9LikesT.O.P. Racing "Photon" 1/10 EP Touring Car
05-26-2011, 07:22 AM
#7606
Good luck go all of the TOP runners heading to the Reedy Race today...
05-28-2011, 04:49 AM
#7607
Weird, I had a wtf moment today when looking at a parts order, broke my car the other night so need some new parts, but a friend bought a TC6 the other day, so just because I was curious, went looking at TC6 parts at the same time...
The wtf came when I realized TOP parts don't quite seem all that cheap in comparison to the TC6, a lot of key bits have a fairly large difference in price, so the TOP may still have a sweet kit price, but I'm not so sure I'd recommend it to new players looking for a cheap kit anymore...
The wtf came when I realized TOP parts don't quite seem all that cheap in comparison to the TC6, a lot of key bits have a fairly large difference in price, so the TOP may still have a sweet kit price, but I'm not so sure I'd recommend it to new players looking for a cheap kit anymore...
05-28-2011, 06:01 AM
#7608
Fast // Cheap // Durable
Pick two.
There may be car/parts that are cheaper than TOP; there are definitely cars/parts more expensive than TOP. While the TC6 is proving to be a competitive car, I don't feel that the Photon or parts are overpriced and the performance of the car speaks for itself. When you look at the other competition, it is hard to find another brand that provides the performance of the Photon at a better price. It's nice to see that Associated is back in the game.
Pick two.
There may be car/parts that are cheaper than TOP; there are definitely cars/parts more expensive than TOP. While the TC6 is proving to be a competitive car, I don't feel that the Photon or parts are overpriced and the performance of the car speaks for itself. When you look at the other competition, it is hard to find another brand that provides the performance of the Photon at a better price. It's nice to see that Associated is back in the game.
05-28-2011, 06:12 AM
#7609
Who's running aluminum pivot balls?
Is the only advantage weight? How much weight is saved when you replace them throughout the car?
What's the difference between the 1.75mm camber plate and the regular aluminum camber plate?
Is the only advantage weight? How much weight is saved when you replace them throughout the car?
What's the difference between the 1.75mm camber plate and the regular aluminum camber plate?
05-28-2011, 12:15 PM
#7610
I haven't used the aluminum camber plates, but I have used the 1.25mm cf plates. The innermost hole is almost right on top of the bulkhead. I believe the aluminum ones are similar. One set has holes like the kit plates and the other set has the inner most hole lined up above the bulkhead for long camber links. I don't know what the advantage of aluminum over woven carbon is though. The alloy weighs more. Could someone enlighten me on this?
05-28-2011, 12:19 PM
#7611
It looks like the aluminum ones are easier to work on because you don't have to removed the whole plate. That's what I was going for.
So the 1.75mm means the wholes are that much close to the inside allowing longer links?
So the 1.75mm means the wholes are that much close to the inside allowing longer links?
05-28-2011, 12:31 PM
#7612
no, the 1.75mm plates have basically the same holes as the 2 innermost holes on the kit camber plates.
this is the set that allows for slightly longer links
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...nk-Plate-Set-2
here are the cf ones that I have for long links
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...r-Link-Plate-2
this is the set that allows for slightly longer links
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...nk-Plate-Set-2
here are the cf ones that I have for long links
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...r-Link-Plate-2
05-28-2011, 06:08 PM
#7613
Didn't even know those carbon ones existed, thanks!
05-28-2011, 08:28 PM
#7614
05-28-2011, 11:35 PM
#7615
Fast // Cheap // Durable
Pick two.
There may be car/parts that are cheaper than TOP; there are definitely cars/parts more expensive than TOP. While the TC6 is proving to be a competitive car, I don't feel that the Photon or parts are overpriced and the performance of the car speaks for itself. When you look at the other competition, it is hard to find another brand that provides the performance of the Photon at a better price. It's nice to see that Associated is back in the game.
Pick two.
