Review: Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless
What do you get when you take an already solid-performing R/C crawler, tweak the steering design, and drop a brushless motor into it? You get an even better-performing R/C crawler. Simple as that.
That's ultimately the case with Redcat's Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless edition. I was already a fan of the original, brushed Ascent-18 Scout II, and as soon as the brushless version was announced, I knew I needed to get my hands on one. As a longtime fan of International Scout 1:1 vehicles, I have several scaled-down Scout II and Scout 800A replicas in my R/C collection, so adding another one wasn't outside the realm of possibility, especially when you throw a brushless motor and ESC into the mix.
Let's take a look at Redcat's first small-scale brushless crawler and see how it stacks up to the competition.
Note: Since the Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless uses the same body (and base platform) as the brushed version, portions of this review will be on the lighter side. If you're interested in the expanded details about the body and chassis, please read my Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II Review.
What's Included with the Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless:
- 1 Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless 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:
All cosmetic elements from the brushed Ascent-18 Scout II have been carried over to the brushless version. That's great news if you're an International Scout fan. The body mounting system uses a front hook/hinge and rear latch to keep it secure. Like its sibling, the Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless also features injection-molded body details, including a front grille and rear tailgate support, plus LED headlights and taillights.
One change that Redcat has added to this model, however, is the ability to turn the lights on and off through the third channel on the radio transmitter. I don't mind the lights being on all the time, but I still view this as a helpful feature.
Two color options (red and gold) are available for the Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless, offering a nice change from the green, blue, and orange bodies found on the brushed Ascent-18 Scout II. The decals are positioned the same across the two models; however, the brushless Scouts feature black striping rather than white, plus additional "Brushless" decals along the side to outwardly proclaim what's under the hood.
The Electronics (Motor, Servos, Battery, Radio, and ESC):
This is where the real fun begins! Redcat has equipped this 1/18-scale crawler with a 3450kv 1212-size brushless motor, which is paired with Redcat's R3C-BL 2-in-1 ESC/receiver. Performance from this motor is just what you'd expect if you're familiar with small-scale brushless crawlers. That said, it's a welcome upgrade from a brushed motor.
With its smooth performance, especially under low-throttle input, this truck can easily navigate trails and obstacles while also making a fun hiking companion. The drag brake can be adjusted on the fly by flipping dip switches on the radio transmitter, which I appreciate, especially in a small-scale crawler.
The steering servo offers reliable performance, and although I've purchased an aftermarket servo with the intent of upgrading it, I haven't made the change yet.
The Chassis:
The Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless features a flat-rail, ladder-frame chassis that's shared across most of the Ascent-18 family. To accommodate the Scout II's longer, larger body, this rig features a longer chassis with an extended rear section.
Oil-filled shocks help keep this truck level and eliminate any "wobble" or "bobble" that you'd encounter from a set of friction shocks. And while upgrading shocks is one of the more popular enhancements to an R/C vehicle, I'm planning to leave these shocks as-is due to their already impressive performance.
If you need to perform any maintenance, repairs, or upgrades, you have plenty of room to maneuver, as Redcat has designed this chassis with easy access to the electronics, transmission, and suspension bits. With several shock mounting locations to choose from, you can easily transform this trail truck into a line-killing crawler with relative ease.
Steering Setup:
Another big-yet-small feature of the Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless is its redesigned steering setup. Dubbed "High-Steer", the front portal axle has been reconfigured to allow for more clearance and fewer hang-ups on obstacles while also providing a greater turning radius than the brushed version of the Ascent-18 Scout II.
While it doesn't seem like a significant change, having a few extra degrees of turning performance can make quite a difference if you're trying to hit a line "just so".
Performance:
You can take my performance reviews of the Ascent-18 and the Ascent-18 Scout II and turn that praise up a few more notches. Brushless power in anything is a definite game-changer, no matter what scale a vehicle may be. Brushless power in the Ascent-18 Scout II is just a wonderful experience. Smooth, slow, and punchy when needed, this rig ran wonderfully on my outdoor crawling course.
Adding a bit of weight, either through brass wheels, diff covers, or axle components, does improve the rig's stability quite a bit. I've only added brass wheels and brass diff covers to mine and have experienced very few rollovers, even with a 3D printed roof rack and scale accessories sitting on top of the body.
How Does it Stack Up to the Competition?
Within the Redcat family, the closest competition to the Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless is its brushed sibling. Handling performance between the two vehicles is the same (save for the steering improvements provided by High-Steer), so you have to look at the powerplant to find differences. You can't beat the ultra-smooth performance of a brushless motor, and at $50 more than the brushed model, it's hard to beat that price for a motor upgrade.
If you're looking at other brushless, 1/18-scale crawler models, you could lump the HPI Venture18 Flux Toyota Hilux, Hobby Plus CR18P Rushmore V3 Brushless Crawler, and the Hobby Plus CR18P Trail Hunter V3 Brushless Crawler into the mix.
Price-wise, the Ascent-18 Scout II sits in the middle of the three at $199.99. The Venture18 Flux Toyota Hilux takes the top spot at $249.99, and both Hobby Plus models claim the prize for most budget-friendly at $159.99 each. There are other considerations to make as well, such as licensed bodies and features like two-speed transmissions, but performance-wise, all three of these models should be on equal footing.
What's the Verdict?
Putting my love of the Scout II aside for a moment, I feel this is one of the better buys you'll find when it comes to small-scale R/C crawlers. It offers solid performance right out of the box, which you can further improve with a few minor adjustments. Perfect for driving indoors, this rig is a capable machine outdoors as well and makes for an excellent boredom buster for camping or hiking.
If you're considering a new 1/18-scale crawler, the $199.99 Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless is a tough little rig that's hard to beat.
Redcat Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless Specs:
- Vehicle Scale: 1/18
- Motor: FS-MD1212 3450KV Outrunner
- Transmission: FS-MD1212 3450KV Outrunner
- 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: R3C-BL 2in1 ESC/Receiver Brushless (5v/1Amp BEC) 2S-LiPo ONLY
- Radio System: 2.4GHz Radio System
- Battery: 7.4v 750mAh LiPo with USB Charger Included
- Needed to Run: 4 AA Batteries for Radio
- Price: $199.99
