Good info. I did poke around the redcat specific forum, but they are not exactly the most popular brand. Although I really not sure why. I haven't had mine all the long, but the parts seem durable and substantial. The hardware is all hex. My tmaxx of ten years ago and my teton of last year can't say that. It does seem a little underpowered, hence the upgrade, but had I done it right it would have been the same price as a comparable stock Traxxas with all upgrades electronics.