New Trinity/Team Magic G4 Nitro Touring Car

[StevePond]

New for the summer of 2003 is the Nitro G4 from Team Magic. The nitro G4 is the culmination of a year of intense on track testing resulting in the latest in 1/10 nitro touring car technology.

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-1.jpg

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-5.jpg

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-6.jpg

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-8.jpg

The G4 main design goal was to get everything as low as possible to the ground. To achieve this the two speed has been made 2/3 the size of other two speeds in current cars. This allows this spinning mass of weight to be lower to the ground and center the mass more towards the shaft it spins on. The clutch size has been dramatically reduced down to 30mm to give the G4 great acceleration and driveability. The front and rear differentials and or front one-way have been lowered through the chassis to get the proper dog bone angle and keep the mass low. Both servos have been laid down on the chassis to further lower the center of gravity.

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-2.jpg

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-3.jpg

To make it easy to adjust the front and rear use blade type roll bars for easy adjustment and features a cam on one side to aid in keeping the car balanced right to left after installing the sway bars. The G4 also features threaded shock bodies for easy ride height adjustment.

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-4.jpg

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/g4/g4-7.jpg

The G4 is offered in two trim levels: Racer and Pro. Below is a list of features for each kit. (Neither kit includes: Transmitter, receiver, servos, engine, manifold, pipe, receiver pack, switch harness, air filter or body.)

Racer Kit: Part # 502011 - $449.99
- Hard coated, threaded, aluminum shock bodies.
- Light weight two speed
- Vented brake disk with brake cam bearings.
- Low drag belts.
- Light weight dirt scavenging pulleys.
- Light weight pivot balls and two speed shaft.
- Ball bearings throughout.
- 3mm aluminum chassis and
- 2mm aluminum radio plate.
- Low CG front and rear differentials.
- 5th body post.
- Low CG fuel tank and
- 30mm three shoe clutch.
- Front and Rear Gear Differentials

Pro Kit: Part # 502061 - $599.99
- Hard coated, threaded aluminum shock bodies.
- Light weight two speed.
- Vented brake disk with brake cam bearings.
- Low drag belts.
- Light weight dirt scavenging pulleys.
- Light weight pivot balls and two speed shaft.
- Ball bearings throughout.
- 3mm aluminum chassis.
- Carbon fiber radio plate.
- Low CG rear differential and front one-way.
- 5th body post.
- Low CG fuel tank.
- 30mm Centax clutch.
- Front and Rear sway bars with aluminum mounts.
- Front One-way and Rear Gear Differential.

Available June 2003

[Nightz]

The price for let alone the racer kit is a lil more than what the average consumer would fork out, don't you think?

[AreCee]

Those are the retail prices and look like they're in line with the other kits out in the market.

[KronicRacer]

k factory and team magic both collaborated on this car.... i first saw it here www.the-border.com 2 months ago its not available yet....

[tallyrc]

great, another car designed for perfectly manicured race tracks, not parking lots where the vast majority of us race. one rock in there and it's an hours work to fix it. the same reason i sold my yokomo gt-4 and now own a nitro tc3. not a faster car in the world, and the easiest to clean and maintain.

[Canada]

I agree

[fastharry]

I also agree..my tc3 is the best car I own,and I own them all...

but if you think you love it on Rubber tires,you try foams ona prepared race track...I had the pleasure of running in a 1/8th scale track.....it was great!!!!!..(btw,4th amain..30 minute main,,edison NJ ROAR region 2)...,

[rocketguy]

I've driven this car, and trust me when i say that it basically drives itself.

[fastharry]

g4 or tc3?

[rocketguy]

both. The tc3 does rule.. but I would hate to see people pass judgment before they take the controls. Everything is a copy of everything else in the RC world. Just look at the tmaxx. If someone tries to make a monster truck, it's either a tmaxx or an 8th scale buggy with big tires.

[InspGadgt]

This is sweet!...Not totally new concepts but they've refined them further than anyone else yet. laying down both servos instead of just one, bladed style sway bar in the rear instead of just the front. The one thing I wonder is how hard is it to get to the diff pulleys to work on them. That's one of the best design features of the new HPI car. Easily accessable diffs.

[synapse75]

http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.robitronic.com/news/nitrog4.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.rcworld.ch/show_all.asp%26num%3D30%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DU TF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff

[munim]

The electronics and pipe are really just hanging out there, of course, it's all for the better performance but if that car gets T-boned, you get the idea. But it's a prototype so they'll probably add nerf bars or something like that.

[synapse75]

what onroad cars come equipped with nerf bars??

