Ultimate Associated TC3

Radio Control Car Action, Jul 2001 by Buono, Derek

Every other month, Radio Control Car Action will feature a new "ultimate"an RC vehicle built from the ground up as a custom dream machine. Many of the parts we use might be designed for ultimate performance, but what we're really after is ultimate cool factor. For this first installment. we turn our attention to the Associated TC3-certainly one of the most popular touring cars in the world. Its overwhelming popularity with racers and sport drivers alike has brought tremendous aftermarket support, and that makes it an ideal candidate for the "ultimate" treatment

ULTIMATE ELECTRONICS

* CS Rocket ESC-part no. 6985, $139.99.

* Hitec HS 9525MG steering servo-35925J, $99.99.

* Trinity Stock Metal Hydride 6-cell pack-NT3106, $134.99.

* Novak XXL FM receiver-2475F, $69.99.

* Futaba 3PJFS transmitter-FUTJ31, $389.99.

* Reedy Fury MW 10-triple motor-418, $59.99.

ASSOCIATED

* Factory Team titanium turnbuckles-part no.1356, $30.

HPI

* Nissan Silvia body set (190mm)-7341, $24.

MEGATECH

* Delrin front 6x10 one-way bearing unit-MTC22103, $27.95.

* Delrin ball-diff assembly-MTC22109, $27.95.

* Graphite shock towers (F/R)-MTC22111/MTC22112, $14.95.

* Graphite chassis and motor heat-sink set-MTC22113, $119.95.

* Steel hinge-pin set-MTC22128, $8.95.

* Steel/aluminum universals-MTC22135, $15.95/pair.

* Steel/aluminum anti-roll bar set-MTC22136, $17.95.

* Aluminum 8-32 lockouts (4)-MTC22138, $7.95/set.

* Machined-aluminum parts:

Hex drive washers (4)-MTC22114, $8.95/set.

Spur-gear adapter-MTC22115, $11.95.

Motor-mount cam plate-MTC22116, $9.95.

Front hub carriers for bearings-MTC22118, $14.95.

Knuckles arms (F/R)-MTC22119/MTC22120, $14.95.

Main shaft with Delrin joint-MTC22121, $14.95.

Heat-sink motor clamp-MTC22122, $12.95.

Lower motor heat sink-MTC22123, $9.95. CD

Steering rack with bearings-MTC22125, $19.95.

Suspension arms (F/R)-MTC22126/MTC22127, $16.95.

Chassis braces (F/R)-MTC22129/MTC22130, $11.95.

Servo-post set-MTC22133, $11.95. V)

Mount for stabilizing shaft-MTC22137, $4.95.

Front suspension arm mounts (2 degree)-MTC22139, $14.95.

Rear suspension arm mounts (I degree)-MTC22139, $14.95.

PRO-LINE

* Gumby wheels (26mm)-2645-04, $6.50/pair.

RD LOGIC

* SR Series medium w/belt-$14.75/pair.

PERFORMANCE

With the extra heft of its aluminum suspension parts, the Ultimate TC3 weighed a full 3 ounces more than a stock Factory Team TC3, so I wasn't expecting any advantage in acceleration. Still, the Ultimate car didn't give up much to the stocker in a drag race; even though the suspension parts were weighty, the feather-light drive shaft and Delrin differentials were a match for the Factory Team's own lightweight parts and helped the Ultimate get out of the hole quickly. Handling was hard to compare, since the Ultimate and stock TC3s had different shocks with different damping and spring-rate settings. For a fair comparison of handling, I put in a few laps with the Factory Team TC3 then swapped its shocks over to the Ultimate. I was surprised at how similar the cars felt; aluminum suspension parts are often described as being "too stiff" and are blamed for "chatter," but the Ultimate felt supple. Maybe it was the slight flexing of the graphite chassis that I was feeling. At any rate, the car worked well, but I probably wouldn't race with the aluminum suspension parts; in addition to adding weight, they will stay bent if tweaked in a crash. But for show, they're unbeatable, and unless you plan to smash your TC3 into immobile objects, they'll never bend. In all, the Ultimate TO performed better than I would expect of a car built for a cruising style of handling; that's a testimonial to the strength of the basic TO design.

SOURCE GUIDE

ASSOCIATED ELECTRICS 3585 Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626-- 1403; (714) 850-9342; www.rc10.com; www.teamassociated.com.

CS Distributed by Schumacher USA, 6302 Benjamin Rd., Ste. 404, Tampa, FL 33634; (813) 889-9691; www.racing-cars.com.

FUTABA Distributed by Great Planes Model Distributors, P.O. Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826-9021; (800) 682-8948.

HITEC RCD INC. 12115 Paine St., Poway, CA 92064; (858) 748-6948; www.hitecrcd.com.

HPI RACING 15321 Barranca Pky., Irvine, CA 92618; (949) 753-1099; www.hpiracing.com.

MEGATECH 8300 Tonnelle Ave., North Bergen, NJ 07047; (201) 662-2800; www.megatechcr.com; info@ahcmegatech.com.

NOVAK ELECTRONICS INC. 18910 Teller Ave., Irvine, CA 92612; (949) 833-8873; www.teamnovak.com.

PRO-LINE P.O. Box 456, Beaumont, CA 92223; (909) 849-9781; www.pro-lineracing.com.

RDLOGICS 17360 Coling Rd. #355, Rowland Heights, CA 91748; www.rdlogics.com.

REEDY MODIFIED/TEAM ASSOCIATED 3585 Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626; (714) 850-9342; www.teamassociated.com.

TRINITY PRODUCTS INC. 36 Meridian Rd., Edison, NJ 08820; (732) 635-1600; www.teamtrinity.com.