Introduction
Arrma has always been known for their powerful and high-performance RC cars, but what about their small-scale models? Today, we are going to take a closer look at the Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck and see how it performs.
A Small-Scale Beast: Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR Truck Full Review
Arrma has just released an exciting new addition to their lineup of RC cars – the 1/18 scale Granite Grom ready-to-run (RTR) truck. This is a significant release for Arrma as it marks their first foray into the small-scale RC car market. In this full review, we will take a closer look at the features and performance of this brushed monster truck.
Unboxing the Granite Grom
Upon unboxing the Granite Grom, one of the first things that caught our attention was the inclusion of a charger and a battery. This means that the car is truly ready to run straight out of the box, eliminating the need for any additional purchases. Kudos to Arrma for thinking about the customers’ convenience.
Impressive Features
The Granite Grom comes with a range of impressive features that make it stand out in the small-scale RC car market. It is equipped with an SLT2 2-channel transmitter, a 380 Mega 28-turn brush motor, and a heat sink metal gear servo. Even the servo itself boasts metal gears, ensuring durability and reliability during intense off-road sessions.
The SLT 25 amp ESC and receiver combo with the ic2 connector provides smooth and precise control, allowing you to maneuver the truck with ease. This RTR package also includes a 1400 milliamp Spectrum 2s battery and a smart charger, making it a truly comprehensive package for both newcomers and experienced RC enthusiasts.
A Skate Park Basher’s Dream
Although this particular Granite Grom isn’t mine, it was purchased by my father who was in search of a small-scale skate park basher. From its sturdy construction and robust design, it’s evident that the truck is built to withstand rough terrains and intense bashing sessions.
With its compact size and excellent performance, the Granite Grom handles skate parks with ease. It can tackle ramps, jumps, and obstacles with confidence, offering a thrilling experience for both beginners and seasoned RC enthusiasts.
The Small-Scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR Truck: A Full Review
In the Box: Controller and Accessories
Upon opening the box of the Small-Scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck, we are greeted with the main controller. The controller offers fully proportional steering, throttle, brake, and reverse functionalities. It comes equipped with features such as steering trim, steering dual rate, steering reverse, and a throttle limiting switch with options of 50, 75, or 100. The controller requires four AA batteries to operate.
Next, let’s take a closer look at the accessories that come in the bag. We find all the necessary instruction guides and user manuals, ensuring we have all the information we need to start using the truck. While there don’t appear to be any upgrades available for this model yet, it is expected that Arrma will release upgrade options in the future.
Additionally, we receive extra spring stiffness for the shocks, providing some customization options for our driving experience. The inclusion of the four AA batteries required for the controller is a thoughtful touch. There is also a promotional card with scan codes on the back, offering access to additional resources and information. Finally, we are pleasantly surprised by the presence of a sturdy and high-quality wheel wrench and Allen driver, which can come in handy during maintenance or customization tasks.
Unveiling the Charger
One last item that catches our attention is a small Allen key. Examining the contents of the box, we believe this to be the charger for the truck’s battery.
A Promising Start
With the contents of the box thoroughly explored, it’s evident that the Small-Scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck provides a comprehensive package for users. The inclusion of a fully functional controller, useful accessories, and a quality charger sets a promising tone for our future adventures with this RC car. Now, all that’s left is to await the arrival of the truck’s owner, so we can put it to the test on the road, check its speed capabilities, and even challenge it at the local skate park. Stay tuned for the action-packed review of the Small-Scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck!
Appearance and Design
The SMALL SCALE Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck is undeniably tiny, making it perfect for those who prefer smaller RC cars. Its compact size is complemented by a sleek and stylish design, giving it a visually appealing look. The black rims and deboot Fortress tires add a touch of sophistication to the overall appearance. Although the tires do not have foam, they are made of thick rubber with a soft compound, ensuring a good grip on various terrains.
Durability and Protection
One notable feature of the Granite Grom is its robust and solid front and rear bumpers. Made from high-quality plastic, these bumpers not only enhance the truck’s aesthetics but also provide excellent protection for the car’s vulnerable areas. The front bumper, in particular, is especially impressive, as its sturdy construction ensures that the front end of the car remains intact during rough play.
Performance and Handling
The truck’s bottom showcases strong swing arms that are capable of withstanding the demands of intense off-road driving. These swing arms contribute to the overall stability and durability of the vehicle, allowing it to handle various obstacles with ease. Moreover, the Granite Grom features an outstanding high center of gravity chassis, which not only enhances its appearance but also improves its performance on challenging terrains. This chassis design, which seems to draw inspiration from hbx, ensures that the car remains well-balanced, preventing it from tipping over easily.
User-Friendly Charging
The Granite Grom comes with a small smart charger specifically designed for 2s batteries. This charger features a USBC port located at the back, making it convenient to charge the batteries using the included USBC cable. Moreover, the package also includes a USBC to standard USB adapter, allowing users to charge the batteries from a computer or any standard USB charger. This user-friendly charging system adds to the overall convenience and ease of use of the truck.
