Novak 1/8 Conversion kits - RC-Monster Forums

glassdoctor · **Novak 1/8 Conversion kits -** 11.14.2007, 08:34 PM

Novak is putting together it's own conversions soon... it's in the new RCCA mag.

This is good for the "cause" and it's inevitable... some day there will be factory made electric 1/8 versions.

But it does kinda suck a little for the guys who have been busting their nuts making conversion parts, etc... and even for those of us who do the homemade conversions. It's not as unique once everyone has one or can just buy one "RTR".

Of course there will always be a need for innovative parts and not every brand will make an electric version... so it's not all bad news for RCM and RCPD etc.

It may even help build up the market so much that demand will be bigger than ever.

suicideneil · 11.14.2007, 09:41 PM

I wouldnt mind a sneak peak at the new BL system they are making purposefully for larger & heavier trucks/ conversions etc; due out latter half of next year i believe.

Q. who is RCPD?

kulangflow · 11.14.2007, 09:50 PM

http://www.rcproductdesigns.com/

suicideneil · 11.14.2007, 10:01 PM

Ah okay, I know that site- nice stuff they sell.

As for:

Quote:

Originally Posted by glassdoctor

But it does kinda suck a little for the guys who have been busting their nuts making conversion parts, etc... and even for those of us who do the homemade conversions. It's not as unique once everyone has one or can just buy one "RTR".

I have to agree. The best example is the new-ish Axial A10? rockcrawler kit- building your own rig is a major part of the hobby, and is how you learn what works & what doesnt; having every single piece of the puzzle filled in for you kinda sucks the fun & learning process out of the build. A kit, is a kit, is a kit, I will agree, but some things just shouldnt come as kits.....

gixxer · 11.14.2007, 10:52 PM

I will have to check out that mag. Its great news for electric conversions to have a big company join in.

ClodMaxx · 11.15.2007, 12:06 AM

hey! rc product designs is only about 20 minutes away from me. i wonder if they have a store, or if it's just a machine shop type place... hmmm... might have to give dan a call to see if i can stop by!

anywho, onto the subject at hand... i think it's great when 1/8 RTR is available for people like me, who don't have a ton of tools (or a mechanically inclined mind) and want to just plug-and-play.

11.15.2007, 08:44 PM

I don't understand...Novak is going to sell conversion kits?

A.) that seems very unlike their current product offerings
B.) the current BL Novak systems for larger trucks are far sub-par.

Maybe all will be clear to me when my RCCA arrives....

DM

NovakTwo · 11.15.2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacII

I don't understand...Novak is going to sell conversion kits?

A.) that seems very unlike their current product offerings
B.) the current BL Novak systems for larger trucks are far sub-par.

Maybe all will be clear to me when my RCCA arrives....

DM

After waiting for years for another company (one for whom a conversion kit would be among expected product offerings) to offer conversion kits, Bob decided to design them himself.

This way we can offer nitro conv kits specifically designed for Novak HV products. The 5mm shaft rotor (upgrade kit) has been approved, so we will probably do the press release for it in a few weeks.

11.17.2007, 10:48 AM

Hello,

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovakTwo

After waiting for years for another company (one for whom a conversion kit would be among expected product offerings) to offer conversion kits, Bob decided to design them himself.

This way we can offer nitro conv kits specifically designed for Novak HV products. The 5mm shaft rotor (upgrade kit) has been approved, so we will probably do the press release for it in a few weeks.

Well, color me surprised - but happy. While I hope the current smaller, creative and innovative companies (like our own RC Monster) continue to exist and even thrive, I'm glad to see a true "main stream" company like Novak joining the fray. 2008 is the year this class will get noticed.

My only advice for you (Novak) is that I hope your 1/8th electronics are up to the performance of your race grade 1/10th electronics. Back in my old days of racing 1/10th, Novak was the best. Orange was in all my vehicles. The current HV products just don't seem up to the same quality as your 1/10th race products. Perhaps racing was not the target market for the older HV stuff, and that's fine but 1/8th is a race class. We need race grade stuff. Motors that can deliver performance and speedo's which can handle the heat. 5 minutes doesn't cut it anymore. When I run against Nitro I need something which can handle 15 or better yet 20 minutes of punishment.

Build it right and Orange will be right back on top.

DM

NovakTwo · 11.17.2007, 12:50 PM

Thanks for all the inputs on this thread. As i commented on another thread, innovators in R/C products are always in short supply---so support them when you can. Novak was a kitchen table operation for years before we became a "real company". Looking back 30 years, it's something of a miracle that we are still around....

