One of the Best reviews ive ever seen on any rc car or truck in over 10yrs. I dont know this guy so this is not a fake endorsement. but yoooo. when he actually ran water directly into the chassis and exposed electronics....never saw anyone do that on a review SPONSORED the makers of the model! The brutal honesty about the lasernut ripoff was not held back or muted in any shape or form. This guy got my vote for most honest reviewer.....ever!!!! You got my sub along with that. Salute!
Haha thanks! You should know I've done such balanced/critical reviews of rlaarlo's stuff before, and radiolink, among others. My experience has been that they encourage the honesty, at least, the RC companies I've delft with. I was prepared to burn bridges over any attempt to hide things but on the contrary, rlaarlo and radiolink and even bezgar come to mind as all being quite receptive to constructive criticism. That's been unexpected but I'm really glad they're like that! Cheers
LOL, you were hard on them about that design. I bashed mine hard in my review and had zero issues. I had only seen a Lasernut once a few years ago and didn't realize it was a scaled down version. You always keep it honest. I like the receiver upgrade suggestion. Great review.
Had to mention the elephant in the room. Integrity first, or what's the point? It really is a fun machine, but I hope they keep coming up with new things in future, as the AK-917 was brilliant. More unique R&D and slap a slightly higher price on it. So worth it. Cheers!
@@RCTNTI know it’s been awhile, but r&d was quite low for Losi as well as the lasernut is an actual rock rally racer. So the Rlaarlo may be a copy of a copy ha ha. But a definite copy nonetheless the less.
@blainereeves5161 I know about the real lasernut, sure. But there's more work in the Losi than may be apparent. I've tried to design an entire car based on the real thing and it isn't easy. The lines and scale are there but it's still quite a lot of work to translate that to a functional scale model. I take your point but rlaarlo really seems to have copied Losi, line for line, on their smaller body. That is the bad part. The good part is that the car is amazing. I still use it regularly. Super smooth runner, brilliant to drive. It's one of their best cars.
I have six Rlaarlo vehicles and love each one. They are putting out an excellent product. my only issue with this model is that a deans connector is used. i swapped out to xt60, so i can keep all things simple. I sure wish theyd come out with a Porche 911! brushless of course.
I like that they've been trying new things and not copying existing designs - current model we're commenting on aside! They've hit the rc market with a bang alright. It's been a great ride, so far!
Getting ready to order one myself. Have a Losi Rock Rey but it is huge and wanted a smaller buggy. I also have the AK-917 which even with the free, economy shipping arrived in less than 10 days to the USA
Very good! I've been using this every now and then, still. It's very durable, T from the front nose cone, which has been slowly deteriorating. You'll like this vehicle I reckon!
Thank you this is the best review I’ve seen so far. I actually just had my Lasernut & Rlaarlo or as I like to call it the mini me it looks a lot like the Losi the biggest difference is it doesn’t have the rear sway bar. I just got the Rlaarlo after seeing the positive feedback & for the money was a great purchase. I was actually looking for something about this size but ya it runs so good it’s incredible nice to see it comes with a good 2s battery I ran it with the 2s then put in a 3s & it’s definitely alot quicker you just have to be more careful around corners. I found a small jump like you & used it to get a feel for it & experienced the same thing alot of times if I went into a jump with the throttle on it would crash land but if I got speed then let off just before jumping it would land solid. It’s definitely not a big air basher but I did see one review where it was sent off 10 ft. jumps it was sent over & over & never broke & it actually landed alot of the jumps. It’s fun & puts a smile on your face & is very enjoyable to wheel around.
A note on their shipping: I ordered this AM-D12 directly from Rlaarlo's website on 8/16 and it will be delivered today (in the USA) via Amazon delivery. So maybe they've set up "distribution" points throughout the world and using Amazon delivery services to get cars and parts out to customers in much more timely fashion? Who knows, just speculation, but I'm happy with how fast my order was shipped!
Oh cool! It's a great car, you're going to love it. I've been using mine and I like it more and more. Be aware the body nose piece breaks with bad landings so reinforcing it would be an idea. What mods are you planning? Mines still stock and it's going great!
Cool. Will do. Actually returning the second one and planning on possibly buying the black Omni terminator for me lol. The upgrade parts I bought for my son’s buggy is the bigger batteries, cooling fan, metal seats. Some spare parts.
Thanks for the review! Will be my first rc part in thanks to your videos! Regarding waterproofing i'll be bashing it on the beach (will have to look into preventing rust somehow) and i may use one of those big zipper ziplock bags for isolating the inner chassis. To do list before running: diff fluid (i already have marine prop grease, try that?), extra glue on tires as they seem to rip off on 3s, take the whole thing apart and make sure driveline is all smooth. Some people had pinion grub screws rubbing on the plastic casing so check that. Pot all the chassis screws with glue for beach. Sealed hubs bearings. Are the sway bars adjustable? Ive seen them work better than yours and some people say they do nothing 😂
No worries. It sounds like a solid start. Consider dielectric grease in the receiver ports, chock it right up. You can't really avoid corrosion here. The biggest things to suffer from such a harsh environment will be the bearings. I guess try a thorough rinse after each run and then lubricate all bearings with light machine oil. I'd also suggest you rinse the lipo battery after each run to get as much salt as possible from out of it. Not everyone will agree with me on this but it's what I'd do. Diff oil, yeah for your purposes I'd just leave em be, or use your marine/lithium grease. Actual thick silicone diff oil would be best, but again, it probably doesn't really matter for bashing. The sway bars are not adjustable, but they can be locked out with tighter screws. They will help prevent the rig from rolling, and will help keep the inside wheel on the ground in corners. I argue from experience that they're useful, but everyone has opinions! Good luck and happy running!
