Ballistic Lunacy

Just noticed HPI Europe have listed some very nice looking HD parts, 7075 Aerospace grade aluminium used for the structural parts. You heard it here first folks...


http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=87289


http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=87290


http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=87291


http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=87548



http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=87549



http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=87559


And this last one is an interesting affair...

http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=86700


Gunmetal never looked so awesome.

Ballistic Lunacy

To further add, the bearing that comes with the Spur Gear carrier appears to have a flat spot ground into it, opens up some questions as to why HPI decied to do that. Could it be that HPI have noticed an alignment issue with things the way they are? seems strange but I could imagine that if there is an issue it would cause some bearing failures. Anyway voice your opinions...


http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=B098

dc2 man

seems to me man the reason is that hpi want you to keep buying there own type bearings (the ones you have shown there) and no other bearings will fit the gearplate.

clever.....mmmm lots of companys seem to be doing this now actually.

rckiwi

Yes I can't understand this? as this would move the layshaft higher? first I thought it would lower the brake caliper but that would happen as your alloy rear brace governs that!

Ballistic Lunacy

That did cross my mind, but then if that was the case it would cause a misalignment in an otherwise properly aligned setup that might kill bearings, basically the upgrade would be a downgrade - I guess time will tell. I did notice that when I built my SS that plastic spur gear carrier did seem a little bit too big and required the rear upper deck piece to be loosened to fit, that said I've not lost any bearings to it...

Shame about the custom bearings as it does put me off the spur gear carrier. I really do like the look of it - very well designed and light looking - guess I could always dremmel a little out of the upper rear deck plate to allow normal bearings to work.

MGTfix

Actually what they did was put a Large bearing in the spur carrier similar to the aluminum clutch bell holder, because the bearing outside diameter is larger a flat spot had to be put in so the rear plate would not be missaligned. I have been running the HPI clutch bell holder since last November at the nationals and still have the same bearings running in it, the large bearings can handle the load much better than the stock setup.

Ballistic Lunacy

Oh would you look at that, larger bearings! Nice eye MGT.

Well I take it all back, that part has WIN written all over it, definatly getting me one of those.

splcrazy

i think that bearing idea is good but not nessasary

speedy.d

i think they look kinda plain, but im sure they serve ttheir purpose.

speedy.d

what do they cost copared to quality aftermarket parts like those from turtle?

Ballistic Lunacy

Hard to say really. I've not seen the upper front/rear decks listed at US stockists yet and converting £ -> $ won't give a true indication due to the weak £. But for me in the UK they work out cheaper then Turtles parts.

Keep in mind untreated 7075 aerospace grade aluminium is twice the strength of the 'billet' 6061 most of our favorite manufacturers like to use. Treated 7075-T6 is about 4X stronger.

speedy.d

that and they are less bulky, i do like that. the bearing carrier looks like it will be the first on my list. hpi has always made their upgrades to a very high standard. so i think these parts are going to find there way to my ride.

victory-rc

You cant go wrong with HPI,there kicking azz, That stuff looks nice. Why only in Europe ?

Ballistic Lunacy

Yeah well designed 7075 parts can be alot lighter then 6061 equivalants, although It appears with some of these deck pieces HPI have opted to use the same designed and go with just a material change to up strength which the original parts were found to be lacking in. I'm definatly liking the look of those 7075 rear shock tower struts as well as the SG carrier.

Alot of HPI stuff is announced in Europe first, I think I heard the design teams for aftermarket parts were mostly based in Europe. That said their normally globally launched around the same time.

speedy.d

i just checked hpi usa they are there and the prices are pretty nice as well.i just found another way to spend money.

Ballistic Lunacy

Yeah and it gets even better, the prices on the HPI website are just RRP, they will be a fair bit cheaper once in the shops and places like towerhobbies.

speedy.d

i even went as far as to call hpi. i spoke with a great guy named andrew, he told me there is a lot of testing with these parts.thhere are also a few other little items. i do like my orange ano though...... oh well strength before bling!

RAMTech-HBF-LSF

They were annonced on 4.22.09 by HPIRacing USA by Press Release and Forum News.

Ballistic Lunacy

So why didn't you start a thread on it instead of keeping it to yourself

RAMTech-HBF-LSF

Its been out there since the 22nd, about 12,000 other people knew.

speedy.d

im on that site daily i must have missed it! no big deal though i know now! its hard for me to keep up with all the info that comes through there. they are even in stock at innovative. that spur gear carrier is nice.

46u

My Feedback: (3)

HPI all so is coming out with a new header for the SS pipe do to all the melting and breaking of the stock aluminum one. Saw it on one of the HPI Baja forums.

Ballistic Lunacy

^^ Cool, that's good to know. Don't use the pipe myself but plenty of guys do - hopefully some of them might get sorted under warranty.

The HPI pipe is a pretty good race option so whatever they can do to improve its durability is welcome.



Wrong, none of the 7075 chassis plates were announced before and only just showed up on HPI's site they don't even show up in the HPI press releases. You can't substantiate your claim that 12'000 other people knew either so don't pretend you can, not even in your 'great' forum is there any mention of them.

Ballistic Lunacy

Oh big numbers with no way to prove them... Link to the thread and the dated HPI announcement or it didn't happen. Seriously if it wasn't posted here on RCU then we really couldn't care less where it was posted first.

speedy.d

i wander if they will honor warranties with the new version?