New bodies

[tuanies]

Jeep is a brand that conveys a rugged, off-road, outdoorsy lifestyle. The brand sells extremely well and sold over 900k vehicles last year and could even top 1-million this year. Look at last months US sales alone - the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler are ranked 7 and 9 in SUV sales - these are cars that sell well into the $40-60k price range.

August 2017 YTD U.S. SUV And Crossover Sales Rankings - Top 106 Best-Selling SUVs In America - Every SUV Ranked -

The brand is in the top 6 for sales this year so far. Sure Ford, Toyota, Chevy, Honda and Nissan sell more vehicles, but none of them have the loyal brand following or off-road reputation, with the exception of a handful of models - Raptor, TRD Off-Road/Pro, ZR2/Z72.

So market sales data shows that Jeep is an easy bet, which Axial is following.

 

[Ditchrat]

How many full size F-series trucks do you see on the trail?

While Jeep might not have a vehicle in the top ten, they have three in the top 25. All of which would be seen actually doing duty off-road. Full-size pickups sell so well because contractors and people who like to help friends move.

I don't know where you live, but here in PA the vast majority of Jeeps are mall crawler with the majority of actual trail trucks being full size or mid size pickups.

People here actually build these trucks as daily drivers and use them for hunting, camping, fishing and access to the dirty roads, and trails scattered through out the Commonwealth. Having lived in MA and spent a ton of time in NY, NH, VT, and ME most of the 4x4 vehicles are set up the exact same way.

There are very few places that have extensive rock trails that take advantage of the short WB jeep. There are significant advantages to the longer WB vehicles, not just limited to performance, but also the capacity to carry gear along the way.

Very few people in remote areas of the US or World use jeeps. Most are mid sized pickup, Isuzu's, 4-runners and such.

You opinion maybe representative of you experience, but it is not representative of the vast majority of the US. With Axial being on the west coast it doesn't surprise me that their perspective is closely aligned with the whole desert rock culture.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Axial does not leak product through tower. Never has. Its out of their hands.

This statement is funny because more than one Axial leak has come from Tower Hobbies catalogs. If it's not a planned "leak" Tower has some horrible employees releasing info too soon. :lmao:

 

[imthatguy]

I don't know where you live, but here in PA the vast majority of Jeeps are mall crawler with the majority of actual trail trucks being full size or mid size pickups.

People here actually build these trucks as daily drivers and use them for hunting, camping, fishing and access to the dirty roads, and trails scattered through out the Commonwealth. Having lived in MA and spent a ton of time in NY, NH, VT, and ME most of the 4x4 vehicles are set up the exact same way.

There are very few places that have extensive rock trails that take advantage of the short WB jeep. There are significant advantages to the longer WB vehicles, not just limited to performance, but also the capacity to carry gear along the way.

Very few people in remote areas of the US or World use jeeps. Most are mid sized pickup, Isuzu's, 4-runners and such.

You opinion maybe representative of you experience, but it is not representative of the vast majority of the US. With Axial being on the west coast it doesn't surprise me that their perspective is closely aligned with the whole desert rock culture.

I'm on the mid-eastern part of the Canada. Yeah, there's a lot of mall cwalrers and dudes with full-size trucks too. Ultimately, if we look at what these little (RC) trucks are used for, it's trails and crawling. Hence why Jeep is such a big part of Axial's brand. It's the de-facto off-roader.

It comes down to knowing the market, and I think Axial's got it figured out. Otherwise, we'd see a bunch more of the other trucks, no?

Here's a link that's food for thought (yes, it's an older article, and yes, it's about used trucks, but still interesting): Best Off-Road Truck Buys - Toyota Trucks - Off-Road Magazine

 

[Ditchrat]

I'm on the mid-eastern part of the Canada. Yeah, there's a lot of mall cwalrers and dudes with full-size trucks too. Ultimately, if we look at what these little (RC) trucks are used for, it's trails and crawling. Hence why Jeep is such a big part of Axial's brand. It's the de-facto off-roader.

It comes down to knowing the market, and I think Axial's got it figured out. Otherwise, we'd see a bunch more of the other trucks, no?

Here's a link that's food for thought (yes, it's an older article, and yes, it's about used trucks, but still interesting): Best Off-Road Truck Buys - Toyota Trucks - Off-Road Magazine

You are not wrong, but you just have to look at how quickly those stock bodies get replaced by other non jeep bodies. With the market competition increasing are those fees for jeep bodies really worth it? Tell me how many of your builds include the plastic licensed parts?

 

[tuanies]

This statement is funny because more than one Axial leak has come from Tower Hobbies catalogs. If it's not a planned "leak" Tower has some horrible employees releasing info too soon. :lmao:

What probably happens is Tower gets early info because its Hobbico. They plan it for x issue of release. Issue goes to print, Axial pushes back launch due to whatever reason. It was too late, shit happens. Its pretty normal when it comes to launching any product that's supposed to have retail availability at x date.

 

[imthatguy]

You are not wrong, but you just have to look at how quickly those stock bodies get replaced by other non jeep bodies.

