Rcu Review: Hot Bodies Lightning Gt10

Transcript

  RCU Review:  Hot Bodies Lightning GT10    More On This Product Show user ratings   Check for Retailers       Contributed by: Eric Hege | Published: December 2006 | Views: 83347 | Introduction Specifications Required Items Video Ratings Under the Hood Prep Work Time For Action Summary Manufacturer & Distributor Email this Article | PDF It's a widely held concept that lightning never strikes the same place twice. However it looks like Hot Bodies is poised to dispel this concept though, as it appears to have struck their headquarters more than once. This latest time is in the form of the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10. The Lightning GT 10 is probably best described as a 1/10 scale stadium truck. However, it even tries to shirk that description as well with its eight shock layout and center-mounted slipper clutch. In short call it a 1/10 scale truggy, but in reality it's in a class of its own. Info Hot Bodies HPI Racing USA 70 Icon Street Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 USA The Lightning GT10 is an interesting concept without a doubt. The smaller platform lends itself to some benefits, namely a small nimble platform that can be pushed around by a small block motor. When I say small block, I'm sure many of you may simply roll your eyes thinking that means it'll lack power. However not all vehicles need a big block motor to push them around the track or backyard, as some people seem to think. The Lightning GT10 sure looks like a well-rounded and fun vehicle to take out for a spin. It'll be interesting to see if the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 can provide big-block fun in a smaller package, showing us just how hard the lightning struck this time! Phone: (949) 753-1099 Fax: (949) 753-1098 Website: www.hpiracing.com See the Lightning GT10 in action! Resolution: Low Medium High Quality Performance Assembly Ease Handling Durability Speed Engine Price Handles Exceptionally Well Tough Truggy-Like Construction Can Be Fitted With Center Diff Rotary Starter Excellent Power Steering Servo Could Be Stronger Would Like Different Air Filter Model Name: Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 Part Number: 66511 Price: $460.00 (Approx. Street Price) Type: 1/10 Nitro 4WD Monster Truck Length: 16.3" (414mm) Width: 13.4" (340mm) Wheelbase: 11.0" (280mm) Drivetrain: Dogbone-Style Axles/Driveshafts with Center-Driven Spur Gear Brakes: Cross-Drilled Stainless Steel Disk/Calipers with Fiber Pads Shocks: Plastic With Preload Spaces Wheels: 2.2x3.4" (56x86mm) Ten-Hole Plastic Tires: 2.8x4.8" (71x122mm) Chevron-Style" Chassis: 3.5mm Natural Finish Aluminum Motor: HPI .18 cu in (3.0cc) Side Exhaust w/Rotary Starter Fuel Tank: 75cc Radio: HPI TF-3 AM Additionally Required Items Standard 6-Cell Rechargeable Battery Pack Peak Charger Capable of Charging Standard 6-Cell Pack 8 AA Batteries For Radio 4 AA Batteries (or Receiver Pack) For Receiver Glow Plug Igniter Nitro Fuel Bottle After-Run Oil Air Filter Oil Flathead Screwdriver Body Manuals and Documentation Owner's Manual With all the 1/8 scale vehicles I've been working with lately, the first thing that stood out for me was the size of the body on the Lightning GT10. Due to the vehicle's 1/10 scale size, the body is much smaller than most four-wheel drive trucks, especially those that take on a truggy-like stance. Regardless of the smaller 1/10 scale size, the body has a distinctive and colorful look about it. The purple and red theme flow well together. The best feature though, is the protective film that is on it. You'll peel this off before applying your stickers, but it does an excellent job in protecting the lexan body up to that point. A prime example is in the case of the body I received. The protective film was scuffed at the front right-hand side of the body. However, the film did its job, and the GT10's body was untouched. How good is a vehicle if you don't have a manual? While it's an accepted joke that most guys like myself simply discard the manuals when we purchase something, this hobby stresses otherwise. To help the future owner, male or female, Hot Bodies puts together an excellent manual. If you've had any experience with HPI, the manual's layout should look very familiar though. This makes perfect sense, given the ties between Hot Bodies and HPI. Inside the manual you'll find general operational instructions, as well as exploded diagrams and parts listings. In short, everything an inquiring mind would want to know! I mentioned stickers a moment ago, and Hot Bodies doesn't disappoint. The Lightning GT10 comes with a full sheet of stickers intended to round out the looks of your truck. The window stickers, headlights, and taillights, will be used by nearly everyone. The others are there for you to use at your whim. Accessories Rotary Starter Radio The Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 comes with the normal assortment of included accessories. To help with shock adjustments, you'll find optional piston heads and preload spacers. To further your tuning options, a 3° suspension pin brace is included. This gives you more toe-in at the