Team Associated RC10 B4.1 Factory Team - 9036

   Introduced by Team Associated in 2010, the 2WD RC10B4.1 Factory Team Kit - # 9036 - was the "Area 51" design team optimised version, that was developed to be lighter and more powerfull, taking full advantage of the new LiPo batteries and brushless motors.

   Confusingly, the model number - # 9036 - for the RC10B4.1 Factory Team Kit, had been previously used in 2004 for the RC10B4 SE (Special Edition) RTR.

   In this series of articles I will endeavour to provide information to help identify any of the 1/10 Scale RC10 2WD series and where it sits along its evolutionary trail. With this knowledge, any RC10 owner should be able to decide if their model is just one of the many thousands that were produced, or is potentially a collectors "holy grail".

2010 RC10 B4.1 Factory Team

   The B4.1 FT molded composite chassis, employs a ball differential, V2 coil spring over oil filled dampers, CVA drive-shafts, slipper clutch, titanium turnbuckles and a full set of ball bearings.

Model Version:

• #9036 RC10B4.1 Factory Team Kit

Features:

• Factory Team 0.5° aluminum rear hubs with oversized outer bearing
• Ball differential with lightweight outdrives
• Factory Team V2 hard-anodized threaded shock bodies with bleed-screw caps
• V2 slipper assembly with high-rate spring for more consistent slipper clutch adjustments
• Pro-Line® Vortex body and wing
• Pro-Line® M3 Holeshot 2.0 rear and M3 4-rib front tires
• CVA drive shafts with pin retainer clips
• Durable steel center-drilled front axles
• Carbon-fiber battery strap with blue aluminum thumb screws
• Optimized suspension setup for use with LiPo batteries
• Suspension mounts for 4°, 3.5°, 3°, and 2.5° rear toe included
• Blue titanium turnbuckles
• Complete set of precision ball bearings
• Factory Team blue aluminum hinge pin brace, milled motor plate, servo mounts and much more

2010 RC10 B4.1 Factory Team - Box Art:

   RC10 B4.1 Factory Team Box - # 9036.



   RC10 B4.1 Factory Team Box Side.

2010 RC10 B4.1 Factory Team - Bodyshell:

   B4.1 Factory Team Pro-Line Vortex bodyshell.

2010 RC10 B4.1 Factory Team Chassis:

   B4.1 Factory Team Chassis.



   Slipper Clutch and Rear Hub.



   Rear Shock Mount.



   Front Shock Mount.



   Front End.



   Motor guard and plastic gear cover.

   At present, the RC Model Manufacturers, Brands and Distributors covered by us are: ABC Hobby, Academy, Acme Racing, Agama Racing, Amewi, Ansmann Racing, ARRMA, Team Associated, Atomic RC, Axial, AYK, Bolink, BSD Racing, Capricorn, Carisma, Carson, Caster Racing, Cen, Corally, Custom Works, Durango, Duratrax, ECX - Electrix, Exceed RC, FG Modellsport, FS-Racing, FTX, Fujimi, Gmade, GS-Racing, Harm, HBX, Helion, Heng Long, Himoto Racing, Hirobo, Hitari, Hobao, Hong-Nor, Hot Bodies, HPI, HSP, Intech, Integy, Jamara, JQ Products, Kawada, Kyosho, Losi, LRP, Maisto, Mardave, Marui, Maverick, MCD Racing, Megatech, Mugen, New Bright, Nichimo, Nikko, Nkok, Ofna, Pro-Pulse, Protech, PTI, RC4WD, Redcat Racing, RJ-Speed, Robitronic, Schumacher, Seben, Serpent, Smartech, Sportwerks, Step-Up, Tamiya, Team-C Racing, Team Magic, Thunder Tiger, Tomy, Top Racing, Traxxas, Trinity, Tyco, Vaterra RC, Venom, VRX Racing, WLToys, X-Factory, Xmods, Xpress, Xray, XTM, Yankee RC, Yokomo, ZD Racing and Zipzaps.

   This is an ongoing project, with new and "lost in time" RC Models and Brands being added as they are found and although most of those listed above have been covered in relative detail, some are still being researched and will be completed in the near future.

Information and Advice

Electronic Speed Controllers

   ESC were originally developed to be used in conjunction with brushed 27T stock and modified motors in the late 1970s, early 1980s. Compared to modern day Controllers, they were Bulky and heavy, constructed using basic resistors, rheostats, capacitors and transistors, crammed together on a simple circuit board, to provide stepped but smooth acceleration when compared to the old mechanical, servo operated sweeper Speed Controllers. An Electronic Switch to change the direction of current flow was used on some of these early ESC to give reverse operation. Although they were a vast improvement on the old mechanical speedos of the time, they were expensive, jerky to control, and prone to burn out if not carefully looked after.

   As new technology became available, improvements were slowly made, and with the introduction of the new FET (Field Effect Transistors) and some basic mass produced silicon chips, ESC were made smaller and their reliability gradually improved.

   By the mid 1990s, "regenerative breaking" was developed. This meant that energy that would have been lost slowing down the car by effectively turning the motor into a generator, was harvested and put back into the battery. This of course was long before F1 had KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and adjustable anti lock breaking was introduced.

Servos for RC Models

   Servos are found on all kinds of Radio Controlled Models. RC Touring Cars, Buggys, Trucks, Truggys, Monster Trucks, Rock Crawlers, Airplanes, Helicopters, Boats and Ships for Steering, Throttle Control, Rudder Operation and Wing Flaps.

   For complete RC beginners, choosing the right servo can be confusing, so here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.

   The standard, plastic bushed (bearings) type servos are fine to start with but come with plastic/nylon gears that can break easily in collisions. So, to protect your servo gears to some degree, make sure you have a good "servo saver".