Scale Vs. Performance: Where Do You Stand?

[crazydave]

Years ago when I starting building up my first Wheely King crawler, I had every intention of going full on scale, but when the AX10s came out, I found myself kind of throwing scale out the window to keep up with my friends.

Now I'm trying to build up an original SCX10, and keep it scale as possible. I do a Bronco body with the interior and roll cage from a Dingo body. Which makes it more top heavy. Then I get some RC4WD Super Swamper IROKs, and they look great, but the extra height means it wants tip over even more. So then I'm adding weight to the wheels, stacking foams, going to wider hexes, when I'm looking at a 4Wheel & Offroad magazine, and I'm looking their bumpers thinking my Honcho bumper has got to go. So now I have these steel RC4WD bumpers, and they look great, I'm excited to put them on, except their so heavy.

Now I'm wondering where should I draw the line on scale. I want to make it down the trail, without enacting the hand of god too much. So now I'm curious where others draw their line, or how they find compromises. Also where you run, for example, I run on rocky desert trails that tend to be more suited to 2.2 crawlers.

I appreciate any input to help satisfy my curiosity!

 

[Deerhurst]

Personally, I like as scale as you can get. If I can get away with some hidden performance enhancers Ill go with it.

 

[Jus]

I don't care a whole lot about scale appearance, if it looks cool from 10ft away I'm happy. Aside from scale tires and (lately) rims, I'm mostly concerned with how the truck handles. I try to make it drive more like a real truck and I usually drive it like one too. The mechanical side of if is where I spend all my time. Suspension and drive train. I don't run interiors other than what might come with a kit. To me it would just get in the way and be a PITA since I'm constantly taking things apart and adjusting or replacing something.

 

[dittohead]

I don't care a whole lot about scale appearance, if it looks cool from 10ft away I'm happy. Aside from scale tires and (lately) rims, I'm mostly concerned with how the truck handles. I try to make it drive more like a real truck and I usually drive it like one too. The mechanical side of if is where I spend all my time. Suspension and drive train. I don't run interiors other than what might come with a kit. To me it would just get in the way and be a PITA since I'm constantly taking things apart and adjusting or replacing something.

This is EXACTLY how i feel. Real scale stuff is cool and i can appreciate the effort some guys put into their rigs. For me it comes down to performance with some scale features

 

[Lthldc]

There is normally a way to counter balance most changes you make it just takes a lot of tuning but I know where you are coming from.

A few of the guys I crawl with are kinda in this boat now. We started really pushing the boundaries of what was capable in a scale2 class rig to the point where everyone's rigs at the comp are so well tuned its only coming down to a touch of luck and who was the better driver on the day and while that's great for competition some have started loosing interest because its not as fun as it used to be. Some of us are looking at building a straight scale1 comp rigs and at the social comps introducing more tuff truck style trail/obstacle stuff with no limitations only dividing the groups up by tire profile.

It just depends what side of it you enjoy the most, There is definitely a sense of accomplishment when you put ur scaler threw the same gate as a good setup comp rig and lately Ive been finding the challenge of a slightly less setup rig more fun vs a rig that I can point and shoot up almost anything.

 

[adamargue]

It depends on the vehicle. I am building a old school comp truck that will have a scale-ish appearance but I am also working on a 1/6 scale hummer that will be over the top scale and performance wont matter.

 

[Hi-Intentionz]

Both .... I got a scale TF2 and it has power as well like 3s power

 

[TacoCrawler]

I prefer scale realism...

It's not solely about a rig's capabilities...
but more about the scale terrain and the techniques used to roll that.

I wheel a 1:1 as well...
it has limitations...

IMO... so should a scale RC.

Like a 1:1 rig...
knowing your rig's capabilities and it's limitations...
will make you a smarter driver (um... operator) ;-)

No more competition for me...
F 'dem cheeseball plastic trophy's and ego orientated bragging rights

I'm just into it... so's I don't break my 1:1 junk "thumbsup"

 

[johnnyh66]

That's one of the fun points of comping scale trucks, the classes.
Class 1: as scale as possible
Class 2: scale with a slant towards performance
Class 3: performance first scale second

But even within the classes there's the struggle.
I was just dreaming of putting taller 1.55's on my C1.
My current setup is a 3.6" tire with dually rear.
The short tire looks great with the body
but
a taller 1.55 without the dually would really increase performance.

