What do you 10th offroaders think of us 18th microers?

[c0sie]

Serious question here..

Im keen to know exactly what you 10th offroad guys'n'gals think of the offroad micro scale scene, especially the National Series and the major one-off events we do.

My aim, as always, is to promote the micro scene and section to the best of my abilities so gauging how the 'outsiders' see the micro scene could potentially help us grow.
--

And, how many of you reading this know that one of your 10th offroad types is our current reigning National Champion? (Craig Harris)

[Lee]

I think your just like us but smaller :p:woot:

But on a serious note, i think the micro scene will always struggle to get away from the toy image, i know they are not, but i think others see them as toys where as a bigger car may be seen as a race car. The other side of theings is that you are limited in a way to indoor events as i would imagine it is difficult to host an 18th event outdoor, unless its an all astro track and it has a very flexible layout to enable you to create a technical track for that size of car.
:thumbsup:

[blitzboy]

having been a 1/10 driver for the last year i can now say that im proud to be the owner of a 1/18 scale blaze and i thought 1/10 off road was fun ,,, these are mental and just as fun if not more plus with the sign of the times and these babies are the way forward im even considering doing cardiff too hehehehe ,,, plus the forum is the bomb and all the guys are really helpfull ,,, body paint ,cosie tom bowman , mr speedy and dan osbourne cherrs for the help so far guys ,big up the micro scene :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[c0sie]

I agree with you there Lee. Even after 3.5 years of doing this I still have to get over the 'toy' hurdle.

As far as racing outside goes, its never really been tried in any huge numbers, but I think thats mainly due to the size as you've said.

We live indoors for the time being atleast... :)

The hardest part for me is trying to get major manufacturers and distributors in the UK to get over the toy thing aswell.
We had a tonne of support when it all first kicked off but its slowly dwindled down, althoguh saying that some of our most loyal retail supporters still stand by us and help promote us as much as they can.

We also had a nice amount of 10th guys attend the last National series thanks to the publicity that Jimmy'n'Vicky have give the micros by writing us some brilliant race reports on the site...but im greedy and want more followers lol

Thanks for the reply though :)

[blitzboy]

I think your just like us but smaller :p:woot:

But on a serious note, i think the micro scene will always struggle to get away from the toy image, i know they are not, but i think others see them as toys where as a bigger car may be seen as a race car. The other side of theings is that you are limited in a way to indoor events as i would imagine it is difficult to host an 18th event outdoor, unless its an all astro track and it has a very flexible layout to enable you to create a technical track for that size of car.
:thumbsup:

they re just as good indoor lee as out door , im currently planning my revenge on the touring car scene with my blaze and brushless :thumbsup::p

[Chris Doughty]

I have seen pictures from most of the tracks from last years national series and I would have liked to have raced on most of them.

the biggest thing I found when going 'into' and unknown class like micro is knowing what stuff to buy or get to be 'fast'

if you want to dabble at 8th Rallycross, you know you need a .21 engine
10th scale off-road or TC, or even 12th scale, you know you need a 'good' 540 motor, you can find a list of them on the BRCA website.

the micro scene seems to be a bit unknown when it comes to motors/batteries and stuff.

there are places out there to find the information and ask, but it is not presented to you.

things do seem to be changing though, its certainly possible to buy an RTR LRP or FTX car, use the stock motor that comes in the kit with a LiPo and be fast, and the car is great too!

I actually like the indoor tracks and don't think they would be half as good as they are if it was outdoors.

[DCM]

the only aspect I don't like about it, is that the cars are not really 'equivalent' in durability and off-the-shelf performance.

[blitzboy]

forgot to add this but at one of our regional meeting paul at eastrax ran his blaze in open class with a few non point s running drivers and he lasted the whole 5 minutes and mullered half the drivers ,, eastrax would be a good venue for some 1/18 fun me thinks :p

[c0sie]

Both valid points from Chris and Steve, and Chris' point is one that I never thought of.

Maybe its the fault of the organisers for arranging 'crazy' tracks that test the durability of the cars, and then maybe it is that the cars are put us as 'play things' more than racers.

Nevertheless, there seems to be a very small change in recent releases with the new LRP Shark Pro and Shark ST coming 99% race ready, and the XRAY M18T nearly ready to race all bar some decent shocks.

The strange thing to me though is that in the USA there is a HUGE micro following, with their Micro Nationals easily seeing 280+ drivers, and major support for the main manufacturers, yet we never see and kind of major race spec releases from those people?

Wierd huh..

[Northy]

I really do fancy a go at this, but all the Nationals and events seem to be "down south" really :( No micro racing scene at all up here :cry:

G

[Northy]

Good point by CD on the equipment thing, I wouldn't have a clue. Did the 2wd series ever get supported properly?

G

[Chrislong]

In terms of racing, its ace and an attractive class.

In terms of cars. I don't consider the options to be very good - as the ones currently available in the UK need plenty of mods to be competitive (and to be taken away from being toys). The AE 18th scales look to be the business, but experience (and general opinion from the people I ask before I chose this time around) tells me they're not what they're cracked up to.

For the class to take off, what it needs is a car to be out, competitive from the box but not RTR - not just another toy with a few alloy parts pretending - with no need to change shells, find the right wheels and tyres, fit the better shocks etc etc. so its just a case of choose car, choose running gear, assemble, setup and race.

