The A-Team’s 4-wheeler returns with Worlds-winning specs

The Team Associated B44 platform has won just about every major 4WD event including three IFMAR World Championships and four ROAR Championships. After winning the 2013 IFMAR World Championships in the hands of Steven Hartson, the lessons learned were applied to the B44 platform and introduced as a new version - the B44.3. This latest version boasts some pretty significant changes and includes a new hard anodized aluminum chassis, gear diffs front, rear, and center, and the ability to change the chassis layout for saddle or shorty pack configurations. Returning features from the previous B44.2 include 12mm big bore shocks and anodized aluminum parts reserved for “Factory Team” kits. While some were surprised to see a new version of the B44 instead of a completely new platform (especially in light of the B5 and B5M hitting the market), there is no doubting the B44’s lethal presence on the track. Let’s take a closer look.

TRIPLE GEAR DIFF DRIVETRAIN

One of the big changes included in the B44.3 was introducing oil-filled gear differentials as a standard item. Normally, ball differentials are included in the kit, but this buggy uses them at the front and rear and replaces the slipper with one at the center. This is a bit unusual and as tracks see more traction in the form of artificial turf, carpet, high-bite clay or even sugared dirt, using gear differentials can help increase punch and add another element of tuning. Inside each of the cases, metal planetary gears keep the diffs operating smooth and dependable and the kit includes the necessary silicone oils to get you going at a solid starting point. Those opting to run ball diffs can easily swap out the front and rear ones for more versatility (ball diffs sold separately).

A center differential has a big impact on acceleration and can be tuned by changing the thickness of the silicone oil.

IFMAR-PROVEN SUSPENSION

The B44.3 kept true to its roots and stayed with its current independent suspension package. The buggy uses Factory Team V2 12mm threaded aluminum big bore shocks, straight arms and titanium turnbuckles to top off a system that has competed and won at the highest level of racing. All the mounting locations are the same as the B44.2, and many of the materials have been left unchanged. However, keen eyes will notice a couple of small difference and that includes the aluminum shock caps that have been replaced with plastic ones and polished shock shafts instead of the “Gold” TiN shafts. The plastic caps include a bleeder screw with plastic O-rings and this helps when filling the emulsion-style shocks. Droop is handled by using plastic internal shims to limit the shock length, and ride height can be adjusted by turning the spring collars in fine increments. A rear sway bar keeps the buggy from rolling too much, but the front is missing one. Again, this mirrors what the team learned at the 2013 IFMAR World Championships and if needed a front roll bar can be purchased separately and installed easily. At the back, different blocks handle anti-squat and toe-in, and shims help with roll center. One area that I was surprised to see unchanged was the front arms, which are known to be fragile and cited as a weakness by many drivers. According to Tim Tunnermann, lead engineer on the B44.3 project update, the real issue is with the optional, super stiff carbon arms. The carbon arms are more brittle than the “regular” plastic ones. The B44.3 comes equipped with the less fragile “regular plastic” arms.

The B44.3’s suspension is largely unchanged from the previous car. The Factory Team V2 shocks are exceptional dampers, and titanium turnbuckles are standard.

2.5mm-MACHINED ALUMINUM CHASSIS

Modern racing has seen an increase in power and grip, and the B44.3 is designed to take advantage of this. As traction increases, having a low center of gravity will help to improve the responsiveness of a vehicle and make the car more stable. The B44.3 now switches to a 2.5mm, hard-anodized 7075-T6 aluminum chassis instead of carbon fiber seen on previous versions. The aluminum is slightly heavier than carbon fiber and shifts mass to the bottom where it can have the greatest affect on the center of gravity. This switch also means an increase in durability. The strategically milled chassis is designed to have symmetrical torsional flex and a lot of engineering included the use of a floating servo and motor mount helps keep it that way. The chassis also works with two new carbon-fiber upper decks. Like the B44.2, the chassis is 8mm longer and this also helps to contribute to the increase in stability and improved handling.

A milled, hard-anodized 7075-T6 aluminum chassis replaces the carbon fiber plate found on previous B44s. The material has different handling characteristics and lowers the center of gravity.

MULTI-LAYOUT ALUMINUM CHASSIS

The B44.3 can be configured to use a saddle pack or rear motor configuration with shorty pack. This dramatically affects the way the buggy handles and makes the buggy pitch differently in the air. This was no easy task for the Team Associated engineers and meant other items like the new floating motor mount that keeps the contact points toward the center and angles the mount up and away from the chassis would also have to be introduced. Fortunately, all the items necessary to run the buggy in either configuration are included in the kit. The chassis also features a new servo mounting system. Mounting the servo directly to the chassis can disrupt chassis flex leading to unwanted handling characteristics. The kit includes a unique floating servo mount that also keeps the contact points toward the middle of the buggy and hovers over the chassis as it goes toward the outside to help remedy this problem. This is a trick that is more commonly seen on touring cars, but has made its way to off-road. Those not comfortable with this technology can also choose to outfit their B44.3 with a standard mount and everything is included in the kit to do go that route also. It’s nice to see tuning options included that are normally reserved for aftermarket upgrades.

The newest trend is to run a shorty pack with the mo tor next to it, and the B44.3 gives you that option. Users can mount the servo direct, or float it to help maintain consistent flex.