rear than the stock 2° brace offers. To help give you a general handle on maintaining your truck, basic hex wrenches and a nut driver are included as well. Hot Bodies also provides you with an antenna tube and cap, as well as extra servo, and servo saver, hardware as well. For novices, pullstarts are a pain. In fact, many veterans don't care much for them either. So Hot Bodies uses the rotary starting system that HPI made very popular several years ago. The rotary starter uses a standard six-cell pack to power the motor in the handheld unit which, in turn, spins the starter's shaft that fits into the plate on the rear of the engine. This system is simple, effective, and easy to use. Both beginners and old-timers will enjoy how well it works. The Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 comes equipped with a TF-3 radio, made by Futaba for HPI. It is a two channel, 27MHz AM radio. The radio is a no frills unit, offering basic analog trim adjustments. These adjustments include trim, dual-rate, and servo-reversing capability. The most important feature though, is its ability to keep the cost of the truck at a competitive price point. Left Side Right Side Underside The first thing that stands out about the Lightning GT10 is it's truggy-like stance, and the fact it's shrunken a little when compared to the 1/8 scale platforms most are familiar with. This size difference gives it a unique look, helping to establish the Lightning GT10 as a very interesting platform at first glance. Then, once you look a little closer, you'll see that the truck utilizes four pairs of shocks making the platform stand out even more against the crop of truggies on might try to compare it against. The Lightning GT10 uses a layout similar to many truggies, although the component placement is mirrored when compared to what I'm normally used to seeing. You'll find the electronics housed on the left-hand side, while the engine and fuel tank is mounted on the right. This is due to the need of the tuned pipe, as it has to be slung off of the right-hand side of the truck because to the side exhaust configuration. The bottom of the Lightning GT10's chassis sports countersunk hardware, which keeps the bottom of the truck nice and smooth. You'll see a series of openings, one of which allows you access to the flywheel for starter box usage. Another allows the spur gear proper clearance allowing it to sit low on the chassis. Other openings help lighten the chassis, or allow spilt fuel to run out under the chassis. A kick-up at the front of the truck provides some caster angle to enhance the truck's steering response. Front Suspension Tiebar Bottom of Bulkhead I mentioned the pair of shocks at each corner a moment ago, and they definitely make the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 stand out when compared against what is normally thought about when the word truggy is used. The upper end of the shock is fixed, having only a single point at which to mount. The lower end of the shock is provided two possible points to utilize. Down below the shocks, you'll find a 3mm stamped aluminum tiebar connecting the lower suspension pins together for increased strength. The lower suspension pins are plenty strong in their own right though, having a thickness of 3mm. The suspension pins have a head at their front end, so they only require the use of an e-clip at the inner side of the bulkhead. The rear of the front bulkhead assembly features an aluminum tiebar just like the one the front. Both tie bars add a great deal of rigidity to the suspension arm assembly. The bulkhead found between them is open on its bottom, allowing you to inspect and re-grease the differential as necessary. Once mounted on the chassis plate, this opening is sealed up keeping dirt and dust at bay. Suspension Assembly Suspension Components Rear Suspension The front suspension uses a c-hub design, with a lower plastic suspension arm positioned below a stainless steel turnbuckle. The upper links are given two points on the shock tower, allowing you to adjust the roll center of the truck if you desire. The outer ends of the lower suspension arms use a pair of pins similar to the ones at the bulkhead, they are still 3mm in diameter but shorter in length. The shock tower has a maximum thickness of 11mm at its lower end, making it plenty strong. At the wheels, you'll find a 14mm hex adapter. This provides the owner with plenty of wheel and tire choices, if they would desire to look towards the aftermarket. The hex adapter rests on a 5mm axle stub and is locked in place by a 2mm axle pin. A beveled washer is used as a spacer between the hex adapter and the axle carrier. The axle carrier houses a pair of 5x10mm bearings, and center spacer, which keep the axle stub spinning smoothly. Hardened steel inserts allow the vertical screws for the axle carrier to be tightened without fear of hampering the operation of the assembly. A 3.5mm hardened steel dogbone connects the axle stub to the differential. The rear suspension assembly uses some of the same components as the front does. These include the shocks and camber links. The suspension arms are slightly different in size, but universal