[tekrsq]

I don't like the way the rx sits out there either......Anyone know what kind of engine is on the one in the link Synapse posted?

[fastharry]

all these cars have something hangin out,somewhere(that may be the tc3's BIG advantage;) )......

My veteq took a solid hit Sun....one RB in line pipe,toast..100 bucks please...

thats racin...and like cars that break when they hit boards,or you crash in the middle of a corner and get t-boned,thats your own fault..

I race 2wd buggy and rally all winter...1/8th off road(kanai) and on road(veteq)...and tues nite touring(tc3 and iimpulse),...and ROAR region 2 races....guess what I've learned..

you betcha...don't crash or get hit..

[synapse75]

tekrsq

its a nova rossi, with some kind of after market head.

[KingWillie]

is there a big difference in the pro and racer?

and which should you use if u race all day?:confused:

[hpijoepro2]

trinity rules, there for this car rules:cool:

[KingWillie]

Originally posted by KingWillie
is there a big difference in the pro and racer?

and which should you use if u race all day?:confused:

My son decided to use my log on, no need to respond. Thanks

[codeman]

Any more info on this kit?

When is it expect to hit retail; late June or so? Can't wait ... I have an MTX3, love it, awesome car ... but I've been eyeing this kit for a little while now; if its worth it it WILL be mine.

That blue heatsink looks absolutely awesome! GOtta find a European distributor and order one up :P

Anybody driven the kit yet?

[codeman]

well thats good to hear; personally I'll be buying one as soon as I can manage. It looks like an awesome car; and sadly having just bought the MTX3, and while I love the car ... I'm just too tempted by the G4 :D

Espcially, considering it looks like it has easily accesible/top loading diffs which would be GREAT as the mugen is a pain in the butt to get at everything to clean ... have to take the entire thing apart to get at all the drivetrain parts.

If i could just pop out a few screws, and have immediate access to the diff and diff bearings it would be heaven! cleaning will never be the same.

MTX3 is great, but like I said .. a real pain to gut, clean then fully assemble again.

Once interesting thing, is the steering rack .. I wonder how well that 'floating' rack will hold up with dirt? If you get dirt on the guides, whats stopping it from chewing up the rack that controls the linkage? I can't se how it would be as smooth as a more direct ball bearing steering rack ...

[jia_zhuang]

Didn't take you long to start posting about the G4 CODY!!! U just got the dame MTX3 man LOL. Oh well, u can give it to me if u want. I don't mind spending some TCL on the MTX3 if u don't want to LOL. Joke.

[codeman]

hahaha, you caught me! punk, always wanting my Mugen aren't ya? :D

I want a kit that handles as well as my MTX3, looks as cool if not better(G4 with that crazy heatsink head :) ) and is easily(easier perhaps) maintainable.

This wrench from dusk till dawn after a run gets old fast, and you start to leave your car full of crap after about the 6th full rebuild. Its just too much work, for an hour total of racing. Too much work on the car, and timevs.money spent on the actual hobby itself is crazy.

More fun, less work!!

[bighurt98]

You are saying you want to get the G4 because the MTX 3 has to be taken apart to clean? That is the case with all cars if you are going to clean to that detail. Have you ever thought of using an airhose to blow your MTX 3 off?? Walmart has a small aircompressor for around $100 does the trick!

If you have a MTX 3, you have a winner car. If you have a TC3, you have a winner car. At least trade into something because you dislike the car for it's driving features, weight, something; NOT because it is tough to clean. That is very weak!!

The only car at this time I wouldn't recommend to anyone is the 705. To expensive, parts outrageous, and plenty of small headaches when racing, meaning, always something coming loose, getting out of ajustment to name a couple. Friend had to replace the bearings throughout the car because they began freezing up.

This new G4 seems to be a solid car, but performance is the answer to any racer. How does it compare to the MTX 3, TC3, 705, Vision, or even old trinity car. Hopefully it has great results in comparison and becomes another viable option to compete with the other great cars out there.

[codeman]

I agree with that you're saying; to an extent. I don't mind at all selling my kit to somebody else who would die to have a Mugen, and buying a G4. OR keeping it and having a second kit.

And you know what? I would sell my Mugen (no matter how great it is; because you know what? it IS a great car) for a kit that could shave off an hour or more of cleaning ...

The air compressor doesn't really clean your car dude, you still have to get in there with a toothbrush and clean off any movings parts as best as you can. It speeds up cleaning the chassis, arms etc. but you still need to go over it again anyways.

