Suggestions for 1/18 MT

[Dustin Mustangs]

Anyone had a good experience with one of these? It is for a young child, so durability and ease/cost to fix are top priorities. We have already tried the Revell Modzilla and the Helion Animus 18tr. Both performed acceptably but literally wore themselves out with actual use. The little plastic diffs are the main culprit but I could go on.

So, anyway, time to start fresh and looking for something that won’t constantly be wearing out parts.

TIA

 

[Slick2500]

It isn't 1/18 scale but this is hands down the best mini monster truck I have found from my research just think Arrma for mini rc. Aluminum chassis, aluminum threaded body shocks, all metal drive train solar servo. The OEM for this truck is LC Racing it is based off the LC Racing EMB-1 buggy(lots of guys trading there Mini 8ight for these because they are more durable and perform better). They also make a truggy, short course truck, rally car, desert buggy, and on road car. I would change out the speed controller for a Hobbywing 10BL60 as the stock one isn't waterproof and is a little under powered(esc also seems to be the biggest complaint.)
http://www.nitrorcx.com/25c103-14-valor-mt-red-brushless.html

I couldn't find a good body off pic of the MT but here is a pic of the buggy.

Here is a pic of it next to a Dromida 1/18 MT

Some info about these vehicles
https://www.rctech.net/forum/micro-mini-scales/681066-lc-racing-emb-1h-official-thread.html
https://www.rctech.net/forum/micro-mini-scales/884636-1-14-lc-racing.html
https://www.rctech.net/forum/nitror...ter-truck-brushless-ready-run-2-4ghz-red.html

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look into it. It is more than I wanted to spend but maybe that is part of the problem? Hmmmm...

 

[Jerry-Rigged]

I have read a lot of good things about the WLToys 1/18 cars. Lots of different "cars" on the same platform, and lots of aluminum /steel upgrades... There is the "Standard" version with a 390 brushed motor, and the "B" version with a 540(!) brushed motor.

390 version -
https://www.banggood.com/Wltoys-A97...mds=detail-left-hotproducts&cur_warehouse=USA
540 version -
https://www.banggood.com/WLtoys-A97...-1044136.html?rmmds=category&cur_warehouse=CN
Parts / upgrades -
https://www.banggood.com/search/a979.html

I also have the Revell Modzilla - but the Sandyland version. My kids loved it, but yeah, I had issues with it.

I also have the Hobbyking 1/16 SCT and 1/16 Mini Monster truck. The SCT was a bag of issue, took me about a year to get it running reliable. The MMT is more solid, but still not 100%. Still, there are upgrades available. a 380 burshed motor would make it great for a small kid, and there is a truck and a bug version, RTR, ARR, and Kits.
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/basher-hellseeker-rtr.html
Most of my MMT issues have been with the outer suspension pins popping out of the hub carrier / a-arm. I think I will go aluminum for this part soon... The MMT does have great diffs - sintered steel. I have actually mod'ed my mini-sct to use the MMT diffs. They are solid. the stock SCT diffs were butter.

HK also has some 1/18 trucks, but I have heard no good news about them, so I have stayed away.

 

[Slick2500]

I have read a lot of good things about the WLToys 1/18 cars. Lots of different "cars" on the same platform, and lots of aluminum /steel upgrades... There is the "Standard" version with a 390 brushed motor, and the "B" version with a 540(!) brushed motor.

390 version -
https://www.banggood.com/Wltoys-A97...mds=detail-left-hotproducts&cur_warehouse=USA
540 version -
https://www.banggood.com/WLtoys-A97...-1044136.html?rmmds=category&cur_warehouse=CN
Parts / upgrades -
https://www.banggood.com/search/a979.html

I also have the Revell Modzilla - but the Sandyland version. My kids loved it, but yeah, I had issues with it.

