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Old 2020.10.01, 01:07 AM   #1
SuperFly
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Branching out

I think I've reached a point with the various flavors of RWD Mini-Zs where I want to check out something else.

I've tried brushed and brushless; 90mm, 94mm, 98mm, 102mm; most of the different aftermarket parts in one form or another, from MR01, MR02, MR03. I have a dozen working cars that I drive regularly.

I'm curious about the alternatives by GL and Atomic, and have been trying to learn the differences between GLR, GLA, GLD, AMR, AMZ, BZ, and why one would choose one over the other. Also on my radar is an MA030, as I don't have any AWD cars. I'm probably more interested in something that works with Autoscale bodies rather than Lexan. I'm neutral between another RWD racer, AWD racer, or AWD or RWD drift car.

Anyone have any input on the best place to start exploring the GL or Atomic ecosystems?
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Old 2020.10.01, 09:26 AM   #2
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I'd begin with the GLA from GL Racing. Their overall QC is higher than Atomic's plastic parts. They also require less sanding and finetuning as the parts come well - molded from the box. GL's pricing is slightly lower than Atomic's and they are popular chassis (GLA and GLR) for many racers. AWD cars also require much more maintenance and tinkering to get running well, but have a higher skill cap when tuned properly.

As for Autoscales, both the GLA and GLR do accept ASCs, but be careful about the wheelbase when purchasing the GLA, as they provide a chassis wheelbase of 90, 94, and 98.

Atomic has much more options, with the BZ3, FFZ, and AMZ. If you plan on purchasing the BZ, get the BZ3 as the build quality is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than the previous gen BZs. FFZ also has some nice feedback as when they are completely assembled, they handle very well and stable. AMZ has lost popularity with the arrival of the GLA. Beware of Atomic's plastic parts.
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Old 2020.10.13, 05:02 PM   #3
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Thanks for the info! Not sure which direction I'll go yet, but will probably start something before the end of the year.
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Old 2020.10.21, 03:50 PM   #4
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Glr!

If I was still racing, I would absolutely want to own a GLR. Then I would consider a GLA just to see if 4wd can be fast too, although at this scale I find AWD far too fiddly. Recently GL racing and I think Atomic released a rear wheel drive drift chassis.. I personally dislike 4wd drift but rear wheel drift is so elegant, if I had the right floors at home.. I would be getting one of them too :-)
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Old 2020.10.21, 04:18 PM   #5
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Yeah, that's about where I'm at. Going to see how hard the holidays and property taxes hit the bank account, and get one or the other in Jan. GLR or GLD.

The one thing I'm kind of not looking forward to is dealing with small LiPos. I enjoy the safety, ease and non-fussiness of NiMH AAAs.
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Old 2020.10.21, 07:50 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperFly View Post
...The one thing I'm kind of not looking forward to is dealing with small LiPos. I enjoy the safety, ease and non-fussiness of NiMH AAAs.
One of the reasons I don't have one. I have little interest in RC batteries that I have to store and charge in flameproof bags.
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Old 2020.10.22, 12:06 AM   #7
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One of the reasons I don't have one. I have little interest in RC batteries that I have to store and charge in flameproof bags.
Honestly, it's almost (and maybe is) a dealbreaker. I know that's kinda lame from a hobbyist perspective, but it just adds a layer of complexity that I'm not interested in. I mean, I have a LiPo charger and 4-5 large 5600 maH batteries that I use in 1/10 cars, but I hate worrying about them. Did I unplug the battery in the car? Did I charge it and then not use it? Did I run it all the way down and I need to charge it before I let it sit for 4 months? Oh, did my $75 battery just swell up for no reason? I hate that stuff.
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Old 2020.11.28, 02:16 PM   #8
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Update:

After giving it some more thought, I decided I didn't want to got the LiPo route right now, but still wanted to try something new. I was reading different threads in different places about the shortage of MA020 and MA030 cars available, and about converting FWD to AWD, so that's my new project.

Ordered an FWD Megane from Kyosho America for $130, and the needed parts from a couple other places. Found this video with a parts list. Going to use an EVO clone board, so should end up with basically an MA030 EVO. I still have a lot to learn about how the AWD works, but it should be fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jliYUbgQhW0
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