RE: Smartech Titan/ owners review
The stock engine in the Carson version is a CY28. It's not bad at all. In regards to oversize. Yes, it's well-documented that they are horrible to deal with. Just say no.
Posted on: 9/10/2008 11:14 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7942069

RE: Life with the FS truck - long term review
Great post. My only question is what other large scale RCs do you or have you owned? I think that reviewers need to have a point of comparison. I still don't think much of my FS. The CY 26 made a big difference, but it's still no where near the overall quality of HPI, FG, or even Smartech and Redcat. It's not terrible, but it's not worth my time and money to get it to the point where it's fun and reliable to drive. Just my opinion. I know that many people will disagree. But, before firing off the nasty notes, consider what experience you have with other brands. As a cheap entry point into large scale 4x4, it's ok.
Posted on: 7/27/2008 11:31 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7779076

RE: Smartech Thunderbolt Video 2 with some jumps...
[quote]ORIGINAL: Smartechracing I don't know why you are asking above questions? We are Smartech, not Redcat, if you want to know the the answers, why don't you go to ask Redcat directly?[:D] [/quote] I wasn't expecting you to specifically answer. [8|] I'm giving you a consumers perspective on things that they would consider when making a purchase decision. Again, it's a good RC, but I would suggest: - set price point at $1000 or less - include a good radio system (JR XS3 as a minimum), or ship ARTR - include the minor fixes at no charge - go with your race 23, or a comparable CY - sealed diffs! - decent sealed bearings - better air filter - source a pipe at a reasonable cost that could be a $100 option with RC purchase - Baja-compatible hex drives, and knurled wheel nuts - establish partnerships for aftermarket support
Posted on: 7/19/2008 10:11 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7749964

RE: Smartech Thunderbolt Video 2 with some jumps...
[quote]ORIGINAL: Smartechracing Can you tell me what is" the terrible reputation with the Traxxas clones."? [/quote] You're serious? Honestly, no offense, but your TMaxx clone was junk. And, you were selling them direct to anyone with a business license. I even saw them locally at flea markets and garage sales. So, no parts support, and people were taking them to local hobby stores that couldn't help them with it. That's why one of my first comments to you was to re-enter the market under a different brand name. Nutech sucks as well. I'm on your side, but you need to listen, and stop being defensive. And, these levels of discussion shouldn't really be public.
Posted on: 7/19/2008 9:49 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7749890

RE: Smartech Thunderbolt Video 2 with some jumps...
Smartech, you're really grasping at nothing now...comparing branded and OEM? What does that have to do with anything? No offense, but you should consider hiring someone to manage your North American marketing strategy. You're not doing yourself any favors.
Posted on: 7/19/2008 8:28 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7749629

RE: Smartech Thunderbolt Video 2 with some jumps...
You deserve the props Foxy. The detail in your review was fantastic, and you know your stuff. I didn't mean to offend anyone. The comments about controlling price just really ticks off. Maybe, it's a cultural thing that that is acceptable elsewhere. I realize that others have MAP, etc, but it's not something that they would discuss in a public forum. And, really, the Titan/TBolt is not an original design. Take any 1/8 pan chassis design, modify it for gas, and voila! The Smartech versions look especially like Hobao/Ofna. The diff cases even have sway bar mounts... Forward thinking, or direct copy? Foxy, I encourage you to pick up a Redcat. It's not night and day better, but it's really good value for the price. If Redcat is investing in price to get their brand entrenched as a great largescale option before the big names enter the market, then it's probably not a bad strategy.
Posted on: 7/19/2008 5:16 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7749090

RE: Smartech Thunderbolt Video 2 with some jumps...
[quote]ORIGINAL: Smartech Racing The Price of original Thunderbolt should not be less than $1150 this moment, the 900$ retail is not accept by our company, we will check out the retailer who sell thunderbolt on ebay ($900) then stop offer our product to them or who sells to them. [/quote] Wow...that's brutal. I HATE company's that try to control pricing. It's none of your business. I know that Foxy is highly respected here, but I very much disagree on the pricing advice. Unless you are going to be a very high end RC (pro version, etc), the market should be around $1000. Largescalers have just gotten used to paying too much. If I can buy an LST2 with a great radio system for $600, there's no reason that a super size version should be twice the price. The physical difference in cost should be minimal. Consider the new Redcats... I just received mine yesterday. It's a better unit, and under $1000. Otherwise, the suggestions are spot on. You also need a huge improvement in customer support.
Posted on: 7/19/2008 1:41 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7747008