What does anybody have to lose? You get a guy who gets a top level kit for cheap, or I keep it and have a second kit to have (nothing wrong with that either!) .... eitherway dude, alot of people have more than one kit... you jealous mommy won't give you a bigger allowance? ;) hehe jokes

Take it easy guys .. and lets hear some more thoughts about the G4 if there are any more :rolleyes:

[TSR6]

The mugen is very easy to clean, imho. It's called a $6 gallon of Denatured Alcohol, a $2 spray bottle, and an air compressor.

No need for a toothbrush. :rolleyes:

[codeman]

and that will clean off your bearings, even the cheap metal shielded ones included in the front end?

if so, then I mays well invest in it

I don't see how you clean off your bearings, pivot balls, and ball ends without some good old elbow grease and a toothbrush :)

anyways boys, you can't deny the G4 is easier to get at ... you dorks are just jealous i have an MTX3 and don't care to keep it with me as much as you may, its just an RC car I'll buy what I want thank you very much :) .. I'll also bet my car is in much better shape after every run than yours. I've run mine about 17 times since i've gotten it, guys at the track and the LHS asked me If I had run it yet after bringing it there for the first time 2 weeks ago at the race.

Anyways, you can all go eat pooh ;) haha have fun fanboys!

[KingWillie]

Access to the diffs on the G-4 is something new in the 1/10 scale class, we'll have to wait and see how well it actually works.

[codeman]

definitly Willie; and I don't think they chose to design the kit with 'easy access' diffs for nothing. Its pretty obvious many users are complaining of the same thing I am. Ease of use/maintainablility.

Uhmmm, I also recall the HPI R40 stating that was one of their main design goals, and they too designed their kit with top access diffs.

Make sense? Thought so. :D

Guys I feel sorry for your cars, if all you do is spray it down everytime and never get around to cleaning all the 'crevases' and spots that really matter. Ie. bearings, outdrives,cvd joints, linkage. Denatured alcohol sprayed on a kit isnt going to do anything about those spots.

Get with the 'top loading' program ;) haha

[KingWillie]

I was looking at the new HPI's pictures, it looks to address this very well also.

[superspeed]

Originally posted by hpijoepro2
trinity rules, there for this car rules:cool:


Honestly, Joe Johnson and Josh Cyrul spent tons of time to design this car and make improvements from the Reflex. Credits should be given to these guys, not the brand T.

[KingWillie]

Originally posted by superspeed
Honestly, Joe Johnson and Josh Cyrul spent tons of time to design this car and make improvements from the Reflex. Credits should be given to these guys, not the brand T.

Who do they work for, who gave them the opportunity to do this? Who did the CAD drawings, who built the prototypes for the parts, who put the manufacturing together. I don't think either one of them would call this a garage built car. The "T" people deserve the credit for hiring and supporting their efforts at the very least. Other wise they would be about as likely to succeed at this as you would be on your own. Cheers. Hope it goes as well as everyone thinks it is going to.:)

[herbster]

We received the first batch of G4's this morning and they are looking very good. Parts fitting and the instruction manual is excellent (after building 40% of the car right now). My collegae Michel is working the whole night to assemble the first car.

Some first pictures of the contents of the box (at the bottom of the page) you'll find at : http://shop.the-border.nl (http://shop.the-border.nl/customer/product.php?productid=16634&cat=&page=)

[codeman]

How is the plastic?

also how about the steering rack? :) is it as cool as the CAD pics, and how well does it seem to function .. man do I like the look of this kit. I wonder how good parts supply will be though around where Im at :S

[ChrisMi6]

From your pics, it looks like the rear diff is the only "top-loading" one. So is the front top-loading too?

[herbster]

Originally posted by codeman
How is the plastic?

also how about the steering rack? :) is it as cool as the CAD pics, and how well does it seem to function .. man do I like the look of this kit. I wonder how good parts supply will be though around where Im at :S

The plastic is very OK, comparable to the quality of cars like the MTX-3. Fitting of parts is also excellent. The car is very easy to assemble...

[iplaydu]

I am thinking about purchasing the NT Team car
to upgrade from my 4-tec and allow me to race more.

but I am now looking at the G4 from Trinity as well.

what is the main difference I will see between the two...
if they were raced side by side with Sirio Nitro .12 and
Airtronics M8 Electronics installed.

[herbster]

We tested the G4 on our hometrack yesterday. Did very well for the first time : very good roll, and lots of steering. The supplied setup in the instruction manual was not the right one for our medium-bite track. Building this car took us more time than a NTC3. But for the first batch : the kit was complete, no parts missing...

