HoBao Hyper 7.5 RTR reviewed in RRCi - CML Distribution

HoBao Hyper 7.5 RTR
By COLIN LONG
“New paint scheme and aero
dynamic wing make the Hyper 7.5
standout!”
A new look,
an old soul
HoBao Hyper 7.5 RTR
Come on, hands up those of you that have not
seen a Hyper 7 Rallycross Buggy Come on,
don’t be shy, there must surely be someone
out there “Yup, you up at the back there…”,
where has he been the last five years The Hyper 7 TQ
buggy has for years been the world’s leading ready
to run 1/8th rallycross buggy, giving many access to
rallycross racing and giving lots of people their first
taste of nitro engines. It’s been popular the world over
as a great value entry level buggy which in the right
hands can compete with a model three times the price.
It’s robust and reliable making it the favourite it has
become. You can get spares in just about every model
shop up and down the country so you will not need to
wait weeks to replace a broken part with this model.
Why the 7.5
It’s a good question to ask, why have HoBao brought
out the Hyper 7.5 After all, did the Hyper 7 need any
changes to what is already a very stable rallycross
platform The market is constantly changing and
manufacturers have to supply what customers are
demanding. With the 7.5 HoBao have done just that,
whilst keeping the heart and soul of what made the
Hyper 7 such a great kit.
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An updated version of the Hyper 7, renowned as a reliable
and effective layout with no gimmicks

ci feature
Radio and servos already installed, just add batteries and
you are up and running!
The main feature of the 7.5 are the beautiful 20 mm
threaded shocks…
What’s new
You have new lightweight aluminium front and rear shock towers.
These of course reduce weight, but are in fact most likely stronger than
the originals. They have also improved the front top arms, which now
feature a slight upward arch improving structural strength. The steering
assembly has been changed with the steering plate now replaced with
a much smaller bar. This is less likely to bend and removes some clutter
from the steering assembly. This system has been lifted from the new
Hyper 9 so is certainly a worthy improvement.
The servo saver is also new, and the changes make the whole steering
assembly feel very smooth with a minimal amount of free play. The huge
threaded alloy bodies of the big bore shocks are the most outstanding
feature on the 7.5 version. The Hyper 7 has always been popular with
those of use that like to bash our models as well as race them so now
the Hyper 7.5 has got the shocks to stand up to the abuse you throw at
it. These aluminium threaded shocks are extremely good quality and
measure in at a rather large 20 mm. If these are not going to sufficiently
cushion your landings then I suggest investing in a parachute! If racing
is your thing, they will certainly help you get over the increasingly
heavily featured ‘air time’ tracks we have here in the UK. You can now
attack the jumps more than ever knowing you are more likely to still be
in the race after you land.
The high downforce rear wing has been taken from the Hyper 8
and has more curves than Kelly Brook; each curve is designed to get
the maximum down force from the airflow travelling through it. The
bodyshell gets a new brighter paint scheme, so instantly your friends
will see you are running the new 7.5 version. I’m glad they lightened it
up a little as I always felt the Hyper 7 shell was a little dull. The power
plant is the excellent Hyper .21 3-port turbo engine, which provides
bags of power and plenty of low-end torque. You won’t need to replace
this engine; it really can hold its own with the mid range race engines
out there on the market and being a proper .21 capacity it is race legal.
Out of the box
This model comes ready to run, however you have a few jobs to do
before taking it out for a spin. You will need to fit the aerial within its
bright coloured tube. Eight AA batteries will be needed for the Futaba
built, HoBao branded transmitter and pop four AA batteries in the
receiver pack. Better still, you could get a 5-cell 6 V receiver pack as
this will give you more power for your servos and make a big difference
to steering/braking strength and speed. You have a separate battery
holder supplied for the receiver pack, which is designed to hold a flat
pack version. You have a couple of cable ties to further secure your
batteries. The air filter will need installing as it comes pre-oiled in a
sealed bag. This is a nice touch as you get a nice freshly oiled filter to
keep the muck out of the engine’s air intake. You will need to fit the
…Quality parts
will ensure these
are a popular
choice
wing, just a simple job requiring only two screws. Apply any additional
decals to the shell you may want, test the radio gear and you are
ready to go. I often check new models over as there can sometimes
be the odd loose screw etc. but I’m happy to report that my Hyper 7.5
was perfectly built with ample thread lock used throughout.
