Team Magic E4

[jimmy]

Apparently this E4 thing is already released - I must have missed that. Anyone have one yet, and what's it like?! I like it just because it looks mad - though I think they should have kept the saddle packs

http://teammagic.com.tw/INS/Team%20Magic/503/503001/E4%20pic%203.jpg

[Northy]

That looks ace!

G

[DCM]

It looks ace, but I dunno about that centre belt, so long and so vulnerable....

Good spec though!

[gramey]

:)Well if they're released here I've missed something, LHS is supposed to be getting me one if they can, but as far as I know it's not even definite that the U.K importer is bringing them in?:)

[grindog]

demon has them for the 19th!

[gramey]

:)grindog, I'll have to eat my hat, I've just googled the E4 and found Demon listing them for the 19th but also showing in stock. I shall be speaking to my LHS tomorrow!!!:)

[jimmy]

I put in a request with mrs.oople - but I don't think she was impressed

[Lycan]

Picked up mine yesterday. Built in about 2hrs.
20% of the kit is pre-assembled so it makes things easier.

Steering is a pain to assemble with a heap of small washers but other than that, went together very smoothly.

Havent had a chance to run it yet.

Belts are farily tight so transmissions seems to have a fair amount of friction. I'm sure it will free up once belts wear in.

Disappointed the car didnt come with new LX shocks but I guess you cant have everything :D

There are some notible changes compared to the prototype kit I have.

Lycan

[Lycan]

Some pic's

[LEGEND]

ooooowwwwww so shiny. I like:D

[DCM]

it is that long main belt that bothers me, with the small pulleys and no belt guide....

[jimmy]

Lycan, you have a prototype also? Car looks good

[mark christopher]

It looks ace, but I dunno about that centre belt, so long and so vulnerable....

Good spec though!

it is that long main belt that bothers me, with the small pulleys and no belt guide....

take a look at all ic on road cars, 10th and 8th, all use a side belt design, have done for years, no problems at all, its well tried and tested

[bender]

I think you'll also find that the chassis is around 30mm narrower than any current car, meaning the belt is quite a long way from the body.

I'd suggest that if you got a hit big enough to get in there and damage or move the belt, then that's likely to be the least of your problems ;)

[bretts]

Similar to a Losi...(well i think so!)


http://www.teamlosi.com/kits/JRXS-TypeR/Core2.jpg


but better, I like it!!!

[jimmy]

bit like the losi yeah, but with the XX4 belt concept instead! :)
I wonder if they changed the saddle pack layout to appeal to a wider market, or if it was a performance thing... hmm

[mark christopher]

bit like the losi yeah, but with the XX4 belt concept instead! :)
I wonder if they changed the saddle pack layout to appeal to a wider market, or if it was a performance thing... hmm
was to allow for 5 cell mod ;)

[mark christopher]

I think you'll also find that the chassis is around 30mm narrower than any current car, meaning the belt is quite a long way from the body.

I'd suggest that if you got a hit big enough to get in there and damage or move the belt, then that's likely to be the least of your problems ;)
true the belt is also in side the chassis if you look at the plan view

http://www.oople.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1316&d=1192604258

[DCM]

take a look at all ic on road cars, 10th and 8th, all use a side belt design, have done for years, no problems at all, its well tried and tested


But it isn't an IC car jackass, so it produces power differently, and when you are running up against very efficient belt drives, it will show up ANY drag.

[jimmy]

Woha!
make love guys, not war! :p
whether it works well or not, it's definitely cool

[DCM]

it is cool, but can't see it catching on in a competitiveway. I understand the principle that have gone for, and even on the Losi, they realised you needed big pulleys to get better belt wrap and less tension on the belt.

I just don't see why educated people need to make a comparison between IC and electric.

[mark christopher]

It looks ace, but I dunno about that centre belt, so long and so vulnerable....

Good spec though!

it is that long main belt that bothers me, with the small pulleys and no belt guide....

But it isn't an IC car jackass, so it produces power differently, and when you are running up against very efficient belt drives, it will show up ANY drag.


ok then
you said it looks vunerable, to me that means "weak" "open to problems" "likley to snap" so i was pointing out that its tried and tested for reliability in the ic world


so to the DCM translater

vunerable now means inefficient!

long means inefficient too! is that what you mean?



i also know the defenrence between an electric car and an ic car, as i have both, do you?

may i suggest you put your brain in gear and post what you mean, and not crap, then when somone posts a reply you wont chuck your teddy out of your cot!


if you mean the three belt system wont be efficent then put exactly that!!!

im sure tm have done thier home work,

[dallasv8]

http://www.teammagic.com.tw/en/newsfra.jsp?tag=newsInf&id=20061109144029-65905 (prototype)
http://www.teammagic.com.tw/en/profra.jsp?tag=proInf&id=503001&pageNum=1 (finished version)

few more pics and stuff here on team magics website.the speedy would definitely get some cooling air going past it on the prototype.looks sweet to me.

