Who makes the highest-quality kits?

[roee]

Hey Guys,

A question of a guy in the Nitro Forum, about which is better, Tamiya or HPI, brought into my mind another interesting questions.
Which one of the players in the R/C cars market makes the highest quality kit?
Not essentially best performing, but rather best quality of parts, best manuals, best layout (for ease of work), and so on.

I've had two Kyosho cars and two AE (NTC3 and GT). I had the Kyosho quite a long time ago, so I can't comment on these, but the AE are very nicely made.

[4DMNYC]

I think Tamyia has idiot proof instructions but HPI has better quality parts.
As for Kyosho I bought a KX-1 last year and I thought the instructions were pretty good and the parts quaity was great and my GT well..I'm sure everyone knows about the GT.

[gotspeed_2000]

I think that their are alot of great kits out there, but if I had to choose one company for myself it would have to be Xray. Lot of great cars, good instructions, parts fit is excellent, easy of assembly is very high even without any hand fitting. I know a guy who finished the assembly of a XB8 at the track and we were watching him finish it and it was pretty amazing the quality of the parts and molds used to make the kit. Also, they include some pretty good tools in the XB8 kit. But other kits from Associated, Losi, Tamiya and Kyosho are up there too. I like HPI, but they have too many addendums in some of their kits, though customer service there is pretty good.

[roee]

Actually, coming to think of it, AE Plastic parts threads strip WAY too easily... In both the NTC and the GT. It's especially bad when it happens in chassis braces (A brace with no solid connection to the chassis is kinda useless).

[gotspeed_2000]

Actually, coming to think of it, AE Plastic parts threads strip WAY too easily... In both the NTC and the GT. It's especially bad when it happens in chassis braces (A brace with no solid connection to the chassis is kinda useless).

Yeah, in some of their kits the use of machined screws instead of self tapping screws is kinda weird since it's threading into plastic and in high stress areas where a self tapping screw might have been better. But over all, I've had tons of associated kits from the old RC10 with a gold chassis, RC10T, RC10T2, RC10T3, NTC3, and RC10GT and they've all been pretty good machines to me atleast.

[RCHavok797]

I have a lot of Associated vehicles too (RC10, RC10T, RC10T2, RC10T3, RC10B3, and TC3) and the quality of the vehicles and especially the instructions have kept me a loyal Associated buyer.

[Chase023]

I would have to say Tamiya all the way.. I have had a bunch of their kits and their quality is top notch!

[Farwar]

Xray for sure. When you open the box you are blown away with the quality. All the parts fit perfect and it makes you feel you have the best car. Anyone who owns an xray would agree with me.

[AudiTT-Quattro]

Yes, Xray kits are top notch. Parts quality is just amazing and is by far the best I've seen. All the parts don't even look like they're mass produced pieces, they're so clean they look like they're one off parts.

If you want quality and craftsmanship, you can't go wrong with an Xray.

[slat26]

i haven't had any kits besides my savage ss, but i can say the kit was setup up well and the instructions were easy to follow. its been a blast to build, and will be more rewarding to hear the engine roaring.

[Dan H]

Another vote for Xray. I am also impressed by the high end Kyosho kits. Like the MP7.5 or even my own FW04. Parts material is excellent and durable, and every part fits perfectly.

I don't consider HPI up there. They are always having problems with drivetrain and parts recall. Tamiya has some flexible parts material and slop once its assembled. But their high end TRF kits are pretty good. Associated and Losi are decent too.

[Raster]

Actually, coming to think of it, AE Plastic parts threads strip WAY too easily... In both the NTC and the GT. It's especially bad when it happens in chassis braces (A brace with no solid connection to the chassis is kinda useless).


Is it possible or okay to drill completely through the screw holes and use a bolt with nut or a pin, with e-clips?

Ras

[thedarkness]

Ill vote for x-ray, serpent and the ttrS3

[Grant Tokumi]

Is it possible or okay to drill completely through the screw holes and use a bolt with nut or a pin, with e-clips?

It is possible on some of the screws, but not the one that is notorious for causing stripped spurs on the RC10GT which is the 2 long screws that go from under the chassis into the front part of the gear box.

[chevy_94]

IMO i think OFNA and Kyosho for buggies. and for on-road cars imo Team Associated. and for MT's traxxas or team losi.

[FantomTC3]

I'll have to vote for the x-ray also.

[hardadz]

I would have to say that Kawada Sigma and Alcyon2 kits would rank Very high in quality,as well as performance.Kawada is over looked but it shouldn't be!!!

[PCC]

I own or have owned kits from Associated, HPI, Kyosho, Losi, Mugen, OFNA, Serpent, Tamiya, Traxxas, and XRay. I can honestly say that the quality of an XRay or Serpent kit will blow you away. Their cheapest kit, the M18, is about on par, quality-wise, with the top-end Kyoshos, Mugens or mid-pack Tamiyas. HPI, Losi, Associated, low-end Tamiyas, and Traxxas are low on the quality meter compared to XRay/Serpent. I have never owned a top-of-the-line Tamiya but I understand that they are on a par with XRay. Kyosho's top-end stuff is nice, too.

My favorite cars at the moment: XRay T1 (I own two) for electric touring cars, Kyosho V-One R (I own two, an original R and an RR Evo) for nitro touring cars, XRay XB8 for nitro buggies (I have owned a Kanai edition MP7.5 and this one blows it away).

[BrushlessHawaii]

Everyone is gonna vote for what they like.

I've owned

RC10t - Gold tub
HPI Nitro RS4
HPI Mini RS4 - not the tiny one
Tmaxx
ABC Hobbies - Super Hawaii Electric Boat
Warehouse Hobbies - Manta Ray Gas Boat
B4
Factory Team T4
TC3

anyways I'm gonna have to say Associated based on they are the ones I keep going back to. I've been happy with every kit I've Bought from them. Not that I didn't like the others I would still buy another product from every RC company I've dealt with.

But if you guys have the money and ever want a boat - man those Warehouse Hobbies boats are nice. I had about $1500 in building mine.

[BrushlessHawaii]

ps thats where my id came from on here. I had a novak ss brushless motor in that super hawaii boat.

[ducati777]

Nice, so what we've got is every major manufacturer has people voting for it. Guess the moral of the story is buy the kit that you like... and don't get hung up on brand names as they all seem pretty good.

I've owned Ofna, Xray, Tamiya, AE, HPI, Traxxas, Duratrax... ummm I think thats it... But out of those, the Xray M18 was a great kit.

[cheerwhiner]

I have only ever built Tamiya kits, as the associated vehciles i bought from other people who already built them. However I think for beginners, Tamiya kits are the best. For racing, XRay or Associated- in my mind, kit means you have to build. I of course took the associated vehicles apart but I did not initially build them. This will change whenever a Factory Team TC4 is released :D

[rcguy2477]

Imo, Xray is by far the best. I rarely break any parts, and the parts don't wear out anywhere near as fast as they do on associated. Some days with an associated, there would be a problem with the car every race. I have owned a Xray, Associated, Losi, Trinity, and Duratrax, and out of these Xray was the best.

[Chris LaPanse]

Another vote for Enforcer boats - I got a kit Manta ray at 6pm, had it together by 2am, and no other RC, boat car or plane, that I've owned compares. The sound of the engine is nice too (25.4cc Zenoah)

[Ultima Pro XL]

I've had more Kyosho cars than I can remember and they have all been excellent cars. Well, maybe not my Pro X, but it still wasn't that bad. I raced a AE B2 for 2 seasons and it was a wonderful car that never gave me problems. And I have a Tamiya 415 now for touring and it's a beautiful car to look at and drive.