TEST GEAR Reedy Blackbox 410R Competition Speed Control

Racing 1/10-scale electric 4WD buggies can be a lesson in speed and power, so a speed control able to cope with it and perform smooth and predictable is critical. Reedy has a solid reputation for high-quality batteries and motors, but recently jumped in to the speed control market. The Reedy Blackbox 410R is their introduction in the very competitive arena. Features include eight pre-programmed profiles, “blinky” mode for ROAR racing rules, 12-gauge power wires, built-in voltage boost for 1S applications, heavy-duty external capacitor board and CNC machined black aluminum case with integrated heat sink. Also, The Blackbox 410R can be linked up to Reedy’s Programmer (sold separately) to open up another level of control and tuning. This is a really cool option and a way to really dial in my personal preferences.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

OCRC in Huntington Beach was my testing ground and its high traction and large layout was a good test for the buggy. I set the ride height for 22mm up front and 21mm ride height in the back. I also adjusted camber to negative one, sauced the tires, and topped off the Reedy shorty pack. Out on the track things went pretty smooth, I didn’t need to adjust a slipper and the diffs are tuned by oil viscosity and not tension, so shakedown was over in just a few laps. After the tires came in, the B44.3 started to show its potential. It launched fast out of each corner and carried tons of corner speed. However, in the air things were a bit exaggerated. I noticed that the buggy would pitch fore and aft in the air with normal inputs. Since I was running it in shorty pack configuration, the lower weight of the buggy on each end didn’t dull the inputs like I’m used to with saddle packs. Also, the oil-filled gear diffs added an extra level of gyroscopic torque that I wasn’t prepared for. I decided to back off some of my endpoints on my radio to help tame the reaction, but still maintain enough stopping power when the tires were back on the track to control my driving lines. This seemed to do the trick and before long, my lap times started coming down dramatically. On the hard-packed indoor track of OCRC, the B44.3 had a great balance and lightning quick handling. The high traction definitely lets you know about any small details of the car and the JConcepts Finnisher body painting by Sean DeHart from Stiky Liks painting gave it a pro-level aesthetic and solid down force for even more precise handling. One of the biggest advantages of the B44.3 was its ability to carry speed throughout the entire track. It would get in and out of corners quicker than just about any other buggy and its big bore shocks soaked up the majority of bumps and rough sections. However, the thing I noticed was that this buggy likes to be within its comfort zone. It’s fast if you drive it within its capabilities, but overdriving it can bite you back. Once pushed to the brink, it tends to slap hard on landings and needs a quick pause for it to recover before resuming its attack. Luckily, getting back on the throttle is where the new gear diffs show their stuff. They have more punch in high-bite conditions and the center diff helps transfer the power between the front and rear tires better. I like that these are incorporated in to the kit as standard and their lower maintenance and increased durability are a welcomed plus. Since modern tracks tend to see more high-bite conditions than loose and loamy, the compromise Team Associated needed to make in deciding to include gear diffs instead of a slipper and ball diffs is a realistic one and mirrors exactly what Steven Hartson and the Team used at the 2013 IFMAR World Championships.

FINAL WORD

The B44 series of 4WD buggies have racked up an impressive list of wins and with the newest B44.3 I’m sure those winning ways will continue. I could feel where the changes were made and even though the B44 is not all-new, the improvements in performance are significant. Drive the car as it was built to be driven, and you will be rewarded with low lap times. Straight out of the box, the B44.3 is designed for high-bite surfaces, but it can be tuned to handle just about anything. Just take a little extra time with the build and use the kit setup as a solid foundation to work from. It’s the reigning World Championship buggy for a reason and that’s something that’s hard to argue against.

VEHICLE SPECS:

Item no.: 9063
Scale: 1/10
Price: $380
Weight (shorty configuration): 3 lb., 13.28 oz., (1735g)
Height: 5.35 in. (136mm)
Length: 14.90 in. (378mm)
Width: 9.84 in. (250mm)
Wheelbase: 11.20 in. (284mm)

CHASSIS
Material: Hard-anodized 7075-T6 Aluminum
Type: Lower plate with carbon-fiber upper deck

SUSPENSION
Type: H-arm with titanium turnbuckle camber link
Inboard camber link positions (F/R): 2/2
Outboard camber link positions (F/R): 2/3
Shock positions, towers (F/R): 2/2
Shock positions, arms (F/R): 2/2

SHOCKS
Bodies: Threaded Aluminum big-bore
Bore: 12mm
Shafts: 3mm Steel
Volume compensation: Emulsion-style

DRIVETRAIN
Type: 4WD Shaft
Spur gear/pinion: 81/21
Slipper Clutch: None
Differential F/C/R: Sealed bevel steel gear
Driveshafts F/R: Hardened steel CVAs
Bearings: Rubber and metal-sealed ball

TEST GEAR (NOT INCLUDED)

Transmitter/receiver: Futaba 4PX / Futaba R3045B 4-channel
Steering servo: XP DS1015 Digital High-Torque/Speed
Speed Control: Reedy Black Box 410R
Motor: Reedy Sonic Mach 2 7.5T Modified
Battery: Reedy 4100mAh 65C Competition 7.4V Shorty LiPo
Tires (F/R): Pro-Line Ion 2.2” MC/ Pro-Line Ion 2.2” MC
Pinion: Robinson Racing 21-tooth, 48-pitch aluminum pinion

SOURCES

Futaba Futaba-RC.com
Pro-Line ProLineRacing.com
Reedy RC10.com
Stiky Lik facebook.com/stikyliks.rcpainting
Team Associated RC10.com

+ Shorty or saddle-pack LiPo battery option
+JConcepts Finnisher X-Flow Body included
+Front, center, and rear gear differentials
+Factory Team V2 12mm big bore shocks
- No change to the front arms from the previous B44
- Would prefer metric hardware over the kit’s SAE fasteners