ZipZaps: new pics in the Gallery!
 

HERE

This is just the packaging, I wanted to get the pics up ASAP.

More detailed pics of everything inside the packaging is coming soon (I just picked up the set from Radio Shack, so I'm openeing everything right now!)!!!

Whoooaa.... thats so sweet. Namuna how'd you get your hands on those early. I thought they were'nt comin out till next week? :confused:

check with your local Radio Shack...So far just about EVERY store I've called today either had them in, or will be getting them in this week.

...I've been spending all day taking pictures and comparison pictures (against the Bit).

Things were looking good for the ZipZaps...UNTIL I put the body/chassis together! The body sits WAY TOO HIGH on the chassis, and the resulting look is 'chunky'

You'll all see what I mean when I post more pics to the gallery.

One nice thing though; they come standard with a 1.2v, 100mAH NiMH battery (in the car).

Great I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks

Instead of starting a bunch of fragmented threads about the ZipZaps I'm going to put my review/opinion in this thread.

Let's start with the Good:
- Price! The kit is only $19.99! That's darned good
- There's a certain amount of compatibility with Bits/Microsizers; The gears, axles, stabilizers, rear tires (but NOT front tires), and possibly motors (haven't tried swapping) are interchangable (some components from the steering mechanism, like steering spring, may be interchangable as well)
- For a mere $12.99 you can get 'The Fast & The Furious, Street Tuner Upgrade' with includes; 2 bodys (not compatible with Bits), 2 Wings (not compatible), 2 sets of hubcaps (could be compatible with modification), 3 gear sets (compatible), 2 motors (21,500rpm and 23,500rpm which should be compatible), 3 stabilizer bars (compatible)...Wow!
- The cars come with a 1.2v, 100mAH NiMH battery
- The remote uses a telescopic antenna
- The remote has a solid, secure charging station for the car, with a release button

The Bad:
- The body shell is painted on the outside...That means scratches and dings are gonna be easily seen on the body
- The Antenna is flimsier and shorter than the Bits Antenna, not to mention the range (at least for me) was a piddly 5 feet or so...An Antenna Mod is a MUST with these things
- The detail on the car body is less than exciting, as a matter of fact it's downright bland!
- The buttons on the remote are recessed, which makes using them an annoyance at times
- The flip cover, in the remote, gets in the way when using the remote...Luckily is a flexible platic material and it's easy to put-on/take-off

The Ugly:
All you've got to do is go to the Gallery and LOOK at the put-together car...If the package didn't say it was supposed to be a '99 Mustang Cobra, you'd probably guess it was one of the old GMC 4x4 cars! The body rides way too high on the chassis! Not to mention the rear wheelwell is almost rubbing against the wheels!

Bottom line:
I went to Radio Shack today hoping to buy something that was going to give the Bits/MicroSizers some competition...Instead I got a disappointment (but at least some spare parts for my Bits).

ima have to chek em out...:D
although i MIGHT not buy it cuz im gonna stick with TOMY...

Welp... another let down, on a happier note at least we've got Tomy... things could be worse. Thanks for the review Namuna
you saved me some dinero.

:)

How do they run tho? Are the basically just bitchars in performance?

did i read that right? 23,500rpm? god, that thing must ZOOM!

if that 23,000 rpm motor work on a bit, AND is in that fast and the furious kit, ima buy it. Ima take those gears, caps all taht and put em on my bits. Screw the bodies if they dont ill make em fit.

I went to my local radio shack this morning, the guy is getting a full shipment in tommorow morning, so hopefully i can get my hands on one in the morning. The only thing I havent seen anyone talking about yet are the frequencies these cars are on, although I think we can assume with the FCC regulations they put on microsizers we are going to be looking at the same two car races...

Yup only two frequencies: 27 mhz and 49 mhz.

Confirmed: only 27MHz and 49MHz

Why does a 23,500rpm motor impress you guys? You do know that's ONLY a 2.35motor?...1.0 motor = 10,000, 2.2 motor = 22,000, 3.0 motor = 30,000rpm

That 23,500rmp motor ain't all that spiffy folks.

Namuna, THANKS FOR THE REVIEW/PICS!

If you try the motor in the Bits, let us know... If it does work, im definately getting one of the fast and furious kits.

The Motor is compatible!

I just put the motor from the Zipzap in my Bit and vice-versa...They work fine!

I just picked one up. Heh, none of the dudes knew wtf I was talking about and ended up digging through a buncha boxes that were stacked in various places on the floor. Definitely had 'em tho. Looked like to basic car kits, the big tuning kit with gears, bodies, rims, stabilizers etc., a smaller tuning kit with just gears, rims and stabilizers, and a couple FATF body sets. Just got home tho so haven't had a chance to check it out.

Namuna, How fast did ur BIT go when u put the ZZ motor in it? I was thinking of getting a 3.8 motor for my bro's booster... but now this comes along... 3,800 rpm vs 23,500 rpm...

Umm...23,500 is lame, 3.8s are 38,000RPM. The ZZ motors are less than a 2.6! ;)

Zip zaps give Tomys run for money!
 

Well I got mine a few days ago and I think they are great! Here are just a few reasons...

