Comparison of a HPI micro with Ratzas chassis, Orion steering parts, micro radio, typical esc. HPI mod motor, 6 cell 2/3A NiMH orion pack versus BRP car out of box with XP magnets in motor and ball diff with 6 cell 700AAC nicad pack, standard radio equipment, Atom ESC.
Out of the Box the Super Car 18 is a simplier and more rugged car. The lack of hop ups for the car is what some consider the weakness or strength. This is probably why the hobby shops don't want to carry the car, not tremendous amount of money to be made on the car in hopup high dollar parts and a steady supply of replacement parts.
They can with the HPI Micro and it is what all the magazines are pushing.
A recent issue of one of the magazine did a comparison of the Micro class cars. The SC18 was in the 20mph range out of the box with no mods.
To put a SC18 in race trim you would want to have the XP magnet motor, ball differential, and possibly the more flexible T-plate. Depending on the body you generally don't need micro equipment for the SC
18. In stock form it uses foam tires. Generally an Orange Dot compound in front and Green Dot compound in rear. For a few dollars more you can get the long wear foam tires.
It is designed for a 5 or 6 cell AA Nicad or NiMH pack. A 600 mAH pack is sufficient...so if you club allows NiMH then you can go with a AAA or a 2/3 AA cell. The 2/3AA cells build a pack that is 2 ounces lighter than the Nicad AA out of 700AAC Sanyo Nicads. The AAA are a bit lighter but there is arguments from various folks regarding their ability to provide surges of power the RC cars request.
The chassis is a Fiberglass and Kydex pan chassis design with Tplate and friction disk damper design. Very simple and very effective. The front suspension uses 10L/12L springs with same for steering blocks.
The cars rarely break things...
It isn't as pretty as a HPI Micro but I'd rather have performance than beauty. Besides, the beauty you see racing is the body, not what's under it...
Bud was offering the local racers a racer special which included a car kit, ball diff, XP magnet motor, 6 cell battery pack, and choice of most bodies (except SAL7 and C5 which were $2 more) for $100.
Most of the guys I know run a Futaba MC230CR reversing speed control and
standard servo. Some use the Novak Atom. The GTP bodies require a micro servo. The Futaba Magnum Jr can be purchased as a combo with the MC230CR speed control for about $100.
Most of the time from what I've seen, the HPI Micro is modified with an aftermarket chassis, front aluminum steering parts, micro servo, micro radio gear. They have $100 in the car then 100-200 in hopups. From what I hear everyone telling me the HPI chassis with the kit is far too flexible. Often people hop up other things without first replacing the chassis.
As far as bodies goes...The SAL7 body Bud has is very nice (Saleen 7 Mustang). The HPI 140mm bodies have to enlongate the wheel wells to fit the 146mm wheelbase on the BRP SC18 chassis. A 150mm body fits fine...
I put a HPI Dodge Viper body on my
SC18 to beat up while getting familar with the car. I used a standard servo
and enlarged the rear wheel wells to fit. The GTP body is a snug fit you have to put the transponder behind the antenna atop the battery pack to get it to work well. (mounting transponder in the greenhouse area.)
Bud makes a wheel adapter so you can run the HPI wheels with the car. It is $20. Then there is the big block/speed 300 motor plate kit for another $20. You generally won't need
the Speed 300 it is plenty fast without it. The SC18 is driven like a 12 scale car and if you maintain the speed in the corners you can get good lap times. It handles very nicely and hooks up well. Guys ran them on carpet last year and had a blast.
Racing on carpet, they ran nearly the entire carpet season on one set of Orange Dot fronts and Green Dot rears in standard foam, not the long wear.
Our outdoor track is super hard on tires. I get about 2 weekends out of a set of Long wear fronts and 1/2 the season out of the rear tires. The HPI micro guys I run against are changing tires every 4th or 5th weekend. If you go the HPI wheel route the Dynamite soft rears and medium front rubber tires give good grip and hookup and similar life as the Micro drivers see.
I'd rather have fun racing and not break the bank on the car and be able to enjoy other things. Heck I can buy two racer specials for what most guys have in one HPI Micro that is hopped up. In fact I have. My kids and I will have fun this winter in the basement with the cars...
The guys that run against us in our club have expressed some regrets after getting whomped on because we are doing it with a far cheaper car. They have too much in their cars to walk away from them and buy the SC18. Some have and dumped their Micro on ebay or sold it to other club members.
You can order one from Bud at BRP Racing
http://www.brpracing.com
Ask Bud about the car and I'm certain he can answer your questions.
Bud can beat Micros with the Speed 300 and his with the XP magnet motor SC18 and standard everything.
The SC18 with a speed 300 FLIES.
Too hot for most drivers...if you do well with 12th scale then you probably could handle the Speed 300. It really makes the car about as quick as the 12th scale cars.
David
RAFster