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New Yokomo D-Max Special

December 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Released late last month this mouth watering new drifter from Yokomo is based on a new chassis design by Yokomo’s own Suzuki Hiroshi.

Of exceptional note for the 4WD drift car is the new dual center slipper clutch which allows an individual balance of power to the rear and front axle possible. This allows the front and rear wheels to spin at different speeds (See the video below) allowing the driver to pull of some pretty exceptional rolling burn-off moves! This is an RC drifters dream come true!

Add the increased steering angle and you have a great chassis for counter steer drift style. The clutch allows easy setup for different surfaces.

The use of saddle pack-batteries and the centered motor position give an even balance to the chassis for better control.

Yokomo D-Max Special Specifications

  • Shaft drive 4WD
  • Viewer carbon upper and lower chassis decks
  • Adjustable dual clutch
  • Ackermann optimized for counter steer drifting
  • Improved front knuckles
  • Alu suspension arm mount
  • Alu oil damper
  • Alu special motor mount
  • Alu upper arm tie-rod
  • Length: 387mm
  • Width: 198mm
  • Wheelbase: 258mm
  • Internal gear ratio: 2.35/1
  • Weight (without body): 1420g

Yokomo D-Max Special

More pictures available on the Yokomo site here.

Filed Under: RC Drift News, Yokomo Drift Cars Tagged With: , ,

Cool Flash Drift Games

December 22, 2009 By 1 Comment

Can’t get enough of drifting? Check out our top 5 FREE flash drift games on the web. Not a penny to pay for all the online drifting fun you need!

Perfect for bored drifters and wasting time at work.

No. 5 Drift Runners
Drift Runners

Drift Runners is a fun little game that not only awards points for your drifting skills but also for hitting objects, clearing jumps and beating your computer opposition.

No. 4 Drift Legends
Drift Legends

Test your drifting skills under timed pressure on a wide selection of tracks. Unforgiving game that punishes those with weak drift-fu. Good fun though!

No. 3 Mercedes Drift Game
Mercedes Drift Game

Nice and simple freebie advertising game for Mercedes. Double use of the word drift here as your driving skills are rated by how much snow you splash up walls. (Snow drift geddit!)

No. 2 King of Drift
King of Drift

King of Drift has to be hands down one of the best Flash racing games ever made. Notable features include an array of beautifully rendered tracks, excellent driving physics, plenty of different game modes and difficulties, challenging computer opponents, upgradable cars, and nice faux 3D touches.

The game retains a very professional feel with nice, easy to navigate menu screens, no serious bugs, and a decent soundtrack. Race against the clock in time trials, earn points by performing drifts and tricks, or race against computer controlled cars in the race (career) mode.

No. 1 Online World Drifting Championships
Online World Drifting Championships

Our pick of the bunch is this fantastic drifting game from Amnesia. Sponsored by Xbox this is the best drift game available on the web! With stunning graphics and realistic drifting this game is top notch fun. You can even set up a league and drift against your mates to see who is the ultimate drift world champion.

Filed Under: Fun, RC Drift News Tagged With:

New HPI Nissan 350Z Hankook Drift Bodyshell

December 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Fans of full-size drifting can now get the latest custom car creation in the form of the Hankook-sponsored Nissan 350Z bodyshell from HPI Racing. This 1/10th scale replica of the Gruppe-S/Dynamic Autosports Hankook Tire 350Z driven by Robbie Nishida for 2009 is only available from HPI!

Included with the Nissan 350Z Hankook body are two pre-cut decal sheets that include stripes, window lines, headlights, grills, tail lights, official Nissan and Hankook logos and much more, providing your touring car with a realistically finished product. Each body comes with a molded nylon dual plane rear wing, as well as light buckets for the headlights and tail lights.

hpi drift car nissan body

This body is clear so you can paint it in your favorite colours. It fits 200mm touring cars and can also be used on 190mm touring cars with the use of wide offset wheels. Overspray film is included, as well as vinyl window masks to make painting quick and simple. An instruction sheet is included for the decals, and the body has dimple marks for body post drill locations.

Got to admit this looks pretty cool!

Filed Under: HPI Drift Cars, RC Drift Bodyshop

Team Magic E4D – New versions!

November 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Following on from our previous post the Team Magic E4D Ready-to-Run is now available in 2 new colour schemes!

If the sweet looking BMW 320 wasn’t enough for you then check out the new Mazda RX7 in a very agressive red and the new Nissan S15 Silvia in blue.

