Factory Team TC4

[PeterV]

The big news at RCX was the debut of the Factory team TC4. Much more than the usual titanium turnbuckles and blue stuff, the Factory TC4 showed off a plate graphite chassis. The setup represent a new level of adjustability for the TC4. A graphite “spine” bridges the upper and lower decks, and four screws in the top deck can be loosened or removed to adjust the car’s torsional ridgidity without compromising front-to-rear stiffness. Graphite shock towers, MIP CVDs, and aluminum arm mounts are standard. There are also new aluminum components used to replace parts normally molded into the stock chassis. Looks tight!

Official Associated press release, added June 13:<BR><BR>Team Associated’s new Factory Team TC4 already has a big win before the
kits have even been boxed.

Team Associated’s U.K. driving star Craig Drescher won the prestigious
invitational Touring Car class at the 2005 Reedy International Race of
Champions. Craig beat the world’s best drivers, chassis, and motor
builders in the industry to take the overall win.

This was Associated's first race with the Factory Team TC4 and the
entire team was impressed with the level of performance and
adjustability provided by the new chassis design, and Craig winning the
event was truly, “icing on the cake”!

The FT TC4 marks a milestone in electric touring car development by
allowing maximum chassis stiffness adjustability without replacing the
main chassis. It features a double deck 2.5mm woven carbon fiber chassis
that incorporates an adjustable carbon fiber spine plate. The chassis
spine plate allows an extremely wide range of chassis stiffness
adjustment in small increments. This allows the chassis to be dialed in
for high grip carpet racing or for low grip parking lot racing and
everything in between. In addition to the spine plate, there are four
blue aluminum chassis brace standoffs that allow even more chassis
stiffness adjustment.

Racers around the world will appreciate that they do not need to
disassemble their entire car or shell out more cash in order to change
the chassis stiffness of the Factory Team TC4. Just make the adjustments
to the chassis spine plate or standoffs and you’re dialed.

If all these tuning options were not enough, we included two,
three-piece anti-roll bar kits for the front and rear of the FT TC4.

Another major tuning option included in the FT TC4 is that you can
choose between two types of differentials, based on the class of racing
you participate in. The lightweight composite diffs provide increased
acceleration in 19 turn or stock class racing. The lightened, steel
differentials easily tolerate the very high demands for strength which
modified racing requires.


The Factory Team TC4 includes:

Double deck 2.5mm woven carbon fiber chassis
2.5mm woven carbon fiber center spine
2.5mm woven carbon fiber front shock tower
3.0mm woven carbon fiber rear shock tower
Carbon shock tower mounts
Carbon antenna mount, easy access (remove antenna/receiver without
re-threading)
Carbon servo mounts
Carbon input bearing cap
Carbon center spine mounts
Blue aluminum motor bulkhead
Blue aluminum camber link spacers
Blue aluminum standoffs
Blue aluminum clamping hex drives
Blue aluminum triangle arm mount
Blue aluminum circle arm mount
Blue aluminum square arm mount
Blue aluminum x-2.5 arm mount
Heavy-duty CVD dogbones
Full titanium turnbuckles
Factory team blue aluminum hardware
Front anti-roll bar kit (includes 3 different bars)
Rear anti-roll bar kit (includes 3 different bars)
Aluminum shock bushings
Lightweight TC4 foam bumper
2 differentials - plastic or steel. (plastic outdrives, D-rings,
diff-bolt and nut) or lightened steel outdrives (diff rings, T-nut and
bolt). Both choices are included!
2.5mm ball end L-shaped Allen-key wrench

Part number and retail pricing:
#30102, Factory Team TC4, $599.99

Availability:
Available July 2005

[TRF TT-01]

Looks like this car is competing against other high-end cars with the new carbon chassis. This car looks great!

[PeterV]

Bigger pic:

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/tc4_big.jpg

[Pat Fierle]

Looks like the best touring from Associated. cant wait to hear how it does on the track.

[cheerwhiner]

looks like i will keep the kit chassis until that one is available as a hop up :eek:

[charlieB]

I wonder if the fan provisions are available for that chassis.

