The Jumbo Shrimp AKA Cen ME16 review

[dadgummit]

I was in my LHS Sunday and saw that they had the CEN ME16 for only $140 (They are like $200 everywhere else). I had seen these in RC Car action and thought it would be interesting to look into these. And besides any mini that takes regular 1/10 gear has to be a fun car to hopup.

My first impressions were Damn this thing is heavy. Ready to run it sits at about 4.5 pounds (probably less with lipo). On the other hand everything is overbuilt. The a-arms are pretty thick. All metal gears in the diffs and tranny, steel dog-bones etc. I guess this is a factory electric conversion of the MG16 series of trucks that come with a 2.5 cc power-plant so you know they are built to take some punishment.

As with many RTR’s the included electronics are totally worthless with one exception. The included radio is actually pretty good, it is a digital AM radio with an LCD screen. It has everything from trim to EPA and ABS.

The motor, esc, servo and battery are total junk. But that is the beauty for me and probably many other people on this board. I have a Z590 metal gear servo that over doubles the torque of the stock servo still sitting in the Spektrum box. I have a Mamba Max 5700 kv motor that I removed from my FLM rusty when I decided to upgrade to a Fiegao 7L. I have the 1/10 Sidewinder speed control that I removed from my CRT.5 when I upgraded that to a Neu 1509 and MM ESC. And I know that everyone has a bunch of old stick packs laying around as they converted to lipo. This baby is going to be using 4 GP3300’s purchased from Radio Shack a few years ago. So the electrical upgrades were all free!!

This thing does look big especially when compared to a M18T but it is a little smaller than the CRT.5. Probably closer to 1/14 scale but who cares.



I guess these things come in 3 flavors, a Car version, a monster truck version and the Rally car version. I chose the Rally version which is identical to the MT except for the body and wheels. I know I am going to hear differently but I think the body on the rally car is pretty cool and it is not another stadium truck. Please proline no more crowd pleasers!!

Here is a look under the hood: You will see a MM ESC because I have to dig the sidewinder out of my garage and I wanted to drive this today.





I tried this guy out in the alley behind my garage and it RIPS!!! Really fast and the drive train has no trouble with the power at all though with all of the metal gears it is loud. I even did the reverse to full forward throttle thing to make it wheelie and not so much as a hick up. It handles well too, the center of gravity is really low so it does not flip over when you turn too sharp though it will never be a racer as it is totally focused on bashing and durability.

Next upgrades are going to be shocks (they take 90mm shocks like the fronts on stampedes and rustlers) turnbuckles to replace the upper arms and 5x11x4 bearings for the wheel hubs (Bushings!! awwww come on!!).

Well my charger beeped so it is time to go out and beat on this guy again…

[MTBikerTim]

Nice I was very tempted to buy one of these due to their price but the local store who has them has them for a very steep price. I really couldn't be bothered ordering it.

Oooooh. I was wondering how these faired. I didn't like the layout at first and was unsure of durability, but it sounds like you're putting it through its paces quite nicely, and doesn't look THAT cramped... Hmmm.

Looks like an interesting little guy.

[MTBikerTim]

From what the nitro guys are saying they are very tough. They are using them to bash when they don't want to hurt there other trucks and they still don't break them.

[BL_RV0]

Did I read right? You're using 4 3300 cells?

[dadgummit]

Originally Posted by BL_RV0

Did I read right? You're using 4 3300 cells?

Sorry, I meant to say I am using 4 6-cell stick packs. Bone stock Radioshack GP3300's with deans. Those batteries have just been sitting there for at least a year since I upgraded to higher powered brushless systems. I guess that is the price we pay for the new technologies that constantly come out.

[VintageMA]

Hmmmm.... 6cell stick pack = 137x45x44mm + 450grams
3S 2600mAh TP lipo = 125x41x22mm + 215 grams

1/2 pound lighter right there, with a decent servo from the parts bin, Spektrum SR3500 micro controller, and a S can motor in the 3500kv range

Could be fun.

Any videos of it running?

[BrianG]

lol, it looks "cute". If my LHS had parts on hand, I'd probably pick up one of these...

[dadgummit]

Most local hobby shops carry very little or no Cen parts. For what I can figure out I Cen has an unwarranted bad rep out there. I know that the Cen GST is a really tough 1/8 MT (a friend has one) yet most people scorn them like they were an old Hyundai from the '80's. The 1 Cen that I own is one of the best RC's I own. Not the precice piece of machinery you expect form 1/8th truggies but much much better than the $140 I paid would suggest. The good thing for me is Cen is in Placenta, CA and I live the next town over. Probably half of all major RC companies are in Orange County, ca Team Associated, Novak etc. Cen also garantees the parts in stock or it is free.

Here it is with Traxxas Jato Anaconda wheels:

[rschoi_75]

It looks like it could be the bastard child of a rustler and an easter egg.

How does it run?

[dadgummit]

LOL!!!!

This thing is awesome!! The plastic is super flexible, probably half way between a normal stock plastic and RPM plastic. Not indestructable but has taken some pretty hard hits and I have only broken one part yet... the rear bumper because I dropped it while I was changing the battery.

It is probably 75% the size of a CRT.5 so it is larger than allother true mini's but it is still a very small package, much smaller than 1/10th scales like the rustler.

The best part is it takes 1/10th parts. It has a MM 5700 system and full size servo in it right now. All bolt-in no modification necessary. I am planning on upgrading to lipo and a Medusa 50mm motor. It should handle the power just fine, it has the same all metal drivetrain as the nitro version which comes stock with a .15 engine.

About the egg thing, that is actually a really good way to describe the way it looks. There is another version of this same car with a truck body but I chose this oen just because every RC out there has a truck body and I am excited to see something different.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by dadgummit

About the egg thing, that is actually a really good way to describe the way it looks. There is another version of this same car with a truck body but I chose this oen just because every RC out there has a truck body and I am excited to see something different.

I'm definitely adding this to my "want" list. BUT....I have such a hard time picturing a group of "company exec's" sitting in a room and picking that body as their best choice. I'd hate to see what it was up against!! But yes, it is different.

[muck]

Originally Posted by dadgummit

Most local hobby shops carry very little or no Cen parts. For what I can figure out I Cen has an unwarranted bad rep out there. I know that the Cen GST is a really tough 1/8 MT (a friend has one) yet most people scorn them like they were an old Hyundai from the '80's. The 1 Cen that I own is one of the best RC's I own. Not the precice piece of machinery you expect form 1/8th truggies but much much better than the $140 I paid would suggest. The good thing for me is Cen is in Placenta, CA and I live the next town over. Probably half of all major RC companies are in Orange County, ca Team Associated, Novak etc. Cen also garantees the parts in stock or it is free.

Here it is with Traxxas Jato Anaconda wheels:

I am hoping you are still an active member here...

What rims are those and did the nuts fit all the way on.
I had a set of RPM rims and they seemed too thick. The nuts barely fit...

Also what gearing are you running on the 5700? Mine has a VXL and Hyperion 2s 4000 mah. I though about picking up a sidewinder but was concerned about heat issues with this heavy bugger...
thanks