Half-eight v. rc18t v. mini T

45tr0 · Post by **45tr0** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:17 am

Okay, i know this might be a little similar to Motorgong's Entry level off-road thread, but I was hoping pimps might be able to help me whittle down some options.

I've just dropped a $100 deposit on a half-eight at my LHS, and looking to pay the rest off straight after xmas. Thing is, I kinda jumped in 'cos it was shiny and looked hell tough. I do that sometimes.

I'm kinda wondering if i made the right choice. I'm chasing a 1:18-ish scale offroad electric, that will still be fun to drive stock while i save up the $$ for some upgrades. Mostly i will just be running it in my backyard (its big), or at an abandoned lot down the road, so I'm not out to build a race rig. I'd also prefer something that ain't gonna snap something expensive with the first bump i hit.

I hadn't considered the mini T cos it is 2wd, and the rc18t didn't look as solid as the H8, but is the H8 a decent car in itself? Or did i just buy a nice shiiny lemon?

For a decent, close-to-stock fun yard-basher, what would you pimps recommend out of the three? Are there any essential hop ups which i am gonna need immediately? (I'm assuming bb's and oil shocks will be a given?)

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:28 am

i just set up a workmate with a mini inferno.
i got sato oil shocks, gpm alloy front tower, x speed motor, bb's (the mi comes with bb's everywhere except the hubs, you only need the hubset).
and we've got a rear tower and alloy knuckles coming.

it's an awesome car, easy to drive and really well made. parts and hopups are plentiful too.
it would definately be my choice.

out of the box the rc18t is faster but it's littered with weaknesses.

i don't think i've ever heard of an unsatisfied mini t owner

payaso · Post by **payaso** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:10 pm

I owned the Mini T, and currently own the RC18B, and it's night and fuckin day.

The Mini T was super slow out of the box, and still slow with a mod motor in it.

The RC18B is fuckin a fast out of the box, and it's 4WD. I have no experience with the H8, but Kyosho makes killer shit, and it should be just fine with some add ons.

You'll need some oils shocks, and some bearings to make it like the stock RC18 line.

Good luck, and have fun.

silla

pimpsmurf · Post by **pimpsmurf** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:33 pm

Half 8 is hardcore. halfeight.com is a great community for it.

The rc18t/mt is pretty great, faster than the half 8, but also much lighter, and weak

Mini-T: I don't know. RWD not my cup of tea offroad with 1:18th. Faster on the straights, but buggy performance is just RAW!

If your willing to wait til January, the Mini Inferno ST will be coming out which is going to blow away the competition. Oil-filled front and rear diffs, longer arms, bigger wheels, and the same kyosho strength. The half 8 is also very durable. Don't go with the alloy arms, because you won't be breaking them. I race HARD with a 40ish MPH brushless setup on a 1:8 track, and the only things I've actually managed to break are spur gears (my fault), diffs (probably my fault, the stock ones are kinda weak, but I'm not sure about BB diffs yet), chassis (kind of weak. Don't head on walls at 30mph too many times). I bought 2 arm sets so I would have extras (metal = heavy) and havn't broke one yet. Get the Kyosho oil shocks (not 3racing. not sato.) and you will love it. Sato makes some great stuff, but the Kyosho oilies and spring kits are better than the rest IMHO.

I'll bet Losi was on the ball with the Mini LST, but it is big, heavy and surely slow with brushless options. Maybe with aftermarket motors it would be pretty leeto.

-JNY

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:17 pm

i would have loved to get the kyosho oils but at USD$54 a set before shipping.....and they're plastic (i think)

it was a lucky dip buying the sato's, i'd never heard of the brand and there were no reviews. but after seeing them in use i'd recommend em, smooth as silk and incredibly well machined/made. and only $20 a set

45tr0 · Post by **45tr0** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:37 am

Thanks guys, you've eased my impulse-purchase nerves. Can't wait to pick it up!

betty, mind giving us a hook-up on those shocks?

Having trouble sourcing anything aftermarket at all here in the big B.

LBRC · Post by **LBRC** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:46 am

Just happen to have an 18T and Mini Inferno right here in front of me. Lent my Mini-T to a friend way over a year ago and haven’t seen it since, no big loss since my track is scenically placed in the middle of a green and constantly growing forest it tends to be a little rocky, muddy, have growing things popping up all year round, and gets cluttered with sticks and leaves every time the wind blows, in other words 4WD is a necessity for a mini truck or buggy in my nick of the woods.

Both the Inferno and 18T have their strong and weak points. I haven’t really run the Inferno through the ringer yet but it is nice and stable, if a little heavy feeling. Am just now modifying it, unfortunately the suck ass bevel gear differential set-up won’t take much in the way of a motor unless I can find hardened steal gears, so for now it’s just getting the fairly sedate Kyosho upgrades, i.e. X-Speed motor, 9.6v battery, Kyosho ball diff, etc. Not sure what to do about tires yet.

Funny thing about my 18T it’s been running with brushless motors for almost a year now and is still in one piece. I did do a little work on the differentials but even then it was more of a just in case than actually having any serious problems. Even when I put the 8000kv tire shredding Comp-X and 11.1 volt LiPo pack in it managed to stay in one piece, just lucky I guess. I did have trouble finding shocks I liked, after trying several different sets, for me the Hot Racing where the best of the aftermarket ones I tried, but in the end I went back to a rebuilt stock set with heavy oil. I use a drop of superglue to keep the spring retainers in place. It feels a little flighty but the bottom line is I get better lap times.

Have to see how the Inferno actually holds up modified but right now if I had to choose I would go with the RC18T. Now if I lived in an area with an indoor clay track, and Kyosho sponsored races that might be different.

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:58 am

i got the m inferno and all parts from rcmart

PencilNeckGeek · Post by **PencilNeckGeek** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:31 pm

First Kyosho's shocks for the half8 are NOT plastic,only garbage shocks are plastic.The Kyosho shocks are the best shocks I found so far.I have these and they are of great quality.Downside these are among the most expensive for the Half8.

The Sato shocks are great too,and I installed these on my M-LST,less expensive compared with the Kyosho shocks.

45tr0 · Post by **45tr0** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:45 pm

picked up the half eight the other day, and so far im impressed.
I'm running the thing completely bog stock so far, but as my first "hobby" r/c its perfect.
Its a great starter platform, and has plenty of potential for further down the track. I'm about to order my shocks and an x-speed motor shortly, along with some spare wheels and an 8 cell pack. Then some knuckles, ST diffs...

It might be early days, but im hooked!

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:36 pm

First Kyosho's shocks for the half8 are NOT plastic,only garbage shocks are plastic.The Kyosho shocks are the best shocks I found so far.I have these and they are of great quality.Downside these are among the most expensive for the Half8.

cool, thanks for clearing that up

i'm with you on kyosho quality, it's pretty much the best stuff available and worth every cent but, dayumm!! it's a lotta cents!

45, the first things to buy for your half8 are oils, hub bearings, alloy front shock tower.
then look into rear shock tower, alloy knuckles, hotter motor.

i'd personally hold off on the 8 cell pack

45tr0 · Post by **45tr0** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:30 pm

betty.k wrote:45, the first things to buy for your half8 are oils, hub bearings, alloy front shock tower.
then look into rear shock tower, alloy knuckles, hotter motor.

I just placed an order at rcmart for those sato's, an alloy front tower, bearing set and an x-speed.

My poor credit card...