Team Associated RC10T4.3
 

Well this was something that I did not see coming...The Team Associated RC10T4.3 Ready-To-Run platform

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2198797
RC10T4.3 ...Manual (not yet)?

Though they are, I think, based on the great "4" series stadium truck, I would have liked a mid motor RTR to suggest to up and coming racers. I am glad to see parts support for my aging STs will still be going strong. Not that I doubted Associated in the parts department :cool:.

From what I can tell, everything is about the same as the T4.2 RTRs. I can't find the manual/specs to confirm anything. The transmitter now looks like it has throttle rate adjustment...bonus for when you want to cut the max speed a bit. Still no end point adjustment :( for steering, unless it's hidden somewhere.

EDIT: Includes

• Reedy 0712MG Digital HV Metal Gear Servo, 7kg
• Reedy 3300KV 540-SL4 Sensorless
• REEDY SC600 Brushless Electronic Speed Control with Deans Connector

One thing I have to give mad props to ...that old school-ish red, white, and blue body...the BEST one yet IMO!

i grew on stadium trucks, it was always my most used style of RC and iv never found anything else that quite did it for me, so as someone who likes rear motor, standard stick pack using, stadium trucks that actually look like trucks, im stoked as hell to see this! even though i hate RTR's and gear diffs and dogbones it's going to be hard for me not to buy one. replace my dumb clumsy short course truck with something that actually performs.

Oh, that is mega cool! Glad they are keeping them going. I WILL be getting one of those bodies as soon as possible!

I never heard of a SCT referred to as "dumb clumsy" before...that's awesome. ;)

Yes, stadium trucks are probably my favorite 1/10 scale 2wd RC to drive nowadays.

I only raced the "truck" class a few times (1990?) when I was also involved in buggy racing. This was with a Traxxas Blue Eagle, and before there was even the term "stadium truck" class. Long story short...like a dummy, I sold the Blue Eagle cause not a big truck class turnout at the track. A couple of months later, Associated comes out with the RC10T, and I am on my 2nd break from racing.

After my buddy talked me into racing again, the tracks we raced at didn't see a stadium truck show up to race until the RC10T3 came out. I should have jumped on the band wagon then. Those one or two T3s that showed up; were handling the track so well, they were thrown into the 4wd mod buggy class if my memory serves me right.


I'm real lazy when it comes to painting. You won't be the only one putting one in the shopping cart!

I see Tower Hobbies has expected date of early February for the T4.3 trucks. Now I wonder what's gonna happen to the B4.2RS platform.

Video on Associated's website now. Was it there yesterday? I missed it maybe? Oh, well. The tail whipping had me cringing at times ;).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjOntSvp-Lo

well compared to a stadium truck a short course truck lacks grip (narrower tires) is slow to react (heavier and longer wheelbase), is more likely to end up on its roof (higher CG thanks to the body) and frankly drive and jump like a kite (thanks to the body). they may look cool but they kind of suck to drive hard.

best basher platform iv ever owned was a T3. actually totally restored my T3 a couple years ago. easy to work on, durable and handled like it was on rails, iv yet to find anything that has worked that good.

i just want to know what servo they put in this thing. really hoping it's not the same thing they use in the SC10. that servo was so sllooooow i almost couldn't drive the truck.
to bad they won't ever off this as a roller like they do with the TC4. im really getting sick of the growing stockpile of terrible RTR electronics im accumulating.

lol growing pile of rtr electronics.agreed .Its soooo windy where i live it realy turns SCTs into kites.these 2wd stadium truck are so light n tough n simple.they just fly with a we 9t and cheap HW esc combo

I found the XP DS1510MG servo to be...relaxed :o. I had the pleasure of using one in a ST. Tough as all heck. I have used a few, so called, 0.15 sec 60° @ 6v servos before. That's the cutoff number/spec for me, but the DS1510MG felt slower than specs would have it.

You can almost be guaranteed it will be the same servo included in the T4.3 seeing that most of nothing else has changed :).

EDIT: A Reedy 0712MG Digital HV Metal Gear Servo, with 7kg of torque is included.

Wait, what?
 

Like I don't have enough stadium trucks to play with, and I'm in a building mood... something showed up at doorstep the other day.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2201811http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2201817
I'm kinda something of a parts hoarder, and one thing I don't have spares of...T4 chassis'. I have not seen that address on Associated's stuff in very long time ;):eek::cool:. My plan is to build my own T4.3 from the SC10.x/T4.x parts that have been accumulated from eBay over the years.

Late Night Rummaging
 

I wasn't gonna start my take on the T4.3 until later next month, but I saw a box of eBay "chop shop" parts in garage while testing some batteries...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2201931http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2201932http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2201933

Edit: The molded chassis is like I always have come to expect from Associated...sweet and smooth. Not like this thing.

looking good so far.
you're going to force me to buy a 4.3

Body Mount
 

I don't know if Associated purposely designed the SC10 body mount posts with the same base as the T4 body mounts, but they climb into the front shock tower's recesses nicely.

Edit: If I trimmed the SC10 mounts they probably would be okay for a new unpainted body. But, I didn't want to have any surprises when T4.3 body becomes available, so I ordered the correct T4 body posts. I am banking on Associated's T4.3 parts page being correct. I'll work at them SC10 body posts later.

Edit: Normal T4 body posts show up in the mail today.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202702

Thanks. The hardest part is finding all the pieces I have stashed in different boxes. I think I got it under now.

Doing up a build from spare parts really makes me wish RC kits were the norm.

I may have to go back to my ebay purchase history and tally up the cost of parts. My best guess ...? I'd probably be better off buying the T4.3 RTR and selling off the electronics.

