Technology "Firsts" in the RC industry (with pictures)

[TokyoProf]

For those interested in the engineering and history aspects of the RC industry. Which vehicles were the first to pioneer and introduce various technologies in the RC industry? Perhaps we can limit this thread to mechanical advancements (as opposed to electrical). If there are accurate corrections given by members, kindly edit your post to include the right information along with pictures!

I will start things off with the 1985 Kyosho Progress. This may have been the first "hobby grade" 4WD and 4WS race buggy offered in our industry.

[Dadio]

Nice thread idea.
I'll throw in the SG Racing (Tag Racing ) Coyote for being the first for two things. Firstly saddle pack battery's in a buggy, and secondly the first centre line transmission 4wd with just a spur on the centre prop shaft and two bevel geared diffs. Pretty sure it's the first and a very common style transmission now.

[BattleTrak]

The Losi Hydradrive. I also think the LRM trans was innovative in that you could easily adjust the ball diff without removing a driveshaft.

[TravelinTravis]

Great thread idea! I gotta add this....my favorite.....the original Composite Craft Lynx. Winner of the very first 1/10th scale On-Road Nationals in 1987...and then again in 1988 with Bob "Bullet" Light behind the wheel both times.

[1911Colt]

The Losi Hydradrive. I also think the LRM trans was innovative in that you could easily adjust the ball diff without removing a driveshaft.

Hydradrive was very cool!

It was not necessary to remove a driveshaft to adjust the diff on Schumacher CAT, which predates the LRM. Even so, I did love my XX back in the day

[TokyoProf]

Ball differential technology:

The first ball differential for Radio-controlled Cars was designed by Cecil Schumacher, a British motor sport engineer working at Cosworth and founder/owner of his eponymous model brand. Although a patent was applied for, it was denied as the idea had already been implemented into a lawn mower. Radio-controlled cars were still a new application for the ball differential and Schumacher is generally considered the modern day inventor of the concept. Such was the popularity of the ball differential, originally applied in 1/12 on-road cars, that he formed his eponymous company.[1]. obtained from: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ball_differential

I'm unsure which RC car was the first to offer this technology. This was pretty revolutionary at the time I imagine.
Nice posts by the way!

[TokyoProf]

This post focuses on the adoption of Big Bore shocks within the 1/10th off-road racing class. This is an "evolutionary" change, but it now seems universally adopted in the buggy racing scene.

I might need help on this one to confirm if the YOKOMO B-MAX Factory Kit was the first to offer big bore shocks (in the 10th scale buggy class) beginning in 2010. Losi would be the only other manufacturer who might be the first to offer big bore shock technology. For Team Associated it was the 2012 B44.2 Factory Team that first offered the 12mm 'Big Bore' hard-anodized shocks followed by the 2013 the RC10B4.2 Factory Team (2WD class)

[terry.sc]

Ball differential technology:
...

I'm unsure which RC car was the first to offer this technology. This was pretty revolutionary at the time I imagine.
Nice posts by the way!

Cecil Schumacher invented the ball diff to replace the fixed axle in his son Robin's Mardave 1/12 car. He sold the ball differential as an upgrade for that and any 1/12 with a 1/4" rear axle. Bolink even imported them to the USA for their cars. The first widespread use of a ball diff fitted as standard has to be the updated RC12E.

[TokyoProf]

Was the RC10 Edinger the first buggy to incorporate rear toe-in as part of the off-road suspension design? I was always curious about where this originated from (full scale off-road vehicles? 1/8th scale off-road?).

[jwscab]

I think there were a lot of firsts in the rc10, and it was based on research Roger Curits did at 1:! race events studying dune buggies and race vehicles.

[Dadio]

I think there were a lot of firsts in the rc10, and it was based on research Roger Curits did at 1:! race events studying dune buggies and race vehicles.

Not 100% sure there were any firsts on the RC10 other than putting it all together in one car ,possible exception was having a remote diff .

[juicedcoupe]

Not 100% sure there were any firsts on the RC10 other than putting it all together in one car ,possible exception was having a remote diff .

I don't know if any of the technology was a first. However, I don't think anyone would disagree that it was the first truly dominant offroad platform, reining supreme for a decade (in some iteration).