;e Apex Touring
is plenty fast
with the included
NiMH battery, but
the SC500-BL
includes a LiPo
cuto ; and is capable of handling
up to a 3S LiPo
pack!
Each corner of the Apex Touring boasts several
adjustment options. Note the vertical camber
link and tie-rod mounts, which open up the
option to change roll center and bump steer.
Chassis
;e Apex Touring is built on a low-sided tub chassis that not only provides a sturdy
platform for the suspension and ample space for its electronics, but also gives complete
protection for the drivetrain as well. ;e modular design allows disassembly of the front
or rear without disturbing the rest of the car, and its layout is intelligently organized given
the shaft running straight down the center. ;e chassis, along with the rest of the car,
shares parts with other o;erings in the Qualifier Series (like the Pro-Lite 4x4), making it
easier for your local dealer to stock parts so they’ll be there if you need them.
Power system and included electronics
;e Apex Touring uses the same 550-sized Reedy brushless motor and SC500-BL speed control as its Qualifier Series stablemate, the Pro-Lite 4x4. It’s a sensorless combo
with an emphasis on reliability, and comes pre-wired with
a genuine Deans plug to match the included 3000mAh
NiMH stick pack. Power is nothing without control, and
Team Associated’s XP2G radio system provides plenty of
signal security with its 2.4GHz FHSS technology (if you
want to impress someone with your RC knowledge, you
can explain that FHSS stands for “Frequency Hopping
Spread Spectrum”). ;e digital servo features metal gears
for durability, and provides ample torque to steer the Apex
from turn to turn.
Sensored and Sensorless Motors
Brushless motors come in two basic flavors: sensored and sensorless. As the name implies, a sensored motor is equipped with electronic sensors (Hall
E;ect sensors, to be precise). ;ese sensors “tell” the speed control the position, speed, and rotation direction of the rotor (the part inside the motor
that actually spins). ;is allows very fine throttle control for a smooth feel at the trigger.
A sensorless motor does omits these sensors (surprise!), and instead relies on the speed control to “read” the pulses of current that spin the rotor.
A sensorless motor will generally give up some throttle precision to a sensored motor, but will deliver higher rpm and run more e;ciently (and thus
longer per charger) than a similar, sensored motor.
