I don't want to defend the clones at all (even if it isn't HPI that designed them or HPI don't have exclusive rights to the design like some suggest) but have a look at an original HPI 5B that someone has owned for more than a year. I bet you that there wouldn't be less than 80% of the parts upgraded. I hear it on heaps of forums that the clones are crap quality but these comments come from guys that have changed just about every part on their original HPI to after market hop ups.

So if someone can't afford the original and can spend a little bit of money at a time for a few hop ups then I think that these clones are a good choice. But then while HPI might not have exclusive right to the Baja design I doubt that the manufacturers have paid for their right to use the design.

Anyway I am thinking of buying a genuine 5B ss kit and then sell the engine and all it's ancillaries to to pay for some of the Castle conversion kit.