I could not agree with you more...and further, I don't buy the story that "we are dealing with issues that are outside our control." If you ask me that's the problem...they are not trying to control the situation. My lord...the $$$ is there (for the time being)...MM proved that. They need to $hit can the weak link in the process and move on. Industry enthusiasts will pay the difference.

I don't remember what Batman character said it but the words I remember vividly: "this city needs an enema!" Maybe it was Penguin. At any rate this economy needs an enema. Customer service these days is crap and it needs a wake up call. I remember in the late eighties and early nineties the common slogan was "whatever it takes" to keep a customer. That ideology was a result of some seriously hard times...c'mon folks (Castle) wake up! Do you really want to go back to that? Or do you want to be the omni present industry leader and be the "last man standing" when the dust settles in the aftermath (in case you ain't checked...the market is lookin very 1980's)?

Wow, people certainly get passionate about this stuff. I am sure that CC is doing their best, they know that everyday that they do not have a product available for sale they loose potential sales.

The constant setbacks do appear to be annoying, but it certainly keeps us talking about it! There is no such thing as bad publicity, right?!

Lets be honest. Why do companies pre announce product. To stop competitive sales, create a demand so that they can have good sales at introduction. Typically there is a judgement call on just how far in advance to announce, Then figure in extra time for the we waited this long we will wait a little longer.
Bammmmm you have a killing intro sales demand. Oppps we guessed on product readiness then told then market something else... and now we have internal delays... followed by external delays, and now the market is just unbelieving.
CC will do good with the next minor product and gain trust... then the cycle repeats.


All in all we have to make our own judgement calls.

Highflier

It was the Joker. :bad:

The sidewinder popped out of nowhere (along with the sidewinder micro) because CC learned their lesson not to announce new products too soon. I'm sure the sidewinder had a much shorter development cycle than the MMM because it is a downgrade of the MM (instead of an upgrade), and it didn't require a new motor.

Thanks. I knew we had some Batman fans here.

All I'm saying is take control of the situation instead of letting the situation control them.

Trust me I deal with overseas suppliers on a daily basis as well and they can be difficult to deal with at best. Its like you are their mercy to just believe what they tell you because you have no way of telling what is accurate and what is not. CC need to park somebody from their organization in the conference room of the offending supplier and have them start digging into every nook and cranny of the "problem" they are having. You would be amazed at what having somebody's nose up their butt on a daily basis does for their motivation to "SOLVE THE PROBLEM"

I know the proposition of spending multiple weeks in some small Chinese town while "helping" them figure it out does not sound very appealing, but sooner or later somebody has to just jump on the grenade and GET IT DONE.

I had a Schulze 18.97 burn up on me, but I have a 32.55K, 2 18.61K, 2 11.20 and the 40.160 and guess what, if you go the Schulze's site you will see a ton of new controllers coming out and most of which are HV (up to 14S lipos). Castle has a good market not only here in the US, but in other countries and Castle needs to come out with ESC that will match what Schulze is doing. How can Schulze and other Euro companies make controllers that can work with all the R/C sector and Castle can't? The 40.160 is almost $800 (I don't know why, maybe software) and if folks find it in stock, they'll buy it. Castle please come out with the goodies, who cares about plastic casing.

Just a guess here ... I think the MMM got scrapped at some point in the last year and they started from scratch, with the Sidewinder being part of the same development project.

I think that explains why MMM info got real vague and quiet for a while, and then we started hearing a lot more in the past few months about the same time word of the SW got out. For that matter, the new 1/18 speedo I think was in the same "project"... but it's not out yet either.

No doubt the MMM has given more trouble to get finished... and there has been a continued problem getting the motors too. Heck, they finally had to buy/build their own factory to get them made... so I'm told.

I've been upset about the whole thing at times, but I also understand how it can drag on for a long time.

Their mistake is talking about it. But... you know we all would want to know what's being developed by all the r/c companies, if we could make it that way.

Understanding.
 

I kind of understand now why Robin at UE has been so tight lipped about his goings on. Once you open your mouth about anything people like us won't let it go for a minute. We are so hungry for any news about this that we are ready to burn the place down because we want what they've got.