RE: Smartech Thunderbolt Video 2 with some jumps...
Funny how it's the supplier and retailers that have an issue with my comments... I've been in retail management for 15 years. If a supplier came in and told me what my price HAD to be, I would kick them out of the building. I understand that there are different circumstances in this industry, but the core of the free market is that you can buy and sell as you please. It's absolutely terrible that a supplier would come on here and not only be public about a price fixing policy, but try to justify it. I have no respect for you. As far as cost, Redcat is also made in Asia, and obviously has comparable costs (physical and R&D). They're under $1000? Are they just taking less margin? Or, is it a go-to market strategy to destroy the competition? I don't know, but that's the reality of the market that you need to deal with. You should also consider that HPI isn't far behind... They will own the market if you don't get a foothold now. Smartech, you can have this thing back if you like, or I can forward it on to someone local that is going to post you a glowing review. PM me with details. What do you think you're going to get by having more pictures and vids on here? You keep asking Foxy for more, and he's bent over for you already. I've given you the critical points that you need to address, but you think that you can get credibility by just being here and giving away a few free RCs. I was one of the first people that BOUGHT a Titan, and started posting positive comments about it...even though local people were laughing that I bought a Smartech. I appreciate that you're trying to get better, but you're going about it the wrong way. Spend the money, and hire a company that can help you with marketing, etc. Foxy's an awesome source of knowledge, but he's not an average consumer. It may have been better if you had let Duratrax manage it until you had the resources to do it properly. Angel, you're invested in the situation, so I take your comments with a grain of salt. The third diff is a waste anyways because it's not sealed, or have an adjustable mechanism. I replaced mine with an FG carrier, and that cost about $200. And, I'm not b!tching because I don't have the extra money to spend. This is also not a debate about local shops vs on-line. Regardless of where I bought either truck, the price point should be under $1000. I'm all for local support, but none of them will deal with Smartech because of the terrible reputation with the Traxxas clones. ok, I've PO'd enough people for 1 day, but I can't help but be honest. Fire away. Look back on this a year from now, and you'll see that I'm right.
Posted on: 7/19/2008 1:30 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7748559

RE: Tips for Titan/Hurricane/Thunderbolt.
Elcon springs in the drive cups are a great fix for the dogbone issue. They fit tightly into the cup. [image]http://powerslideracing.com.au/images/conicalspring.jpg[/image]
Posted on: 7/14/2008 9:16 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7731423

RE: Smartech Thunderbolt Video 2 with some jumps...
Nice! It's good to see Smartech trying to progress to the next level.
Posted on: 7/13/2008 9:36 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7727469

RE: fs monster truck no power please help
[quote]ORIGINAL: looker2756 The FS engines are pretty much crap. [/quote] +1!!!
Posted on: 7/10/2008 10:16 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7717153

RE: titan upgrade brake pics !!!!!!!
Very cool. Where did you get those?
Posted on: 7/10/2008 10:05 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7717106

RE: fs racing 4wd?
Looks good man. Did you put a sealant on after removing the ano?
Posted on: 7/6/2008 2:50 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7699438

RE: Smartech Ford Mustang body color vote
PS My daily driver is a Jetta 2.0T Best Mexican car I've ever had... [:D] They promote them as European "engineered". Seriously, great car so far. As far as the rally races, they are very entertaining. However, the crowd is insane. Usually, I just see clips of them getting mowed down as they stand alongside the track. It's like a bull run with cars.
Posted on: 7/3/2008 10:04 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7691774

RE: Smartech Ford Mustang body color vote
[:D] This is really interesting actually. In North America, we wouldn't give those cars a second look. Escort was the college student or grandma car. No offense. My generation was muscle cars...GTO, Mustang, Camaro, etc. I have a 71 Swinger in my garage with a 440 shoehorned in. For newer muscle, I'm looking at a 2005 SSR. The rally cars are pretty cool though. As Foxy says, it really depends on your geographic location as to what is ingrained in your brain as "classic". [quote]It's an unfortunate twist of fate[/quote] Interesting way of putting it! Russia would have already blown us to bits if it wasn't for the US. As you probably know, we do have British heritage as well. It's really a melting pot...quite progressive in accepting different cultures. A lot of vehicles are manufactured in Canada, but of course, they're US, European, or Asia owners... Calgary itself is fairly wealthy due to oil, and there are quite a few right drive imports. I don't recall ever seeing a Euro Escort though (the car [;)] )
Posted on: 7/3/2008 9:58 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7691751

RE: fs racing 4wd?
[quote]ORIGINAL: hellya here in the USA you can get all the FS alloy parts and cars here http://www.fsracingusa.com/15scaleupgradefittings.aspx I went to x-rover and all the alloy is sold out http://www.x-rover.com/index.php?main_page=products_new&diorder=6&page=4 [/quote] What a difference in prices... It's worth waiting for x-rover. Weird because I think that it was the opposite for stock parts. Gas Tank FS Racing - $11.18 X-Rover - $28.00
Posted on: 7/3/2008 12:30 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7689767

