Stock system is good enough for me, we have all 3 colors and I've upgraded links and swapped wheels and tires on 1 of them out of the box I'm impressed and I'm not gonna fiddle with the motor and stuff especially for 150
Man, there is something in my brain that will not allow me to spend $160 on a powertrain for a truck that cost $100 rtr lol. I just can't bring myself to do it. I'd rather just buy another one.
It's not a turd, great, beast out of the box. I love my scx's, I thought I'd try this and love it. It's easier to work on. All it needs really, is wheels and tires. Move some stuff to front for weight, or add knuckles at most for a good running truck. The rest is for people competing or just like the best. This truck runs better the lighter you keep it. Stock is great, did i say that lol?.
I believe that system is the best you can buy. I put an 87t meus motor with injora esc on 3s and I am very happy with that. Outside of wheels, motor and esc, mine is stock as well. Performs so well
Another way to look at it is Redcat gives you the base platform to start, at a price that's reasonable, but without the base unit being a total disappointment and quite capable of having some real fun. Not just limited to "crawling" driveway gravel and manicured cardboard bumps . This gets you in the game and having fun. But also lets you put some of your budget into upgrades once you've learned to walk before you really crawl. 😁And here comes Furitek doing folks a solid, coming out with combo kits, put together for specific models, so folks can get all the parts they need in one package deal for cheaper than buying piece by piece. Very nice. Now if only that other 1/24th brand would wake up and take this approach, instead of charging double the price for a rig that's not even half as close in performance...... 🤔🤐 Awesome as always Matt!
2FM RC, great review. Got one and blew my mind when it was out performing my modded scx24's. I even got the Ascent Fusion. I have the Cedar and Python Pro in scx24 PW, it's awesome!!!
Very capable rig. Whatever you get out there with is better than what someone else has sitting in a bin...looking at myself!...we need to get the dust off of the toys and get some dirt in them!
"I might get it for one truck." I do the same thing! Two or three lower cost trucks for the kids, upgraded one for Dad. Kids usually end up stealing the upgraded one when we are actually crawling though...
Like u said matt somebody needs to come out with a fusion I have over twenty rigs most have brushless I have spent thousands on would definitely like to see a cheaper choice for these little guys and I think it would add even more ppl in the hobby if things where cheap enough for everyone to have some fun keep up the good work 🔥🔥🔥😎👍
@@wildmangeorgesrcchannel6916 adding that weight down low definitely opens up new lines though. Keeps it more planted and gives more traction. I try not to go crazy heavy with my trucks but some weight here and there at or below the axles makes a huge difference for me.
???- Since you've had both the Redcat Ascent 18 and the HP Evo Pro now for a bit, have you got one you definitely buy over the other if someone's on a low budget and will likely only do the basics like wheels/tires and some weight for the front? Thanks Matt! (*sorry about the other two longish comments below. Hopefully they at least pump the algorithm!)
Do you have a link to the receiver that allows you to keep using the stock transmitter? I want to upgrade to the Injora brushed ESC to get rid of the whine noise but i want to keep using the stock transmitter. Thanks!
@@Casitascrawlers that wheel speed!!! The punch is off the charts on 4s. It’ll crawl amazing and hop over anything. Same reason I run it in 1/10s lol. I don’t run it much in the small crawlers. 3s is usually plenty but it’s nice to have the option. Especially if you’re building a monster truck,bouncer basher or something.
All I did to mine was some free mods, wheels, tires, and overdrive. Goes like a champ. The motor is cool, especially the water proof part, but anything over $75 is too much for this truck.
I originally bought my cedar for my fcx24 but then decided to put it in my trx4m instead. The stock traxxas pinion gear went on the cedar motor no problem. put a drop of superglue on the shaft just to be safe. Maybe you can do the same with the stock ascent pinion.
Re: 1/18th vs 1/10th prices. Two things folks should keep in mind so not to feel frustrated and "ripped off": -Smaller parts aren't necessarily cheaper, and in fact, sometimes more expensive to make. I run into this conversation with clients with the price of a table top sculpture vs a floor standing one. "It's a third of the size. Why isn't it a third of the price!?!" Because there's comparatively little difference in the material price, and materials being a small part of the cost to start. But the table top takes just as much tome to build as the floor standing one. And labour is the bulk of the cost. -Also, good old economy of scale. 1/10 is hugely more popular (which I don't get as small can crawl more places in less space) than the smaller scales. Making 10,000 parts per production run is more costly than making a million per run. That cost is reflected in the price. Again, same convo between me and a client: "Why is that Kelp Sculpture in the gallery $1200 and the one you're making for me is $3000!?!?!". "Because I make the ones in the galleries 5 or 10 at a time and they just turn out as they turn out. Yours takes double or more work because you need it a specific size and shape and I have to make it singularly. " * Just a general musing for others, not just directed at you Brother Matt! 😁👍
Furitek are beginning to out price themselves now. They know they're the best for electronics, but let's be honest, the other products they make are average at best. This is why all companies need competitors. Prices just keep going up & quality seems to stay the same or be even worse. I've got 12 scx24s now & the money I've wasted on them is ridiculous. Well over 6k now, I'd say
@wingnutbert9685 Because I'm rapidly losing interest in them now. Between all the shady companies & the prices people like Furitek charge, I think I'd rather swap to 1/10 even though they're considerably larger & harder to carry about. Someone else has said here that companies like Hobbywing should get involved more & if they did, I honestly think prices would scale better & all the consumers that love 1/24 would benefit from it. Right now, it's like the wild west. Especially with the prices some people put on their product. This ofc is just my opinion & I'll probably upset someone, but they'll have their opinion too, that may upset someone else.
