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ncpantherfan71

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Posts posted by ncpantherfan71

  1. I raced the M05 several years.  The gears are pretty strong and I never had any problems with any of the gears except the spur gear, it  can be damaged when you hit something with the front wheels.  If your pinion cam loose it also could have damaged the spur when it shifted. Also, if you are still using stock pinion keep an eye on them, they can wear pretty fast too.

  2. I live in Fayetteville NC now,  but grew up in Clayton.   Started with rc in the 80s with a hornet.   Stayed with it until my teens when 1:1 cars and chasing girls took all my spare time and definitely all my money.   Joined the Air Force and started to get back into rc.  Didn't get too involved,  living in the dorm with no storage,  room to work, and chasing girls still took most my money! 😆 

    Around 97 I was stationed in England, my wife (all the girl chasing paid off) we're watch a British show where they ran a couple m01 mini coopers.   My wife wanted a 1:1 but I didn't think they were too safe,  basically a drink can on wheels, so we picked up 2 kits to build together.  I still have both kits on my shelf, with about 40 friends. 

    I'm retired from the Air Force and working part time at the local hobby shop in Fayetteville.  Interest kind of goes up and down depending on what I'm doing at work.   I have built several Traxxas vehicles to use for show and tell.   I'm currently trying to get motivated to finish a monster slash 4x4 and a custom trx4. 

    • Like 1
  3. Traxxas told us it will be available in clear in the future, don't know how much into the future.   I had a clear Bigfoot body on order for months before it finally came in. 

    Yes it's for the trx4,  and will be about the same size as the defender body.   Those years Broncos were never small like the original one.   They were a pretty large suv.  The rear windows on all,  if not most SUVs in the states are tinted pretty dark.   It keeps people's nosey eyes and sticky fingers from being tempted to break in.   Even my full size truck with a rear seat has pretty dark rear door windows.

  4. Hobico is no longer the only distributors for HPI,  Associated,  or Axial. 

    Associated can be purchased from Horizon Hobby,  HPI is now through HRP out of Utah,  Axial can be picked up through several channels.  

    If Hobico can not successfuly restructure it really will not have too big impact on the rc car scene.  Mainly Axial and Arrma brands will be impacted.  However it will have a huge impact on the rc aircraft side. 

     

  5. Traxxas direct hasn't made a large impact on us as of yet,  however Towers super saver discounts did.   If they give the customer a $30.00 coupon on a $300.00 kit,  the mail order customer just paid the same price we do.   The markup on kits,  all manufacturers, is very little.  When Traxxas stopped them using coupons it actually helped us.  Great Planes practices have also hurt other manufacturers in the industry.   They dropped Parma and didn't even let them know!   I had to call Parma direct just to find out if they were going out of business!  And it's not just Great Planes,  the other large distributor, Horizon Hobby still carries Traxxas surface products but none of the quad copters because it is competing with their Blade brand.  When the TRX4 was announced Traxxas is the sole distribution source.   Tower could buy to sell,  but could not distribute to shops.   This has had a very positive impact on us,  we are paying the same price Great Planes, Horizon,  A Main,  and everyone. 

    Now I don't think Traxxas is perfect.   I really don't care for their practices when it comes to the battery connectors.  I know some of it is an effort to make lipo as safe and idiot proof as possible,  and limit their liability.   When McDonalds can be sued for millions because coffee is hot, it's smart.

    The biggest threats to our business are Amazon,  and Hobby King.  I had a customer looking at a Slash 4x4 and we were within a total of 34.00 to the online source,  including tax,  and he said no thanks and walked out. I don't know how any lhs can compete and keep the doors open, lights on, much less operate a track anymore.   Being in the exact same location for 50 years allowed them to build relationships with many of the local rc pilots and train enthusiast.  Those relationships and repeat customers is what is keeping us afloat.

    I would honesty like to ask,  how many people went to a small business this Christmas and purchased items, or went to you local hobby shop and asked them to order a kit for you?   Start building a relationship with some of those businesses and if they care about their customers I will guarantee it will be a positive experience for both.

    Sorry again,  and I will get off my soap dox now. 😊

    • Like 2
  6. 18 hours ago, Sammo said:

    Morning,

    I need to buy myself a charger and there's too many out there.  This Traxxas charger comes up as the best seller on Modelsport and seems pretty simple to use.

    Has anyone got one or can anyone offer any advice on whether it's any good or if I should go for something else.

    Cheers,

    Sammo

    The only time I recommend the Traxxas charger is if you have an inexperienced person with lipo.   Otherwise,  I think the Hitec chargers are a great choice.   Take a look at the RDX1 and the x2 for a dual charger.  It's a little more cash than the EZ peak,  but they have more room for you to "grow" into. 

  7. I like both Traxxas and Tamiya,  both are great products if used as they were intended.  The original T-Maxx is what really got me back into rc, and as a result, I am collecting several of the older Tamiyas from my youth and a bunch of the re-releases. 

     The hobby industry in the US isn't doing the best.   I work at a small family owned shop that has been in the community for 50 years now.   The larger distributors are cutting margins to the point where we can not buy it for what they are selling it for on line.  I know of at least 5 shops that closed in the last year and half in my state. 