Team Magic E4D RX7 Drift Car

Team Magic E4D S15 Drift Car

Team Magic have also just launched a new Drift Zone blog on their website! Hopefully this will be regularly updated with drift tips and advice. Thier fitst contribution is a how-to for equiping the H.A.R.D. LED light kit to your kit. Click here to visit the Team Magic Drift Zone area.

Filed Under: Team Magic Drift Cars

Team Magic E4D 320 1/10th Drift Spec Touring Car

September 18, 2009 By 1 Comment

The fact that it’s Ready-To-Run always makes us happy as it means entry level drifters can enjoy themeselves without having to get their hands too dirty. Team Magic claim the E4D is 98% factory built and all you need to get drifting are some AA batteries and an hour to charge the battery. Sweet.

This is a no thrills drift car. It comes with no titanium or carbon fibre parts. In their place are high quality plastic parts which do their job and help keep the complete cost of the package down. This reinforced plastic can be found in every part of the car, making the E4D very light. For Team Magic fans who want a stronger car the E4D shares many features of the E4 series meaning their are plenty of upgrades already available.

Team Magic E4D Drift Car

The electrics in this car are all from TM’s own H.A.R.D stable, which generally means you’re getting good quality gear. Of particular interest is the dual mode ESC; The dual mode feature is ideal for novices looking to learn the basics of RC drifting. Once you tire of ‘easy mode’ a quick flick of the switch and your playing with the big boys! ‘Fierce Mode’ (as TM have dubbed it) unleashes the full power of the 19T motor making acceleration much more fun.

Team Magic E4D Features:

  • Three Belt Tranmission
  • Narrow chassis and low CG design
  • Centralised battery and motor
  • Rubber Belts
  • Quick release front & rear ball diffs
  • Fully upgradeable
  • Mounted Drift Tyres
  • H.A.R.D. Futaba Radio System
  • H.A.R.D. JR Dual Mode ESC
  • H.A.R.D. x3 Motor

Team Magic E4D Specifications:

  • Scale: 1/10th
  • Width: 186mm
  • Length: 374mm
  • Weight: 1480g
  • Wheelbase: 257-259mm

Team Magic are reknowned for making some crap cars. However their G4 touring car is a complete gem of a RC vehicle so there is hope that this new drift car will be the bees knees. This version does very nicely as an entry level drift car but if you want more then look elsewhere.

Check out this video of the new car in action:

Filed Under: RC Drift News, Team Magic Drift Cars

Electric vs Nitro

June 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Following on from our review of the HPI Nitro RS4 RTR Drift Car we were wondering if nitro drifting could ever steal electric drift’s crown as the most popular form of RC drifting. Electric drift has pretty much ruled ever since the mainstream manufacturing of drift cars began.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both power plants but overall, we think electric RC cars are better for drifting. Electric RC drift cars offer more consistent torque and faster throttle response than nitro models making them the better option for RC drifting.

Electric RC Car Advantages:

  • Consistent Torque
  • Faster Throttle Response
  • Relatively Clean
  • Indoor Operation

Electric RC Car Disadvantages:

  • Battery Life
  • Less Realistic

Electric motors effectively produce instantaneous torque, where nitro engines, like full-sized gasoline engines, take time for the engine to spool up and clutch to engage. Electric RC drift cars use high capacity compact batteries to drive a brushed or brushless motor via an electronic speed control.

Electric RC drift cars tend to be lighter than nitro models since they have fewer drive system components. Limited battery life is a disadvantage of electric RC drift cars and charging batteries can take some time, but quick chargers can refill a battery in about fifteen to forty-five minutes.

Nitro RC Car Advantages:

  • Gas Powered Continuous Operation
  • Realistic Piston Engine
  • Smoking Drifts

Nitro RC Car Disadvantages:

  • Dirty Oil/Fuel Mix
  • Noisy

Performance, realistic engine and drive train design, ability to be driven for long periods of time, and the sound of a fuel burning engine are main selling points to nitro hobby enthusiasts. On average, nitro engines have more power than electric motors but the current speed record is held by an electric so with modification, electrics can be as fast as nitro cars.

The higher stock performance of nitro cars, longer drive time, and increased weight lead to greater mechanical wear and higher speed collisions compared to lighter electric RC cars. Nitro cars are completely air cooled and may run continuously without taking breaks for cooling but there is always the threat of overheating. Nitro cars are dirtier than electric cars since the exhaust from the engine contains unburned oil that coats the chassis, but one cool thing you can do is rout the exhaust between the rear tires to give the illusion of smoking drifts.

