Axon Razorback - Brushless - *WITH VIDEO*

[metroidrc]

Well heres the secret hovercraft project I've been working on for the past 8 months or so... The Axon Razorback - Anti-Gravity Racer. Yes its a racing hovercraft, but doesn't have a skirt like most do. It has two ducted fans, both the same size(but not kv).

The video is up on the website, in two different sizes.
I'll try to post one up on youtube also.
www.axonracing.com

vid links:
www.axonracing.com/axonHD.wmv
www.axonracing.com/axonLG.wmv

Some specs:
Runs on a 3s lipo - 1300 - 2200mah size. I use Xcite batteries. Great price and performance.
14" length 7" width
Stock motor will get you close to 25mph.
The upgraded motor will get you up to 45mph on a fully charged 2200 battery.
Works on dirt oval tracks, pavement, sand, small pebbles, indoor areas.
Works with both surface and air radios (more fun with pistol grip radios in my opinion.)
Comes with a Lexan hood which is extremely crash resistant.
The bottom is made out of a special foam material which is also crash resistant.
It should retail for around $249 for receiver ready, fully assembled. The light kit shown in the video is an upgrade but I haven't priced it out yet for retail. The blue lights in the back work with the throttle.

Here is the ad that will be featured in RC Car action for the October issue (out august 27)

I will post more pics as soon as my internet is working better. :rolleyes:
Enjoy!
-Josh

http://www.axonracing.com/fullpage6.jpg

[hover dude]

This is what I have been waiting to see!!!

[metroidrc]

more pics...

[metroidrc]

the youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66ez8dtyw_I

[SilverHeli2000]

This looks like a really fun project! Excellent work!

[metroidrc]

Thank you! Certainly has been a wild ride so far...

[AEOTech]

great product! makes my mouth water.................

[metroidrc]

Just noticed we are listed on all of these blog sites...

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20080805/axon-anti-gravity-racer/
http://www.gadgets-reviews.com/index.php?page=post_new&id=18366
http://fav.or.it/post/333525/axon-razorback-anti-gravity-racer
http://www.latesht.com/?p=8553
http://www.geek.com/axon-razorback-anti-gravity-racer-20080805/
http://theawesomer.com/axon-razorback-rc-racer/943/
http://gadgetnewtech.com/

guess thats a good start! :)

oh and preordering is up on the site now. The $274 price includes shipping in the USA.

[ARCHER7153]

wow

[Kmot]

Hey now! That is very cool! :D

The video is killer! Well done!

A hovercraft that can do jump ramps, lol!! Too much!

I wish you great success! :)

[corsair nut]

Holy Crap That Is Awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[metroidrc]

thanks! I'm not gonna name names but I have some big distributors lined up! :D
so you might see these in the local shops.

[mcphil3]

How about a photo of the underside? From what I can see in the videos and read on the web site, it looks like this toy simply has an EPP foam skirt. That or some sort of coating on EPP.

Anyone know for sure?

-McPhil

[metroidrc]

its not Epp foam, its a more durable foam than epp. Its called PE foam, almost like rubber, completely crash resistant. Can't release any photos of the underside until after its officially released, don't want anyone to copy the design before it comes out!

[mcphil3]

PE foam = polyethylene foam

O.K. It has a solid skirt. How does it handle things like expansion joints in concrete? Not the flush-level kind you have on new pavement, but the uneven and large gaped kind you get after a couple of years. You know, like my driveway... :)

Basically, will it handle the kinds of surfaces a flexible skirt hovercraft doesn't break a sweat over? (caveat about open water not withstanding...)

-McPhil

[Eric1180]

Well if it can jump and run over weeds i think it can make it over your expansion joint . Cool body i like the colors.

[metroidrc]

is fine with sidewalk cracks, other gaps, etc.. thanks! it can handle small pebbles and little weeds like in the video no problem. best surface is pavement, and its meant for racing.

[metroidrc]

I just re-radared the stock setup with the new samples that I just got from the factory. 29mph on a 1750mah 20c lipo! This means the upgraded one should be even faster...

[metroidrc]

tech tip videos on how to setup your Axon Razorback are up on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=axon+racing&search_type=&aq=f

[mohillbilly]

Looking forward to seeing more on these things. I would think that with a brushless setup it would go over dirt or about anything!

How about a quick vid of it going over not so smooth ground?

Mo.

[metroidrc]

we'll have some "action" pics on the site in two weeks or so.. :)

[SwissBoy]

How much will the RxR verison be going for?

Oh, and what about sand or snow? Water?

[metroidrc]

RTR is $299 dual brushless with 3 channel 2.4 ghz computer radio, lipo and charger,
receiver ready is $239, requires radio + lipo. Sand water and snow yes.
You have to waterproof the electronics and move the battery pack for water though, but it will work fine.

