MicroZ

RCCarFreak · #1 11-16-2006, 08:53 PM

I can't seem to find the forum for this type of car. Here in Canada our Radio Shacks turned into The Source by Circuit City. Apart from the new stupid name, they basically changed a lot of the things that used to be sold to us by the Canadian Radio Shacks. They are no longer supporting XMods and Zip Zaps, although many stores still have leftover stock still lingering on their shelves. They replaced the XMods with Custom Rydes, which are very lame, but I am impressed with what they replaced the Zip Zaps with. They are called MicroZ. Here is an URL with more info:

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/ca...genum=1&sort=1

I find it kind of weird that I can't find info on this here. Are the MicroZ a Canadian only RC car? Or are they here on this forum, but under a different title?
Basically, the MicroZ are 1:50 scale, can be upgraded, and come in both a standard version and a GT version similar to the differences between Zip Zaps and Zip Zap SEs.
I bought a Zip Zap SE yesterday and was disappointed with the sluggish reverse. I bought a Aston Martin DB9 MicroZ and was impressed with its stock speed, but also its scaled accuracy. They look like accurate models of the cars they represent. They are not out of proportion like Zip Zaps are. The distance between axles looks scale, and the way the body fits is awesome. But one of these guys near a Microsizer, or even ZZ SE and you'll be blown away. I guess the slightly larger scale helped the designers make things look they way they should have in the first place.
The more I type this, the more I feel that everyone already knows what I am talking about and have seen them already. Like I said, I just can't seem to find any info. on them here.

#2 11-17-2006, 02:14 AM

I have not heard of these either. They look like pretty slick little cars. The motor looks like the ones they used for superslicks.

Do these have proportional or semi-proportional controls?

I never saw the Rydz either or could find much information on them. I'm not sure if they are available anywhere else. You could be the first one to post some information on here.

zzultimate · #3 11-17-2006, 08:15 AM

Never heard of either.

Check this out, quote from site ''Customize your MicroZ using fully licensed accessories (sold separately) like street tuner kits, wheel and tire kits, off-road kits, motor upgrade kits and even kits with different body styles! ''

Upgrade kits for 1:50 scale!!!

I wonder if rs in the us will start carrring these. They sound awesome! They've got to be atleast semi propo with a cost of 30 bucks.

Thanks RCCarFreak!

steelo · #4 11-17-2006, 08:49 AM

Here's the official website. Enjoy!

A thread over at Ripper7.

Azimov · #5 11-17-2006, 11:13 AM

I've seen them for some time now. I think they are really interesting. Especially the removable front wheels. No, they are not available in the US at all. Therefore, no one has started a thread on them here. Perhaps you could post some pics and observations.
I would like to buy at least one of them for my collection. But, I don't know any Canadians that I could impose upon. And I don't think they will be sold at Radio Shack, though they look like a reasonable replacement for Zips.

RCCarFreak · #6 11-17-2006, 12:57 PM

Yeah...they really are cool cars. The controllers are fantastic...you can actually grip them like a pistol grip controller, they have nice throttle and steering trim nobs on them, and the steering wheel knob is almost the size you'd expect to see on a full size pistol grip. The controller takes four AAAs.
The MicroZ GTs have an on/off swithc on the cars themselves...I don't know if the regular MicroZ have them. The working head and tail lights look great.
The GTs come in in 6 different bands in the 27 frequency line. They are not user selectable as in the ZZ Ses. But, if you manage to get all six, you could also get a regular Micro Z (27) and a regular MicroZ (49) and theoreticall race 8 cars at once.
I'm selling my two microsizers and my ZZ SE and concentrating on these. They are just a tad bigger than ZZs but look and perform awesome so far. I can't wait to get the motor and gear upgrade. It already travels fast stock.
I'll upload pics if I can figure out how to do so and when I get the time. IN the meantime, look at the Source website I mentioned above or read the other links thatwere kindly posted above.
Cheers

RCCarFreak · #7 11-17-2006, 03:36 PM

Well, the controls are at least semi proportional...you tell me. Give it a little throttle it goes slow, give it more throttle it picks up. Steering is done with a servo, turn a little...the car's wheels turn a bit, etc.
BTW...I finally finished racing it around from its initial charge.
It ran for at least 12 minutes...no exageration. It must have something to to with the four AAAs and a higher capacity battery in the car. Amazing.

zzultimate · #8 11-17-2006, 05:12 PM

Wow, I almost want zz's to be replaced by these.

Sounds semi propo. Does the steering have steps?

Can you give us any chassis pics?

RCCarFreak · #9 11-17-2006, 05:24 PM

Check out steelo's post above. There is a link to the official MicroZ web page...and another thread which shows some great pics of the cars, chassis, etc.

There is so much I like about these cars. The range on my Aston Martin DB9 appears to be in the 20-30 ft range depending on intervening obstacles...chair legs, desks ( I checked it in my classroom while working on reports. )

Azimov · #10 11-17-2006, 06:22 PM

I'm gonna have to find a Canadian to ship me one of these. I know one Canadian girl that plays WoW and she might do it. Though I would probably have to study the Source website so I can give her enough info to buy the right one. I'll pay for the car plus shipping. But, if I can find a fellow MicroRC enthusiast, I could pay them or trade from my collection. Anyone interested?

steelo · #11 11-17-2006, 06:46 PM

Any chance of getting scans of the users manual? I can't find it online.

RCCarFreak · #12 11-18-2006, 01:57 PM

I don't have a scanner at home, but I do have one at work. If I get the chance I can get one on Monday, and I can email it to you.
I just got the motor upgrade set.
Putting it in was fun! The wheels have little metal lug nuts on them, and little washers behind them. The wheels also fit on them in such a way that they are locked onto the spindles, not unlike XMods. The motor upgrade come with red gears to replace the green ones, and a red motor to replace the bluish one. The kit boast of a 9.58:1 gear ratio and a motor with a rpm of 30,000. I like the way that the wheels are removeable, and the whole axle doesn't snap into place like in a ZZ SE. A plastic motor cover keeps the motor compartment sealed. The motor itself fits into the motor groove slot nicely, without springing out like a ZZ SE. The cover is not needed to keep the motor in place.
Man...what a performance difference! I imagine, that this faster motor is going to eat up battery lifetime before recharging, but as the stock motor and gears were 10+ minutes, even if it was only 5 minutes at this new speed that'd be a good thing. I suspect it will still be 7-9 minutes.

RCCarFreak · #13 11-28-2006, 10:49 AM

I now have the MicroZ instructions scanned if you want me to upload them to you, let me know your email. I tried to upload them here, but they are .tiff, and I can't upload tiffs to this forum.

Azimov · #14 11-28-2006, 02:40 PM

See if you can email them to me through the site here and I'll convert them to .jpgs and upload them for you. I don't want to list my private email, but you can send it through the forum email system.

RCCarFreak · #15 11-28-2006, 11:41 PM

Nope...I can't. I can't send them to you at this site. Hey I know about the email thing, but you would have been able to see my email address when I would have sent it to you, so it's not that big of a deal. I would not have CC'd the email ( thus exposiing your address ) to anyone.
I'll see it I can get them converted...might be a while though. I'll check back in a few days.

Four MicroZs bought ( freq bands 1-4 )...two to go ( bands 5-6 ).