the Cub Report, 09.01.2014, Version- Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flatulence
Hello one and all, I certainly hope you are all having a most enjoyable time for Labor Day. I have been putting in a lot of trigger time lately, so while you are reading this I’ll be at my favorite riding spot yanking some 1:1 throttle and hopefully catching some big air with buddies.
On the subject of trigger time…
You may have caught our un-boxing of the Kyosho AXXE. While it is a rather unassuming buggy (a base model with friction shocks), it has become an object of fascination around the BSRC offices. And why might that be? Because it will be the first FPV vehicle we’ve ever reviewed.
Much of the surface rc world has ignored FPV. The hardcore racers types want nothing to do with it, while some of the older school manufacturers don’t even understand why anyone would want to buy it. I guess I can’t blame them, you can’t begin to understand the allure of FPV until you’ve experienced it yourself.
Kyosho is leading the way in the surface FPV world, I mean they are the first “big” manufacturer to embrace and sell FPV “ready” machines (their iReadyset series). The big question is, will FPV take off in surface like it has in the air rc world? Are the Kyosho machines just the tip of the iceberg, or the last of a niche that never took off?
Our hobby will evolve, it’s just the nature of things, will its evolution include FPV? As I’ve said many times before, that will depend on marketing. If consumers are told FPV is the next big thing, it will become so, but will the people/companies that mold our industry point them that direction? If there is money to be made, of course so, they have to keep their lights on and food on their tables just like everyone else. So that begs to question, is there enough money to be made off surface FPV products for manufacturers to start the marketing surge???? Not yet, but IMO it’s just a matter of time, the hobby has to go somewhere, and FPV is just too dern much fun to not take off.
While testing the AXXE, our Bash Crew spent a lot of time talking about the future of our hobby, as in, what are some of the possibilities that next gen tech can bring to the plate. For example, if there was an FPV class at the local track, there would be no need for a drivers stand, or even a need to see the track at all, you could race from your pit table. But… what if you took technology one step further. What if you could sit at home and have someone at your local track put your car down and marshal it, while you controlled it FPV from the comfort of your home (I am particularly lazy, so that sounds awesome to me)? So… what if I were able to sit in the comfort of my easy chair in Champaign IL, while I was driving an FPV truck in Axialfest in Cisco Grove CA? Or race at RC Madness in CT AND OC_RC in Huntington Beach CA, on the same day, via FPV from vacation in Italy?
No doubt the future holds all sorts of interesting possibilities, for those of us that embrace new technology, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us…
Couple of BSRC notes before I go…
We are having a HUGE Mega-Bash October 19th at Leisure Hours in Joliet Illinois to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of BigSquidRC. Ya, mark your calenders now, it’s gonna be off the hook.
I think we are finally done with our 8th scale Gasoline Monster Truck shootout! Hooray! When will the results be posted? My guess is in a couple of weeks.
Yo seriously, make it to iHobby in the Chi-Town metro this year, I can personally promise that out booth will be worth your while.
We need some painters, both in the Chi-Town and STL metro areas. If you can paint your ass off and want to get some serious attention, shoot us an email.
Huge props to all those people that attended our bash at HobbyTown USA in Orland Park IL over the weekend. I hear a Great Time was had by all.
Hey, I’m picking a “Letter of the Month” this week in ASK Cubby, get those letters/questions/rants in for a chance to win one of our way-super-dope t-shirts.
That’s it, go eat some BBQ and bash the living daylight out of your truck. Oh ya, don’t forget to support your local hobby shops and bash spots when ya can!
YOUR Cub Reporter