@@RCTNT great suggestion dielectric grease! Well then I'm buying proper diff oil! 😄 No i love the sway bars, i meant that some amd12 owners had sway bars that really moved the opposite side suspension upwards, and other amd12s could be more active. Seems like some parts do need careful adjusting like the slipper clutch, the diffs, and maybe the sway bars as well. I'm new to RC but id like to get it all right the first time. The nuts and bolts all make sense to me, but there's a lot of literature on dialing stuff in lol! Thanks for the reply and have an epic day!
@insanebmxthomas lol cool, thanks. Don't stress getting it all right at first. You'll break stuff, make mistakes, upgrade things and learn best along the way. You're off to a solid start already 👌
That looks like a pretty decent little rig. Excellent review and video, as always, thank you for the candid report. That's definitely a lot of performance and quality for not a lot of money. I like it. I think I'd put the gyro receiver in it anyway. It may not need it, but if I have it, why not stick it in? I'd rather have the option and decide I don't want to use it, than not have it and wish I did. I put one of those X6FG receivers in my wife's Gen8 and it's working out okay. On the issue of the Losi cloning... I think that where I might give Rlaarlo a pass here would be, if they actually licensed or otherwise legitimately borrowed the design from Losi (not likely, but you never know), or, failing that, the fact that Losi doesn't make a version of theirs in this size. For some, this is the ideal size, they don't want the larger 1/10 or 1/8 cars, but don't want the smaller 1/14 or 1/18 cars either. This is a good compromise size with all the features and performance of the larger Losi in a more compact and some would argue more fun size. If Losi won't do it, somebody should. Rlaarlo did. That might make it acceptable for a large segment of the market? Something to think about. Anyway, well done, good sir. Thank you again for the excellent entertaining and informative content.
I’m really happy with mine. It really is a forgiving car, as it seems to stay on its wheels pretty well and is planted in the dirt. It’s not a car that is going to make you look like a good driver. It’s gonna take a little practice for this one to be driven well. It’s a real drivers car to me. Got to slow down in the corners, and And it will greet the driver with nice controlled acceleration. On the jumps it has decent air control but again takes practice to figure out its weight distribution in the air. My steering link popped off its ball a couple of times also. Like you said ; I’d rather have it pop off than break. Your review was very well done as always and you hit the nail on the head on pretty much everything . I’m not a fan of companies copying (without permission) other companies designs. They all do it though, and it’s kinda sad they can’t change it enough to make it there own. I mean most desert buggies do an did look like this before Losi came out with their particular design. But there are subtle differences in the real 1:1 versions. I don’t think Rlaarlos is exact or even ZD racings dbx-10 is exact, but they are all closely designed just like the real machines. Mjx has been doing this too with some of their cars. Any way didn’t mean to be long winded. Glad you liked your Am-D12 like I like mine . 👍🏻Take care my friend!👊🏼😎
Thanks for your thoughts, it's true, unique design is probably more challenging with only so much space and performance at a cost, for any vehicle type. Still, straight up rip-off designs are disappointing. On the flip side, this is a brilliant execution - if you're going to copy, do it well. And they did. I'm still not sure how I feel about it but I do know the car is a blast to drive. Great points you made on the driving side of it, and I agree. Thanks for watching this one :)
Hi ! Thanks for your video and tips! Which one would you choose between this RMAARLO and the MJX Hyper Go 14209 ? I feel like the MJX has better/tougher steering component. But the RLAARLO has a slip differential ? Thanks in advance for your reply
For me, it'd be this one. The size difference is considerable, from the MJX 20cm wheelbase to its smaller wheels. This vehicle is simply more versatile and therefore more fun, in comparison.
I feel like im being harsh given the scale and price point, but the lack of centre diffs in the 12th/14th/18th scale offroad cars really diminshes the handling on unimproved surfaces. One of the simple pleasures of the larger trucks is unleashing a 3 phase brushless motor on an unsuspecting corner and having a trio of diffs figure out the best path forward. Ultimately i find myself bashing these little things around on the street, which wears a thin withn the runtime of a single pack. Gyros certainly help keep the end swapping to a minimum.
Hahaha!! I love that: "unleashing a 3 phase brushless motor on an unsuspecting corner and having a trio of diffs figure out the best path forward." YOU, my friend, have a way with words. And now you mention it, you're right, a center diff would be sweet. Less important perhaps than in a bigger rig, but that's a great point. Thanks for putting it out there, I know @Rlaarlo reads these so it's great the idea is here. Hint hint!!
If you can find one that fits, particularly from lc racing or similar, then yes, absolutely. Shouldn't be too difficult. Might need to change the gear pitch of the pinion to match but that's hardly difficult.
I initially thought Rlaarlo would be garbage and never heard of them until my buddy told me about the speed contest because im into speed runs. He bought one and so i reluctantly did the same. 2 months later Rlaarlo wanted $20 extra dollars from him for shipping so he told them to pound sand and got a refund so that left me with a car i didnt really want, untill i got it. I have been nothing but amazed at the abuse it can take and im running it on 8s!! They do copy other companies but sometimes people cant afford $600-$800 every time they want a new rc car with a name brand which i think are all over priced. So i think its cool Rlaarlo does people a solid and gives them something that has good looks and quality.
