January Issue Preview: Team Associated RC10 Classic

January Issue Preview: Team Associated RC10 Classic


RC10-11

Team Associated rocked the RC world back in June when they announced that the 1984 gold-tub RC10 would be returning as a re-issued, limited-production model later in the year. Dubbed the RC10 Classic, the A-Team showed off a preproduction version of the car at RCX and it has been eagerly anticipated since. Our full review is in the January issue and its loaded with info about the new-old car, insights on its significance to RC history, and a detailed look at what it took to bring back the legend. Here’s a sneak peek, plus a video look at the RC10s new and old.


Explode

This “exploded view” shows off the gold-anodized aluminum chassis and white molded parts that instantly set the RC10 apart from the black-plastic buggies of the day. The RC10’s overall simplicity also stood out against the often over-designed cars of the era. Like a true race car of any scale, the RC10 was all business.

By today’s standards, the suspension is considered a short-arm design. The gold-anodized shocks look like the 1984 originals, but feature the top-loaded seal configuration of the later Team Shock design rather than the bottom-loaded, C-clip-secured seals spec’d in 1984.

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The transmission features an external ball differential where you would typically find a slipper clutch. Internally the top shaft leads to a set of twin drive gears that operate two sets of gears that make up each wheels independent transmission. Although there isn’t a slipper, the diff is adjustable without disconnecting the wheels or axles for quick adjustments.

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The RC10 Classic’s rear bulkhead and battery cup were altered to hold modern LiPo battery packs,  which are larger than NiCD batteries that were used in the era of the original RC10.

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The RC10’s dual bellcranks aren’t too far removed from modern designs, but the z-bend linkage that ties the steering servo to the bellcranks is definitely from a by-gone era. A closer look at the steering system reveals Team Associated’s first take on an integrated servo saver. The plastic loop stretches open to absorb any jolts strong enough to deflect the bellcrank from the upper arm.

Because the RC10 is one of the most collectible vintage cars, Associated took pains to protect collector market by modifying the Classic’s parts so they could be easily differentiated from authentic, original parts. Most parts are marked with an “L” or “R” to designate which side they go on while other parts, like the arms have subtle design tweaks. For example, the rear arm’s braces cross on the Classic part, but are interrupted on the vintage arms. The Classic’s tires are also modified. The original tire’s sidewalls had “Goodyear” logos, Team Associated logos, or were blank. The Classic’s rubber is made by Pro-Line, and have the brand name molded into the sidewalls in an appropriately vintage font.

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Updated: July 21, 2015 — 3:37 PM
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