Redcat Ascent 18, mod stage 3.0 on rocks, check out the details in the description

Mod stage 3.0: weight 699g (battery 600mAh included), distribution: 58% / 42%
- Furitek starter brushless system for Redcat Ascent 18 (Venom, Lizard pro, receiver)
- Injora brass steering links
- steering servo GDW CLS RS0708
- aluminium servo horn
- overdrive for front portals, 20% all in all (underdrive rear portals was already installed with mod stage 2.0)
- battery tray removed
- relocation of the electronics and battery (placed on the sliders)
- incline ability 58.5° (gain of 2.0° vs. mod stage 2.0 and 7.5° vs stock)
Mod stage 2.0: weight 705g (battery included), distribution: 55.5% / 44.5%
- Injora 1“ brass wheels (instead of 1.3“ RCAWD wheels and DJCrawler 64x24 mm tires mod stage 1.0)
- Injora 64x24 mm S5 Rock Crawling tires
- Injora silicone inserts yellow for 62-64x24 tires, front axle
- Flubrc inserts sv51, rear axle
- Injora brass hex extensions 10mm (+4mm vs stock)
- Injora wheel nuts for hex extensions
- Redcat brass lower steering link
- Redcat brass steering knuckles
- Redcat brass outer portal housings fromt axle
- Injora brass diff cover front axle
- Redcat underdrive rear portals (~11% underdrive)
- 35g Swaytronic Lipo 600mAh
- front shocks one hole back (most backward position)
- rear schock one hole forward (most forward position)
- incline ability: 56.5° (gain of 5.5° vs stock)
Mod stage 1.0; weight 663g, distribution 57/43 (stock battery included)
- RCAWD 1.3“ wheels, front with brass rings, rear with plastic rings
- DJ Crawler tires 64mmx24mm
- Redcat brass hex
- body and bumpers massively trimmed to avoid rubbing while fully articulated and fl steering
-incline ability: 53.5° (gain of 2.5° vs stock)
Mods: none, box stock
Cool rig and I like how it looks and how the shocks/springs work. Slow crawl ability is ok, but never as good as a stock FCX24/18.
- weight: 435g
- weight distribution (stock battery included): 50% / 50%
- incline ability: 51°
- noticeable torque twist
- tire rubbing on fenders is massive, front tires also rub on the bumper, body has to be trimmed

[@jimbo4203]

Cool video, nice shots

[@stefan-norge]

Thanks, glad you like it 👍🏻

[@TheLiandriCorp]

You have gone further than most while still retaining the kits original look and appeal!
Out of curiosity, between Acent 18 and Katana, which one do you prefer and why (stock and with your current builds)? Nice build showcases!

[@stefan-norge]

Thanks, glad you like it 😃 Really hard to choose one as a favorite. The Ascent18 needs the furitek system badly if you add weight. So add the venom starter kit to the costs for an Ascent18. But then the mods are quite similar to get an equal result. Also both need a lot of body trimming, already with stock tires. Again, same situation for both. So in my opinion it is up to the look of the body.
And now my „special“ situation: due to the fact that there is no distributor for Redcat in Europe or Switzerland I had to pay the same amount of money for the Ascent18 and the Katana (both stock). So in my case I would buy the Katana if I keept it stock.

[@stefan-norge]

By the way: I have added this video a view minutes ago. It is slowed down a little bit. That helps to see the movent of the body and the work of the suspension and tires. For most people boring but I like it to watch in detail.
I prefer when the rigs body still roll and the shock has a functional spring and damping. Of course, one can see it just with a bit slo-mo but I like it anyways…
PS. The Katana was driven by my father in law. He is a beginner and has a lot of fun driving it but the Katana can do much smoother 😉
ua-cam.com/video/BZ7gOVu2UWA/v-deo.htmlsi=ijyhRDyXYMs2VtV4

[@TheLiandriCorp]

@@stefan-norge Heh, face the same issues in here in Sweden, shipping and tolls will be a constant.
Been looking to get into crawling and those two platforms look promising and here you provide build inspiration and detailed videos of them both which is a godsend, esp "real" katana crawling content that's rare on here.
1/18 seems like a good starting point, portable yet capable and it seems the aftermarket is catching up, although one needs to be a bit creative as you demonstrate ^^

[@stefan-norge]

@@TheLiandriCorp Fully agree. FMS FCX 24/18 is also an impressive platform. But they have no brushless at the moment. However, the 180 motor and the esc of the FCX18 are really good. Lots of torque ad very good modulation 👍🏻 And tons of aftermarket parts. If you check my youtube channel you will find quite a bit content about FCX24/18 😉