 

[crazydave]

Lots of interesting replies that got me thinking, that is why I got the SCX10 to begin with, I have 2.2 crawlers that will walk over a lot of stuff, but that gets boring, and I wanted to challenge myself more. My problem is that my good friend is a strictly performance kind of guy. I was following him, next thing I know I'm watching my truck take a 30ft. tumble down the side of a hill, and I want to avoid that happening again.

I guess I'm more of class 2 sort of guy, that's where it's interesting to me, is trying to find a balance of everything. Because everything is a compromise. My new bumper is a couple ounces heavier, but should drastically improve my approach angle. Taller tires mess up the center of gravity, but help prevent you from getting high centered, etc.

 

[o0wiz0o]

Performance always. I'd be highly frustrated if my SCX could not conquer the obstacles I know it is capable of. I see many really nice scale rigs struggling with simple climbs on YouTube. As some one else said, as long as it looks reasonable from a few feet away that will do.

 

[jgilk1]

scale is just that ppl put 12" lifts and 44" mud tires with zero rate shackles pushing like 50" of articulation so just because they say scale

 

[craddock35]

I just run mine in the form that makes me happy. Everybody has a different view on what is scale and what isn't and I am running my rig not them so they don't have to like it I do. I have heard people on here cut down other peoples rigs saying they aren't scale but in reality it could have been. I have seen some crazy 1:1 rigs even seen a pinto on 1 tons so I say if you like it run it don't worry about the other guy next to you."thumbsup"

 

[fresh]

I'm looking for scale performance I don't hog that's what I got recovery equipment for

 

[Demodude]

My honcho started its lif scale then slowly morphed into a 2.2 Wroncho. That's why I'm currently building up a scale scx10. I missed the scaleness of the original. I'm going to try not to loose to much on the performance side of things

 

[raceeng18]

I like a little bit of both. I won't put 2.2 wheels on something that is supposed to run 1.9's for example. But I will search for 1.9 tires that really work and not just look cool. I do like a few scale looking goodies on my rigs like winches, toe straps, and the like even though I may never use them.

 

[AddictedtoRC1]

I favor performance over scale looks/accessories. While I do like to attempt to make my rig look like it's 1:1 counterpart, I would rather have a capable rig. I think a big part of why many go above and beyond with scale accessories is due to some clubs count your scale points toward your total course scores. So a driver with 35 scale points that can't drive very well, will likely beat a driver with 8 scale points that drives great. Now I do understand the more accessories you add that there's a possibility of performance loss. So some may say that system is fair since the driver with lesser points will have an easier time, but that's not always the case. To me scale points should be given for only the items that may affect the driver's course score. Winch, pull pall, sand ladders and such. Or atleast only count those towards their final score. A bundle of firewood looks cool when it's scale, but has nothing to do with "actual" driving. And NO I'm not peaved because I don't have 100 scale points. I choose not to for the reason I would rather drive my way to a win rather than "look" my way to a win. So yeah for me.......it's about performance more so than scale.

 

[azwheelman]

I go with performace !! For my trail truck cause i dont wanna spend 6hrs bolting, painting , and detailing what should been a shelf queen just to roll it down a 30' cliff

 

[Louisbaby]

I try and build mine scale as possible. I do enjoy making all the scale trims etc. With regards to performance, I'll always try and go places that I shouldn't, don't think that will ever change. But I'm not going to try and climb a rock face with a scale truck, it's all relative. "thumbsup"

 

[Postclanker]

Lately the competition bug has me hog tied
I have just enough "stuff" to get me scale points...but the rest is hidden, spools, beef tubes, over/under gears, XR mod....stuff that gives me a competitive advantage...yet still hold true to a C2 rig that looks the scale part ....

Bottom line....I spend the $$$ on performance parts these days...but I'm still damn good looking...:mrgreen:

Rock on fellow crawlers...