from right to left at the front and back. The rearmost suspension pin block on the Lightning GT10 is plastic, and provides 2° of toe-in. This block can be swapped with the optional 3° block found in the parts bag accompanying the Lightning GT10. The inner tie bar is stamped 3mm aluminum, just like the front. The inner pin block encounters the most stress, so aluminum in that case makes perfect sense. Shocks Shock Components Wheels and Tires The twin shocks found on the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 use a plastic composite construction. The inner shock at each end of the truck uses a plastic standoff to allow for proper operating clearance as the shock works it's magic. The outer shocks use a standoff molded onto the shock tower. The stainless steel shock shaft has a diameter of 3mm, providing excellent strength for this 1/10 scale truck. Plastic clip-on preload spacers control the vehicle's ride height. The stock rubber for the Lightning GT10 is mounted on a chromed plastic set of 10-hole wheels. The Chevron patterned tires are typical tires for an out of the box monster truck, as they typically offer good wear characteristics. These particular tires are a little softer than most Chevron-based tires I'm used to seeing, so they should offer good grip as well. Inside the tire, a foam insert helps it to maintain proper shape. Bulkhead Differential Inside the Differential The bulkhead found on the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 splits into front and rear halves. The biggest benefit of this is that differential removal is accomplished with relative ease, even with the bulkhead assembly still installed in the truck. Hardened steel output yokes are used to allow the axles and driveshafts to connect with the differential gears. The differential rides on a pair of 10x15mm bearings, while the pinion uses a pair of 5x10mm bearings instead. Shims are used from the factory to keep the gearing backlash of the assembly nice and tight. The differential is a sealed unit, allowing you to use silicone differential oil to tailor the action of the unit. From the factory you'll find that the gears are simply coated with grease however. The complete set of six gears inside the differential should easily cope with the power coming from the .18 cubic inch motor that Hot Bodies installs on the truck. Steering Assembly Steering Servo Throttle Servo Hot Bodies uses a bellcrank steering setup to keep the Lightning GT10 pointed in the right direction. Stainless steel turnbuckles are used to connect the bellcrank assembly to the steering hubs. The bell cranks outer posts and draglink are plastic, and rotate on bushings. Both the throttle and braking duties are handled by HPI SF-1 servos. These are standard servos, which produce around 40 oz-in. of torque. While that will work pretty well for the throttle, I think that the rather large tires of the Lightning GT10 could probably benefit from the installation of a more suitable steering servo. A metal gearset, as well as more torque, would probably prove useful to most owners. Brake Linkage Brakes Spur Gear The only part of the Lightning GT10 that really differentiates it from being a true truggy platform is the fact it doesn't have a center differential. Instead, it uses a slipper-clutch based setup with a plastic spur gear. A spring and nut control the tension of the disk-based slipper clutch. At the rear of the assembly, a stainless steel cross-drilled disk, fiber brake pads, and stainless steel calipers bring the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 to a halt as soon as the radio calls for it to. If you worried about the fact that the lack of a center differential keeps the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 from being a truggy, don't fret. Hot Bodies has set the mounting assembly up to accommodate a center differential as an option. Even the 2mm aluminum center differential brace has been taken into account in this regard. It includes an opening for a front braking system should you go with a center differential route, giving the capability to have a true split braking system. This frame of mind even carries over to the plastic guides for the cross-drilled brake disk. You would expect to see one used for the rear brake, since it's installed. However, Hot Bodies also went ahead and installed one for the front brake as well, in the event you need it later on. Engine and Pipe Engine Starter Backplate The engine included with the Lightning GT10 is an .18 cubic inch motor made for Hot Bodies by HPI. It uses a side exhaust configuration, and an aluminum header and tuned pipe. The tuned pipe is connected to the header via a silicone coupler. A fiber gasket seals the header and engine block together. The cast engine heads sports a total of 8 cooling fins, which help keep operating temperatures within proper limits. In front of the head rests the aluminum slide bodied carburetor. The carburetor features a high speed and low speed needle, as well as an idle adjustment. All of the needles can be reached easily enough when the motor is installed on the chassis. Hot Bodies took the novice into consideration with the Lightning GT10's