Q-steer
Encyclopedia
is a line of remote-controlled
toy cars manufactured by Takara Tomy
, based on the popular Choro-Q
pullback line. First released in late 2006, Q-Steer replaces Takara's Digi-Q and Tomy's Bit Char-G micro R/C lines.
technology as opposed to the traditional radio control
used by other micro R/C brands. It also uses the 40 mm long S-Tech chassis, which is an evolution of Tomy's Bit Char-G chassis. Much like their Choro-Q
contemporaries, Q-Steer cars have a slot at the rear, where users can insert a coin to change the cars' handling characteristics, such as doing a wheelie. The slot also identifies the car model and the available frequencies. The car and the remote weigh 16 grams.
Each Q-Steer car can be set to one of two IR channels, which contist of A-B and C-D bands, and up to four cars can race simultaneously. The controller is white with grey buttons and features the basic six-point movement function, a turbo boost button, a channeling switch to select either the A, B, C or D band and a special grey tool used to switch the power and channel levers underneath the car, as well as to open the car's battery case. It is also possible for users to operate their cars with I-mode compatible cell phones or a Sony PSP
via a special software download.
Unlike other micro R/C cars in the market, Q-Steer cars are not rechargeable. Instead, the car and controller are powered by two LR44 button cell batteries
each. Maximum operation range is 1.5 meters or 5 feet.
Starter kits come with the car and controller only. QSH lines come with mini traffic cones and a "Spin Tire" axle which enables the car to drift
. Aside from cars based on real models, Q-Steer also offers cars from licensed anime, movie and video game franchises such as Initial D
, Disney
/Pixar
's Cars
and Nintendo
's Mario Kart Wii
and Pokémon
. The Lightning McQueen
Q-Steer car (available in both Rust-eeze and Dinoco paint schemes) comes with a set of "Noco-Noco" tires, which are unevenly mounted to give the car a wobbly movement.
's successful off-road R/C line, the company collaborated with Takara Tomy to release Q-Steer versions of their popular 1/10 scale dune buggies such as The Frog, The Grasshopper and The Hornet. In contrast to regular Q-Steer cars, these models are rechargeable through the controller and have a S-TechV2 chassis, which is 60mm long and features suspension and different back tyres to cross terrain. The buggy only has 1 IR channel to select which is printed underneath, but the controller can control other buggies, as well as the original Q-Steers. This line is currently available in North America
by Spin Master
as Terrain Titans.
game, Mario Kart Q-Steer models were released. There are 5 cars to collect which are Mario
, Luigi
, Yoshi
, Bowser
and Wario
. They include an extra axle, an extra set of batteries, a banana item and koopa shell item which are available in green or red depend on the cars IR band. There's even a race set that contains 4 race track pieces, Mario and Wario cars, 4 shells and 4 bananas. Wario cannot be bought separate like the other cars and is only available with the race kit.
. There are 2 types available, Remote and Pullback. Basic moves that can be performed is the Quick Turn, which is performed by turning and stopping while the car is on Super Dash mode and the Wheelie Spin which is done by using the Super Dash while a coin is in the slot. This trick can be done with a normal Q-Steer.
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
toy cars manufactured by Takara Tomy
Takara Tomy
is a Japanese toy, children's merchandise and entertainment company created from the March 2006 merger of two companies: Tomy and long-time rival, Takara...
, based on the popular Choro-Q
Choro-Q
is a series of Japanese 3–4 cm long toy cars, with coil-spring pullback motors, first made by Takara in 1978, and sold extensively in Western markets as Penny Racers....
pullback line. First released in late 2006, Q-Steer replaces Takara's Digi-Q and Tomy's Bit Char-G micro R/C lines.
Overview
Like its Takara predecessor Digi-Q, Q-Steer incorporates micro infraredInfrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
technology as opposed to the traditional radio control
Radio control
Radio control is the use of radio signals to remotely control a device. The term is used frequently to refer to the control of model vehicles from a hand-held radio transmitter...
used by other micro R/C brands. It also uses the 40 mm long S-Tech chassis, which is an evolution of Tomy's Bit Char-G chassis. Much like their Choro-Q
Choro-Q
is a series of Japanese 3–4 cm long toy cars, with coil-spring pullback motors, first made by Takara in 1978, and sold extensively in Western markets as Penny Racers....
contemporaries, Q-Steer cars have a slot at the rear, where users can insert a coin to change the cars' handling characteristics, such as doing a wheelie. The slot also identifies the car model and the available frequencies. The car and the remote weigh 16 grams.
Each Q-Steer car can be set to one of two IR channels, which contist of A-B and C-D bands, and up to four cars can race simultaneously. The controller is white with grey buttons and features the basic six-point movement function, a turbo boost button, a channeling switch to select either the A, B, C or D band and a special grey tool used to switch the power and channel levers underneath the car, as well as to open the car's battery case. It is also possible for users to operate their cars with I-mode compatible cell phones or a Sony PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
via a special software download.
