OFNA CD3 Nitro Touring Car

[StevePond]

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/ofna/cd3-pro-head.jpg

Originally introduced at the RCX show in Anahiem, The new CD3 Pro RTR is "next-generation" nitro touring car based on the best features of the LD3 Pro. The high top speed and engineering features such as a center-mount transmission and removable radio tray make this the smart-choice. Ease of use, dependability and technology at a cost that won't send your finances into the red.

Features

Low Center of Gravity Design

PBS Suspension Front & Rear

Graphite & Aluminum Racing Upgrades

Semi-Painted Lexan Body

Adjustable Engine Mounts

Adjustable, Aluminum, Oil-Filled Shocks

Yellow Coil Springs

Front & Rear Floating Captured-Pin CVAs

Low Profile Fuel Tank

Vented Disc Brakes w/ SPL Pads

4WD With Steel Center Shaft Design

Pivot Ball Suspension - Front & Rear

Strong Steel Bevel Gear Design

6061 CNC Vented Aluminum Chassis

Lower Profile Radio Tray & Box

6 Gear Differential Included

Mega R-1 Polished Tuned Pipe With Big Bore Manifold

Blade Swaybar Kit, Front & Rear

Foam Dome Air Filter

Foam Racing Tires

Centax Clutch Set With 0.8 Pitch Gears

2-Speed Transmission With 0.8 Pitch

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/ofna/cd3-pro-chassis-big.jpg

http://www.rccaraction.com/pics/ofna/cd3-pro-topdown-big.jpg

[NiMo]

I may have to get one to run along side my FW05 as this has the improvements I've been looking for to fit on the Kyosho.
(fuel tank, rear upper arms, rear blade bar)

[NotWalkinBlind]

Steve, I'm familiar with the phrase "leading-edge technology," but this is my first experience with "bleeding-edge technology"... please explain.

[StevePond]

LMAO - that's a good typo. :D I'll fix it. :cool:

[1822]

I said it once and I'll say it again (maybe more nicely this time :p ). I think this is a poor quality product that is trying to cash in on the success of other much better designs by trying to appear similar. I would spend my money elsewhere.

[losiguy1090]

looks like a great car but i kinda wish that ofna would stop copying other peoples inovative ideas and make up their own innovative ideas. ;)

[HauntedMyst]

looks like a great car but i kinda wish that ofna would stop copying other peoples inovative ideas and make up their own innovative ideas. ;)


It probably won't happen. Ofna's history is to let the other guys innovate and then they copy it and release it for less, though generally with more features. I agree it's a shame they follow that model though. They seem to have the ability to make good cars, it would be cool to see them try to raise the bar instead of just trying to squeek under it.

[Bishop]

It is as always, worth pointing out that OFNA is simply a importer and reseller, they don't make or "copy" anything, they just buy from lesser known suppliers (in this case Hong Nor) and act as a agent for them in the USA.

And just about every car on the RC market owes part of it's design to something else at some stage, there are limited ways to design a RC car, it would be stating the obvious to say that one "looks" like another, or to simply state it "looks" like a copy or clone.

The LD3 was basically a OB4 with a different driveline, they went for a single shaft design because they obviously saw the advantages in that, so how were they supposed to make it not look like a TC3?, I'm not saying they did not get the idea from a TC3, but it's pointless to complain about copies when everyone in the industry does it to some degree.

Now the CD3 comes out, and everyone calls it a copy as well, but a copy of what?, perhaps just a copy of a copy?

The new FW-05 is just a V-One with it's new drive design copied from a HPI, all while trying to capture the shaft drive market craze started by the TC3 (which surely was started by HPI in the first place?), but then Surely Kyosho have been stealing Serpent designs for years?, but I don't see anyone complaining about it?

Look hard at any RC car and you will find many that share basic design principles, but I don't see why people feel the need to pick at that all the time.
The LD3 and now CD3 started off using a stronger rear suspension design than the original NTC3, now the latest NTC3 has copied it?, yet I don't see anyone picking on that.

OFNA cars often offer pro features at base spec prices, with build quality that is perfectly fine for most people, and often as good as kits twice the price, it's unfair to just write them off as cheap shoddy clones just because you think they are stealing designs from your favourite car.
They are built to a budget, and have a place in the RC market just like everything else, regardless of what you think of them.

When I look hard at a RC car, I see the little things that make it what it is, and not just the shared basic design principles.
I personally think LD3 & CD3's top deck and fuel tank design is far better than either the TC3 or FW-05's, to copy is one thing, to refine a design is to just simply make a better RC car all round, and that is partly what RC re-design is all about.

I'm trying hard not to be argumentative here, I just think it gets old fast when people feel the need to start dragging the whole copy/clone criticism in here everytime something new pops up from a lesser known company.

[tracer]

It is as always, worth pointing out that OFNA is simply a importer and reseller, they don't make or "copy" anything, they just buy from lesser known suppliers (in this case Hong Nor) and act as a agent for them in the USA.

And just about every car on the RC market owes part of it's design to something else at some stage, there are limited ways to design a RC car, it would be stating the obvious to say that one "looks" like another, or to simply state it "looks" like a copy or clone.



Yes, I actually ordered a Hong Norr LD3 Pro from HK and didn't purchase the OFNA version because the Original came with a sentax type clutch.

My friend has been racing his NTC3 for some time and the LD3 is NOT a copy of the NTC3 other than, sure, it's shaft drive.

I'm not a fan of rebranding companies though. Getting support from OFNA is never going to be as good as a direct manufacturer. That's not going to stop me from buying OFNA though.

This kit looks good. Not great though. It's center gearbox may improve break handling but it almost looks as if it's got a higher CG.

We'll see.

[22benjamin22]

Steve, I'm familiar with the phrase "leading-edge technology," but this is my first experience with "bleeding-edge technology"... please explain.

the edge is razor thin. So thin you cut yourself on it :D

[losiguy1090]

looks like the fuel tank may sit a hair higher than the center gearbox.

[NiMo]

looks like the fuel tank may sit a hair higher than the center gearbox.

The fuel tank is lower than that on my FW05, and the overflow is away from the brake (a bug bear with the FW05 during pit stops, oily brakes don't work).

CD3 a copy of the FW05, which is a copy of the HPI, which is a copy of the FW04, which is an update of the FW03. So who copied who ? or does it even matter ? and when will Kyosho put a CD3 type blade rear bar on the FW05 ?

[HauntedMyst]

I'm trying hard not to be argumentative here, I just think it gets old fast when people feel the need to start dragging the whole copy/clone criticism in here everytime something new pops up from a lesser known company.

It would be nice if it was something new. According to your argument, no car is new or innovative because they have things in common with other cars, which is like saying "No car manufacturers innovate because they all sell cars with 4 wheels." Ofna cars are copies of other cars, plain and simple, whether they source them from Hong Nor or other sources. When was the last time you saw an Ofna car change the industry? Associated has done it time and time again with their buggies, their trucks and their touring cars. Though some design elements may have existed before, they engineered them to a level above what was currently out. Losi has done the same, as have Kyosho and Serpent and multiple other companies. Ofna simply doesn't do that. Why? Because neither they or Hong Nor spends much on R&D or a race program, which is apparent because of their lack of originality in designs.

That isn't to say they don't make nice R/C cars, they do. They fill a niche in the R/C industry, which is to offer cheaper products to a broad audience, which drives compeition. But is Ofna an innovator or a company that pushes the industry forward? No way.