Darren is right on. Ellis is proving the 5.1 to be quite fast, and Paul did very well with his too. When we built it, we thought the 5.1 would go into production; however we found a reliability issue and the 5.1's weight distribution isn't quite right when the electronics go in, so the 6.0 was designed.
For the Clash, Paul did not have time to make all the 6.0 parts. Too busy with the SCX - 60CF. He did have some time, and made a new chassis that tackles the reliability issue and moves the weight a little bit in the intended direction. We scratched our heads: What to call it? It's neither 5.1 nor 6.0, and that leaves 5.2.
The 5.2 will be a short lived thing. Ellis doesn't get one, and Paul's will run at CRCRC & R/C Factory this weekend. Paul should have 6.0s finished for both Ellis and himself by Christmas.
B.T.W., the 5.2 worked great. Reliability issue solved, and the weight move was in the right direction. When the 6.0 moves the weight where it's finally supposed to go, we think the X - 7 will be even faster. It's a matter of changing things about 4% and we hope you'll have to add no ballast at all.
One of the cool things is that all the concepts proven on the test bed chassies so long ago are still fully in place. Most of the original ideas from two years ago remain the heart of the X - 7.
As was the case when we made the 5.1, we expect the 6.0 to be a production-ready vehicle. Once Ellis & Paul drive their 6.0s in battle two or three times, another small batch will be made for some other Team drivers, and, assuming their cars go together well, don't break often, and are both easy to drive & fast, we'll start production, possibly as early as late spring. Darren and Dan are drooling...
If additional problems appear, or if all the criteria just above are not met, then it's back to the drawing board. Unlike some of our competitors, who go straight from initial C.A.D. to mold-production, we thoroughly test everything before bringing it to you, and sometimes circumstances make that take forever. We do it where you can see at least some of it while trying to keep the innovative stuff away from the competition, but The Family knows what we are working on.
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