RE: Savage XL Newbie
OMG man... READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. You're going to hurt somebody with that thing.
Posted on: 6/30/2008 2:48 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "HPI Monster Truck Forum"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7678481

RE: fs Bearing list
Posted by hypnopaul a while ago... [quote] I just brought all the bearings this is the list i brought packs of ten you need 6 of each bearing 6800ZZ 10 Bearing 6800ZZ 10x19x5 Shielded 1 $ 608ZZ10 10 Bearing 608ZZ 8x22x7 Shielded 608Z 1 kit903 10 Bearing 6000ZZ 10x26x8 Shielded 1 688ZZ 10 Micro Bearing 688ZZ 8x16x5 Shielded 1 kit1016 10 Bearing 6900ZZ 10x22x6 Shielded 1 [/quote] I also bought from VXB, but I went with all rubber seals. I haven't installed them yet. Great service, but specify USPS shipping, otherwise UPS will hose you.
Posted on: 6/30/2008 2:21 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7678399

RE: Smartech whats going on with the Thuderbolt reviews
[quote]ORIGINAL: HaveBlue as for arogance..fine [/quote] I said ignorant, not arrogant... [:D] JK I do understand how you feel. It's very frustrating. But, I do sense some hope for Smartech. And, they better hurry up or Redcat will eat their breakfast. Beyond that, you know that HPI can't be too far behind the market. As far as driveability, I'm not a racer so I don't have any perspective as far as that goes. For bashing, I've been pretty gentle with it. It tends to nose dive on jumps, and it's too much mass to correct with throttle. I haven't changed springs or oil weights to try to correct. It turns sharply, but needs better power distribution (adjustable or locked center diff). Mine pulls more than it pushes. The engine is doggish, but better than the FS turd. Pipe is a must. Regardless of improvements in communication (etc), this buggy won't catch on at the current price structure. I would pay up to $1000 for an ARTR version.
Posted on: 6/29/2008 4:58 AM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7673431

RE: Smartech whats going on with the Thuderbolt reviews
[quote] as for the excuses given about the reviews and not wanting to sound exactly like Foxy..well sorry guys this all sounds piss weak to me [/quote] Now, you're just being ignorant. Please elaborate on exactly what more you would like to know. What else would you include in your review? How much more can this unit be dissected? It's a basic flat pan chassis nitro design with a gas engine. There's nothing revolutionary about it. I can't make up details that aren't there. And, I noted all of the issues that I've had so far, or know from my Gas Devil. Other than not using the radio gear, I have not modified mine at all. I couldn't bring myself to wheel a rig this big and dangerous with a crappy FM radio, especially given that there were some issues with it to begin with. The mods that I reference are with my Carson Gas Devil (Titan). The core of the 2 are identical. I've given you my no-fluff commentary on it. I can go on and on about useless crap, but what's the point... I understand your disappointment, but don't make it personal. You lose all of your credibility when you do that. It's not my fault that Smartech sent me one, and not you. I wasn't counting on it, even after they had confirmed via PM that I had been selected. I never made it public because I wasn't convinced that they would follow through. When they sent the tracking #, I was very surprised. I sincerely hope that Smartech does send you one. I'm on your side regarding the very poor manner in which this was handled. Everything about it was messy... Don't count on them becoming super credible over night. No offense to Smartech, but they've built their business on cloning designs. Even with the best intentions, it will take time to build their brand. I had suggested a long time ago that they enter the market with a different name. I believe that they were going to use "Nutech". That's not very marketable either in my opinion.
Posted on: 6/29/2008 3:42 AM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7673334

RE: Smartech whats going on with the Thuderbolt reviews
[quote]ORIGINAL: HaveBlue as I see it there was only one proper review done..and I'll leave it there. [/quote] That's a fair comment I guess, but Foxy didn't leave a lot for us to offer... Should we tear it down, document everything, and try to write more than he did? What would you serve up if you had received one? I can let my local club test drive it and offer feedback if that's of value to anyone. The chances of everyone dropping nitro, and building a new track for largescale are as good as me getting lucky with Jessica Alba. I think that Smartech had good intentions, but again, the communication was very broken. Was it a well-thought out strategy/promotion? No. Effectively, we all wanted a cool new toy for free, and hopefully offer some value to the RC community. Was there really any opportunity for our recommendations to affect the end product? Probably not. What would I suggest to Smartech: - decent radio gear, or none at all - high cap receiver battery - piston options for shocks, and thicker fluid as stock - sealed diffs with aluminum carriers (if not possible, put a spool in the center) - Baja-style drive stubs with knurled wheel nuts (or, at least reverse-threaded stubs with good locking nuts) - better bearings - better air filter - conical springs in all of the drive cups - include pipe - all hex head screws and bolts Overall, is it a good unit? Yes. Would I buy it at $1300 in it's current state, and given other alternatives in the market? No. Can I be any more honest? I'll gladly answer any questions, or take additional pics as requested. For any members in Calgary, PM me if you'd like to give it a rip. You break, you pay for the parts. Cheers all.
Posted on: 6/28/2008 9:52 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7672433

