1/8th scale FE future?

[Ronbo]

I see a few people converting 1/8th to FE. Is this a possible trend for the future to either replace or become popular as nitro? There are plenty of kits it seems to choose from versus other sizes. Im happy with 1/10th, but was wondering if the trend in 1/8th scale unlimiteds is matching what I see in helis and airplanes. As tech becomes better in motor, escs and esp batteries, will this be a trend for racing in the future? Just wondering.

Excuse my lack of knowledge in this area, as Im only interested in scale unlimiteds and Ive never kept up on the boating side of things of our great hobby.

[sailr]

I'm in the process of converting an old 1/8th to electric. Go for it!

[JMSCARD]

I see a few people converting 1/8th to FE. Is this a possible trend for the future to either replace or become popular as nitro? There are plenty of kits it seems to choose from versus other sizes. Im happy with 1/10th, but was wondering if the trend in 1/8th scale unlimiteds is matching what I see in helis and airplanes. As tech becomes better in motor, escs and esp batteries, will this be a trend for racing in the future? Just wondering.

Excuse my lack of knowledge in this area, as Im only interested in scale unlimiteds and Ive never kept up on the boating side of things of our great hobby.

No question the technology is HERE!!! just like the other end of the hobby (planes/helis) the size of your toy depends on the depth of your pockets.... but as far as power available goes we have the tech here already... its only gonna get better and better....

[crabstick]

It can be done on a budget too..

Obviously you are not going to get the same performance as the high end gear, but at 1/4 of the price it may just get a few more people running FE 1/8 Unlimiteds

[Darin Jordan]

I'm planning on doing a 1/8th scale at some point. Makes WAY more sense than the 1/7ths or 1/6ths that are out there... and it's already a real NAMBA class...

[Ronbo]

Darin, glad you brought that up. Even 1/10th, plus 1/6 1/7.5 whatever, is a niche portion of the hobby, with no kits readily available. Everything is scratch. which is fine for those with that skill set and space, etc. Where theres a will theres a way.

I suppose to do 1/8th, it would be exlusively right hand turn, which to me is not realistic. Which is why i like 1/10th.

I was just wondering if theres a trend to switch to FE in this size at some point, or become as popular for sound reasons, etc.

[Hydromaniac]

IMO I kind of doubt that 1/8 scale class racing will grow by great numbers any time in the near future, the class has been around for 3-4 years and has grown very little. On a national level the smaller power FE classes are still the biggest draw. I think that trend will continue as the gassers are also getting a bit less costly and are more cost effective when compared to FE boats in the big boat classes. You can build a 1/6 "scale Thunder boat Gasser for less out of pocket then a electric 1/8. If you add to that the cost to transport big boats when racing, It seems smaller boats will continue to draw more in the FE side. You can look at this years FE nats entries, 25+ LSH entries and only 2, 1/8 scale unlimiteds. This has been the FE trend in the past Nationals for a couple of years. Where on the Gas side of "Racing" the bigger boats are rapidly growing that will probably continue. JMO

[Fluid]

I'm with Hydro...with only two 1/8th scales entered in the FE Nats this year, it has never been popular. A lot of guys made lots of big talk, and yes there was even the ill-fated "SuperSaverClass" - but most all of this has faded away in recent years.

With boats this size, cheap usually means poor reliability and mediocre performance. These are big boats and they don't run well underpowered. We have a couple in the club but they are exhibition boats not serious racers. For those with the coin they are very cool, but as a serious racing class - only in a few select areas, if at all.

[tharmer]

Last year the 1/7 class had less than 10 boats. This year, over 20 and climbing. Vintage shovel and drop sponson hydros, classic pickle forks, and soon turbine hydros.

You can buy kits in any stage of completion from bare hull to ready to run. Cost? How about a complete Vintage boat, all hardware installed, painted, complete with speed control and radio. Ready to drop into the water and race (less batteries) for about $1600 bucks. No building, no painting, and you get a beautiful 50 mph race boat.

Here's my vintage


Here's my Pickle


These guys are a hoot to drive. Stable just fast enough to be exciting and the sound of the Scorpion at 21K is wonderful.

Check 'em out at ScaleHydro.com.

-t

[K.R.Joye]

I'm looking forward to FE 1/8th scale growing. I was one of the pioneers for FE scale back in the nimh days. Still have the boats RTR updated with the latest and greatest electronics, looking for some worthy competition. Darins correct there will always be 1/8 scale class in NAMBA / IMPBA oval & SAW racing. So its a safe bet FE 1/8th scale will survive. Don't get me wrong I also like the larger scale classes some clubs are promoting too!
Just my perspective on 2 boats entered at the FE nats. On top of cost for a truelly competitive NAMBA IMPBA legal hull / setup, these big boats are tuff to transport cost effectively. A lot of time an money can go into these some of them are real works of art. In some cases its just not worth taking any chances.
As for me i'd love to go to Nats this year, just can't justify taking the vac-time and travel related costs especially with 2 sons enrolled at local universities.

[T.S.Davis]

The scalies are super cool on the water. My favorite class to watch. The growth in actual racing isn't going to happen with the current FE unlimited rule sets of either organization. My opinion.

[AlanN]

I love to race my 1/8th scale. Went undefeated for 8 major events. Last ran mine at the 09 nats in MI.

The main issue is getting enough of them to the pond to run. As Ken indicated, they are big and take more effort to setup and run than smaller hulls. But ever since I saw Kelly Brookes set up a Phil Thomas Miss Elam I was hooked. Then Ken J had 2 scales at a race and needed a hired hand. Fortunately he asked me to run his spare ride...not only hooked but flayed and fried too. Since then I have collected hulls when the opportunity arrived. So for 4-5 years now we have had the abiblity to run this type/size of a hull with decent speed (thank goodness for lipos...nimh's would get very warm when running these and be shot after a few runs). I see more interest on the forums currently than ever before. Especially where the nitro crowd is dying out. By me there are still too many nitros for them to want to warrent us running with them....some guys are running for points and don't want to run fe along side since it would be illegal and void the pts.

Basically I think over the next few years you will see more and more of them. As we share FE knowledge and continue to run at events with nitro and gas there will be more and more converts. These hulls take time to setup properly let alone build and paint.

[K.R.Joye]

I see my arch-nemesis chimmed in. LOL

It was the some of the past Northest US & Canadian races that really put FE 1/8th Scale on the map a few years ago. I think once the FE nats and other Natl events start rotation back thru the northeastern states FE scale will surge again.

[T.S.Davis]

haha Ken, do I hear road trip to Jersey in our future? MMman that was fun.

[tharmer]

Are there any FE racers in 1/8th in British Columbia?