@@DesignedRhyme Yep. I really prefer the SCX24 scale size. But I really think Axial has dropped the ball big time and got lazy, it seems. And they, like Hobbywing, have the size to sustain, develop and advance the market segment. I'm heartened by the grass roots, small boutique builders that have ran with the SCX24 scale and are doing some crazy good work. Unfortunately, being in Canada, it's not feasible to get their stuff. It's pretty much double the price to get it up here with exchange rate, shipping, duties, fees, tax. It really sucks.
@wingnutbert9685 I live in the UK & it's ridiculously expensive to get parts shipped for us too. Unfortunately, the 1/24 scene is tiny here & after going to a few comps, you have basically met everyone at least once, very few people over here actually make parts so we're kind of limited to Amazon & the Chinese knock off websites. Maybe if more people used Amazon or even eBay, it could help us out, but with delivery charges plus import duty, websites like Etsy are not worth it. You'd end up paying x3 the price of an item on delivery alone, then clumped with import if the items are priced over £160. With the way most US businesses price things, they don't include the delivery charge with the item but include it on how much the items costs with regards to shipping so we get charged import duties on some items that only cost around £150, so under the import duties charge, but with the extortionate rate of delivery companies you'd end up paying around £200, then bang... import duties. I really hate the way import duties work. It should be on the items' worth, not the combined price of item + delivery. I suppose with 3d printing becoming more accessible & easier to do, at least simple things like chassis & body parts will drop in price, but that still leaves the electronics. You're definitely right about Axial. I think they're just focused on units ather than aftermarket things. I guess every hobby is in the same boat. Everything costs a fortune now
Seems like a great system but that is too much for my tastes. Sure could use a brushless system at roughly half that price. Then I’d buy. The whole FX118 was only $40 dollars more than just this esc/motor. Yes this is better combo but… for my non-comp needs, too much. Thanks for the balanced review(as always).
I had to spend 250$ 🇨🇦 on my komodo and esc for my fcx18 Toyota. Crazy man. Taxes, shipping, duties.. things are getting out of hand. I will not be buying anything from the U.S again. I'm done.
Also, if you do by from the US, make sure they ship via US Postal Service. Not FX, UpS or any other. My understanding is that Can. Post and USPS have an agreement so there's a good chance you don't get smoked with duties and fees and sometimes even tax is 'skipped over'.
Anybody else have issues with crawling down obstacles with the stock electronics? Mine is super smooth uphill but you can't go super slow downhill. It gets jerky and fast
If a company, maybe injora or hw, comes out with brushless motor/esc combo that is under 100$ like for the 1.10, they will clean up as everyone would buy for every single rig they have. we should not be getting brushed motors now; electronics are dated and needs innovation and move forward. furitek is gouging now. Regarding the pricing, we should not be accepting it; we should not accept that this is the price and that this hobby is expensive; this not even supply and demand; its companies continuing to raise prices because they haven't found that ledge where their sales slump.
Stock system is good enough for me, we have all 3 colors and I've upgraded links and swapped wheels and tires on 1 of them out of the box I'm impressed and I'm not gonna fiddle with the motor and stuff especially for 150
Always enjoy and look forward to a 2fmrc video, looks like a real solid system id love to try one in my ascent 18
Man, there is something in my brain that will not allow me to spend $160 on a powertrain for a truck that cost $100 rtr lol. I just can't bring myself to do it. I'd rather just buy another one.
Yeah, it is like the saying "You can polish a turd but it is still a turd"
@@DTW-bx2vy The ascent is not a turd by any means. Have you driven one
It's not a turd, great, beast out of the box. I love my scx's, I thought I'd try this and love it. It's easier to work on. All it needs really, is wheels and tires. Move some stuff to front for weight, or add knuckles at most for a good running truck. The rest is for people competing or just like the best. This truck runs better the lighter you keep it. Stock is great, did i say that lol?.
