questions from a kyosho newb

[yellow1]

hello from the states!

thanks to the informative review on this site, i was influenced to purchase the ZX5. it's been a long time since i've run a purpose-built race vehicle, and i'm excited to have it added to my fleet.

i bought the RTR version, due to the overall cost, and the fact that my LHS was going to add a 3200 Team Orion LiPO to the package. all in all, it wasn't a bad deal...

my only problem... is i've got the desire to upgrade a few items on it.

first... i did tires. the RTR comes with pre glued pins sans foam, what a let down. i run mainly on cement and grass, but every so often i'll go to the local BMX track and kick up the dust and pebbles that litter the track. so i purchased some pro-line dirt-hawgs. hopefully they last awhile.

next... i did motor and ESC. i had a castle creations Sidewinder w/ 5600kV motor, which was pulled from a 2WD evader. i haven't seen much feedback from people running a brushless with this car, will the drive train hold up?

finally... i ordered in an Azarashi Lexan Underbody (thanks for the tip, oople!) and so far have saved the screwheads from a ton of scratches.

now for the list of upgrades and questions...

• one way front axle... what do i really need to order? i'm trying to avoid taking the car apart to look, order the parts, then rebuilding it in time for the weekend... only to take it apart again when the parts come in. part2... does this come as a kit?
• rear sway bar. is it really necessary?
• the system that captures the rear hinge pins (part #34 in the manual) keep breaking on me. ok, i admit that the first time was my fault, but the 2nd time was a glancing blow from the side... and the plastic broke in the same place. how much stronger are the composite ones? does anyone make an aluminum version?
• the RTR version comes with universal-type dog-bones, which is curiously different from the dog-bones identified in the review. as far as i can tell, they don't rattle around, and they seem pretty durable.
• has anyone run with a hard-cased LiPO like the Team Orion one? how did you manage to get the battery post to fit under the upper shell... without cutting holes and leaving wires exposed?

aside from that, i'm very happy with my new car, and i'm trying my hardest not to bash it, and save it strictly for racing and practices... unlike the rest of my fleet...