Redcat Racing Mirage Info just incase your looking for mods , upgrades , or just some other info.

Well after studying up on this buggy I decided I should post some parts that are specifically available for the Mirage to  improve its durability and speed . Now theres lots of parts out there that will fit but I'm sticking with the basics.

If you have a early model I would recommend checking the Redcat racing parts section and update some the parts to V2 spec as they they did revise a few parts . The parts have new part #'s or have had leters added to the end of the original part # but they all say V2 in the description . Redcat Mirage V2 parts

Also If you have a new model it appears Redcat has replaced the ESC that was originally used with a ESC that is now only 3S capable and looks similar to a Hobby Wing esc but with different labels. ESC pictured below.

Similar to new ESC

ESC originally used

So a new 4s capable esc may be a good upgrade for the speed freaks out there as this buggy is reported to run at around 45 mph on 3S lipos and 4S lipos push it to nearly 60 mph.

Ok now for the nitty gritty .

TBR or T Bone Racing has come out with some front and rear bumpers and even side plates for the wing and If you play hard I really think you should check them out . http://t-bone-racing.net/Mirage-Pro-c502/

Helion Criterion available at Hobby Town USA 30+ mph RTR

Well I kept seeing ads for this buggy and decided to have a look see at what this buggy is all about . 

From what can be seen from the pictures available at this time Helion didn't really set out to break the mold but this isn't a bad thing as the basic buggy design is very reliable and with the addition of a substantial amount of plastic added to the most easily damaged areas such as the front shock tower I think this looks like a good basher for the person who may think about racing .

The first thing that intrigued me was the claim of  class leading top speeds . Upon further investigation I can say it probably does have the hottest sealed can brushed motor I have ever heard of since it is a 12 turn 540 motor instead of the  12 turn 550 motor some are using these days. What this means is more RPM for your money . As of this moment the next nastiest sealed can 540's are the 15 turn motors from HPI,Arrma, and dynamite so this should be a big kick in the pant's compared to the other offerings . 

The buggy also comes with front and rear 12mm wheel hexes The specs list the wheels as Team Associated and Kyosho compatible now thats a smart move.

I'm also glad that they include ball bearing everywhere including the steering bellcrank . I can't decide if I like the Idea of the plastic slider shafts but you never know .Hopefully the diff gears are good and strong.

I like that they designed the battery strap to accommodate a 7 cell hump pack and with waterproof electronics this new buggy is keeping up with the big names as most of them have went waterproof already . 

All in all I think Helion has made shopping for your next. budget buggy a bit more interesting but I do think the price ( $189.99 ) is a bit much for what you're getting . To be blunt I think there is someone out there this buggy is perfect for but my first thought after seeing the price was that a Traxxas bandit is only  $204.99 from Hobby town. I don't really think the price is low enough for what you get in my opinion this should be priced at $150 or below to compete with the ECX Boost and undercut the Arrma ADX-10 which runs around $160. 

If I was real picky I would point out that the Redcat Racing Twister XB in brushed form can normally be bought for $119.99 with free shipping and the brushless version runs about $185.99 with free shipping but they are in a slightly different category.

HPI Apache C1 VS Axial Racing Exo Terra Vs Redcat Racing Mirage and Sandstorm Baja Buggy .

Currently the big thing in RC is scale realism and why not thats what really made this hobby thrive in the 80's and early 90's and can always gain the attention of people not already Immersed in the hobby . My main goal with this post and many more to follow is to compare several similar RC's for the soul purpose of spreading information . This will be most usefully to the person thats not too familiar with all the option that are out there and may lead them to purchase a car or truck better suited to their needs than the one they seen driving around the park .

#107109 RTR APACHE C1  1/8th SCALE ELECTRIC 4WD DESERT RACING BUGGY with 2/4GHz RADIO      Price : hard to determine as it is listed discontinued on several retailers at this time. This big bad buggy is setup to run 2 7-cell NIMH battery packs or 2 2s lipo's . It features 2350 KV brushless motor and a 2.4GHZ radio system . All the electronics are waterproof but the ESC so take care if water is in your future.  SPECIFICATIONS: Length: 580mm Width: 300mm Height: 254mm Wheelbase: 375mm (adjustable) Drivetrain: Full-Time Shaft 4WD

Mirage 1/8 Scale Brushless Sand Rail:                           $259.99

 

SPECIFICATIONS: Length: 535mm  Width: 320mm  Height: 210mm  Wheelbase: 340mm  Drivetrain: Full-Time Shaft 4WD

Little smaller and a little slower but It really is RTR at a low price . Yes the charger is slow and the stock esc is only rated for up to 3S but there is a 3S lipo included . With a simple ESC change 4S power is in your grasp with its large battery compartment . Speaking of the battery compartment its accessed from the bottom of the chassis  for easy battery swaps.

 EXO - 1/10th Scale Electric 4WD Terra Buggy - RTR:                                                         $379.99

SPECIFICATIONS: Length: 482.6mm  Width: 295.3mm  Height: 228.6mm  Wheelbase: 334mm  Drivetrain: Full-Time Shaft 4WD

Now  This buggy is not all that much smaller than the last which Redcat calls a 1/8th scale and to be fair it is ruffly the size of a 1/8th scale buggy used for competition but as can be seen scale doesn't mean much .  But Just look at that pretty buggy .

Sandstorm 1/10 Scale Electric Baja Buggy:                   $119.99

SPECIFICATIONS: Length: 400mm  Width: 270mm  Height: 165mm  Wheelbase: 275mm  Drivetrain: Full-Time Shaft 4WD

THis little guy is small and cheap and doesn't look half bad but to be blunt it needs work. The stock esc being used at this time is mediocre at best and a replacement will be need if you have the need for speed. Eventually Redcat should have there brushless version out to match its brother the Sandstorm TK and when they do that the value will jump substantially .

Well hopefully this has lead you couple of more options that are out there but make sure to do your own research and get opinions from several people .

Cheap speed esc 2S-3S lipo compatible brushed esc Redcat Racing WP-1040

Well seems the esc that is coming in the Redcat Ground Pounder might be a good buy for someone looking for cheap speed . If the specs listed on ebay by Revolution Hobbies are correct this would be a good buy for a lot of people.

Product Description:

Specifications: FWD Cont. / Burst Current : 40A / 180A BWD Cont. / Burst Current: 20A / 90A Input: 2-3S Lipo, 5-9 Cells NiMH/NiCd Cars Applicable: 1:10 on-road, off-road Buggy, SCT, Truggy, Crawler, Tank & Boat Motor Limit: 2 Lipo or 6 NiMH: 540 or 550 size motor ≥ 12T, RPM < 30000 @ 7.2V 3 Lipo or 9 NiMH: 540 or 550 size motor ≥ 18T, RPM < 20000 @ 7.2V Resistance: FWD: 0.002 Ohm; BWD:0.004 Ohm Built-in BEC: 2A/5V (Linear mode BEC) PWM Frequency: 1KHz

Additional Information:

SKU rcvp3310006 Motor Type Brushed Forward Current (A) 40 Forward Burst Current (A) 180 Input Voltage (v) 7.4 - 11.1 BEC 2A / 5V Linear mode BEC Programmable Yes Fan Heatsink No Water Cooling No Dimension (mm) 46.5 x 34 x 28.5 Net Weight (kg) 0.065 Cross Weight (kg) 0.09

Now this ESC is available under Redcat Racing part Number's B7003R and B7003SR-T  and they place the MSRP is $31.99. Since they are available from Redcat Dealers  for around $25 dollars and since they can be bought from US sellers you won't have to wait for it to get here from overseas.