[rcboy201]

tape in batterys that sucks, i hope they have a option strap you can buy if not ill have to come up with somethin or just run 1 battery

[gizmoguy303]

Taping in your battery isn't that bad at all. You can reuse a strip of tape for quite a while. I usually use one strip for my practice runs, then put a new one in when the heats begin.

The new TC4 looks good. I wish they would have had this one from the beginning - I might still own one. :D

[ExtremeDuty]

Wow, I'm very surprised! When I read FT TC4, it came to mind that it would be carbon composite plastic version like TC3 FT.
I like AE's approach. Indeed, they are answering recent competitors' entries.

As mentioned previously, AE has to engineer battery strap something other than tape.

Overall, it gets my approval.

[synapse75]

more pics here

http://www.rcworld.ch/neueprojekte.asp?id=2149

[frank13]

so i guess i can use that rear tower on my ntc3 V2

[synapse75]

so i guess i can use that rear tower on my ntc3 V2

looks like they would.


as for tape, it is the best way to secure batteries because it prevents them from moving at all, and is also the lightest.

For the weekend warrior, I imagine AE will develope a battery clip like the yok SD or the Pro4.

[Prelude14WRX]

I was waiting for a car to take over racing from my awesome tc3, and this might be it! Great job AE!

[NitroBoy24]

Wow, that is very nice. Lots of CF + Blue Anodizing looks good :cool: But I bet anyone racing that exact car will have a hell of a time switching batteries out between heats..That is if it's soldered how I think it is, straight from the esc to the pack w/o any plugs ;)

[J_Bone]

What about diff cups?? The plastic ones gotta go.

[tecman_pants]

Wow, that is very nice. Lots of CF + Blue Anodizing looks good :cool: But I bet anyone racing that exact car will have a hell of a time switching batteries out between heats..That is if it's soldered how I think it is, straight from the esc to the pack w/o any plugs ;)
lots of people solder there ESC wires to there battery pack with no plugs. I even do that

[supermanisdead]

nice dose anyone have a price

[mccrash59]

Looks pretty much great finished handmade parts, for sure the production car will be similar but not identical. This upper deck looks like the other new cars launched lately, geez, we won´t be able to say the brand of a car without the bodyshell stickers, they all look like the same.

[gizmoguy303]

Wow, that is very nice. Lots of CF + Blue Anodizing looks good :cool: But I bet anyone racing that exact car will have a hell of a time switching batteries out between heats..That is if it's soldered how I think it is, straight from the esc to the pack w/o any plugs ;)

I tape my batteries in and solder them in directly w/o plugs. It's PRO!! :D

[microrcdude]

I use deans, because normally my 7 year old brother is the only one who comes with me to the track.

Is there an estimated price yet?

[Wosstifer]

That thing is awesome. I'll start saving up maybe.

[fantomcat]

im guessing it will be around the same price as the pro 4. probably $282 or somthing like that. you could also use some velcro straps for those batteries. if you have them tightened down good enough, they pretty much work as good as tape strips

[Rookie Solara]

I would say using the TC4 or TC3 battery strapping bar with some mod would work on this new chassis..........or use the Pro 4 one. A little cutting here and there.
About using plugs...isn't it against ROAR rule that "NO PRO were allow to use PLUGS"...LOL....soldering the batteries off the car and switch a pack and soldering back to the ESC will take me 2 minutes tops.........and I am extremely bad on soldering and lazy too. Pro ppl can do it for less then 1.

[gizmoguy303]

With a good soldering station it takes less than ten seconds to get a battery pack out. You need to work on your times Rookie Solara! :p

[tecman_pants]

I am going to buy this thing the first day it comes out because it is so sick and I have a XRAY T1

[Wosstifer]

It looks like a totally different car. Why even bother with the team ed. Thats a good chunk of parts needing to be bought to convert to FT.

[b16crxturbo]

It looks like a totally different car. Why even bother with the team ed. Thats a good chunk of parts needing to be bought to convert to FT.

I was thinking the same thing... wonder if it will be any lighter. The aluminum adds weight, but the carbon removes it... Be interesting to see what would be lighter. Think it will come with the lightened steel outdrives?