Fairly new to hobby and have seen quite a few reviews lately just trying to get knowledge and tips , appreciated!! For sure , but at times some will whine about things like a body style thats been around for years maybe tweaked a lil but imo a lot of desert buggies look alike some are just used to the high dollar stuff..
Glad you're enjoying the hobby. I'm not whining about an old design. I am criticising IP theft because broadly, it's bad for the hobby (that's all of us) in the long term. That aside, this is a ripper of a vehicle, one of Rlaarlo's best machines. Very durable. Well made, decent performer, takes a lot of big hits.
As long as it's a good RC car what the heck does it matter if they copy anything. If it runs good drives good looks good then what's the big deal. I hear a lot of people saying that I wish they could do their own. If a lot of them did their own it probably wouldn't look as good and they wouldn't get as many sales. So I think they're doing the right thing😮
That's a fair question and I understand where you're coming from. I even agree with the conclusion that if they did their own R&D, the resulting model would either cost more, or be worse, or both. However, there are several reasons why copying a design like Losi's Lasernut is problematic. 1. *Intellectual Property Rights:* When a company invests time and resources into developing a unique product, they're creating intellectual property (IP). This IP is legally protected, meaning others can't simply replicate it without permission. By copying the Lasernut design, rlaarlo is infringing on these rights, which is both unethical and potentially illegal (the latter being perhaps a moot point in China). 2. *Innovation and Industry Health:* Innovation is the lifeblood of the RC car industry. When companies invest in R&D, they're not just creating new products; they're pushing the industry forward. This innovation benefits consumers with better, more diverse products. If companies can simply copy others' designs without consequences, it discourages investment in new ideas, ultimately harming consumer choice and product quality in the long run. 3. *Consumer Trust and Brand Identity:* Brands like Losi have built a reputation based on their unique designs and quality. When another company copies these designs, it can create confusion in the market and erode consumer trust. It's not just about one product; it's about maintaining a healthy, competitive market where companies are rewarded for their originality and effort. While it's true that R&D can be expensive and time-consuming, it's a critical part of ensuring that the industry continues to thrive. Companies should strive to innovate and differentiate their products, rather than taking shortcuts that ultimately harm the entire ecosystem. This is an idealistic take, but it's from where my criticism stemmed in the video. Thanks for the question, it's a good one and absolutely worth asking. Cheers
As I understand it the diffs are not sealed, so adding fluid is out really. You could probably add an earplug or even part of an earplug. I believe the pinion pitch is the dreaded mod 0.7, which makes sense as this buggy is basically a Wltoys platform.
Thick silicon oil should work. I've done it successfully with the diffs in the buggies, which are the same. Changing both the pinion and spur may be possible, I'd have to check. But yeah it's a shame this unusual gear pitch was chosen for all these little cars.
I showed it at full throttle in the video on both grass and bitumen. It's better off road than on road, with those tall tires and long travel shocks. Too much sideways bite on high traction surfaces to be reliably stable at speed. But off road, this vehicle really makes sense. The top speed isn't what it's about, though it'll do it. The best is the acceleration and bump-soaking design that makes for a really fun, light weight basher. I've taken it out a few times to different jump tracks and so on, and it's been a blast. Haven't broken anything but the orange nose cone from bad landings, so far. Really can't complain, it's very good.
It's a good deal. It hasn't had a lot of screen time since the initial video but I've taken it out I think 3 times when going to various places with jumps and dirt. The polycarbonate on the front nose has been steadily cracking away with bad landings, but the rest of it has been absolutely solid. It's an agile car that's easy to drive, has a good tolerance for stones and bumps with those giant tires and relatively long shocks, and it's just fun to drive. I really like this car and I bet you will too. From memory, I have a discount code in the description, as rlaarlo supplied me with that when they started sending out cars for review. Be assured that I work to make these videos honest and as objective as I can, despite the conflict of interest with the affiliate link. Cheers
Ah that's no good! Super glue will work here, that's the stuff already is used in factories for cheap and expensive cars. If you haven't returned it yet, you could try that. It'll fix the problem. Sorry you had a bad experience with it. I'm guessing a diff gear broke. That recently happened on another of my rlaarlo rigs and the replacement was cheap but it was a shame it happened.
After seeing all these knock offs Ive been thinking of getting a RC PRO Desert Rush brushless rig, Canadian made, super tough. Thing does about 60kph on 3s as a 1/18th : )
I do not believe this is a copy of the laser nut. That buggy was a design of an offroad buggy and so is this. lots of cars/trucks in the industry have features that are similar between brands.
I thought and hoped that as well, but close examination shows the exact same details, just made smaller. It's one thing to be an interpretation of the real thing but another to be a copy of that interpretation - and that's what this appears to be, right down to the exact curves and non functional led housings of the larger unit!
well.. Losi didn't do much as far as design goes, other than almost butcher the original Lasernut 1:1 by destroying the scale, proportions, making 0 effort into to develop a proper underpan with at least a hint of boat sides so we have the same pointless (considering the concept of the 1:1) fully flat one that doesn't allow any crawling... so they went with uber oversized tires to gain a semblance of clearance. and for the money, i expected portals like the 1:1 (or at least an independent suspension setup like the IFS2 Element released recently) this Rlaarlo is kinda like an unlicensed version of it, just like you have a ton of unlicensed Power Wagons, Unimogs, Land Cruisers etc... it's the same thing really. and unsurprising Rlaarlo took the easy route of 0 effort by just reusing their own platform and beef up a couple of parts (exactly like Losi did... except for the beefing up part :P). at least Rlaarlo is closer in the scale department, 'cause the Losi monster is nowhere even close to 1:10 my search for an Ultra4 RC car continues :D
I've discussed that with them before. They had a 1/10 a while back but it didn't do so well, and they're killing it with the smaller scale stuff. I'll keep asking!
