advice on 1/12
 

Hey guys I'm just switching over from nitro to electric and wanted some opinions on 1/12 scale kits. So far I've had recommendations for the CRC Carpet Knife, Associated 12L3, and the Trinity Switchbalde. Parts isn't a real concern for me. Performance and durability is though. Also Would a Novak Atom be a good enough ESC for racing stock class or shoud I get something like the Cyclone. One last thing, mini servos. My friend recommended me get something in the $100 range so that it won't break and etc. Is it really that necessary on these electric cars? Like a $50 dollar servo for Nitro's were great but this $100 wow. Also any brand and model number recommendations for these mini servos.

Thanks a lot guys.

vthondaboi
Your first question is in regards to the car. Don't pass on the Speedmerchant REV3. Past records show this car to be very fast on all surfaces and as reliable as any. I mean any driver can destroy any car. You will not be disappointed with the REV3.

Your second question is for the ESC. Don't rule out the LRP Quantum. It is the smallest and lightest. Perfect for a 1/12 scale car. Excellent performance as well. Adjustments are easy and they don't require an additional computing device to achieve.

Your third question is about a servo. Many of the pro drivers use the 94145 by Airtronics. It is the fastest in response of any of the small top level servos on the market.

Good luck


Dennis
I suggest you consider grey or white rear tires. I am assuming the platinum is on the rear of your car. The purple fronts are fine, but you can also try pink or magenta.

I run 29 to 31 pinions on a 100 tooth spur in 64 pitch. You can compare that to the 48 pitch gears you are using. Switching to 64 pitch is up to you. They are a little more efficient in the smaller cars. The type of stock motor is important here too. The GM3 and the MVP usually require a couple teeth smaller pinion.

The rest of the stuff you ask about is a personal preference type setup. A lot of it is driven by the track you race on. That means the type surface, the strength of the groove and so on. The thick t-bar is very popular because it provides quick response for track features that require quick changes in direction. Removing the center mounting screw to the motor pod will give you a softer feel from front to back, providing a little more rear traction. The spring and oil fit into that equation as well. It depends what the car needs. Work with 30 wt. oil and the green spring that comes with the shock. If the surface in very flat and very smooth, you might be able to use the chrome colored spring that is a little stiffer than the green.

On the front suspension, the 10 deg caster blocks are for drivers that want the car to continually tighten the turning radius as they roll around the corner. The 0 deg blocks are for a constant turning radius as the car rolls around the corner. It becomes driver preference again. And different track surfaces may require a different approach.

The bottom line is to practice and test a lot. Make these changes to get an idea of what they do for you. Once you are comfortable with all of those combinations, you can use them to your advantage when you travel to different locations to race. This is most of the fun of racing these cars, ie getting the car to fit the driver, the track and the natural conditions of the day.

Good luck and I hope I helped

darnold- hey man, sorry about your grandma. Dave S is my older brother, and will probably run stock for the Nats, as far as I know. I'll probably be around the track for the big race, but won't be racing. Even if I did have the cash to go I would only get one qualifyer since I have school on friday. But I'll do everything in my power to make my brother faster. Even if that does mean burning up my insanly fast p2k! I'll have to find you so I can see you get your win on with your bad self (sorry I had to say it). Well good luck to you and everyone else here, so I'm off to go get a job with my bad self!

Pete Simons

Something must be up. Darnold hasn't posted in 3 days. I have even posted 2 real big ones without him posting in between. Maybe he is doing his taxes.

Dave doesn't pay his taxes.....:D .....hes got to be out at the track getting ready to beat Josh and David at Cleveland next year.

Hey guys- Just got in from the office last night around 12midnight and spent the day with family. Tomorrow is the funeral for my grandma and I've been selected it seems as one of the pall bearers.

DL- I do agree with you DL that the Assoc. T-bar seems to be the right length for 12th scale cars as I remember when the first Revolvers came out that they had multiple length T-bars which alters both the wheel base and the flex point. Even though I was out of racing by this point James Arnold ran one for a while and he showed me his stuff at the time. The Trinity T-bars now are actually the same as an Assoc. but they seem to only range around .072-.074" for their thick whereas an Assoc. can range up to a .078" and they seem to be more readily available depending on where you are.