engine. Why? Because they opted to use a rotary-style starter to get the engine running instead of relying on a recoil starter. Recoil starters can be a tough aspect to deal with for the beginner, and the rotary starter really helps ease things in that regard. Even seasoned hobbyists will appreciate the ability to use the rotary starter instead of a pullstart! Clutch Motor Components Piston and Sleeve The clutches, and clutch bell assembly, are somewhat different from what I'm normally used to seeing. The .18 cubic inch motor uses a dual carbon shoe approach, with a single spring that wraps around their circumference. This is a typical configuration for a small block motor. However the large e-clip positioned right above the carbon clutch shoes is definitely different than what is typically seen. The clip helps to ensure that the clutch shoes stay in place, and that they don't slide forward. The clutch bell uses a total of four 5x8mm bearings, two on the inside and two on the outside of the clutch bell. The 12-tooth clutch bell requires the use of a small bearing, but the fact that Hot Bodies opted to use four bearings means that the load is spread over a larger surface. This should eliminate early fatigue of the clutch bell bearings from being an issue, as you might see had only two bearings been used. The engine block is finished in a gun metal gray finish, with attention to detail shown to machining the block's inner ports. Four screws secure the cooling head to the engine block, and a separate head button resides in between these two components. The separate head button makes replacement easy should the threaded plug hole become stripped. The engine in the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 sports a true ABC piston and sleeve. The aluminum piston has an oil ring cut close to the top, and uses cutouts on both sides to reduce reciprocating weight and provide proper clearance with the crankshaft. The connecting rod has been lightened by the way of a knife-edge finish. Both ends of the rod are given pressed in brass bushings to allow it to move freely, and give proper tolerances, as the fuel's oil lubricates the engine when it's running. The engine's sleeve is constructed of brass with a chrome finish on its inner side. A total of four ports, three intakes and one exhaust, keep the airflow in and out of the motor moving along smoothly and efficiently. To ensure the sleeve is replaced properly when it's removed, it features a keyed slot that matches with a pin placed in the engine block. Engine Mounts Fuel Tank Receiver Pack The Lightning GT10 sports a pair of cast aluminum engine mounts to hold the engine to the chassis. The mounts allow you to remove the engine from the chassis without altering the gap between the clutch bell and spur gear, however, to do this you'll have to remove the engine's header first due to the fact the engine uses a side exhaust configuration. To allow for gearing changes, the slots on the chassis allow the engine mounts to be slid, ensuring you the ability to set a perfect mesh. The 75cc fuel tank provides a repository for fuel to keep the engine running. This size fuel tank works well with the .18 cubic inch motor, giving a runtime of around 8-9 minutes per tank. The tank uses rubber o-rings to insulate the tank from vibrations, and a spring-loaded lid to keep the tanks sealed while the engine is running. The receiver box is large and offers plenty of room for the onboard electronics. The stock HPI radio and receiver operates in the 27MHz range, with the one for this review being on channel 5. The lid is held into place with a body clip, and a molded opening holds the antenna tube securely. Inside the Receiver Box Rollbar Fuel Line Clips Once the lid is removed, and you look inside the receiver box, you can see that both a receiver and battery holder fit inside easily. The receiver is laid on its end, to allow for more room overall. The battery holder can easily be replaced with a 5-cell receiver pack, should that be the route you decide to go with. Positioned right over the brace for the spur gear assembly is a small rollbar. This plastic bar offers some additional protection for the truck's components, especially the servo linkages. Directly behind the fuel tank the rollbar has clamps molded into it to hold the fuel line. These keep the line from getting caught in the spur gear and becoming damaged. Protective Film Sticker Application Dubro Klip Retainers Before you apply any of the included stickers, you'll need to peel the protective film off of the Lightning GT10's body. Simply use your fingernail to start it peeling at the edge of the body, and then from there peel it completely off. Once the film is gone, apply the stickers in a manner that appeals to you. If you'll need a cooling hole in the windshield, now is the time to make it. Place it directly in front of the engine. I took this opportunity to add a set of Dubro Klip Retainers onto the truck's body. I love these retainers, as they prevent the clips from getting lost, whether it's while the truck is being run or in the pits. I used the white ones, which are listed as Dubro part number #2246. Antenna Wire Antenna