What’s Next For RC? Our Predictions for 2015

What’s in store for RC in the year ahead? It’s anyone’s guess, but if you want to know what we’re guessing, this is the place. From the hot and happening to the fizzled and fading, we reveal our predictions for what the next twelve months hold in store. Are we on target or off base? Tell us what you think in the comments, or join the conversation on Facebook.

 

SCALE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW
As scale topics continue to be the top-performing posts on Facebook and here at RCCA.com, and a steady flow of new scale releases hit stores, we think it’s a safe bet that RC will continue to “get real” in 2015. RC4WD, Tamiya, Kyosho and Axial can be counted on to keep delivering the scale goods across the “super detailed” to “real-ish” spectrum, and we expect more trail-truck offerings from Vaterra on the new Ascender platform. Who else will get in on the trail party? We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

2WD BUGGY WILL BE THE HOT CLASS
If it isn’t already the hot class at your local track, 2WD Buggy probably will be soon. The quintessential off-road electric class is stronger than ever and there are more cars to choose from than ever before (though odds are you’re running a TLR or Associated). We expect to see more divisions in the class to keep drivers well matched, with Expert and Sportsman Stock and potentially 21.5T or 25.5T motors to slow things down further for more casual competitors.

 

SHORT COURSE RACING WILL SLOW DOWN
Short-course trucks will continue to be big sellers for fun-running, but on the racing scene, short-course will continue to give up drivers to other classes. It only makes sense, as all the new drivers that got turned on to racing with the SC classes are moving into other forms of RC competition. If your favorite track has a strong SC scene, there’s no reason for that not to continue. But as far as the overall trend goes, we expect less SC racing in 2015.

 

ROCK RACING WILL BE A THING
If you drew a Venn diagram with “racing” and “trail” circles, Rock Racing would be where the circles overlap. This hybrid of realistic running and heads-up competition offers a unique kind of RC fun that’s unlike anything else, and with lots of trail-truckers out there ready to tap for entries, we expect to see rock racing become a much bigger scene in 2015.

FIRST-PERSON VIEW FOR CARS
As first-person view (FPV) comes down in price, we expect to see not only more adaptations to car applications (as in the video above), but ready-to-install FPV gear designed specifically for surface applications and with features just for cars and boats. Perhaps models with factory-installed FPV gear will become popular–it’s already happening in the air side of the hobby.

 

3D PRINTED PARTS ARE ON THE WAY
When a big name like Dremel decides it’s time to enter the 3D printing market and you can get it at Home Depot, you know 3D printing for hobbyists is here to stay. At $1000, it still isn’t cheap enough to go 3D just to print spare suspension arms, but for serious scratch builders and inventor types, the tech is very enticing–and will only continue to improve and become more affordable.