Just picked up a FT T4 kit and a J82 conversion (thanks DG!). Can't wait to get her up and running at OCRC!
I think I need to do that too. I tried to find a good FT T4 roller on this board and also in RC Universe, and these sellers are under the assumption that they can sell their extremely worn out T4 for 80% of the price.
One guy in my town tried to sell me at-cost. Telling me that an FT T4 is $230 bucks. No they are not, they are $199.99 at Ultimate...
My opinion, if your vehicle is opened, assembled and used, you can't ask for any more then 50% of the value, with 50% being an extremely good condition used vehicle.
My vehicles are all kept in good condition, and when I sell them, I sell them at no higher then 50% of their original value WITH accessories...
Electronics and Motors are even worse, the buyer is assuming all the risk of not receiving a DOA electronic and a jammed motor...
Tom - Buying used race cars (R/C or not) is a crap shoot to say the least. Too many parts wear out (especially offroad) and you don't know how it was built. Only used car I ever pulled the trigger on was an XX4 that I needed really bad (sold mine and Losi decided to discontinue the darned thing for a while). Ended up sinking another $200 in replacement parts into it during the rebuild.
Also, keep in mind that different hobby shops have different "costs". Ultimate probably does a lot of volume and get better pricing on kits. Or they could be running a loss leader hoping to make money on the accessories that they hope you'll buy with the kit. If the shop that quoted you $230 is a small shop, they're probably making less than $20 off of you at that price. Less than 10% margin is a quick way to close your doors, but it's part of the game we have to play.
Turbo - I finished building the roller last night. Need to install and trim out the electronics and we'll be ready to roll! I've been mulling over running a 17.5 setup, but I'm still waiting for the KO BMC. I'm new to the SoCal area 1/10 scene, so I'll check out Pegasus. It's quite a hike for me, as OCRC is 10 minutes from my office!
__________________
Joe Chen
www.reflexracing.net
reflexracing.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com/reflexracing
Turbo - I finished building the roller last night. Need to install and trim out the electronics and we'll be ready to roll! I've been mulling over running a 17.5 setup, but I'm still waiting for the KO BMC. I'm new to the SoCal area 1/10 scene, so I'll check out Pegasus. It's quite a hike for me, as OCRC is 10 minutes from my office!
I'm in a similar situation with OCRC...it's pretty much on the opposite end of the earth for me, especially on weekdays with traffic. Nice place, but difficult to get to regularly. Pegasus is half the distance, super-laid-back (with fast guys, too...), $10 to race...and lots bigger (easier for those of us with more "modest" skills ) .
But make sure you let me know when you're taking it out to either place and and I'll try my best to get out there.
Turbo - I finished building the roller last night. Need to install and trim out the electronics and we'll be ready to roll! I've been mulling over running a 17.5 setup, but I'm still waiting for the KO BMC. I'm new to the SoCal area 1/10 scene, so I'll check out Pegasus. It's quite a hike for me, as OCRC is 10 minutes from my office!
I bought the J82 kit at the roar nats to get some more track time, not really intending to race it, practice was limited to 3 runs per class on Wed and 2 on Thurs.
But after the first run on Wed I knew it was going to be a hell of a lot of fun, more fun the the masters class.
So thanks for making the class happen at the nats and to Jay for the advise.
Now to wear the chassis out letting everybody try it and hopefully get a class going in the North West.
Thanks, Fred Forg
__________________
The original point and click interface: Smith & Wesson.
I bought the J82 kit at the roar nats to get some more track time, not really intending to race it, practice was limited to 3 runs per class on Wed and 2 on Thurs.
But after the first run on Wed I knew it was going to be a hell of a lot of fun, more fun the the masters class.
So thanks for making the class happen at the nats and to Jay for the advise.
Now to wear the chassis out letting everybody try it and hopefully get a class going in the North West.
Thanks, Fred Forg
Thanks for participating in the class, hopefully it will take off near to you so others can have a similar expirience.
I have never raced off road. I've never even seen an off road race in person so, please forgive my novice questions...
I have read all the comments describing how the J82 is such a great car where regular 1/10th scale buggies don't do so well.
Are 4 wheel drive buggies like the B44, BJ4, Yokomo and others plagued by the same short comings as 2WD buggies on large rough tracks, or would a 4 wheel drive buggy do just as well as the J82 regardless of surface imperfections?
I have never raced off road. I've never even seen an off road race in person so, please forgive my novice questions...
