Are fighting robots in your RC future?

Radio Control Car Action, Mar 2003 by Vieira, Peter

"Knock his block off!" Back in the '70s, that was the mantra of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robots-the toy that pitted two fist-pumping plastic pugilists against each other in search of the perfect head-popping uppercut. The concept is still popular, but modern fighting robots are now infinitely more complex and exciting than earlier thumb-powered combatants. Radio controlled and packing powerful weapons, the fierce fighting machines popularized by the current crop of battling 'bot television shows (and featured in RC Car Action way back in 1996 when "Robot Wars" was the only game in town) can weigh hundreds of pounds and are equipped to shred, crush and tear the metal skins off their opponents.

Exciting, yes, but not very accessible for those of us without the time, money, space, or skill to build our own big 'bots (do you know how to weld and install hydraulics?). The SOZBOTS guys have the right idea: their vision of i-pound, mini fighting robots that make use of many off-the-shelf RC components is far more doable for Joe RC Guy (see for yourself with an up-close look at Sozbots in "Robot Rumble," starting on page 140). For those of us who actually want to get our hands dirty (or metal pincers, as the case may be), Sozbots are the way to go.

As a hobby, fighting robots have just begun to evolve. Wouldn't it be cool if you could buy a Kyosho robot to fight against your buddy's Tamiya robot and know that they're about equal, since they would have been designed to fight in the same class? And instead of trying to break each other, the object of the "fight" could be to land punches on exposed switches to score points or disable the robot electronically or to disable the other guy with infrared "laser beams" (as Tamiya has already perfected in Battle System for its 1/16-scale tanks). What do you think the future holds for RC and the robot scene? Email your crystal-ball predictions to me at peterv@airage.com!

TRICK TRUCKS & MORE

We've packed a ton more into this issue, starting with two words-trick trucks! We built three super-exotic electric-powered trucks: a Tamiya TAo4 laid out on HPI dubs, a styled and wild HPI RS4 MT ready for the off-road race scene and a Traxxas Stampede with a facelift that's now ready to do some crushing. Sound interesting? Well, that's just the start of the excitement; we also dish up a T-Maxx body guide-with a beautiful body to show them off. Flip a few pages, and you'll see what I'm getting at.

Topping off this issue are our performance tests. Jason Sams, who recently joined our Southern California editorial team, is a diehard racer, and he takes the Losi Triple-X4 to the track to see whether it can surpass the standards set by its predecessor. We released HPI's Savage into the wild to see whether there's a patch of land it can't conquer. HARM's 1/5 RTR onroad racer takes up a few parking spaces as it winds out in our large test lot, and OFNA's latest buggy, the Ultra LX Pro, goes sky hunting-without your having to go hunting for accessories!

This buggy comes with everything! Until next time ....

DON'T BUY ANYTHING BEFORE YOU BUY THIS!

2003

RC CAR ACTION BUYERS' GUIDE

So much stuff, so little time .... How will you ever figure out which RC gear you need to make your machine faster, tougher, better looking than-or just different from-the other guys'? What about all the tools, finishing supplies, accessories and support gear you need to keep your ride running its best? It's all in here: the 2003 RC Car Action Buyers' Guide. With more than 1,100 items spread through its glorious color pages, it will transport you to RC heaven. In addition to all the gear, you'll find tech info, comparison charts and how-to-choose-and-use advice. There's even a special micro car section! What are you waiting for? Turn off the Speed Channel, put on some pants and get to the newsstand! On sale in early March.

Peter Vieira

Executive Editor