The facts that I see are that CC has given us a good product in the past with the MM. It has run its course and done a pretty good job at that. Now that CC is planning to release something new (MMM) that we want for the monster truck junkies there are no excuses that will do for any delays. Its no wander why Joe hates comming on here to give us any kind of info. Don't get me wrong guys, I am on board with you, in that I cannot wait to get one and set it up on one of my trucks, but lets take a step back and give the man some breathing room. I think it is obvious that CC is comming out with the MMM any day now. Whatever their problems may be I am sure that Joe will work it out and get the MMM to us as soon as he possibly can. :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Another example of great marketing/timing: Mircrosoft :lol:

A few of you guys really are taking this overboard, and it is evident to me that you have never tried to build a single product from parts sourced from multiple manufacturers. It isn't as simple as just giving the company trouble, if parts aren't available they aren't available. Pushing them may speed the process, but it doesn't change the fact that there is a holdup.

So that's it, I have read on a forum that castle did have something like 40 employee in china. I was really curious when i read that because I was really convinced that castle was OEMing there motor to an existing factory, after read the post on that forum I guess that they did partially own that factory.

But in fact it's much bigger than that, If glassdoctor affirmation are true, CC do have there own factory in china...
I already believe that Castle did make more profit margin on motor than on there ESC, that probably be even more true in the future.
The good point is that allow us to have good quality motor for a decent price.

From Rcgroups forum, Mr del castillo

"This is why we no longer share with the public what projects we are working on. The Mamba Monster Maxx was the last. If people cannot deal with the time required to finalize a product, test it, and get packaging ready, then we won't release ANY advanced information.

You will now need to wait until the product is released to learn anything about it.

And yes, we ARE RELEASING the Monster Maxx BEFORE the motor is ready. We won't have a motor until early - mid summer. The ESC will be released as soon as we have a case ready. And no, we are not purposely holding back the release FOR ANY REASON. That would be stupid and pointless."


Patrick

Whooops.
 

WOW, I see that really quieted things down a bit:gasp:. Like I mentioned in one of my earlier posts in another thread, don't waste your time and effort on negativity, because you will only have to overcome it later. Put your efforts on positive things and lifting others up not putting them down.:lol::lol::lol:

The bottom line is that CC will release the MMM when it is ready:yes:. WE can either be patient for that time, or purchase something else in the meantime:eyes:. Yes there are other options out there, but we all know that the MMM is something that we want in our RC arsinol:whistle:. Can we all play nice nice now?:lol:

you are right jerry2kone. people should really calm down a bit. seems like some dudes have nothing else to do than just 'waiting for the mmm'. i dont understand how people can get to big for one's boots and think that with some trash talking they could change or influence anything. rc people in the web are not the market, they are just a share of it. its not that companys would react to some 'talking' in internet forums. now you can see what the result is. they will not share any pre-release infos in the future. new products hit the market when they hit the market. then you can buy it or not. its as simple as that.

bye
rhylsadar

Well, that is some good news if indeed they release the MMM before the motor. Probably 99% of us on here already have $300 Neu motors, hacker, fiego's anyway.
I'm still waiting for CC to update there software to work with Vista properly.

Castle Link works 100% on my Vista 32bit laptop.

Same.

Ditto on vista.

Well put, I just went through the same thing last year doing spec work and putting new controls systems on some of our machines for a new plant. There is so much with programming and working out little things that it can drag out easily. Often one change here necessitates another change somewhere else and it becomes a vicious cycle. Then having to deal with sales people making promises for machines to licensees that I haven't even finished testing and so on. It was a rough time, and as much as you want to put out preliminary dates and keep on schedule, many things just happen that are out of anyones control. So until someone comes up with a magic wand it will always be this way.

In reality the only mistake CC has made is the fact that they released info too early which they have obviously learned from. The good thing of this all is that the ESC will be released, will be an excellent product, and backed by some of the best support in the business.

So if your sitting around holding your breath waiting, STOP! Breathe and go on with life, then the next thing you know, it will be released.