RE: fs racing 4wd?
[quote]ORIGINAL: lbsickboy oh hi cal torque if you read the post from fs mt 4wd he does not say the owner from fs racing he said fs racing .nl it looks like that but look cearfully that mistake could happen to any one mucker [8|][:D] [/quote] Must have been on the bong... [image]http://www.yourbbsucks.com/forum/images/smilies/tokin3.gif[/image] Have fun bashing.
Posted on: 6/28/2008 7:38 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7672079

RE: fs racing 4wd?
[quote]ORIGINAL: FS*MT*4WD fs racing . nl is a website thats sells fs racing trucks so yes he is the owner of the website....git [/quote] So, he is the local distributor, or a guy that has a website called fs racing It doesn't matter either way. I'm just clarifying that they are not the owner of FS Racing. I may be wrong, but I would bet that the actual owners are from Asia. And, FS Racing may not be the company name, but a subsidiary of a larger manufacturer. It could even just be a brand name, and they are sourcing the actual unit from somewhere...kind of like Duratrax does with all of their stuff.
Posted on: 6/28/2008 3:37 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7671464

RE: fs racing 4wd?
[quote]ORIGINAL: FS*MT*4WD we will be bashing with the owner of fsracing . nl... [/quote] The owner of FS Racing lives in NETHERLANDS? I don't think so. Maybe, your local distributor? Or, are you taking a weekend trip to China? [:D]
Posted on: 6/28/2008 1:16 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7671126

RE: Smartech whats going on with the Thuderbolt reviews
I think that the language barrier is an issue. And, there seems to be quite a few people answering on Smartech's behalf under the one ID. I received mine quite a while ago. It was missing the wing, so I had to wait about 2 weeks for that. The weather didn't cooperate for several weeks, but I should get some drive time this weekend. The radio gear on mine was faulty. Throttle EPA doesn't work, and it was all very twitchy. The servos seem very decent though. I dropped in a Nomadio transceiver, and I should be good to go. A very short test drive in my backyard reveals the same issues as the Titan. The centre diff requires locking/stiff lube because it puts more power to the front. The problem in that is that the diffs aren't sealed. You could spool it like the Redcat I guess. I opted for an FG locking diff. That's another story. Bearings aren't great... I replaced most from VXB. Shocks are good, but require thicker fluid and different spring combos. The dogbone issue (popping out) is easily fixed with Elcon conical springs in all of the cups. Works great. Badly needs a pipe (even the Carson version with a CY27). I opted for a JetPro. Overall, the core unit is very good, but it requires some upgrading out of the box to take any serious abuse. In my opinion, it's MUCH better than my FS MT. I'll have a Redcat on the way shortly, and see how that stacks up. I'll try to get some vid of the stock buggy vs my "upgraded" Titan (Carson Gas Devil). My primary concern for Smartech is that they didn't hammer the market initially, and back it up with parts and upgrade support. That left the door open for Redcat... Seriously, they should have had someone to coordinate the whole process. I don't believe that it's a lack of diligence or intent...just growing pains from a cloner to a credible brand.
Posted on: 6/28/2008 12:54 AM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7669975

RE: Redcat Rampage MT5
Oh man...another boost bottle debate... [:D]
Posted on: 6/25/2008 9:26 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7661448

RE: Another horror story ordering from oversizerc
Eddie strikes again... 2 months to get my FS MT, but I never did get the parts package I was promised. And, I had similar stories about email issues, etc. I'm quite sure that if I hadn't filed a PayPal claim, I would never have received anything. His prices are enticing, but it's not worth enduring his Russian roulette style of doing business.
Posted on: 6/25/2008 9:14 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7661408

RE: Hobbythek purchase
Get it from Krikke They won't charge you Euro tax, and they're probably cheaper to begin with.
Posted on: 6/24/2008 1:44 AM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7654169

RE: fs racing 4wd?
My initial review was that the engine is a piece of turd... I replaced mine with a Fuelie (CY) 26 from a Baja SS. Major improvement.
Posted on: 6/23/2008 10:07 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7653448

RE: TITAN 4X4 RTR OR FG MONSTERTRUCK RTR
Crap...that's a great price, and Mike is excellent to deal with. Either Smartech listened to us about the price, or Powerslide is clearing them out in order to discontinue.
Posted on: 6/21/2008 3:17 PM by Author "Cal-Torque" in the forum "RC Giant Scale Cars"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7644934