You're not qualified to make suggestions..I can hear the ROOKIE in this review. You actually expected to get Futaba quality radio reception from a RTR?!? Your tips are unreasonable for what it costs.
I think you might be missing the context in which I delivered my thoughts. I have radio systems that are worth more than this vehicle; indeed, I have something like 80 radio systems of nearly all kinds here. I'd say I have sufficient broader context on the current state of the hobby to share my thinking. My expectations are reasonable based on what this very cheap DumboRC system is known to be capable of. Happy to agree to disagree with you on that and I will not call you names in return. Thanks for watching the video and sharing your opinion.
Could be. My first Futaba system was in 1989 and I was hooked from then. I do have a gap in my experience from the late 90s to around 2007 or so, but otherwise I'm pretty well across what's out there. Don't discount the current cheap radios just because they're cheap. They're really good - unbeatable from a value perspective. My recent radiolink video goes on a bit of a tangent about the state of radio systems and what's available now vs earlier. Cheers
Using the same body styles And or tray styles is completely OK. Just about every company out there uses ideas and geometry as other companies. Because they work. Why change the design if the design isn’t broken and there is no copyright against it. What’s so bad about that? Not a fan of bashing companies because of that.
I agree with you. Body styles are an evolving mix that grows with continual influence and innovation in the space and everyone benefits from this evolution - standing on the shoulders of the giants who have innovated in the past enables everyone to reach greater heights today. But this case is not part of that blending of ideas, it isn't just using the same style. This vehicle is a clone in a smaller size. That's not the same thing. But to be clear, there's no bashing of companies going on here. I'm a fan of Rlaarlo and have spent plenty of money on their products. What you saw in this video was carefully considered, constructive criticism. I thought hard about my words before putting them on camera and even sought advice from a mentor before I did so. it's a fun car and as I said on screen, it goes great and is a solid choice. I know Rlaarlo can do better than lazily taking another company's work, as they've clearly shown with their AK917 and subsequent models. Cheers.
I would have used my Dremel to grind a flat space for the grub screw to bite on (as I had to on the spur gear shaft of my team associated pro rally that didn't have enough flat area (which in manufacturing they chose to glue the centre drive shaft cup in plastic -grub screw---had to cut it with a hacksaw to get the parts off that shaft) . Grub screw had not enough metal to bite on. Brushless motor is very quick hence the cheap (glue fix) to hold the grub screw and it's drive cup to hold in place.. its only ever been run on 2s buts its a (discontinued) weapon.. 😰😲... Almost took out the ankles of a neighbor as I was punching it full speed in the court 🐨. With slight sideways drift (had him hopping in the air)....
🤣the😲 video ended before i finished... ... When it comes to rc car /buggy/truck design there is so much design thievery across the planet its not funny... Tamiya seems like with their mini-4wd range there's quite a variation, but for others (Traxxas 📋worst example for serving cease and desist legal stuff let alone court room acts) that there is so many car designs out there from movies. Mad max for example more the 2--3 and 4th restart.. rc car companies have so much choice.. (as long as its reasonably durable. Plastics and reinforcement) .. think wild one tamiya .. having a battle style oval demolition derby style car or buggy /truggy/monster truck style using movie type ideas would break new ground... Instead of copying other brands in either same size or shrinking it... .. the rc car design seems to be stuck in mud across many many brands.. Looking at the past of kyosho buggy, truck, on road , off road sprint car oval track the niche has disappeared...
It had to be noted, yeah. It's a shame, because there's just so much choice for interesting and new designs - I even do stuff like this for fun, let alone for work on an actively developed new model! I am also frustrated to see this. But hopefully it changes. I don't know how much impact just calling it out really has, but I had to mention it. Thanks for your thoughtful comments today.
One of the Best reviews ive ever seen on any rc car or truck in over 10yrs. I dont know this guy so this is not a fake endorsement. but yoooo. when he actually ran water directly into the chassis and exposed electronics....never saw anyone do that on a review SPONSORED the makers of the model! The brutal honesty about the lasernut ripoff was not held back or muted in any shape or form. This guy got my vote for most honest reviewer.....ever!!!! You got my sub along with that. Salute!
Haha thanks! You should know I've done such balanced/critical reviews of rlaarlo's stuff before, and radiolink, among others. My experience has been that they encourage the honesty, at least, the RC companies I've delft with. I was prepared to burn bridges over any attempt to hide things but on the contrary, rlaarlo and radiolink and even bezgar come to mind as all being quite receptive to constructive criticism. That's been unexpected but I'm really glad they're like that! Cheers
LOL, you were hard on them about that design. I bashed mine hard in my review and had zero issues. I had only seen a Lasernut once a few years ago and didn't realize it was a scaled down version. You always keep it honest. I like the receiver upgrade suggestion. Great review.
Had to mention the elephant in the room. Integrity first, or what's the point? It really is a fun machine, but I hope they keep coming up with new things in future, as the AK-917 was brilliant. More unique R&D and slap a slightly higher price on it. So worth it. Cheers!
