The postman cometh .. With my Cougar SVR

Mid motor?

Rear motor?

There are almost as many opinions as there are cars although accepted wisdom amongst much better drivers than myself seems to be that on high grip tracks mid motor is the right choice whereas on lower grip tracks rear motor has the edge.

I dunno, I just like a new kit!

Whatever your opinion the arrival of the new rear motor Cougar SVR Schumacher has you covered.  

Manufacturers such as Losi, with the 22, and Durango, with the 210, have adopted the jack of all trades approach whilst others, including AE have gone down the conversion route, although great cars these inevitably end up being something of a compromise.

2wd Mid South Regional at Stotfold

Sunday was an exciting day for me, I was visiting a track that I have never raced at before.
Stotfold Model Car Club were playing hosts to the 5th and final round of the popular 2wd regional series.

I love to go to new tracks even if it does mean dragging myself out of bed at 5.15am . . I must be mental!
Rob Elmes was to be the driver for the day despite my reservations about sharing a cab with him and JR on a Sunday morning. If we ignore JRs navigating our journey was fraternal and relatively odour free!

(Click on pics for full size version)

We arrived in the sunshine at this secluded countryside venue and set up camp amongst many familiar faces. The host club had clearly spent some time preparing, the grass was cut and wherever one sat there was a speaker not far away keeping all informed of ongoing events.

Pro-line Bulldog SX3 Paint

I have managed to make time to get some paint onto my new Bulldog shell.

I am yet to run it but the plan is to give it a run at SHRCCC on Thursday with a view to using it in anger at the 4wd Mid South Regional hosted by TORCH this coming Sunday.

I will report back with my thoughts but in the meantime have a look at the pics.

I am pleased with this, the white is a Createx pearl which looks reallly cool in the sunshine.

What d'ya reckon?

TORCH Summer Series Round 4

The RC gods smiled upon us for once this summer and granted us a decent day on Sunday to go racing.

I took full advantage of this and headed off to TORCH for round 4 of their popular summer series.

The TORCH committee have worked hard over the last year or so to turn this venue into a top notch off road destination for southern buggy racers that now regularly attracts national and even international drivers to darkest Hampshire. This season they have already played hosts to a round of the 2wd drive mid south regionals with a round of 4wd scheduled in a couple of weeks. 

(Click on any pic for full size version)

As has become the norm these days there was a decent turnout for this event, I estimate around 70 drivers.

All were catered for with a wide range of ability across 2 and 4wd classes. There was also a juniors class who were to be rewarded with trophies for their efforts at the end of the day.

Pro-line SX3 Bulldog Body Kit

I know this is a controversial subject but I have succumbed to the hype and indulged myself with a forward cab body shell for my trusty Schumacher SX3.

I think I am correct in saying that Pro-line are the first mass producer to offer this kind of shell for the SX3 although the final product is very similar to the versions already available for the B44.

I got mine from MB Models for the princely sum of £21. When I opened the package I was very pleased to discover the kit included not just a matching undertray but window masks and a full sized rear wing . . . Result! 

Schumacher Cougar SV2 build . . . Part 2

Suitably sober I decided to delve back into the SV2 box to complete my mission.

I found more familiar parts in the diff bags, including the decent quality Schumacher thrust and diff bearings.

Schumacher Cougar SV2 build . . . Part 1

Right then.

Time to break out the wrenches and put together my new ride.

The latest, much anticipated, offering from Schumacher, a Cougar SV2. 

Regular UK racers will have seen alloy chassis prototypes at varoius events late in 2011 and early 2012 so the switch to an alloy chassis plate a la Losi 22 and Centro was not unexpected.

The thinking behind this, I am told, is that the alloy chassis offers more flex and feedback to the driver thereby delivering faster more consistent laptimes.

 Time to pour a glass of cheeky red and dive into the Schumacher box that hs been sitting on my bench for a few weeks now.

(Click on any pic for full size photo gallery)

Anyone who has built a Schuie in the past will be familiar with the sight that greeted me upon opening the box. A very well packed and organised selection of labeled bags, all of which correspond to a particular build stage in the functional, if unexciting, manual.

I can recommend a Schumacher to anyone considering building their first kit, it's difficult to go wrong so well organised are the various little packets.

2wd Mid South Regional at SHRCCC

Ok so I am a bit of a donut.

I forgot my camera on Sunday so there are only a couple of pics of a great days racing under a glorious blue sky.

SHRCCC were the hosts for round 3 of the BRCA Mid South Regional Championships. I was pleased to be visiting a familiar venue for my Regional debut.

I had hurled myself in at the deep end as this was to be my first Regional event and a 2wd one to boot!  I was also rockin' a brand new car, my sparkly new Cougar SV2 was popping its racing cherry.

Oh well that's how I roll!

To make things fair for everyone the SHRCCC crew had made big changes to the track unveiling a completely new layout, perhaps their best yet.