First Impressions: Team Associated RC28T 1/28-scale Stadium Truck
Last year's arrival of the Team Associated SC28 ($49.99) had me chomping at the bit to get one, however, after the first batch sold-out, my interest in this vehicle cooled. Thanks to a guest-review by Zach, "The Inconsistent TechDad", I felt that I had a solid understanding of this vehicle and decided to hold onto my money for a little while longer.
Fast-forward a year and Team Associated's 1/28-scale lineup has grown from one vehicle to four. After adding a second SC28 stadium truck option and the MT28 monster truck, the latest option was too cool for me to pass up.
Marrying my love for classic R/C design and small-scale models, the RC28T stadium truck is a micro-sized (body) replica of the Team Associated RC10. That retro look and small size were too much for me to pass up.
What's Included:
- 1 Team Associated RC28T Stadium Truck
- 1 Trigger-style transmitter/controller
- 1 Instruction manual
- 1 Decal sheet
Unboxing the Team Associated RC28T Stadium Truck
Initial Thoughts on the RC28T Stadium Truck
The body is what sold me on this model and, in my eyes, it doesn't disappoint. The styling is classic 90’s R/C racer, from the body lines to the decal package. It's a fun machine to look at, even when it's on the shelf.
Outside of the visuals, this truck is not only fun to drive, but it's also a blast to send airborne. Despite its lack of front wheel suspension, the chassis and steering setup handle bumps and impacts with ease. The rear suspension (dual shocks) setup seems to have an even blend of bounce and rebound and recovers from jumps quickly.
Having proportional steering (something that the slightly-smaller, 1/36-scale ECX KickFlip and BeatBox lack) is great, especially when wheeling around tight corners and lining up for a run towards a ramp. The rubber tires provide substantial grip and perform very well on carpet. Driving this truck on hardwood and tile flooring is fun, yet challenging and makes for an entertaining time.
The included controller matches the smaller-scale of the vehicle, but thankfully, isn't uncomfortable to hold. The steering trim adjustment knob is the only fine-tuning you can perform via the transmitter, however, that's about all you'll need to adjust when wheeling this tiny truck.
Charging the vehicle is straightforward; open the battery door at the bottom of the controller, pull the charging cable out, and connect it to the port on RC28T chassis. The charging indicator on the transmitter is easy to spot and charging time doesn't appear to take too long (20-25 minutes).
While the style and handling of this tiny truck are solid, the throttle performance leaves room for improvement. After mashing the gas, it takes a while for this tiny truck to get up to top speed, which caught me off-guard the first time I drove this truck. Having only driven it a handful of times since, then, it's a bit disappointing to not have quicker throttle response. While most of that thought stems from my experience with Carisma's GT24 vehicles and their brushless-powered motors, I do feel that the acceleration of the RC28T could be improved.
That said, it's hard to pass up any radio-controlled vehicle with a price tag of $49.99. Even with its somewhat sluggish response, the RC28T has been a fun vehicle to drive around indoors, especially when I'm not able to get outside for a spin. For those looking at adding something fun to their lineup, this is a model that's worth checking out.
