Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: Radio-controlled motorcycles take to the track]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/02/video-radio-controlled-motorcycles-take-to-the-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/02/video-radio-controlled-motorcycles-take-to-the-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/02/video-radio-controlled-motorcycles-take-to-the-track/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to watch video after the jump

Having grown up in the era of the Team Associated RC10, Tamiya Clod Buster and Team Losi JRX-2, we'll always have a soft spot for radio-controlled vehicles of all sorts. In fact, a few of the Autoblog staff still spend the occasional late-night tinkering on the kinds of small-scale projects that we couldn't afford to tackle in the real world. Therefore, we were naturally entranced by racing footage from Britain of some 1:5 scale RC motorcycles zipping around a makeshift race track.

The footage you see in the video was captured during the 2007 season, so you can bet that the action has only intensified since this was filmed. We only wish we were this adept racing with two wheels, be it on a real bike or with an RC controller grasped firmly in our digits.

[Source: British Radio Car Association via The Biker Gene]

Continue reading VIDEO: Radio-controlled motorcycles take to the track

VIDEO: Radio-controlled motorcycles take to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 May 2009 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to watch a video of the mini V12 engine in action

Today we've seen something quite small and extremely awesome: a small-scale V12 engine designed for model radio controlled vehicles. This is an entirely functional model and features twin camshafts and overhead valves. It's air-cooled to simplify things by ridding itself of the need for complex water jackets, radiators and the associated plumbing, though the crankshaft is made from multiple pieces. The lilliputian engine displaces just 87-cubic centimeters, but produces between 6 and 8 horsepower running on a mixture of methanol and nitro methane. The best thing of all is the builders say they will be making kits available soon so enterprising craftsmen can power their RC cars, planes and boats with a real V12. To truly get an idea of just how awe inspiring this little machine is, click past the break for a video of the mini V12 in action.

[Source: Wawu via Carscoop]

Continue reading Mini V12 RC car engine produces not-mini power

Mini V12 RC car engine produces not-mini power originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's hard enough to get a full-sized vehicle slurping gasoline and sitting on 10-inch wide rubber to reach 200 mph, so imaging trying to reach the lofty speed with a home made remote control car powered by a 29.6-volt electric motor and running on foam based tires. The current R/C land speed record is held by R/C enthusiast Nic Case, who managed 134.4mph.

This time, another enthusiast by the name of Nick Maslowski is going for 200 mph with his new X2 racer. Though the R/C car has a theoretical top speed of 274 mph, drag generated by friction from the road surface and air brings that final top speed to the 200 mph figure.

At these kinds of speed, directing the cars remotely can be very difficult. To prevent it from rolling out of control, Nic has installed a gyroscope that adjusts a pair of rudders to keep it on a straight line. We'd love to see what a R/C car would be capable of with the right facilities such as a wind-tunnel and smoother track.

[Source: Jalopnik via Pistonheads]

R/C car going for 200mph speed record originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>radio controlRadioControlremote controlRemoteControlTue, 31 Jul 2007 14:03:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Scale-model R/C off-roading]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/29/video-scale-model-r-c-4x4-competition/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/29/video-scale-model-r-c-4x4-competition/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/29/video-scale-model-r-c-4x4-competition/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We like offroading vids as much as anyone, because they show just how much many of the SUVs we roll in are actually capable of. We're also suckers for cool toys, and the video that follows the jump combines both of these interests to great effect. Pretty cool stuff...enjoy.

UPDATE: Second vid added that shows this year's event. Thanks to Matt (the guy behind it all) for the link in the comments.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Scale-model R/C off-roading

VIDEO: Scale-model R/C off-roading originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4x4off-roadoff-roadingr/cradio controlradio-controlRadioControlscale 4x4scale modelsScale4x4ScaleModelsFri, 29 Jun 2007 17:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Paris Motor Show: Skoda floats in the Roomster]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/29/paris-motor-show-skoda-floats-in-the-roomster/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/29/paris-motor-show-skoda-floats-in-the-roomster/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/29/paris-motor-show-skoda-floats-in-the-roomster/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We wandered into Skoda's booth at the Paris Auto Show expecting to catch our first up-close look at the much-lauded Roomster. What we didn't expect was that we'd spot it in dirigible form, silently gliding 15 feet over our heads.

Apparently floated as a trial balloon for a new series of lighter-than-air people movers, the Czech manufacturer lofted a helium-filled representation of its new crossover vehicle, replete with a radio control system that steers the vehicle via a pair of props mounted on swiveling gimbals. You've seen the future of transportation here first, folks!

Continue reading Paris Motor Show: Skoda floats in the Roomster

Paris Motor Show: Skoda floats in the Roomster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airshipblimpdirigibleparisparis auto showparis motor showradio controlradio controlledRadioControlRadioControlledroomsterskodaFri, 29 Sep 2006 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Time waster of the day: Stupid-fast RC car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/29/time-waster-of-the-day-stupid-fast-rc-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/29/time-waster-of-the-day-stupid-fast-rc-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/29/time-waster-of-the-day-stupid-fast-rc-car/#commentsFiled under: ,

For those of you who haven't kept up with radio-controlled car technology since the days of the original RC10 and Tamiya Grasshopper, well, things have changed just a bit. Thanks to lithium-polymer (LiPo) batteries and inexpensive brushless DC motors, RC enthusiasts now have access to more power than we could dream about just a few years ago.

The above video shows a Team Losi Mini-T 1:18-scale RC truck ripping around on a sand dune. With the stock motor, this would be less entertaining than watching paint dry, but there's nothing like increasing the power output by an order of magnitude to increase the fun factor. While something like this is by no means the fastest RC car in the world (despite the claim of the video's editor, that record belongs to Nic Case at over 160 MPH), it's probably capable of 60+ MPH like this author's Castle Creations-powered RC18T.

Why should automotive enthusiasts care? Well, for one, playing with RC cars will put a grin on nearly anyone's face, and provides a pleasant distraction when things aren't going well in the 1:1 world. But more importantly, the same sort of technology that gives us insanely fast toys can also be expected to brighten gearheads' days if the internal combustion engine gives way to electric motors as the power source of choice for future vehicles.

[Source: Transport Trends]

Time waster of the day: Stupid-fast RC car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brushlesscastle creationselectricelectric motorlipolithiumlithium ionlosiradio controlradio controlledRadioControlrcteam associatedTue, 29 Aug 2006 12:58:00 EST