I also have the Hobbyking 1/16 SCT and 1/16 Mini Monster truck. The SCT was a bag of issue, took me about a year to get it running reliable. The MMT is more solid, but still not 100%. Still, there are upgrades available. a 380 burshed motor would make it great for a small kid, and there is a truck and a bug version, RTR, ARR, and Kits.
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/basher-hellseeker-rtr.html
Most of my MMT issues have been with the outer suspension pins popping out of the hub carrier / a-arm. I think I will go aluminum for this part soon... The MMT does have great diffs - sintered steel. I have actually mod'ed my mini-sct to use the MMT diffs. They are solid. the stock SCT diffs were butter.

HK also has some 1/18 trucks, but I have heard no good news about them, so I have stayed away.

WL-Toys are cheap and cheap to fix, most the parts do not cost more than $12. However everything for them comes from China or is dropped shipped from China for the most part.

And @Dustin Mustangs yes that is a little bit on the high side of things, but I look at it this way, most of the 1/18 vehicles are right around $100, and most of those need at the very least another $100 in upgrades and fixes to make them worthwhile so already you are in it about $200.
And they do make brushed versions of the Tacon vehicles, however they are nurtured down compared to the brushelss models. Plastic chassis, plastic shock towers, plastic shocks, no slipper clutch, and different diff setup. http://www.nitrorcx.com/25c133-14-valor-mt-red.html

 

[Jfpryde]

I've been looking at a 1/18th for my 5 y.o. daughter as I have been fixing up the old fleet. Pretty much everyone in my house has an RC (a lot of the ECX 1/10 2wd trucks) but I obviously have some more performance oriented models.

I do a stupid amount of research, to the point it is almost crippling before I make a decision. This particular decision is still very much up in the air. I have looked at the 1/18 Ruckus, Dromida, Volcano, Helion, Latrax Teton, WL toy knockoffs.... this list goes on. I also look heavily at the 1/14 LC Racing/Tacon stuff. At the end of the day I want a durable, small model (read doesn't carry a lot of inertia), that my daughter can have oodles of fun with. I can probably accomplish this with any of these models, but I'm a stickler for price to performance. Also, I don't want a fast car, but I prefer the reliability of brushless. I've replaced components in the 2wd ECXs too many damn times.

Ugh. Decisions.

 

[Jerry-Rigged]

For 1/18, you really don't need brushless. These little cars can't handle much power or speed. Look at the little WLToys 929B with a brushed 540 - it is silly out of control fast on anything other than smooth roads.

For 1/18, I really think the WLToys is the one to get. For a bit bigger, the LC Racing/ Tacon 1/14 cars.

My .02

 

[Slick2500]

For 1/18, you really don't need brushless. These little cars can't handle much power or speed. Look at the little WLToys 929B with a brushed 540 - it is silly out of control fast on anything other than smooth roads.

For 1/18, I really think the WLToys is the one to get. For a bit bigger, the LC Racing/ Tacon 1/14 cars.

My .02

To add to this a brushless 1/18 is just a little bundle of insanity trying to drive.

Since the vehicle is for a younger child I would highly suggest something with a throttle dual rate adjustment on the controller so you can turn the throttle down to a controllable level for them, then turn it up as they improve.

 

[Jfpryde]

I wasn't looking for the speed. I just don't wanna replace electronics constantly which has been my experience with brushed systems. Are they more stout on these little guys? I guess there is a lot less mass to move around, so maybe I wont set ESCs on fire so quick.

 

[Jerry-Rigged]

The 1/18 MT I have with a 380/390 brushed motor - that motor gets silly hot especially when I try to run it slow. I think that is the rub with brushed motors, half throttle is still WOT, just for half cycles, so slowing them down does not always reduce heat.

Maybe a plan could be to get the WLToys truck that runs the 540 motor, then put one of those 55t crawler motors in it. That will slow it down and lower the amp draw (amps = heat).

 

[Jfpryde]

The 1/18 MT I have with a 380/390 brushed motor - that motor gets silly hot especially when I try to run it slow. I think that is the rub with brushed motors, half throttle is still WOT, just for half cycles, so slowing them down does not always reduce heat.

Maybe a plan could be to get the WLToys truck that runs the 540 motor, then put one of those 55t crawler motors in it. That will slow it down and lower the amp draw (amps = heat).

I've noticed the same thing with a number of my brushed rigs. Your thought makes sense to me. I'll look into it.