I recently shared the "HV crap" comment with Bob and he's always legitimately perplexed by such criticism (probably because he doesn't read forums regularly!) He said that he's been testing the conversion set-ups with the existing HV BL system---with the 5mm shaft rotor.

I agree that our HV products are badly in need of a makeover and they are pretty far along in the design/prototype phase. The existing items were originally offered as (reasonably priced) upgrades for the E-Maxx size vehicles. At that time, LiPo wasn't a serious consideration.

Quote:

My only advice for you (Novak) is that I hope your 1/8th electronics are up to the performance of your race grade 1/10th electronics. Back in my old days of racing 1/10th, Novak was the best. Orange was in all my vehicles. The current HV products just don't seem up to the same quality as your 1/10th race products. Perhaps racing was not the target market for the older HV stuff, and that's fine but 1/8th is a race class. We need race grade stuff. Motors that can deliver performance and speedo's which can handle the heat. 5 minutes doesn't cut it anymore. When I run against Nitro I need something which can handle 15 or better yet 20 minutes of punishment.

When racing 1/8th Electric, are there any price caps or motor/esc requirements or regulations? ROAR enforces a $129.00 LP for modified BL motors, which will limit future innovation. If there are no 1/8th scale price limits, how much would racers be willing to pay for high performance motors and controllers? In what ways do you think the quality of our HV systems needs to be upgraded.

As before, comments and suggestions welcome.

11.17.2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovakTwo

When racing 1/8th Electric, are there any price caps or motor/esc requirements or regulations? ROAR enforces a $129.00 LP for modified BL motors, which will limit future innovation. If there are no 1/8th scale price limits, how much would racers be willing to pay for high performance motors and controllers? In what ways do you think the quality of our HV systems needs to be upgraded.

As before, comments and suggestions welcome.

Rules? As I mentioned, we are basically all red-headed step children. There are few organized classes. Personally, the largest organized event I race with my Electric CRT conversion has been the RC Car Action Monster Madness race where we have a "Brushless Open" class. E-Maxxes, E-Revos, and other Brushless conversions all race in an anything goes type class. I've also raced at the RC Car Action Battery Blast race where there has been an Electric Monster Open and an Electric 1/8th buggy class. Again open, no rules.

Price? I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for..." Many of us are using very expensive ESCs. My Schulze 18.97 was about $400 when new however today many of us on 4s are using the Castle Mamba Max (about $140). For motor, there is a wide range. On the low end are Feiago's at around $90 and on the higher end are the Neu's at about $275. This class has not been cheap. However there is much buzz from three companies. Yours, Castle and Tekin. I think the general feeling is that when you three release products, price should come down.

Quality? I base my feelings on the experience of a racer at my local track. I'd be happy to give you his name offline but his HV system has been back to Novak something like 9 times, several of which were handled by the main man, Bob Novak himself! Two weeks ago at the RCMTRA race, he was running his HV system on 14 cells in a modified E-Maxx, at 6 minutes into the main, it went into thermal shut down. At the time it was about 50 degrees F outside in early Nov! His truck has no where near the power and speed of mine using a $90 Feiago motor.

Looking forward to seeing your next generation products.

DM

ssspconcepts · 11.17.2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovakTwo

Thanks for all the inputs on this thread. As i commented on another thread, innovators in R/C products are always in short supply---so support them when you can. Novak was a kitchen table operation for years before we became a "real company". Looking back 30 years, it's something of a miracle that we are still around....

I recently shared the "HV crap" comment with Bob and he's always legitimately perplexed by such criticism (probably because he doesn't read forums regularly!) He said that he's been testing the conversion set-ups with the existing HV BL system---with the 5mm shaft rotor.

I agree that our HV products are badly in need of a makeover and they are pretty far along in the design/prototype phase. The existing items were originally offered as (reasonably priced) upgrades for the E-Maxx size vehicles. At that time, LiPo wasn't a serious consideration.

When racing 1/8th Electric, are there any price caps or motor/esc requirements or regulations? ROAR enforces a $129.00 LP for modified BL motors, which will limit future innovation. If there are no 1/8th scale price limits, how much would racers be willing to pay for high performance motors and controllers? In what ways do you think the quality of our HV systems needs to be upgraded.

As before, comments and suggestions welcome.

Well, I just shelled out $300 for my Neu and another $400 for my MGM...obviously if you could minimize the pain a little I would be very grateful!

I can't speak to the regulations question...I am a backyard racer/basher. I will say this...I think you should (like you have done in the past) cater to several different types of customers. There are a lot of young folks out there that can't afford $700 for an ESC/Motor combo. There are also others like myself that will pay whatever you want as long as it is top quality merchandise. Then there are the racers...which there are plenty of them here to tell you their thoughts.