After many years of speculation and rumors, Team Associated officially announced their 5th generation RC10 buggy in December of 2013. But, in a new twist they released two very distinct kits, the RC10B5 and RC10B5M. The JConcepts team went to work right away to determine which existing products would carry over to this new buggy, and developed some new gear along the way too. In this edition of the Garage we will take a look at some of these new products specifically designed for the RC10B5.
NOTE: For more info on products designed for the B5M, please see this Garage project by Jason.
Getting Started
For this project I started off with a freshly built Team RC10B5 roller using all the stock components. So the first step was to figure out which JConcepts gear I would need to update the vehicle. Many of the JConcepts products that have been developed for the B5 also fit the B5M, but not all of them are 100% compatible due to the different chassis layouts and motor configurations. Plus, some existing JConcepts products developed for other vehicles are also reconcilable too. So after some research I figured out what gear I needed and went to work.
Turnbuckles
The first part I decided to upgrade was the turnbuckles. The stock turnbuckles are colored black and made of steel material. There is a hex shaped piece in the middle for adjustments, and each buckle is marked with notch or line to help you identify which end has the left hand turns.
The JConcepts Fin turnbuckles were first developed for the B4.x and they are direct fit the B5 too. They are made of high-grade, machine titanium components to give them more strength over their stock counterparts, plus they are lighter in weight. They also use a notch to help you distinguish the left hand turns, and the hex shaped piece in the middle has a unique “finned” cut in the center.
I replaced all six buckles on my B5 and the Fin turnbuckles fit perfectly into the stock ball cups. Also, to make the task easier I used the optional JConcepts turnbuckle wrench too.
Hinge Pin Brace
After the turnbuckles were done I moved my focus over to the front hinge pin brace. The stock brace is made of plastic material and is secured to the bulkhead by two M2.5x8mm screws. The JConcepts brace is made of precision machined aluminum and it has a beveled edge which produces a nice polished appearance. It is also incorporates a few cutoffs to keep the overall weight down, and it is available in either blue or black.
To install it I first removed the two M3x16mm screws that held the front bumper in place.
Then I backed out the two M2.5x8mm screws that held on the stock brace.
I placed the JConcepts brace on the front of the B5 and secured it with the two M2.5x8mm screws.
Then I reinstalled the bumper using the screws I removed earlier.
Front Axles
The next task was to replace the stock front axles. The stock axles are made of steel and are black in color. They incorporate a hex design to clamp your 12mm wheels onto. The JConcepts front axles are made from high-quality titanium which adds both strength and weight savings to your B5. And the knurled tip of the front axle acts like a grip so you can use your finger to hold it in place while installing your 12mm hex wheels. Also included are two axle roll-pins which we will use a little bit later.
To remove the stock front axles remove the M3x5mm screw that is located on the inside of the steering block. Once that is out you can slide the axle out and leave the bearings, crush tube, and steering block inserts installed.
Take your knurl tip front axle and slide it through the steering block by starting on the inside.
To hold it in place now install the included axle roll-pins.
Hexes
Now that the stock front axle has been removed we need to install a 12mm hex adapter. For the B5 JConcepts has developed a new aluminum ultra front wheel hex that is available in both blue and black color options. What makes these new 12mm hex adapters different from previous versions released by JConcepts are the flutes or cutouts located on the sides. The flutes help to shave additional weight without sacrificing the hex’s durability.
The ultra hexes have a groove on the backside that fit over the axle roll-pins. So to install them simply slide the ultra hexes on the over the knurl tip front axle and align it so the groove lines up with the roll-pins.
Then add a dab of blue thread lock to the included 2.0mm screw and gently thread it into the ultra hex until it is secure.
The B5 also uses a rear 12mm hex made from plastic material that slides over the CVA wheel hex pin. There isn’t a set screw that holds it in place so to remove it just slide it off the rear CVA axle.
To install the rear ultra hexes just slide them onto the CVA axle, align the groove on the back so it sits flush with the existing pin, and then secure it with the included screw with a touch of blue thread lock.
Steering Bell-Cranks
Working slightly out of order now I went back to the front of the buggy to swap out the stock steering bell-cranks. The stock components are molded out of plastic, and to increase their durability they are much thicker when compared to the JConcepts aluminum version.
The JConcepts bell-cranks are available in either blue or black, and both versions feature a chamfered edge, a laser etched JConcepts logos, and are machined out of high quality aluminum.
To install them I first disassembled the front end of the B5, then removed the bearings, bell-crank brace, button head screws, and 6mm heavy-duty ball stud from the stock bell-crank.
I then placed the bearings into the JConcepts bell-crank, and added a small amount of blue thread lock to the ball stud before I installed it into the aluminum bell-crank.
Next, I added some blue thread lock to the button head screws located in the steering rack and then threaded them into the front of the JConcepts bell-crank.
