Hot Bodies MOA!

[Evandiego]

What are your thoughts on this new crawler? Will it be capable enough to keep up with XR10's?



Taken from HPI's website (::HPI RACING:: -

HB pulls out all the stops to take the fight to the hills and rocks!

Starting with the latest designs in the competition crawling scene and adding several unique touches of their own, HB designers have raised the level of all-out crawlers for serious 2.2 crawling enthusiasts!

With the motor-on-axle (MOA) layout as its base, the HB crawler features a TVP ladder-style chassis with battery slot, fully adjustable shock mounts, adjustable speed controller mounting and 3-link suspension articulation.

The MOA layout allows you to try different gear ratios front and rear for precise driving control, lower center of gravity (CG) and increased runtime.

• All-new, no-compromise design
  
• Motor On Axle (MOA) layout
  
• TVP ladder-style chassis
  
• 3-Link suspension
  
• Motor skidplates
  
• Fully adjustable shock mounts
  
• Wheel hub weight mounting
  
• Reinforced straight rear axle
  
• Adjustable speed controller mounting
  
• Zero Ackerman steering design
  
• Aluminium threaded shocks
  
• Compact, fully enclosed gearboxes
  
• Extra-low profile, high clearance axles
  
• Wire guides
  
• Totally smooth central skid plate
  
• National Champion HB Sedona 2.2 tires
  
• HPI Rock 8 beadlock wheels
  
• Adjustable body mounts
  
• Conforms to all 2.2 crawler competition rules
  
• More features to be announced!

I'm in the market for a new comp crawler. This is something I might hold out for as an alternative to the popular XR10. Question is, how much aftermarket support will it have? If VP and T1E are on board then I'm in!


So guys what are your thoughts?

[theloudone]

with a little suspension modding i done see why not

[gottwins?]

Is it even available yet?

[phllint]

Any moa rig can keep up with the xr10. Especially if you dump the same amount of money in to it that it takes to make a xr10 worth owning (vanquish). Out of the box, a Berg kills em all. I guess I am trying to say, it depends on what the after market world has to offer and what they will need to be strong enough to hold up to comps and just practicing. Also how much they cost will play a small factor in their success as well

Sent from my DROID BIONIC

[dezfan]

Sweet, hope the new HPI kicks some but! Good to see some fresh blood.

[jcboof]

Quality wise, I can't see that it would be any worse than a box stock XR. Now, if the aftermarket support would stand up (Vanquish, ect.) It would be a great competitor.
Now with Vanquish really being the biggest aftermarket that makes several necessary upgrades for the XR, I don't know that they would want to produce a product that directly competes with Axial due to conflict of interests. Not saying that they wouldn't, its just they they have such a strong tie and relationship with Axial that they might not want to divert attention away from them.

We would need a company like RC4WD or other aftermarket vendors to produce the necessary upgrades to make the HB rig more durable unless HPI will be directly offering competition grade upgrade components to compete with the big dogs.

I'd be all in favor of trying one out, but that is of course after everyone else buys one first and I can learn from their expenses err.... experience.

[Chris_The_Battery_Man]

I think it has potential. Well, the axles that is.

The chassis and suspension look pretty useless in a comp scene.


I like how it says 4 link suspension when it's clearly 3 link lol

[KBrog]

Id give it a try....

[JasonW]

Something new from Hot Bodies...

here is a thread about this from Feb

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by Chris_The_Battery_Man

I think it has potential. Well, the axles that is.

The chassis and suspension look pretty useless in a comp scene.


I like how it says 3 link suspension when it's clearly 3 link lol

I think you have a typo since it appears to be a 4 link...... hope this won't mean my CBP pack orders get slow!!



From running a "box stock" XR-10, I can see those links folding in a bind.

Will it be good box stock? Who knows.
Will it be supported for aftermarket, who knows.

[Evandiego]

Is the box stock XR10 really that bad? I havent read much in the way of its quality out of the box. Cuz I was thinking of picking one up. I did have a berg but sold it last fall cuz I needed the cash. I miss that thing.

Good point on VP's close relationship with axial. But then again VP does make some nice stuff for Bergs.

[Krawler23]

Yea the xr needs some work that's for sure

[psn]

Just a hunch but I don't see this becoming reality. Both H-B and HPI sites dont list anything and that's not a good sign. Where's the PR Dept been since February?

It'd be a shame too, as new (crawler) releases have slowed to down to a trickle. In the years 2005-2009 there seemed to be something new to scare my credit card every quarter, a very exciting period.

TLT conversions,
TXT-1, (it was Dirk's TXT "How-To" and EPEE's(?) maroon FJ that got me hooked)
E-Maxx conversions,
Twin Force conversions,
AX10,
Goliath,
Cliff Climber,
Crawler King,
Creeper,
Berg,
LCC,
Rock Force,
Chinese clones,
XR10.

[bquin]

still just another plastic crawler.....

[Chris_The_Battery_Man]

Originally Posted by Charlie-III

I think you have a typo since it appears to be a 4 link...... hope this won't mean my CBP pack orders get slow!!



From running a "box stock" XR-10, I can see those links folding in a bind.

Will it be good box stock? Who knows.
Will it be supported for aftermarket, who knows.

lol, I fixed that. Must have been in a hurry

Originally Posted by bquin

still just another plastic crawler.....

whats wrong with plastic crawlers? I made one go really well

Project uber cheap and effective XR

[EverettY]

The chassis doesn't look the best. The COG look terrible on it compared to the XR10. Also the links look really cheap. There isn't much room on the front axle for putting a battery mount..... All the plastic on it makes it all look kinda cheap. I'm not very keen on it The only thing that looks good are the Sedonas and the Aluminum Shock bodies.

Another thing I don't like is it's bodiless but it has body mounts






















JK

[zodiaci]

You have to keep in mind that this is probably an SLA (Stereolithography) concept model. What gives it away are the visible layers in the parts. Many of the parts will likely not remain plastic if this crawler ever goes into production.

Sort of looks like a Bully TVP chassis with XR axles to me. That COG needs to be pulled back down to earth from its sub-space orbit though.
Anyways, props to HB for giving us something to look forward to (hopefully) or at least teasing us a bit.

[Chris_The_Battery_Man]

Originally Posted by EverettY

The chassis doesn't look the best. The COG look terrible on it compared to the XR10. Also the links look really cheap. There isn't much room on the front axle for putting a battery mount..... All the plastic on it makes it all look kinda cheap. I'm not very keen on it The only thing that looks good are the Sedonas and the Aluminum Shock bodies.

Another thing I don't like is it's bodiless but it has body mounts






















JK

Not to be a dick or anything, but what would you know about anything you mention above? From what I understand, you don't even have a 2.2 crawler.


I would have to argue that the COG is any worse. By the looks, the belly is in about the same place, the chassis is just uber tall.

The XR also doesnt have a dedicated spot for a battery on the front axle, people have had to make custom mounts for it. The pic is hard to tell what the actual dimensions are do you cant really say there isn't room for a battery.

The links on the XR Are cheap also. Well, the uppers anyhow. The rod ends in the XR are pretty much crap also.



I will say that it looks like there are high steer knuckles, but they dont look 8*. It does look cheaper, but that doesnt necessarily mean anything. But by the sounds of it, it may never be seen in the rocks...

[gunnar]

Looks like HB should stick to making tires.

[Springer]

I'd like to know more about the axles, which look like would be the only part worth keeping for a comp crawler anyway.