The LRP Shark 18 Monster Pro looks to tick all but the bodyshell boxes - hope other chassis follow suit :thumbsup:

What IS attractive, is Lipo being allowed...... :thumbsup:

[blitzboy]

more north than me mate but im still having a go mate and you d rock with this northy

[Northy]

I'm not having a pop at all, I'm just telling you what is putting me off having a go :D

G

[blitzboy]

i was nt either mr north and your right about what to buy i ve had mine a week and run it at one club meeting but i ve just spent £70.00 and now i ve got 2 lipos a brushless and a fully hopped up ftx so not bad i think :thumbsup:

[c0sie]

Hey G,

The problem we have is that our main following as such is Southern based. We have however got rounds at Macclesfield, Leighton Buzzard and Tamworth which are all kinda out of our 'Southern' catchment area, but whether they will be fully supported remains to be seen.

Id love nothing more than to have a round at some of your Northern indoor clubs that host all the indoor 10th stuff up your way, but its just a case of whether we will get the support from the travelling racers to make it worthwhile.

As far as 2WD goes, this year will be the first year for the dedicated 2WD class...only time will tell :)

[blitzboy]

hi cosie im gonna be flying my flag for micros in the mid east region and hopehully get a heat or two going at my club too already planning and thinkin about jumps and lumps and corners to bluid and the halls a good size too with a stage ,,,

[twisty]

1/18 is great,it lead the way with brushless and Lipo`s for a couple of years IMO cheap-ish and top fun.
I really dig the new 1/12 Tam tech gear on road stuff to,they are very lively when brushlessd"n"lipo`d up and the scale body details are stunning.
I think the micro scene is slightly ahead of it`s time here in the UK but we will catch up and interest will increase.

[frogger]

The micro scene beats most other scales out there for guys who'd like their kids involved. The micro scene is very open to having kids around and letting kids have a go both at racing and marshalling. It's the single reason I started focussing so much more on micro's. That's not to say it isn't furiously fast and competitive, come and watch an A final at the Nationals if you don't believe me. :D

Also we are not all too fussed about over governance (...although I see that making Brits uncomfortable all over the place because there are discussions about new rules all the time :)). All the rules fits on not much more than a single A4 page. Maybe we should make up 20 more pages of rules before people will start taking it seriously.

Ask my wife and all the people I work with and to them 10th scale and 8th scale cars, anything driven by a remote control for that matter are all toys too so it's nothing more than an perception\education\marketing issue.

From what I have seen in the UK people are more likely to stick to what they know whereas the Americans are not shy about wanting new toys.

We should stop fussing about getting existing racers to cross over to our beloved classes and get some new blood into the RC in general. We are threatened much more by the dreaded PS3 enemy. :bored:

[Welshy40]

Serious question here..

Im keen to know exactly what you 10th offroad guys'n'gals think of the offroad micro scale scene, especially the National Series and the major one-off events we do.

My aim, as always, is to promote the micro scene and section to the best of my abilities so gauging how the 'outsiders' see the micro scene could potentially help us grow.
--

And, how many of you reading this know that one of your 10th offroad types is our current reigning National Champion? (Craig Harris)

Harris is the micro champ, heard that a while ago, but think that this scale is more like an RC that you'd give your kids rather than use it yourself. Not for me. I still think Craig is better with a 1/10th buggy. He drove his TRX1 to tq at the worksop indoor finals (way back in theearly 90's with a normal front spring on one side and a rear on the other (on the front end) but he just drove it perfectly in qualifying. He shouldnt have changed the spring before the finals as he would have won it instead of finishing fourth (I think it was fourth anyway).

[Northy]

W-Mag? :eh?:

G

[Mini-JT]

....

[frogger]

but think that this scale is more like an RC that you'd give your kids rather than use it yourself

Have you ever even seen one we race with!?

Graphite, carbon fibre, sensored Novak brushless, lipo, Schumacher yellow Mini pins, carbon steel drive shafts and ball diffs, alloy suspension...... Not exactly ToysRUs Nikko cars. :yawn:

[DCM]

Have you ever even seen one we race with!?

Graphite, carbon fibre, sensored Novak brushless, lipo, Schumacher yellow Mini pins, carbon steel drive shafts and ball diffs, alloy suspension...... Not exactly ToysRUs Nikko cars. :yawn:

yes he has, but you outline the issue with the kits themselves there... you buy a Vendetta ST or Blaze and got to add driveshafts, ball diffs, shock mounts and towers etc etc... that has been the biggest dissapointment.

CML have the opportunity to, if they want, order a spec'd up car from Duratrax but don't, so it leaves you to source everything else, spending more on upgrades than the kit itself, this is what has put me off, cause unless you source a used and upgraded car, to be competitive, you got a bit of a bill on your hands.

[frogger]

How many people buy their 10th scale cars and race them out of the box without upgrades? 18th scale cars, even hopped up to the hilt are still cheaper than 10th scale cars not only to build to run and maintain.

We have been able to buy the LRP Shark Monster Factory Team for quite a while in the UK. That has every available hopup for £160. There is also a new LRP distributor which means the kits will become widely available all over the UK through your favourite shop. DMS will stock them too in all shapes and sizes.

Xray M18 carbon kits and Associated RC18B FT kits have been available for ever too. Exotek have been making carbon race chassis for well over a year. Rob Knight put a stock RC18 on the national podium and Mark Stiles put a XRay M18 on the podium so you don't need a Blaze to be competitive (although I think everyone agrees it's the better race car).

The issue is not availability, cost, quality of the kits, it's what you know and what you are used to and how open minded you are for giving it a go. Who cares what size the car is, you are still standing on a rostrum driving it with your thumbs making it go round corners and over jumps. You are still arguing setups and tyres choices and have your own dirty little secrets that you don't share with nobody. :thumbsup:

Saying these cars are just toys for kids are no different to my wife saying my B44 with Novak GTB and Trakpower saddles is just a toy for a kid. I guess both are right and wrong in the same sense. :D

[DCM]

but the RC18T isn't that good a car though.

