The Backyard – HPI Returns and an enormous week in small scale crawling!
Hello everybody, a contented Friday to you!
As we hit mid-December, a time when enterprise and information historically dies down as everybody collectively goes on a break till the New Year, the r/c world had some fascinating information/releases drop.
The HPI Venture18 1985 Toyota Hilux SR5 crawler was introduced, and a day later the Redcat Ascent-18 International Scout II – 1/18 Scale Brushed Electric Rock Crawler was unveiled.
I’ll begin with the HPI announcement, as a result of it’s a reasonably large deal because it’s successfully the true re-launch of HPI right here in America. It’s not “technically” the re-launch….but it surely successfully is, as these of us within the States actually haven’t seen a lot HPI stuff in years, so far as the mainstream goes, not less than.
HPI went all out sending the truck to YouTubers, in addition to promising full assist of the rig, and the reception has been usually extraordinarily optimistic. It feels like a stable 1:18 efficiency based mostly rock crawler, and it has nice appears to be like besides.
It would seem that HPI could have a success on their arms, and that is nice information for the interest. Longtime hobbyists will keep in mind a time when HPI was an enormous powerhouse. In the aughts, they had been personally my favourite firm, as I used to be a day one adopter of the nitro Savage monster truck, and I adored my Wheely King. The firm appeared to wrestle all through the 2010’s, however lately after some restructuring issues appear to be on a optimistic observe.
The Venture18 launch will hopefully both introduce or re-introduce the model to many US hobbyists. I’m rooting for them, and I wager even a lot of their rivals are too! The interest is a greater place when HPI is robust!
Literally the day after the little HPI Toyota was introduced, Redcat introduced an replace to their small scale Ascent platform, the 1/18 Scout II. Check out Tim’s unboxing and running videos of it right here.
The earlier model of the Ascent has a popularity as a really succesful mini crawler, however the cosmetics of it had been….nicely, for my part there was rather a lot to be desired there. The Scout II fixes that proper up. The physique and tires/wheels combo look superior.
Kind of loopy how tremendous aggressive the 1/18 scale crawler market has turn out to be within the span of 48 hours, eh?
With winter both right here or very a lot on its method, relying the place you reside, these two releases come at an ideal time. This is the time of 12 months for smaller scale to shine, as lots of hobbyists wish to take ’em indoors.
I’m an enormous proponent of 1/18 scale being the right measurement for small scale r/c, as a result of yeah, you may run them inside, however they’re nonetheless large enough to have enjoyable outdoors.
It’s cool to see this phase warmth up, particularly at a time the place the information is kinda gradual, and releases are a bit sparser. I’m gonna guess many hobbyists might be spending winter with one (or each!) of those dudes.
Alright, that’s it for me this week, people. Lotta vacation buying nonetheless left to do. Until subsequent time, hold it on all 4’s!