[SwissBoy]

wow, sounds like fun! Will there ever be a kit version, like without any electronics? I think people would be more apt to get one if they could build it like they want it.

[metroidrc]

Yes - I am considering a $99 kit with fans but no electronics. The people most interested in the craft are the car people who seem to like to buy everything Ready to Run!

[SwissBoy]

but it's another story for us airplane peeps and jet jockeys ;-)

[metroidrc]

yep this is a land jet - use your EDF motors for it!

[LiveElectric]

DEFINITELY getting one of these... SUPAZ awesome!!!!

[megaglow_Z]

Just saw you mentioned on Attack of the show on G4 "friday sept 26th show"
They showed some of the video and gave a $300 retail price.
Looks AWESOME man!

[metroidrc]

thanks for the tip!

found it
http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/attackthis/65279/Cool-and-Expensive-Toys.html

Doh! they called it an axion razorback? hmm you think they would contact me first?

they must have been in such a hurry to find a new product to list that they didn't even check the spelling lol

oh well! any press is good press!

[megaglow_Z]

Yep, even spelling it that way i found your site and this thread pretty quick :)

[RChovercraft]

thanks for the tip!

found it
http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/attackthis/65279/Cool-and-Expensive-Toys.html

Doh! they called it an axion razorback? hmm you think they would contact me first?

they must have been in such a hurry to find a new product to list that they didn't even check the spelling lol

oh well! any press is good press!

Hey great job,

Having Olivia Munn talk about your cool RC is the best press you could get (even if they spelled it wrong)!

Olivia Munn is hot!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/2896124532_1531c01fed_m.jpg

[megaglow_Z]

^^^ slightly.....:)
Anyway...what were we talking about???
lol

[metroidrc]

yeah maybe i can go on the show and meet her! lol

[megaglow_Z]

Call em up and demo offer to demo it!
They already think its cool!!!
And since i spotted it...i can go and be your....your...aww hell, i just wana meet her....lol

[2dogrc]

Well,
I got a beta verison of this thing a week ago! It is a blast to drive around! It definitely adds something to the go fast and turn stigma of RC cars! I can get it going straight and then slam the rudder, and it keeps spinning while going in a straight line! Wicked fun, even for a RC PLane dude like me!


woof
2dogrc

[metroidrc]

sometimes not having to worry about crashing your plane is good thing. :)

[habitforming]

man that looks like great fun, congratulations on getting the word out so well!

while I was watching the video, I wondered if the two fans were on the same channel, and then I watched the how to video that showed attaching the RX, and I see that they are.

The transmitter you used in the video has a knob that can be used for a 3rd channel. Have you tried running the lift fan off of that knob? I was thinking that could help with landing on jumps - spin that knob in the air so you have more cusion on landing. Just a thought!

[metroidrc]

the hard thing is braking... which makes it easier to use both with throttle.
Landing off of a jump has to be timed right... 3rd channel might be good for.... air brakes!?

[brandonwilcox]

Hey Guys,

You can check out the review of the Axon Racing Razorback AGR in the January issue of RC Car Action Magazine. I wont give the review away, but i will tell you that this thing is a blast! :cool:

Brandon Wilcox
RC Car Action (http://www.rccaraction.com/ME2/Default.asp)

[metroidrc]

Thanks Brandon!
Looking forward to it! :D

[lee1980]

Im in Uk and see these are avaliable RTR now for about £180 i think!

I still cant find any pics of it with out body close ups etc or any underside pics! is there any?

Thanks

Lee :)

[Kelownan]

I can speculate on that, and metroid may confirm this but, as its a new product you wouldnt want someone being able to rip off the design. Nothing against the Chinese but i could imagine where it could go if The Axon really took off.

[habitforming]

http://axonracing.com/catalog/media.php

Some of the videos on this page show the interior in good detail. If the Chinese (or anyone :rolleyes: ) wants to rip it off, they'd just buy one.

[metroidrc]

the inside will be shown (in detail) in rc car action january issue. The version they got was a final prototype so it doesn't have all of the newest bells and whistles that I've added after more testing (alot of testing).
The setup is simple though. 2 fans and a rudder. theres nothing extremely complicated about this design.

[Kelownan]

Hey Metroid, Im trying to get my LHS to get some of your Axons into their store for sale. I think theyd just want a few to see how they sell so whats the best way of doing that, is there some arrangement you have? or would they just grab a few of your official site?

Oh yeah and ill mention that we are in New Zealand....

[metroidrc]

just send me an email to sales@axonracing.com and I'll get you some info for ordering.
should have some in stock very soon.

