DuraTrax Evader BX

Radio Control Car Action, Jan 2003 by Vieira, Peter

track test

1/10-SCALE ELECTRIC

High-performance

low-buck buggy

DURATRAX SET A NEW STANDARD for ready-to-run electric truck performance with the Evader ST; it plied just about every racing feature a truck fan could ask for into an incredibly inexpensive, factory-finished package. Now DuraTrax brings the Evader experience to buggies with the Evader BX. The new machine matches the original ST feature for feature-from threaded aluminum shocks and full ball bearings to a screen-printed body and universal-joint axles. DuraTrax's Sprint reversing ESC and high-quality Futaba-built radio gear return, too, and the newest Evader is as affordable as the original flatbed. Let's hit the dirt, dirt cheap.

VEHICLE TYPE 2WD electric readyto-run buggy

BEST BUYER Beginners, first-time racers, electric buggy fans.

KIT RATINGS (poor, satisfactory, good, very good, excellent)

Instructions Very good

Parts fit/finish Very good

Durability Very good

Overall performance Very good

MANUFACTURER DuraTrax

MODEL Evader BX

DISTRIBUTED BY Great Planes

SCALE 1/10

PRICE (varies with dealer) $189.99

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase (287mm)

Width (245mm)

WEIGHT

Total, as tested 56.6 oz. (1,605g)

CHASSIS

Type Molded semi-tub

Material Stress-Tech plastic

DRIVE TRAIN

Type 3-gear transmission

Primary 81-tooth spur gear/23-- tooth pinion

Drive shafts Plated universal-joint

Differential Ball-type

Bearing type Metal-shielded ball bearings

SUSPENSION

Type Lower H-arm with turnbuckle upper link

Shocks Aluminum, threaded-body, oil-filled

WHEELS

Type One-piece, 2.2-in. dish

TIRES

Type (F/R) 4-rib/bar-tread; foam inserts

ELECTRONICS

Transmitter DuraTrax

Servo DuraTrax SX-100

ESC DuraTrax Sprint

Motor DuraTrax Photon Speed

Battery Not included

KIT FEATURES

CHASSIS. The Evader BX rides on exactly the same molded chassis as the Evader ST, so you get an up-to-date design with all the current off-road racing touches. Raised sides increase cornering clearance; the front and rear suspension assemblies may be removed intact; and a plastic strap holds the battery on the chassis' centerline (it's one of the few items not included with the BX). A molded upper brace stiffens the front end, and the rear bumper is extended to protect the motor's endbell. All the plastic chassis and suspension parts are molded of DuraTrax's Stress-Tech plastic, which has a little extra flex for durability; in fact, DuraTrax warranties the Stress-Tech parts against breakage for a full year. If you break it, DuraTrax replaces it.

DRIVE TRAIN. No changes were made to the Evader ST's 3-gear ratio transmission for buggy duty. The ball-bearing-equipped gearbox has a one-piece steel top shaft and top gear with plastic idler and diff gears. The ball differential uses standard 3/32-inch balls (12 in all) and a caged thrust bearing with steel outdrives. An Associated-style, single-pad slipper clutch is also standard; the design allows you to make spur-gear changes without altering the slipper setting. The spur gear itself is an 81-tooth unit that meshes with a 23-tooth steel pinion-both standard 48-pitch. The BXs 3.52:1 pinion/spur ratio is taller than the Evader ST's 4.88:1 ratio to compensate for the BX's smaller, buggy-size tires. Completing the drive train, a pair of plated universal-joint axles pass through metal-shielded ball bearings before they're connected with the wheels by means of roll pins.

SUSPENSION AND STEERING. Threaded, aluminum-body shocks are the stars here. They're assembled, Los! style, with bottom-loaded sealed cartridges, and they use knurled collars for no-tool preload adjustments. The rest of the suspension is equally well featured: the thick steel turnbuckles resemble Lunsford's titanium units; there are foam dirt seats on the steel ball studs and combined kingpin/ball studs up front. A pair of bellcranks and turnbuckle tie rods steer the front wheels, and an adjustable servo-saver is built into the bellcranks (but is almost inaccessible unless you remove the front chassis brace). Camber and servosaver tension are adjustable, and roll center can be adjusted using three inboard front and four inboard rear camber-link locations plus three camber-link locations on the rear hubs. Shock position can be changed as well; up front, there are three upper and three lower shockmounting holes; the rear gets a five upper/two lower combo. The BX's wheelbase can be changed using spacers that slide the rear hub carriers fore and aft on their hinge pins, and rear toe-in is fixed at 3 degrees.

BODY, WHEELS, AND TIRES. Like all DuraTrax vehicles, the Evader BX includes a factory-finished body. DuraTrax supplies a set of "blacked-out" window decals and a sheet of Evader logos to finish it off. The wing is painted (or, to be more accurate, printed), and it's mounted on the rear shock tower with a music-wire yoke-old-school-style. DuraTrax has bent the wire to shape and mounted the wing for you.

Dish-type, 2.2-inch wheels are standard, and they're shod with firm-ish rubber tires supported by foam inserts. The fronts are the usual 4-rib type, and the rears are styled like Team Los! Taper-Pins. DuraTrax handles the gluing and does a good job-no gaps or glue on the sidewalls. When you're ready for new rubber, if your shop doesn't have DuraTrax hoops on the wall, Team Losi rear rims will fit the Evader.