What’s the Hype about
For those not over familiar with the Hyper range, here is a run
through of the Hyper 7.5. From lifting out of the box the whole model
has a quality feel, with nice thick plastic parts made from high quality
very durable plastic. The drive train is simple yet proven to be very
effective and reliable. You have three conventional 4 bevel diffs, one
sitting central with the other two at the front and rear. All diffs are
tuneable with the instructions suggesting 5,000 weight oil on the
front, 1,000 in the rear and 7,000 in the centre. I would assume the
kit comes with this set-up, but there is no way to be certain.
The central diff unit housing holds the twin vented brake discs,
which can be adjusted to alter the bias to the front or the rear to
change the way you enter a corner. Ideally you need more braking to
the front or you will create a handbrake effect under strong braking.
This is easy to change, although I didn’t need to, as it was fine from
the box. The linkages from the servos are nice and straight keeping
things nice and efficient. The front and rear ends are both secured to
the chassis with metal chassis braces. Both the centre and rear drive
is transferred via dog bones, with the front end using CVJ’s to cope
with the extra steering duties. The front hubs are made from cast
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HoBao Hyper 7.5 RTR
3-port liner keeps
it simple but lacks
nothing in terms of
power and reliability
RIGHT: The superb
3-port Hyper .21
turbo engine provides
great drivability
and performance
throughout the rev
range
aluminium, nicely made with tight tolerances to reduce slop while improving strength
and steering accuracy. The sturdy front and rear suspension has a sway bar fitted,
something not always included on entry type models.
The 125 cc fuel tank has a built in filter, but also has an external in-line filter fitted
so your precious engine only gets to drink the cleanest fuel and not bits of dust or
grit that might have found there way into the fuel mixture. HoBao have even included
fuel line clips to keep things tidy and away from moving parts. A nice looking Hyper
branded tuned pipe is fitted, so your excellent engine gets to sing its heart out and
pull every bit of power from the combusted fuel. The front and rear suspension is rock
solid, and apart from the front upper arms, unchanged from the previous Hyper 7
model, but why change something that has stood the test of time and taken all sorts
of abuse over the years It’s remained hugely popular, because it’s tough!
I would have liked to see the radio box access improved perhaps, as the receiver is in
a sealed box with four screws holding the lid down, hardly built for a quick access, and
you also have to remove the air filter which screws to the top of the box. It’s hardly the
end of the world, but frustrating when you are in a rush to change a crystal. One thing
you can be certain of with this set-up is that your air filter is going to stay in place,
whatever you demand from the buggy. You can see from the action photos, if the air
filter had come off here, I would have ruined the engine in minutes.
Get the engine running
Engine break-in was a pleasure, it truly was. The engine was a little tight, but a
few drops of fuel direct to the carb and a slightly loosened glow plug had the engine
started in a few pulls of the cord. I held the glow starter in place for 20 seconds as
heat got into the engine, then tightened the glow plug and she purred through the
whole tank. It takes about 30 minutes per tank and I always idle through a couple
more then run the car slowly for a few more tanks just to be sure it is ready to be used
to the extent of its abilities. Keep the temps low, keep the shell off and take your time
allowing the engine to fully cool between tanks. It won’t be long before you can dial
your engine in for speed. The carb settings and idle were just right for getting the
engine run-in. Even at these setting you can tell the engine has some grunt.