Tube Receiver Pack The next step involves sliding the receiver's antenna wire into the antenna tube. The wire should slide through the small length tube easily, but if needed you can sprinkle a little baby powder on it to make things easier if needed. Once the wire is in the tube, push the tube into its resting spot on the box lid. I opted to ditch the AA battery holder in favor of an HPI 1200 Mah receiver pack instead. A receiver pack is rechargeable, and provides a more reliable source of power source to standard alkaline batteries. Since the receiver pack is 5-cells it will provide 6 volts to the servos, unlike if you simply used 4 AA-sized NiMH cells which would provide 4.8 volts. This means that the servos will be given an optimum amount of power, allowing them to perform as well as they possibly can. Antenna Tube Cap Reglue Tires Radio Once the receiver box is closed, use the supplied cap on the top of the antenna tube to protect the wire, and to hold it in place. This also keeps the truck looking neat and clean, eliminating the unsightly wire from dangling at the top of the antenna tube. The Lightning GT10's tires are pre-glued, but I still chose to run some Zap CA glue between the wheel and the tire to ensure that the gap between the tire and the wheel was well glued. This also serves the purpose of preventing any dirt from getting in the gap between the wheel and the tire, which can cause the tire to loosen and come unglued. The final steps are to install the batteries into the radio and rotary starter. Place a full set of 8 AA batteries into the HPI AM radio. It's best to use good quality AA cells for this task, as weak or cheap cells could affect radio range and operation. If you would rather use rechargeable cells, you'll needs to make provisions to charge them separate from the radio. The included HPI TF-3 radio doesn't provide a charging jack. You'll just need to pick up a compatible charger. The rotary starter uses a standard six cell Tamiya-equipped flat pack. Charge the pack with an appropriate charger, and slide the battery into the battery compartment. Once it's in place, plug it in and slide the starter wand into place on the front of the unit. I broke the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 in on a Saturday afternoon. I started the process mid-afternoon, and worked quickly to avoid the complete loss of daylight before I was finished. As I usually do with nitro-powered rides, I followed the heat-cycle method for break-in. The motor fired up easily with the tank full of O'Donnell 30% nitro, and the Rotary Starter spinning the motor over. I tried a couple of different approaches of fitting the starter into the backplate before I settled on what would be the best route. I ended up routing the starter shaft between the suspension arm and the axle. This worked well throughout my testing. During my initial radio check I did notice that the radio's steering channel needed to be reversed. Not a big deal by any means, although it's a good case for always performing a radio check before you actually run a truck for the first time. The .18 cubic inch engine needed to be leaned out quite a bit as I began the break-in procedure. It was extremely rich, and I had to be careful as the motor wanted to stall. So I pulled it back in and leaned it up to get the engine running better. This would also help it to warm up quickly, although I was careful to still allow a setting that still provided good lubrication. Soon I was running through the break-in while the engine was providing a nice throaty growl courtesy of the tuned pipe. Several tanks into the break-in process, I noticed that a section of fuel tubing was hanging out of the truck. Obviously, with the engine still running, it couldn't be the fuel line hanging out. So it was no surprise to find it was the pressure line. The line had split where the clips on the rollbar hold it. The clips are somewhat sharp in their edges, and the tubing seemed to have a fairly thin wall to it. I figured it had been weakened or cut when I did my vehicle teardown. So I quickly swapped all of the fuel tubing for some Dubro fuel line that I had in my pit box, and then continued the break-in process. The rest of the break-in process went smoothly, and soon I was finished and spent a little time playing with the truck and fine tuning for performance. Even though I was merely playing in the backyard I could see already that this 1/10 scale truck was aptly named. It was fast, much faster than I thought upon initially pulling it out of the box. I honestly didn't expect the box-stock motor to be the performer it was, so the power output was a pleasant surprise. The truck was plenty of fun in the dirt, as I whipped it back and forth tuning it. However I couldn't resist running it through the grass in the backyard as well, just to see how it would handle it given its low stance. The large tires cut through the grass very well though, and the truck seemed to lose very little speed. Much less than I would have guessed it would. The next day I took the Lightning GT10 out to Monkey Bottom Raceway, eagerly awaiting a chance to really wind it out and see what it was capable of. The