Okay, a few questions because I'm trying to get a dialog going here. I have found... owning cars with all three types of chassis that the carbon fiber on my B44 has held up better than the other two. I heard guys chatting about using CA to seal the edges but I don't really see the need in off road. I have a Kyosho Triumph (Circa 91) and even the flimsy carbon fiber like parts were fine after years of use... I still have the darn thing, lol. Is heat an issue anymore? I guess it would be if you were using NiMH and brushed motors, however I cannot get my 5.5 over 165 deg. and I feel like I'm geared tall. I would be worried about a short circut from my battery pack rubbing on the chassis and the thin layer of sand between the two. You could insulate the chassis from the battery but that is just one more thing to clean. As far as wanting flex or none at all that could be acheived by the thickness of both materials. I'm not sure that the small amount of top deck would be that detrimental to the center of gravity. I'm willing to go out on a limb and wagger to say that the carbon fiber they make now would require even modest chassis bracing. So is it more about preferance? I know that my carbon RC cars feel very nimble almost to a fault, as for the others they are more fogiving. Graphite parts were all the rage a few years back... they were very ridgid and very fragile. They would give you a very precise feel (esp. in corners) and they would punish you if you over jumped a tripple by a foot by breaking without so much as a crash. They were like china in a wind storm.
I have really come to hate plastic shock caps... esp. the A.E. ones. I love the caps on the Kyosho and the ease of the rebuild on the Losi's. If they could make a shock like the Losi with the no cap on top and a aluminum seal cap for the bottom do you think that would be best? I think the top shock screw would break before the tower does, either that or I'm real lucky. I've replaced a bent one on two occasions.
I think it is a tight fit at best... as far as the electronics are concerned. I run the JR 9100S, Futaba 604 rec., TC Sphere, and the AMB. What do you use? I could see clearance issues with those products. I run the Trak Power saddles, but hardcase LiPo's are not even tech'ed here in the states that is why I mentioned battery issues. I have however seen three cars smoke, catch on fire, and then melt three times over the last ten years or so.
Every car I've owened has required something extra to make it track worthy. I'm not talking about upgrades... you kind of assume there aren't any when you drop 5 bills on an electric car. The B44 required a LiPo brace, a different rear upper deck plate, and a different body for fellas running a fan (let me tell you it gets hot here). There are certain things you kinda have to expect. Like, what is the point in selling a race kit with tires anymore? I may change tire treads three times as the track goes from loose, to blue, to black. What sort of changes have you made to your vehicle or do you run it box stock?
Last of all I'm not trying to be smug... I really do like the kit. I notice rear anti-squat numbers etched in the aluminum, that is real classy and helpful. You no longer would have to remove the battery or the rear bulkhead to see what your running. I'm not a person to really sing praises, sorry that is just me. I'd like to see a car that took the very best design aspects of all cars and wrapped it up into one awesome off-road kit. I guess I'd better start building.
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