nitrosportsandrunner

and it looks pretty nice!
I love 3 of the features, and hate one of them.
the 3 I like....chassis mounted servo with panhard bar.....optional 2speed trans.....and maybe the coolest, the chassis rails are extendable! So you can make it work with other wheel base bodies really easy. Cool.

The one I don't like, its made to use with 96mm shorty battery packs. Another thing I wish was better was if it came with beadlock wheels. But then most 1.9 RTR's don't either.

The only other thing is the price...seems like it will be $300 as a kit, no electronics.

Last I knew, redcat is coming out with a shaft driven scaler crawler this year.

Hum, first vaterra and maybe redcat as well coming out with crawlers in a market that already has several options....kinda makes you wonder why Traxxas doesn't offer a scaler/crawler option!?

SyCo_VeNoM

interesting looking vehicle... but at $300 the SCX10's IMO look like a better deal.

As for the battery... it looks like it should have room or they could have moved the motor mount back a bit in a minor redesign IMO that is a dumb move the one they did.

nitrosportsandrunner

yeh, some of the axial RTRs are $350, others are $400. Kits are $250...and I think the kits do come with beadlock wheels. Maybe the vaterra kit will end up being $250 but even then, the poor battery tray choice and the fact that axial has a firm hold on the market will make sales slow IMO.

But, some will buy it just cause it is not a axial....which is what almost everyone else has. Plus, I haven't really heard anything negative about vaterra's quality or designs...and based on how it looks the new crawler looks as good as a scx10 chassis.

I really like that adjustable chassis. A while back I had a scx10, then bought a rc4wd yota body....not realizing that the yota body is a 11.4'' wheelbase and I had the 12.5'' wheelbase scx10 chassis. That meant having to buy all new links. With vaterra's chassis, you can simply adjust the wheelbase without buying any new parts....it can adjust between 12.3, 11.9, 11.4 and 10.9.

looking at the pic below, the driveshaft is a bit unique in how it bolts to the axle.
Also, it looks like the diff cover comes off, so you wouldn't have to unscrew the whole axle to get to the diff.

The body comes clear, which means if I bought the kit there is no way mine would look as good as the pics on their site (I don't have the patience to paint a body that good)

SyCo_VeNoM

Looking at that I don't understand how the wheelbase adjusts as the links look solid, and the mount points look solid.
Honestly only part that looks adjustable is the bumpers unless I'm missing something those pictures don't show clear.

nitrosportsandrunner

sorry, should have posted the pic of the chassis before.....
it adjusts between the points where your links would mount.
should also mention, the kit is called Ascender...not bad.

SyCo_VeNoM

ahhh ok now that makes some sense
still dunno how the links get longer though that screw into the tranny plate though as that looks pretty rigid

nitrosportsandrunner

ah, see what you mean now! the chassis would change the length of itself (bumper to bumper) and move the upper links....but not the lowers. But, I don't see why you couldn't just move the front lower links to the chassis rails in order to actually increase the wheelbase.
Nice catch tho, I hadn't noticed that the lower links were connected to the trans plate. The chassis rails extend, but not the mount points for the lower links. But again, id think you could just move the front lower links to the chassis rail' holes. And who knows, maybe a cross-link comes included in the kit to do just that. Having an adjustable chassis rail is still a good idea tho, give more flexabilbity to use more bodies with the same truck.

I am surprised they are not offering a RTR. They have access to decent brushed electronics, even waterproof ones I think. And basically everything else they sell is RTR.

BKoz559

My Feedback: (3)

This caught my eye when I first received an email from Horizon weeks ago. The pricing is rigth in line with what Axial offers, most kits rage from $300 - $330 with the Dingo being the least expensive at $250. None of them come with beadlock wheels anymore, they all use the Walker-Evans 1-piece rims with the exception of the Falken RTR. RTRs are generally $350+ but don't include aluminum links, shock bodies and some of the extra optional plastic pieces. So, I think Vaterra is on the right track because they're not at risk of "cheapening" their brand by undercutting Axial and introducing this truck at $200 (for example). If Redcat does release a scaler, as noted by "nitrosportsandrunner," then I would expect that one to sell for around $200 as a kit and surely less than $300 RTR.

