I thought a little background information about myself might help people decide if this truck is for them or not, so here goes. I was a mechanic for 14 years, then a Maintenance Manager for 5 years. After that I got my MCSE and started doing desktop support. I started in R/C's back in Jan '02 when three guys from work started getting interested in them from videos we found on the Internet (slow day at work). Three of us bought Stampede's (electric), and one an RC10T3. (FYI, I think Stampedes are made of glass.) I about 3 months later, the nearby LHS gave me a good deal on an E-Maxx. A couple of months later another guy from work bought a T-Maxx. I knew then that I had to have Nitro. (FYI, I hate batteries and electric motors.)

So one day my wife and I were out and about and I talked her into stopping at an LHS that I don't get to very often. Lo and behold, they had a Mad Force sitting on the shelf. It was only the day before that I decided I wanted the MF over the Dominator. My wife was absolutely wonderful about whipping out the credit card so that I could go home with the MF, so I did.

Building

Sunday morning came, the wife went shopping (6:00am), so I gathered my supplies and started work at 7:00am. First up were the shocks, no biggie here, but what I learned from the Maxx was I didn't think the shock oil that comes in the kit would be enough. I posted on Maxxtraxx, and got a confirmation that I needed heavier oil. I used 40 weight. After running it, this weight oil seems to be about right. Next in order, I'll only stop if I had problems or there's something to add, servo saver, gearbox, brakes, side plates, steering servo. I used a Hitec 5645, 168oz/in of torque @ 6.0v, and I'm using a receiver pack. It's $35 more for the 5945, and it only has 12oz/in more of torque. This servo won't turn the wheels standing still, but I have no complaints once the MF is moving. It's very accurate steering with the digital servo.

Next, throttle servo, and radio, front bumper, wheelie bar. Some say the wheelie bar looks cheesy, I don't think so and it works great. Finally I get to the heart of the beast, the .21 engine. Then the mufflers, fuel tube, throttle linkage. The throttle linkage gave me problems. I followed the instructions, I believe to the letter, and the brake linkage would hit the throttle linkage. I finally decided to use a 5-fork servo horn; I cut 2 forks, left 1, cut the next, left the last. The linkage adjustment smoothly after this. Air cleaner, front suspension, steering, rear suspension, and wheels. I did use the foams, Monster Pirate blue foams. That's it in a nutshell. I did use fuel tubing in the drive cups for the center dog bones, but I didn't use a long enough piece to keep the dog bones in place. After running the truck, 1/4inch in each cup seems to be the ticket.

I started at 7:00am, and finished at 5:00pm, with a couple of small breaks, and lunch. This was my first kit, though I have disassembled my Stampede and E-Maxx completely and reassembled them. The kit was a blast to put together, and I wish all R/C's were available this way, because it's almost as much fun as running them. The directions were great, very easy to follow. The only complaint concerning the directions, was the lack of engine break-in procedures. I have been a mechanic a long time, and don't like working on my car, but this was FUN!!!! I spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening painting the body. I am by no means a painter, but had fun anyway.

Break-In

This was my first nitro vehicle, so I didn't really know what to expect. I adjusted the needles by the book. I believe the high side needle (hsn), was probably too rich, because the car would hardly move at full throttle. I ran the tank through it, let it cool completely, filled it up and leaned it out 1/8 of a turn. It would move slowly, but with a lot of throttle. Cool, fill, lean another 1/8. Now it would I was getting it to move at half throttle, and didn't go above that. Cool, fill, lean 1/8. It was drivable now, not well, but driveable. Cool, fill, lean 1/8. I had power now. After half a tank, I leaned it out another 1/8, more power.

Friday I came home for lunch, filled it, leaned another 1/8; it's starting to get a little peppy now. Filled it, leaned it another 1/8, now we're really starting to get somewhere. Eighth tank, leaned it another 1/8, more power, half tank through running up a big grassy hill, the engine seemed to really wake up. After work, tank 9, leaned another 1/8, still lots of blue smoke, and lots of power.

Driving

I have run it through 15 tanks now, and leaned it a little more, still a steady blue from the exhaust. It simply screams, comes off the line at least as well as my E-Maxx, but doesn't stop there. Whenever it has traction it will wheelie, on pavement it will usually just break the tires loose, but if you throttle it just right it will wheelie, and carry it for about as long you can keep it under control. When primed correctly, mine is about 5 pulls with my finger over the exhaust, it will start first pull. It doesn't handle as well the E-Maxx, but it also doesn't seem as tipsy. It certainly is a lot more fun. This thing is just a joy run, or even watch while my friend drives it. One of the deciding factors to buy this truck was my buddy downloaded so video's of the real monsters, and the MF acts exactly the same way, with wheelies and boatloads of acceleration. I don't race, so the handling isn't that great an issue. I haven't been able to run it thru anything but the park, not a well-groomed park, it's actually a flood plane with heavy grass, but it is a BLAST. The truck seems to be way more durable than the E-Maxx, but I can't truly justify this yet. The Maxx is not a durable truck, but it has a great design. Good design + cheap parts = HUGE market for hop-ups (IMHO).

Final word

If I could buy another truck tomorrow, I think would get another Mad Force.