Kev- what's up dude, how are things going? Stop telling people my secrects! hehehehehe

Petenis- Look forward to seeing you next Thursday. I should make it up there around 4pm in time for the club race. If I can make it earlier that will be great but I'm not sure because I will be leaving from the office coming there.

VTH- I'm a very big fan of the Quantum Competition whether for 12th mod/stock or TC Mod/Stock. It is as durable as a Novak and I love the feel and adjustments on it. There is some debate concerning whether the engine management profiles actually are just different types of "minimum drive" equivalents like on the Novak or if they are actually changes in the drive frequency. In either case the LRP Quantum changes are VERY different in feel say from number 2 to number 4 with number 4 being Very Punchy and almost too much so for modified. I have had Excellent reliability but since it is only in 12th mod I am not pulling the same amps as a TC Mod would. It seems that as long as you use the heat sink from the worlds kit on it then it is fine for TC Mod but some question this. Novak's are great but like any other ESC they can and do have their problems. I have seen them go up in smoke just as Quantums have and I have experienced what many people last year commented on which is the "slow and dump" mode like a fet or two was going bad but the unit still operated. When I put a Quantum in I immediately noticed the differences in my motors and my 10turns whent faster than my 11's and my 9turns where ballastic. Both speedos along with some of the others are really good so you can't go wrong with either. The LRP's now come with a "Lifetime Warranty" so you may want to take that into consideration.

My 12th car of choice is obviously the Trinity Switchblade 02 although the 12l3, SpeedMerchant, 6pack, and others are all very competetive. I like the easy alterations to roll center, reactive caster and camber gain that the front end offers along with the very stiff construction. On high to very high bite tracks like Cleveland, Snowbirds, usually the Carpet Nats and other U.S. Triple crown series races this adjustability and stiffness really can help in the corner speed area while keeping the car easy to drive. But don't be fooled, these other cars can win to.

Hey everyone- look forward to hearing about your race day. Grandma had a great send off (funeral) and everyone here is recovering. Go to practice tomorrow and then will be at the Norrca Nats on Thursday. (':blush:')
. Have fun and let's hear from people.

Attention K-Mart shoppers! :)

Hello everyone, I'm back on the air. Got meself moved and settled in to the new job. Now to just get out and do some racing. I unfortunately will not be able to attend the Norrca Nats. These guys I work for actually want me to work for a while before I take off to race, can you believe that! :p Oh well, I'll just have to come up to Venture and run with Darnold and Jucha. Dave, e-m me some directions. I'll be coming up 57 so give me directions from say Champaign or somewhere like that. You can send them to [email protected]. Thanks!

That's all for now,

Jonhnny Soko- Great to hear from you. You have mail. Too bad you can't make the Norrca Nats.

Hey all....no racing for me this weekend:(

Darnold......I'll be picking up a new car soon (1/12)....and wanted your opinion....I am looking at the Assoc. 12L3 vs. the new Trinity 2002......I'm running an older 12LW and really like it.....thanks for any opinions.

Socko.......welcome back......No 65 lapper.....you know...cause i wasnt there.....lolol

Johnny Socko- Glad to hear it. As you know I'm a big fan of the Trinity 02. What do you think?

Well, I run an L3 and I like it. Very consistent and easy to drive. The Trinity car is good as well I just don't think with all the "lumberjacking" that Dragon does that the link front end is for him. No offense Dave, but I know you like a car that is lower maintenance so you can just go out and drive. You could also hit TR up for a Knife, you know that those work at your track.

Socko....is that a "SLAM"...........ouch...lolol

Nah, not a slam, you know there's no hate here! Just wouldn't want to see you get into a car that would frustrate you more than it would be fun.

No slam taken. I do like a low maintenance car because there are a lot of other things to focus in on at big races but on the Trinity car I think that parameter comes more from it's solid graphite construction on the front end and its really stiff rear pod section.

The Trinity car does have a lot of steering and corner speed which I like but I don't think you can go wrong with much out there for 12th scale because they are all pretty good.