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Base Level Quality - Element vs Axial

SteveB1

SteveB1

Quarry Creeper
Joined
Mar 12, 2020
Messages
452
Location
Las Vegas
With Element being under the AE line, subsequently owned by Thunder Tiger, and Axial is under HH ownership, is there a general consensus as to the base level of quality between the two brands? I ask because my Nomad ( AE product ) has very few aftermarket parts on the platform ( not that there is a large supply of them ), where as my Axial Wraith is mostly Vanquish / Incision / MIP .

Does a kit from Element tend to need less aftermarket support than a kit from Axial?

I do want to make a point in that I'm somewhat snake-bit with AE products and the very little support after product discontinuation. It seems that while the RC8.2 ( Nomad base ) platform is very robust and needs little aftermarket help, but it also makes it very hard to find parts now for repair.

Whereas it seems that aftermarket support for Axial products is very robust and getting parts is not much of an issue. But is part of this robust aftermarket parts suite somewhat rooted in the fact that OEM Axial parts are marginal in quality and get replaced as a matter of routine?


s
 
The AE offering is fairly new. If it really catches on it could have more support than Axial.

I'm fairly disenchanted with Axial as they seem to be killing off all the cool stuff and making 2 chassis under a dozen names.

Sent from my Phone 2 using Tapatalk
 
This is a classic example of supply and demand. When I was researching what to buy it appeared to me that Axial/Traxxas OEM and aftermarket parts were far more abundant than any other manufacturer.

I don't believe that it is based on quality so much as Axial and Traxxas seem to be the largest platforms being used.
 
I can't speak for AE...but, as for Axial, I am aware of the fact that more & more Axial parts are being made in the Losi (also owned by HH) factory. While Axial parts prior to the HH acquisition were (from what I've heard) of 'questionable' quality, anyone familiar with Losi/TLR parts knows the plastic is of excellent quality.

When the Axial Capra was released (the first completely new Axial product since HH fully rolled Axial into HH), there were quite a few people noticing the increased quality of the plastic parts. As I have no experience with Axial prior to the Capra, I have only the word of those people...but, having already been familiar with TLR plastic quality, I can say that the Capra parts did appear to be of similar/equal quality.


~ More peace, love, and kindness would make the world a much better place
 
Traxxas, Axial,Associated( Element)
Traxxas and Axial seem to think they do no wrong. Overall quality. (Oops)

Element has a different thought, more as the new kid, I need to respond.

As I play with all, Associated seems to be the real company , that’s why I bought a DR10 vs the “others”


Hang up and Drive
 
Thank you all for your input. My Nomad DB-8 is one of my most favored platforms in the collection, but when AE walked away from it, there was a serious void in parts support. Things like caster blocks, drive shafts, ect are very hard to track down. I spent the better part of a year amassing a spare parts inventory to support the buggy. Here is a write-up I did on the Nomad: https://www.mojavevalleyrcadventures.com/nomad-db---8.html

That said, I don't want to have to do that again, but AE makes a great machine. I have my eye on the Gatekeeper kit for my son, but I'm still waiting to see if it will stick around. I realize it's an Enduro in many ways, and the Enduro seems to have good support for parts.

I've discussed before that the Ryft would be a fun crawler once they release the kit, but it could easily turn into an expensive rework project, and doesn't appeal to me. Like many here, I already have my $2000 Wraith Spawn, and I'm not excited to go down that rabbit hole again. The Capra kit also gets my attention, and I have really enjoyed some of your builds here. Topher's Capra is awesome, and I have an eye on copying that as well. I'm just getting tired to throwing money into bottomless holes with some of these builds.

My Tekno is actually my least expensive buggy. Absolutely superb quality from the kit with little need for aftermarket parts.



Anyhow, thanks for your input; I'm still new to the crawler world.



s.
 
I, too picked up a Nomad - we've talked before (great site you got there, very informative) and I also have a ridiculously expensive Axial Bomber - the only Axial parts are the cage and the skid!

While I was gathering parts for that Bomber I got into the Vaterra Ascender, a (slightly flawed) truck I love - but it has been completely killed by Horizon.

I then got a TRX-4 Defender followed sometime thereafter by the Element Enduro Sendero (right when it was released) and am a big fan of both.

Considering the shorter length of time that the Element has been on the market, there is a surprising amount of aftermarket support already.

The Traxxas TRX-4 also had many aftermarket companies jump on their product, but it has been out for some time now.