I slipped the bell-crank brace over the two button head screws and then guided them through the channel that holds the bearings in place inside the aluminum bell-crank.
Then I held everything in place and threaded the button head screws into the B5’s top plate. Since the top plate is made from plastic no thread lock was needed at this step.
Motor Plate
Now I moved back to the rear of the B5 to replace the stock motor plate with the JConcepts version. The stock motor plate is made from aluminum and anodized blue. The JConcepts aluminum motor plate is available in both blue or black, and it uses a special honeycomb design. This unique pattern helps to reduce the plate’s overall weight with the many milled ‘combs’, and it gives it a distinct look too. But, despite the weight reduction the honeycomb motor plate is still very reliable thanks to its 3mm thickness, and to complete its look the edges have been chamfered as well.
To install it I first removed the gear cover and entire slipper assembly and then set them aside. Them I removed the three M3x10mm screws that secure the motor plate to the gearbox.
Since the honeycomb motor plate is a direct fit, to install it I simply used the three M3x10mm screws to lock it in place, and then I reinstalled the slipper assembly and gear cover.
Electronics
At this point I decided to install my electronics into the B5. Since it uses a very narrow chassis when compared to its predecessors, using electronics with a small footprint was critical. Tekin makes some of the smallest and most reliable electronics in the industry, and they generously donated one of their RS GEN2 SPEC ESC combos which included a 17.5 Redline GEN2 brushless motor.
I cracked open the box, calculated my wire layout, and then soldered on my Power Cap and all the wires.
Then I secured the RS GEN2 SPEC ESC to the B5’s chassis and routed the motor leads through the rear shock tower. I also installed my receiver and antenna too.
Then I turned my attention to the 17.5 Redline GEN2 brushless motor. Since the honeycomb motor mount is designed to work with today’s brushless motors, installing the Redline motor was a snap.
I soldered on my motor leads and secured the sensor wire to the end of the Redline with its included clip.
ProTek R/C is AMain.com’s in house brand of electronics, and for this project they donated one of their digital hi-torque metal gear high voltage servos.
I mounted the servo mounts and spacers to the servo, plugged it into my receiver, calibrated my radio so that there was no trim applied, and then installed the included blue aluminum single arm servo horn. I added a dab of blue thread lock to the ball stud that threads into the horn, but another option would be to use a small locking nylon nut.
This included servo horn is a nice upgrade since it is stronger than the stock plastic servo horn, and the blue color matches up well with the JConcepts aluminum steering bell-cranks.
Along with servos, ProTek R/C also carries their own brand of LiPo packs, and for this edition of Garage they provided me one of their ‘square’ LiPo packs that was specifically designed for the B5.
It fit perfectly into B5’s chassis, but now I needed to secure it down safely which brings me to the next JConcepts item developed for the B5.
Battery Brace
The B5 kit comes with a black battery strap made from composite materials. The JConcepts Foxy battery strap is comprised of 2.5mm genuine carbon fiber, and its unique design allows you position the battery in different locations while safely securing it at the same time.
The Foxy brace uses the same battery strap thumb wheels that are included with the B5, and it has plenty of material to hold the LiPo pack in place.
Chassis Tape
Now that all the electronics were installed I flipped the B5 over to install the JConcepts chassis sheet. The sheet helps to protect your chassis from the normal wear and tear it sees on race days, plus it provides a non-abrasive surface when it comes into contact with dirt.
Two sheets are included in each package, and they are pre-cut as a direct fit for the B5.
Instructions how to mount each sheet is clearly printed on the sheet itself, and since I was working with a new chassis I was able to skip to step #1.
I removed the two M3x16mm screws that secure the front bumper and placed them all to the side.
I peeled off one of the chassis sheets and then carefully applied it to the B5’s chassis. The adhesive that is used on the sheet is pretty durable so even if you mess up applying it the first time you should be able to back it off and reapply it again correctly.
Then I reinstalled the bumper using the screws that I had removed earlier.
Also included with the chassis sheet are some pre-cut JConcepts decals that are made from the same high quality materials as the chassis sheet itself.
Body And Wings
Up next was cutting out the body and rear wing for the B5. Even though the concept of trimming out a rear buggy wing is pretty simple, some drivers feel like you need the skilled hands of a surgeon to finish this task correctly. All JConcepts buggy bodies include a matching set of rear wings, but for this garage project I hit the easy button and opted for the pre-trimmed 6.5” hi-clearance clear wing for the B5.
Each wing is professionally trimmed in advanced to be an exact fit for the B5, and even the mounting holes are precisely reamed so it drops right onto the wing mounts. A clear overspray film is also applied to each wing in case you want to add your custom paint scheme to it.
This wing design first debuted at the 2011 IFMAR World Championships in Vaasa, Finland, and the hi-clearance design allows for proper suspension movements and tire expansion at high speeds out on the track.
