Schumacher MI4CXL

My new dry car this year will be the Schumacher MI4CXL. My Xray T3 will be my mainly indoor and wet car so it has at the moment taken a back seat.

My MI4CXL has been expertly assembled mainly by Andy Murray (as well as my T3 I may add) and on my first few runs with the MI4CXL indoors at BRCCC (Blackpool Radio Controlled Car Club) I was blown away! The stability and ease of which the car corners and generally grips is just mind blowing.

Schumacher MI4CXL

Protoform LTC-R

 

Its always nice to have a new shell and this gift of my brother arrived a couple of days after receiving my MI4CXL so I had a new shell for the new car. The LTC-R provided the essential steering needed of any TC on a tight indoor carpet track. All cut out to BRCA regulations. As well as a LTC-R I also had a Mazda Speed 6 Protoform lightweight shell to test. I instantly noticed the reduced levels or steering but the more consistent lap times with a more stable feeling car.

 

 

 

The car went on though the day to produce some very consistent lap times with regardless of shell. On the new layout at the BRCCC I know a quick time in a Xray T3 is a 12.70ish if i recall correctly, so I had my work cut out trying to chase that rather quick time on my first day with the car. I did manage though with the LTC-R shell to put in a 13.14 which I was happy with considering I know the T3 suits tighter carpet tracks more than my MI4CXL.

 

Here are some images of my new MI4CXL, enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 Tight Fit with all the electronics in but all nice and snug when finished.

Long Time, Many Changes.

Well its been some time since I have been blogging,  and in that time many things have changed for the better and worse.

Firstly I am very happy to announce that for 2013 I will be using Viper RC Solutions speed controllers and motors.

 

Viper RC Solutions

Speed Controller: VTX10R

Motor VST 10.5

 

My first few runs with this new combination and I was super impressed. The power is unbelievable! One other well respected Team Driver had this to say after a few laps with my car, "The power delivery felt rather powerful and almost similar to a 4.5 mod!" and he was not lieing. Not only the powerful nature of the car but also the smoothness as well provided consistent throttle control and drivablity.

 

 

 

Viper RC Solutions

VST 10.5

 



 

I have at the moment a Hobbywing speed controller soldered in as I wanted to show a true test of the motor by using a speed controller I am rather familiar with in both the way it delivers the timing with other motors and also the firmware set up. I went straight to using the factory 30 degree's of time on the motor combined with 25 degree's of boost timing and 5 degree's of turbo timing which for a basic set up was like I have stated above frighteningly fast!

 



 

Viper RC Solutions

VST 10.5

(End bell Timing)

 

As you can see from the above image the VST 10.5 motor comes with a total of 45 degree's end bell adjustable timing. Not only does this motor provide excellent performance straight out of the box but also with the setting stated above the motor temperatures were only hitting a max of 55 degree's which isn't very much. Yet again an other impressive feature of this incredible motor.

 

 

 

Viper RC Solutions

VTX-VST

 

Some technical specifications for you to look though. On the box for the speed controller it states that it is 100% waterproof. Now this is one feature I will be putting to the test and blogging about in time to come as if the statement is true then this would be the ultimate wet car speed controller due to its amazingly silky smooth timing and power delivery.

 

 

 

Viper RC Solutions

ProGauge

 

The Viper RC Solutions ProGauge is very similar to many programme box's such as the Hobbywing,orion etc. Its menu system is very clear and precise and easy to navigate (even for the simple minded like myself). With fully adjustable profiles, brake, smart brake system, and the usual throttle, timing and other area's of tuning the ProGauge provides the professional racer with all the tools in a (very small pocket) size box giving you that ultimate spectrum of tuning you car to the specific track.

 

 

Viper RC Solutions

VTX10R

 

The build quality of both the motor and speed controller are outstanding. The pre soldered factory wires are the neatest job I have ever seen on a speed controller. (sorry richard but you are going up against a purpose built soldering robot).  

 

 

Well that is all the Viper Related News for now, expect testing reviews and various other products from the up and coming Viper RC Solutions.

Monday Night's Race Report

An other night's racing at Blackpool and this week I was kindly lent a Xray T3 to see if I could still drive at 10th scale. Here is a image of the car that I would be using for the night. 

