Zeroing in on the perimeter RC disciplines is one thing that Redcat does very well. Take as an example Redcat’s extremely profitable line of RC lowriders. They’re enjoyable to drive, endlessly modifiable and are amongst a few of the best-looking scale RC automobiles to be launched by any producer. As Redcat dominates the lowrider market, the corporate appears to be like to widen its attain with an all-new car, this time focused in direction of RC drifters.

Lengthy thought-about a distinct segment style, RC drifting has a rabid following all through Asia, Europe and in pockets round North America. Though drifting hasn’t caught on fairly as a lot as crawling has right here within the States, Redcat has a plan to assist develop its reputation by means of its newest launch, the RDS 2WD Competitors Spec Drift Automotive.

WHAT IS RC DRIFTING?

You’ve most likely seen drifting earlier than, however what precisely is aggressive RC drifting? RC drifting is a judged competitors based mostly on a automobile’s line, angle, pace and total fashion. Much like the way in which skateboard or snowboard competitions are evaluated, RC drift competitions even have panels of judges that assign factors to a driver’s efficiency.

How shut somebody is to the best racing line via a course, having most angle all through the run, transferring via the course shortly, and having minimal corrections after committing to an angle are what judges search for. Whereas that is largely achieved by talent, it’s also essential to have a predictable drift automobile that’s adjustable to your driving fashion.

RDS is able to unbelievable quantities of steering angle because of its extensively adjustable steering angle settings.

BUILT FOR COMPETITION

The RDS is an all-new, competition-focused drift platform that Redcat has been secretly engaged on for some time now. The RDS is a able to run (RTR) two-wheel-drive car that features all the mandatory radio gear and electronics to get you sliding sideways shortly.
RDS is particularly engineered from the bottom as much as compete. Redcat could also be thought-about an outsider within the drift neighborhood, however we’re prepared to guess that RDS will change some minds. RDS is designed to be a extremely aggressive rear-wheel-drive drift automobile that excels on surfaces that are discovered on many ready RC drift tracks, reminiscent of carpet, p-tile, and polished concrete. The drift automobile will also be used on unpolished concrete and asphalt, though these rougher surfaces gained’t assist you to get probably the most out of its efficiency potential. Smoother surfaces are optimum.

RDS is able to unbelievable quantities of steering angle because of its extensively adjustable steering angle settings.

READY TO DRIFT

The pre-assembled RDS comes able to run minus the battery and charger and features a 2.4GHz radio system, 540 3300kV brushless motor, 60A brushless ESC, coreless digital Hexfly Drift-Spec steering servo and a drift-specific gyro. Wait, did we are saying a gyro? Sure, we did.
Gyros are a necessity on rear-wheel-drive drift vehicles as they permit the motive force to attain true-to-scale door-to-door drift motion. The included Hexfly GX-1 gyro mechanically countersteers the automobile, enabling it to take care of a clean arc via drifts. The quantity of automated countersteer will be fine-tuned by adjusting the quantity of achieve on the gyro. With out a gyro, a rear-wheel-drive drift automobile will likely be practically not possible to regulate and easily spin out. Belief us—you need a gyro, and the Hexfly GX-1 is an effective one to have.

“Redcat could also be thought-about
an outsider within the drift neighborhood, however we’re prepared to guess that RDS will change some minds.”

TUNING & ADJUSTMENTS

Should you’re not conversant in the way in which RC drift vehicles are tuned, you could have an interest to seek out out that battery measurement and weight are used for tuning the automobile’s total efficiency features. Shifting the load ahead or backward or adjusting total weight impacts how a drift automobile handles and swings its weight round. With this in thoughts, Redcat opted to not embody a battery or charger with the equipment so the motive force can select the very best battery for his or her state of affairs. The RDS will settle for a competition-style 2S shorty LiPo pack, low heart of gravity 2S shorty pack, or a standard-sized 2S stick pack.