Things to keep in mind when building the car, take your time for the steering servo part, space is very limited due to the very low radio plate. Also space for your receiver is very limited. Our PCM receiver which was supplied with the Futaba 3PK receiver fitted nearly (but OK).

Tomorrow we're testing at a brandnew track here. Keep you informed.

-----------
The Border
http://shop.the-border.nl

[morlock]

__
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by superspeed
Honestly, Joe Johnson and Josh Cyrul spent tons of time to design this car and make improvements from the Reflex. Credits should be given to these guys, not the brand T.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Who do they work for, who gave them the opportunity to do this? Who did the CAD drawings, who built the prototypes for the parts, who put the manufacturing together. I don't think either one of them would call this a garage built car. The "T" people deserve the credit for hiring and supporting their efforts at the very least. Other wise they would be about as likely to succeed at this as you would be on your own. Cheers. Hope it goes as well as everyone thinks it is going to.


_______________________________________________

Guys, hate to burst your bubble, but I am not sure trinity or Josh Cyrul spent a lot of time engineering this car.

What make you think they did? - when in fact, the car is made by TEAM MAGIC.

The Chinese company which also ownes K-factory. Trinity is likely just the importer. I could believe that maybe Team MAgic received some feedback from some of the drivers such as Cyrul (amazing driver), but it appears they were looking at the trends such as the MTX-3 and came up with some nifty improvements and trick parts. Remember Trick parts is what K-factory is known for. NOt a criticism of the car - I might buy one myself - just a critique of your logic.

If you want to gice credit where credit is due - give to those engineers at Team Magic/k-factory. Just give the guys at trinity a little kudos for picking a winner -

[InspGadgt]

The name Team Magic comes from "Magic Joel Johnson" as he was called when he was on top of the racing world. It is part of Trinity and I believe Jim Dieter has a lot to do with the subsiderary as well.

[StevePond]

Originally posted by morlock
Guys, hate to burst your bubble, but I am not sure trinity or Josh Cyrul spent a lot of time engineering this car.
...Just give the guys at trinity a little kudos for picking a winner -

Morlock, you are ill-informed. Trinity Team drivers Joel Johnson and Josh Cyrul had a significant influence on the design of the G4. Yes, Team Magic does the manufacturing and I'm sure they did a significant amount of design of their own, but to suggest the guys at Trinity only had a minor role in design and are just the importers isn't accurate at all. Not flaming - just passing along what I know from conversations with those involved in the project.

[morlock]

Originally posted by StevePond
Morlock, you are ill-informed. Trinity Team drivers Joel Johnson and Josh Cyrul had a significant influence on the design of the G4. Yes, Team Magic does the manufacturing and I'm sure they did a significant amount of design of their own, but to suggest the guys at Trinity only had a minor role in design and are just the importers isn't accurate at all. Not flaming - just passing along what I know from conversations with those involved in the project.

Steve,

Don't doubt your knowledge. I would assume your contacts know better. From antithesis comes synthesis - and usually the truth.

Seems like credit should be well distributed amongst the parties.

I think there should be enough to go around from such a nice kit.

So Steve, more impotantly - when can we expect a competition tourer shoot out? Or should we just wait for the results of the upcoming ROAR race at Revelations this weekend?

Look at the field now. Mtx-3, ntc3, G4, v-one-rr Evo, GS vision (don't knock it), HPI R40 . . . . did I miss anything else? Time for a new thread - - - ?

[nova]

Steve, have u tested this car or anybody tested this car? Desperately want to know the performance and durability compare to MTX-3.:D

[StevePond]

Ran with Joel Johnson and his G4, as well as a few friends that are running them. Car builds well. Only complaint I heard is there's no extra hardware, but that's typical of most cars. Also, the hub that attaches to the brake disc caused the disc to wobble in two of four cars, but the hub is unnecessary and can be removed without any ill effects. I personally would switch to a precision ground steel K-Factory or Kyosho brake disc. I'm not a big fan of the punched, chrome-plated disc that comes with the car.
Second thing we noticed is the transmission shifts too early, and that was at it's tightest setting. As a quick fix, we drilled two 5mm holes in each clutch shoe in the transmission. An alternative is to get the optional stiffer springs from Team Magic.
As far as performance, the car was very dialed the first time our with Joel at Middletown. It was his first time driving the car at race pace, and it was the fastest thing on the track. I know a lot of that had to do with Joel, but I swapped transmitters with him and felt the car was pretty well balanced. A little more push than I like, but he was whooping my ass, so who am I to say. :D I think the car has great potential and based on what I've seen, it could hang at any level with the right set-up and the right driver. Molded parts are rigid enough for consistent handling, and flexible enough for durability. The only thing we broke on another track was a front steering hub/upright. I clipped the same board with my MTX-3 and it pulled the pivot ball from the steering hub, but the G4 hub actually broke, so the molded parts might be just a little more rigid.
Still, the G4 is light years different, and better in my opinion, than the previous car. Half way through qualifying at the Nationals it's the fastest car, so it appears to be able to compete well against the best cars and drivers.