A good way to check is to go to a big online retailer and select the model you are interested in and go to the parts/upgrades/accessories section for it.

RPP for the Element (roughly 4 pages of parts, alphabetical by brand):

https://www.rpphobby.com/category_s/625.htm

RPP for the Traxxas TRX-4 (roughly 9 pages of parts):

https://www.rpphobby.com/category_s/610.htm

RPP for the Axial SCX10.3 (roughly 4 pages of parts):

https://www.rpphobby.com/category_s/724.htm

and compare that to the RPP list for the older Axial SCX10.2 (roughly 9 pages of parts):

https://www.rpphobby.com/category_s/595.htm

One thing I am appreciative of regarding Element - they definitely show signs of listening to their consumers, as the new Element Sendero HD release includes many improvements over the original model. They went with thicker Lexan for the body and no longer have the notched rocker panel area to fit over the sliders, which tended to crack or split on the first one - the sliders themselves are the newer Trailrunner style and the old clunky and oversized front bumper has been swapped out for the much more trim Trailwalker style. Those changes and the (once optional) upgraded harder plastics used in certain areas AND upgraded ESC and steering servo (with a metal horn) definitely make for an improved and desirable RTR. Oh - and they threw in the Utility Bed just to spice things up a bit!

But in the age of corporate bean-counter-driven product line consolidation, buying a new rig is always a slight gamble - no doubt about that.

The good thing about crawlers versus go-fast rigs is that you typically won't need as many spares, going slow does have its benefits!
 
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Many thanks Durok for your comments, and I can see your thought process on this one.

I also agree with your point on go-fast vs. crawler robustness. Now that my Nomad is 6s, I really have to be cautious when ripping around the fields. Rolled the other day and broke a few hard to find parts. I'm actually thinking of reworking my Tekno into 6s and moving the Nomad back to 4s. Tekno is super solid in parts quality and support.

If I had to guess, I will probably start with the Gatekeeper kit just to build something considerably different than my Wraith. After looking over a few of the links, seems there is enough to support for the Element line to last me a while. From there I'll see where the hobby takes me. We are super luck to have limitless areas to crawl on some amazing rock.



Here are a few images from Valley of Fire yesterday. Will post more on my IG page during the week.



cx5gJamh.jpg



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YBdlpWPh.jpg
 
I bought 3 Axial SCX24s for my sons, and aside from one of them going through three motors, they’ve been good, especially considering that these kids really use the trucks a lot. Sure, you can tell that there are cheap parts in places, but these things weigh nothing, and the motors are tiny. If the SCX10 series is as decent, it would be a good place to start. I have an Element Enduro HD, and I love it. It’s fantastic, and wow, it is silent. The bumper mounts are very, very flexible, almost rubbery, but it doesn’t feel weak. You didn’t ask, but the TRX-4 is a tank in comparison, and that shows in its weight. I think you’d be happy with either an axial or an element, but being a bit biased I have to say that the element has quickly become a truck that I want to take out all the time, despite it being completely stock. We really are lucky to have a hobby with such an abundance options, so thanks to all those that were here before us that spent years making parts and entire trucks on their own that have gotten us where we are. It’s a real golden age for crawlers.
 
I bought a Enduro builders kit at the beginning of last year, my first crawler. Over the past year it has become my favorite rc in the fleet. I thought so much of the Enduro, as soon as I could get my hands on the Gatekeep builders kit I bought one....now it has become my favorite rig. In my opinion, Element has hit a home run with these kits, and stand head and shoulders above the others in this cost bracket.
 
I would go with the Axial. So much more aftermarket support. AE has always had decent products I just think the Axial platforms offer more ways to change it to fit your needs.
 
Thanks guys.

I will pick up the Gatekeeper kit for my son ( 11 ) and make that the first kit we build together. I think he will have a good time with this, and while it won't be the best crawler, I think the versatility will suit him well for a first trail truck / crawler. I like AE quality and I don't think we will need too much aftermarket support.

I decided to jump in a little more and got the Vanquish VS410 Pro kit. I'm about 1/5 of the way into it, and the quality is superb. Reminds me of my Tekno kits.



s
 
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The element needs improvements to the axles.

The 10.2 needs improvements to the shocks and plastics.

The 10.3 transmission is over-featured and heavy.

Smoosh em together and you get a pretty cool rig.


What’s up Steve! Congrats on the GK purchase.
 
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