Unlike other micro R/C cars in the market, Q-Steer cars are not rechargeable. Instead, the car and controller are powered by two LR44 button cell batteries
LR44 battery
LR44 is the IEC designation for an alkaline 1.5 volt button cell, commonly used in small LED flashlights, digital thermometers, calculators, calipers, watches, clocks, toys and laser pointers....
each. Maximum operation range is 1.5 meters or 5 feet.
Starter kits come with the car and controller only. QSH lines come with mini traffic cones and a "Spin Tire" axle which enables the car to drift
Drifting (motorsport)
Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motorsport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed...
. Aside from cars based on real models, Q-Steer also offers cars from licensed anime, movie and video game franchises such as Initial D
Initial D
is a manga by Shuichi Shigeno which has been serialized in Kodansha's Young Magazine since 1995. It has been adapted into a long-running anime series by OB Planning, Studio Comet, Studio Gallop, Pastel, and A.C.G.T, and a live action film by Avex and Media Asia...
, Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
/Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
's Cars
Cars (film)
Cars is a 2006 American animated family film produced by Pixar and directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Joe Ranft. It is the seventh Disney·Pixar feature film, and Pixar's final, independently-produced motion picture before its purchase by Disney...
and Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii
is a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game was released worldwide...
and Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
. The Lightning McQueen
Lightning McQueen
Lightning McQueen, typically referred to by his surname McQueen, and occasionally called "Stickers" by his girlfriend Sally , is an anthropomorphic racecar and the main protagonist in the 2006 animated Pixar film Cars, and the deuteragonist of its sequel Cars 2...
Q-Steer car (available in both Rust-eeze and Dinoco paint schemes) comes with a set of "Noco-Noco" tires, which are unevenly mounted to give the car a wobbly movement.
Tamiya X Q-Steer
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tamiya CorporationTamiya Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of plastic model kits, radio controlled cars, battery- and solar-powered educational models, sailboat models, acrylic and enamel model paints, and various modeling tools and supplies...
's successful off-road R/C line, the company collaborated with Takara Tomy to release Q-Steer versions of their popular 1/10 scale dune buggies such as The Frog, The Grasshopper and The Hornet. In contrast to regular Q-Steer cars, these models are rechargeable through the controller and have a S-TechV2 chassis, which is 60mm long and features suspension and different back tyres to cross terrain. The buggy only has 1 IR channel to select which is printed underneath, but the controller can control other buggies, as well as the original Q-Steers. This line is currently available in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by Spin Master
Spin Master
Spin Master is a children's entertainment company based in Toronto, Canada.- Entertainment :In 2008, Spin Master Ltd. partnered with Cartoon Network Enterprises to create "multi-category consumer products programs for Spin Master's portfolio of brands." The company employs over 700 people in...
as Terrain Titans.
Mario Kart Q-Steer
Sometime after the release of Mario Kart WiiMario Kart Wii
is a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game was released worldwide...
game, Mario Kart Q-Steer models were released. There are 5 cars to collect which are Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
, Luigi
Luigi
is a fictional character, featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by prominent game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the slightly younger fraternal twin brother of Nintendo's mascot Mario, and appears in many games throughout the Mario series,...
, Yoshi
Yoshi
, is a fictional dragon-like character who appears in video games published by Nintendo. His debut was in Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as Mario and Luigi's sidekick , and he later established his own series with several platform and puzzle games, including Super...
, Bowser
Bowser
Bowser may refer to:*Bowser , the main villain in the Mario series of video games**Bowser, Jr., Bowser's son*Bowser , a generic name for a tanker of various kinds...
and Wario
Wario
is a fictional character in Nintendo's Mario series. The character was designed as another antagonist to Mario , and first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins as the main antagonist and final boss...
. They include an extra axle, an extra set of batteries, a banana item and koopa shell item which are available in green or red depend on the cars IR band. There's even a race set that contains 4 race track pieces, Mario and Wario cars, 4 shells and 4 bananas. Wario cannot be bought separate like the other cars and is only available with the race kit.
Choro-Q Hybrid
These versions of the Q-Steer have a lot of new features. They have wheel clip-ons, that do stunts and tricks such as spins, dances and leaning, a clip-on loop for the car to do loop-the-loops upon stopping and a clip-on piece for the underneath to turn it into a Choro-Q Slot Car, that can be used with special Choro Q slot racetracks, and a faster speed dash motor. These cars, like the Digi-Q and the Tamiya Q-Steer Buggies, can be charged via the remote control, which has increased in size. These cars have detachable bodies, so that they can be transferred onto a Choro-Q Hybrid pullback motorPullback motor
A pullback motor is a simple clockwork motor used in toy cars.Pulling the car backwards winds up an internal coil spring. When released, the car is propelled forwards by the spring...
. There are 2 types available, Remote and Pullback. Basic moves that can be performed is the Quick Turn, which is performed by turning and stopping while the car is on Super Dash mode and the Wheelie Spin which is done by using the Super Dash while a coin is in the slot. This trick can be done with a normal Q-Steer.