Just a quick post. My first RC car was/is a Losi 8ight v3 RTR. It was pretty pricy for what it is, a 4wd buggy with 4S compatible electronics (at least compared to others in the class). Now I know that a TLR kit will cost more for a comparable vehicle, but it comes with better components, and missing a lot (like motor, ESC, controller, tires) that you will have to buy (so, getting started is like $1,200)
(more…)Author: gander
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The Traxxas Ecosystem
The RC bug has bit me, bad. I currently have two RC cars, a Losi 8ight 1/8th scale buggy, and a Traxxas X-Maxx that I bought used (barely used) with Traxxas batteries and charger(s).
But this post is more about the Traxxas RC ecosystem, with a Product Manager’s eye on their efforts.
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And it is time to change the ESC and battery connectors
I wanted to keep the Traxxas battery connectors and the two 6700mAh batteries that came with my used X-Maxx, really I did. I even bought a pair of SMC 9400 mAh batteries to give me more run time, with Traxxas connectors.
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The death of the hobby shop
One of the joys of my childhood was to spend literally hours day dreaming in the local hobby shop. It was a warm, welcoming place, set up to extract money from your wallet, but to provide both advice and and counseling.
But, that business model was already under pressure from online retailers even before the internet slaughtered the advice and counseling aspect of the vaunted Local Hobby Shop (LHS).
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Unpopular Views
Everybody has a few unpopular views and opinions. Here are some of mine:
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Review: Bladerunner 2049
I remember watching the original Bladerunner in one of the Century theaters in the 1980’s. A masterpiece of visual delight, it riffed off of the current hyper-popular branding and visual stimulation to weave a fantastic tale that succeeded, even with its overbearing narrative (the editors seemed to think us yanks needed to be hit over the head with the main plot lines.)
So, when I heard that they were making a sequel, I was delighted.
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Traxxas life – Batteries
As I mentioned before, I picked up a Traxxas X-maxx that was lightly used. Part of the package was their “Completer Kit”, in this case two monstrous 6700 mAh batteries, and since the dual ID link charger struggles to put out enough power to charge two of these monsters, the prior owner bought two of the beefier spec single chargers.
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The X-maxx Files – Day 1
As it arrived yesterday (super fast shipping for those who care, I Paypal’d the money on Thursday, and the truck arrived on Monday) I felt the need to get the rubber side down and test it out.
First, the body is perfect. No noticeable blemishes. A stock X-maxx with any real ‘bashing’ on the clock will have some scrapes, gouges, and possibly cracks in the lexan shell. It is clean.
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Oops, I did it
As part of the RC car bug that has bit me, I have been on the lookout for my next acquisition. I have been leaning towards an Arrma short wheelbase Truggy either their Notorious or the Outcast. Essentially the same chassis, but with different bodies.
But while I have been researching, I keep watching Kevin Talbot’s videos. Kevin is a basher par excellence. At first I thought his YouTube [Channel] was cartoonish, over the top, and while entertaining, not really serious. Partly this was because of his ad for his eBay business methods he prepends (for the record, I don’t mind that, and it isn’t that annoying) to the videos. But as I watch more and more of his pieces, there is a method to his madness.
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Public Transit in the age of COVID-19
I am a huge proponent of public transit, having blogged about it several times before, and being fortunate enough to work for an enlightened company who sponsors my transit pass.
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