What it really needs is for a company to make a serious car, and not an adaptation of something else. Thats what would turn this class round. Thats how I see it.

The problem with the cars now, that are cheap, is you are not upgrading for performance, you are upgrading for reliability.

[Northy]

How many people buy their 10th scale cars and race them out of the box without upgrades?

Er..... most of them:

B4
XXX-CR
X11
XX-4
D4
501X
B44

All competative out of the box :eh?:

G

[frogger]

G - I didn't ask how many cars are competitive out of the box, I asked how many people race their cars out of the box without upgrades.

I can't speak for the other makes but I own a B4 and a B44 and it seems most people at the very least run Losi shocks on them right? Or how about some bling race winning screws and whitie o-rings!? :D Most racers don't give a monkey's about the cost (to a point obviously - I mean are Losi shocks really that much better to justify that cost if Mr Martin can win a national with Associated shocks on his B44?) or the reason for the upgrade as long as they end up with a good reliable car that is race worthy at the end of it.

DCM - in the US the only cars on podiums are the XRay M18 and the Associated's. They don't believe much in the Vendetta's there for some reason so they are very good cars in the right hands. These cars are very robust and the parts that break (and all cars break!) are cheap to replace.

This is not a what's better or worse thread so that's not the point of my posts. :) It seems to me that a lot of 10th scalers are under the impression that they are cheap crappy things that don't last 5 minutes when that can't be further from the truth :eh?: so it's worth driving home if for the very least to spark interest so that some people can at least come and have a look or think twice about micro cars and the micro race scene.

Where else are you going to find what i would consider what could potentially be your best bit of practise during the winter season for next's years 10th nationals!? :thumbsup:

[ralphee]

I have to say i do feel the "toy" vibe, most of these chassis' as an RTR package need a bit doing to them from reading up before taking my plunge into micro!
Accessibility is also pretty low if you want a serious from the box track killer, they all need some kind of upgrading, Mini T's seem fragile and do not jump too well?
RC18's seem to suffer the same trait and i see many go the Exotek route?

I do feel 1/10 still has the edge in this area, and Micro is slowly coming up, but i do feel the Q needs to be asked, where are all these manufacturers with a full comp buggy? HPI Brama anyone?...too corny!

I think a full on mini XXX or even Mini B44 etc, would do a lot for the class, not everybody wants to run a Blaze, or a truck.

I remember way back i ran 2WD on road, and the only chassis on the circuit was a Serpent lol, and it was kind of boring not to see other cars, like i did in touring, even back then there were so many chassis' to choose from HPI Pro 2, TC3, Street Weapon and onto the XXXS, Schumacher, M1's, even Tamiya's ran at my local onroad circuit (Bedworth) etc.

Micro is so cool, and im not bagging on it, its a way forward to another good class of indoor racing (one that i cant wait to join in on) but it needs a big jolt, have somebody like Losi or even Yokomo jump in with some form of full on bad ass chassis with durability, and top flite performance from the box maybe?

lee

[DCM]

G - I didn't ask how many cars are competitive out of the box, I asked how many people race their cars out of the box without upgrades.

I can't speak for the other makes but I own a B4 and a B44 and it seems most people at the very least run Losi shocks on them right? Or how about some bling race winning screws and whitie o-rings!? :D Most racers don't give a monkey's about the cost (to a point obviously - I mean are Losi shocks really that much better to justify that cost if Mr Martin can win a national with Associated shocks on his B44?) or the reason for the upgrade as long as they end up with a good reliable car that is race worthy at the end of it.

DCM - in the US the only cars on podiums are the XRay M18 and the Associated's. They don't believe much in the Vendetta's there for some reason so they are very good cars in the right hands. These cars are very robust and the parts that break (and all cars break!) are cheap to replace.

This is not a what's better or worse thread so that's not the point of my posts. :) It seems to me that a lot of 10th scalers are under the impression that they are cheap crappy things that don't last 5 minutes when that can't be further from the truth :eh?: so it's worth driving home if for the very least to spark interest so that some people can at least come and have a look or think twice about micro cars and the micro race scene.

Where else are you going to find what i would consider what could potentially be your best bit of practise during the winter season for next's years 10th nationals!? :thumbsup:

I don't know many who run Losi shocks on a B4, but thats personal chioce, but you are kinda missing the point we are trying to make.

In 10th off-road, you can buy a kit, race and have fun and only break if you have a bad off. With most of the micro cars, before you can 'race' them, they need some investment, and people just don't want to have to do that, they want to buy that car rear to race.

Blaze, to run and be reliable, the minimum is driveshafts and rear diff to a ball diff, just so you are not shearing driveshafts on landing, etc...

IF one of the bigger companies brought out a car that is ready for the track, I am sure more would take it up.

[mole2k]

I think part of the issue with having to upgrade the car to make it competitive is that it plays into the toy aspect. It's a toy that you have to upgrade to make it into a race machine. If you had specific race machines that you buy and are competitive out of the box then it would do a lot to lift the image to that of a more serious nature.

Sure a lot of people have small ugprades on their 1/10th cars my impression from the 1/18th is you significantly upgrade the cars to make them more reliable and faster. That to me sounds more along the lines of buying durga and a load of upgrades to make it on pace with a 501x. The fact that the upgraded car and the top spec racer might be just as quick on the track is irrelevant, it's not the end result but the method of getting there.

