1/10 VORTEKS 2WD RTR Brushed Stadium Truck

[Tallbump]

Anyone have any experience?

Horizon Hobby has them for a good price

https://www.horizonhobby.com/produc...ck-battery-and-charger-included/ARA3205S.html

 

[DavidB1126]

Yep it's tested and proven. Really good truck. Same platform as the newer Fury and Gorgon. Mid motor so it handles better than the older style rear motor arrmas and the antique Traxxas 2wds (out of the box, imo, even tho I havent driven one it will preform better)
My only complaints would be the electronics. Put in a faster speedier servo, HW Quicrun 3660 combo (2s lipo too) and my own Rx/tx and send it. Should fasten it up a bit. That's just my preference but if your just starting out, brushed and stock electronics will get ya rolling.
For a basher they're pretty good but if you are like me and want something both that can bash and do the track the 2wd Traxxas's (slash/rustler/bandit) even though rear motor have more tuning and aftermarket than the new Arrma chassis line, as for right now atleast.

 

[RustyUs]

You just have to weigh the pros and cons of the Arrma Vorteks when wanting a stadium truck. For the out the door price of the Vorteks, what's not to like? If you don't care about performance, and don't want to dump a lot of money into the hobby... great deal.

 

[Tallbump]

You just have to weigh the pros and cons of the Arrma Vorteks when wanting a stadium truck. For the out the door price of the Vorteks, what's not to like? If you don't care about performance, and don't want to dump a lot of money into the hobby... great deal.

I'm not 100% sure EXACTLY what I want, honestly.

I know I want something to bash around, and there's a 99% chance I won't be racing. I do know I don't want a monster truck, I prefer something with a lower center of gravity. I just want to drive fast, turn fast, and hit some jumps.

I probably would prefer a brushless set up, but it's not a necessity

I am trying to find the balance of good out of the box performance with some possible upgrades in the future, without turning a $150 car into a $500 car

I have two 1/24 scale crawlers. My first one was a $60 find off of Marketplace which is probably now like a $300 car. I'm TRYING to not go down that rabbit hole again

I have a friend that has a couple of Traxxas Slashes and an XMaxx. Those things are awesome. But the up front costs is more, of course. Not sure if I should bite the bullet and just go that route?

 

[CertifiedMike]

Other than topping off the shock oil and using a lipo, my Gorgon is box stock. Its tough, quick enough to wheelie but no rocket and is ab absolute blast to drive!
I like the stock truck so much that I intend to keep it stock until the brushed motor blows. I'll upgrade to a low kv brushless and keep it 2s when I have to.
I would imagine the other versions of this truck to have similar characteristics.

 

[CertifiedMike]

You need to be realistic about the limitations of any RC. There is no shortage of upgrades out there all promising to make your truck into something its not meant to be.
You can put $500 into an RC without much trouble these days.

If you're looking for a relatively cheap, fun, not going to REQUIRE upgrades, I think this chassis is a good choice.

 

[Tallbump]

You need to be realistic about the limitations of any RC. There is no shortage of upgrades out there all promising to make your truck into something its not meant to be.
You can put $500 into an RC without much trouble these days.

If you're looking for a relatively cheap, fun, not going to REQUIRE upgrades, I think this chassis is a good choice.

Yeah, I get that. I am just trying to find a happy medium. My biggest things right now are do I bite the bullet and just buy brushless from the start, and 2wd vs 4wd?

 

[CertifiedMike]

Yeah, I get that. I am just trying to find a happy medium. My biggest things right now are do I bite the bullet and just buy brushless from the start, and 2wd vs 4wd?

Depends on the kit. Sometimes a 'brushless upgrade' includes more than just the motor and esc. It might be worth a few extra bucks.
Other times, you pay a premuim for sub-par rtr electronics that WILL break quickly. In that case, better to buy a kit and build it with your own electronics.

What surfaces are you running on? That would be how I would pick between 2 and 4wd.

I like 4x4 because its fast and generally can go some places that 2wd can get to or run on. 4x4 is more expensive too tho.

Buy the VERY best chassis that you can afford. Buy the best CHASSIS even if it doesn't have all the upgrades you want. You have plenty of time ti upgrade once you own it.

Don't agonize too much over your choices.

Pretty much everyone I know in thus hobby started off with an idea that ONE car would be all they would want/need.
After some time spent on that car, it sort if takes on a personality. It will excell in some times, others not so great.
So.... back to the hobhy store for another buggy!
This is unlikely to be the last RC you'll buy so have fun and enjoy it, and then the next and the one after that!

 

[Tallbump]

Depends on the kit. Sometimes a 'brushless upgrade' includes more than just the motor and esc. It might be worth a few extra bucks.
Other times, you pay a premuim for sub-par rtr electronics that WILL break quickly. In that case, better to buy a kit and build it with your own electronics.