There may be car/parts that are cheaper than TOP; there are definitely cars/parts more expensive than TOP. While the TC6 is proving to be a competitive car, I don't feel that the Photon or parts are overpriced and the performance of the car speaks for itself. When you look at the other competition, it is hard to find another brand that provides the performance of the Photon at a better price. It's nice to see that Associated is back in the game.
05-29-2011, 12:00 AM
#7616
Weird, I had a wtf moment today when looking at a parts order, broke my car the other night so need some new parts, but a friend bought a TC6 the other day, so just because I was curious, went looking at TC6 parts at the same time...
The wtf came when I realized TOP parts don't quite seem all that cheap in comparison to the TC6, a lot of key bits have a fairly large difference in price, so the TOP may still have a sweet kit price, but I'm not so sure I'd recommend it to new players looking for a cheap kit anymore...
The wtf came when I realized TOP parts don't quite seem all that cheap in comparison to the TC6, a lot of key bits have a fairly large difference in price, so the TOP may still have a sweet kit price, but I'm not so sure I'd recommend it to new players looking for a cheap kit anymore...
05-29-2011, 12:27 AM
#7617
I'm actually not all that sure myself, after looking around more I think we are being stitched up just a little on parts pricing, relative to the original kit cost at least for sure...
Fast // Cheap // Durable - Pick any two?, kind of falls apart if you want to base that off the Photon original kit price.
It's not something I noticed when I bought my Photon, all I saw was the really cheap kit price compared to Xray/Tamiya/Shu etc, then loved how it was built and went, but a few things made me go hmm over time.
One of those hmm moments was like the alloy battery mounts, ok I love mine (and they are cool), but then all the other brands came up with their own simple versions recently, all work quite well, except ours cost $20 per mount (TOP should at least make a cheaper plastic/carbon version).
More recent moment was looking at the chassis prices, a year back when the lipo chassis was new (and TOP was near the only brand around with a lipo dedicated chassis), $90+ looked ok, a fair bit later and it's never come down in price, a TC6 chassis is $60, hell a Tamiya 417 chassis is $70.
Only other car in the $90 chassis range is Xray (and Yoko, though I just checked an $83 for the BD5 lipo), and everyone seems to complain Xray gear is expensive, which brings me to the 'big' hmm, I seriously went looking today, and dudes we are paying Xray/Yoko prices for our Top parts, seriously, our kit is bottom 3 to buy, parts though are top 3 in cost?.
Don't get all that in the wrong way either, it's just my rainy day bored observation while net shopping, I like so much about the car, just I can't honestly recommend it as something cheap anymore, and if it comes time for something new (or a chassis change), maybe I'll look at something else.
Fast // Cheap // Durable - Pick any two?, kind of falls apart if you want to base that off the Photon original kit price.
It's not something I noticed when I bought my Photon, all I saw was the really cheap kit price compared to Xray/Tamiya/Shu etc, then loved how it was built and went, but a few things made me go hmm over time.
One of those hmm moments was like the alloy battery mounts, ok I love mine (and they are cool), but then all the other brands came up with their own simple versions recently, all work quite well, except ours cost $20 per mount (TOP should at least make a cheaper plastic/carbon version).
More recent moment was looking at the chassis prices, a year back when the lipo chassis was new (and TOP was near the only brand around with a lipo dedicated chassis), $90+ looked ok, a fair bit later and it's never come down in price, a TC6 chassis is $60, hell a Tamiya 417 chassis is $70.
Only other car in the $90 chassis range is Xray (and Yoko, though I just checked an $83 for the BD5 lipo), and everyone seems to complain Xray gear is expensive, which brings me to the 'big' hmm, I seriously went looking today, and dudes we are paying Xray/Yoko prices for our Top parts, seriously, our kit is bottom 3 to buy, parts though are top 3 in cost?.
Don't get all that in the wrong way either, it's just my rainy day bored observation while net shopping, I like so much about the car, just I can't honestly recommend it as something cheap anymore, and if it comes time for something new (or a chassis change), maybe I'll look at something else.