Front Axles
 

Since Associated is not taking the T4.3 to the next level, I thought I would take one step backwards with my T4. Goin' old school with bearing and pin drive wheels...so I need to order the correct axle (#7456). SC10 axles let the wheel bearings/wheel ride closer to the steering block. If a person tries to use SC10 axles, the wider stadium truck wheels will rub arms when turning.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202596 My T4.1 (non hex axle) sitting atop of SC10 (non hex axle)

More Old School...Meeting New School
 

RC10 shocks have not changed much since the beginning of time. Gold, blue, grey, threaded, non threaded shock bodies...they all work great. When Associated went to the V2 shocks, with easy access to the seals through lower shock caps, I thought things couldn't get much better. Then came along bleeder caps :cool:! The annoying shock building task (IMO) just got sooo much easier to do and get shocks built equally (rebound).

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202672

Most of the parts for this build were got at auction (eBay). Lots of patience and being outbid a lot. I cannot not pass up, on an auction, a set of old school shocks. For less than $12 shipped, I'll deal with the blue (version one type) shocks :).

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202600http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202601http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202599

Edit: After checking everything out, mainly droop and spring preload spacers, I quickly realized my chop shop shocks were from a SC10. They also felt not as plush as I liked. Checking manuals...SC10 shock setup uses a lot more limiters on the front shock shafts, and also uses a piston with smaller holes. That would explain why the shocks felt "slow", and why I didn't have much droop.

Tranny Time
 

Chop shop geared diff tranny all greased up and ready to go...almost.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202682http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202681http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202678http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202684http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202697
Top tooth, on fourth picture, has a high spot on it and makes the diff feel notchy every time that tooth comes around. X-acto knife and finger nail file helped tame that tooth.

JConcepts motor plate was picked up from another one of my favorites... Absolute Hobbyz.

Motor, Servo, Tires...
 

One of my all-time favorite servos, the Hitec HS-5625MG, is finding it's way into the chassis. I'm continuing the one step backwards approach to this truck with an Associated/Reedy Radon 17T brushed motor, and bearing/pin driven wheels. Tires are your typical left over Thunder Tiger Phoenix ST tread design.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202847http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202846http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2202845
RadioLink R4EH-H receiver mounted for the RadioLink RC3S radio.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2208259

Front End Protection
 

Since Associated did not go ahead, and knock the RC10T4.3 out of the park, I went ahead where they left off.
https://s18.postimg.org/kioesthe1/20170226_085012.jpg

If I was part of the Associated team of designers, I'd cut a deal with RPM, and supply the RC10T4.3 "basher" with an important (if not the most important) part ...a BUMPER! Don't get me wrong, I love T-Bone Racing's stuff. But RPM's bumpers, for Team Associated's T4/B4 line, just look sooo "factory OEM-ish". I know I would pay a few bucks more for a RTR that included RPM components.

Wiring job is about as good as it gets for this dude. Test fitting some spare tires. I think they are from a Recat crawler platform. Heavy rubber that is for sure.
Attachment 2221230
Waiting on one of the final pieces, the ESC, I thought I would mount up the body and have a look.

I looked and looked, but nowhere are the T4.3 bodies to be found. I could not even get one direct from Associated. Again, eBay chop shop to the rescue :cool:. I think I paid a very fair price ($39.99) for a screen printed/painted body. Chop shop said there was no sticker sheet in RTR package. I'm okay with that, but Associated should have put a big "T4.3" on the wing like they did on other "4" variants. I'm just nitpicking now :p;).

Attachment 2222952
Going to test that brushed motor.

I would not recommend doing what I did to get myself a T4.3 stadium truck. The effort to get the parts was over a long period of time, and with many losing bids mind you.

JConcepts Battery Strap . ...$2.52
Tires & Wheels...................$20.58
JConcepts Thumb Nuts........$1.99
Hitec HS-5625MG Servo....$35.00
Front/Rear Shock Towers ...$4.99
Chassis Brace .....................$0.99
Screws/bolts/nuts.................$2.59
Rear Suspension/Axels.......$9.10
JConcepts Alm. Brace..........$4.98
Front Suspension.................$9.10
Complete Gear Tranny.......$22.99
Complete Steering Asbly.....$3.49
RPM Bumper.......................$0.0?
Fnt/Rear Shocks.................$11.98
Radon 17T Brushed Motor .$5.40
RadioLink Tx/Rx................$32.49
RC10T4 Chassis................$18.99
JConcepts Motor Mount......$6.53
HobbyWing 1060 ESC.......$18.00
Str.Blocks/ Axels..................$3.15
RC10T4.3 Body.................$48.39

Total .................................$263.25

Having the ever so slight higher cost than if I just went out and bought a Team Associated RC10T4.3 off the shelf, in my mind I think the radio system and some other key components make up for it. If I would have paid full wholesale prices, the bill would definitely be much higher. I don't want to even think about calculating full retail. :D

Will be interesting to see if I can tell a difference in handling with, and without the ballast weight installed. When running an older SC10 that did not come with the ballast weight, I know the additional weight calmed down the rear end. I hoping it'll do the same on the T4.3.

I ordered one of these the other day. I thought it was a great deal especially the Lipo package. Comes with a decent charger and battery, which is perfect for me since I'm getting back into the hobby after a 25+ year break.

I'm sure you will enjoy it very much. The Reedy 3300kv motor packs a bit of a punch; it should keep your T4.3 scooting along pretty good without getting you into too much trouble. And if you do happen to get a little squirrely, by all means, check out T-Bone Racing, or RPM for a bumper to save your T4.3's front end.

Get out there and throw some dirt!

Thanks Rusty, I'll look into the front bumper!