Absima AB1 1/10 4WD Hands On Review

Absima are relatively 'new kids' on the remote-control block, but over the past year have released some interesting models; This, the Absima AB1 is a 1/10th scale, all-wheel-drive off road buggy. At only £120 it represents fantastic value for money and is ready to run right out of the box. We took it out to our local skate park to test, photograph and review this bright green RC buggy. Read on or check out our video below to see how it performed.

So what is in the box?

Taking control

Absima provide this CR2S v.2, it is a 2.4Ghz, 3 channel 'wheel' type transmitter/receiver set with failsafe (the model will cut power to the motor when out of range). Like many modern transmitters it features automatic frequency hopping technology to avoid interference and enable many models to run in the same area. Ontop of the transmitter is a translucent flap that covers the power switch and adjustments. Here you can finely tune the steering and throttle trims, reverse the input directions and adjust the dual rates. Without the four AA batteries installed (in the base, under sliding cover) the controller weighs just 305g. Overall the transmitter is nice to hold, light and functional.

Specification

A 1/10th scale buggy, the AB1 is 430mm long, 270mm wide and 140mm tall giving it a long and (bar the big rear wing) low appearance. As with most buggies the wheels are pushed out to the corners of the chassis giving it a wheelbase of 293mm. Setup with some reverse rake, the lowest point at the back has 25mm clearance to the ground. With the shell but without a battery it weighs around 1.6kg. The electronics are sat on the right hand side of the chassis whilst the battery sits the opposite side of the prop shaft.

Chassis

For a car at this price point it offers a really robust chassis. Materials have been selected to keep both weight and price down whilst not sacrificing quality. The lower chassis and components are largely moulded plastic in resulting in a tough by flexible construction. The front and rear knuckles are thick plastic and appear interchangeable, the manufacturer opting to add an adjustable rear control rod. Ride height is adjustable by rotating the spring seats around the oil filled dampers. The motor mount and upper chassis plate are made of metal and both shock towers receive similar treatment. Constructed out of tough 3mm aluminium they allowed the car to survive some nasty landings unscathed. Metal is used extensively in the the transmission from the axles through the steel CVD shafts to the ball bearings. Finally the car sits on standard hex mount-wheels with 88mm tyres of staggered width front to back, 35mm/42mm respectively

Power-train

Transmitter and receiver are bound out of the box so it was just a case of charging the battery, plugging it and in turning it on. The Absima AB1 is simple to control and offers a fair turn of speed, its perfect for beginners. We spend a little over half an hour tearing around the park and drained two batteries with our 'heavy right foot'. The included tyres gripped the cold concrete relatively well, allowing us to park up on some steep inclines as well as wall ride right up to the lips. And obviously up over them :D The surface didn't really challenge the all-wheel-drive system but the car would change direction without issue even when wet. The AB1 took some heavy landings like a champ, with little more than some scuff marks to the bumpers and rear wing. The servo saver was extensively tested ;)

Looking for more speed? AB1 BL - Brushless Edition

In conclusion we loved the simple accessible fun this car offered. It would make a fantastic gift or beginner car With the majority of models at this price point, the fun is limited by power and the AB1 is no exception. The trickle charger will take a little over three and a half hours to charge the included 1800mAh battery which in itself limits your repeated run time. As such, we would advise anyone purchasing the car to buy at least one more battery (such as as HPI's Plazma 4300mAh NiMH) and a faster charger (Absima's own CB1S or the cheaper Pro-Peak Delta) which can be purchased as a combo deal. The Absima AB1 ran for around 15 minutes on the included 1800mah battery, which could be increased siginficantly with a larger capacity battery such as the HPI Plazma 4300mah mentioned above. Interested? The Absima AB1 is available from RC Geeks now. Not a buggy fan? Also consider the AB1's electric truggy brother, the Absima AT1 which offers a similar experience in a different configuration.