What surfaces are you running on? That would be how I would pick between 2 and 4wd.

I like 4x4 because its fast and generally can go some places that 2wd can get to or run on. 4x4 is more expensive too tho.

Buy the VERY best chassis that you can afford. Buy the best CHASSIS even if it doesn't have all the upgrades you want. You have plenty of time ti upgrade once you own it.

Don't agonize too much over your choices.

Pretty much everyone I know in thus hobby started off with an idea that ONE car would be all they would want/need.
After some time spent on that car, it sort if takes on a personality. It will excell in some times, others not so great.
So.... back to the hobhy store for another buggy!
This is unlikely to be the last RC you'll buy so have fun and enjoy it, and then the next and the one after that!

I figure this will happen eventually.

I am actually looking at something else, now, too. I think I will be much happier, even though it's almost 3 times as much

The Redcat Valkyrie - https://www.redcatracing.com/produc...shless-electric-truggy?variant=41323077173338

Has everything I am looking for.
4WD, Brushless, ground clearance, etc....

 

[RustyUs]

The "great price" just disappeared. Now the platform's price is back up and above the normal selling price on HH.

 

[Tallbump]

The "great price" just disappeared. Now the platform's price is back up and above the normal selling price on HH.

Yeah, the sale ended the 22nd. Not sure why the price went higher than the normal price though

 

[WickedFog]

Yeah, the sale ended the 22nd. Not sure why the price went higher than the normal price though

Horizon does that all the time. They disguise price hikes with a quick sale beforehand.

 

[RudyF6]

Redcat direct says $259.99 until June 16th. Helluva' deal!

 

[RustyUs]

I figure this will happen eventually.

I am actually looking at something else, now, too. I think I will be much happier, even though it's almost 3 times as much

The Redcat Valkyrie - https://www.redcatracing.com/produc...shless-electric-truggy?variant=41323077173338

Has everything I am looking for.
4WD, Brushless, ground clearance, etc....

And don't worry about taking a step back to reevaluate the/your situation. It happens all the time. There are a couple surface RC platform voids that I would like to fill someday i.e., a crawler platform, and a touring car/drifter/rally type of all-in-one toy. I know I have to hold myself back when great deals appearing on RCs that interest me greatly, especially anything 4wd SCT or truggy-ish.

Yeah, the sale ended the 22nd. Not sure why the price went higher than the normal price though

Popular telltale thinking would have a person believe a discontinuation was on the horizon. Everyone seems to go that direction, but it's not always the case. Some companies have a reputation for dropping prices stupidly low and the yellow flag comes out.

 

[CertifiedMike]

I have a lot of fun running in my yard with MTs.
I don't know much about Redcat now. The price looks pretty good if it holds up. There was another review on one not long ago and it sounds promising.
Def review it so we all know too!

 

[Tallbump]

I have a lot of fun running in my yard with MTs.
I don't know much about Redcat now. The price looks pretty good if it holds up. There was another review on one not long ago and it sounds promising.
Def review it so we all know too!

This video really convinced me

 

[Tallbump]

Had a friend over yesterday, the one who got me into RCs. He brought a Slash and a Stampede. I played with the Stampede. Had a blast. Can't believe how fast these things are. This was my first real time getting to play with one. Currently I have a few 1/24 crawlers so that is what I am used to, tehri than toy store cars back in the day (late 80s).

Decided I had to have something. Still holding out for the Redcat Valkyrie, but, in the mean time, I ordered a Redcat Volcano 16. https://www.redcatracing.com/products/volcano-16?variant=32931321086042

Scored it on Amazon for $83. Supposed to be here Wednesday



From what I read and videos I have seen I will be happy with it. Will probably end up with better shocks and some 2S or 3S batterie

 

[Cuchara]

I've only had mine since the sale, and so far the Vorteks has been so much more fun than my modified Slash at the local indoor carpet track. Low CG, wide tires, simple body removal, and the shock absorber screws don't come loose every five minutes.

Mods so far:

• Spektrum LiPo (quicker than the stock NiMH)
• EcoPower steering servo
• Hot Racing servo saver
• Ribbon in the battery compartment to help eject the battery

The steering is the biggest issue I've had so far; there is no adjustment on the toe links so you must use the knob on the remote to make it drive straight, then the stock servo failed within the first couple of sessions, then the upgrade servo cracked the plastic ARRMA 25T servo saver almost immediately. I have only had the all-metal Hot Racing servo saver for one session, but so far no complaints.
Update: the Hot Racing servo saver has failed after only a few sessions - the inner spring is not engaging at all so there is like 15 degrees of slop. Not sure what I am doing wrong here. Suggestions welcome.

Looking forward to a brushless upgrade for more power but I wouldn't say it is "required."