[nova]

Steve, thanks a lot for your opinion.

:confused: In fact, I was in a dilema to choose between MTX-3 and G4. I think I can go ahead with G4 and I heard the original setup on the instruction is not right, can you suggest what is the best setup for parking lot track. Also, G4 is much lighter than MTX-3, will it effect the handling of the car? Thanks, pal.:D

[ob-4forever]

have the NTC3 and the Reflex NT Team kit...
my ntc3 has the rb concepts x12 and my reflex has the rs12 t5 just got it for that and before that i has the rs12 ts2....the reflex is great...i had one earlier and i got rid of it cuz my hobby shop had no parts...then a week after i sold it they started shipping in parts....thats why the ntc3 is great cuz every1 has parts for it.....i would definatley get the g4 if my lhs has parts and by the looks of it its seems easily worked on....im not much of a belt guy but that car looks o so fine. w00t w00t

[VWNTC3]

Like you OB, I have a Reflex NT (w/ one-way & slotted rotor w/ floating rear) & NTC3. Based on my experience w/ the Reflex, I would buy the G4. I found a LHS that stocks Trinity parts in NYC.

Anyway, I have to say that the Reflex is a superior handling car period. I Love my NTC3, but no way can it go as deep into corner with controlled on-power steering as my Reflex. The NTC3 beat the Reflex in straight-line acceleration, though.

[nitronutz]

I have driven and built lots of the top name cars - Nitro TC3 which I love because its so easy to drive, free roling drive train and ease of maintenance.

The Mtx-2 for the sheer speed out of the box but has weak suspension arms that break much too easily.

The Trinity Relflex NT which handles great and is very durable but has a high center of gravity.

The Serpent Impulse that has great speed and durability but a little harder to control

I was debating MTX-3/Team Magic G4 and decided on a G4

I just built the G4 and I must say I wish all cars were designed like the G4

PROS

For one thing everything is low even the throttle servo, steering servo, fuel tank shock towers...low is good. better handling... less roll.

the car has basically 3 sections - front suspension, mid electronics section and rear suspension and transmission. Each section can be removed from the car with ease and remain intact and independent from the other sections.

This makes repair and cleaning a breeze.

The drive train is so smooth it just floats like butter. The steering rack is a dream... it slides back and forth on rails to eliminate slop completely.

One caution ... when assembling the car the instructions show installing the engine before the mid and rear sections... don't do it
Install the engine last.... or you'll be uninstalling it to fit the rear and mid sections.

CONS

I dont like my receiver and throttle servo in the T-Bone zone so I guess I will have to either stay out in front or invest in some bubble wrap.

TEST

I put a RB 12 5 port in it and cant wait to test drive it.. and see how the smaller Centax clutch will hook up. This is the
the way a touring car should be designed and if it handles anything like the Reflex NT... its sure to win more races no matter whos driving it.

[kurzo]

I have the G4 pro.. it is true that the manual's setup is pretty bad for most of us in a parking lot. Josh Cyrul said to try out his Las Vegas setup that is included in the kit (in the bag with the stickers).

Here is my setup.. it has a little push entering the corner but it is SO hooked midcorner and exiting. I am not running the one-way, so maybe it'll help rotate the car more coming in.

This is based off of the las vegas setup with some changes:

Front:
Springs: Reflex blue
Oil: 60wt
Shock Tower: Middle
Anti-roll bar: 0 degrees
Diff: Gear, 30k
Camber: -1.5
Caster: Front 1 thick, rear 1 thin 1 medium (middle setting)
Droop: 0mm
Ride Height: 4.5mm
TRC Purple front only

Rear:
Springs: Kit silver
Oil: 55wt
Shock tower: Middle
Anti-roll bar: 0 degrees
Diff: Gear, 5k-ish
Camber: -2.5
Camber Link: inner upper, outer lower (low+flat)
Droop: 3mm
Ride height: 5mm
TRC Purple front/rear


The trinity drivers use Purple front and Tan rear (37 shore).