New Micro and improved Motorworks
 

Hey, have you seen the new micro at Wally World? It's a true 1/64 scale car exactly the same size as the Johnny Lightening slot cars. They are all released with bodies from F&F. They come in little nitrous bottles. Power is unreal, but traction is terrible. Although, a tire and rim mod from a true HO scale slot car would be a snap. The controller has a turbo function and the increase in power is amazing. The cars have a hardwired pager motor and an enclosed gearbox, and I hate the charger pad being inside the nitrous bottle. It's a real hassle taking the car on and off the charger base. But, over all, I think these things are really nice.
Also, I've noticed some improvements to the MotorWorks cars. First, they had the bullet shaped case and the Bit clone type cars. Then, they were put in a more squarish case and the cars were given switchable hubcaps and better performance. Now, I see new cars in the square case. Longer wheel bases and the same size wheels front and back. They seem like a total mirror image of Zips now. They even have some great truck bodies that I think will just pop right on a Zip chassis. Rat Shack better watch it's back, the clones are getting better.

One final thing. The new F&F true HO scale cars have a bit of deceptive marketing goin on with the packaging. The package says, "steering wheel controller". That really means the controller is round, not that the controller has a wheel on it. It uses the same button layout as most clones. And, there is a blurb on the package about a 5 min. charge giving a 20 min. run time. But, the instructions inside show an average charge of less than a minute and a 5 min. runtime.

Sweet! I'll have to swing by later and scope it out, how much are they?

Thanks for the heads up Azimov. :)

Something like 17.95 USD. Two dollars cheaper than a Zip, but three dollars more than a Motorworks. These things are nice. True HO scale, I mean TINY! And they have dual cells inside. The only problem I see with them so far is the traction is very poor. I mean, the car mostly just spins the rear wheels on linoleum, and doesn't do much better on my track. This is in normal mode. In turbo, it spins and fishtails all over the place. I've got an old slot car chassis I plan to rob the tires from to give this thing some stick. From what I can tell so far, if it had good traction it would literally fly!

Nice, does it look like the wheels are comparable in size to MS/Bit?
Actually on my ZZ, I use MS tires... much better surface coverage and performance IMO.

No, not at all. The wheels are teeny tiny. The rim diameter is the same as HO slot cars. I just put some front tires from an old slot car on the rear of this one with the body off, and it has unbelievable torque and speed. The turbo boost would be a serious case of whiplash. I'm gonna look for some Johnny Lightening tire and wheel kits and slap on this baby.
I'll post some PICs for you later showing a comparison to a Zip.
BTW, even with the new tires, the car still has so much torque that it fishtails on takeoff and cornering. But, it does have two cells in the car and three batteries in the charger.
And one more thing. I wouldn't call this car a clone at all. It is new and unique. The PCB is very different with a hole in the center for the batteries to stand up in. There's no PCB cover, and the chassis is a totally different design. The steering mechanics is different from Zips and Bits, though still magnetic. And the gearbox is completely enclosed keeping out the dust. After playing with this thing for an afternoon, I'm not so sure I'll be buying Zips anymore. This car is a true radio controlled HO scale car.

Hey that's not funny... stop teasing :p lol

Here's some PICs of the little beauty.

Another.

The innards.

one more.

Whoa you weren't kiding, those wheels are teeeeennny :eek:

Good detail though, oh yeah is the body plastic od die-dast?

Thanks, for the pics! :D

Sorry, lol, the pic didn't load right the first time. I got it now though.

The body is plastic. One piece, much like the other micros. Yup, the tires and wheels do look tiny next to a Zip, but they are true HO scale. Same rim diameter as HO scale slot cars.

that pan-chassis has ooddles of possabilities though! that in itself is reason enough to buy it, plus an encased gearbox........ oh the possabilities [drools on keyboard] :p :D

Yup, the gears and the biddnezz end of the motor are all encased like a mini transmission. I think the drive gear is in the center of the rear axel, but could be wrong as I haven't yet opened the gearbox. The more I look at this thing the more I like it.

that is so cool, i may buy one just for the 2 cell pack sinc ei screw all mine up:D

How about slapping a picture of the remote up there? Also, how is the range? Do they come in multiple frequencies? :confused:

Here ya go!
The box claims 30ft of range. I haven't fully tested that, but I've had it at least 20ft away without any problems. They come in both standard US frequencies. 27 and 49.