Overall Verdict
In conclusion, the SMALL SCALE Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck is a remarkable choice for RC car enthusiasts who prefer smaller vehicles. Its attractive design, durability, and protection features make it a standout option in the market. The impressive performance, thanks to the strong swing arms and high center of gravity chassis, ensures a fun and thrilling driving experience. Furthermore, the user-friendly charging system further adds to its appeal. If you are looking for a small-scale RC truck with great features, the Granite Grom is undoubtedly worth considering.
h2: Body Design and Construction
The Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck features a clipless body design that allows for easy access to the internal components of the truck. Unlike traditional bodies that require clips or screws to secure them in place, the Granite Grom’s body has a latch on the front and two tabs on the inside that can be easily pushed to lift the back of the shell. This innovative design allows for quick and hassle-free maintenance as any dirt or debris that gets in can simply fall out.
h2: Internal Components and Features
Upon opening the body, you can see that the Granite Grom is packed with various components. It is equipped with a 380 brushed motor, a 2-in-1 board, and a 1400 mAh Spectrum 2s 30C lithium battery. The servo assembly is located underneath and appears to be quite substantial in its construction. Although the tie bars are non-adjustable, the overall build quality of the truck, including the camera and upper swing arms, is impressive and sturdy.
h2: Suspension System
The Granite Grom boasts a plastic composite oil-filled shock system, which is particularly useful in small-scale cars like this one. These oil-filled shocks provide improved stability and dampening, ensuring a smooth and controlled ride even on rough terrains. Combined with the strong upper swing arms, the suspension system of the Granite Grom is designed to handle various driving conditions with ease.
h2: Overall Performance
Having examined the body design, internal components, and suspension system of the Granite Grom, it is time to assess its overall performance. The truck’s compact size allows for maneuverability and agility, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Its powerful 380 brushed motor delivers a satisfactory level of speed, ensuring an enjoyable driving experience. The 1400 mAh lithium battery also provides sufficient runtime for extended play sessions.
h2: Conclusion
In conclusion, the Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck is a small-scale RC car that offers impressive features and performance. Its clipless body design allows for easy maintenance, while the strong internal components and suspension system ensure durability and stability. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced RC enthusiast, the Granite Grom is a great choice for those seeking a reliable and fun RC truck.
The Bouncy and Composite Shock Towers
The Small Scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck comes with bouncy and possibly composite shock towers. These shock towers provide stability and durability to the truck, ensuring a smooth and reliable ride. The use of composite materials also adds to the overall strength and longevity of the shock towers.
The Module Part for the Body
To remove the body of the truck, there is a module part that acts as a connector. The body has a little tag that clips into this module part, securing it in place. By pushing down on the back of the module, the body is released and can be lifted up. This design allows for easy access to the internal components of the truck and makes maintenance a breeze.
The Mounting Hardware
The Small Scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck comes with standard mounting hardware. The screws and other hardware are all 2 mm hex size, which is great news for enthusiasts who have experienced stripping issues with Allen Keys in the past. Additionally, the wheelnuts are 12 mm in size, and the hexers are designed for one10 wheels. This ensures compatibility with other standard parts in the RC car community.
The Three Color Options
This incredible truck is available in three different color options: blue and white, red and white, and green and white. Each color combination has its own unique appeal, and it’s up to personal preference on which one to choose. The green and white option seems to be a favorite among many, including myself and my dad. Unfortunately, it was not available for pre-order in Australia, so we settled for the red and white, which is still a great choice.
Unboxing and First Impressions
After charging up the truck, it’s time to take it out for a spin. But before we do that, there is something I need to share with you. During the filming of the unboxing and review video, my dad had an unfortunate accident at work. He ended up injuring his hand, which means he now has some time off work to play around with the RC cars. Thankfully, his fingers are all good, so we can still have some fun.
Speed Test at the Skate Park
Now that we are at the skate park and BX track, it’s time to test out the speed of the Granite Grom. I turn on the GPS and everything is ready to go. With a quick push of the throttle, the truck takes off. It’s not the fastest RC car out there, but considering it has a small brushed system running on 2s, we can’t really expect too much. The top speed reads 31 km/h, which is pretty decent for its size.
Performance at the Skate Park
After the speed test, it’s time to have some fun at the skate park. The Granite Grom handles the ramps and jumps with ease. Its compact size allows it to maneuver effortlessly, and the suspension system provides a smooth and stable ride. Whether it’s performing tricks or just cruising around, this little truck proves to be a great choice for the skate park.
SMALL SCALE Arrma!🤏… Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck FULL REVIEW #arrma #rccar
An Exciting Skate Park Experience
I think it’s going to be more than enough to have a bit of fun on the skate park, all righty guys, so I did bring another battery. U just in case this one goes flat too quickly, but I did have to make a little adapter so yeah. If that happens, Ill Chuck the other battery in, we can keep having a little bit more Music fun yeah the rear ends definitely bouncy.
Smooth and Durable Performance
Oh nice, oh Music. Almost oh! It is a bit bouncy nice that was smooth. I think its going to be very durable. These little crashes, I dont, think its going to do too much damage to it if any o – oh, that was beautiful, oh yeah, oh the body body come off Music first, that one yeah land, no Music; first Music, nice, oh yeah!