That's totally fair, but what are guys replacing them with? ;-)

 

[Sneetches]

Axial does not leak product through tower. Never has. Its out of their hands.

I distinctly remember when the Bomber showed up in a Tower catalog: http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk161/PTAryan3000/Mobile Uploads/2015-11/20151106_163809.jpg

And now here we are in a 2nd thread where a tower hobbies catalog has some unreleased models in it. If it happens a 3rd time later down the road what will we call that? I don't really care much because new stuff either way.

What probably happens is Tower gets early info because its Hobbico. They plan it for x issue of release. Issue goes to print, Axial pushes back launch due to whatever reason. It was too late, shit happens. Its pretty normal when it comes to launching any product that's supposed to have retail availability at x date.

Which is what Brandon seems to be implying when he says Axial doesn't leak them then.

 

[Ditchrat]

That's totally fair, but what are guys replacing them with? ;-)

Trucks I once owned,(including a Jeep:lmao and dream trucks I can't afford.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I distinctly remember when the Bomber showed up in a Tower catalog: http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk161/PTAryan3000/Mobile Uploads/2015-11/20151106_163809.jpg

And now here we are in a 2nd thread where a tower hobbies catalog has some unreleased models in it. If it happens a 3rd time later down the road what will we call that? I don't really care much because new stuff either way.



Which is what Brandon seems to be implying when he says Axial doesn't leak them then.

Didn't it also happen with the Junior Yeti? I'm pretty sure it did. Too many "accidents" by Tower for it to not be on purpose IMHO.

EDIT: Sorry, it was RC Driver that leaked the Junior.
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/axial-yeti/574516-axial-1-18-yeti-yeti-score.html

I think anybody except Jeep fanboys are tired of Jeep bodies.

 

[crockins]

There is another reason the jeeps are an obvious choice for the body licence. The wrangler is one of what, maybe 3 trucks on the market these days with a solid front axle? I don't know much about the big Ram with a solid axle but the Ford Super Duty is a boat hauler, not an off road vehicle. Sure it could be heavily modified to be somewhat capable off road but it's not common from what I've seen. I assume the Ram is probably the same. So really the only current model option for a solid front axle off road vehicle like the scx is a jeep! Of course you can go vintage and open up a lot of models which it looks like is exactly what they did with the new 69 Blazer RTR. In fact with that new line up of RTRs it looks like the Axial options are going to be less Jeep heavy than they've been in a while! We've got two jeep bodies, two unlicensed bodies with the new honcho and deadbolt (both not based on jeeps) and the blazer!
By the way my personal favorites of the axial bodies are the honcho, deadbolt and dingo.

 

[johnnyluv]

Jeep, yo.

Well, I really like the Axial Jeep Wrangler Unlimited body kit, because it provides so many opportunities for customization. I hope they don't discontinue it, because I think I mght do another one, eventually. Jeeps are everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, because it's mostly an outdoorsy culture. I wish I could own a 1:1 version of my SCX10 (pictured), but it'd be impractical for my current station in life.

 

[Peaker]

I wish i could get those not really popular bodies, that's what i would go for with both a 1:1 and a scale truck.

Maybe one of those mid 50 ties Chevy pickups that did come in 4 x 4 as far as i know.
And i know my friend would kill for a mid 80ties Dodge ram charger cuz he have one in 1:1

And i wish those bodies would be build in a proper thickness material, the body that came with my SCX 10 II have several flaw's to it and are so thin i am afraid rain will make holes in it.

Most of all i wish for larger scale trucks as i feel a larger scale truck would have a bigger chance of handling a more detailed hard body, something so large a 5 inch wheel look like a small factory tire.

 

[svt923]

By the way my personal favorites of the axial bodies are the honcho, deadbolt and dingo.

Axial has been posting pics of a SCXII Dingo on Instagram for like 6 months and it looks pretty awesome. I'm legitimately surprised a Dingo version is not included in the 2nd group of SCXII releases.

 

[txbart]

Axial has been posting pics of a SCXII Dingo on Instagram for like 6 months and it looks pretty awesome. I'm legitimately surprised a Dingo version is not included in the 2nd group of SCXII releases.

That, & I’ve noticed that they are pushing the original Deadbolt as if it were all new on Facebook. But neither body looks like any significant updates have been done to them (a torso molded on the dingo, molded grills or headlights, etc.). I hope they aren’t relying on 3rd party 3d print designers for detail parts.

 

[xxxSHOWTIMExxx]

...the Honcho with a late model Taco body would be kool!

That would be amazing! I have a sick feeling that they will just use the previous body on the new platform :x I hope that they would know better....

 

[akatz]

Axial has been posting pics of a SCXII Dingo on Instagram for like 6 months and it looks pretty awesome. I'm legitimately surprised a Dingo version is not included in the 2nd group of SCXII releases.

They call it the dingo 2.0, I’m keeping my fingers crossed they surprise us with this rig with a few of the options shown on it because this thing is awesome.