RDS is designed to be balanced and deal with predictably because of its light-weight carbon fiber-based chassis and complete adjustability. All the pieces on RDS is adjustable to swimsuit the motive force’s wants, together with camber, caster, toe, Ackerman (the distinction in flip radius between the entrance tires), roll heart, wheelbase and heart of gravity. As you’ll be able to most likely inform, drifting setups can get fairly sophisticated. The nice factor is that RDS is able to being adjusted with all the pieces you want for competitors specs.

With its inherent drift appears to be like, RDS reminds us of a Z33 or Z34, particularly from this angle.

The entrance suspension will be mounted any variety of methods to fine-tune driving really feel. The physique mount is magnetic, eliminating the necessity for physique clips.

The physique contains particulars reminiscent of taillights and a rear diffuser, and it accepts an non-compulsory Redcat LED mild equipment for additional realism.

Stability in a drift automobile is all the pieces. With that in thoughts, Redcat engineered the automobile’s motor plate so it may be mounted in three totally different positions. Shifting the motor in numerous positions alters the automobile’s chassis roll and weight bias. This can be utilized to regulate the quantity of traction and chassis roll RDS has on totally different surfaces. Having the ability to fine-tune Ackerman is essential in drifting, because it immediately impacts cornering pace. The RDS has a number of steering hyperlink positions and a sliding Ackerman plate, making it straightforward to tune. RDS is loaded with tuning capabilities that can swimsuit even probably the most superior drivers.

WELL ROUNDED

Whereas RDS is designed as a sophisticated competition-spec drift automobile, it’s also an incredible selection for inexperienced persons and comes arrange out of the field for polished concrete and p-tile surfaces. This implies somebody studying to float can open up the RDS and begin practising with the manufacturing unit settings whereas working on these widespread surfaces.

RDS is available in two physique shade decisions, metallic burnt orange as seen right here and a metallic slate grey. The physique is able to settle for Redcat’s individually bought LED mild equipment that features 4 LED lights within the rear mild buckets and two up entrance. Redcat additionally gives intensive graphics packages that assist you to beautify your RDS so it stands out on the drift monitor.

DRIFTING MADE EASY
Redcat plans to launch a number of how-to movies that embody newbie drifting, superior drift methods, preliminary car setup, superior chassis tuning and understanding how drift competitions work. These movies will likely be hosted by a seasoned RC drifter who owns and operates one of many largest drift tracks in the US. He’ll share his wealth of drifting data that will help you change into extra assured and aggressive together with your new RDS competitors spec drift automobile, no matter your present talent stage. Keep knowledgeable about this video sequence by visiting Redcat’s web site at: redcatracing.com.

Redcat RDS 2WD Competitors Spec Drift Automotive VEHICLE SPECS

MSRP: $399.99
redcatracing.com

Top: 4.92 in. (125 mm)
Size: 17.51 in. (445 mm)
Width: 8.58 in. (218mm)
Wheelbase: 9.96-10.28 in. (253-261 mm)
Weight: 2 lbs., 8.2 oz. (1,136g)

Scale: 1/10
Chassis: Carbon fiber
Physique: Pre-painted polycarbonate
Suspension: 4-wheel impartial
Shocks: Aluminum physique, oil-filled
Wheels and Tires: 52mm diameter wheels, HDPE drift tires with scale wheel nut covers
Transmitter: Redcat 2.4GHz radio system
ESC: Redcat 60Amp
Motor: Redcat 540 3300kV Brushless
Gyro: Hexfly Drift Gyro
Servo: Hexfly Coreless drift spec digital

Particular Due to Tremendous G R/C Drift Space [supergdrift.com] for offering this story’s photoshoot location.

FINAL WORD

We’ve at all times admired RC drifting from afar and suppose the game appears to be like actually enjoyable. Armed with Redcat’s RDS, we really feel like we will get into it and check out it out for ourselves. Though RDS is prepared for competitors proper out of the field, we

suppose we are going to begin out gradual and work up our expertise and tuning acumen to at some point enter some competitions. Within the meantime, we’ll be wanting ahead to follow time sliding round on any clean floor we come throughout.

Textual content by Jerry Tsai
Pictures by Michael Wiene