Traxxas vTamiya v Savage nitro trucks

[scorcher]

If you had to go for one,which would it be and why?
Been looking at Traxxas T Maxx ( std and 3.3 ), the Tamiya TNX 5.2R and the Savage X 4.6. Will be running it around a skate park and playing field so will have plenty of space to make mistakes ( last time I had a rc car was about 18 years ago and was a Tamiya electric )Beyond the names Tamiya and Kyosho I'm a bit (read hopelessly) lost so any pointers would be appreiciated.Been looking here http://www.rccarsandtrucks.co.uk/564_1.html and their prices seem quite competitive but any other links would be good.
Thanks for taking time to help.....

[sgrimshaw]

Scorcher,

I have an original T-Maxx, and whilst it is a good truck, it is much smaller than the other two you mention.

Also check the new Thunder Tiger MTA-4 Sledge Hammer out, it's a real beast with 8.2cc engine and in the same price ballpark as the others you mention.

I am sorely tempted by the Thunder Tiger myself .....

A good link is www.modelsport.co.uk for lots of choice and good prices.

If you really want a monster take a look at the Carson Gas Devil 4WD Monster Truck on the above site, or the FG Monster. They are both in different price ranges to the others though.


Simon

[scorcher]

Thanks Simon,I discovered modelsport just before I saw your post.
I have now ordered one of these http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpec... as I think half the fun is actually building it rather than just taking it out of the box and plugging and playing.Also gives you a better understanding of the thing when you need to unassemble it.Won't bother to spend money on the Scooby Doo now

[sgrimshaw]

Scorcher,

I always preferred to build myself too, but more and more they come "RTR".

One job I HATE in building though is trimming the body, painting and decaling is fine, but cutting the bloody thing out - aaargh!

I've still got two r/c scoobies to play with , but no substitute for the real thing. Tiley's only gave me £4,500 on trade in for my Legacy.

FSH, last of the old shape, owned from new - I'm off to cry.

Simon

[m3jappa]

i,ve just got a traxxas revo 3.3 . after a lot of research i decided it was best for me.i mainly want it for 'bashing' (jumping around and messing about with) that truk seemed to come out on top overall.
they are by no means indestructable though.
1 week in and i,m on 2nd engine.ran it in ok but a total lack of understanding about nitro models meant it was too lean,got too hot and snapped the rod. get a temp gauge with failsafe like i now have,that would have saved me buying another motor.
ive broken an
a arm
bulkhead
rod ends
servo
steering mount and probably a few other bits.i,ve also already bought a new shell,a set of lower offset rims with low profile tyres.
for what its cost i could have had a hpi baja but then i would probably have killed that too.its all a big learning curve for me.learning what it can and cant take.
it is great fun though,it really is.i took it over a bmx track and was jumping some pretty big doubles with ease
the good thing about the traxxas models at least is theres a whole traxxas community devoted to them which is an incredibly busy forum.
have a look here there a helpful bunch
http://monster.traxxas.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55
i love it and can see myself getting into it in a big way.

[Bungleaio]

I have had a savage in the past and found it very awkward to work on, i sold it after a few months and bought a Team Losi LST, i've found it to be a far superior to the hpi. The Tmaxx is a very old car now i wouldn't bother with one of them. There is no definitive answer to the which truck is best but they are amazing fun, we build massive ramps at the park and launch the trucks off of them as fast as possible, it's very rare that a repair bill costs us more than £20.

Model sport and also Apex models are both very good shops you won't go far wrong if you buy from one of them.

My LST

[D__I__A__B__L__O]

Not sampled the Traxxas or Tamiya but have an old school Savage 21, ill second that it is a little sod to work on !! Just had to remove the engine to convert her back to pull start as the Roto-Start seems to be FUBAR'd for some unknown reason. Been happy with the Savage and have had no problems, am looking at the X 4.6 myself. My mate has a Team Losi LST 1 and he has had different problems with his that I havent, at the end of the day they all have there little quirks !! See if you can find people locally with them and see them in action.

[bloodyniceben]

I have a 3.3 t maxx now after having a .15 t maxx for years. The 3.3 t maxx is amazing, so much better than a Savage, and contrary to what has been said, they are the same size as the savage as the t maxx 3.3 has wider track than the old model, a savage and t maxx body are also the same size as I have one on my t maxx. The savage is also very hard to work on, as one complete side of the chassis has to come off to get any components out. Traxxas is your best bet for quality and reiability.

[sgrimshaw]

bloodyniceben said:

I have a 3.3 t maxx now after having a .15 t maxx for years. The 3.3 t maxx is amazing, so much better than a Savage, and contrary to what has been said, they are the same size as the savage as the t maxx 3.3 has wider track than the old model, a savage and t maxx body are also the same size as I have one on my t maxx. The savage is also very hard to work on, as one complete side of the chassis has to come off to get any components out. Traxxas is your best bet for quality and reiability.

