New Factory Built Electric 1/8 !!!

[glassdoctor]

Coming soon.

I will post more info and pics when Caster gives the green light.

They are producing an electric 1/8 buggy and truggy in both RTR and "Pro Race" versions. Details on the RTR components are not available at this time. The Pro kit will be released first while the RTR is being finished.

There will be more information at www.casterracingusa.com soon, and will have a sign up list for those interested in purchasing when the first shipments come in.

Prices are yet to be determined, but expect them to be similar to the current Caster nitro cars. The nitro ZX-1R pro kit sells for around $400 through you local hobby store, and $425 direct from CasterUSA.

More will be coming from Caster. This is only the beginning, and ultimately will be a good thing for the E-1/8 market.

I used to think it would be a bad thing for guys making conversion parts like RCM and RCPD but now I think it will be ok because it will create a bigger market for these guys to go after.

I'm expecting something by the end of the month... but given the history of release dates and lynch mobs that follow... I officially make no claim of a release date!!!

[gixxer]

not familar with caster but its good to see someone coming out with a factory electric 8th scale none the less.

[jhautz]

The first of many.... I hope.

[glassdoctor]

I think we will see some more for sure... by the end of the year anyway, and more to come.

Bigger market also means more attention from motor/esc/battery companies. But finally we are getting "there" it seems with Castle, Tekin, and Speedpassion etc making 1/8-capable stuff. At least they are trying...

Batteries are getting better... let's hope now they can get a little cheaper...

[glassdoctor]

They basicly begged to copy my car when they saw what I had and what I was working on. Several big 1/8 companies have been "playing" with electric cars for a while now. If any of them are as interested as the guys at CasterUSA... they will make one too.

I hope they see it through, this sounds like the start of something big.

I've got to say, I went to the track today and was practicing with my E-CRT and three different guys came up asking what it was and they ALL said the same story, they started in Electric, gave it up when the jumps got so big their XXX-4's were breaking every other run and they WISH a major MFG would offer a 1/8th scale vehicle as an electric.

This class is ready to be born after years in incubation.

DM

[cart213]

Is Caster planning to use electric or mechanical brakes?

[gtxracer]

I've seen the Caster truggies and buggies in action. They're not bad, although the parts were a little brittle.

[glassdoctor]

There have been issues in cold weather with the wings and wheels. Boiling them does "fix" that. But the rest of the car/truck has been solid as far as the team has seen.

Based on the feedback I have seen, I think the parts durability in general is very good. One of the new team guys (who is also a new Castle team driver) has a few race days on his now and thinks it's wearing a lot better than his Losi did.

I even heard one guy say that a couple local Mugen guys were putting a few Caster parts on their cars... arms I think.

[gtxracer]

Maybe it was the drivers then, hah!

[glassdoctor]

Well there's certainly nothing wrong with Mugen and Losi cars... I still have my 8ight and love it.

But imo the Caster stuff is good too. I know it's not a known "big" brand so it's natural to be skeptical. I was at first, and not everything is perfect with Caster.
It's a small company and isn't a well oiled machine with 20 years behind them like a Kyosho, Losi, Traxxas, etc. But it's a good quality car and they are determined to make it better all the time. It's not a crappy cheap chinese knockoff. It's a high quality knockoff, LOL!!!!

So Glass...are you going to be running the Electric versions of their Buggy & Truggy when they come out?

As an enthusiast or as a sponsored racer?

DM

[glassdoctor]

They are including me on the team and in the business to some degree. I definitely will be running the electrics, yes. But I also have a ZX-1R (nitro) to run at big races where the electric isn't allowed or where it will be a "problem".

One of my racing buddies is the US importer for Caster. That's why they stole my car to copy. When they saw my car, they wanted to make it... so that got me involved in the project. And being involved like this automatically makes me a "team" driver and gives me some control over what gets done too.

This is one of the reason's I'm going to the ProSeries race next week in KC... with the ZX-1R to help support the Caster team. I wish I had the EX-1R to bring.... but not likely.

I'll take my 8ight though... hopefully throw down a few laps with it.

Congratulations man. Must be exciting to be so involved, not just with the racing end but the design end too. You are living the dream!

DM

[glassdoctor]

Thanks... it's just something that fell in my lap so to speak.

Two of the best 1/8 drivers in the world will be there in KC, so that is going to be very cool!!

It's at the home track of Jared Tebo and Taylor James... and it's where a lot of the r&d is done for Jammin. I can't wait to watch those guys race... check out this little video of them screwing around:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF5h96M7Ilg