XRAY - Model racing cars

The XB8 TQ comes with aluminum pieces where the original XB8 had graphite. This includes the front top plate, the radio plate, and the center diff plate.

Now my question is won't the new TQ kit weigh more because of the aluminum? Per square inch, aluminum is heavier than graphite, but I noticed that unlike the original graphite pieces the aluminum pieces are cut out a lot to reduce weight and it is possible to design a cut out aluminum piece to weight less than a graphite piece that is not cut out much like on the original XB8.

And yes, I already know you can see it as a tuning option but to do so you first need to know the difference in the two. So again, in this particular case are the aluminum pieces heavier than the graphite pieces?

I wouldn't worry about the "weight" per say. The aluminum pieces will stiffen the car more so than the carbon fiber. Just another tuning option in our arsenal .

-Adam

Au contraire. You should worry about the weight. Not only would it be extra weight but it would raise the center of gravity and affect the balance of the car. Not that it would be a bad thing depending on the situation but like I said earlier, you can't use something as a tuning option if you don't know what it actually does.

For example, if I wanted to raise the center of gravity for more chassis roll how would I know whether I should use the graphite pieces or the aluminum pieces. Another example... if I wanted more weight over the front end to keep the nose down on jumps, should I use the the front graphite piece or the front aluminum piece.

Also like I said before, the pieces are designed differently so it is not a simple "graphite is lighter than aluminum" thing.

The difference in the weight between the graphite and aluminum pieces is minute. The aluminum is going to stiffen the car where the graphite allows for a slight bit of flex.

-Adam

Ok whether it is minute or not, does anyone know which pieces are heavier given the different designs?

And regarding the comment that the aluminum are stiffer are you sure about that? Has anyone tested the difference in stiffness between the two?

Just like the weight, depending on how the part is designed graphite can be stiffer than aluminum or vice versa. There is a lot of material cut out of the aluminum pieces and I assumed that XRAY was intentionally trying to get more flex into the car so that it handles even better on rough tracks.

So what is the truth?

Take the graphite radio tray, you can flex it in your hands. Try it with the alloy one; not going to happen unless you REALLY try hard. I'm positive the alloy pieces are stiffer than the stock Xray carbon fiber pieces.

-Adam

Thanks Adam. I didn't have both pieces to try the stiffness. So have you weighed both pieces too?

Nitro, haven't weighed them. They are going to be close though. Any one with a scale handy ?

Nitro, the only optional alloy pieces I run are the front chassis brace and front upper steering rack piece. I only run that one because the chassis brace starts to elongate the hole in the upper carbon fiber steering rack that it screws into. I bought an alloy radio tray to try out and it made the car to stiff for my liking.

-Adam