@@RCTNTI know it’s been awhile, but r&d was quite low for Losi as well as the lasernut is an actual rock rally racer. So the Rlaarlo may be a copy of a copy ha ha. But a definite copy nonetheless the less.
@blainereeves5161 I know about the real lasernut, sure. But there's more work in the Losi than may be apparent. I've tried to design an entire car based on the real thing and it isn't easy. The lines and scale are there but it's still quite a lot of work to translate that to a functional scale model. I take your point but rlaarlo really seems to have copied Losi, line for line, on their smaller body.
That is the bad part. The good part is that the car is amazing. I still use it regularly. Super smooth runner, brilliant to drive. It's one of their best cars.
@@RCTNT true, I do scale models as well from scratch. Difficult
@@RCTNT good vids man, I just got the rlaarlo lasernot, it’s a pretty fun little rig
I have six Rlaarlo vehicles and love each one. They are putting out an excellent product. my only issue with this model is that a deans connector is used. i swapped out to xt60, so i can keep all things simple. I sure wish theyd come out with a Porche 911! brushless of course.
I like that they've been trying new things and not copying existing designs - current model we're commenting on aside! They've hit the rc market with a bang alright. It's been a great ride, so far!
Getting ready to order one myself. Have a Losi Rock Rey but it is huge and wanted a smaller buggy. I also have the AK-917 which even with the free, economy shipping arrived in less than 10 days to the USA
Very good! I've been using this every now and then, still. It's very durable, T from the front nose cone, which has been slowly deteriorating. You'll like this vehicle I reckon!
Thank you this is the best review I’ve seen so far. I actually just had my Lasernut & Rlaarlo or as I like to call it the mini me it looks a lot like the Losi the biggest difference is it doesn’t have the rear sway bar. I just got the Rlaarlo after seeing the positive feedback & for the money was a great purchase. I was actually looking for something about this size but ya it runs so good it’s incredible nice to see it comes with a good 2s battery I ran it with the 2s then put in a 3s & it’s definitely alot quicker you just have to be more careful around corners. I found a small jump like you & used it to get a feel for it & experienced the same thing alot of times if I went into a jump with the throttle on it would crash land but if I got speed then let off just before jumping it would land solid. It’s definitely not a big air basher but I did see one review where it was sent off 10 ft. jumps it was sent over & over & never broke & it actually landed alot of the jumps. It’s fun & puts a smile on your face & is very enjoyable to wheel around.
Oh nice, good info. Thanks and I really appreciate the encouragement as well as all the info. Cheers 👍
Appreciate the in-depth review!! Great video‼️👍👍🦾🦾
My pleasure, thanks ✌️
A note on their shipping:
I ordered this AM-D12 directly from Rlaarlo's website on 8/16 and it will be delivered today (in the USA) via Amazon delivery. So maybe they've set up "distribution" points throughout the world and using Amazon delivery services to get cars and parts out to customers in much more timely fashion? Who knows, just speculation, but I'm happy with how fast my order was shipped!
Thanks for that. They seem to have shipping well in hand now, thankfully! Enjoy your new rig!
Awesome review. Just purchased two to start a hobby with my son. Planning on modding mine first
Oh cool!
It's a great car, you're going to love it. I've been using mine and I like it more and more.
Be aware the body nose piece breaks with bad landings so reinforcing it would be an idea.
What mods are you planning? Mines still stock and it's going great!
Cool. Will do. Actually returning the second one and planning on possibly buying the black Omni terminator for me lol. The upgrade parts I bought for my son’s buggy is the bigger batteries, cooling fan, metal seats. Some spare parts.
Nice. It runs really smoothly.
I'm looking forward to checking out this new rig of theirs, too.
Thanks for the review! Will be my first rc part in thanks to your videos!
Regarding waterproofing i'll be bashing it on the beach (will have to look into preventing rust somehow) and i may use one of those big zipper ziplock bags for isolating the inner chassis.
To do list before running: diff fluid (i already have marine prop grease, try that?), extra glue on tires as they seem to rip off on 3s, take the whole thing apart and make sure driveline is all smooth. Some people had pinion grub screws rubbing on the plastic casing so check that. Pot all the chassis screws with glue for beach. Sealed hubs bearings.
Are the sway bars adjustable? Ive seen them work better than yours and some people say they do nothing 😂
No worries.
It sounds like a solid start. Consider dielectric grease in the receiver ports, chock it right up.
You can't really avoid corrosion here. The biggest things to suffer from such a harsh environment will be the bearings. I guess try a thorough rinse after each run and then lubricate all bearings with light machine oil. I'd also suggest you rinse the lipo battery after each run to get as much salt as possible from out of it. Not everyone will agree with me on this but it's what I'd do.
Diff oil, yeah for your purposes I'd just leave em be, or use your marine/lithium grease. Actual thick silicone diff oil would be best, but again, it probably doesn't really matter for bashing.
The sway bars are not adjustable, but they can be locked out with tighter screws. They will help prevent the rig from rolling, and will help keep the inside wheel on the ground in corners. I argue from experience that they're useful, but everyone has opinions!
Good luck and happy running!
@@RCTNT great suggestion dielectric grease! Well then I'm buying proper diff oil! 😄 No i love the sway bars, i meant that some amd12 owners had sway bars that really moved the opposite side suspension upwards, and other amd12s could be more active. Seems like some parts do need careful adjusting like the slipper clutch, the diffs, and maybe the sway bars as well. I'm new to RC but id like to get it all right the first time. The nuts and bolts all make sense to me, but there's a lot of literature on dialing stuff in lol!
