Holiday wish list

Radio Control Car Action, Dec 2001

DO ELVES

REALLY MAKE THIS STUFF?

'TIS BETTER TO GIVE than to receive? We'll take your word for it; we want to get stuff!

And since it is the getting-stuff season again, what better time to give you our annual Holiday Wish List? Right after "world peace," we're penciling in the following on our must-have list.

DRIVE

Team Losi Matt Francis Edition Triple-XT

Is there any doubt that this truck is the ish? IYs a Triple-XT! With all the graphite! And red stuff! How can it be bad? It can't be.

Sign us up, Santa. See the June 2001 issue for the original Triple-XT review, or read just about any race coverage for proof that the Triple-XT (and Matt Francis) wins races.

Matt Francis Edition Triple-XT-part no. LOSA 0075; $249.95. HPI Micro RS4 At 1/18 scale, the Micro RS4 is small enough to run and race anywhere indoors, yet it's still big enough to play outside. It's also big enough for independent front suspension, a fiberglass chassis, full-time belt-driven 4WD (with diffs!) and fullsize radio gear. Clear bodies make for endless painting possibilities, and the little cars are surprisingly quick; expect tons of hop-ups from HPI and the aftermarket guys, too.

Micro RS4-part no. Viper HPI6O1, BMW M3 HP1602, Skyline GTR HP1603; $124.99.

GS Racing Storm RTR

There are other capable RTR %-scale buggies out there, but the Storm is tough to beat. It includes a JR-XR3 FM radio set, heavy-duty steering

servo and all the important tech features you want in a nitro buggy: all metal, helical gears; sealed diffs; 3mm chassis with side guards; full bearings; sealed radio box; and a powerful pull-start engine with tuned pipe. Check out the November 2001 issue for a full review.

Racing Storm RTR-part no. GSC 2003; $549.

Tamiya TXT-1

Are you a "Real monster trucks don't have independent suspension" guy, or just a trick-truck kinda guy, or a Tamiya fan? Whatever you are, you'll want a TXT-1; we do. From its cantilever-suspended, aluminum-tube frame-style chassis to its beefed-up Juggernaut 2 drive train and factoryfinished Lexan body, the Tamiya Extreme Truck is the best example of a straightaxle monster ever to hit RC.

TXT-1-part no.TAM58280; $454.99.

DuraTrax Thunder Quake

The Thunder Quake has roots in the DuraTrax Axis and Monster III, Quake, but the latest DuraTrax big truck is no %-scale buggy warmover. What sets the Thunder Quake apart from those machines is its reversing tr"nny (nice, but not the dealmaker) and its w-i-d-e suspension arms, the deep-chrome wheels and massive tires (that's the sweet stuff). Of course, you also get DuraTrax-by-Futaba radio gear (3-channel, no less), AA batteries, glow-starter and fuel bottle-everything you need except fuel. Thunder Quake-part no. DTXD74**; $549.99.

WHAT WE WANT TO

Team Associated Nitro TO

You could say it's a TO with pivot-ball suspension, a 2-speed and what appears to be a YZ250 exhaust pipe, but the new Nitro TC3 is much better described as an all-new car than as merely a nitro-fled version of the electric TC3. And if the Nitro TO makes as big a splash on the nitro touring-car racing scene as its electric forerunner did, look out; you'll be seeing a lot of these bad boys.

Nitro TC3-part no. ASC2030; $446.39.

Traxxas T-Maxx ...

... or an E-Maxx; we're not picky. It's not as if we're going to leave it stock, anyway. Even though we've built a bunch of Maxx project trucks already, there's just so much aftermarket stuff for the Maxxes that we want to build more! That means we need more trucks. Overnite 'em, please; we can't wait for Santa, and the boxes are too big to fit down the chimney anyway.

T-Maxx-part no. TRA 4910; $425.

E-Maxi-part no. TRA 3906; $379.

Pro-Line Maxx Road Rage tires and Outback wheels

Pro-Line's giant-size road tires were actually good for a 3mph speed increase over the stock Traoas tires when we radar-tested, Kevin Hetmanski's Hardcore .21-converted T-Magic (August 2001), and the massive meats are stickier than your hands after an all-you-caneat night at House of Ribs. Oversize foam inserts are included, and in case you're wondering, those are Pro-Line's Outback wheels (not included) inside the rubber.

Maxx Road Rage tires-part no. 1082-00; $29. Outback wheels-part no. 2656-01; $18.

LRP

Quantum ESC

It's the Chris Chianelli of speed controls: small, but powerful. Of course, the LRP Quantum is also new, whereas Chris is, um, not But let's not push the analogy too far, OK? The Quantum has been in the works for a while, and it's a real achievment for LRR Without the need for any external programming devices, you can set the Quantum% "Punch Control" initial brake value and automatic brake (drag brake) value to match your needs. Its small size makes it easy to fit in any car, and there's no need for an external capacitor.

Quantum ESC-part no. ASC LRP 8082; $214.99.

Protoform 190mm Honda Civic body

Yeah, you thought you were gonna mack out your Civic with some Spoon gear, coilovers and JDM lights, but six months later, it's still at full ride height with no wing and a baby seat in the back. Save your money, and hook up a Civic, RC-style! Protoform's 190mm sedan shell will give your ride instant tuner style, and it's easy to get a great-looking result even with a single-color paint job, thanks to the included window masks and decals. 190mm Honda CMc body-part no. 1439-00; $23.