The Dark Impact

[TrevCoult]

Just got and fitted the 3Racing shock set but not had the chance to try the car out yet. As previously promised I will give a full review when I've tried them but so far visually they look decent quality. Also just fitted the Tamiya slipper and one way so have a lot to get used to in one go.

Trev

 

[Metla]

Any opinion on the 3racing shocks?, I was awaiting your review before purchase....

[TrevCoult]

Not had the chance to really hammer them yet, but could give first impressions.

Turned up, nicely packaged. Look the business. Not much in the way of instructions. Longer than the standard DI shocks. Already built with shock oil in. Might as well throw that away though as its close to water. Standard mounting points OK at rear but too much ride height at front, so need experimentation there to find the best mounting points. Tried outer top, one in from outer at bottom in order to keep similar geometry.

Gave them a quick run exactly as supplied, rear was kicking up on the jumps a bit much. Then managed to bend a rear shock rod! Luckily managed to straighten it OK. Think they could do with being built with stronger rods as didn't do too much to it, a couple of end over ends due to the rear kick up. At least they are going to do rebuild kits with replacement rods!

Have now replaced the shock oil with 30 at front and 40 at rear. Also put on the gold Tamiya option springs instead of the standard. These will fit spot on at the rear but are a bit tight at the front, although usable. Done this as the Tamiya springs are shorter so can be set up to use the standard mounting points at the front, also they are softer than the 3Racing ones.

Am going to experiment at the Clumber meet this weekend (if I can make it) to see what works best. Still quite impressed despite possible suspect rod strength, although I've no Tamiya option shocks to compare against. Anyone have both to give a comparative review?

Will post more when I've hammered them a bit.

Trev

 

[TrevCoult]

OK, now I've run at the Clumber bash I can say a bit more about the 3Racing shocks.

Had no more problems with bending the rods despite ramping the DI multiple times, doing race simulation runs on various surfaces and not a few crashes!

The shocks feel just as new and tight now as they did when I first fitted them, so it doesn't seem like the bushes wear quickly. Definitely still little side to side movement on the rods.

If you want to see some of what it went through and what they look like see the photos and video for Clumber 15th Oct on Devilsome's pages. If I get the time I'll put up some pics of them in my showroom soon.

I wasn't sure if the oil weights above were a bit heavy before using the DI as suspension movement was quite slow, but on trying was very good on hard surfaces and grass with the Tamiya option gold springs, so didn't try anything else. Might be worth going down to 20 front, 30 rear on more bumpy surfaces. Was also jumping good and flat as long as I kept the power on for most of the airtime.

Overall I'd recommend these to anyone who can't afford the Tamiya option shocks, and possibly also to those who can. Can't say for sure there as not tried them. Definitely worth a try at half the price of the option shocks, even at ebay prices.

Hope thats enough info for everyone. Just ask if not.

Trev

PS. At risk of sounding like 3Racing's promotions dept. their titanium screw set is wonderful. Far lighter and tighter than the original screws. Don't just get them for the weight saving, feels like a much better built car overall after fitting them, and the hex heads are far better.

Now when are they going to bring out their carbon towers? 

[Kowalski]

I agree about the 3 Racing screw set, they are far superior to the kit philips screws as I've said before. They are stonger and the hex head will last longer. I also agree about the carbon towers.

Conversely I was at the Reading bash (pics in Action Shots) and broke my car on the 2nd battery pack. Sadly no action pictures were taken. I took a jump badly and snapped the rear inner hinge pin mount on a lump of wood on the ramp. That's the whole back gearbox section (A part) I need to replace. Now I can't find any on the net.

When my car was running it was still a dream. Both cars jumped and handled well.

The uprated Tamiya shocks are still rocking. Another guy was thrashing his more stock DI around and didn't break a thing.

Is there any sign of the Keen Hawk shell yet?

Elliott.

 

[Guest sk8te-penguin]

to be absolutely honest with you i am way too lazy to read this entire thread from start to finnish so...

how good is the dark impact out of the box with no hop ups?

is it better that a yokomo MR4BC super dog fighter 2?

and final question... does it carry the honour of not breaking?(out of the box still)

[Kowalski]

The 3-racing shocks look really meaty.