Richard-Owner

Niall (ME)-Driver

Xray T3

The night previous to me borrowing this car it had been handling rather poorly I think its fair to say. The car seemed to just simply NO rear grip what so ever. Maybe this was down to the fact that both rear shocks had no oil in them what so ever. After a quick rebuild and a little tweaking the car was ready to hit the track. 

A few runs later and the times were coming to me as the night progressed. My times were quite respectable as I was using the slower LRP tyres rather than the Sorex 28's with JB inserts. Here is my times at the end of round three. 

Times after round three

I was racing with Richards transponder so for this night I was Richard 

In the final I decided to use the LRP tyres but with CS additive as I thought this might be better as a fellow racer was testing this combination the other night and said it was worth trying. Here is the car in race prep. 

LRP tyres with CS additive

The car felt a lot more planted in the rear with the CS additive. I also changed the rear shock positions slightly and this also made the car feel much easier to drive and gave me more conference to carry a lot more corner in speed. Here are my times in the final with these slight adjustments made and the cars pace increasing. 

Times with changes made to the car

I may also add that my lipo did die during this run as I was in a rush to make the race in time so didn't get a chance to put a full charge in. 

Else where the Mardave A final was one again of spectacular quality, which featured overtakes, crash's (standard) and even a few retirements. Here is the A final grid with some new rather bling shells. 

Tom 

(Yes he did paint this himself!)

Daz

(Once again he did paint this himself!) 

Dan

Jordon

Dylan

Friday Nights Race Report

Well a rather quite friday nights racing as most of the touring car drivers were heading out for the national meeting this weekend. Never the less the racing was still very competitive due to start of the BRCCC club championship. Two people really wanting to make a strong showing in the absence of the other touring car drivers were Aidan Ripley and Richard Whur. But as the night went on problems would arise for both drivers. 

Richard Whur 

Xray T3 

Mid heat Richard pulled his car off in a rather aggressive manner and as it turned out his rear drive belt had completely snapped in half. I got a quick snap of the damage, 

Richard Whur 

Xray T3 

(Broken drive belt) 

Else where Adian the other contender for the first round ten points was having issues of his own. He had managed to break a bearing in his motor. (Don't ask me how he managed this) but after this it looked like his night was over. And to confirm the arrival of his Team Associated 12th on his pit table said it all.

Aidan Ripley

Team Associated 

My own night went very well as I took TQ, Fastest lap and the win in the final. But I must report my Tekin problems from the other week had still not been solved. I let a fellow racer take a look as he is renowned for his knowledge in electronics and he confirmed what I already had thought, a broken FET. 

Niall Marshall

Tekin Rs

If anyone knows how to go about repairing one of these it would be much appreciated if you get in touch with me and let me know, or just if you know someone who can help that also would be much appreciated. 

Star Driver Off The Month

This month's star driver must be the still very young Mardave driver Daniel Critchley Jr. This young driver has show lots of promise though his driving ability and his willingness to learn more about the sport on and off the track. Here is a picture of the rising talent and his Mardave, 

We hope to see more of this driver in the coming weeks and watch him progress.

Testing Report

Recently myself and fellow racers at Blackpool RC Club have undergone some extensive testing. The most important being the testing of different tyres which could potentially be the tyres used at the BRCCC winter series. Here are some images of the tyres that might make the cut. 

Lined up and ready to be put though there paces. 

The Day glow yellow rims. (My personal favourites) 

Else where, my CRC was undergoing some testing also. I had wanted to try a Tekin RS instead of my Hobbywing as I had a small suspicion that the Tekin RS would produce some quicker lap times and also solve a few software issues that I have had with the Hobbywing. To my disappointment though before I could do a lap with the Tekin RS I blow a FET in the circuit board. So my day was over really. 

CRC sidelined for the day. 

New Decal Sheets!

Niall's Amazing Blog is proud to announce it's brand new decal sheets. 

Simple and very clear. 

If you feel like supporting the Niall's Amazing Blog and Blackpool RC Club plus contact me (Niall Marshall) either on Facebook or drop me a email at niall_24@live.com to enquire about your decal sheet! First ten people to request will receive a full set free of charge! 

They even come in white as well check it out! 

Professionally finished and easy to peel and stick. 

There ease to see and also to fit in perfect harmony alongside well established brands is a testimony to there quality. 

Niall's Amazing Blog 

CRC

Niall's Amazing Blog 

Protoform