Also im sure there would be be the fear that somebody might buy the wrong upgrades and therefore not be competitive before they started.

[DCM]

yeah, but the thing with the durga, is kit spec it will still be competitive, ask Jimmy

[mole2k]

I was a bit reluctant to use the durga or the b-max as they are new exceptions to the rules but I couldnt think of any other budget car that would be properly competitive with extensive upgrading in 1/10th. I had thought of the dark impact but I dont think the fully upgraded versions of it would be as quick as race bred cars.

[Danosborne6661]

Good thinking on putting this thread up Cris, its interesting to know what people think!

I've raced most classes, micros still top the tables for me ;) The insane tracks, cheap racing and friendly atmosphere is just unbeatable! I've seen that a few people are saying that the cars need alot of upgrading and durability is a problem. I wouldn't say so, with the LRP Shark ST you don't need any upgrades and its all good! Not that its been that easy to get hold of but this car will now be distributed over here in the UK from September onwards :O As for durability these things do take a beating yet 99% of the time come off fine, i've never seen a car take so much abuse and not break!

Keep 'em coming as its a good read :)

[Northy]

G - I didn't ask how many cars are competitive out of the box, I asked how many people race their cars out of the box without upgrades.

I can't speak for the other makes but I own a B4 and a B44 and it seems most people at the very least run Losi shocks on them right? Or how about some bling race winning screws and whitie o-rings!? :D Most racers don't give a monkey's about the cost (to a point obviously - I mean are Losi shocks really that much better to justify that cost if Mr Martin can win a national with Associated shocks on his B44?) or the reason for the upgrade as long as they end up with a good reliable car that is race worthy at the end of it.

I can probably count on one hand the number of B4's running Losi shocks at a 10th National tbh.

Most cars are fairly standard to be honest I would say. Certainly no need to buy driveshafts, diffs and the like to make the 5 minute mark :woot:

People do like to buy parts, but you certainly don't have to :thumbsup:

G

[mole2k]

I would love to give micro racing a go but there isnt any interest in it here.


... I've seen that a few people are saying that the cars need alot of upgrading and durability is a problem. I wouldn't say so, with the LRP Shark ST you don't need any upgrades and its all good! Not that its been that easy to get hold of but this car will now be distributed over here in the UK from September onwards

As that gets more known im sure it will help the class as im a complete outsider to it and I've always got the impression that the cars needed significant upgrades to become raceworthy which would put quite a few people off im sure.

[ralphee]

Id say the one thing that held me back getting into Micro, was the fact i hate trucks, and its pretty much all that was on offer.

The only decent buggy was the Blaze, and TBH it didnt do anything for me.
Hence i had to wait and be patient to track down something from the Xray/Team Bluegroove converted side of the market...and sadly, thats really does get expensive.

I reckon, get a couple of the big guns making true scaled down 2WD/4WD buggies we all know and love, and itll be even bigger than it is now, and still, i cant wait to get my first meet under my belt!

lee

[frogger]

Still don't see what the big deal is? £60 for a Blaze kit, Blaze drive shafts are £12-14 for 2 drive shafts, £12-14/carbon steel ball diff.

Compared to £60+ for a single front one way for my B44. How many B44 shock towers, top decks shock shafts and front arms have I and other people broken for the car to last 5 mins? I seem remembering having to buy proper AC shock towers before my kit shock towers stopped breaking :D So not that many people run Losi shocks on a B4, does anyone run them on their B44's then and does that make it less of a valid point? :rolleyes:

Seems to me you are all convinced that 10th scalers are the only real proper race cars then :( Better focus our efforts somewhere else Cris :thumbsup: or would you feel better if a 18th scale kit cost £200+ and was proper race ready? :woot:

[bondy]

Micros look cool and are way quick but ! The reason I do 1/8th is I got big fingers ! Feet ! Belly ! etc etc ! 1/18th 1.5mm screws just to fiddly !:p

[DCM]

no, what we are saying is, that for most of us, 18th scale is some fun, but we like to race that fun.... so what looks initialy as a cheap scale, isn't..... thats why it would benefit from a car that is good out of the box. So you don't have to buy the upgrades if the stock items were up to it... I think the first day I run the Blaze, I did a plastic driveshaft every run... then when I swapped to proper driveshafts, then I had to replace the rear diff.... then the plastic clips that hold the top of the shocks on started to pop.... always chasing reliability, whereas a one-way is just a tuning option.

I would happily race one, if it was reliable, had decent diffs and slipper clutch.

[mole2k]

It's the fact I would buy the car then have to buy driveshafts, then a diff, then something else.

I mean sure for somebody who's raced micro's for a while they can buy the car and all the bits needed to be competitive and reliable but to a complete outsider they would have to do loads of research to make their car competitive and reliable. I would much rather pay whatever it took to get a fully functioning car that I know I can race out of the box without any difficulty and be on pace with the other cars. Buying a car that is sub-race standard and buying the bits to make it race standard seems like such a waste, it would be cheaper if the car came with the upgraded bits in the long run.

[Northy]

99% of B44's run AE shocks too :eh?: And the 'team' guys say not to run the 1 way front diff. :D

The point is just about every 10th kit I can think of is competative out of the box, infact some of the Losi guys HAD TO run it box stock - in the contract.

Anyway, I'd love a Blaze, and had a look at one in a shop yesterday, but if I got one I'd have no idea where to get the hop up bits from.

