RCCrawler Forums

RecklessTrent91

Id like to hear everyones opinions on companies discontinuing models. Im not really talking about the models that wasnt very popular, but more so the models that lots of people have, want, still use ect. Do you agree with them doing this to try and make room for new stuff? I personally think there are other ways around coming out with new stuff where they dont really have to discontinue older stuff just to make room for it. And not really only just complete trucks, but popular parts such as bodies, wheels, tires, ect also that fit a wide range of trucks. Makes me sad and a lil bit upset when you have rigs that you have all kinds of money and time into and still love to run but parts for them are hard or impossible to find.

WHITE-TRASH

Nothing that's good or worth owning gets discontinued and has no aftermarket support.

I know most in the hobby don't do things how I do where I grab a chassis and then source all the rest to suit my needs. I don't use parts that are proprietary to Chinese brands that have 2% market share for the 10 minutes they're available.

You can grab cross, wpl etc and get hung out digging for parts or you can run axial, associated etc and never have the supply issues.

RecklessTrent91

So your saying a axial wraith 2.2, axial bomber, axial smt10, kyosho mad force platform, among many others are not good or worth owning

DrIsotope

TooOldForThis

Carrying lots of inventory and doing small production runs costs money, so phasing things out is unavoidable from a business perspective. As hobbyists we have to just be aware of it and try to snatch up what we need when we know it's going away. I just wish it was always obvious when something is being discontinued vs. temporarily on sale, because I've missed out a few times.

2500hdon37s

I’ve ran into the same recently with getting back into the hobby. It sucks but it’s the natural way of business as older and less profitable models get discontinued to make room and funds for newer and usually better models, that will initially usually have a nice sales bump.

Same reason you can’t buy a brand new black and white tube TV or a 1910 Ford model T. There are far better vehicles out now. Just because you or one person likes it, or even a group of hobbyists are passionate about a particular model/ product doesn’t mean it’s profitable or even practical for a company to keep it in production. Especially in niche hobbies such as RC rock crawling and scale trucks.

But with help from members here on the forums and the advent of rather cost effective 3D printing some parts can be made or sourced second hand if needed.

Fallen

The good news is that scalers don't break nearly as often as racers. My old Vaterra Twin Hammers still gets run on 3S. My four year olds drive it, 14 year old drives it and I do too. Vaterra went out of business like, 5 years ago I think. But that U4 truck is still going strong.

And for popular models, the aftermarket support remains years after the model has been killed off. I can still find replacement parts for my Twin Hammers if I need them.

Every industry has this problem. Cars, motorcycles, mountain bikes, airplanes... It does suck, but it's unavoidable unless you create your own models. Buy them new, run them for a few years, then take the electronics out and put them on a shelf for memories. Apart from starting my own RC company, I don't have a better answer.

And I have a sneaking suspicion that if I did start making RC cars, I'd probably discontinue old models also.

Fricker08

I get chassis and manufactures come b go, I wish bodies, tires and stuff like that didn’t get discontinued so often.
Like fallen said though, the scaler world market last’s a hell of a lot longer than the racing world. In the racing scene, there is new cars coming every year it seems like and it doesn’t take long for that car that was once the baddest on the block to become a shelf piece not being able to get parts.
I haven’t raced any rc’s for over 12 years but Im stepping back in with a kyosho mp10e, it doesn’t look much different than the cars did 10 years ago, they’re just refined. Electronics on the other hand.. those have come leaps and bounds to make this hobby much more enjoyable imo. We use to run servos with idk maybe 150oz of torque.. now we’re running 600+ all the way up to 1000oz just because technology has come that far.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, yes it’s a bummer. But it’s how the cookie crumbles


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Col_Sanders

The Wraith was old AF. It had a long run and was not really popular anymore. IMO it stayed around longer than it could have.

I feel like Proline discontinues some bodies that they shouldnt. Then they replace them with some weird crap. Who asked for a 1990s Ford Ranger?

B-MOW71

Yep!!

Speedy-Triple

Im with you we need OJ'S bronco back with better detail. Better yet with printed grill.

indybama

Id love to see a 80-86 f150 stepside in th 12.3 wb myself lol

WHITE-TRASH

Having owned all of those you listed I'll agree, they all suck for crawling. Huge skids, trailing arms, heavier chassis rather than rails and a lite lexan body etc


The kicker of my post that you obviously glossed over is being discontinued AND having no aftermarket support afterwards. Axial axles and transmissions are better supported than 90% of the other manufacturers out there so those rigs don't fall under the umbrella of junk.

Everyone discontinues models and just rehashed the drivetrain with another body etc like axial scx series, vanquish etc.

HumboldtEF

Licensing is also a big issue for bodies/kits. Licensing is expensive so if a model isnt popular on release dont expect it to be around for too long.

TooOldForThis

Just a heads up to everyone, the Axial Early Bronco and Ryft kit may be getting discontinued. They're both very cheap right now in Horizon's Spring Cleaning Sale. Like I mentioned earlier it's hard to tell a regular sale apart from a discontinuation but either way if you're interested the prices are right and now is the time.

Col_Sanders

The Axial SCX10 II builder's kit is under $150. I bought one for my son. Why not at that price.

Fricker08

Idk if this has been brought up yet, but I believe it’s been confirmed that Vanquish is discontinuing the Vs4-10 Pro and Ultra


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tigris99

Any idea what they are replacing them with? Kinda bummed was going to grab one but having to save up the funds, got too much money out at the moment lol.

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Fricker08

Hopefully not the phoenix… smh
I think you’ll be able to find them for a while hopefully. I’m glad I built a pro, it’s a fantastic truck.


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B-MOW71

I thought I heard someone say that. Hate to see them go. Glad I have a Pro & Origin, but never had the extra cash to get the Ultra. The Ultra is the only one I'm missing, well and the Ripper. Screwed around and missed that chance to get one!

I wonder, I wonder what VP has planned to replace them with?!?!?