Baja Conversion
 

I dont know if this has been posted before but I stumbled across this today.
Is it just me or are they very similar.

Sorry, I am not posting a link.

If this has already been mentioned, mods please delete.


http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/o...R/Picture1.pnghttp://www.rc-monster.com/prodimages/ebajakitassm2.jpg

Nearly identicle
 

Nearly identacle from what I can tell. There are som subtle differences but it looks like someone is trying to copy Mike's project. Is this by chance from a chinese company? Some people just won't quit.

It's from a company called Alza Racing, the member here "toplakd" has some affiliation with them as well as a link to their website in his signature.

Cody, I avoided those details for obvious reasons.

Besides being a copy, the motor mount looks to be suited to buggy and truggy size can motors. Whoever buys this will probably be underpowering the car, want to upgrade and get pissed off because of the limited motor options.

I investigated and on their site they have different motor mounting options.

And @OZ, point taken. :oops:

IIRC They are one and the same...

I have previously exchanged PM's about this with him - Whilst this forum is a fun place to hang out, and Mike is I think exceptionally tollerant of most things that go on, promotion of competing products by a competitor on Mikes site won't be tollerated. Hence that mount has not been posted here by him.

This is generally not an issue as everyone knows where the best stuff is and mike continues to innovate to stay ahead of the pack.

The reality is Patrick and Castle will Mike's biggest competitor for Baja conversions. Really wish I could get some sort of deal going between them :whistle: hint nudge :whip:

Yes please. RC-Monster - Castle collaboration would be awesome. :yes:

I agree.
 

I agree that could be a very cool merger. CC's great motors and ESC's and customer service, connected to Mike's customer service, precision CNC designs, and production would be a very nice deal for all of us. Sounds like a win-win situation for sure. Two great companies collaberating, designing, and producing some great conversions as a team is something that our hobby does not have at the moment.

I second the motion.

I actually expected Castle's conversion kit to have been Mike's just anodized a different color, was a little disappointed to see it wasn't.

Only so many ways to skin a cat... They look similar, cause they do the same thing. I do agree that this is the RCM forum, and thus should represent rcm products.

Same thoughts here. Lame on castles part.

Was going to use that exact phrase, LOL...

Seems like people around here are going off the deep int way too often with the "copy" thing. As linc noted, there are only so many ways to design this particular part.

After all Mike's and CC's conversion kit look similiar. KD's is a bit different as it flips the motor around compared to the other conversion kits I've seen.

Can't copyright, patent, etc. an idea... rather an expression of an idea.

I can agree with that.

This kit is not a copy as my friends baja was given to ALZA racing and it was there for 2 months. So Nothing was copied as all the parts were made from scratch. You can't make bottom and top plate much different than original HPI plates.

Looks like a mod edited our posts. Sorry about going off on the "one way idea sharing concept".

Good points
 

All good points of view, but the bottom line in these matters is that if you do not acquire a patend on an item, then you do not have much of a recourse if anyone does copy said product. Acquiring a patend is difficult enough, and getting a patend on every single product would be rediculously exspnsive and complicated. You would need a legal department with a team of lawyers dedicated to doing just that. WAPITA for any company just dealing with such nonsense. I must say that things seem to be getting more and more competitive in our hobby where manufacturing is concerned. Good for us I guess.