G

[Gaz_Stanton]

Got to agree with the previous comments about micro being difficult to get into. I was looking into micros about this time last year but didn't get one because it didn't seem worth it. (in my opinion)

The 1/10th market has developed well over the years so we are now in a good place where most kits are fully competitive out of the box. With the latest kits it will be the driver that is the limiting factor and not the car, right up to Worlds level. (B44 was world champion with AE shocks & front diff) To me it looks like the micro kits are a new product and are where the 1/10th kits were about 15 years ago(think buying a Pro-Cat and then having to buy a carbon chassis, MMS diffs, wasp belts, kyosho shocks etc, etc to be competitive).

The other thing that i don't like, which may be controversial, is the lack of basic rules spoiling the micros. :thumbdown:
If you have a micro buggy class, make sure it stays a micro buggy class. If people are racing they improve the cars to go faster, and basic physics says a micro buggy will be quicker with a wider track and bigger wheels. So we have people using lowered truck chassis with 1/10 touring wheels. This then gives odd cartoon looking cars that are wide with big wheels but a disproportionately short wheelbase. Looking at these cars it looks like they need a longer wheelbase for stability so that will be the next performance trick, if not done already. So you end up with a micro car + wider track + bigger wheels + longer wheelbase which is just a bigger car, so why not just run a bigger 1/10th to start with! :yawn:

Why don't the drivers ranting about other classes not understanding the micros do something about it. How about putting together a guide to the latest/best micro buggies and what mods needed to make them last the race and what mods are desireable to imrove performance. I'm sure a well written guide telling established 1/10th & 1/8th off road drivers what they would need to get a micro running over the winter would boost numbers. :)

[twisty]

I think most of you are missing the idea of micro,i think it is here to encourage new blood into the sport without huge costs,if things are kept pretty standard then the field is fairly even.If people want more competition and/or they decide to continue with the sport ,they might move on to 1/10 or 1/8 or even (heaven forbid)Largescale :p I have all scales ,on and off roaders and they all have thier place.
Micro HAS to be a winner in the long term because you need less space and effort (lazy gits setting up and putting away) to build a track "to race" look at the W.O.R.M videos of how much fun can be had in a small space or hall.Am thinking school hall size venues are a lot cheaper to hire than a sports hall,the whole thing can be run more economically.
No one wants to take anyone away from other scales,it is more to complement whats here already and encourage new folks in ,who might really have to watch the pennys.
I just like racing things with wheels :thumbsup:

[dave p hall]

let's be honest,you can spend load's of money on any class,scale:)unless specific rules are run:eh?:i had a go with a blaze:yawn:would never race one,too small:yawn:

[frogger]

Would be interesting to get Mr Harris or Mr Doughty's opinions in here :)

[Body Paint]

Cue Mr.Harris :thumbsup:

I can see where the 10th ers are coming from. If you'd asked me this 2 years ago I wouldn't even have read this thread. After seeing the videos posted on here by Dan O I went to see them in action at Weston and I havn't looked back, they are fantastic fun and compared to 10th they are like racing for free.

Up until know it has been hard to find cars, speedos and lipos but that is all about to change.

1/ Spire Model Distribution are about to get stock of the Ultimate Micro Off Roader, the LRP Shark Monster Pro, soon to be available at all your LHS's. It will cost under £160 and has all the hop ups included, the only thing you need to make it into the same car I race is a £7 buggy bodyshell and a different set of tyres (lets face it when did you last use the tyres that came with your kit?)

2/ Novak produce the fantastic Sensored Brushless System again available at your LHS

3/ Trakpower now have available a 1600mah LiPo

Job done!

Hmm, I think a "micros for dummies" coming up with pictures setups etc. Would that help anyone?

[Oscar]

Ok, as you probably know already I'm one of the "10th" guys who did a few micro nationals and the micro challenge event too.

I like the relaxed ruling system, enough to keep it fair without being too serious in my opinion.

I like the fact it's possible to assemble a track indoors in a small area, it opens up opportunities for new clubs/venues more than larger classes.

I like the fact there seems to be a few younger people racing, without these the sport would die.

I like the fact the cost of cars and parts is reasonable, especially tyres (I ran the same set for the whole season and could probably do another season again:o )

I wasn't overly troubled by the mechanical failures I experienced, but they were noticably more frequent than what I would expect in 1/10th

And finally all the venues are quite "southern" for me, but you can't host events local to everyone:p

I think the inexperience of the new micro seen is noticable if you compare to the long established 10th class, but I fully expect both manufacturers and organisers will rapidly catch up.

Hope to see you 18th guys again sometime over this season:D;)

[ashleyb4]

You can get a competative 2wd rolling chassis for around 120 pound or cheaper if you get a second hand mini t.

A

[frogger]

If you buy a LRP Shark you can even use your favourite 1/10th scale servo. :)

As Craig says, same set of tyres for a whole season. Beat that with a pair of Schumy Yellow Mini Spikes :p :D

[frogger]

Oh and this is what one looks like for those that haven't seen one

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4192/dsc1144fi0.jpg

[Tim Ward]

My local club races mainly 1/18th Micro. I race 1/18th, 1/10th and 1/8th buggies.

I personally run an RC18FT. Apart from a stronger front shock tower it is pretty stock and works well once tuned to the track.

We put some fairly harsh features into our tracks and I always find the RC18 very strong.

Many of the impacts bourne by the 1/18ths would knock a corner off my B4!

I suggest talking Worksop into having a heat of 1/18th at their winter indoor series and we can show them what 1/18th can do!