05-29-2011, 03:21 AM
#7618
I'm actually not all that sure myself, after looking around more I think we are being stitched up just a little on parts pricing, relative to the original kit cost at least for sure...
Fast // Cheap // Durable - Pick any two?, kind of falls apart if you want to base that off the Photon original kit price.
It's not something I noticed when I bought my Photon, all I saw was the really cheap kit price compared to Xray/Tamiya/Shu etc, then loved how it was built and went, but a few things made me go hmm over time.
One of those hmm moments was like the alloy battery mounts, ok I love mine (and they are cool), but then all the other brands came up with their own simple versions recently, all work quite well, except ours cost $20 per mount (TOP should at least make a cheaper plastic/carbon version).
More recent moment was looking at the chassis prices, a year back when the lipo chassis was new (and TOP was near the only brand around with a lipo dedicated chassis), $90+ looked ok, a fair bit later and it's never come down in price, a TC6 chassis is $60, hell a Tamiya 417 chassis is $70.
Only other car in the $90 chassis range is Xray (and Yoko, though I just checked an $83 for the BD5 lipo), and everyone seems to complain Xray gear is expensive, which brings me to the 'big' hmm, I seriously went looking today, and dudes we are paying Xray/Yoko prices for our Top parts, seriously, our kit is bottom 3 to buy, parts though are top 3 in cost?.
Don't get all that in the wrong way either, it's just my rainy day bored observation while net shopping, I like so much about the car, just I can't honestly recommend it as something cheap anymore, and if it comes time for something new (or a chassis change), maybe I'll look at something else.
Fast // Cheap // Durable - Pick any two?, kind of falls apart if you want to base that off the Photon original kit price.
It's not something I noticed when I bought my Photon, all I saw was the really cheap kit price compared to Xray/Tamiya/Shu etc, then loved how it was built and went, but a few things made me go hmm over time.
One of those hmm moments was like the alloy battery mounts, ok I love mine (and they are cool), but then all the other brands came up with their own simple versions recently, all work quite well, except ours cost $20 per mount (TOP should at least make a cheaper plastic/carbon version).
More recent moment was looking at the chassis prices, a year back when the lipo chassis was new (and TOP was near the only brand around with a lipo dedicated chassis), $90+ looked ok, a fair bit later and it's never come down in price, a TC6 chassis is $60, hell a Tamiya 417 chassis is $70.
Only other car in the $90 chassis range is Xray (and Yoko, though I just checked an $83 for the BD5 lipo), and everyone seems to complain Xray gear is expensive, which brings me to the 'big' hmm, I seriously went looking today, and dudes we are paying Xray/Yoko prices for our Top parts, seriously, our kit is bottom 3 to buy, parts though are top 3 in cost?.
Don't get all that in the wrong way either, it's just my rainy day bored observation while net shopping, I like so much about the car, just I can't honestly recommend it as something cheap anymore, and if it comes time for something new (or a chassis change), maybe I'll look at something else.
I see your point on parts price kinda. Yeah you can get a tamiya417 chassis for $70 + $25 shipping from overseas. And then wait a month to get it. Trust me, I know. So where have you saved? couple bucks on shipping? Xray parts are way more expensive. You buy an arm from xray and you get 1 per pack. Top gives you front and rear per pack.
Either way, both cars are great performers with fair parts pricing.
BTW TOP does/did have a different(cheaper) battery mount. Came with original kit.
05-29-2011, 03:35 PM
#7619
4x top aluminum 30mm tie-rods
8x top aluminum pivot balls (26 included w/in the pack... i didn't use them all yet)
8x top aluminum arm mounts
the arm mounts seem to make a bigger weight difference -- but they are a static weight, while the tie-rods and pivot balls are a sprung weight.
05-29-2011, 03:56 PM
#7620
standard feature or optional?