Filed Under: RC Drifting Advice Tagged With: ,

HPI Nitro RS4 RTR 3 Drift Car Review

May 31, 2009 By 4 Comments

It was inevitable that after the success of the electric drift scene that a nitro contender would eventually step forward. It’s no surprise that this challenge would come from HPI who have a large stake in the e-drift category and continue to back the class with new cars and drifting products and accessories.

Available in 2 different colour schemes we plumped for the Vertex Toyota Soarer which comes with a powerful Nitro Star G3.0 engine, a HPI TF-1 Transmitter, ball bearings, and a painted & finished body. Even the packaging of this products sets the heart racing.

The RS4 RTR 3 Nitro is available in 2 different schemes

The tranny is a basic 27MHz model and all the necessary electrics are fitted to the fully bilt chassis. The Vertex Toyota Soarer is HPI’s latest 200mm bodyshell which is bound to popular with the drifters as it looks fantastic.

The new Nitro RS4 RTR 3 Drift chassis is a further eolution of the original RTR 3 Evo incoporating the Stage D drift conversion kit. The new car’s layout sees the heavy motor mounted more forward than the TC kit to give a better balance more suited for drifting. It gives a boost to the handling which is always a plus in drifting.

Power comes from the potent HPI Nitro Star G3.0 nitro engine (.18 Cu. In.), with more than 2 horsepower and 32,000 RPM on tap for tyre-smoking drift action! A large diameter aluminium tube manifold and an all-new rear exhaust muffler system routes the engine smoke out the back of the car for scale realism and clean operation. The G3.0 is also equipped with a pullstarter for quick and easy starting.

A sturdy pull starter system, oiled air filter, 2-needle carburettor, aluminium flywheel, strong steel clutchbell and aluminium tube manifold complete the power delivery package, making the G3.0 easy to start, run and maintain!

The RS4 RTR 3 Nitro without it's clothes on!

HPI Nitro RS4 RTR 3 Drift Car: What you get for your money.

  • Length: 365mm (14.37 inches)
  • Width: 190mm (7.48 inches)
  • Wheelbase: 256 to 259mm (10.08 to 10.20 inches)
  • Weight: Bare chassis 1870g, with body 2000g (weights are approximate, and w/o fuel)
  • Chassis: Dual-deck design with 2.5mm aluminium lower chassis and composite plastic upper deck with removable radio tray
  • Suspension: Four-wheel independent, double wishbone
  • Turnbuckles: Fully equipped, steel
  • Drive Train: 4WD, front & rear sealed gear diffs
  • Tyre Type: treaded hard drift compound, HPI Type A
  • Gear Pitch: 1M (1 Module)
  • Wheel Hubs: 12mm hex w/ capture pins
  • Kit/RTR: RTR (Ready To Run)
  • Shock Type: Composite plastic, oil-filled, with coil-over spring
  • Shock Towers: Composite plastic with strengthening ribs
  • Bodyshell: Painted and decaled HPI officially licensed polycarbonate bodyshell included (varies with kit choice)
  • Ball Bearings: 18 throughout drivetrain

The RTR Nitro RS4 3 Drift is ideal for the beginner to intermediate RC hobbyist because it is fully assembled right out of the box, with pre-glued tyres and pre-painted bodyshell. All that’s required to get rolling is fuel, AA batteries and a glow plug igniter.

It may be weird to those used to electric cars but you will soon pick up all the main technical differences when you read the manual and watch the DVD that’s supplied with the drift kit. It will still take you a few good test runs to master the power control when drifting but if you have prior electric drift experience the skill transfer is simple enough.

For more info visit the HPI Europe website.

The RS4 RTR 3 Nitro
Filed Under: HPI Drift Cars

How to remove glued rc drift tyres

May 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

RC drift tyres can take some damage depending on your technique and the surface you are drifting on. Many people have invested in a sweet looking set of matching rims so don’t want to throw them away once the tyres are damaged. So how do you remove glued drift tyres?

There are a couple of methods to do this, but we’re going to focus on boiling the tyres and rims. It is perfectly safe for both the wheel and the tyre. So no matter which you are trying to reuse, you should be fine. However it should be noted that the chrome finish on some wheels may be dulled or removed by this procedure.