The turbo vein rotates with the crankshaft and
ensures a good top end cylinder fill every stroke
Thrash test
The majority of Hyper 7.5’s will be bought for the odd club race meeting and then
spend the rest of the time bring abused over local common land. So rather than track
test, I thought I would take the Hyper to its spiritual home. The location has lumps,
bumps and jumps, and just about every possible running surface; large grass areas
and some sandy patches for a bit of sideways action too.
I took it easy while I settled the buggy down and fine tuned the carburettor for full
speed runs and my first impressions were good; the kit tyres worked very well, much
better than the Hyper 7 tread pattern would have done here, although not as long
lasting should you run on tarmac. They got great purchase on the dry sand, chucking
plumes into the air. They worked very well on grass, giving controllable steering but
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ci feature
LEFT: Four planetary gears in
the sealed diff are tuneable with
different grade silicone oils
Front CVJ’s ensure greater
reliability and improve steering
lock
Cast aluminium hub keeps
things sturdy over rough terrain,
bearings are rubber sealed for
longevity
The new
looking
steering
system has
been lifted
straight
from the
thoroughbred
Hyper 9
ABOVE: Pre-oiled air filter
is clamped to the radio
box to greatly reduce the
chance of it coming loose
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HoBao Hyper 7.5 RTR
125 ml fuel tank is protected with an internal filter and a
large external one. Fuel tubing has clips to keep it away from
moving parts
never verging towards grip roll. The stock diff oil
settings seem good as the Hyper 7.5 was very
controllable with good drive coming out of a sharp
turn, due in part to the excellent power delivery
from the Hyper engine. It really does deliver
acceleration in a nice way, and boy does it throw
out some power at the top end!
The shocks were superb, they really do flatten
out the terrain superbly well. I would increase
the shock oil thickness from 30 to maybe 35-40
weight as it was a little on the soft side for my
preferences. The Hyper 7.5 was a joy to jump,
keeping a stable and controllable flight pattern.
The shocks just take the energy out of landings
with little rebound, allowing you to get back on the
power again as quickly as possible.
I ran tank after tank for hours and didn’t have a
single issue with it. I had taken along an old Hyper
as a spares donor, just in case, but it didn’t even
come out of the bag. I ran the Hyper 7.5 buggy
using just 4 AA batteries to see how it controlled,
and it was just fine; the supplied servos are well
up to the job. I would still strongly recommend a 6
Smooth fully countersunk chassis
helps the buggy skim over the
terrain
V rechargeable battery pack though as it makes
enough difference to be well worth it and is one of
the easiest and most cost effective upgrades.
So why the Hyper 7.5
Simple answer “Why not” This buggy still has
loads to offer, as it is still a very good buggy. If you
already have a Hyper 7, then purchasing this would
mean you have an old car that will supply spares
for 80% of your new purchase. Money is tight just
now, spares can be expensive, so this is a good,
cost effective upgrade. If you are looking for your
first buggy, then you won’t go wrong here. The
new big bore shocks on this kit are worth the extra
alone. Above all though, with this model you should
have years of use, with good back up from HoBao.
It’s straight forward to maintain, easy to drive and
has one of the best RTR engines on the market. It’s
like the Hyper 7 has been to the cosmetic surgeon
and had a facelift and implants; It’s now better to
look at and even more fun to play with than ever
before! RRCi
20mm shocks dominate the new
Hyper 7.5, with anti roll-bars fitted
front and rear
QUICK SPEC
Class: 4WD 1/8th Rallycross Buggy
Type: RTR Nitro
Manufacturer: HoBao
Price: £299.99 RRP
Required to complete
12 AA batteries
(Optional 6 V Rx pack recommended)
Fuel – Byron RTR 25%
Glow starter – Fastrax
Dislikes
Radio box access still fiddly
Likes
One of the very best RTR engines
Great kit tyres
New Big Bore shocks
Turnbuckle adjustability throughout
Strong and reliable
Great quality throughout
Great down force rear wing
Eye catching paint scheme
CONTACT
CML Distribution
01527 575349
www.cmldistribution.co.uk
Great looking tuned pipe to suck the
performance from the engine
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