Those of you who recall your business and economics classes remember that competition is a good thing for consumers. It will cause prices to drop and manufacturer's to "out-do" their competition by producing new designs and/or improve quality. If this Vaterra platform takes off then Axial will be pressured to come up with "the next big thing" or risk letting that opportunity be realized by a competitor.

nitrosportsandrunner

well, if redcat does release a scaler, im hopping the MAP price will be no more than $200. This could happen, as their 2.2 crawler is $160 and is actually well equipped and RTR at that price. It comes with crap servos, but the rest of the truck is pretty solid. If they can make a shaft driven, chassis rail-type truck with a somewhat scale body for $200 or even $250 they will sell fast. Tho, redcat themselves say they don't see themselves as competing with the "big name" rc companies. And so far as I know, they don't intend to do any kits. Everything they have is RTR.

Vaterra's new model being so close to a scx10 means it will be competition...so perhaps prices on it and the scx10 could drop some by next year. It would be nice. scx10's are nice, but not cheap. It is even worse if you try to buy parts, not the small stuff, but things like bodies-wheels-shocks ect can add up quickly in cost if you start customizing.

The cost of this hobby, has grown faster than my paychecks over the years, that is for sure.

BKoz559

My Feedback: (3)

Right now I believe the RC4WD "Trail Stomper" is about the least expensive RTR scaler out there. Or maybe that "Komodo" truck you see online. A $200 RTR scale truck would be welcome on the market. I think many RC enthusiasts turn to Redcat vehicles to try them out because the prices are relatively low and you get a fair amount of stuff for what you spend. Just like the crawler, for example, at $160 it may not have the highest quality electronics but at that price many people are willing to say, "I'll get one to try this crawler thing out at that price."

I think Redcat is attractive to those buyers who are interested in a different style of vehicle but aren't willing to shell out twice as much for a popular brand. Another example, someone might be inclined to buy an Earthquake 8E over a Savage Flux or brushless Revo because for about $300 you get batteries and everything you need. WE know the differences between them but, for someone who wants a big powerful RC that can launch off ramps, an Earthquake looks appealing compared to dropping $700+ on a Savage with new LiPos.

What I'm afraid will happen with this Vaterra rig is that after about a year or so they discontinue it as the sales never met their goals. This has happened to a handful of their products: Kemora, Kalahari (based on a Losi mini 8ight), Glamis Uno buggy. I hope that other companies will start to offer aftermarket accesories and hop-ups for this chassis and create a true alternative to the SCX platform. It's always nice to have options.

SyCo_VeNoM

You got a point they drop their models way too fast to the point people who know of the brand will stay away.
Honestly I only bought the Kalahari cause commonly broke parts like diffs are available from the mini 8ight if it had no parts that would work from any other vehicle I wouldn't have even bought it at the $125 I got it for.

collector1231

My Feedback: (1)

Where. When. How Much. Pics.

nitrosportsandrunner

LOL, I wish I knew. Im not a dealer anymore, so im not in the loop. If it is still in the works, I would expect it to be released for the holidays. So, if we don't see something within the next month or 2, then it either got delayed or scrapped.

BKoz559

My Feedback: (3)

Get it from any Horizon dealer relatively soon. Street price is said to be $299.

SyCo_VeNoM

that was on the redcat scale shaft drivin crawler that was mentioned... unless horizon now sells redcat that is

BKoz559

My Feedback: (3)

$319 at Horizon Hobby. Someone will sell it eventually for $299

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...d-kit-VTR03023

qxyfgelredal

Looking at that I don't understand how the wheelbase adjusts as the links look solid

SyCo_VeNoM

what I said earlier
only thing I can think of is that you need new links, but can get multiple sizes in between as it looks like there are 6 options for size unlike on axial you get the option of only 2 spots for the shocks on the rear.
My guess is they might have different link spacers as the rear links look like they screw into some kind of extender.

jpbspbelair

it looks like it should have room or they could have moved the motor mount back a bit in a minor redesign IMO that is a dumb move the one they did.

phmaximus

It's awesome that another manufacture has realised the potential crawler/trail truck market.

The current most popular are the SCX10 and the Trail finder...so with one more... Hopefully other manufactures will jump on the band wagon and make more of a variety of bodies for these awesome trucks

SyCo_VeNoM

True, and maybe some lower cost models. Not that the SCX10 kit costs that much in comparison to some, but a cheaper alternative would be nice for say a loaner RC.

phmaximus

Well I think axial has a lower cost version... I've seen a few ax10's with truck bodies