This is the equipment you will need to remove drift tyres:

  • A Pan big enough to cover your tyre in water + extra + room for boiling bubbles
  • A towel
  • Flat head screwdriver (slightly smaller then the gap where the wheel will glue in)
  • A heat source (e.g. Hob or gas ring (NO MICROWAVES!))
  • Towel
  • Wooden Shaft or frying pan flipper
  • A Cutting/Hobby Knife

The first thing you’ll want to do is boil some water in the large saucepan. We advise using an old pan or you may find yourself in trouble with your mother/girlfriend/wife for ruining her best saucepans. Once the water is boiling place the tyre in the pan. You want to make sure you boil the entire tyre for 15 minutes. You can hold the tire underwater with a utensil for 15 minutes or, since the tyre will float, you can boil one side for 15 minutes and then flip it to boil the other for 15 minutes. Either method will work, it doesn’t matter.

Be very careful during the whole process, the water, kitchen utensils, tyres and the rims can get hot enough to scald you!

If you do not plan on reusing the tyres, you may want to slit them in half all the way around the tyre before you boil them. This way no water will be trapped in them, and the boiling water can freely access the glue all the way around the tyre bead.

After the tyre has boiled use a pair of tongs, or other kitchen utensil, and pull it out of the water. I will usually cool it down by running cool tap water over it. This will not cause the glue to re-stick, as once the glue’s hold has broken it will stay loose. Alternatively you can also just set the tyre to the side for around 30 minutes or so.

Once the tyre has cooled, you can simply pull it loose from the rim. Be careful though, as there can still be hot water inside the tyre which could burn you. You may still encounter a couple of tough spots that do not want to break loose from the rim. You can the hobby knife to trim around these stubborn spots. If you find that a lot of the tire is still stuck to the rim, boil the tyre for another 15 minutes.

Once the tyre and the rim have been separated, clean the parts you plan on reusing and set them aside to dry. You may find it necessary to sand some areas of the rim where the rubber had adhered to it, but overall it should be a pretty clean separation.

Top Tips
* BE CAREFUL – It’s boiling water dummy!
* Wash excess dirt and mud off the wheels before hand
* If tyre has little actually still attached – it MAY come off when been twisted
* The hotter the rim stays the easier it comes off
* DONT be too aggressive with the rimk and it may bend or buckle

Filed Under: RC Help Tagged With: , , ,

HPI 1/18th RTR Micro RS4 Drift Cars

May 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

HPI Micro RS4 Drift Car

The 1/18 scale Micro RS4 Drift is the perfect size for indoor drifting. The single belt 4WD drive train and hard compound tires make drifting on tile smooth hard surfaces easy and fun! And, the small size makes the RTR Micro RS4 Drift extremely durable and resistant to crash damage. No noise, no mess, just hour after hour of exciting and realistic drifting action!

The RTR Micro RS4 Drift is based on the popular Micro RS4 Sport and set up for controlled drifting. Smooth concrete like you find in garages and warehouses is the perfect surface to practice your drift moves with the Micro RS4 Drift. Get your buddies together and the stage is set for D1 Touge battles. The Micro RS4 Drift is loaded with option parts for dedicated drifting, like special hard compound slick tires, solid front and rear diffs, and realistic drift bodies that are painted, trimmed and decaled. The RTR Micro RS4 Drift also includes a rechargeable 600mAh Ni-Cd battery pack, convenient AC wall charger, the high quality HPI TF-3 radio system, and the Micro Pro Control 2 reversible electronic speed control. The included D-Box Stability Assist System is a fully adjustable electronic device that automatically adjusts counter-steering, making it easy to master drift driving skills. Once you get the hang drifting, you can reduce the amount of help from the D-Box to further develop your skills.

HPI Micro RS4 Drift Car

The HPI TF-3 radio system included with RTR Micro RS4 Drift is packed with features. The super narrowband AM transmitter and receiver work together to let you precisely control your car. Six different crystal choices let you race with your friends! The radio transmitter is comfortable to hold and features a low battery indicator, letting you know when the batteries need to be replaced or charged. The transmitter also features steering and throttle trim dials for fine adjustments to center the servos, plus a dual rate adjustment for the steering that lets you adjust how far the steering servo turns the front wheels left and right. The strong steering servo and Micro Pro Control 2 reversible speed controller are also pre-installed, already plugged into a super narrowband AM receiver. A rechargeable 600mAh Ni-Cd battery pack is included, delivering high performance and long run times. The convenient AC wall charger allows you to recharge the battery pack. To top everything off, the D-Box Stability Assist System is pre-installed to help get you drifting like an expert.