[metroidrc]

some of you guys had requested to see this thing run on grass, heres a vid.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=949078#post10882587

You can get about the same performance with the hood off and no upgrade fan.

[Kmot]

Can it start from a standstill while resting on that grass?

[metroidrc]

depends how deep the grass is... and if the hood is off, it does it very easily.

[Kmot]

Assuming it is a normal lawn, or park type grass, it can do it okay? I see lots of references to "if the hood is off". Does that mean the "body"?

[metroidrc]

yes, I call the body the hood.
Taking the body off lets in alot more air to the fans.
It also is harder to control at high speeds without the body though.

[metroidrc]

yes grass at a park would be perfect.

[Kelownan]

Nice, Im sure alot of people wanted to see that, Im gonnna post it over at RCuniverse as i got asked that when i started the axon thread.

[metroidrc]

Check out the new video over at one of Car Action's blogs of the Axon Racer....

http://blogs-rccaraction.com/media/101/Axon_Racing_Razorback_AGR/

[nopistn]

that looks neat, can we see it over water?

[metroidrc]

there maybe a DIY way to make it work on water, but right now its meant for land use - with the exception of puddles. :)

[metroidrc]

Hey Guys,
I'm doing a black friday sale up to 40% off on all of the Axon Racers (except the bare bones kit) and accessories. Its today only so check it out while it lasts! :)
http://axonracing.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=0
-Josh

[sneasle]

if you do a sale on the kit at any time in the near future let us know :)

[metroidrc]

$99 is probably the cheapest the kit is gonna be because of all the work and time it goes into making each one. I might do a 20% off the RTR and ARTR kits closer to christmas though. :)

[metroidrc]

heres the link to the vid of the Axon running in snow.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=968223

[metroidrc]

I started a support forum for the Axon Racers. Check it out!
http://axonracing.forumotion.com/forum.htm

[Xmodgeek]

Wow you actual invented and are selling them, vary nice.
Only compliant I'd have is $35 for some LEDs... 0.o but other then that I like it. Might be getting one soon :)

[metroidrc]

the reason the LEDs are so expensive is I had to have a special circuit programmed for them and the circuit is made in the USA. They work on the throttle like a thruster light instead of brake lights.

[Xmodgeek]

Ah I see, Reminds me of the Xmod cars from Radioshack. The white LEDs don't change only the red tail lights right? Perhaps some light bars would be a good idea. And have them change color when the battery is getting low. Lithium batteries have a steder discharge so it might be harder to make one like that over the steep discharge of NiMh.

[metroidrc]

some snow footage in HD here:
http://www.axonracing.com/snow1HD.wmv

[airlush1]

That's awesome!!! How does it do when the snow is really fluffy,or wet? Today three of us went to the park to run our hovercrafts(despite the wind), the temps were warm and our Bag skirts were plowing and sticking to the wet surface:( Even with the challenging conditions we still had alot of fun. my hovercraft actually did a back flip and landed back on the skirt, upright!!!

[metroidrc]

a flip with a hovercraft? wow!
I've used the razorback on fluffy snow, you need a 1300mah battery.
Never tried it in slush, but someone told me they ran it in it and it did well.

[WTFLYR]

Not sure how it would work with thrust vectoring, but if you made a reasonably scale accurate Luke Skywalker Land Speeder with 2 EDF40 fans, it would definitely get the kids attention. I always wanted one of those as a kid. There may be copywright issues if it looked very close though. Not sure.

[metroidrc]

just announced lower pricing on the Axon Racer for $149.95 - check it out! :)
Dual brushless at that price, can't be beat!

[gabrielh]

just announced lower pricing on the Axon Racer for $149.95 - check it out! :)
Dual brushless at that price, can't be beat!

Still $189.95 on your website. I found it for $129.99 (AXO-101..is that te right one?) at an other website.
I need a RTR one too...can't find anywhere.

[TankmasterXL]

Is it possible to reverse the thrust on this for braking?

[metroidrc]

We just marked down the AGR's for a summer clearance. They are $119.95 on the website now. This includes a fully assembled AGR, dual brushless fans, dual esc's and servo installed, prepainted Lexan hood. This price will stay all summer long.

[jho135]

We just marked down the AGR's for a summer clearance. They are $119.95 on the website now. This includes a fully assembled AGR, dual brushless fans, dual esc's and servo installed, prepainted Lexan hood. This price will stay all summer long.

LOL...I was searching for a real hovercraft on ebay and came across one of these. I eneded up buying one off your site. Still need to order a battery but im at a loss as what to buy since there are so many diff voltages and other stuff. I plan on getting the fan upgrade later so hopefully someone can recommend a good battery for this or at least what i should be looking for.