[c0sie]

John - Nice to read your thoughts from what you saw at last years Nationals and UKMC3 event you attended with Team oOple :)

Gaz - Our section has never been a 'Micro Buggy' scale, its a 'Micro' scale, and we chose that word over the likes of 1/18th or 1/16th to allow all cars that fitted within a certain sizing to compete.

For those of you who think that EVERY micro scale car needs a wage packet spent on it to be compeptive, you are wrong. Im glad this thread has got into a nice civil debate as its good to see why people choose NOT to buy a micro or racea micro National, ut as has been proven by Craig, you can buy a £160ish LRP Shark ST and other than foams and electrics not need to buy a single thing to make it race ready. It comes with alloy shocks, steel driveshafts, steel ball diffs and an extremely strong PBS system.

I would urge any of you who looked into the micro scene EARLY last year to reconsider and look around at how our section has progressed since the start of the Nationals.

I can honestly say I take alot of inspiration from the "10th Offroad" scene, allbeit the indoor element, but ever the less out cars are kinda like your offspring in a way lol.

As has been mentioned before, we now have a Novak sensored brushless system, comparable to the GTB, doing the rounds. LiPo's are common place and avaliable widely, foams can last upto and over 6 months a set if looked after (just basic checks to make sure the bead is still attached to the wheel).

The progress we've seen over the last year is very healthy, and whoever mentioned the 'Dummys guide to Micros'..we HAVE taken note of that and are working to make that happen, so thanks for the idea :)

I appreciate that a majority of micros are released and promoted as toys, but for those of us dedicated racers there is a world of seriousness (and huge fun) that hopefully will start to take the edge off the "toy" label :)

Thanks for all your comments and thoughts though. As ive said, it is good to hear reasons for and against the micro scene :)

[Chris Doughty]

I have been in and out of Micro/18th scale racing ever since the Mini-T first appeared.

and as has been said before, in the last few years, maybe even just the last month (LRP/SMD distribution) things have moved on SO much in terms of whats available to buy as a race car.

I remember back in the day of the Mini-T and the fact you had to carry 4 sets of diff gears because getting a 5 minute run without blowing the diff gears was close to impossible.

those cars are still around, but they are much more reliable versions of them.

and the LRP Shark ST and FTX Blaze on the scene are perfectly capable and tough cars.

the FTX blaze is made reliable with driveshafts and diffs, same for the stock LRP Shark

the LRP Shark 18 'Monster' Factory Team version is well over spec'ed - when I got mine they didn't have any FT ones in stock so they sent me the stock one with a few option parts, its ace!
back to the point... is possible to buy a car that comes out of the box ready to win national races.

the good thing about the LRP or FTX cars is the amount of options you have for servos, the thing that used to bug me about Micro racing was that my 10th scale cars had super-quick 0.07 second servos in them and would feel as sharp as a knife.... my micro car had a tiny HiTec thing in it that would barely reach full lock it... But now the same servo fits in the LRP or FTX car that my 10th and 8th scale cars use, if you really wanted you can run a 0.07 second 2123 KO FET servo in your micro, the same one you take out of your 10th scale or even your 8th scale Buggy or Snoring car.

the lack of control tire used to put me off or made me feel like I could go to a meeting and not have the best tire and therefore not have a chance, but there seems to be a now common standard foam tire that lasts for ever, much like in 10th scale you go to worksop indoors and know its schum yellow mini-pins.

as has been said before, electronics have come a long way in micro racing recently, sesored brushless speedo/motor... however, the Kit LRP or FTX motor can still be competitive, much like 10th off-road, its easy to over-power the cars.

and the LRP or FTX car is pretty damn strong, we always give them a good ramp around or bash at the end of a club night at Wycombe, but never need to fit it afterwards.

I do think that there still is a feeling about micro racing that it can't be someones 'Primary' racing class - not sure why but I do feel the same a bit, however, during the winter, I would certainly recomend picking one up and blasting it around your local track or the Micro National series.

[lochness42]

I think that 1:18th is great class for newcomers. I raced both 1:18 TC (for about 5 years?) and buggy (this winter). I decided this summer not to race TC as long as it came to overpowering them (Doughty is right) and whole run it's hard to know what car will do (I call it uncontrolled rocket). I have buggy just for fun but it's great. I got second hand slightly tuned Anderson MB4 from Canada (same as LRP Shark or Duratrax Vendetta). First thing I broke was graphite front shock tower (alloy is better). I also noticed after last cleaning of car that standart alloy drive shafts are better to change. They melted a little bit (alloy on alloy makes too much friction - last owner didn't think about that) so I had to change fronts to steel one (I got one pair with car) and made one "good" pair from rest alloys. I lubricated them with graphite grease - I hope it'll help. I use standart Anderson 380 motor and standart diffs (I have one ball diff new in bag) and I was able to be competetive to faster Mamba brushless. I also use one set of foams that doesn't look used even after whole winter series.

It's nice class but bigger looks like more fun. I'm waiting for 1:8 electric class because here aren't many tracks dedicated for 1:10 and rest is really rough. For winter indoor series it's great choice.

[Dreadstar]

Well,over the winter months,my club,(CSOR),is starting up a Maverick Atom championship.The rules will be,that you can only run the car as it comes out of the box,no hop-ups or mods allowed,and at a penny under 70.00,you really can't complain.It comes in 2 flavours,buggy and truggy,both models use the same chassis and running gear,the only difference between them is the tyres and bodyshell.They can be bought from Mirage Racing,they also have the RRCI review posted on their page.We are really looking forward to trying these little things out.:woot:

[Chrislong]

Just done round 1 of the Micro nationals, and really really enjoyed it. For me this is the class id recommend to anyone starting out on a budget, and certainly would not classify them as toys - these things have come on so far since the Mini-T and stock 18T. The LRP Shark Monster pro is just a beast and is a fantastic piece of kit from the box, along with Novak Mongoose, Trakpower Lipo and KO 2143 servo - what a tool!!!!

