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WIN FREE STUFF > For Sale New Site Format
StampedeProject.com
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iHobby Expo - Chicago Il. (Rosemont Il)Trade Days Trade Hours Thursday, October 18th 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. OK so the plan was to have a couple StampedeProject.com R/Cs for viewing at the show and since A123 Racing asked first, that's who I worked with. The second part of the plan was to have a Losi 8 and a FLM Stampede in hand about 30 days before the show, so I would have plenty of time to pull everything together. FLM was swamped and couldn't get the Extended Chassis Stampede out until the week before and Losi shipped the 8 on Thursday (priority overnight). The FLM was easy to pull together, however I planned and executed a full NTB conversion on the 8 in 3 days. Actually it wasn't really three days, more like about six hours, because I do have a day job. Both the RC garnered a ton of attention. The FLM Extended chassis kit featured a Mamba Max 5700 and dual A123 6.6V packs. The Losi featured a RC-Monster.com Losi brushless motor mount and hardened Mod1 pinion, dual 3S1P A123 Racing packs (roughly 20 Volts), a 1515/1Y Neumotor, a Mamba Max controller, and my custom T-6 aluminum battery mount. Pulling it all together to make it look factory took some time, but the result even impressed a few pro racers who took it for a spin. All I can say in the future is bright for 1/8th scale brushless. I believe someone mentioned that it's like having a 5HP motor in your buggy. A couple of my faux pas were almost knocking over a $300 airplane with my camera bag, referring to Bob Novak as Bill, and was so tired and exhausted on Friday that I couldn't remember my contact's name at Pro-Line. Other interesting items were getting blown off at the Traxxas booth... hmm, yeah apparently my reference to the exceeding outdated Battle Star Galactica looking Bandit body that was designed and released just after Reagan was president hit some nerves. Dear, Traxxas you make great stuff but the cocky behavior didn't win you any points with a long-time fan, and I stand by my comment the body needs an update and FYI the wing sucks also. Overall the show was great and I had a great time - I was and am still exhausted after tromping all over the show for three days. Thursday and Friday were trade only days including the media slugs like myself. I spend Thursday getting a good first looks at everything and getting a couple meetings out of the way. Friday I meet up with Mike at RC-Monster.com and Jamie at FLM. All three of us went about harassing vendors for the entire day. The good the bad the ugly here it comes... Traxxas - With the exception of blowing me off, nothing new except THE NEW EMAXX. The Emaxx was introduced as a new "concept" that aure looked pretty final to me. Could it be the Emaxx gets a revision after all this time. Judging from the judicious use of plastic, I would surmise that the price might come down...???, but who knows. The unit was shown with what appeared to be a Novak HV system, but I am thinking Traxxas might intro the unit with their own HV brushless system as well. I n either see or hear of it running.
Axial was showing off all sorts of new products along with it's very successful Scorpion Crawler chassis - which everyone gets a chance to play with. A new Baja chassis sat in the booth and new narrow Super-Crawler class wheels were also introduced with at the show.
Shumacher had a few blinged out chassis as well as the iHobby introduced new 80 MPH fusion with the Picco motor and ATS high speed rated tires. Hoping, no praying to get my hands on one.
Castle Creations Everyone wants me to say how cool the new Mamba Monster Max was but, it was not meant to be, not introduced yet not even a prototype. They did have protos of the new inexpensive Sidewinder brushless systems which should retail (I think about $130) and be rated for 14.4V but no CastleLink interface and basic functionality. Looks to be a nice little entry level setup that should blow the doors off Novak's EX series systems. Everyone's Castle tech support buggy, Joe Ford, was at the show assure all the displays were trouble free and answering tons of goofy questions like is it true the MM will handle 50V (uhh no). I was told to expect the Monster Max some time around Christmas. Maybe the Monster Max will be out by the RCX show. Sorry guys that's all they would give up for info on the new Monster Max ESC. Tekin Tekin Rocked with both the enthusiastically energetic new owners Jim and Sherri at the booth to personally answer questions - and they were swamped. Expect the following released within the next 3-5 months maybe sooner:
The video on the laptop is of Jim's (Tekin Owner) brushless truggy powered by a Tekin R1-8 ESC. A123 Racing A123 had a ton of new stuff. They have apparently been listening to everyone bitch that their packs don't fit in every battery tray. They are introducing a new 2200mh 6.6V flat pack that is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit. They also had new a couple new tiny 1100Mh crawler/mini/RX RC packs that you will see in some upcoming articles. A123 remains the speed charge king with 15 minute charges and grossly underrated MH packs. The Losi 8 conversion I did below for example has consistently run for 12+ minutes in a 6S1P configuration... and those are 2200Mh rated packs - efficient little suckers.
Kokam Kokam had one of Nic Case's speedsters at their booth and showed off all their products including some HUGE packs. Turns out they OEM a couple battery packs for at least one 5 letter manufacturer name.
MaxAmps.com Ahh, I love Lithium in the morning. All the way from dinky little RX packs to mega 22.2V 8000Mh packs. The fastest drag RC was also setting at the booth.
Xtreme Racing Need some carbon fiber blink for your buggy and truggy take a look at these beauties.
Predator You got it, the ultimate remote operated paintball gun attachment for your Electric or Nitro Maxx.
OK I have no recollection of what booth this was because I lost my mind when I walked into the booth. This was a full on Formula 1 racer.
And a killer smaller carbon fiber racer.
Associated
Global Hobby Well unless you are a retailer you won't care, but Global is now the exclusive Airtronics distributor for North America. XTM The new Truggy and buggy? The "salesperson" was unclear, no unsure, I thinks, ...well you'll have to check with that guy. I guess we will have to wait.
Heli - They were EVERYWHERE!
Pro-Line New Badlands for the big HPI buggy FYI 2.2 narrow beadlocks from Pro-Line are coming for crawlers.
Boats
Robots
Erector set crawler.
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Friday, October 19th 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Trade & Consumer Days Consumer Hours
Saturday, October 20th 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 21st 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Come see my brushless Losi 8 & FLM Stampede
at the A123 Racing Booth.
www.ihobbyexpo.com