[TheJANG]

more pics here

http://www.rcworld.ch/neueprojekte.asp?id=2149

God I hate it when people take other peoples' photos (http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50358) without asking and don't give credit.

[Grizzbob]

I was thinking the same thing... wonder if it will be any lighter. The aluminum adds weight, but the carbon removes it... Be interesting to see what would be lighter. Think it will come with the lightened steel outdrives?
I have heard some from one of the guys from AE, & he said that the FT car is definitely lighter than the reg. Team car, but by how much will just depend on the electronics & goodies used(as always, but I was told that it should come in underweight, so balanciing weights can be used for tuning like most others). And I'm pretty sure he also said that the FT car WILL have the lightened steel outdrives standard(with the ever present option of using the plastic ones). As for price, I don't think they've decided just yet, though I'd be surprised if it sold for over $300, I figure it'll weigh in at about the same price as the FT TC3(since the Team TC4 did basically the same thing). I know I for one am SERIOUSLY thinking about getting one(even though I've only had my Team TC4 for about 3 months or so)..... :cool:

[AudiTT-Quattro]

God I hate it when people take other peoples' photos (http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50358) without asking and don't give credit.
I agree. There is absolutely no respect for copyright on the internet, nor is there anyway to enforce it.

The FT TC4 looks great! IMO, this is the car Associated should've come up with instead of the controversial rebandaged TC3/TC4 tub chassis.

[fantomcat]

if you look at the rear end photo of the car at the rcworld site, you can see that the care has the lightened steel outdrives :D

[fantomcat]

I wonder if the fan provisions are available for that chassis.
also if you look on i think the first pic, you will notice the plain chassis plate, and if you look closer, you can see the little fan intake thingamajig.
:D

[NitroBoy24]

With a good soldering station it takes less than ten seconds to get a battery pack out. You need to work on your times Rookie Solara! :p

Meh, I'll take those extra 4 grams and rock Deans ;) I hate soldering.

[tecman_pants]

Deans are almot as go as soldering. And plugs are better when you dont have a power sorce

[viper2002]

Numerous accounts report Barry Baker has been testing a new belt-driven car under the Associated banner.

Let's not make this PRE-production car another flavor of the week like many other electric tourers have become in the last year.

[RandomFellow]

It looks like a totally different car. Why even bother with the team ed. Thats a good chunk of parts needing to be bought to convert to FT.

Per Team Associated's "Team Talk Q&A":

>Your name: darin
>Electric kit referenced: tc4
>Comments:
>I see that at rcx that the team factory tc4 is being shown. Do you have >any details that you can share here?
>
>Are there any plans to have an upgrade kit to upgrade a stock tc4 to the >factory team edition? It appears that the factory team tc4 has graphite >chassis, top deck and shock towers (at least from the few pictures I have >seen).
>
>Darin, we have not forgotten all you current TC4 owners out there. >There will be an upgrade kit to be released sometime after the release of >the kit. ******************************************

[trailranger]

Looks like all the other graphite conversions for the tc3/tc4 that after markets put out. This is a good thing since competition brings down the price. Total savings $300 since you now don't have to buy a car and toss the chassis for the conversion.

My only Bit## about all Touring cars is the chassis. Can someone make me a formed lexan cover to screw under the car and prevent road debris and grit from going into my car? HPI tried doing it a few years ago with a 4wd truck...after I told them about my idea...they gooffed it up and got laughed at by RCCA for the heat.

[b16crxturbo]

I just noticed the aluminum inner camber link mounts, interesting... Those shock towers shouldn't cost too much as they are an extremely simple design. I have always liked carbon components and several years ago when I bought a Kyosho Triumph, I thought the twin plate graphite chassis design was a great idea. I really liked that car, I bet it would still hang today if I still had it.

Back on topic, for a "Factory Team" car, shouldn't they come with aluminum shock caps? These used to be standard, not sure why they went to the plastic ones, probably just to save money.

I think I will have to look in to getting the chassis kit when it comes out for carpet racing, but for asphalt, I think I will keep the tub, carbon tends split if catch an edge.

