Cariama MSA-1E vs Axial SCX24 - anyone have both?

[Hoyle]

I’m looking at picking up a 1/24 crawler

Anyone have both the Carisma MSA-1E and the Axial SCX24?

Looking for which one would be better

Pros and cons for each?

[spoo76]

Originally Posted by Hoyle

I’m looking at picking up a 1/24 crawler



Anyone have both the Carisma MSA-1E and the Axial SCX24?



Looking for which one would be better



Not looking to mod too much

I have both, The MSA-1E isn't bad, but it doesn't crawl as well as the SCX24, though I will say it crawls better than an ECX Barrage or RC4WD Mini Gelande.
This may not bother you, but I'm not a fan of the ugly non scale looking chasis, but it works fine and the truck handles well.
The biggest complaint I have is the undersized motor that lacks torque and has the motor stall out when the wheels are loaded or in a bind.
The plastic is also MUCH better and stronger than almost any micro/mini crawler other than the Panda Hobby Tetra X1, however unless it's for a child that's bashing it, the plastics are strong enough on the SCX24.

The SCX24 on the other hand performs much better with it's worm drive axles that offer more gear reduction, and more axle clearance, as well as taller tires. Though you say you're not planning to modify it much, there's better stock and upgrade parts support for the SCX24

It's also nice that the SCX24 has auxiliary LED ports and a working 3rd channel.
Another plus for the SCX24 is that it comes with a 350mah 2s lipo instead of the tiny 7.2v NIMH pack in the Carisma which gives pretty short run times.

I and most will say get the SCX24 for the same money, but it's not like the Carisma MSA1-E is bad. If you're planning on slow crawling the SCX is the way to go.

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[makemehi2]

Originally Posted by Hoyle

I’m looking at picking up a 1/24 crawler

Anyone have both the Carisma MSA-1E and the Axial SCX24?

Looking for which one would be better

Pros and cons for each?

I completely agree with Spoo76. I have both. MSA has such an underpowered motor and it died a week ago. So I ordered a new motor and bought SCX24 too.

With a weak motor, MSA performs more like a trail truck, while SCX24 crawls like 1:10. And scx comes with 2cell lipo battery that allows more than 1-hr of run time. MSA comes with really small Nimh battery.

Moreover, scx24 has a lot more after-market parts such as 3d printed hop-ups at Shapeways, which allows you to use bigger motors, cage-type hard bodies, new steering links.


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[spoo76]

The smaller pinion in the Carisma with the Ford body should help noticably considering how big it was already. I think it was 14t which is oddly large for a crawler with an undersized motor. (Also odd there is a heat sink)
However I still think the motor is to small.

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[spoo76]

050 barrage left
Carisma which is a long can N20 middle
030 Losi motor, but the same size used in almost every other micro crawler like the SCX24 right

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[PileDriver]

I did the 050 motor conversion in one of my rc4wd gelande crawlers I have only bench tested it mounted to the tranny but it sounds way better so far.