I placed the wing over the wing mounts and secured it into place with the stock small body clips.
I could have scrubbed the wing to give it that “cloudy” look but I elected to leave it clear for this project.
Finally it was time to prep and mount the body. I decided to use the newer Finnisher body for the B5, so I had JConcepts send it directly to Zegers RC Graffixx to spray it with my paint scheme. The Finnisher is a cab forward designed body that uses a double v-step feature directly behind the cab to help with aerodynamics. The roof of the cab incorporates a center channel to help your B5 out with traction at high speeds, plus it stiffens it up to make it more durable. The body also comes clear with a protective overspray film, window masks, and a decal sheet. Two 6.5” hi-clearance wings are also included, but as I mentioned earlier I opted for the pre-trimmed version instead.
After it arrived I trimmed it out using the lines molded into the polycarbonate body. Then I used my reamer to add a hole for the rear body mount. There is a front body mount located on top of the B5’s top plate, but I removed that so I didn’t need to ream out a hole in the front of the Finnisher body now. Next, I used some hook and loop tape on the sides of the B5’s chassis and inside the Finnisher body to help keep it in place without the use of body clips.
Finishing Up
Finally, I mounted up some fresh Dirt Webs, applied some new decals from Stickit1Racing, and now the B5 was finally ready to hit the track.
So if you are ready for a fresh kit build, or you simply want to update your existing ride, JConcepts offers many option parts for the new RC10B5. I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Garage, and a complete list of the items featured in this build is listed below:
Products Used
JConcepts RC10B5 parts:
0144 - RC10B5, pre-trimmed 6.5" Hi-Clearance wing, 1 pc. - MSRP $14.00
0280 - Finnisher - RC10B5 body w/ 6.5" wing - MSRP $26.00
2344 - RC10B5 precut chassis protective sheet – MSRP $15.00
2349 - RC10B5 Foxy, 2.5mm carbon fiber battery brace – MSRP $20.00
JConcepts RC10B5 | RC10B5M parts:
2346T - RC10B5 | B5M, Titanium knurl tip front axle – MSRP $35.00
2347 - RC10B5 | B5M, aluminum, ultra front wheel hexes- MSRP $13.00
2348 - RC10B5 | B5M, aluminum, ultra rear wheel hexes - MSRP $13.00
2351-1 - RC10B5 | B5M, aluminum front suspension brace – blue – MSRP $12.00
2353-1 - RC10B5 | B5M, aluminum rear motor mount - honeycomb – blue – MSRP $25.00
JConcepts RC10B5 | RC10B5M compatible parts:
2225 - RC10B4 | RC10B5 Fin Turnbuckle Set – MSRP $40.00
2341-1 - 4mm large flange serrated locknut – blue – MSRP $22.00
3076-07 - Dirt Webs - black compound - (fits 2.2" buggy rear wheel) - MSRP $19.00
3077-07 - Dirt Webs - black compound - (fits 2.2" 2wd front wheel) - MSRP $18.00
3231 - Dirt-Tech - 1/10th buggy 2.2" 2wd front insert - 2pc. - MSRP $11.00
3232 - Dirt-Tech - 1/10th buggy 2.2" 2wd | 4wd rear insert - 2pc. - MSRP $11.00
3347 - Mono - B5 | B4.2 | RB6 - 12mm hex front wheel (white) - 4pc - MSRP $11.00
3348 - Mono - B5 | B4.2 | B44.2 | RB6 - 12mm hex rear wheel (white) - 4pc - MSRP $13.00
JConcepts optional items shown:
2012M - Illuzion - Matte vehicle stand – black – MSRP $15.00
2043-1 - Glue straw - 4pc. – MSRP $4.00
2043M - Advanced Formulated Tire Glue - Medium – MSRP $10.00
2133 - 4' pit mat (textured padded material) – MSRP $20.00
2212-1 - Satellite tire gluing rubber bands - blue - fits 1/10th, SCT and 1/8th buggy – MSRP $13.00
2234 - Fin turnbuckle wrench - .143" open end - MSRP $5.95
Tekin:
TT2432-TekinRSGEN2SPEC ESC + 17.5 RedlineGEN2brushlessmotor combo –MSRP$330.00
ProTekR/C (AMain.com)
PTK-130T-ProTekR/C130TStandard Digital "High Torque" Metal Gear Servo (High Voltage) -MSRP$89.99
PTK-5108-14-ProTekR/C2S"Supreme Power" Li-Poly100CHard Case Square Battery Pack (7.4V/5600mAh) -MSRP$99.99
Coming soon:
2352-1 -RC10B5|B5M, aluminum steering rack - blue -MSRP$21.00
2352-2 -RC10B5|B5M, aluminum steering rack - black -MSRP$21.00
Sources: http://www.jconcepts.net | http://www.amain.com | www.teamtekin.com | http://www.teamassociated.com