[TrevCoult]

Like I said they work well, especially for the price!

For all others who haven't found the pictures to go with my review they are in my showroom at http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...9&sid=17039

Trev 

[Kowalski]

Boy oh boy, I can't find replacement gearbox parts anywhere.

I've tried a whole bunch of places.

I hope their rarity means they are being retooled to seal better. I HOPE.

Elliott.

[Kowalski]

Me again,

do the aftermarket CF shock towers from square and five stars keep the shockers in the same place? i.e. inside the car from the towers as per the kit or are the rear shocks moved behind the shock tower?.

Does anyone have any pictures of the towers fitted?

Elliott.

[Kowalski]

er, hello again,

The Five Star shock towers maintain the same geometry of the kit towers:

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/char_aznable0820/

(cool pictures)

But this is all academic now as the cheap cheap cheap 3 Racing items are appearing finally on eBay. A front/rear set is cheaper than one of the Square/Five Stars front or rear towers. An absolute bargain.

Elliott.

[TrevCoult]

Definitely going to get those when I have a bit of spare cash, to go with the shocks. Just blown everything on an LRP/Reedy brushless system! (Will be in the showroom in detail soon.)

Have you managed to find any A parts yet?

Trev

 

[Kowalski]

Hello Trev, 

Not quite yet, Fusion Hobbies say their supplier has some in stock. No other shop I've tried across the globe has them in stock.

There is an English guy on the RadioControlZone forum who is in exactly the same position.

Elliott.

[Kowalski]

OK, this is quite nice:

http://www.3racing.hk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=98

3 Racing graphite chassis conversion.

Elliott.

[jerrywasaracecardriver]

Its about time. That graphite chassis will be a hit when it makes the market. I will surely be getting one!

[neo]

Has anyone had any excessive wear on the rear out drives?

[Kowalski]

Yup. I've replaced them and if it happens again. I'm going to try the 3Racing versions.

[RCJosh222]

I will probaly be getting the 3 racing ones since one of my out drives was damaged when my front right turnbuckle popped out and the dog bone jammed and then flew out

[TMetalMan]

I will probaly be getting the 3 racing ones since one of my out drives was damaged when my front right turnbuckle popped out and the dog bone jammed and then flew out

 

Same thing happened to one of my front outdrives!

P.S., you might know me as tcolesen over at RCZ.

[TrevCoult]

And one of my front outdrives yesterday at Clumber! Not too damaged to use so far though. All 3Racing stuff I've got so far has been good so I'll probably try theirs too when I need to replace.

Trev 

[DCM71]

the 3Racing chassis will be ace if they can incorporate rear suspension mounts and romve the stress off the gearbox, if they do that, I am getting one.

 

Outdrives, if you don't fit limiters in the shocks, the dogbones/cvd's rattle like badword, and that chatter causes wear on the outdrives.

 

Anyone running the DF02 CVD's on the front, if you are, are yours noisey too?    

[RCJosh222]

i noticed there are marks on my dog bones from rubing on the out drive when the suspenion fully compresses, limiters are probaly a good idea

[Kowalski]

Trev,

regarding what you were saying about old 0.5 module Astute pinions (53080, 53082 available on eBay) working with the Tamiya DI pinions, these:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...=LXEX40&P=K

and others like it (Robinson make them in different sizes) should work because they work on my Madcap. They are the same pinions described differently.

Elliott.

[DCM71]

I find the Tamiya Pinions don't stand up well, the teeth don't appear to have a hard coating.

[TrevCoult]

I find the Tamiya Pinions don't stand up well, the teeth don't appear to have a hard coating.

Elliott, Those you link to are not the same size, but close. Well they say 48P in the description but they also say metric. I thought 48P was imperial!  I may be wrong though. They might work, but strictly they won't be perfect. Hard to know exactly how well they would work without trying them myself.

DCM71, do you know of anyone else that makes 0.5 pitch pinions? To be honest, I've found the Tamiya steel ones fine though, and both the DI and Super Astute ones are steel.

Trev