[Grizzbob]

I just noticed the aluminum inner camber link mounts, interesting... Those shock towers shouldn't cost too much as they are an extremely simple design. I have always liked carbon components and several years ago when I bought a Kyosho Triumph, I thought the twin plate graphite chassis design was a great idea. I really liked that car, I bet it would still hang today if I still had it.

Back on topic, for a "Factory Team" car, shouldn't they come with aluminum shock caps? These used to be standard, not sure why they went to the plastic ones, probably just to save money.

I think I will have to look in to getting the chassis kit when it comes out for carpet racing, but for asphalt, I think I will keep the tub, carbon tends split if catch an edge.
Honestly, while I'm sure they could include aluminum shock caps, I see no reason to, as they don't offer any performance advantage over the plastic ones, they just look nice(& personally, I just use some plastic Yokomo caps that have bleed screws in them, so it's MUCH easier to bleed my shocks). So given the choice of paying a few bucks less or getting the extra bling, I'll pay a few bucks less....... :cool:

[Windsorguy99]

They should include Yokomo style caps....after all...it's what their Factory team guys are using on the car at the Reedy race....Baker and Blackstock are BOTH using the Yokomo style caps

[tallyrc]

am i the only one that thinks bleeding the aluminum caps is easier? the plastic ones crete such a good seal they trap too much air. agreed however, just drill the tiny holes and use the setscrews that hold the arm pins in place to creat vents and that is the easiest.. also, i notice that they are not including the coated shocks with the kit even though all the "fatory" guys use them too... i remember when the "factory team" kit included ALL the goodies....

[Grizzbob]

Maybe, but keep in mind there are a LOT more of those goodies nowadays, so if they did include EVERYTHING with one the price would likely skyrocket(to the range of cars like those from Tamiya, XRay, HPI's new Hara Ed. Pro 4, etc.).... :cool:

[synapse75]

It won the reedy race of champions

http://www.rcworld.ch/neueprojekte.asp?id=2169

[synapse75]

http://www.realrc.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=113

[Taz_S]

am i the only one that thinks bleeding the aluminum caps is easier? the plastic ones crete such a good seal they trap too much air. agreed however, just drill the tiny holes and use the setscrews that hold the arm pins in place to creat vents and that is the easiest.. also, i notice that they are not including the coated shocks with the kit even though all the "fatory" guys use them too... i remember when the "factory team" kit included ALL the goodies....


They use the shock off the yokomo BD car.

[tallyrc]

They use the shock off the yokomo BD car.

you sure it's not just the associated teflon coated shock with the yok cap which fits the associated shock?

[Sedanfahrer]

you sure it's not just the associated teflon coated shock with the yok cap which fits the associated shock?
You're right. They used the AE shock with the Yokomo cap.

[Taz_S]

You're right. They used the AE shock with the Yokomo cap.

It is the yokomo just look at the bottom of the shock.

http://www.yokomousa.com/kits/mr4tc_sd/sdw/masamis_car_600.jpg

[tallyrc]

sorry, these are associated shocks with yok caps. the yoks have a blue retaining nut at the top AND bottom. the associated's don't... http://www.realrc.net/images/news/reedy_race_usa_2005_car-baker.jpg

[b16crxturbo]

sorry, these are associated shocks with yok caps. the yoks have a blue retaining nut at the top AND bottom. the associated's don't... http://www.realrc.net/images/news/reedy_race_usa_2005_car-baker.jpg

So in the other pictures, the car has aluminum camber link mounts, in this one, at least on the front anyway, it is carbon...can't see the back ones though. Interesting, I wonder which way it will be released.

Where can I get some of those Yok caps?

I remember back in the day, AE and Yok were related some how because Masami Hirosaka used to use Yok parts on his RC10. I remember one article in perticular that was in RCCA a WHILE ago. It was after Masami had won the worlds and there was an article on his car, he had flipped the front shock tower to have the shocks behind it, and back then, it was unheard of. Anyone else remember that article?

[tallyrc]

So in the other pictures, the car has aluminum camber link mounts, in this one, at least on the front anyway, it is carbon...can't see the back ones though. Interesting, I wonder which way it will be released.

Where can I get some of those Yok caps?