HPI 1/18th RTR Micro RS4 Drift Features

  • Hard compound drift tires for realistic drifting
  • Pre-installed solid front axle
  • Small enough to run in a garage or hobby shop
  • Optional solid rear axle included in kit
  • High power 6V 600mah Ni-Cad battery
  • D-Box Drift Assist System
  • Full-time four wheel drive
  • Updated chassis
  • Complete set of ball bearings for efficiency
  • Adjustable wheelbase and width
  • Quick-change battery mounting system
  • Independent front suspension with live axle rear end
  • Wide variety of optional body styles and option parts

The RTR Micro RS4 Drift is the R/C car for everyone! With features normally found only on larger scale R/C cars, the Micro RS4 Drift is a great mix of fun and performance. Tuning options and hop-up parts will satisfy the racer, while the scale looks and ease of driving will satisfy the scale enthusiast. The Micro RS4 Drift is the fast, exciting and affordable way to have fun with R/C!

Filed Under: HPI Drift Cars, Micro Drift Cars Tagged With: , , ,

Novak SLYDR Brushless Drift System

May 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

With input from the top drifters and racers of the world, Novak has developed the SLYDR Brushless Drift System This system includes the SLYDR Brushless Drift ESC factory-wired to one of three, new Novak Drift-Spec Brushless Motors . These 540-size sensored brushless motors include the Novak 13mm Neodymium intered rotor for improved initial throttle response and natural drag brake. The SLYDR Drift ESC, which is based on Novak’s GTB, contains numerous brake adjustmentsand features to help fine tune brake response, as well as superior throttle curve adjustments to further customize the already-smooth throttle response.

The SLYDR Drift System is available with 3 different motors:

  • SLYDR Brushless Drift System – 6.5T (Kv=5,700; Watts=370) provides the most power to light your tires up and excels on large tracks.
  • SLYDR Brushless Drift System – 7.5T (Kv=5,200; Watts=340) is the best all-around-motor with a great balance between power and run time. It also works well on medium-sized tracks.
  • SLYDR Brushless Drift System – 8.5T (Kv=4,500; Watts=280) has the smoothest power response and longest possible run time. The 8.5T is also ideal to use on small tracks.

Novak’s SLYDR is a sensor-based system that is always aware of the rotor position. That knowledge provides the motor with superior starting torque and continuous synchronization for smooth, controlled low-speed driveability and consistent brakes – a must for drifting and racing! The Drift-Spec series of motors also features a shielded sensor cable and a completely rebuildable design. In addition, Novak’sDrift-Spec Brushless Motor includes a 13mm Neodymium sintered rotor, which has a slightly larger diameter and improved magnetic material. The rotor can withstand a higher temperature threshold, improving its durability. It also increases the natural drag brake and opens up the motor’s gearing window to improve drivability.

Though the SLYDR Brushless Drift ESC has one throttle profile, the versatile ESC is completely programmable and packed with nine customizable parameters. Novak’s Throttle Curve gives drivers the ability to experiment with three throttle responses – Linear, Expo-1 and Expo-2 – which range between a quick burst of power to a smoother, more controlled low-end power delivery. In addition, the SLYDR’s Brake Frequency adjustment contains seven degrees of adjustability from a smooth and controllable brake to a more abrupt and grabbier feel. The dozens of adjustments allow drivers to fine-tune their vehicle’s throttle braking for better control and advanced drifting and racing.

SLYDR Brushless Drift ESC Specifications

  • Input Voltage: 2S Li-Po cells or 4-6 NiMH cells (1.2V/cell)
  • Footprint: 1.16” x 1.49” (29.5 x 37.8 mm)
  • Weight (without wires): 1.36 oz. (38.5 g)
  • Motor Limit: 5.5-turn Novak 540-size sensored brushless motor
  • On-Resistance: 0.00040 ohms @ 25°C trans. temp.
  • BEC: 6.0 volts DC / 3.0 amps
  • Status LEDs: 4
  • Voltage Cut-Off: 6.25V (when Li-Poly Cut-Off Circuitry is enabled)
  • Power Wires (battery/motor): 14G Super-Flex Copper-Strand Silicone Wire

The Novak Slyder ESC is compatible with a whole range of brushless Novak motors that are available separate so you can choose any motor spec you like, but the Novak SLYDR Brushless Drift System combo is cheaper than buying the motor and Slyder ESC separately.

The motor and ESC are both programmable if you want to get the highest drifting performance out of the system. The drift motor can also be re-built for those who want a longer lasting product. However, it is also worth noting that Novak have made sure this system is accessible for new drift enthusiasts with a pre-wired motor and good factory settings out of the box. Tuning instructions are included!

Novak have always produced some top range RC electrics but they generally get overlooked by much of the racing community outside of the US. Hopefully those who get their hands on this tidy system will help spread the word of Novak throughout the land.

Filed Under: Drift Electronics Tagged With: ,
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