Team Associated RC10 B5M Team Kit - 90003

   Introduced by Team Associated in 2014, the 2WD RC10B5M Team Kit - # 90003 - was designed and developed by Area 51 with a new "Mid-Motor" hard anodised alloy narrow chassis, able to accept LiPo 2S saddle packs or 2S short packs. Around 90% of the B5M parts are shared with the B5. The B5 and B5M also won the 2014 "RC Car Action" Readers Choice for Electric Buggy and Editors Choice for Car of the Year.

   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".

2014 RC10B5M Team Kit

   The B5M TK hard anodised alloy chassis, employs a ball differential, coil spring over oil filled V2 "Big Bore" dampers, CVA drive shafts, slipper clutch and a full set of ball bearings.

Model Version:

• #90003 RC10B5M Team Kit

Features:

• Narrowed hard anodized aluminum chassis with centralized mass and mid-motor position for improved handling on high grip off road tracks
• Chassis accepts R.O.A.R.-approved 2S saddle packs and 2S short packs using the additional foam insert
• Factory Team V2 12mm Big Bore threaded aluminum shocks with 3mm shock shafts and updated O-rings for improved smoothness
• Factory Team VTS (Variable Torque multi-plate Slipper) with three drive surfaces and high-resolution spring
• New transmission has stronger gears, precision ball bearings, and a 14 carbide ball differential for increased life and torque capacity
• Adjustable front suspension mount angle (kick-up) options of 25 deg. and 30 deg.
• New gull wing front suspension features heavy-duty steering and caster blocks, while the insert system allows for easy caster and trailing axle adjustments
• One-piece front axle/hex adapter and larger front wheel bearing for added durability
• Updated full bearing steering system with horizontal ball studs for finer Ackermann adjustments
• Heavy-duty ball cups and ball studs allow for maximum suspension travel while reducing binding and friction
• Rear hubs feature larger bearings as well as the quick and easy insert system to adjust camber link position and rear toe-in
• B5M clear body and wing included

2014 RC10B5M Team:

   RC10 B5M Team Box Art - # 90003.

2014 RC10B5M Team Chassis:

   RC10 B5M Team Chassis.





   B5M Team Front Shock Mount and V2 Dampers.



   B5M Team Rear Shock Mount and Gear Cover.



   LiPo Battery Strap.



   Mid positioned Brushless Motor.



   V2 12mm Big Bore threaded dampers.



   B5M full bearing steering system.



   B5M front heavy-duty steering and caster blocks.



   B5M insert system, for easy caster and trailing axle adjustment.



   B5M Gearbox.

   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.

Keeping Notes

   If all you will ever do is go racing at your local track every week, then this article is not for you. However, if you ever look towards travelling around to different tracks around the country, or even the world, the value of keeping notes is all too obvious.

   Every time I raced in a regional or national competition meeting, I would make detailed notes, aided by a little local knowledge initially, and later fine tuned to suit my own driving style.

   My experience now means there are few, if any outdoor tarmac tracks within a 300 mile radius I haven't been to, and my notes on motor, gearing, camber angles, shock settings, tire choice and what inserts work best for that particular track, amongst others, allow me to save valuable time on the finer points of car setup, that can be done in the warmth of my own home on the kitchen table days before the meeting, instead of the often crippling heat, or the arduous conditions inside a wind blown tent.