Yes sir. Had something similar on my first pan car, a CRC 3.2R. That part I made is less a brace than a vibration dampener, I would have to say.

I've seen development and testing of sensored 380 size motors on 12th scale (Hobbywing??). Can't recall where I saw the post.
Looks like Surpass is first to market with the updated concept.
https://www.rcmart.com/Surpass-Hobby...HVv9q60WY1zBWQ



I can't help but wonder how these will perform and what the associated pros/cons be.....
I'm not ready to pull the trigger, but the smaller size and lighter package has an appeal, from a design standpoint, in changing things at the rear of the car... This form factor might open things up for new design concepts.

Definitely an interesting concept that I hope we see some more of. Right off the bat, it seems like the biggest con would be heat management, but as you said, it could definitely open up some new design concepts.

My personal opinion is that the 1/12 class could have developed in a completely different direction 15 years ago. When Rc Car Racing switched to brushless and lipo different options were tried by enthusiasts at club level. Eventually racing scene keept 540 brushless motors for 1/12 and went to 1S.
But if you fancy 380 Motors on 2S just give it a try. I think it should be great fun.

The future of 1/12 scale - R/C Tech Forums (rctech.net)
Simple as that? (highgrip.blogspot.com)

Good read, thanks for that...

and it is also another marketing gimmick to create something to talk and sell,.......

This chassis got a few runs on the funky sealed concrete surface at PF Hobbies in Mesa AZ yesterday, and it was surprisingly good. My normal car was not good, just couldn't complete the corner and would wash out and oversteer if I tried to add steering, so this got a run out of desperation and was quite a bit better. Easier to drive, didn't oversteer or wash out at slow speed. Made the A main, and despite some driver errors and running out of tire finished a respectable fourth. I also ran (almost accidentally) within a tenth of the fastest lap of the weekend.


I checked the two different models over and I think the reason this car was easier to drive and would finish the corner without oversteer on this sealed concrete was no more complex than weight distribution. This car has 52% rear, 48% front (without the body). My other car was about 56% rear. On carpet I am sure the standard car would have been equal or better but on this surface the combination seems to work pretty well, and I will be trying it again.

Just for perspective, the two different CRC chassis had the same side springs, the same front springs, the same damper tube fluid, roll center, ride height, and the exact same set of tires driven by the same fool. It wasn't a perfect A/B test but it was closer than most. If I had to find a problem with this car it would be it's lack of a hard turn-in, but I think it would do better in that regard with a little tuning of the front end.

I was curious when I saw the Surpass motor last year. My brother Jake milled me an adaptor plate so I could try one in an A12. The 17.5 on 2s was on par with a 17.5 540 motor on 1s. These don’t have adjustable timing. I could see running 380 motors down the road. It does make the rear design potential easier since it doesn’t need as much space. I hadn’t done much to adjust weight, just ran it how it came out which I don’t recall right now. I did this last year’s indoor season and since we are on a track that is only built on race nights and on a limited time window to race, I didn’t have much time to play with set up changes. I did run on foam spec tires we race with in our stock class. I still have a Novak 380 motor when they had those available and wondered why it never took off. I know several over in the UK had tried to make it a class back a few years ago. These new Surpass motors are quite a bit longer, so maybe they have the extra grunt necessary to push a 1/12 car around better.
-Alex :-)

Ain't got no sensor wire!

Re: 380

Seems like a solution to a non problem. $$$

took pic before I had finished up, it eventually got its sensor wire. :-)

I've noticed another racer has tested 21.5/540 vs 17.5/380, both using 2s; with the cars setup with the same approximate mass - found the performance comparable, yet "easier to drive".
Don't know what to do with this information yet.....but its interesting none-the-less.

Especially when you consider how many quality, sensored 380-sized motors exist relative to their 540-sized counterparts.

Is Team Speed Merchant and there rev8.5 still a thing? I am looking to get back into 1/12 and I have always wanted to try there chassis but after looking over there website it looks like there not in business or doing ever low production numbers.

With the collapse of Xenon; I'm really looking forward to what Roche will have for us this year.....