:thumbsup: Expect to see more of me at anything 18th. :thumbsup:

[Chris Doughty]

they look pretty ace too!

http://www.doughtyuk.net/images/S18/IMG00374.jpg

[Lee]

How did you get on chris
:confused:

[_sleigh_]

Pretty good from what I heard. Last report I had, he was running 4th in qualifying. :thumbsup:

[_sleigh_]

they look pretty ace too!

Now just to convince them to do a "red" version.

[GRIFF55]

MMMM RED:drool:. Any results kicking around?

[Body Paint]

Big Ben should have the results later on this week.

Qualifying, from my memory was.

Craig Harris
Tony Bishop
Chris Bottle
Chris Long
Dan Osborne
Steve Davis
Gavin Stevenson
??
Steve Biscoe
Simon Osborne

Not sure what the finishing order was but I was first :thumbsup:

[ace028]

I have a quick sort of off topic question, I live in the US, and the ftx blaze looks identical to the duratrax vendetta, and the LRP shark looks just like the duratrax vendetta, and here in US LRP products are from Team Associated, so is the LRP shark from associated under a different brand name, or what? I am confused.

BTW, just bought a RC18b for my wife, and it will be nice to not have to drive to the track to run my 10th scale when I can drive my wifes buggy around and have fun at home, then also race it when ever we go to a track that is for mini's, I know that my 10th cant handle the abuse that the mini's take.

[Mini-JT]

....

[Chrislong]

How did you get on chris
:confused:

Hi Lee, went very well. Qualified 4th and finished 7th. In leg 1 of the A I lost brakes and plodded around for 9th, then in leg 2 got it home in 5th. Its really frantic and the start of the finals are a bit mad while somehow being clean, but one wide line and your last, then the next corner gain 4 positions again, mad, love it.

Ran the car as it left the box too, so have some improvements to make to it for round 2. Its going to rock :thumbsup:

[GRIFF55]

Nice one guys, I've been thinking of getting a micro for winter and this shark is making it sooooo close to buying one. Bish went well too:thumbsup:, welsh thumbs win again!!! Nice one Harris.
Are there any hop ups really needed or can they be run box stock?

[_sleigh_]

Pretty sure Bish ran his box stock.

[Chris Doughty]

Box Stock LRP Shark Monster Factory Team is just the ticket.

+ a buggy body if you fancy that

[_sleigh_]

Anyone know the rules as far as LiPo and Brushless?

[Chris Doughty]

LiPo is allowed if you have a speedo with LiPo cut-off (2S 7.4v)

brushless is allowed, the rules are based upon motor dimentions I believe, most of the common brushless systems for 18th scale are legal

[Lee]

so if i wanted a shark and to be competitive, what battery, motor, speedo combo would i need. :)

[Chris Doughty]

LRP VTEC1800 LiPo
FTX 'Pro' 32000 brushed motor - a massive £12 :rolleyes:
a 'good' brushed speedo with LiPo cut-off

[Lee]

Brushed :o:o

I`m not sure if my lathe got nicked ill have to check :(

I`m liking these prices though :thumbsup:

When you say a good speedo do you mean like a quantum 2 or are there special dinky speedos for these ickle cars :)

[Body Paint]

LRP VTEC1800 LiPo
FTX 'Pro' 32000 brushed motor - a massive £12 :rolleyes:
a 'good' brushed speedo with LiPo cut-off

Chris is wrong

Trakpower 1600mah Lipo :thumbsup:
FTX 'Pro' 32000 brushed motor
a brushed speedo with LiPo cut-off 'or' you can use a lipo cut-off device such as the Novak smart stop.

There is just one class this year for 4wd cars so lipo / nimh / brushed and brushless all run together.

The top 5 qualifiers Sunday all had different combinations proving that any electric setup is competitive.

In the top 5 there was brushed, sensored brushless, sensorless brushless, lipos between 950mah and 1800mah and nimhs so the choice is yours.

I'm doing a build guide in the next week or two covering car and electrics, so hopefully that will help.

If anyone wants to know anything specific please feel free to PM me, I'm happy to help.

[Body Paint]

Brushed :o:o

I`m not sure if my lathe got nicked ill have to check :(

I`m liking these prices though :thumbsup:

When you say a good speedo do you mean like a quantum 2 or are there special dinky speedos for these ickle cars :)

I run brushed as does Tony Bishop.

No need for skimming, motors last about 4 to 8 months of racing at least one meeting a week and then throw it away.

QC2 would be perfect (though you would need lipo cut-off device for running lipo)

[peetbee]

I'm doing a build guide in the next week or two covering car and electrics, so hopefully that will help.
Don't forget servo recommendations!

[_sleigh_]

I'd say a servo is a must :p

[GRIFF55]

Right then, where's my wallet! What wheels and tyres are the most commonly used?
Has anyone got a list of diddy events for this winter?

[_sleigh_]

Dates - http://www.uk-microrc.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=11534&view=findpost&p=99922

Rules - http://www.centralbooking.org/cbs/index.php?view=article&catid=71%3ARules&id=195%3Amicro-scale-20082009-rules&option=com_content&Itemid=147

[Lee]

im tempted to jump on this bandwagon too Griff,

I think worksop and ickle nats could be the way forward, it would also mean it would be a nimh free winter :thumbsup:

[Chris Doughty]

I use the stubby full sized KO servo in mine, but I think there is a better alternative, 12th scale servo might be a better bet.

