Schumacher have released what is substantially more than just an upgrade – it’s a revolution. Some new ideas not seen on a Schumacher TC before and some not seen on any TC before.
The Pro level Mi4 is released as two variations 1.Kit 2.Preassembled. Most of you who follow this blog will know that I am a lazy sod and was planning to get the preassembled, things change and I decided that the only way to really get to know the car, for helping others and for ordering supplies of parts etc was to build one. So I took the plunge today and can now report.
Schumacher have planned this build very well. In the box there are 5 bags of bags
Bag A contains bags for steps 1 through 10
Bag B 11 – 20
Bag C 21 – 30
Bag D 31 – 40
Bag E 41 – 50
Each inner bag is named for a step in the construction – so “bag step 3” is for step 3 and contains everything needed to complete step 3 – parts, screws, nuts, circlips whatever. It’s brilliantly simple and the pictures accompanying each step in the manual are clear and concise -there is hardly any need for words – in fact the only words are in places where mistakes might be made or where there are option to consider.
I’m biased as you all know but honestly this would be the easiest build I have ever done in 25 years of RC – I suppose it helps if you have built a few kits, and probably helps if you have built a few Schumachers, and probably even more helpful if you have played with a Mi3 or Mi3.5 – you will be familiar with lots of the steps and parts and find yourself doing a lot of it without the book.
Schumacher have seen fit to change their ball sockets after an age of using the same old grey ones, the new ones are black – called “pro ball sockets” and they are certainly an improved fit on the balls – time will tell if they wear as well and last as long.
Also changed is the suspension pivot blocks – previously a two part purple alloy part it is now a one part plastic affair. After discovering the basic setting that most people used and never changed on the 3.5 it was decided to go with a fixed mount for simplicity (and another thing we dunces couldn’t get wrong ) – the purple alloy ones are still available as an option for the inveterate fiddlers. The new black plastic ones make the build so much easier.
The motor mount borrows heavily on the CAT design, proven in the rough and tumble of Offroad I’m sure it will have no trouble coping with Onroad. It’s a brilliantly simple device that allows you to remove the motor with one screw only and without disturbing the pinion/spur mesh – I love it allready.
The top deck has plenty of clearance – even the thickest LIPO will fit under there. Tape is the suggested battery locator but wait – there is an optional battery tray and battery brace system that will allow you to secure your batteries without tape but also without introducing another tweak possibility. These are ordered – mainly again because I hate tape.
The latest generation Schumacher shocks are just brilliant to build, have proven to work well no leaks etc, you will love them, so easy.
I guess the proof really is not in the build but rather the on track performance – that will be revealed in the coming weeks and months, so far the people who’ve had the car for awhile have gone very well with them.
I’ll report on mine as I get it to the track – it’s purposefully built by the book and it will be run that way initially till we see if it suits my driving style (style ?) and our local tracks. Stay tuned.