A Responsive Steering Experience
I the right time but its just enough yeah yeah nice that was so smooth yeah now hes going to hang a bit. Oh you B nose heavy that one thats it. Oh all, right guys Im going to have a little shot quickly, just to see what its like yeah, steerings, very responsive, diffs and everything set up same set up pretty well the shocks like I said they are pretty uh springy for oil, fi shocks, nice yeah.
Powerful Performance Jumping
Just enough power to pull out of the jumps, I think at the moment wow getting nice smooth jumps going though Music Applause yeah. This is Applause – nice, oh, oh, oh, oh, that might be low voltage already yeah guys.
The Stable and Responsive Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR Truck
The Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck is a small-scale RC car that offers stability and responsiveness in its performance. With its brushless system, even beginners can easily handle and drive this car.
A Promising Performance
Upon testing the truck, it became apparent that it is equipped with a low voltage battery. However, it is not a cause for concern as it can be easily resolved by using a different battery. Thankfully, the reviewer had an extra battery on hand.
Steering and Handling
The truck showcases excellent steering capabilities, making it highly responsive to any commands given. It is easy to control, even for those who are novices in the world of RC cars. This stability and control bring a sense of confidence to the driver.
Battery Upgrade
While the stock battery provided enough power, the reviewer decided to try out a WL Toys 1500mAh 2S lipo battery. Surprisingly, the truck seemed to have gained an increase in power and speed with this upgrade. This battery appears to add more punch and enhances the top-end speed.
Improved Speed
With the WL Toys battery, the small-scale truck reached a higher top speed of approximately 32 kilometers per hour. This additional speed boost adds more excitement and thrill to the driving experience. It is clear that this battery upgrade proved to be a success.
Shock Absorption Concerns
One notable issue that arose during testing was the truck’s shock absorption system. The shocks appeared to be in need of improvement, as they were quite bouncy. This suggests that thicker shock oil should be used to enhance the truck’s stability and reduce excessive bouncing.
Performance and Power
The small-scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance and power. With just a little bit more punch than expected, this little truck is ready to impress. Its power is evident as it zooms around, leaving us in awe and applause.
A Test of Durability
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. As we push the truck to its limits, we hit a roadblock—quite literally. With a bit too much power, the truck experiences a minor mishap. But fear not, we quickly recover and decide it’s time to take this beast off-road, onto the dirt.
Dancing on the Dirt
As we kick up some dirt, the truck dances along. The shocks play a vital role here, but it becomes apparent that more oil is needed to stabilize the truck. Despite the instability, we manage to keep going and marvel at the truck’s resilience.
A Need for Speed
Feeling the need for speed, we decide to test the truck’s capabilities. With a little more speed, we successfully clear some obstacles. Smooth and steady, the truck conquers the terrain with ease, leaving us impressed.
A Shaky Situation
We shift our focus to jumps and tricks, testing the truck’s maneuverability. However, we quickly realize that the shocks are hindering our progress. It becomes clear that some white oil is needed to improve the shocks’ performance. A small setback, but with a little adjustment, we expect better results.
A Test of Control
Despite the hiccup, we attempt a front flip to test the truck’s abilities. However, we conclude that it’s better to leave the trick to the pros. With a satisfied smile, we hand over the controls to Dad, acknowledging that this little car has a lot to offer.
Grip and Battery Life
Throughout the testing, we notice that the truck has impressive grip on grass and dirt surfaces. The battery, on the other hand, doesn’t last as long as we would like. With two flat batteries, we realize that the truck’s power comes at a cost.
A Final Verdict
Despite its minor flaws, the Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck is a remarkable machine. Its power, maneuverability, and resilience make it an excellent choice for enthusiasts. However, improvements can be made to the shocks and battery life. Overall, it’s a small-scale truck that packs a punch and leaves a lasting impression.
Conclusion
The Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck is a remarkable addition to the small-scale RC car market. With its impressive features, including the inclusion of a charger and battery, this truck offers excellent value for money. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first RC car or a seasoned enthusiast in need of a small-scale basher, the Granite Grom is definitely worth considering. Get ready to unleash this little beast on the track and experience endless hours of RC fun.
If there is any information or detail that I may have missed in this review, please let me know in the comments section, and I will be more than happy to answer any questions or provide further clarification. Now, all that’s left to do is charge up that 2s battery and hit the road with the Small Scale Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck, enjoying its incredible performance and versatility.
In conclusion, the Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck may not be the fastest RC car out there, but it offers a fun and enjoyable experience, especially at the skate park. Its compact size and impressive performance make it a great choice for beginners or those looking for a small-scale RC truck. Even though my dad is recovering from his accident, we still had a blast testing out this little beast. So if you’re in the market for a small-scale RC car, give the Arrma Granite Grom a try.
The reviewer concluded that although the Arrma Granite Grom 1/18 RTR truck has a few areas for improvement, such as the shock absorption system, it overall provides a promising and enjoyable experience. Its stability and responsiveness make it suitable for both beginners and experienced RC car enthusiasts. With a few adjustments, this small-scale truck can become even more impressive.
