To go to the "Dark" side!
 

I'm contemplating the purchase of this:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=TAMC0380&P=K
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/ite...oduct-id=58370

Looks like a good, competitive kit. I read in another thread that several are contemplating the purchase of it. Right now, I have the cash and need to buy some other stuff from Tower anyways. Besides that, Tower has a $20 off deal! Now off to go read the magazine review...

EDIT:
Last night I put in my purchase! That means that it should be here in about a week, which is just about perfect timing for the Mamba Maxx!

It is sweet looking. I not sure if the gears would hold up to alot of power. If you get have to let us know how it does. You going to convert it or run it like it is.

I'd definitely run brushless and Lipo, and hope that the gears would hold up. There's a nice indoor 1/10 offroad track about 5mins away from me that I could race competitively in, and this would be my first race-capable vehicle.

Nothing to do with me, but I found this independent reivew from a UK forum

http://images.domino.org/v/album01_6...mpact.doc.html

if i had the money right now i would get one.

couple brushless dark impacts here: http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/s...d.php?t=214127

justin

I read through a number of posts in that thread, and am glad to see that there are only minor problems that most likely will be fixed with the release of aftermarket parts.

Probably the biggest problem with the chassis for me is the battery mounting. Because the battery is put in through the bottom, it can only be so tall. This means that I will have to buy a Lipo pack that will fit, and will pretty severely limit my choices. As it is, I might have to go with 2s or 3s Lipo, which is a deviation from the standard 4s that I like to use.

BTW, I DID order one of these, which must have been one of the few that Tower Hobbies had left in stock:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMFW1&P=7

How does the df-03 compare to the Top Force?

I believe I saw a pic of a df-03 that had the battery cage removed and a single velcro strap holding the battery down. That buggy was two wheel drive though so it was converted or wasn't really a df-03.

Removing the cage maybe an option though, if you want more room for Lipo's

Yeah, it's definitely a possibility. I'd probably have to add some bracing to make up for the cage not being there.

The DI is similar to the TopForce in general, but not as lovely, though.

I've loved the Dark Impact since I first saw pics of it, it was nice at RCX too.

Unfortunately I didn't think of looking at it at RCX! Well, I should get to see it in about 4 days...

Well, it was there, but I just did a quick look at it and didn't pick it up.

Do you think that Tamiya is going to release a TRF version of this buggy?
I see a big chance.

I like it put it seems a little cheap looking and parts availability and upgrade parts dont seem to be at there best...

I think they will. Some of the guys on RCZ were talking about it. Since this will be Tamiya's race buggy, if they get enough people to buy it/race it, then I'm sure they will.

It's a new vehicle. So new, that Tower has already run out of stock. I think it was released to the U.S. only a month ago. But since it is Tamiya, parts should be plentiful and readily available once this buggy gets out there more. Tamiya does have some upgrade parts in the works, they just aren't available yet.

Here's the thing about this car, some shots do make it look cheap, but it's well built for sure.

Well I wait for metal mans opinion. He has it coming and it looks pretty tight. He can test it out and let us know what to do and not to do.

It'll be here Thursday, and last night I ordered a 2s 6000mah 10C Lipo battery to use in it (none of my other batteries will fit!). I was very close to buying 2 6cell NiMh packs instead, but after trying to solder up some OLD GP3300s that I have, I found that my soldering gun just won't cut it, and I don't have any more money for even a cheap soldering iron.

Have you decided on the motor for it yet? You going to test the stock out first so can compare?

I have some secrets that will soon be up my sleeve. I can't disclose which motors I will be using :). I won't use the stock motor since the only working brushed ESC I have right now is an EVX, after I fried my nice Tekin one!

Cool. I can't wait to see it in action. I don't blame you not revealing all the secerts. I would like to see it in action though.

I picked up a DI in the first batch that Tower had available a couple of weeks ago. I have yet to put it together though. A guy over on one18th.com has a DI running a Novak GTB 5.5R with no drivetrain problems, so I would think at least a mild sensorless BL setup will not be a problem. I will probably end up with a SS5800 in mine and put my 5.5R in my B4 and my 7018/Basic 5300 in my T3.

it wouldnt happen to be one of them special test units from castle now would it?

Uhh... Can't say anything now but, 7700kv.

hmmm. just let us know when you get the buggy and how well it runs with your top secret extra special motor.

Motors.

You really got me interested now metal man. 7700 kv is screamming pretty good. It will be interesting to see.

Sorry Metal man and his extra Special Motors

And 7700 his definately screamin
cant wait to hear what it is

It's just a guess, and a wild one at that, but could it possible be sensored? That's pushing the limits of the typical sensored motor whereas if it was a sensored the kv, loaded kv of course, would be alot less, although still fast, because less torque thus the rpms are less.

Nope, sensorless. Although they should perform as smoothly as sensored motors.

i wanna be one of them secret tester people.

It's probably too late now. I was "sworn in" back in August of last year, when there might have been fewer beta testers than there are now.

Good luck with your project. If you break it good, if you don't break it good, we'll know the strength of something. I'm actually interested in how the buggy runs.

There's only one company making a 7700 kv sensorless motor out there now, I have on good authority that despite the super high kv, they still make 87% effeciency! The company was initially going to try and adapt or use Feigao stuff, but ditched that idea because they just couldn't be as effecient as the ones they would wind up making.

Oh yeah, I've seen the 7700 motor run in a B4 recently on 3s lipo, flat out ballistic power that would make even the most hardcore nitro guys do a double take. They're stinking durable too, many HARD hits to the motor and motor guard didn't even phase it, truly amazing craftsmanship.

Hey Travis, you think Castle would still be willing to bring more beta testers on board? I got a T2 that'd be fun to get going with BL again.

Did you get to try the buggy out yet metal man?
I was looking at one for myself. Just curious to your thoughts on it.

I believe you've put it together already and its ready to run, right?

Need some pics, my friend.

For about a week I used a Speed Gems 13x2 brushed motor and a Duratrax 12t Reverse ESC that I borrowed from a friend. I think there was something wrong with the motor since it liked to overheat despite gearing changes. The Dark Impact ran well, it does have a bit of a push when you're on the throttle (all 4wd buggies have that) but its steering is pretty aggressive off-throttle. My Dark Impact has been sitting for about two weeks now in anticipation of my free Mamba Max system, and will be driven as soon as that comes in. In the mean time, I've done several things to it:
-Blue aluminum adjustable turnbuckles (the stock ones were non-adjustable threaded metal rods)
-Front universals. With this I was able to mod a part of the steering to get more steering throw, but you need universals (not the stock dogbones) to do it.
-Mounted a 40mm fan above the motor. The motor gets almost no ventilation, so this fan should help. Also, I now use Velcro to mount the body because the fan and the rear body post interfere with each other.
-Slipper clutch shaft that allows the use of B4 slipper clutch parts and spur gears.

Next up on my list of things to get is a DF-02 aluminum shock set. I've already got the springs to go with it.

BTW, RCCA did a review on it and that rated it quite highly. Now for the pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t/IMG_3087.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t/IMG_3090.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t/IMG_3092.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...er_on_DI_1.jpg
The last picture is the B4 slipper clutch.

And yes, I realize the front tires are worn down :031:, but I do have some Holeshots for the track :027:.

Hey, the pics dont work for me.

Are they not working for anyone else? I can still see them when I'm logged out of my Photobucket account.

They are working great for me metal man. I can see them clearly.
I can tell you it is sweet looking. Are you going to get a video of it with the mamba in it?