100% agree!!! We need a 1/24th-1/18th 2in1 esc from Hobbywing
I believe that system is the best you can buy. I put an 87t meus motor with injora esc on 3s and I am very happy with that. Outside of wheels, motor and esc, mine is stock as well. Performs so well
I am still seeing a lot of love for scx24s. Need to imagine that once the aftermarket gets moving on the Ascent18 it will take over as a favorite.
Agree, unfortunately. I prefer the smaller SCX24 scale size. But Axial seems to still be in a coma while others take their lunch money.
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
That’s one hefty investment, can’t wait for back orders to be filled
Another way to look at it is Redcat gives you the base platform to start, at a price that's reasonable, but without the base unit being a total disappointment and quite capable of having some real fun. Not just limited to "crawling" driveway gravel and manicured cardboard bumps . This gets you in the game and having fun. But also lets you put some of your budget into upgrades once you've learned to walk before you really crawl. 😁And here comes Furitek doing folks a solid, coming out with combo kits, put together for specific models, so folks can get all the parts they need in one package deal for cheaper than buying piece by piece. Very nice.
Now if only that other 1/24th brand would wake up and take this approach, instead of charging double the price for a rig that's not even half as close in performance...... 🤔🤐
Awesome as always Matt!
2FM RC, great review. Got one and blew my mind when it was out performing my modded scx24's. I even got the Ascent Fusion. I have the Cedar and Python Pro in scx24 PW, it's awesome!!!
Man the ascent impresses me everytime I see it. I have it, but not with brushless system. I love it, might upgrade to brushless
Have the Python Pro/Cedar in my TRX4M and am very pleased with it.
Tire size?
Very capable rig. Whatever you get out there with is better than what someone else has sitting in a bin...looking at myself!...we need to get the dust off of the toys and get some dirt in them!
"I might get it for one truck." I do the same thing! Two or three lower cost trucks for the kids, upgraded one for Dad. Kids usually end up stealing the upgraded one when we are actually crawling though...
Haha! I know exactly what ya mean!
As always, very informative 👍🏻
Stock servo? If so, what is the BEC voltage?
Like u said matt somebody needs to come out with a fusion I have over twenty rigs most have brushless I have spent thousands on would definitely like to see a cheaper choice for these little guys and I think it would add even more ppl in the hobby if things where cheap enough for everyone to have some fun keep up the good work 🔥🔥🔥😎👍
i rarely add brass to any of my trucks. i feel likt stock weight is the best way to go.
@@wildmangeorgesrcchannel6916 adding that weight down low definitely opens up new lines though. Keeps it more planted and gives more traction. I try not to go crazy heavy with my trucks but some weight here and there at or below the axles makes a huge difference for me.
What size tires are thoes if you don't mind me asking?
What size 🤔
???- Since you've had both the Redcat Ascent 18 and the HP Evo Pro now for a bit, have you got one you definitely buy over the other if someone's on a low budget and will likely only do the basics like wheels/tires and some weight for the front?
Thanks Matt! (*sorry about the other two longish comments below. Hopefully they at least pump the algorithm!)
Do you have a link to the receiver that allows you to keep using the stock transmitter? I want to upgrade to the Injora brushed ESC to get rid of the whine noise but i want to keep using the stock transmitter. Thanks!
Maybe if you got a Redcat - Ascent 18 RTR & the Furitek brushless sett-up installed for $199.00, then people would certainly be willing to buy.
I'm planning on getting the $99 Furitek system..I don't drive in water and mud.
What are the benefits of running 4s on a 1:18 scale crawler.🤨
@@Casitascrawlers that wheel speed!!! The punch is off the charts on 4s. It’ll crawl amazing and hop over anything. Same reason I run it in 1/10s lol. I don’t run it much in the small crawlers. 3s is usually plenty but it’s nice to have the option. Especially if you’re building a monster truck,bouncer basher or something.
All I did to mine was some free mods, wheels, tires, and overdrive. Goes like a champ. The motor is cool, especially the water proof part, but anything over $75 is too much for this truck.
Very cool Car😊🎉👌🏼
I already have a Cedar motor, but it’s for FCX24. Do you know if there an option to get a Ascent compatible pinion?
I originally bought my cedar for my fcx24 but then decided to put it in my trx4m instead. The stock traxxas pinion gear went on the cedar motor no problem. put a drop of superglue on the shaft just to be safe. Maybe you can do the same with the stock ascent pinion.
If I wanted to make good financial decisions I wouldn't be in RC 😅
Ain’t that the truth lol
Re: 1/18th vs 1/10th prices. Two things folks should keep in mind so not to feel frustrated and "ripped off":
-Smaller parts aren't necessarily cheaper, and in fact, sometimes more expensive to make.
I run into this conversation with clients with the price of a table top sculpture vs a floor standing one. "It's a third of the size. Why isn't it a third of the price!?!" Because there's comparatively little difference in the material price, and materials being a small part of the cost to start. But the table top takes just as much tome to build as the floor standing one. And labour is the bulk of the cost.