And, one of the case.
The bottom part is the controller.

That is way cool, I may go pick one up. Are there different models? I don't think they will take the place of my beloved Zips though.

Yup, there are three models in the series 1 collection. And there are three models in the series 2 collection. Basically, 6 cars from F&F.
I dunno if they will completely replace Zips for me either, but they are gaining more respect all the time. I'll definately get a couple more of these.

Just got back from my Wally World. They didn't have them yet.

Just when I thought I would start cooling off on buying cars.
Thanks azimov.

i wonder if we'll see these in canada any time soon

That looks so awesome. Where can u buy them again?

That would be WalMart.:D

Yep, I have to have it.

My "to get" list is getting out of hand, I need some cash!

look for johnny lightning thunderjets. a lhs here has em for $4.50 they are hoeslap scale. and have wide stickys on em.

wow i want one of these... yea i would want to do a bigger wheel mod.. possibly some of the alum wheels from germany. also i wonder how much one of those pcb's can handle.. maybe 5 cells??? although i think three would be optimal, because of the weight issue..

with the gear in the center i wonder if its a slot car rear end... with the gear in the middle of the axle.. ok off to wallworld, and then to hobby store to get the cool alum slot car wheels and flourscent yellow silicone tires (aka Gumballs)...

what bodys do they have for this new car?

Yup, Johnny Lightning T-Jet bodies and wheels would be perfect. I have 6 bodies I bought some time ago, nice early 70s muscle cars, but they are much to shallow inside to accept this cars guts. The tires and wheels, however, are almost mandatory to get any kind of stick out of these little jewels. The cars are so light and powerful right out of the box that controlling them is impossible. I wish I could just go down to thje local HS and pick up some tires and rims, but, alas, there is only one hobby shop near here and they cater to the 1/12 scale guys. To them, HO is dead, and micros are just a fad. I don't want to order offline as I can't really judge size, materials, and suitability of the tires and rims. Sigh, I guess a road trip to Atlanta or Jacksonville is in order.
BTW, Bit and Zip tires and rims, including the way cool alloys, are way to big for these and would destroy the true HO scale.

wouldnt destroy the scale for a monster truck... or just one of those big trucks with the huge tires and lift kits...

True, and you could even go with Bit front wheels all round to get a 20 inch rim look.

I still can't find these at my Wal Marts.

someone needs to make some super swampers... or big fat nobby tires for bits...

I found these at a local Wal-Mart. The display had just been setup and the price wasn't even on them yet. They should be in most all of them soon. Probably other large department stores as well.
BTW, they were hanging on the end cap of the aisle in a big light blueish sorta display box. I almost walked right past em.

I saw them at wallmarts last night. I put one in my cart and started to do the rest of my shopping. By the time I got to the thinner I had removed the car from my cart. I must ressist but I know I can't ;)

For those of you calling Wal-Mart to find these new micros, the brand name is "Awesome RC". No kiddin, that's it.

Has anyone been able to find these on the web?

Azimov:
Is there a web address or company name on the package?

Nope. I don't have the clear wrapper from the canister, but the instruction sheet (yeah, I went and fished it out of the garbage just for you =P) doesn't have anything on it. Not even the "Awesome" brand name. The only thing on the instruction sheet, or the canister and car for that matter, is the infamous "made in China". Sorry, that's all I got. Really though, if I can find one in a Wal-Mart in Pooler Georgia, I know for a fact they'll be in one near you soon.
EDIT: OK, I just looked the car over with a jewelers loop, lol, and all it has on the bottom is the frequency sticker (49Mhz), made in china, the FCC number (PEXTW2208-01-1300), a copyright symbol and the words "Toys World 2002". Thats all I can dig up from here.

Have you opened up the controller to perhaps look if there is somthing similar to the cripple cap in the controller :D Also, perhaps you could spray somthing on the wheels or somthing to make them more sticky?