[gramey]

Picked up mine yesterday. Built in about 2hrs.
20% of the kit is pre-assembled so it makes things easier.

Steering is a pain to assemble with a heap of small washers but other than that, went together very smoothly.

Havent had a chance to run it yet.

Belts are farily tight so transmissions seems to have a fair amount of friction. I'm sure it will free up once belts wear in.

Disappointed the car didnt come with new LX shocks but I guess you cant have everything :D

There are some notible changes compared to the prototype kit I have.

Lycan
:)What are the LX shocks your referring to?:)

[DCM]

Yes Mark, I have both a nitro buggy and truggy, belt and shaft snorer, belt and shaft buggy and a buggy.

Right, OK, it has the 'same' layout as an IC onroad car, but firstly, the belts tend to be thicker, wider and a more course belt profile. Also, the engine is roatating and producing power before the clutch engages to, to help things move alone.

OK, now lets get onto specifics that I see are 'inneficient' on the TM which all other manufacturers are moving away from.

Three belts means an extra two pulleys.
Small diameter pulleys, which means the belts have to run at a higher tension to stop belt skip, the front and rear belts both go around small pulleys, and so does the main belt.
When you compare to the likes of Tamiya/HB/AE/Schumacher I can't see this being taken up in the masses by the limited power classes.

'Vulnerability'
The belt is on the side with no protection, on small pulleys with small pulley fences, no belt guide, so a knock in the right place will dislodge the belt.
Also, that sanse of belt, with a thin 3mm pitch (or similar) will give lots of belt flap also, hence another reason for the greater tension to remove that issue.

I can appreciate the cars design, but they could of greatly improved efficiency by using bigger diameter idler pulleys on the centre belt system which would of, as I see it, improved efficiency by allowing belt tension to be reduced and still not skipped.

Is that a good enough explanation for you Mark, or do you need more.

The rest of the car in essence is just a bog stock tourer.

[c0sie]

Christ..cant even TALK about a touring car without it turning into a slagfest?

Pathetic.

[mark christopher]

far better nd you kept hold of your dummy;)

though the 720 belt side belt and tm ic belt are as wide as an electric belt,
xray have made thier car 008 with smaller diff pullies!

to be honest if you get hit where the belt is on the tm car then your into more than belt trouble, also on a conventional car, the motor would take the hit!
rather loose a belt that an endbell/motor

[DCM]

dummy never went out of the mouth at all, just get fed up of people comparing ic to electric, or off-road to on-road, like comparing spuds to turnips.

On a side note, I have never lost a motor in a TC car, or a buggy.

[Lycan]

Yes, I have a late prototype.

LX Shocks - http://www.kfactoryracing.com/production.jsp?id=K1008&pageNum=1

[mark christopher]

dummy never went out of the mouth at all, just get fed up of people comparing ic to electric, or off-road to on-road, like comparing spuds to turnips.

On a side note, I have never lost a motor in a TC car, or a buggy.
you aint trying hard enough then :D

[gramey]

Yes, I have a late prototype.

LX Shocks - http://www.kfactoryracing.com/production.jsp?id=K1008&pageNum=1

:)Thanks for the link, are the stock TM shocks that bad then, currently run a Tamiya and their shocks seem pretty good.
One more question my last belt drive car was a TRF415, now run an Evo 5 shaftie, is the TM a 3 belt system to allow central placement of the cells? I thought the Corally RDX had the cells placed in the centre but I can't remember how many belts it has.
I like the look of the E4 but if it's inherently flawed as a result of the 3 belts I might wait for the TRF416. My LHS is meant to be getting me an E4 but it's on the agreement that if I don't like what I see I haven't got to have it. I just fancied a change from Tamiya's which I've run since I started racing.:)

[grindog]

i would like to see a 4wd buggy based on this idea. Cells along the middle, could be good for the jumps and bumps, etc. Future proof if lipo comes in.

As for the team magic tourer, i want one for sure!

[gramey]

:)grindog, Is there anything you don't want or haven't had when it comes to r/c?:D

[DCM]

RDX, the cells are off-set to the right, of the central main belt, like most other tourers.

[xx4-nutter]

looks cool that, somthing differnt for a change.. whats with all the arguments ? lol some people may give this forum bad name lol ;);););) when it comes to touring cars

[grindog]

lol, not much but i am working on it!

