Review: Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II
I love it when a model that I enjoy expands its lineup to become a robust platform. Redcat’s Ascent-18 has evolved from a single model to a three-vehicle lineup featuring two crawlers and one monster truck. The model that I’m focusing on today is the Ascent-18 Scout II, their newest 1/18-scale offering.
The folks at Redcat sent me an Ascent-18 Scout II to test out, and I’ve been logging 1/18-scale miles, both on the trail and in my front-yard crawler course. My review of the Ascent-18 “classic” was favorable, so let’s see how its Scout-bodied sibling fares.
What’s Included with the Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II:
- 1 Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II R/C Trail Truck
- 1 2.4GHz Radio Transmitter
- 1 7.4v, 750mah 2S LiPo battery
- 1 USB 2S LiPo Battery Charger
- 1 Instruction Manual
The Body and Body Details:
This 1/18-scale trail rig features a licensed International Harvester Scout II body that effectively captures much of the visual detail of Redcat’s 1/10-scale Gen8 Scout II model. The lightweight polycarbonate body, available in blue, green, and orange, includes a selection of injection-molded details, including the grille and front and rear bumpers. For even more added realism (and nighttime driving fun), the Ascent-18 Scout II includes LED headlights and taillights, which is something not found on the original Ascent-18.
The Electronics (Motor, Servos, Battery, Radio, and ESC):
Like its sibling, the Ascent-18 Scout II has some solid specs right out of the box. With a 2-in-1 ESC/receiver combo, you have a compact setup that performs well without requiring much adjustment. Its powerplant is a 180-size brushed motor that offers plenty of top-end speed. While this is great for trail driving, you may want to lower that wheel speed for more torque. That said, this rig doesn’t disappoint when faced with obstacles.
The Redcat Ascent-18 includes a 7.4V, 750mAh 2S LiPo battery, providing ample power and runtime for a typical small-scale crawling adventure. When it runs out of juice, its USB charger will have you back in action in roughly an hour.
The Chassis:
The Ascent-18 Scout II utilizes a flat-rail, ladder-frame chassis that shares a similar setup with its crawler-focused sibling. To accommodate the Scout II’s longer, larger body, this 1/18-scale model features a longer chassis with an extended rear section. To maintain durability, Redcat opted to make the chassis rails, including the extension, entirely metal.
Compared to the original Ascent-18, the Ascent-18 Scout II's tires are slightly smaller but significantly stickier and more flexible, providing an impressive amount of grip right out of the box. The licensed Interco Super Swamper tires are glue-mounted to the wheels, making upgrading a somewhat challenging task. Thankfully, Redcat sells the tires separately, so you can easily add your own set of wheels to customize your rig without losing the performance aspect of the stock tires.
If you need to perform any maintenance, repairs, or upgrades to the Ascent-18 Scout II, you have plenty of room to operate, as the chassis is open with easy access to its internals. Speaking of upgrades, the Ascent-18 platform is well-suited for modifications, whether you’re adding weight to enhance traction and stability or upgrading to a brushless motor system.
Performance:
Whether you’re running on an indoor course or outside on a trail, this little rig has some impressive out-of-the-box performance. It shares the solid stock performance of the original Ascent-18, which makes it a great course crawler, and its scale-focused body and scale details make it an excellent trail companion when you’re out for a hike.
With the speed of the motor and the tackier compound of the tires, there aren’t many things that can throw this truck off course. To make this an even better performer, add some front-mounted, low-sitting weight, and you have a small-scale crawler that should be able to roll through and over just about anything you might encounter.
How Does it Stack Up to the Competition?
The Ascent-18 Scout II is in the same league as the Traxxas TRX-4M, HPI Venture-18, and other 1/18-scale models from HobbyPlus. Having had experience with some, but not all of them, I feel confident in saying Redcat’s offering can hold its own against most, if not all of them. In stock form, it’s hard to beat as you can pull the Ascent-18 Scout II out of the box, charge the battery, and have a great time.
From my personal experience, the TRX-4M offers similar performance, but I feel it needs some fine-tuning to achieve the same crawl capabilities as the Ascent-18 platform.
What’s the Verdict?
Echoing my sentiments from my review of the Ascent-18, the Scout II variant offers solid out-of-the-box performance, along with an adequately detailed body. Of course, adding a little weight and adjusting the gearing can yield even greater performance benefits, but as far as stock performance is concerned, the Ascent-18 Scout II is a stout little rig, especially considering its cost.
Speaking of cost, Redcat introduced the Ascent-18 Scout II at $149.99 but raised its price earlier this year to $164.99. At the time of this review, the price has returned to its original price, which I think is a great deal for what this rig has to offer. Even at the slightly higher price, the Ascent-18 Scout II is still a good deal, but I much prefer the original price, which I hope sticks around.
Although Redcat sent me an Ascent-18 Scout II to review, it didn’t take long for me to add another one of these machines to my RC lineup. This platform offers plenty of upgradability and can easily (and inexpensively) be customized to match your personal style and taste. Looking at the landscape of small-scale and 1/18-scale crawlers, I'd place the Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II as one of the best available.
Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II Specs:
- Vehicle Scale: 1/18
- Engine / Motor: RC180 Brushed Motor
- Transmission: Forward & Reverse
- Drive System: 4 Wheel Drive
- Length: 265mm
- Width: 126mm
- Height: 125mm
- Servo Type: 4kg Metal Gear Waterproof Servo
- Wheelbase: 155mm
- Ground Clearance: 38mm
- Chassis Type: 2mm Flat Rail Aluminum
- Wheel Width: 15mm
- Wheel Diameter: 25mm
- Suspension: Aluminum Capped Oil Filled Shocks
- Speed Control Type: 2in1 ESC/Receiver Brushed
- Radio System: 2.4GHz Radio System
- Battery: 7.4v 750mAh LiPo with USB Charger Included
- Needed to Run: 4 AA Batteries for Transmitter
- Price: $149.99
Watch my Comparison of the Redcat Ascent-18 and the Ascent-18 Scout II:
Where to Buy the Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II:
