Is the FTX Blaze still competative??

[MHeadling]

As per title really, there are a couple on eBay at reasonable money and wondering if they are still competative for racing?

Seems it's all about the Lrp Shark from Jimmys report

[jimmy]

I reckon so - I raced one a long time ago and it was great. They do need a few bits to make them stronger from what I remember so best to look out for one with a couple of hopups. I'm sure someone will point out what were weak points?

The shark is just wider and built tougher - in fact, it looks awesome but the price reflects it.

[frogger]

Yes, there was a 16yr old called Matt that put a stock Blaze in the middle of the A final at the Leighton Buzzard national.

The wider Shark is just a bit more stable and forgiving. Now there is also a longer chassis available (from the US) which increases the Shark or Blaze's wheelbase which allows for another option should you choose to want to use it.

[frogger]

You will need steel ball diffs and steel drive shafts as a bare minimum to make it reliable. The Blaze doesn't have that as standard, the Shark does.

[MHeadling]

Thanks for the info, one on the bay has Atomic ball diffs, different cvds, carbon towers and ali hubs etc so should be strong enough.

How much is the longer chassis? Do you have a link? Is this a Duratrax part from the rally car/sc truck??

[hide]

From the SC truck: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXYKP5&P=OW

[MHeadling]

So do you just need the chassis and centre drive shaft to convert a Blaze??

Will this make it legal for racing as I read some were it can't be over 190mm

[hide]

Chassis, battery strap and centre driveshaft. I don't know, I'd wait for Carl to come back to this thread as there was a big debate about it on the UKMRC forum and I'm not sure what came of it.

[frogger]

In my opinion it's not worthwhile converting a Blaze to the longer chassis but it absolutely is worthwhile upgrading a Shark to the longer chassis. If you stick the longer chassis on a Blaze it'll end up very long and narrow but then each to his own, it sure would be interesting to see how it goes! The Blaze is pretty well proportioned in standard trim.

If you want to enter the BRCA nationals then the current maximum wheelbase allowance is 185mm long. If you fit it to the Shark you will have to trim 2mm of the front and rear wishbones to get it legal. That is what I did and the car does not suffer for it, it's still better than the standard Shark and sure looks a lot better! It now looks more like a mini 1/10th scale buggy in terms of proportions and even drives like one.

It is very likely, if enough people want it that we will vote for a wheelbase increase in both 4WD and 2WD at our EGM in May/April for next years series to 190mm which will mean you could run the SC chassis without modification and also run the Exotek MXB Mini-T extended chassis without modification in 2WD.

Just get the Blaze and come and race and worry about other chassis later when you feel you need it mate.

[KRob]

Yo Mark,
For racing at pretty much anywhere other than a national size track a Blaze is fine.
Needs the metal driveshafts and ball diffs but otherwise they are good to go.

I have a Shark for the nationals with a brushless in it and an old beaten up Blaze with brushed for the small club I race at.
(And both were bought second hand )

[MHeadling]

Cheers Frogger and KRob, good info there! I will have a bid and see how we go!

[Matisse]

ftx also make all of the suspension parts to widen the car to the same as the shark ( cheaper too as blue is more expensive!)

[markwilliamson2001]

Yes it is very easy to upgrade to a shark later on. Only thing I would suggest is if your thinking of upgrading to the shark (wider) you will need longer driveshafts, so I would just go for the ball diffs to start with (if the one on ebay had atomic driveshafts).

The blaze/shark is strong. Double up on carbon towers or get frogger's ones, they are ace.

Weak points:

top front suspension arms, (and the pins that go with them)
Standard alloy shock towers
Front pivot balls
gear diffs

HTH
Mark

[hide]

For me the titanium pivot balls are a must, the stock ones break very easily.

[MHeadling]

there are a few rc18b's about at the moment, would these stand a chance against a blaze/shark?

What about one with an Exotek conversion??

[RCAshers]

In a word NO stick with the blaze.

[frogger]

Originally Posted by Mark Headling

there are a few rc18b's about at the moment, would these stand a chance against a blaze/shark?

What about one with an Exotek conversion??

Nope, Blaze is much better. I have had several RC18s, with and without Exotek conversions. Very fiddly, weak, issues, too light, too small, etc.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Matisse

ftx also make all of the suspension parts to widen the car to the same as the shark ( cheaper too as blue is more expensive!)

Yeah.....But "Blue is better"

[RCAshers]

The Shark and Blaze are BLUE

[Battle_axe]

Originally Posted by frogger

Yes, there was a 16yr old called Matt that put a stock Blaze in the middle of the A final at the Leighton Buzzard national.

The wider Shark is just a bit more stable and forgiving. Now there is also a longer chassis available (from the US) which increases the Shark or Blaze's wheelbase which allows for another option should you choose to want to use it.

matt drewit i think? he has been at the pda and he had his micro with him it looked a nice little setup