I have read all the comments describing how the J82 is such a great car where regular 1/10th scale buggies don't do so well.
Are 4 wheel drive buggies like the B44, BJ4, Yokomo and others plagued by the same short comings as 2WD buggies on large rough tracks, or would a 4 wheel drive buggy do just as well as the J82 regardless of surface imperfections?
Geppetto,
Still in learn mode!
The "foot print" of the J82 is the advantage over a 1/10 buggy
I did see the Losi on a previous page but was wondering if this conversion would work on a Losi MF2 ? I bought my convo at the Nats. and have driven Turbo Joe's so needless to say I can't wait to get my own up and going
Geppetto - ever thrown a toothpick into a volcano? hehehe! Like others have mentioned, 1/10 4WD will have the same issues in dealing with 1/8 tracks as the 1/10 2WD buggy. Going 4WD won't solve your problem if you are trying to run electric offroad on a large rutted track. 4WD has its own set of pro's and con's compared to 2WD in that it's usually faster, but also a lot more expensive, fragile, maintenance intensive, etc... I do love both!
Part of the beauty of the J82 rig is its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. When I first saw it in the magazines, I thought it was an interesting novelty built around aesthetics. It took me a while to realize the true purpose of this vehicle - to take back the 1/8 tracks! I think that Xtreme really missed that point in their review. Electric offroad has just about died in the past few years, but lipo and brushless is stirring up quite a revival. The J82 brings those new technologies to the existing/remaining track infrastructure, and it does so at a great price point - especially if you dust off an old roller.
That being said, I can see a day when someone launches a purpose-built 1/8 electric 4WD. There are already conversions, and Losi has just released its electric version of the 8ight, but these are just converted nitro chassis. No aluminum chassis! I'm thinking more along the lines of a grown up 1/10 4WD buggy - similar to what JConcepts has done with the J82.
Turbo Joe - I usually hit OCRC on Wed/Thurs/Sun nights. Sometimes on Saturdays. I'll be up in Arcadia tonight racing Mini-Z... I'll try to check out Pegasus on a Saturday sometime soon.
AndyMoore - I'll post some pics, but it's nothing special. Just a FT T4 with a few options. The body is a hand-me-down from tcmerf-DG Designs, so the pics of that have already been posted. I've got an unpainted body I'll post once I get it wrapped up... Maybe I'll try to get someone to take some action shots (of me cartwheeling into the double) at OCRC?
__________________
Joe Chen
www.reflexracing.net
reflexracing.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com/reflexracing
Geppetto - ever thrown a toothpick into a volcano? hehehe! Like others have mentioned, 1/10 4WD will have the same issues in dealing with 1/8 tracks as the 1/10 2WD buggy. Going 4WD won't solve your problem if you are trying to run electric offroad on a large rutted track. 4WD has its own set of pro's and con's compared to 2WD in that it's usually faster, but also a lot more expensive, fragile, maintenance intensive, etc... I do love both!
Part of the beauty of the J82 rig is its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. When I first saw it in the magazines, I thought it was an interesting novelty built around aesthetics. It took me a while to realize the true purpose of this vehicle - to take back the 1/8 tracks! I think that Xtreme really missed that point in their review. Electric offroad has just about died in the past few years, but lipo and brushless is stirring up quite a revival. The J82 brings those new technologies to the existing/remaining track infrastructure, and it does so at a great price point - especially if you dust off an old roller.
That being said, I can see a day when someone launches a purpose-built 1/8 electric 4WD. There are already conversions, and Losi has just released its electric version of the 8ight, but these are just converted nitro chassis. No aluminum chassis! I'm thinking more along the lines of a grown up 1/10 4WD buggy - similar to what JConcepts has done with the J82.
Turbo Joe - I usually hit OCRC on Wed/Thurs/Sun nights. Sometimes on Saturdays. I'll be up in Arcadia tonight racing Mini-z... I'll try to check out Pegasus on a Saturday sometime soon.
AndyMoore - I'll post some pics, but it's nothing special. Just a FT T4 with a few options. The body is a hand-me-down from tcmerf-DG Designs, so the pics of that have already been posted. I've got an unpainted body I'll post once I get it wrapped up... Maybe I'll try to get someone to take some action shots (of me cartwheeling into the double) at OCRC?
I've been mulling over running a 17.5 setup, but I'm still waiting for the KO BMC. I'm new to the SoCal area 1/10 scene, so I'll check out Pegasus. It's quite a hike for me, as OCRC is 10 minutes from my office! 
) . 
Similar Threads