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May 29, 2013, 5:39 a.m.
5/30/2013By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com
Whether it's wheel nuts, wings, tools, tracks, trinkets and/or anything in between, the LiveRC staff gives their testimonial and mini-review of each every Thursday morning!
PSM VX3 Brake Discs
$18.00 per set
In R/C racing the goal is to be the fastest driver on the track. Going fast means having a fast car, but also being able to consistently slow that fast car down. There is nothing faster than charging hard into a corner, braking hard at the last minute, making the turn and being right back on the gas. The key to doing this is having brakes that work, and work every time.
We recently got our hands on a set of the new VX3 brake discs from PSM Option Parts. These new discs are made up of 3mm fiberglass material that is CNC machined and vented. The idea behind PSM's lightweight fiberglass brake discs is to produce a smooth, solid brake feeling that doesn't fade away from overheating in those long mains. The idea works! The brake discs do in fact provide a very smooth and consistent feel from the first tank to the last.
As with any brake disc, over time they become "glazed" with oil, dirt, and grime. The VX3 discs are very easy to clean (instructional video provided on the PSM website) simply using a piece of fine sandpaper. Once cleaned the discs work like new. The white appearance is VERY cool to start off with, but like wearing a white shirt eating spaghetti, it doesn't stay white for long.
So far for longevity, the brake discs have lasted for quite a long time and show no signs of needing replacing (even after multiple cleanings).
Pros:
- Very smooth and consistent for extended runs.
- Doesn't overheat like some stock brake discs.
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Durable
Cons:
- White appearance gets dirty quickly.
- No United States/North America distributor at this time.
Conclusion:
We were quite impressed with the PSM VX3 brakes and their performance. Getting your hands on a set takes a little time, as you must order online direct from PSM in Germany (there is no current United States distributor). After putting a little elbow grease in after running to keep the discs looking fresh and bright white, we have no complaints and are confident that the VX3 brake discs are a good choice when choosing aftermarket brakes.
Beacon Rating: 4/5
Dynamite Bent Body Clips
$3.99 (pack of 8)
When it comes to your car's appearance, it can never look TOO good. We saw these nifty colored pre-bent body clips from Dynamite, which just happened to match one our paint schemes. The Dynamite body clips come in packs of 8, are available in red, blue, or green, and pre-bent.
Our first impression was the price. They are priced roughly the same, if not more than, most other colored body clips on the market. They are however pre-bent, which is designed to make them easier to put on and take off. We decided to give them try and see how they worked. Once un-packaging them and putting them on the car we were impressed with their looks, as they matched quite nicely.
We then headed out to the track for a little practice. These clips are not only pre-bent, but also feature a larger "loop" than most. It didn't take but a few rollovers before the clips were missing in action, and our body was flying off the car faster than
Pros:
- Available in different colors to match your paint scheme.
- Pre-bent design makes installation and removal easy.
Cons:
- Expensive for body clips.
- Large "loop" design catches easily on the ground when crashing, packing them with mud and/or pulling them out.
- Color wears off over time.
Conclusion:
For racers who don't crash often, or maybe someone entering their car in a concours contest, these will work great as they are easy to take on and off and really add a finished look to your matching paint scheme. For the average racer (especially offroad) who crashes from time to time, we found that these clips are frustrating to try and keep on the car. When realizing they are lost forever, you begin to feel like it would have been more fun to just throw $.50 at a turn marshall instead.
Beacon Rating: 2/5
THURSDAY TESTIMONIALS - RANDOM ITEM OF THE WEEK:
Each week outside of the R/C world we test out and use a variety of items in our daily routines that have absolutely nothing to do with R/C, and THIS is what we think of them!
Febreze Air Effects - Advanced Odor Eliminator
$2.99
Did you know that according to my scientific research, during a race that has 125 entries, 50 racers, 4 hobby shop employees, and a track dog...you will experience upwards of 7,562,918 different smells. 98.3% of these smells fall into the category of "unpleasant odors". Whether it be burnt up electric motors, punctured LiPos, "odorless" tire additives, smoky rich nitro engines, or the guy sitting next to you eating Moo Shu Pork with a side of stink, you are bound to encounter something smelly at the track.
We've tried romantic scented candles, little tree fresheners, and even wearing a painters mask to eliminate smelling it all, but nothing has worked so far. Just when we thought there was no hope for the super stank of the R/C track, a fresh air fairy delivered us a spray can full of Febreze Air Effects - Advanced Odor Eliminator. This magical bottle of greatness and its floating odor eating army works so good it doesn't need a fancy name like "Precious Rainfall" or "Summer Berries" to sell itself.
Just a few gentle sprays of the Advanced Odor Eliminator and no matter how little deodorant your wearing, or how close you're pitted to the porta-potty, you won't smell a thing!
Pros:
- Slim bottle fits nicely in travelling race bag.
- Sprays quietly so smelly racers have no idea your spraying them.
- Brushed silver and anodized blue accents gives it a Factory Team appearance.
- Even kills the odor of the dreaded soggy rotten tire washing rag.
Cons:
- While it covers odors of smelly things, it does not necessarily repel them. Therefore while you can't smell the porta-potty and its contents...it is in fact still there.
Conclusion:
This product was designed to freshen up your home, it even says so on the bottle. Whether it's your home, R/C track, office, car, city bus, or that pair of Dickies shorts you forgot to wash, but you really want to wear because all of the pro guys wear them...this stuff freshens up it ALL! I highly recommend a bottle of Febreze Air Effects - Advanced Odor Eliminator to any and all racers, as you never know what smell might come at you next.
Beacon Rating: 5/5
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