Thanks for the reply and have an epic day!
@insanebmxthomas lol cool, thanks.
Don't stress getting it all right at first. You'll break stuff, make mistakes, upgrade things and learn best along the way. You're off to a solid start already 👌
I e been watching lots of reviews lately and yours are excellent imho . Seems like lots of knowledge form years of experience .
Heh thank you.
That looks like a pretty decent little rig. Excellent review and video, as always, thank you for the candid report. That's definitely a lot of performance and quality for not a lot of money. I like it. I think I'd put the gyro receiver in it anyway. It may not need it, but if I have it, why not stick it in? I'd rather have the option and decide I don't want to use it, than not have it and wish I did. I put one of those X6FG receivers in my wife's Gen8 and it's working out okay.
On the issue of the Losi cloning... I think that where I might give Rlaarlo a pass here would be, if they actually licensed or otherwise legitimately borrowed the design from Losi (not likely, but you never know), or, failing that, the fact that Losi doesn't make a version of theirs in this size. For some, this is the ideal size, they don't want the larger 1/10 or 1/8 cars, but don't want the smaller 1/14 or 1/18 cars either. This is a good compromise size with all the features and performance of the larger Losi in a more compact and some would argue more fun size. If Losi won't do it, somebody should. Rlaarlo did. That might make it acceptable for a large segment of the market? Something to think about.
Anyway, well done, good sir. Thank you again for the excellent entertaining and informative content.
Absolutely, you're right about this scale being a sweet spot for many. Good call there :)
Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
I’m really happy with mine. It really is a forgiving car, as it seems to stay on its wheels pretty well and is planted in the dirt. It’s not a car that is going to make you look like a good driver. It’s gonna take a little practice for this one to be driven well. It’s a real drivers car to me. Got to slow down in the corners, and And it will greet the driver with nice controlled acceleration. On the jumps it has decent air control but again takes practice to figure out its weight distribution in the air. My steering link popped off its ball a couple of times also. Like you said ; I’d rather have it pop off than break. Your review was very well done as always and you hit the nail on the head on pretty much everything . I’m not a fan of companies copying (without permission) other companies designs. They all do it though, and it’s kinda sad they can’t change it enough to make it there own. I mean most desert buggies do an did look like this before Losi came out with their particular design. But there are subtle differences in the real 1:1 versions. I don’t think Rlaarlos is exact or even ZD racings dbx-10 is exact, but they are all closely designed just like the real machines. Mjx has been doing this too with some of their cars. Any way didn’t mean to be long winded. Glad you liked your Am-D12 like I like mine . 👍🏻Take care my friend!👊🏼😎
Thanks for your thoughts, it's true, unique design is probably more challenging with only so much space and performance at a cost, for any vehicle type. Still, straight up rip-off designs are disappointing. On the flip side, this is a brilliant execution - if you're going to copy, do it well. And they did. I'm still not sure how I feel about it but I do know the car is a blast to drive. Great points you made on the driving side of it, and I agree. Thanks for watching this one :)
Hi ! Thanks for your video and tips!
Which one would you choose between this RMAARLO and the MJX Hyper Go 14209 ?
I feel like the MJX has better/tougher steering component. But the RLAARLO has a slip differential ?
Thanks in advance for your reply
For me, it'd be this one. The size difference is considerable, from the MJX 20cm wheelbase to its smaller wheels. This vehicle is simply more versatile and therefore more fun, in comparison.
They seem to have fixed the shipping issues. I order to sweden and get my stuff in about 2 weeks.
Excellent, thanks for the info. Good to know
I feel like im being harsh given the scale and price point, but the lack of centre diffs in the 12th/14th/18th scale offroad cars really diminshes the handling on unimproved surfaces. One of the simple pleasures of the larger trucks is unleashing a 3 phase brushless motor on an unsuspecting corner and having a trio of diffs figure out the best path forward. Ultimately i find myself bashing these little things around on the street, which wears a thin withn the runtime of a single pack. Gyros certainly help keep the end swapping to a minimum.
Hahaha!! I love that: "unleashing a 3 phase brushless motor on an unsuspecting corner and having a trio of diffs figure out the best path forward." YOU, my friend, have a way with words. And now you mention it, you're right, a center diff would be sweet. Less important perhaps than in a bigger rig, but that's a great point. Thanks for putting it out there, I know @Rlaarlo reads these so it's great the idea is here. Hint hint!!
Would it be possible to kludge a center diff in there? I love headaches
If you can find one that fits, particularly from lc racing or similar, then yes, absolutely. Shouldn't be too difficult. Might need to change the gear pitch of the pinion to match but that's hardly difficult.
I initially thought Rlaarlo would be garbage and never heard of them until my buddy told me about the speed contest because im into speed runs. He bought one and so i reluctantly did the same. 2 months later Rlaarlo wanted $20 extra dollars from him for shipping so he told them to pound sand and got a refund so that left me with a car i didnt really want, untill i got it. I have been nothing but amazed at the abuse it can take and im running it on 8s!!
They do copy other companies but sometimes people cant afford $600-$800 every time they want a new rc car with a name brand which i think are all over priced. So i think its cool Rlaarlo does people a solid and gives them something that has good looks and quality.
The AK917 is their own design, as far as I'm aware. They're absolutely capable of it and the car is amazing. Glad you're enjoying yours :)
How did you get it to run on 8s?