PROS:

-Real tire tread patterns (3 diff patterns)
-real rims, not cosmetic but actually 1/2 of the rim!
-1/64 scale. Means compatibility w/slotcar bodies
-better scale design, no cutesy factor
-heatsink (motor cover) secured w/screw
-controller has a strap
-possible ac adapter upgrade for controller
-$20 price tag
-smoke tinted plastic body for real tint windows
-longer frnt axle strut (more play, better for springs)
-motor end terminal centered for best contact
-comes with micro screwdriver
-thicker paint layer less prone to scratching
-dual spoilers
-space for 2 cells under pcb (with mod)
-high quality plastic casting
-excellent packaging (blister pack)
-complete accessory kits include everything!



CONS:

-bodies sit too high
-controller buttons recessed
-short antenna
-short range
-car antenna has specs printed along sleeve


Important to note that these are not OEM clones! They use a completely different PCB and 1/64th chassis. This is a different car that uses the same underlying technology... Overall solid car and will give tomy run for money esp because modification parts and accessories are superior. Just my opinion...

I don't think the Zip Zaps will compare that much to the TOMY's but for spare parts a cool parts this is GREAT!!!!!! I want the Tune up set for my bit!! I LOVE the treded tires!!!!! God for a racer on a budget!

I must HUMBLY apologize, I OBVIOUSLY should've SUPER BOLDED my response explaining that the 23,500rpm motor is only equivalent to a 2.35motor on a Bit. :confused: :rolleyes:

But hopefully Tiny's response with the SUPER BOLD will actually get read! :eek: :rolleyes:

thanks for correcting me you guys,
Im going to buy it anyways... its like 2 2.2 motors for the price of one!

Is it me or does the PT cruser looked compressed. Not like a bit on the horz direction but in the verticle direction? Kind of like squished? As in step on.

One other plus.

For those guys like me that want to build things like busses and trucks the longer wheel base will make thing easier.

One of the minus

Two AAA battries? Have not pop open my cruser yet but why not AA? Unless they want to sell a lot of AAA?

Wonder when Spongbob pops out?

Ok just for giggle here is some information for you tech guys.

This uses the std TX2 chip in the transmitter. Yep Turbo pin!
The circuit are almost the same. ALMOST!
A Bit keys the OSC while this keys the Buffer-Final transistor.
How this connects the buffer-final to the antenna I would recomend DONT start cutting out cap!

Hope that helps! Be intersting to try this with a regular Bit controller. I grabed a 49mhz to go with the MicroQ 27mhz. It just may control the other type of Micro RC.

just got back from the mall
 

just picked up 2 cars and
a fast and furious set
53 bucks
for 2 cars 4 motors 4 bodies
3 extra gear sets
tires........
not a bad deal
car goes good
steers better than the bit
both front and back tires the same size
and longer wheelbase
not real fast though
i'd hardly call a 2.3 motor nos
no drifting
i smell a dual battery
good car for track racing
body does ride high
nice controller

oink

Do you think the next motor will have a compartment for a double shot of NOS?

I will get them for sure!!!! ;)

Huh? Do you mean two motors in one car? That would be something! :)

Go
 

would the whole rear axel form the zip zaps fit on the microsizer. mine broke.
________
MARIJUANA TRICHOMES

Check some of the other post. Not sure but sounds like it may fit. At 7.99 would be a cheap test to perform.

Is the turbo pin on? I've noticed slower acceleration with the ZZ compared to the Bits. I've put in the 12:1 stock gear to get the desired acceleration.

Sorry to confuse you. I do my best to not confuse anyone. :) Its a requirement in my line of work.

The turbo pin is normally left floating not grounded like the other Bits versions out there. This is true on a stock Bit/OEM/MicroQ/Etc controller. Only the Tomy 4 channel controller has the turbo button to ground to that pin.

The ZZ from reports are slower for same gear/powerplant setup. Not sure if weight, body, charge or whatever. Have not set the same gearing/powerplant as my MicroQ but notice that the ZZ slows down quicker than the MicroQ when I get off the gas. Could be rolling resistance but unknown at this time.

well i have a a zz....and had the oppertunity to race against 2 other TOMY cars.......the first 2 races I raced with the zz were in first place.......the ability to control your car, is so helpful on the track.......although the TOMY were faster.....doesnt meant that they win races......becasue TOMY is faster......the car most slow donw into a corner...as for the ZZ.....just keep going...then handling is great.....and since they are heavier,.....you can knok thos TOMY;s right out of the way........but I will admit if your racing a good TMY driver....the zz stands no chance.....

i just stopped by my local rs and saw the zipzaps. the longer body seems nice however the bodies aren't the quite the quality and detail of the bits. as temped as i was to buy one, i wasn't impressed enough. as nice as the idea of interchangable rims (wheelcovers) is, the fact that they would be prone to falling off and geting lost was one of the diswaying factors. the proportional steering is possibly the most tempting factor. at $20+/-, the price difference in neglible.

Sorry, ZZs do not have proportional steering. They have better handling, but no proportional steering.

my fault, i thought i read that they did in another thread. well, even less motivation to get one.

While, personally speaking, the ZipZap cars aren't exactly inspiring...The tune-up kits offer a GREAT value!

Rear tires, stabilizers, gears, 2-motors and more for only $12.99!!! That's a pretty kickin deal

ALL I HAVE TO SAY!
 

THEY KILLED IT....

what do u mena Proportional steering?:confused:

I don't have a technical answer, however it is what the min z's have. In short, I believe it is the ability to steer as a normal car would rather than all or nothing like this bit's. Someone correct me if I’m wrong or can give a better explanation.

Proportional means that if you turn the Tx wheel a little, the car's wheels move a little, and if you turn it all the way, then the car's wheels move all the way. BC-Gs are not proportional, because they can only move all the way or nothing.