Savage and T-Maxx are NOT the same size, the Traxxas is 1/10th Scale, the HPI is 1/8th:

All T-Maxx's Length 486 mm

Savage X Length 534 mm

All T-Maxx Width(Track) 417 mm

Savage X Width(Track) 427 mm


If you want really BIG without going too expensive (1/5th or 1/6th), then the Team Associated MGT 8.0 is 614 mm long.

Edited by sgrimshaw on Sunday 6th January 14:47

[bloodyniceben]

The savage is not 1:8th scale, I have a 1:8 th rally car that dwarfs the savage shell, a few millimeters difference in chassis size doesn't make it 1:8 th, hpi need to work their measurements out. The 3.3 t max will slaughter a 4.6 savage.

Edited by bloodyniceben on Sunday 6th January 15:51

[sgrimshaw]

bloodyniceben said:

The savage is not 1:8th scale, I have a 1:8 th rally car that dwarfs the savage shell, a few millimeters difference in chassis size doesn't make it 1:8 th, hpi need to work their measurements out. The 3.3 t max will slaughter a 4.6 savage.

I am sure HPI will take your comments on board, as will Associated, Hobao, Team Losi, Tamiya and Thunder Tiger who all class their Monster Trucks as 1/8th scale.

Fact remains, Savage is bigger than T-Maxx.

I have run my T-Maxx with a Savage, have you actually seen the two together?

As to whether a 3.3 T will beat a 4.6 savage, much of that will depend on the setup and driver skill.

My original T-Maxx pissed all over the Savage 25 for both those reasons.

[bloodyniceben]

A friend of mine has run againt a savage 4.6 with his revo 3.3 and that is heavier than the t maxx and the revo was noticeably faster. Was just saying about the size of a savage, I'll post a picture of my 1:8 rally car shell and you can see the difference in size, not trying to start an arguement its just traxxas seem to have more of an idea on scale than anyone else.

[JTD]

I think the Hpi stuff is better quality but the Traxxas stuff has better innovation such as onboard starts etc where Hpi are still plodding on with pull-starts & that roto-start mechanism which now looks well dated.

Edited by JTD on Monday 7th January 11:43

[Scoobydougie]

scorcher said:

Thanks Simon,I discovered modelsport just before I saw your post.
I have now ordered one of these http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpec... as I think half the fun is actually building it rather than just taking it out of the box and plugging and playing.Also gives you a better understanding of the thing when you need to unassemble it.Won't bother to spend money on the Scooby Doo now

I bought one of these a couple of months ago, certainly helps building it yourself for when something goes wrong. Got to say though I have been amazed at the amount of punishment the savage can take, other RC's I've had would have been destroyed by some of the jumps/crashes it takes in it's stride.

[Sparky69]

Bungleaio said:

I have had a savage in the past and found it very awkward to work on, i sold it after a few months and bought a Team Losi LST, i've found it to be a far superior to the hpi. The Tmaxx is a very old car now i wouldn't bother with one of them. There is no definitive answer to the which truck is best but they are amazing fun, we build massive ramps at the park and launch the trucks off of them as fast as possible, it's very rare that a repair bill costs us more than £20.

Model sport and also Apex models are both very good shops you won't go far wrong if you buy from one of them.

My LST

I would second that I also have an lst and my cousin has the lst 2. The best thing about repairs is the front and back are identical so wishbones difs driveshafts are all the same. And the shockys are nothing short of amazing aswell. also as well as having 2 gears it has a manually ajustable high and low ratio! Prob one of the biggest fastest trucks available.

[basherbarrichelo]

iv got a 1:8 raptor, its my first truck so dont really now much about trucks, but as far as i know mine's awesome!!!

[7357]

I am looking to get a truck..
Whats the most robust one you can get ? I have had Schumacher Nitro cars, and as long as you don't hit anything it did not cost to much! I am not a fan of repairing things -

I would want a truck to play with in woodland and over fields, while walking my dog.

Any Advice ?

[Robbie_18]

Yeah i third the comments about the losi lst, i have had mine for two years and love it, it is tuff, cheap on parts and bloody fast!

[Scoobydougie]

7357 said:

I would want a truck to play with in woodland and over fields, while walking my dog.

Any Advice ?

Make sure you get something thats faster than your dog!!

Walking mines a doddle with the savage, just let it go and watch him do lap after lap chasing it, result, one knackered dog, minimum effort and plenty fun had with the truck at the same time!

[7357]

Scoobydougie said:

7357 said:

I would want a truck to play with in woodland and over fields, while walking my dog.

Any Advice ?

Make sure you get something thats faster than your dog!!

Walking mines a doddle with the savage, just let it go and watch him do lap after lap chasing it, result, one knackered dog, minimum effort and plenty fun had with the truck at the same time!

Thanks..
But whick one should I buy ?