Test and Reviews

X1-CRT PRO

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Intro

Hong Nor cars are distributed worldwide by different OEM distributors.
The cars are available under names like OFNA, JAMARA and a few others.
But all these cars and products come from HONG NOR ENTERPRISE TAIWAN. 
Hong Nor started 11 years ago with manufacturing model cars. 
Their webpage can be found here

We already reviewed the Hong Nor Speed 9.5 and the X1-CR PRO but those were real 1:8 scale racing buggies.
Since the begin of 90's there have been Stadium trucks from various manufacturers.
From there we saw also Monster trucks hitting the shelves in most hobby stores for the guys who like to bash around.
Beginning 2000 some people converted their 1:8 scale buggy with larger monster truck rims and extended their width.
These cars got the name TRUGGYS. In those days they were not more then converted buggies.
Due to the wider wheelbase and mostly longer chassis the cars handle very well.
HPI did a step too with their Savage and Traxxas with their Revo but those car were not real RACING TRUCKS more back yard bashing Monster Trucks.

We were asked by the President of Hong Nor  Mr. David Wu if we would like to build and test their newest car to date the X1-CRT PRO.
The X1-CRT PRO is the first purpose build RACING STADIUM TRUCK on the base of the race proven X1-CR drive train.
It is not a car that just had some wheel extenders and a larger main gear and larger wheels ass the first TRUGGYS had, no it is purpose designed and build.
As we write this review (02-2006) there are no international rules for RACING STADIUM TRUCKS (TRUGGYS) so every manufacturer can follow his own rules of design.
The car was again designed together with Jay Halsey from Jammin Products USA
So you could say again designed in USA made in Taiwan
In USA the car is sold as Jammin X1-CRT PRO and is distributed by OFNA.
In Europe and other countries the car is called Hong Nor X1-CRT and has a different box and manual.
Beside this PRO version we review and build , Hong Nor also makes a RTR (Ready To Rock) version of this Truck.


Some highlights of the cars material features and specialties of the X1-CRT PRO version we review here.

- Milled and countersunk T6 7075 grade aluminum chassis which can accommodate a Z brace (optional).
- T6 7075 grade 5 mm aluminum front and rear shock towers.
- T6 7075 grade aluminum chassis stiffeners .
- Carbon fiber is used for the servo tray, differential top plate and front steering brace.
- Steering knuckle with bolt/nut fastener the first one in the industry for easy maintenance and reliability
- New Big Bore 13 mm aluminum anodized bodied shocks and 3.5mm shock shafts and new silicone/felt clean wipers.
- Low CG center differential with dual cam brakes 2 fiberglass single brake disks.
- Lay down steering servo.
- Low GC fuel tank of 150 cc. with adjustable pressure cap.
- Fuel filter
- 5-Cell hump receiver pack configuration.
- Large radio box to accommodate standard size receivers
- Pre cut body
- T6 7075 engine mounts
- Foam inserts for radio box
- Nut lock secured lightened steel hinge pins all around as standard
- Small Stadium Truck Wing
- 053 inline muffler and header come standard in our version

But lets see first what is in the box more!

	The kit is divided in 10 larger bags with parts and others parts are loose in the box.
	A complete "053" engraved inline 2 chamber muffler system is supplied. Availability may differ by country supplied.
	The main chassis
	The clear precut polycarbonate CRT body with a spray protective cover
	The large rubber compounded tires called Fuzzy's with large soft foam inserts
	Yellow 17 mm hex offset yellow dish wheels with already pre drilled air holes!
	Small yellow Stadium Truck wing. The original buggy version in RED.
	The first pages of combined English/Japanese manual.
	The manual has clear drawings with on the left side all metal parts mentioned to be used with a specific step. There are 58 steps mentioned in this manual.
	Hard to see in the picture but this is the sheet with the paper adhesive window masks.
	A large sheet with body decals.
	Kit supplied tools 1.5 - 2.0 - 2.5 - 3.0 mm hexagon L-shape tools 5.5 - 7 mm wrench. And a wrench with turn bar for the wheel nuts.

Read the manual closely first a few times and then follow our steps to complete the car.

Extra tip before you start!

We recommend to use proper machines hexagon tools as shown in the picture below
The 2 mm head hexagon screws in the car are more sensitive to strip when not used with correct fitting tool when they are threaded first time into the plastic parts.
The kit supplied L-shape 2 mm tool will work but lifetime will be less on the screws head and your hands.

Enjoy this review

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This car is provided by

Taiwan