previous days activities had me really excited, and I couldn't wait to see exactly how this smaller "truggy" would perform. I started by checking the tune, and making a small adjustment to counteract the slight variations in weather conditions. The Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 was ripping around the track, and I was quickly becoming used to how it handled. In fact it, it's out of the box settings worked extremely well for me and I simply didn't see the need to start adjusting at all. I found myself adapting to its nimble characteristics, instead of trying to tailor it to my driving style. The low profile tires didn't exhibit much sidewall flex when cornering, and as I ran through the rhythm section the fact their height didn't change much meant that my ride height didn't take on a huge change either. Obviously the chevron-based tread isn't ideal for the track, but the fairly soft compound helped out considerably from what it could have been like. It was somewhat easy to overpower the tires going in and out of corners, and as the suspension settled after jumping so some care was needed while driving though. A more suitable set of tires would get more power to the ground, but it could have been much worse than it was. After I had run a couple of tanks through the motor, one of the front wheels began to act as if it were seized. Upon quick inspection it was revealed that the dogbone axle had popped out of socket. Further examination revealed that this was a result of the upper screw that holds the carrier in the c-hub coming loose. This same corner of the truck would experience this issue again later on that day, with the lower screw coming loose as well. Once the second screw was replaced, I no longer had and issues with this at all. The Lightning GT10 took to the air as pretty as any truggy. It loved to fly, and was very controllable in the air. It was real easy to set it up to nose down for a landing, which is the approach I often try to take when hitting doubles. There was plenty of power on hand for getting a good run up the face of a jump, although the stock tires did require you to make sure you stayed in control. Trying to hang it all out wasn't the best approach with the stock rubber, careful conservative approaches worked much better. In areas you knew you had the truck lined up well, you could apply the power as needed without as much fear of overpowering the tires. I never could get the Hot Bodies Lightning GT 10 to clear the big triple in front of the driver's stand, as I fell just short each time I tried. I used several approaches but the entry corner lacked the available traction I needed, even when I tried to use the banking to my advantage. I have no doubt that a more suitable set of tires would make clearing it a reality though! The quad right before the last turn was a different story altogether though. I could use the banking before it to built good traction and momentum. Clearing three of the four bumps was accomplished nearly each time I asked the truck to do so. This reaffirmed the fact that traction hindered me at the triple. The eight-shock suspension worked well for the Lightning GT10. The spring and shock oil combination simply worked very well out of the box. The truck really didn't seem to be under or over dampened, and the springs offered a great balance of firmness for jumping as well as the ability to react to the terrain. The steering servo did seem a little weak at times, especially if I pushed the truck hard into a corner. Keeping a set of tires the size of the Lightning turned is asking a lot of a standard servo. If you were looking for an area to improve with some aftermarket cash, a replacement steering servo would be a very good, and wise, investment. As a final note, I did have one other issue with the truck that I should point out. After landing a jump wrong, and tumbling for a few feet, I thought I caught a glimpse of something come out from under the truck. I ran out to it, and immediately shut it down so I could quickly inspect it. After removing the body I found the culprit, as it was the foam air filter elements. The rubber housing was still intact on the motor's carburetor, but the foam elements themselves managed to end up flying out of the housing! I had re-oiled the inner elements with some lightweight filter oil, so it wasn't as sticky as the stock oil had been. I have no doubt this contributed to this happening. A small block version of a typical 1/8 scale buggy filter would offer much more peace of mind though, not to mention a greater surface area as well. One thing is very certain with the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10, and that is the fact it's an absolute blast to drive. In the event you're curious, the Lightning GT10 reached speeds in the 45MPH several times when clocked with my radar gun. Running the Lightning GT10 has simply been the most fun I have in quite some time. I really found myself driving it, instead of tweaking and adjusting it. It went from the box to the dirt with no adjustments and handled absolutely beautifully! It's bound to be a favorite of many in the hobby, and has gained a very special place