Hobbywing MAX5 and a gargantuan motor 😅
@@MakingFitnessEasy I put a castle monster X 8s ESC in it.
Fairly new to hobby and have seen quite a few reviews lately just trying to get knowledge and tips , appreciated!! For sure , but at times some will whine about things like a body style thats been around for years maybe tweaked a lil but imo a lot of desert buggies look alike some are just used to the high dollar stuff..
Glad you're enjoying the hobby.
I'm not whining about an old design. I am criticising IP theft because broadly, it's bad for the hobby (that's all of us) in the long term.
That aside, this is a ripper of a vehicle, one of Rlaarlo's best machines. Very durable. Well made, decent performer, takes a lot of big hits.
This little boy should be good on a pumptrack
Oh true, yeah! It will be!
As long as it's a good RC car what the heck does it matter if they copy anything. If it runs good drives good looks good then what's the big deal. I hear a lot of people saying that I wish they could do their own. If a lot of them did their own it probably wouldn't look as good and they wouldn't get as many sales. So I think they're doing the right thing😮
That's a fair question and I understand where you're coming from. I even agree with the conclusion that if they did their own R&D, the resulting model would either cost more, or be worse, or both.
However, there are several reasons why copying a design like Losi's Lasernut is problematic.
1. *Intellectual Property Rights:* When a company invests time and resources into developing a unique product, they're creating intellectual property (IP). This IP is legally protected, meaning others can't simply replicate it without permission. By copying the Lasernut design, rlaarlo is infringing on these rights, which is both unethical and potentially illegal (the latter being perhaps a moot point in China).
2. *Innovation and Industry Health:* Innovation is the lifeblood of the RC car industry. When companies invest in R&D, they're not just creating new products; they're pushing the industry forward. This innovation benefits consumers with better, more diverse products. If companies can simply copy others' designs without consequences, it discourages investment in new ideas, ultimately harming consumer choice and product quality in the long run.
3. *Consumer Trust and Brand Identity:* Brands like Losi have built a reputation based on their unique designs and quality. When another company copies these designs, it can create confusion in the market and erode consumer trust. It's not just about one product; it's about maintaining a healthy, competitive market where companies are rewarded for their originality and effort.
While it's true that R&D can be expensive and time-consuming, it's a critical part of ensuring that the industry continues to thrive. Companies should strive to innovate and differentiate their products, rather than taking shortcuts that ultimately harm the entire ecosystem. This is an idealistic take, but it's from where my criticism stemmed in the video. Thanks for the question, it's a good one and absolutely worth asking. Cheers
As I understand it the diffs are not sealed, so adding fluid is out really. You could probably add an earplug or even part of an earplug. I believe the pinion pitch is the dreaded mod 0.7, which makes sense as this buggy is basically a Wltoys platform.
Thick silicon oil should work. I've done it successfully with the diffs in the buggies, which are the same. Changing both the pinion and spur may be possible, I'd have to check.
But yeah it's a shame this unusual gear pitch was chosen for all these little cars.
@RCTNT whats wrong with mod 0.7 pinions and gears?
Nothing, technically. It's just that they're unusual, which limits your choice for after market options.
How does it handle at full throttle?
I showed it at full throttle in the video on both grass and bitumen. It's better off road than on road, with those tall tires and long travel shocks.
Too much sideways bite on high traction surfaces to be reliably stable at speed.
But off road, this vehicle really makes sense. The top speed isn't what it's about, though it'll do it. The best is the acceleration and bump-soaking design that makes for a really fun, light weight basher. I've taken it out a few times to different jump tracks and so on, and it's been a blast. Haven't broken anything but the orange nose cone from bad landings, so far. Really can't complain, it's very good.
If I see this on sale I ll snag it
It's a good deal. It hasn't had a lot of screen time since the initial video but I've taken it out I think 3 times when going to various places with jumps and dirt. The polycarbonate on the front nose has been steadily cracking away with bad landings, but the rest of it has been absolutely solid. It's an agile car that's easy to drive, has a good tolerance for stones and bumps with those giant tires and relatively long shocks, and it's just fun to drive. I really like this car and I bet you will too.
From memory, I have a discount code in the description, as rlaarlo supplied me with that when they started sending out cars for review. Be assured that I work to make these videos honest and as objective as I can, despite the conflict of interest with the affiliate link. Cheers
Those are like short course truck tires
They are a bit, eh
i have to return mine. my 4x4 stopped working and the shitty tire kept coming off the wheel.
Ah that's no good!
Super glue will work here, that's the stuff already is used in factories for cheap and expensive cars. If you haven't returned it yet, you could try that. It'll fix the problem.
Sorry you had a bad experience with it. I'm guessing a diff gear broke. That recently happened on another of my rlaarlo rigs and the replacement was cheap but it was a shame it happened.
People have to realize that the price of these cars and trucks is what it cost to put electronics in most brand name vehicles 😊
The value for money is exceptional, isn't it!
After seeing all these knock offs Ive been thinking of getting a RC PRO Desert Rush brushless rig, Canadian made, super tough. Thing does about 60kph on 3s as a 1/18th : )
Oh yeah? Interesting, I'm not familiar with that! Will have to check it out!
If only it were 1/10 scale.
Losi has a solution for you there!
I have a zd racing dbx 10 there really cool I bought a brushed one and converted it to brushless
I do not believe this is a copy of the laser nut. That buggy was a design of an offroad buggy and so is this. lots of cars/trucks in the industry have features that are similar between brands.