-Also, good old economy of scale. 1/10 is hugely more popular (which I don't get as small can crawl more places in less space) than the smaller scales. Making 10,000 parts per production run is more costly than making a million per run. That cost is reflected in the price.
Again, same convo between me and a client: "Why is that Kelp Sculpture in the gallery $1200 and the one you're making for me is $3000!?!?!". "Because I make the ones in the galleries 5 or 10 at a time and they just turn out as they turn out. Yours takes double or more work because you need it a specific size and shape and I have to make it singularly. "
* Just a general musing for others, not just directed at you Brother Matt! 😁👍
Furitek are beginning to out price themselves now. They know they're the best for electronics, but let's be honest, the other products they make are average at best.
This is why all companies need competitors. Prices just keep going up & quality seems to stay the same or be even worse.
I've got 12 scx24s now & the money I've wasted on them is ridiculous. Well over 6k now, I'd say
Just curious why you say 'wasted'?
@wingnutbert9685 Because I'm rapidly losing interest in them now. Between all the shady companies & the prices people like Furitek charge, I think I'd rather swap to 1/10 even though they're considerably larger & harder to carry about.
Someone else has said here that companies like Hobbywing should get involved more & if they did, I honestly think prices would scale better & all the consumers that love 1/24 would benefit from it. Right now, it's like the wild west. Especially with the prices some people put on their product.
This ofc is just my opinion & I'll probably upset someone, but they'll have their opinion too, that may upset someone else.
@@DesignedRhyme Yep. I really prefer the SCX24 scale size. But I really think Axial has dropped the ball big time and got lazy, it seems. And they, like Hobbywing, have the size to sustain, develop and advance the market segment. I'm heartened by the grass roots, small boutique builders that have ran with the SCX24 scale and are doing some crazy good work. Unfortunately, being in Canada, it's not feasible to get their stuff. It's pretty much double the price to get it up here with exchange rate, shipping, duties, fees, tax. It really sucks.
@wingnutbert9685 I live in the UK & it's ridiculously expensive to get parts shipped for us too. Unfortunately, the 1/24 scene is tiny here & after going to a few comps, you have basically met everyone at least once, very few people over here actually make parts so we're kind of limited to Amazon & the Chinese knock off websites.
Maybe if more people used Amazon or even eBay, it could help us out, but with delivery charges plus import duty, websites like Etsy are not worth it. You'd end up paying x3 the price of an item on delivery alone, then clumped with import if the items are priced over £160.
With the way most US businesses price things, they don't include the delivery charge with the item but include it on how much the items costs with regards to shipping so we get charged import duties on some items that only cost around £150, so under the import duties charge, but with the extortionate rate of delivery companies you'd end up paying around £200, then bang... import duties. I really hate the way import duties work. It should be on the items' worth, not the combined price of item + delivery.
I suppose with 3d printing becoming more accessible & easier to do, at least simple things like chassis & body parts will drop in price, but that still leaves the electronics.
You're definitely right about Axial. I think they're just focused on units ather than aftermarket things.
I guess every hobby is in the same boat. Everything costs a fortune now
Seems like a great system but that is too much for my tastes. Sure could use a brushless system at roughly half that price. Then I’d buy. The whole FX118 was only $40 dollars more than just this esc/motor. Yes this is better combo but… for my non-comp needs, too much. Thanks for the balanced review(as always).
Love my 100$ ascent. Not so much at 250$
I had to spend 250$ 🇨🇦 on my komodo and esc for my fcx18 Toyota.
Crazy man.
Taxes, shipping, duties.. things are getting out of hand.
I will not be buying anything from the U.S again.
I'm done.
Also, if you do by from the US, make sure they ship via US Postal Service. Not FX, UpS or any other. My understanding is that
Can. Post and USPS have an agreement so there's a good chance you don't get smoked with duties and fees and sometimes even tax is 'skipped over'.
Anybody else have issues with crawling down obstacles with the stock electronics? Mine is super smooth uphill but you can't go super slow downhill. It gets jerky and fast
Yeah it’s geared a bit high which makes it suffer going downhill.
@@2fmrc I was hoping maybe it was the motor so I swapped in a Holmes motor I tried in one of my TRX4Ms, but it didn't really make any difference
If a company, maybe injora or hw, comes out with brushless motor/esc combo that is under 100$ like for the 1.10, they will clean up as everyone would buy for every single rig they have. we should not be getting brushed motors now; electronics are dated and needs innovation and move forward. furitek is gouging now.
Regarding the pricing, we should not be accepting it; we should not accept that this is the price and that this hobby is expensive; this not even supply and demand; its companies continuing to raise prices because they haven't found that ledge where their sales slump.
Too pricey for me. I would rather have a second Ascent 18.