used by the pros are simple and work for everyone. The car has proven to be fast, so you just have to drive.
I really didn't like the quality of the c hubs, they look like someone stole them from a TC3!
Double Cardan joints and floating servo mount are not included in the kit. I am pretty sure everyone buys them with the kit, so the car is just more expensive than the competition.
Finally, even though a little expensive, I am convinced that it will be one of the best R/C race cars I have ever driven.
D.Mitropoulos
I had already decided to run TeamOrion electronics for 2015 and on, as back in the "brushed days" I was also running TeamOrion motors and batteries with great success.
After some days trying hard to decide between the lovely blue Tamiya 419 and the sexy black widow Yokomo BD7, the big decision was made, I would go for the BD7 2015!!!
I then made an order to www.rcparadise.gr , which is the new Yokomo distributor for Greece, and after two days I received my new kit!
Even the packaging is of high quality, but the astonishing part comes next, when someone assembles the velvet black aluminum parts on the shinny carbon fiber chassis!
The rear diff comes pre-assembled, so all I had to do was fill it with silicone oil, remove the bubbles and tighten the four screws.
Next is the front spool, and the center pulleys with the spur gear
The car is now starting to look like one...
Now , its time for drive shafts, arms and carriers.The standard rear drive shafts use the traditional set screw, which does not pinch at all, so there is not a problem. I did not try the front drive shafts as I installed the optional Double Cardan drive shafts which made my drive train super smooth. I also have to say that the ball bearings that come in the kit are of premium quality.
The arms are, as expected, excellent, but the c hubs seem like cheap plastic in bad quality mold. Anyway, after some sanding, they where ok, Ball cups are...guess what....perfect, and the optional titanium turnbuckles look great!
Time for the last step, which is making the shocks. I built them with double o-ring (blue) and the black bladders as most setups state.Using the nitride coated shafts, my shocks ended super smooth with zero stiction! Fantastic! I started with the Yokomo pink-blues setup, before trying the standard hpi silver-all around setup that everyone(including me) uses on asphalt.
Final thoughts.
In terms of quality the BD7 2015 is for sure a state of the art kit.
The kit is not only for experts, and even an inexperienced hobbyist will not damage it before its even used on the track. The expert will be exited when assembling, but really bored when trying to fine tune, as it's perfect!
Setup is very easy to find, as the BD7 is very popular, and the setups used by the pros are simple and work for everyone. The car has proven to be fast, so you just have to drive.
I really didn't like the quality of the c hubs, they look like someone stole them from a TC3!
Double Cardan joints and floating servo mount are not included in the kit. I am pretty sure everyone buys them with the kit, so the car is just more expensive than the competition.
Finally, even though a little expensive, I am convinced that it will be one of the best R/C race cars I have ever driven.
D.Mitropoulos
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Saturday, January 3, 2015
HB Cyclone WC
Back in 2005-2006, I was racing the superb HB Cyclone! It is for sure one of the best ever RC racing cars, and for sure one of my favourites.
Just after it was released, I bought one, selling my beloved HPI Pro4.
This was my "black" or my "mk1" cyclone, all black anodized, and super super fast. It is the car I raced the 2005 season, equiped with team orion motors and batteries, nosram/lrp speed control, and ko propo radio and servo.
In 2007, I bought another cyclone, a purple WC car, used, but in good shape. Unfortunatelly, I cannot find a photo of this car back then.
But I have a photo of my WC car, with my Muchmore electronics from last Sunday's race!!!
As I was waiting for my new car to arrive, I decided to race my old, tired, but purple cyclone WC. I have no spares at all as I had sold them, so I unscrewed both my cars, and came up with this, almost purple, cyclone with all the good parts, and almost another car for spares. Great!
I raced at the 14th race of Sweep Challenge which was held at RcRing , a small technical track. Fortunatelly, there is no need of a 4.5t motor, and a 10.5t boosted is all you need. Perfect news for my ball diff.
Finally, without even rebuilding the diff for about 30 runs, I managed to win the race, and make a magical best lap, 0.150 sec faster than everyone else (even me with my 2014 car). My cyclone is just amazing and made me again feel great!
Top 3:
1.Dimitris Mitropoulos - HB Cyclone WC / WTF / Overtace RC / Boca Bearings
2.Nick Nickolakopoulos - TOP Sabre S4 / Muchmore / RcRing
3.Chris Vasilopoulos - TOP Sabre S4 / Speed Passion / RcRing
Just after it was released, I bought one, selling my beloved HPI Pro4.
This was my "black" or my "mk1" cyclone, all black anodized, and super super fast. It is the car I raced the 2005 season, equiped with team orion motors and batteries, nosram/lrp speed control, and ko propo radio and servo.
In 2007, I bought another cyclone, a purple WC car, used, but in good shape. Unfortunatelly, I cannot find a photo of this car back then.
But I have a photo of my WC car, with my Muchmore electronics from last Sunday's race!!!
As I was waiting for my new car to arrive, I decided to race my old, tired, but purple cyclone WC. I have no spares at all as I had sold them, so I unscrewed both my cars, and came up with this, almost purple, cyclone with all the good parts, and almost another car for spares. Great!
I raced at the 14th race of Sweep Challenge which was held at RcRing , a small technical track. Fortunatelly, there is no need of a 4.5t motor, and a 10.5t boosted is all you need. Perfect news for my ball diff.
Finally, without even rebuilding the diff for about 30 runs, I managed to win the race, and make a magical best lap, 0.150 sec faster than everyone else (even me with my 2014 car). My cyclone is just amazing and made me again feel great!
Top 3:
1.Dimitris Mitropoulos - HB Cyclone WC / WTF / Overtace RC / Boca Bearings
2.Nick Nickolakopoulos - TOP Sabre S4 / Muchmore / RcRing
3.Chris Vasilopoulos - TOP Sabre S4 / Speed Passion / RcRing
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