I thought and hoped that as well, but close examination shows the exact same details, just made smaller. It's one thing to be an interpretation of the real thing but another to be a copy of that interpretation - and that's what this appears to be, right down to the exact curves and non functional led housings of the larger unit!
This thing is a tank. The Lasernut breaks every time you bash it.
It continues to be reliable, bash after bash. Credit where it's due, this thing is indeed a tank!
Yeah direct copy of ZD-racing DBX and Losi lasernut, which is great if it’s cheaper..
well.. Losi didn't do much as far as design goes, other than almost butcher the original Lasernut 1:1 by destroying the scale, proportions, making 0 effort into to develop a proper underpan with at least a hint of boat sides so we have the same pointless (considering the concept of the 1:1) fully flat one that doesn't allow any crawling... so they went with uber oversized tires to gain a semblance of clearance. and for the money, i expected portals like the 1:1 (or at least an independent suspension setup like the IFS2 Element released recently)
this Rlaarlo is kinda like an unlicensed version of it, just like you have a ton of unlicensed Power Wagons, Unimogs, Land Cruisers etc... it's the same thing really. and unsurprising Rlaarlo took the easy route of 0 effort by just reusing their own platform and beef up a couple of parts (exactly like Losi did... except for the beefing up part :P). at least Rlaarlo is closer in the scale department, 'cause the Losi monster is nowhere even close to 1:10
my search for an Ultra4 RC car continues :D
You packed a lot of great detail into this comment, thank you!
They need a 1/8 or 1/10 rc
I've discussed that with them before. They had a 1/10 a while back but it didn't do so well, and they're killing it with the smaller scale stuff. I'll keep asking!
You're not qualified to make suggestions..I can hear the ROOKIE in this review.
You actually expected to get Futaba quality radio reception from a RTR?!?
Your tips are unreasonable for what it costs.
I think you might be missing the context in which I delivered my thoughts. I have radio systems that are worth more than this vehicle; indeed, I have something like 80 radio systems of nearly all kinds here. I'd say I have sufficient broader context on the current state of the hobby to share my thinking.
My expectations are reasonable based on what this very cheap DumboRC system is known to be capable of. Happy to agree to disagree with you on that and I will not call you names in return. Thanks for watching the video and sharing your opinion.
@@RCTNT we're of different generations I guess.
Could be. My first Futaba system was in 1989 and I was hooked from then. I do have a gap in my experience from the late 90s to around 2007 or so, but otherwise I'm pretty well across what's out there.
Don't discount the current cheap radios just because they're cheap. They're really good - unbeatable from a value perspective. My recent radiolink video goes on a bit of a tangent about the state of radio systems and what's available now vs earlier. Cheers
Using the same body styles And or tray styles is completely OK. Just about every company out there uses ideas and geometry as other companies. Because they work. Why change the design if the design isn’t broken and there is no copyright against it. What’s so bad about that? Not a fan of bashing companies because of that.
I agree with you. Body styles are an evolving mix that grows with continual influence and innovation in the space and everyone benefits from this evolution - standing on the shoulders of the giants who have innovated in the past enables everyone to reach greater heights today.
But this case is not part of that blending of ideas, it isn't just using the same style. This vehicle is a clone in a smaller size. That's not the same thing.
But to be clear, there's no bashing of companies going on here. I'm a fan of Rlaarlo and have spent plenty of money on their products. What you saw in this video was carefully considered, constructive criticism. I thought hard about my words before putting them on camera and even sought advice from a mentor before I did so.
it's a fun car and as I said on screen, it goes great and is a solid choice. I know Rlaarlo can do better than lazily taking another company's work, as they've clearly shown with their AK917 and subsequent models. Cheers.
I would have used my Dremel to grind a flat space for the grub screw to bite on (as I had to on the spur gear shaft of my team associated pro rally that didn't have enough flat area (which in manufacturing they chose to glue the centre drive shaft cup in plastic -grub screw---had to cut it with a hacksaw to get the parts off that shaft) . Grub screw had not enough metal to bite on. Brushless motor is very quick hence the cheap (glue fix) to hold the grub screw and it's drive cup to hold in place.. its only ever been run on 2s buts its a (discontinued) weapon.. 😰😲... Almost took out the ankles of a neighbor as I was punching it full speed in the court 🐨. With slight sideways drift (had him hopping in the air)....
🤣the😲 video ended before i finished... ... When it comes to rc car /buggy/truck design there is so much design thievery across the planet its not funny... Tamiya seems like with their mini-4wd range there's quite a variation, but for others (Traxxas 📋worst example for serving cease and desist legal stuff let alone court room acts) that there is so many car designs out there from movies. Mad max for example more the 2--3 and 4th restart.. rc car companies have so much choice.. (as long as its reasonably durable. Plastics and reinforcement) .. think wild one tamiya .. having a battle style oval demolition derby style car or buggy /truggy/monster truck style using movie type ideas would break new ground... Instead of copying other brands in either same size or shrinking it... .. the rc car design seems to be stuck in mud across many many brands..
Looking at the past of kyosho buggy, truck, on road , off road sprint car oval track the niche has disappeared...
It had to be noted, yeah. It's a shame, because there's just so much choice for interesting and new designs - I even do stuff like this for fun, let alone for work on an actively developed new model! I am also frustrated to see this. But hopefully it changes. I don't know how much impact just calling it out really has, but I had to mention it. Thanks for your thoughtful comments today.