    So if Traxxas secured the patent for the Revo suspension setup,  then good for them and they should defend it.  The first time I saw a pic of the Arrma Nero and Fazon the first thing I thought was it looks a lot like a Revo.   Is that any different than Tamiya asking this forum to remove manuals to discontinued kits or stop talking about reproduction decals? 

    King RC had a direct copy of the HPI Baja 5b,  all hpi parts were direct fit for replacement.   How many people purchased it over the hpi not caring it was a direct copy.   King RC didn't pay any of the development costs,  but sure made a killing on it.  There are several counterfeit Castle Creation motors all over the auction sites,  and they are being sold as genuine.  I even saw a TRF 417 copy while back and if I remember it was being discussed here or maybe it was rctech, I don't remember for sure,  as a possible substitute.

    The low quality,  discount copy products coming out of China being sold for pennies is killing many industries,  not just rc. 

    I have been guilty of trying some of the cheap products in the past, but I was disappointed the the lack of proper instructions and poor quality.  Now that I work in a small family shop I really see the negative impact these products have.  In about 2 weeks I will have to tell many people we cannot help them fix the car,  truck, plane,  or quad copter because it is a cheap copy and parts just aren't available.   They will get discouraged and quit the hobby before they even get started. 

    Sorry about the long post,  but this is something I see almost every day.  We are loosing the back bone of the hobby with all the mom and pop shops closing.   Next time you have a problem with a kit, esc, reciever call Amazon or that faceless eBay user name to ask for help and see what  you get. 

    Edit:  there are some very good users on eBay,  I am not saying all are bad, just a generation with the import product sellers

    • Like 2
  8. 1 hour ago, 78Triumph said:

    Traxxas sux!

    I don't think Traxxas sux just because they are protective of their name, product, and designs.  It is just smart business.  That's how they have become the top name in RC, with some positive and some negative results.

    Great Planes is going through a pretty big restructure.  They are dropping several manufactures product lines and seem to be going through a fairly substantial inventory reduction.  They are no longer the only North America distributor for Team Associated, HPI, and Axial.  According to our sales rep, they are NOT going the way of Novak and closing down.

  9. 17 hours ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

    I am looking at spring sets for my TA07 to give some tuning options. The car comes with medium all round. How often do you have the same on both ends? I see a lot of setup sheets with different srpings at each end.

    The sets have soft, med, hard, extra hard in them.

    Am i better to buy 2 sets or just buy 1 set as i wouldn't have the same on both ends at any one time anyway?

    Are you on asphalt or carpet?   Are you using standard touring springs?  Are you limited to only Tamiya springs? 

  10. 47 minutes ago, iluvmud said:

    Lol, the motor will probably be sold on its own... I’ll have one truck sold as artr and the other a roller, same with the b5ms, or possibly both b5ms will be sold as rollers.... since I have a lot of spares to go with them too.

    i do have another large lot coming in which I believe is another 6 cars and a ton of spares

     

    You should put the motor in a lunchbox just for kicks!

    Where are you finding all these big lots?  

    I picked up one a few years ago and split it up and made a little bit, but I kept a lot of it too.

  11. 20 minutes ago, iluvmud said:

    theyre beautiful! Just the rear universals have some rust but I can get that off no problem.... and I feel dumb I preemptively bought a DT02 chassis thinking yours would have scratches.............. not a dang one! its going on the shelf and the DT01 will find some great use as it will be a basher to run with the neighbors and neighborhood kids!

     

    And today is another day........ this is technically local... but..

    Came across 2 Associated B5Ms and a Tekno 410.3 and TLR something or other stadium trucks... and everything in the pics. too good a deal to pass up!

    I will say, they are cool but will be sold for the greater good (to pay off my CC debt and help complete some of my Tamiya projects)

    IMG_2749_zpsltnxdsxw.jpg

     

     

     

    And then my baby has come back to me.... now in its box!!! and got some paint and decals from @Dojo Dave to finish off my vintage FAV vehicle. Oh and a Futaba Attack III Ive been dying to get a hold of to complete my Vintage Lunchbox too!

     

    The TLR looks like a SCTE 2.0 and the pic shows what looks like a Tekin Pro4 motor.

     

  12. 5 hours ago, salvine said:

    Your guy Kam is in the press for all the wrong reasons...

    A lot of the Cam stuff is blown way out of proportion, he is an easy target.  He definitely isn't the best public speaker and can put his foot in his mouth.    I'm more a fan of defense.   I'm a big fan of Luke, Thomas Davis and d line. 

  13. 13 hours ago, salvine said:

    I could but you're a panther fan....I have to take pictures of the other bodies. maybe this weekend. To date I have a Mustang, Zero, and Hellcat/Corsair. I think I have some of the different painting processes as well.

    Hey now, leave my Panthers alone!

    I am looking forward to seeing the other bodies.  I really like unusual paint jobs. 

    I was stationed at Pope AFB when the 23rd FG was there and I have an A-10 inspired scheme planed for a short course body but having a hard time finding someone to make unit patch decals small enough.

     

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