:)grindog, Is there anything you don't want or haven't had when it comes to r/c?:D

[Lycan]

gramey, no issue with older shocks... I just find the new LX shocks much easier to work with. Easier to get on and off the car and easier to rebuild.

[gramey]

:)I spoke to my LHS today and they're saying they've heard nothing from CML about the E4 being brought in officially to the U.K. Can someone PM me as to where Demon or themselves are sourcing these cars from, are they official imports?:)

[DCM]

According to an American based forum, Team Magic will also sell to you direct.....

[super__dan]

This is the first touring car I've ever taken any interest in, I think it's ace!

[Lee]

Hmmm, i saw a few of the prototypes of these and they never really did it for me, but they are good in the fact its something different for tourers, the latest crop of cars are mirror images of eachother just a different colour.



I know the PHI is a bit different before the corally fan club start.

[Thomas P]

The car is nice to drive,the tranny is loosing after a few packs in modfied..the key is to run the rear belt, in front (wider) to get less slipper front belt when breaking hard on carpet. Rear alu cvd are little weak.

To get a lower ridehight more then the stock shocks can giv,it is a must to get the K-Factory shocks, they are made to fit the "Nitro" spring´s, that what we are running

För 27T class, it will be needed to shim up the front litle pulley holder to get the ront belt loose,and spin more freely.

what ive heard from friends that rus the G4 Nitro car, that one was way to tight, the E4 is totaly oppsite...way to loose..a lot of "gap" in arms,ballcups etc...but shim and there is real good..

[jimmy]

What upgrades do you reccomend for the car? I have the car - I was going to review it but the shell and spur I ordered from Demon never came (royal mail lost them) so I've just never started the car :(

[JonB]

I have the car too and think it is great - its just different to other cars out there. As Thomas mentions the transmission does free up after a few runs and I haven't had any belts fail on me (touch wood!). I too have fitted a rear belt onto the front and this is the only one of the 3 belts that I think is still a little tight - hopefully this will change.

In terms of upgrades I would recommend the optional K-factory 1.5deg rear hubs for a little more toe-in (I'm now on 3deg). I am also running the stiffer K-factory ali centre brace and a thicker front anti roll-bar - 1.4mm instead of 1.2mm.

In my view the most dissapointing part of the car are the shocks and as such I have ordered the K-factory ones as an option. The standard ones are too short to run associated springs (which every racer has in their pitbox!) but more annoyingly I have managed the strip the threads in two shock caps now (they just dont locate and screw on nicely at all).

The E4FS Foam Spec Car coming at the end of this month looks to be a good bet - I am very tempted....!

[Thomas P]

Ive just saved app 110 dolars and just let my friend CNC of the top "stop" for the collar screw(where the tiny o-ring are next to the cap) that one aint nesasery,and i can nowlower my ridhight. havnt any probs with the shocks, maybe a real fine sandinpaper on the top of the threads..?

I removed my swaybars totaly, less wight, lighter oil,harder springs, to bad it TR more easy if ya hit a curb badley, due the harder springs...

my next upgrade is plastic pulleys from the foamSpec..

[TRF_Tastic]

I ran the E4 for the first time today in anger, the E4 was awesome and I put it 2nd on the grid in the A final. Total revelation in comparision to the 416 that I am also ruuning the corner speed on the E4 is reallt something to behold tighter and faster was my motto of the day and boy did it do it.


Jimmy get that car built and run it, it is way cool and way fast, if not give me a shout and I'll take it off your hands.

[JonB]

Hi, do you have a set-up sheet from today please - Im assuming it was rubber on carpet? Sounds like you had a good result.

[TRF_Tastic]

Hi Jon, drop me an email to leigh@leighandlucy.co.uk and as soon as I have a setup sheet I will mail it over to you.

[Thomas P]

Anyone still running E4?..i just received mine "again" :D:D... Setup is done with a TC SPEC - 4.5 to begin with. Still 1 license P to get my B-license to run TC Modified.

[JonB]

Hi Thomas - Im still running mine indoors on carpet and getting close to a set-up that works well. As soon as I will have one I will post it.

[Thomas P]

good jon.let me know when ya done :)

[Thomas P]

Finaly:sneaky:...the car is done...have a Ko 2413 here to..

Lightweight spool by JP-Products
Xray Shafts around
TC SPEC
4.5
Teambrood and TSR cells


Special belt´s wider then the "wide".. this one fill up the whloe pulley..no slip here..

Front:

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o306/gabbax_74/teammagic%20e4/S5031386.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o306/gabbax_74/teammagic%20e4/S5031388.jpg


Rear

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o306/gabbax_74/teammagic%20e4/S5031389.jpg

[samd]

Are these any good?? The first E4 i mean, not the later RS or FS versions. Im quite tempted with one.