[peetbee]

Right then, where's my wallet! What wheels and tyres are the most commonly used?
Has anyone got a list of diddy events for this winter?
And you've just missed your 'local' event!

[GRIFF55]

oooh my, those meetings are a long long way a way! (except cardiff and hereford)

[Body Paint]

Right then, where's my wallet! What wheels and tyres are the most commonly used?
Has anyone got a list of diddy events for this winter?

A set of Gecko 35's should see you right.

If you really want a set of rubbers aswell get a set of Yellow Rally blocks on TC wheels.

[frogger]

The Shark takes full size 10th scale servo's so take your pick! But most people use the following:
Cheap but excellent
Hitec HS-82MG

More expensive faster servo's
Futaba 9602
Futaba 9650
Futaba 9551
KO 2123

You also want a XRay M18 servo saver. It's the best micro servo saver on the planet!
http://www.teamxray.co.uk/productdetail-XR382500-m18.php

[Body Paint]

I use an S9650 with a kimbrough 12th scale servo saver

[atomicandy]

i am currently getting into off roading 1/10th scale after a lengthy spell in touring cars. i am currently looking into getting hold of a associated rc18 buggy and cant wait as i have had ago and loved it looks awesome fun

[lochness42]

Looks like my choice for this winter will be standart motor Anderson 380, QC2 and Li-Ion batteries (no need of balancer - I don't have any yet). I'll try this combination on last outdoor TC race.

[_JP_]

how do you get on with heat and small motors?

I've been racing my 1/14th Scale recoil tc and killing motors since I swapped to LiPo
My brushless was 150deg C when I got the temp gun on it and is now dead, also killed the brushed motor. It stopped with lots of smoke out of the motor :woot:

[matdodd]

:o You animal!

[Chris Doughty]

how do you get on with heat and small motors?

I've been racing my 1/14th Scale recoil tc and killing motors since I swapped to LiPo
My brushless was 150deg C when I got the temp gun on it and is now dead, also killed the brushed motor. It stopped with lots of smoke out of the motor :woot:

I think the problem you are having is that IT IS A TOURING CAR

[_JP_]

lol thanks for that help Chris :)

I know I know its gay TC,

Do you have heat problems with the buggy's? or don't they go quick enough :p

[frogger]

how do you get on with heat and small motors?


The little brushed motors can get quite hot when running lipo but they don't seem that affected by it. Doughty's little motor hit 128 degrees C on Monday night and it was coming back for more :thumbsup:

The brushless motors runs nice and toasty at between 40-60 degrees C.

I have a Recoil as well and they seem to kill motors. Every motor I have tried in the Recoil get's very hot. I have a new 8.5 Mongoose system here which I am planning on running in the Recoil to see if that suits it better.

[_JP_]

arh maybe its just a motor killing machine!

I fancy trying one of the new Novaks, but don't want to spend money to just kill it!

I had a heatsink and fan and still they get hot! oh well

[telboy]

I've enjoyed all the meetings that I've done with them. Even though I don't own one now.:(

After doing the last national at chesterfield, I did think that the track was more of a 'time trial' type thing, and that it didn't lead to a great deal of 'proper' wheel to wheel racing.
The main reason being that there were too many features.
I know that with the space available you can go mad and put loads of stuff in there, but I found that the back straight was the only place where there wasn't any obstacles. There was a jump of some sort either on every corner or in between every corner.
It is nice to just go and race wheel to wheel as well as do some jumpin.

Obviously you don't want TC tracks, but some places to race on the track would be nicer.

You look at a 10th track and they tend not to too have many features, so you can race against people without landing on them just because they've turned into the corner after the jump and you take the jump longer.

[Danosborne6661]

Hi Lee, went very well. Qualified 4th and finished 7th. In leg 1 of the A I lost brakes and plodded around for 9th, then in leg 2 got it home in 5th. Its really frantic and the start of the finals are a bit mad while somehow being clean, but one wide line and your last, then the next corner gain 4 positions again, mad, love it.

Ran the car as it left the box too, so have some improvements to make to it for round 2. Its going to rock :thumbsup:
Ahhh Chris, you we're the 1 stood next to me on the finals rostrum

Oh.. and the 1 that qualified 1 position ahead :o
Finished 5th overall in the finals so looks like I had ya ;)

It shows you can run anything in these cars and be competitive too, like Craig said.
Top 5 was completely mixed with what people were running!

[mrspeedy]

I've enjoyed all the meetings that I've done with them. Even though I don't own one now.:(

After doing the last national at chesterfield, I did think that the track was more of a 'time trial' type thing, and that it didn't lead to a great deal of 'proper' wheel to wheel racing.
The main reason being that there were too many features.
I know that with the space available you can go mad and put loads of stuff in there, but I found that the back straight was the only place where there wasn't any obstacles. There was a jump of some sort either on every corner or in between every corner.
It is nice to just go and race wheel to wheel as well as do some jumpin.

Obviously you don't want TC tracks, but some places to race on the track would be nicer.

You look at a 10th track and they tend not to too have many features, so you can race against people without landing on them just because they've turned into the corner after the jump and you take the jump longer.

The national tracks this year are better without a doubt, most of the clubs that held a round of the nationals last year were relatively new to building tracks for micros, and thought that they needed to be tight and twisty.
But with most peeps running big hairy brushless systems this year hopefully the tendancy will be for more balls out type tracks like the 10th guys run on indoors .....