I have build my DARC last week and raced it in a local club-competition this weekend. (Belgian Power Team @ Merchtem, Belgium)
I had been a long time without RC-driving but the car immediatly felt easy to drive.
AS for building: the kit comes in pre-assembled and with a good written litle tips-manual. First you have to disassemble the kit and rebuild it with locktight on the screws.
Then, step 2 of the proces: mounting the rear and front of the DEX410 to the DARC-kit. This did take me some time because, as mentioned in Scott's manual, it really is a very tight fit. At one point I was tired of fighting with the parts and used a file to adjust a few holes. I only removed hardly noticable material on the 3 rear holes in the chassi-plate but this was immediatly enough to fit everything easely in.
I also thought to just switch the electronics: motor-esc, .. direct from the DEX to the DARC, but ended up with re-soldering everything which gave me a cleaner and better layout then before.
There is indeed a bit more space to fit the elctronics then with the DEX but it is not dramatic.
The fact that the motor and ESC now are positioned next and under the longest part of the slipper also makes a difference when you have to fit everything in.
The track was astro but VERY bumpy and slippery as there was sand in the astro. This meant that leaving the good line equalled slidin'
Anyway, the car was very easy and certainly less critical. I still was able to push harder and harder when getting confidence again in my driving and this process was very quick.
The car ALWAYS stayed dialled, even when trying different settings in the shock-setup. I was even surprised at moments when I pushed really (really) hard but never felt the car getting out of control.
We only had two small series of 4WD-drivers but the level was certainly not low.
I Q'd 2'nd in B-final, which was Ok for me .. but it did surprise me as I usually need more time to get dialed in again after about months without any off-roadracing or even training.
The car has plenty of grip and steering, never had problems with griprolls. I started on used worn tires, but the track had mucho grip so no problem there.
I still could go on and on even when the tires got REALLY worn .. When I did put on some brand new tires on, I feared never-ending gripprolling .. but the car went even harder without losing the balance and NO griprolling.
In the jumps the car was easy. Other drivers commeted seeing it very stable in flight. Honestly, it was as stable as I was used to with my regular DEX410: I felt no improvement there .. but AS excelent as before.
However, and this is the ONLY thing negative I noticed: i didn't feel it as easy to correct the flight after jumps when the jump went wrong .. maybe because of the increased length?
It is also easely noticable that there is MUCHO more flex in the chassis. After one severe crash I popped the rear propshaft out of the slipper-outdrive, which has never happened to me before .. but I must admit I still drive with an up-up-updated DEX410R so with the old slipper with short rear slipper-outdrive.
I might consider switching the rear U-brace from plastic to carbon.
I will note down my actual setup but am certain that there is room for improvement, so that's a very good excuse for testing in the days to follow
..
I also intend to race the car at the upcomming Kampenhout GP
If I find the time I will also publish a build-report (took plenty of pictures).
edit:
oh .. and I finished my finals as 1st, 2nd and 1st
so B-Q WIN