Radio Control Review

Evader BX RTR Reviewed by Jason Van Bergen 2/5/2004   Manufacturer: DuraTrax

The “DuraTrax Evader BX” comes complete in a rather diminutive looking box that belies the range and power of the contents contained within. Indeed, a purchaser of this product could be forgiven for thinking that he has purchased a toy instead of what proves to be a full-functioning, top-notch R/C buggy that continues to receive incremental improvements from the DuraTrax company (backed by the mammoth research & development behemoth that is Hobbico and all of its many subsidiaries).

I first had opportunity to test the “Evader BX” on a rare snowy and icy day here in the Southwest corner of Canada, conditions that, while not ideal for the “Evader’s” capabilities, sure give opportunity to test the car to its limit. There are warnings strewn throughout the car’s manual recommending against the use of the car in cold and freezing temperatures. I promptly ignored them, which proved my early demise in the “Evader’s” early testing.

I had only run through three or four batteries’ worth of running time with the “Evader,” when I launched the car over a rather large jump built from chunks of snow and ice. The car hit the ground square on four wheels, yet the impact flipped the car forward to land on the top of its body. Whether it was the initial impact or the flip, I don’t know, but the front Shock Tower snapped in two separate places. My day was completely woefully early.

Even with the ramifications of my ignoring the clear warnings of using the “Evader” inappropriately (which provide a great lesson for any future purchasers of this product), my limited time with the car gave me a good sense of its capabilities. First, this car is surprisingly fast for a 1:10 scale electric racer, its quickness also nicely balanced by a nimble footing that enables it to avoid the most extreme damage (aside from that caused by misuse in snow, ice, and the like) and even land on its wheels more often than it crashes.

Moreover, with the package coming complete with transmitter and motor, hobbyists need only obtain batteries and a charger (or use existing product) to get up-and-running right away. “Evader” uses a widely available 6- or 7-cell battery pack, which can be purchased from DuraTrax’s own brand, or any other similar product. DuraTrax’s charger is top-notch, enabling a quick charge to be effected in 15 minutes, roughly the running time of the “Evader.” This means that two batteries could be cycled between charger and car, with only very little downtime for changing the battery from charger to car.

Prior to purchasing the “Evader BX,” take a look at DuraTrax’s photo gallery and video clip for a glimpse of the car’s capabilities (http://www.duratrax.com/cars/dtxd22c.html). The video is particularly illustrative – the jump that it takes on dirt is nothing short of mammoth, providing an excellent example of the height to which the car can fall, bounce, and recover. The “DuraTrax Evader BX” is a serious racing buggy that should receive serious consideration for anybody who is dedicated to racing, or simply wants to kick around their neighborhood in one of the fastest, nimblest, most complete R/C cars that is widely available on the continent today.

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