MST RMX 2.0 RTR Learning to Drift Series - Part 1

As part of our "Learning How to Drift" construction series, we have a brand-new MST drifter to improve when the time comes for some drifting. Naturally, we aimed to create the most comfortable and reliable drifter possible. Is it possible to accomplish it with a drifter that is ready to go? We believe so, anyway.

Welcome to part one…

Our first device was an MST RMX 2.0. This 1/10-size rear-wheel drive drifter is ready to go and comes with all the necessary electronics, including the gyro. Although it features a brushless motor and speed control power, the transmitter requires four AA batteries and a 2S LiPo or 6-cell NiMH battery pack.

One of this platform's most amazing features is its chassis, with about a dozen scales and realistic bodies. The LBMT is the one we're using. It has a wide body modification that makes it resemble a Ford Mustang. We assembled the body, installed the light buckets, and attached the rear wing and a few other parts, such as the side mirrors, so we could take pictures even though this car had never been driven.

Besides requiring some car batteries, the car was ready to run once we installed the transmitter batteries. We chose the ProTek 6400 2S shorty battery, which weighs only 219 grams because ProTek recently released their new packs.

Note: We tested the ability to adjust your center of gravity based on your traction levels, which is the difference between having a hefty and a light battery.

After installing the battery and inspecting our steering trim, we observed how the stock RMX 2.0 operated on various surfaces. Using the factory tires that came with the drifter, we first did some donuts on the commercial-grade carpet in the V8engineforsale corporate headquarters. The car felt terrific right out of the box. On the low-slung, low-profile industrial carpet, they joined up nicely. The car seems a bit fast, though—possibly with too much grip.

The front entry's tile turned out to be too slippery. The tires lacked traction; a softer substance could be more effective. We then proceeded to the warehouse. Its concrete slab is nearer to the majority of garage surfaces. The standard tires hooked up considerably less on the slick concrete than on the tile. The parking area at V8engineforsale  served as the site of our last surface test. The pavement is sealed, and the tires performed admirably. After the carpet, it was most likely the second-best surface.

According to our research, The gold compound tires included with the car are on the stricter end of the compound spectrum. This automobile spends most of its driving on the carpet drift track within our retail store. We will buy carpet-specific tires for this automobile, but not yet; that will be covered in part two. The automobile performed best on the carpet in the interim. Without it escaping us, we drifted that back end far out sideways. Returning to the smoother surfaces, however, the rear end had a mind of its own.

Does battery weight and location affect drifting?

Therefore, we wanted to know if varying battery weight balances would impact driving characteristics, notably the rear-end swing. We have discovered that adding weight to an RC car typically increases its traction. Therefore, we tested the type and location of the battery.

With a larger, heavier battery, we intended to improve the vehicle's ability to hook up in places where it slips too much. Alternatively, we could switch to a thinner battery, adjust the ride height, and gain a slight edge if the car hooked up with excessive traction on the carpet.

First up is the full-size stick pack.

We discovered that using a heavier stick pack makes starting a slide easier. However, the back end slipped away from us far more easily, resembling the back car of a rollercoaster when you're constantly being thrown around. We were attempting to manage the slide rather than taking control of it.

Next up is the standard shorty battery.

Although the automobile slid quite nicely and the back end seemed more controllable, it had the drawback of looping around if it travelled too fast.

Lastly was the LCG shorty battery.

More on our terms, the sliding felt the finest. It would be easy for us to slide out of it. Our only complaint about that LCG was it was similar to the standard shorty; if you drove too quickly, the back end would still loop around on you.

Results

The batteries significantly improved the situation from an unmanageable to a bearable state. We learned a lot by testing different batteries, and while every surface is unique and your findings may differ, we're better equipped going forward.

Summary

With a lightweight LCG battery, the car is quite manageable in stock form and is fun. However, since that additional weight might be helpful on different surfaces, we will continue to use the standard shorty as a tuning tool.