I remember back in the day, AE and Yok were related some how because Masami Hirosaka used to use Yok parts on his RC10. I remember one article in perticular that was in RCCA a WHILE ago. It was after Masami had won the worlds and there was an article on his car, he had flipped the front shock tower to have the shocks behind it, and back then, it was unheard of. Anyone else remember that article?

speedtechrc.com has the yok caps in stock they even say for associated and yok shocks. they are the bladder caps too...

[sosidge]

Yokomo import Associated parts into Japan, hence the relationship. Masami still uses Associated cars with Yokomo parts on them, for example at the last on-road worlds he used an RC12L4 "Yokomo Special" to win. If we ever saw Masami racing off-road again I'm sure he'd use a B4.

[Rookie Solara]

Yokomo import Associated parts into Japan, hence the relationship. Masami still uses Associated cars with Yokomo parts on them, for example at the last on-road worlds he used an RC12L4 "Yokomo Special" to win. If we ever saw Masami racing off-road again I'm sure he'd use a B4.

May be on 2WD or Gas 2WD off road.........back then, he was well known as 'DOG FIGHER"..........(by Yokomo)

[Huck]

tape in batterys that sucks, i hope they have a option strap you can buy if not ill have to come up with somethin or just run 1 battery


I called Associated today and they are going to offer a battery strap as an option. They should start shipping next week from what they said.

[Windsorguy99]

I wonder if all the people bashing Xray for not including the strap are going to pile on AE for offering the strap as an option too.... ;)

[dodgeguy]

I wonder if all the people bashing Xray for not including the strap are going to pile on AE for offering the strap as an option too.... ;)

But this strap wont be 30 bucks!

[Windsorguy99]

I don't know..don't want to take this off-topic....but a lot of people were complaining about TC pricing..and yet...the TC4 is showing up all over the place online in the $360 range..and there are no complaints?

I like the design of the new car....but until Associated does something about the quality of their molds and composites, I'm staying away....

[fastharry]

I don't know..don't want to take this off-topic....but a lot of people were complaining about TC pricing..and yet...the TC4 is showing up all over the place online in the $360 range..and there are no complaints?

I like the design of the new car....but until Associated does something about the quality of their molds and composites, I'm staying away....

you mean Thunder tiger.....the new owners of associated,,

[Windsorguy99]

Either way....

all I know is that on my TC4's, I had to hand fit the parts to get them to go together...and they were sloppy after only a couple of runs.....

If you force things together so they bind up...then it delays the slop....slightly....but then you get no suspension action for the first while....

not impressed...

Now that they've stepped up intot he price range of the other high-end kits...I wonder if people are still goign to be willign to overlook those quirks

[Grizzbob]

Either way....

all I know is that on my TC4's, I had to hand fit the parts to get them to go together...and they were sloppy after only a couple of runs.....

If you force things together so they bind up...then it delays the slop....slightly....but then you get no suspension action for the first while....

not impressed...

Now that they've stepped up intot he price range of the other high-end kits...I wonder if people are still goign to be willign to overlook those quirks
Actually, while I can't explain why, it does seem like my FT car HAS greatly reduced the slop in it, even though all the suspension components look the same as form my basic TC4(that did have all the slop you mentioned), & it's still essentially slop-free after a full month of racing(& more than a couple of sizable crashes, lol). It may not be perfect, but it IS most definitely better, & I've made more progress ontrack with it in a month than what it took 6 months to achieve with the old TC4, so trust me, the car flat WORKS..... :cool:

[Windsorguy99]

cool....

It's great to see more competition in the TC kits....

my AE experiment was short-lived..and unless something drastic happens I think I'll just stick with Xray for a while.... (and yes...I was running Xray before it was trendy) lol

Hopefully Kyosho brings a kit to market in thenot-to distant future...the more active players there are in the game, the more development we'll see...and it may even help drive down pricing?

[Aluma]

would a team tc4 with 3racing SSG chassis kit or BMI chassis kit be equivalent to a FT TC4?

[Grizzbob]

No way to know, they both might be just as stiff as the FT TC4 chassis, but whether they'll handle just as well I can't say(you'll have to talk to people who have those chassis to find out).... :cool: