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Looksmart has expanded its 1:43 scale Ferrari 296 Speciale A lineup with a new exterior treatment: Bianco Artico with Livery. The release lists the variant as product code LS565C and says it is available for immediate delivery, with additional details available from Looksmart directly.

The Bianco Artico Finish

Bianco Artico is a modern Ferrari paint first introduced on the SF90 XX Stradale in 2023. The Italian name translates as “Arctic White,” which fits the color’s cool, crisp character. A paint reference describes it as a soft white with a pronounced silver undertone and a subtle metallic shimmer. The shade has since appeared on other models in Ferrari’s range, including the 12Cilindri and Amalfi.

Looksmart and Ferrari

Looksmart Models is behind the release. The company describes itself as a producer of model cars in 1:18 and 1:43 scales that works with some of the world’s most exclusive car brands. It says it develops its models together with the real cars, working with prestigious design studios. On its homepage, Looksmart explains that it created the brand “to share with you this huge amount of emotions, quality and design.”

On its Ferrari 1:43 archive page, Looksmart adds that it is an official Ferrari licensee and an official supplier during major world premieres and international car shows, a role it says it has held for many years.

A Broad Ferrari Catalog

The company’s website lists 832 products in 1:43 scale, 220 in 1:18, 33 in 1:5, 31 in 1:12, and 7 in 1:64. The site’s “Models” category lists 1,101 items, and its Ferrari tag archive returns 1,390 results. Its category menu also includes 387 items in development and 243 latest models, alongside dedicated Ferrari F1 history sections with 25 and 95 entries.

A dedicated 1:43 Ferrari page shows the Amalfi Spider in six colors, including Rosso Corsa and Verde Nurburgring, and the 849 Testarossa in nine color codes, from Rosso Fiammante to Violetto Dino Assetto Fiorano. Elsewhere in the catalog, the 12 Cilindri Manuale appears in six future-production colors, from Rubino Micalizzato to Grigio Ingrid.

Limited editions also show up in the catalog. The Ferrari Daytona SP3 Closed Roof in Giallo Modena / Shiny Carbon was capped at 399 pieces and is now sold out. The Ferrari Purosangue in Metallic Silver is limited to 99 pieces and remains available. The Purosangue listing notes it was Ferrari’s first ever four-door, four-seater car.

The range also covers racing history. Product listings include winners and podium finishers from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona, BOAC 500, and Targa Florio. The archive also lists the Ferrari 412P #26, third at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours for Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet, in race livery and marked “Future production.”

For the 24 Hours of Spa 2026, Looksmart has released Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo models carrying liveries from AF Corse, JMW Motorsport, Selected Car Racing, and Rinaldi Racing. The listed entries include the No. 70 and No. 52 AF Corse cars, the No. 60 JMW Motorsport car, the No. 71 Selected Car Racing car, and the No. 45 Rinaldi Racing car.

Availability labels across Looksmart’s product pages range from “Yes” to “Future production” and “Sold out.” The new Bianco Artico 296 Speciale A, product code LS565C, is available for immediate delivery following the September 29, 2026 announcement. Looksmart directs interested buyers to contact the company for more information.

Toybox is bringing Harry Potter into the home 3D printing space. Starting October 23, 2026, the Oakland, California-based company begins rolling out officially licensed, printable Harry Potter designs through its platform, thanks to an expanded partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. It’s the first time the Wizarding World has appeared in Toybox’s library.

The first wave: wands, then characters

The opening collection is built around three of the franchise’s best-known props: replicas of the wands owned by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Toybox says the designs let fans recreate those recognizable artifacts at home. Later in the fall, the lineup expands to include character figures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, plus companion pieces for Hedwig, Harry’s snowy owl; Crookshanks, Hermione’s cat; and Scabbers, Ron’s pet rat. More prints based on characters, creatures, and objects from the Wizarding World are planned after that.

More than a toy-library update

For Toybox, this is both a content milestone and a product-category expansion. The company says its platform already has more than 20,000 printable toys, an integrated CAD design studio, and STEM-focused apps aimed at kids and families. Toybox also says its machines are used by families and educational institutions around the world. Existing licensing agreements cover Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, and NASA, with additional agreements covering Penn & Teller and Sanrio. Toybox describes itself as the number one global consumer 3D printing platform for kids and families.

Toybox CEO Ben Baltes says the franchise fits the company’s goals.

“At Toybox, our mission is to inspire creativity by bringing world-class stories and characters into the hands of kids and families,” said Ben Baltes, CEO of Toybox. “Harry Potter has captivated generations through its themes of friendship, courage, and imagination, making it a natural fit for our platform. We’re thrilled to work with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to give fans a new way to engage with the wizarding world through hands-on creativity and play.”

The prints are designed to work through Toybox’s own app and hardware ecosystem rather than as unofficial download files. Users can make collectible figures, accessories, keepsakes, and other Wizarding World-inspired items through the platform’s push-button workflow. Toybox also says it is the only 3D printing platform that can protect IP from being shared and the only one with official IP prints for sale.

The licensed-to-digital shift

The broader toy-industry reading is that this is another sign of licensing moving toward on-demand manufacturing. In the traditional model, a collectible needs manufacturing, inventory, shipping, and shelf space. A 3D-printable version shifts that dynamic: licensors can keep refreshing a franchise and monetize fan engagement through digital files, without moving physical product through the usual retail pipeline. A property as large as Harry Potter makes that shift more visible.

The deal sits within Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), the division inside Warner Bros. Discovery’s Revenue & Strategy structure that manages consumer products for the company’s entertainment brands. WBDGCP licenses programs across toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing, drawing on franchises from Warner Bros. film, television, animation, and games studios. Its wider portfolio includes HBO, Discovery, DC, and Cartoon Network. HGTV, Eurosport, and Adult Swim also sit in that licensing world.

The Harry Potter rollout begins with the wand replicas on October 23, 2026, followed by character figures and companions later this fall. Toybox says the collection will continue to expand, giving its creator community an ever-growing set of officially licensed Wizarding World prints to make, collect, and share.

It is not every day that a 1:8 scale kit lands with a working horn, an opening glove compartment and a production cap of 300 pieces. That is exactly what Modelcars24.de is offering in its latest exclusive: the IXO 1:8 BMW M3 E30 kit in Macao Blue.

The retailer says the first look is based on the newly arrived prototype. The kit is built by IXO and sold only through Modelcars24. Modelcars24 calls the release state-of-the-art and says it is easily one of the finest kits on the market today. Only 300 units will be produced, giving BMW and IXO collectors a strictly limited edition to chase.

Screw-together assembly, no glue

The model arrives with a pre-painted metal body, so builders skip the painting stage entirely. Assembly is done with screws and nothing else: the kit needs no glue, and Modelcars24 describes the process as clean and frustration-free. The estimated build time is around 50 hours.

Although the kit is a large-scale project, the retailer’s 1:8 kit page says these models are ideal for both modelling enthusiasts and beginners. The listing includes detailed assembly instructions and is described as a complete delivery, meaning the necessary parts and accessories come in the box. The model type is even listed as “Everything to open, Kit,” which lines up with the many opening panels and functioning parts.

The retailer’s 1:8 range is built around the same idea. Modelcars24 says its large-scale kits use robust metal bodies for an authentic look, exceptional stability and durability, and are supplied in attractive colours and surface finishes so no painting is needed. The Macao Blue M3 is part of that line.

More than 600 parts, many in metal

The mechanical story starts under the bonnet. The S14 engine is reproduced true to the original, with a large number of finely crafted components. The parts count reaches more than 602 pieces, and many of them are made from metal. The product page says the die-cast construction gives the model considerable weight and exceptional attention to detail.

The feature list continues outside the engine bay:

• Movable steering
• Opening doors, bonnet and boot
• Working sunroof and opening fuel filler cap
• Opening glove compartment with custom floor mats and sun visors
• Wired headlights that illuminate from the dashboard
• Brake lights that activate when the brake pedal is pressed
• Functional horn

A miniature tool kit, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit are included as well. The product page highlights the steering as an interactive feature and says the headlights and brake lights are “mostly wired and fully functional.”

A touring-car colour and display case

The paint is central to the release. Modelcars24 calls the E30 M3 a touring car legend, and this edition is finished in Macao Blue, a colour tied to the DTM era. The product page describes the finished model as a monumental collector’s item that brings touring-car history into the room.

Once built, the model is designed to pair with Modelcars24’s Turin display case, which has a mirrored base and is intended to show the car from every angle.

Pre-order details and December delivery

The kit is listed under item number IXC.TOUR1.BL and is available for pre-order on Modelcars24.de. The site shows a price of €420.17 and lists availability as available from the manufacturer. Modelcars24 also lists a white version of the IXO BMW M3 E30 kit at a higher pre-order price, with payment due when the model becomes available, but the Macao Blue edition is the one tied to the 300-piece exclusive run. Deliveries are scheduled to start in December.

The 25th annual Matchbox Toy Show in Leipzig has wrapped, but organizer Dirk Schleuer is keeping the online bidding going with Auction C. The post-show sale offers 15 pre-production and prototype Matchbox models, and collectors do not need to be in Leipzig to take part. Schleuer has run the European Matchbox Convention for a quarter of a century, with the event held alongside the Modell-Hobby-Spiel.

According to the detailed lot listing, bidding opened on Sunday 4 October at 2pm Berlin time (GMT+2) and is scheduled to close on Saturday 10 October at 2pm Berlin time. A preview line attached to the same article lists the sale window as October 4-11, so the two notices do not agree on the exact close. The detailed listing notes this round runs for only six days. Every bid is made in euros.

Email Bidding and a First-Come Rule

Collectors place offers by emailing Schleuer directly, and he sends daily emails to everyone participating. Auction details are provided in both German and English. The tie-breaking rule is first-come, first-served: the first bid at a given euro amount becomes the high bid, and anyone who submits the same amount later is told the high bid is already held. It is an approach he has used in past auctions, and it has worked well enough to keep.

Auction C is the final leg of a three-auction setup that has been the convention’s pattern for a number of years. Auction A ran from Saturday 26 September at 2pm Berlin time through Saturday 3 October at 2pm, was open to collectors around the world, and offered 10 items; Schleuer received many bids. Auction B was reserved for attendees at the convention itself.

This year’s edition marked a milestone for the organizer: Schleuer has been running these conventions for 25 years. The Lamley Group points readers to the Wheel Collectors website for a rundown of the weekend’s events and a showcase of the special promotional models commissioned for the event. A companion post notes that the writer is bidding in the sale.

The 15-Lot Lineup

The sale is numbered C01 through C15. Several lots are unpainted pre-production bodies. The MB854 Sand Speeder from 2012 comes with plastic parts, an unriveted base, and an incorrect MAN number. The MB989 4×4 Scrambulance from 2015 is unpainted with plastic parts and an unriveted base, while the MB1611 ’74 Ford F-100 4×4 is an unpainted pre-production from 2026 with an incomplete base.

Several more pre-production lots have incomplete bases. That list includes the MB899 Questor (2013), MB1614 Pierce Volterra EV (2026), MB1588 ’02 Mazda RX-7 Spirit R (2026), MB1572 ’24 Ford Bronco Raptor (2026), MB1603 ’19 Toyota 4Runner (2026), and MB1608 ’23 Chevy Tahoe Z71. Another pair combines an unriveted base with an incomplete one: the MB1032 Ford Transit News Van from 2016 and the MB1170 ’18 Ford Mustang Convertible.

Prototype collectors get two blank-base lots: the MB1569 ’24 McLaren GTS and the MB1582 ’94 Lotus Esprit 300 Sport, both 2026 prototypes. The roster also features the MB1034 Xcanner as a 2016 pre-production with unriveted base and the MB1059 Baja Bullet from 2017 as a Color Changers pre-production with non-functioning color-changing plastic.

With the convention’s 25th edition complete, all 15 lots are open for bidding, and the auction is currently live. The detailed schedule says Auction C is due to close on Saturday 10 October at 2pm Berlin time, though the preview line’s October 4-11 window leaves the exact cutoff slightly unclear. All bids must be made in euros.

JConcepts has a new way into retro monster trucking: a limited-edition REACTOR Stage 2 “WOLF” Classic that arrives professionally assembled and finished by the company. The pre-built truck uses the 13.00-inch wheelbase version of the REACTOR platform and is listed at $1,010.00 under part number #9009-PB13.

JConcepts describes the package as “the ultimate retro monster truck experience, professionally assembled by JConcepts.” The company positions it for enthusiasts who want the look, performance, and personality of a classic monster truck without putting together a kit from scratch.

JConcepts handles the full build. The truck is assembled as a complete Stage 2 build, including chassis, drivetrain, suspension, wheels and tires, electronics, bodywork, and finishing details.

Classic Styling, Modern Hardware

The retro appearance starts with Golden Years Monster Truck tires in gold compound, mounted on white Tribute 2.6 x 3.6-inch monster truck wheels with adaptors. The body is a 1988 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab shell (#0339) with custom paint, custom decals, custom body trim and mounting, plus the fastback treatment. JConcepts says the extended-cab Silverado body gives the completed truck an overall 13.00-inch wheelbase and classic long-wheelbase monster truck proportions.

For power, JConcepts installs a pair of Silent Speed 27T brushed competition motors (#9004). Throttle control comes from a Hobbywing QuicRun Waterproof 1080 G2 Brushed Crawling ESC, while steering is handled by a ProTek RC 815 Mid Profile High Torque High-Voltage Metal Case servo. JConcepts says the servo has the torque needed to handle the truck’s big tires and aggressive stance.

Still Some Setup Required

The assembled truck is not fully plug-and-play. It does not include a radio system, a transmitter and receiver, a 2S shorty battery pack, or a charger.

Owners will need to:

• Bind a transmitter and receiver
• Plug in a 2S shorty LiPo battery with 5mm bullets
• Program the Hobbywing speed control
• Install and center the steering servo horn
• Set steering endpoints
• Perform final radio and vehicle adjustments

JConcepts says this approach lets each owner pair the truck with the radio system they prefer. The package also includes the original REACTOR kit box, instruction packet, miscellaneous kit components and unused extras, plus the Hobbywing ESC instructions and programming box.

Built on the REACTOR Platform

The new Pro-Built model is a pre-assembled version of the REACTOR, a competition-inspired 1:10 retro monster truck platform developed by JConcepts in Groveland, Florida. The platform was designed for straight-line car crushing, U-turn courses, Chicago-style racing, and figure 8 track configurations, and JConcepts has also pointed to natural-terrain driving in a field, construction site, or backyard. The REACTOR uses a motor-on-axle assembly that keeps the motor as low as possible, with a perpendicular motor position intended to let the truck accelerate straight without chassis torque or twist.

The 13.00-inch wheelbase is one of the REACTOR’s complete-kit chassis lengths; the line also offers a 10.75-inch wheelbase kit (#9008). JConcepts says the longer wheelbase provides long-jump predictability and straight-line tracking ability. The long truck will jump flatter, give the driver a little more time to react to abrupt take-offs and landings, and produce a fore-and-aft bouncing pattern that happens at a slower pace than a shorter truck.

In kit form, the 13.00-inch Stage 2 kit (#9009) is an assembly-required builders kit that retails for $676.00. Unlike the pro-built version, the builders kit leaves out body, tires, wheels, and electronics. The new pro-built package adds those pieces, along with painted bodywork and professional assembly, and is listed at $1,010.00 under #9009-PB13.

1RC Racing is bringing sprint-car style to a big scale with a new 1/7-scale conversion kit built around the Traxxas Slash chassis. Announced on October 6, the kit carries part number #1RC1028 and a $199.99 price. Availability is set for mid-November.

This isn’t a ready-to-run release. The company says the conversion requires a donor vehicle and tires. The goal is to turn a Slash chassis into a 1/7-scale sprint car with the look, stance, and presence of a full-size racer.

From Slash to Sprint Car

The kit’s component list is heavy on sprint-car details:

• Full cage, plus metal front and rear bumpers
• Faux driver and rear tail tank
• Engine graphics and faux headers
• Polycarbonate body panels
• Polycarbonate front wing and adjustable top wing
• Polycarbonate wing mounts

1RC Racing says the large-scale proportions are built to capture the unmistakable look of the real thing, and the kit tagline is short:

Big scale. Authentic detail. Built to race.

More Than a Body Swap

Underneath the scale bodywork sits a purpose-built rear-motor chassis. 1RC Racing describes it as loaded with racer-focused features, adjustability, and convenience. The company also says the conversion is “more than great looks,” pointing to the chassis layout as the part of the kit built for track use.

Sprint Cars in 1RC Racing’s Catalog

The 1/7 kit extends an existing sprint-car program. 1RC Racing already sells a line of highly detailed 1/18-scale sprint cars, marketed as ready-to-run entries into dirt oval racing. It also offers an 1/18 Asphalt Sprint Car Conversion Kit that turns a dirt-style 1/18 sprint car into an asphalt variant; that kit includes flat and round nose cones and lowers the center of gravity.

The smaller cars have been updated over time. The Sprint Car 3.0 RTR, for example, brought cosmetic changes including an updated hood, dash, front wing endplates, cage sides, and front Panhard Bar mount. 1RC Racing also offers an 1/18 Mini Sprint Conversion Kit for its 1/18 Midget, with a front hood, front wing, rear wing, mounting hardware, a 3D-printed engine, and an aluminum exhaust.

The oval side of the catalog includes the Asphalt Modified 2.0 RTR and Dirt Modified 2.0 RTR. The asphalt version uses an open-wheel, tubular-style chassis with independent front suspension, a solid rear axle, chrome wheels, and HT tires, powered by an 8700Kv brushless motor with a 5-cell NiMH battery. The dirt version comes with a clear, pre-cut body, full ball bearings, and a 2.4GHz radio system, and is pitched as an easy, affordable way into dirt oval racing. With the new release, 1RC Racing is taking the same sprint-car focus to a much larger Traxxas-based platform.

Busy Oval Segment

The announcement lands in a category with plenty of new product movement. Team GFRP has unveiled the 1/10 2027 Hustler rubber-tire sprint car kit, built for high-bite rubber-tire tracks. Velocity RC has teased a 1/10 VS-2 sprint car kit. Custom Works has released the 1/10 Bullet sprint car kit, built in memory of Bob “The Bullet” Light, and HackFab has produced a carbon fiber sprint car chassis conversion for the Losi Mini-B. Also in the sprint-car and oval pipeline are Exotek’s 1/10 Vader kit, Whitz RC’s 2.2-inch Walkover rear sprint car tires, Pro-Line’s Showtime 2.2 sprint car wheels, and McAllister Racing’s Placerville sprint car body.

Price and Availability

The 1/7 Sprint Car Conversion Kit is listed as #1RC1028 at $199.99. A donor vehicle and tires are required. 1RC Racing says availability is set for mid-November, and details are posted on the company’s website.

The ARRMA QUAKE 4S is getting two fresh Pro-Line upgrades at once: pre-mounted Dreadnaught tires and a pre-cut 2022 Ford Raptor clear body. The tire package leads the news, and it’s aimed at owners who want to change wheels fast without gluing or setting up a tire mounting station.

Dreadnaught tires, pre-mounted

Pro-Line’s Dreadnaught tires use an aggressive chevron-style tread designed to dig into dirt, grass, gravel, and other loose surfaces. The company says the pattern is meant to support hard launches and keep monster truck runs lively, while molded sipes add extra edges that improve grip. The look is also inspired by full-size modified monster truck tires.

The new set contains two Dreadnaught tires, each already mounted on an ARRMA wheel. Drivers can install them on the front or rear of the QUAKE 4S with no tire mounting or gluing required. The pair is listed as PRO1034110 for $32.99 and fits the ARRMA 1/8 QUAKE 4S. In the box, buyers get Dreadnaught tires pre-mounted on ARRMA wheels.

Raptor body joins the lineup

Alongside the tire set, Pro-Line also introduced a pre-cut 2022 Ford Raptor clear body for the QUAKE 4S. It is listed as PRO372217 for $49.99 and made in the USA from durable polycarbonate. The shell is built for the QUAKE 4S clipless body mounting system, so no traditional body clips interrupt the scale-inspired lines. A rear window opening is designed to let air trapped under the body escape during high-speed driving and jumps, which Pro-Line says helps reduce the parachute effect. Along with the clear body, the box includes a window mask sheet and a decal sheet.

Pro-Line says the body’s sculpted hood, grille, widened fenders, and muscular rear bodywork are meant to capture the full-size Raptor’s aggressive look on the 1/8 truck.

The truck these parts are built for

The new parts fit ARRMA’s 1/8 QUAKE 4S DSC 4X4 RTR, which ARRMA calls the first vehicle on its Next Gen 4S platform. “The aftershock has arrived,” the company says in the vehicle announcement. The model follows the QUAKE 223S and QUAKE GROM in ARRMA’s expanding line-up. ARRMA describes the 4S as a larger 1/8-scale footprint with 4S brushless power and a low-component design that gets drivers back to bashing faster.

Under the body, the RTR uses a Spektrum Firma 150A brushless Smart ESC V2 with IC5 connectors and a Firma 3674 2300Kv brushless motor. It runs on a 3S or 4S hardcase LiPo, with battery and charger sold separately. Separate ESC and receiver are used to maximize response and reliability, and a high-airflow fan cover plus integrated chassis cooling help manage heat during long runs. Spektrum Dynamic Stability Control is included with four selectable steering-correction modes, using the Spektrum SLT3 2.4GHz 3-channel transmitter and the Spektrum S662 metal-geared waterproof digital servo. The drivetrain uses three differentials in a 4WD layout, and the chassis features a high center of gravity, threaded aluminum shocks, an integrated high-angle wheelie bar, and a hidden body retention system.

ARRMA lists the QUAKE 4S RTR in Black/Red and White/Blue at $549.99. A limited-edition iridescent Black/Pearl version is also $549.99, but it is offered only in the U.S. and only through HorizonHobby.com. Horizon Hobby adds a promo for the limited edition: 50% off a Spektrum 6800mAh 4S 14.8V Smart Pro Basher LiPo battery when buyers use code QUAKE4S at checkout.

Pricing and availability

Pro-Line’s new QUAKE 4S tire and body options are listed on ProLineRacing.com. The tire set is $32.99, the Raptor body is $49.99, and the QUAKE 4S RTR itself is $549.99.

Team Powers has dropped two new pit-side tools in one announcement: the Ultra Light Weight Carbon Graphite Setup Board V2 and the Setup Board Level Adjuster Stand. The V2 is the company’s second-generation setup surface for 1:10 touring cars, and the stand is an upcoming aluminum accessory built to level any major brand of setup board.

Built around a bubble level

According to Team Powers, the V2 board was specifically engineered for 1:10 touring cars. A notable addition is a built-in bubble level, which Team Powers says lets racers ensure an accurate, level setup anywhere. The board’s dimensions are listed as 400 x 275 x 10mm, a footprint Team Powers says better accommodates modern chassis layouts. It also weighs roughly 500g, which the company pitches as an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.

The materials are aimed at long-term flatness. The board uses high-quality carbon fiber construction with a protective aluminum edge stripe on all four sides. Inside, a PC honeycomb core is sandwiched between graphite boards. Team Powers says that structure keeps the board absolutely flat and prevents warping caused by changes in environmental temperature or humidity.

A universal stand for setup boards

Team Powers is also readying the Setup Board Level Adjuster Stand, a lightweight aluminum companion designed for universal compatibility with all major setup board brands. The stand has a 16mm base height and offers about 10mm of micro-adjustment range. Team Powers describes the upcoming stand as engineered to help you level any brand of setup board flawlessly.

The announcement also spotlights the stand’s role in pit-area precision, with the product description opening on the line “Achieve the ultimate precision in your pit area.”

Bigger race-day lineup

The new gear joins a Team Powers catalog that goes well beyond setup boards. Hobbies Direct, an Australian retailer, says its Team Powers stock is deliberately tight, around nine items, because the brand focuses on racing-grade power rather than broad consumer coverage. It describes the brand as a reasonable step up for racers who have outgrown entry-level brushless gear and want a dedicated racing motor and ESC brand. Local stock, the retailer says, means Australian racers can source replacement motors and ESCs without a long international wait. The retailer highlights the Actinium V6S series as the centerpiece of the range, with motors designed with stock and modified classes in mind and matching ESCs whose tuning profiles are developed alongside the motors. It describes the power delivery and timing options as being aimed at lap-time consistency rather than just peak power. Hobbies Direct adds that consistent power curves and efficient ESC matching are what racers need when qualifying positions come down to tenths of a second.

RCJAZ’s Team Powers store pages show a wider catalogue, including sensored brushless motors such as the Actinium V3 and V5, the Radon Pro V5BT 200A speed control, the M-RadonV3BT 30A speed control, digital coreless servos, servo program cards, and a Bluetooth device for speed-control tuning. The same storefront lists pit tools and accessories such as tire warmers, a portable soldering iron station, aluminum part trays, brass weight plate sets, the Handy Car Stand V2 with setup tools, and tool/storage bags. RCJAZ also lists pre-glued 1:10 F1 rubber tire sets in hard, medium, and soft compounds and says its Team Powers items are available now with worldwide shipping.

Team Powers is pointing anyone who wants more details about the V2 board or the upcoming stand to TeamPowersUSA.com.

A one-week crowdfunding window

The BrickLink Designer Program’s Series 9 crowdfunding round is officially open. As of October 6, LEGO fans can pre-order five fan-designed sets through LEGO.com, but the window is short: it closes on October 12, or as soon as any set sells out.

Prices run from US$49.99 for the smallest set to US$349.99 for the largest, with UK, Australian, and European pricing assigned per set. The lineup was selected from more than 430 fan submissions and has been refined with LEGO’s model governance and building instructions teams before the campaign. All five models are 18+ builds aimed at experienced adult builders.

The five Series 9 sets

910069 Fisherman’s Village — US$349.99 / €349.99 / £319.99

The biggest set in the series packs 4,027 pieces and 13 minifigures into a colorful New England coastal village. It stands out as the first BDP set designed by multiple fan designers, with brothers Guillaume and Nicolas collaborating. The village includes a gift shop, a lobster restaurant, a watercolor studio, a general store, and a captain’s quarters, plus a lighthouse with a rotating lamp. Microscale homages to the Ship in a Bottle, Old Fishing Store, Motorized Lighthouse, Titanic, Endurance, and the Globe are tucked into the build.

910070 Sleepy Dragon Inn — US$269.99 / €269.99 / £239.99

Designed by MarinBD, the 3,121-piece medieval inn ships with nine minifigures and is scaled to sit alongside LEGO Ideas 21325 Medieval Blacksmith and BDP 910062 Alchemist Shop. Turn the log on the side of the model and the roasting chicken rotates while patrons dance and a bard performs on stage. The building stands 33 cm tall and includes a wizard, a Kraken Ranger, a Griffin Knight, a Horse Knight, and a card-playing Serpent Rogue among its characters.

910071 Wild West Blacksmith — US$219.99 / €219.99 / £189.99

Designer llucky’s Wild West Blacksmith is the fifth BDP set in the Wild West theme after the General Store, Logging Railway, Wild West Train, and Gold Mine Expedition. The build uses 2,533 pieces and includes seven minifigures. A working windmill powers the bellows, forge flames, and grinding wheel, and the attic includes a nod to the General Store. The set is centered on local smith Luke Cooper, with a living area attached to the workshop.

910072 Woodbrick Freight Depot — US$219.99 / €219.99 / £189.99

Rail fans get an 1890s freight depot from designer MindtheBrick. The 2,252-piece model includes seven minifigures, a working crane, and a working capstan, and it is designed to work as part of a larger LEGO train layout, with the crane and capstan usable alongside freight wagons. There is a Freight & Customs Office and a hidden surprise packed inside one of the BDP crates.

910073 Pumpkin Patch — US$49.99 / €49.99 / £44.99

SofieBuilds’ autumn diorama is the low-price entry, around 610 pieces, with three minifigures. It is the first BDP finalist from Denmark, the home of the LEGO Group. Official notes say it contains the most pumpkins ever included in a LEGO set. The model includes a scarecrow with a crow on its shoulder, a birch tree, a rustic farm stand, and an old-style water pump.

How the crowdfunding works

Each design needs at least 3,000 pre-orders before it is produced. Production is capped at 30,000 units per set, and BrickLink can dynamically shift capacity from slower sets to more popular ones during the campaign. For Series 9, the combined production cap is 150,000 sets. Households are limited to two copies of each set.

Orders from this round are scheduled to ship around March 2027, and BrickLink charges the credit card at that shipping point. The sets are produced in a one-time limited production run.

What comes after Series 9

This short round is not the end of the Designer Program. BrickLink is already working with Series 10 and Series 11 fan designers on refinements ahead of crowdfunding in February and June 2027. The program also plans to shift from numbered series to waves starting with 2028 Wave 1, with the Fan Designers for that wave scheduled to be announced on November 20.

The GROM family just got its first pavement-bashing member. ARRMA has introduced the INFRACTION GROM 3S BLX 4X4 RTR, a 1/12 scale all-road street car that puts 3S brushless power into a compact, ready-to-run package.

ARRMA has been expanding the GROM platform with small-scale trucks and buggies, and this is the first time the line has gone all-road street bashing. The car targets parking lots, driveways, and paved stretches where drifting and tire-roasting are the main event. Horizon Hobby’s GROM pages describe the platform as compact and tough enough for places larger RC vehicles can’t go, and the new Infraction brings that smaller-scale approach to street-style running.

Two drive modes, one PowerKey

PowerGuard, ARRMA’s speed-management system, was first introduced on the Mini Kraton and is now built into the Infraction Grom 3S. In the default Adrenaline Mode, the car runs at 30+ MPH on a 3S battery, giving newer drivers a confident starting point with no extra purchases required.

Insert the included PowerKey, and the car switches to Chaos Mode, described as a verified 50+ MPH street-running mode. Owners get two personalities in one rig: a tamer run mode for learning and a full-power mode for speed runs and slides.

Keeping those speeds controllable is Spektrum Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). DSC automatically applies steering correction and has four selectable settings: Off, Low, Medium, and High, ranging from zero correction to maximum safety. The electronics package centers on a waterproof Spektrum SLT 2-in-1 40A brushless ESC/receiver, a Spektrum Firma 4350Kv brushless motor, an SLT2 2.4GHz transmitter, and an SX114 servo. A cooling fan and motor heatsink are included to manage heat during longer runs.

Built for parking-lot abuse

The 1/12 chassis is stuffed with metal parts. The enclosed 4X4 metal drivetrain pairs with a sealed center differential and metal spur gear, plus easy-access front and rear differentials. Aluminum 12mm wheel hexes, a composite chassis, and front and rear bumpers with a body location system are part of the street-bashing package. The enclosed drivetrain layout is designed to keep dirt out and make maintenance less frequent.

Suspension is double wishbone and fully independent, with oil-filled shocks to keep the low-slung chassis planted. Adjustable steering turnbuckles let drivers fine-tune the front end. The model comes standard on dBoots Hoons white-compound belted tires, designed for pavement grip and stable high-speed runs.

Clipless body, SmartFit battery

The quick-release, clipless body and inner body support frame are there for quick battery changes and straightforward access to the chassis. ARRMA’s SmartFit click-out battery system holds the battery with no straps and a secure fit.

ARRMA lists four launch SKUs. The base ARA2315T1 is priced at $249.99. The red ARA2315ST1 and yellow ARA2315ST2 versions are $289.99 each, as is the Blue/Black Limited Edition ARA2315ST3. The limited body has an iridescent finish that shifts in the light and is exclusive to HorizonHobby.com. It is advertised with an extra free Spektrum Smart 1300mAh 3S 30C hard-case LiPo battery.

The in-the-box content notes also list an instruction manual, four AA transmitter batteries, and a Spektrum S22 Mini USB-C 3S charger. To get going, owners still need a compatible USB power supply and a LiPo safe battery bag. The model carries a 2-year limited warranty. Full details are posted at ARRMA-RC.com.