Over-Saturation, or Progression?

We see it almost every week, someone new comes out with something old, or so it seems. These people that are trying to cut into a market that has already seen enough chassis to choke a small army. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, wants to leave a mark, wants to put their own twist on an already flooded market. 

To some this is a bad thing, to others this is a great thing, and some just don’t care, they’ll use whatever they want. Some say the stock chassis are good, and they aren’t wrong. Some say these new chassis are basic, and they aren’t wrong, while others love the new aspects of all these new chassis. These newer chassis incorporate things many builders and drivers are looking for. Some are made for super scale RC’s, while some are built for comps, while others are made to be built anyway you want. 

I hear it all over social media, people complaining about someone putting out a new chassis and why do we need another new chassis. I saw one post go in an ugly direction over it, and it was sad to watch fellow rc’ers tear this guy apart for even thinking of doing his own. 

Why? Why can’t we as a collective hobby have more options? Is it so bad that people want to push the hobby forward? Try their hand in making something people may actually want? Should we just be stale and use only what the popular companies produce? Why can’t we? I want to build a comp RC, and the stock chassis will work, but why can’t I build a comp rig with a chassis specifically made for comps? 

Yes, I can agree that cookie cutter chassis that have one minuet change or an extra hole drilled into the chassis from another is borderline unacceptable. I’m talking about the ones that are really unique from the other, someone spent time and testing in their idea, so they have a place in our hobby, and fill in a void that was actually missing; chassis choices. 

This thought process can also be applied else where, you know where I’m going.. tires… why do we need more tires, and tire companies? We should all use the tires made for this hobby from Tamiya from the 70’s. Why do we have so many options? Progression is why. We built trucks that out preformed the tires, so tire companies had to step up, make new tires that fit the driving styles and builds for us all. This why we all have bragging rights as to what tire works best, with no clear winner. The same mindset can be added to all aspects, why new motors, new bearings, electronics, etc, we are over-saturated at almost every point of RC.

Progression only pushes the hobby forward. Over-Saturation can happen, and when it dries up, what’s left is the solid and quality products we’ve come to know and love. I personally love what people put out there, even if it isn’t anything I would use. They are trying and who am I to dump on their parade and ideas? I will support these ideas, these concepts, as they are just more doors to be opened to lead us into something big, unique, and fun. If we continue to choke out the ingenuity and fun of this hobby, it will surely fail. 

Just remember, we all have a place in the RC community, whether you’re a driver, builder, promoter, designer, painter, electronics genius, owner of a company, run a competition, or are just here for the fun, no one is better than the other, and instead of tearing people down, how about we try to build them up and support them. We can be the example to many others, and who knows, maybe that guy/gal has a million dollar idea we all want! 

#yearofthesleepinggiant #progression #sharethefun #sharethetrails #sharethehobby #newbreed

Switchback Chassis Year end review. 

Switchback chassis year review.
I have finally had a few moments to sit and review this two planker chassis from CBE RC FAB. I have the 1st gen version of the switchback, and I had one hell of a year with it. There’s something to be said about having something for a year, and to use it that long that isn’t attached to our hands with a screen and facebook on it. 

I started off the year with deciding to dedicate the switchback chassis to the grueling run of the 48 Hour Challenge event we run on Memorial Day weekend every year. The build went together with minor issues, and was ready for the 48 Hours. 

48 Hour Set up –
CBE RC FAB:

Switchback Chassis

Shock Gear Set

Titan Winch

STL Winch

Rock Biter bead locks

BPC:

Battery Tray, Motor Guard

Boom Racing:

Phat axle front with Aluminum knuckles and C-hubs and a rear phat axle with aluminum lockouts, one piece aluminum links, Type I shocks, Aluminum Transmission case, pineapple steel gears, Krait wheels.

Holmes Hobbies:

13t Crawl Master
Pitbull:

Rock Beast

33wt Shock oil
Scalerfab.com:

Pro Series style stinger
Powershift RC Technologies:

Front Light buckets, rear lights, rock lights, 

The Switchback last the 48 Hour challenge like nothing. It faced a plethora of weather including a downpour for about 30 mins straight. 

Up Next was the RCEC Mini Tour. Two days of hard wheeling from MA to NH. Same set up as above. We climbed big rocks, and found some mud to play in. We ran the course at Route 106 on Sunday and had a blast doing that!

Up next was the PA Shred The Ledge where Anthony Kaplon took her as a rental, and treated her as such. The rocks were big, the tumbles were mighty and the driveshafts snapped with the new grip of the Pitbull Rock Beast XL’s. The only change to the Jeep was a new set of 0 degree steering knuckles from Boom Racing. The Switchback Chassis made it through with no issues.

Last on the big list of duties was Shred The Ledge at Field and Forest behind the wheel of my Daughter Chloe-Mae. She had never rc’d longer than 2 mins ever, and took on the toughest course in RC. I changed a few things on the Jeep, and here they are.

Boom Racing:

PHAT XR MOD Axle
Pitbull:

Mad beasts
Powershit RC Technologies:

Wireless winch remote

In a full year of abuse the CBE RC FAB Switchback chassis held strong, and true. With the steel axles underneath the chassis, the holes never bored out, and the rails remained straight and true. They came to me raw, so they are covered in surface rust and is perfect for what I’ll be doing next with it. I am a huge fan of this chassis, and the options that come with this builders chassis are limitless. 

If you’re looking for a beast chassis then look no further than the Switchback Chassis. It is battle tested, and is under many RC’s you see out there. There are only a few chassis on the market that I support and use, with CBE RC FAB’s Switchback Chassis being at the top of that list.