in the lineup of vehicles I have driven for sure! Desktop Wallpaper 800x600 1024x768 1600x1200 See the Lightning GT10 in action! Resolution: Low Medium High Driving the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 has been nothing short of an absolute blast! This truck absolutely rips up the dirt in its stock form, right out of the box. The .18 cubic inch powerplant from HPI provides staggering power, which surprised me coming from a box-stock side exhaust engine. The rotary starter also makes it user friendly, and easy to start for the novice. I would like to see the truck come with a different filter arrangement, as it would be more secure and offer a greater surface area. The stock filter didn't take long at all before it was coated with dirt when running in loose dusty conditions. A different filter would cope with this much better. I'd also like to see a beefier steering servo used out of the box, although I'll acknowledge many owners will likely seek an upgrade to their favorite brand of aftermarket servos regardless of what is used. In the end, all that matters is whether the Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 is as much fun to drive as it looks like it is. The answer to that question is yes, and even more so! I'll admit I was excited about the Lightning GT10 when I pulled it out of the box, knowing that it looked like it would be fun to drive. However, it exceeded any expectations I had, and simply performed even better than I had anticipated. That is simply how a vehicle should be when it's released to the masses. Hot Bodies should be proud of themselves, as they have done one heck of a job with the Lightning GT10! Hot Bodies HPI Racing USA 70 Icon Street Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 USA Phone: (949) 753-1099 Fax: (949) 753-1098 Website: www.hpiracing.com Frank Tiano Enterprises 3607 Ventura Drive E. Lakeland, Florida 33811 USA Phone: (863) 607-6611 Fax: (863) 607-6602 Website: www.franktiano.com Products used: Thin CA Glue Dubro, Inc. 480 Bonner Road Wauconda, IL 60084 USA Phone: (732) 635-1600 Website: www.dubro.com Products used: Glow Igniter, Klip Retainers HPI Racing 70 Icon Street Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 USA Phone: (949) 753-1099 Fax: (949) 753-1098 Website: www.hpiracing.com Products used: 5-Cell 1200Mah Receiver Pack Dynamite RC Products Distributed Exclusively By Horizon Hobby, Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 USA Phone: (877) 504-0233 Fax: (217) 352-6799 Website: www.horizonhobby.com Products used: 6-Cell NiMH Battery Pack O'Donnell Distributed Exclusively By Great Planes Model Distributors P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61826-9021 USA Phone: (800) 637-7660 Website: www.hobbico.com Products used: 30% Racing Fuel Comments on RCU Review: Hot Bodies Lightning GT10 Posted by: shingy on 06/16/2008 are the tires 2.2 inches Profile  Page: 1  The comments, observations and conclusions made in this review are solely with respect to the particular item the editor reviewed and may not apply generally to similar products by the manufacturer. We cannot be responsible for any manufacturer defects in workmanship or other deficiencies in products like the one featured in the review.  EMAIL THIS ARTICLE OR CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GREAT REVIEWS!   Photo Manufacturer Product MOTIV Trinity Matt Lemay Tamiya Traxxas Tower Hobbies RCGF RCGF Seagull Models Summary Ok, enough about Paul because this article is “M-Code” Brushless RC Moto about the MOTIV line of “M-Code” line of motors. The “M-Code” motors come in ma... 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Reviewed 12/06/2015 12/06/2015 12/06/2015 11/24/2015 11/23/2015 With its distinctive looks, it is probably safe to say that the J-3 Cub is one of the most recognized and known airplanes in ... 11/23/2015 21cc Twin Cylinder RCGF, a Chinese manufacturer of gasoline Gasoline Engine engines, designs and manufactures engines specifically for 'the RC aircraft market. ... 11/23/2015 J-3 Cub 120cc Twin Cylinder Gasoline Engine RCGF, a Chinese manufacturer of gasoline engines, designs and manufactures engines specifically for the RC aircraft market. T... 11/23/2015 Seagull Models introduced this biplane early Steen Super on in 2015, and SIG mfg. had a Skybolt 15cc ARF pre-production sample at the Toledo Expo. 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You just finished building your new pride and joy and you are now installing your el... 09/28/2015 This Is Only Asking For Problems. Or Is It?   Return to Magazine Homepage   RCUniverse is a service of Internet Brands, Inc. Copyright © 2001-2017. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy   GET FREE RC CONTENT FOR YOUR WEBSITE Search  | Marketplace | Event Central | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums  Photo Gallery | Instructor Search  | Field|Track|Marina Search | RCU Youtube Channel | |  RCU Twitter!  Member Locator  | Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources  | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up Products  Videos WattFlyer.com RC Classifieds RCU2 | 10.17.133.24 | 0 | 1 | 04:12:14 AM EST | NC