I am not going to dig up all CC's quotes...but there are a lot of inconsistencies. Last I knew they were waiting for injected molded parts. My issue isn't with their timeliness to market...it is with the inconsistent manner in which they have provided information to the buyers.

As a contractor, I manage parts/pieces of some very unique gov't programs, which involve providing deliverables to specific clients...and we depend on all sorts of sub contractors. Fundamentally we are sort of an integration facilitator--it's worth noting that we are a small business. So believe me, I understand the challenges of making milestones and deadlines...but rarely (very rarely) do we miss milestones/deadlines-especially when they are indigenous to our area of specialization. If we have support subcontractors (e.g., like the folks injection molding parts) that can't make their milestones we find other alternatives. This often translates into increased costs to the client, but they are generally happy to pay. And one practice we never engage in is telling the client that "we are going to make the deadline of X..we are just waiting for Y" --especially when there is something more going on behind the scenes than just waiting for "Y."

This is the point my earlier post was attempting to make.

Some of you may not agree--but this is my opinion and that is the purpose of forums--to share knowledge and express opinions.

True,

Many of us do have NEU's, Lehner's etc. I'm one and am still hopeful that the MMM will arrive by June and with 4-pole (ie NEU) compatibilty.

I wish my management team would be so happy with a year late project... Today I gave up on the motor and bought a 1515F (for 225)...

I'll run on the MM for now and hope to get a MMM for more Volts. I hope that the MMM hits the street for 160-180ish. $300 as a combo is a bargain.

I think the only information that they gave out that caused them problems was the "coming soon". For most of coming soon means two or three months. Since CC puts out well performing products a lot of people are excited that something this good could come out that soon. I think they would had a lot less flak if they would had no "Coming Soon" attached to something that at the time was no where near done.

I think most of just can't wait because it would seem that this ESC is going to be much better then anything else out there and it's hard to wait when there aren't to many other good choices out there.

I can totally understand what has been going on with CC - but I can still recall a time almost two years ago prior to the beginning of beta testing the MM, we were also supposedly going to test the MMM... obviously that didn't happen.

They keep talking about how they no longer share the information with the public.... yet they keep yapping it up. This is a perfect example of "stupid and pointless"

Why not just shut up and do it. These guys are their own worst enemy and from the tone it sounds like they are getting mad at the consumers for actually thinking that they should deliver what they said they were going to deliver.

Did I hear a new date rining in that statement.... early to mid summer....

STOP IT MAN!!!! JUST STOP IT!!!!! If you stop telling people dates they will stop expecting them and stop getting on your case when you don't deliver.

Same here. Works great on my Q1 ultra with vista:

http://a5.vox.com/6a00e398a943af0004...9a2d0003-500pi

All you have to do is run the install file as administrator (even if you already are admin on the box) and it'll install fine.

UMPC FTW! :intello:

Sleeb

Mixed results on 64bit vista - CCBEC works, MM does not...

The thing is that CC is now between a rock and a hard place, if they don't give out anymore info, now that everyone knows about it, everyone will get angry and wonder what's up. However, if they do give out info, they have to make sure it's perfect or everyone will get angry. It's all lose-lose for CC until the thing is released. Obviously they have learned their lesson and will keep projects under wraps from now on.

I see no point in getting upset with them, it doesn't accomplish anything for me. It's not like anyone else is trying hard to develop a 6s 200 amp system except for tekin but even there nothing is coming to fruition and nobody has any real specs on it yet either.

For me I will wait and watch the updates with mild enthusiasm then get excited when it's released. Even if it is until next year, it's not like the MMM is holding me up from enjoying my RC's and there are some (albeit more expensive) alternatives out there.

Exactly; no use getting upset!

http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/cust...vatar677_2.gif

Gotta love that too!

Just got off the phone with CC about the "Sidewinder Micro". They actually started upgrading the Mamba25's to be 35A controllers 6 months ago without telling anybody.

Now they're just re-badging it and dropping the price $20 for a better controller.

I also sent them an out of warranty MM that was almost unrecognizable, and they're giving me a brand new one for $50 shipped.

MMM aside, I've been really impressed with everything else they've done. And when the MMM gets here, I'm sure I'll be really impressed with it too.

I am very excited for the future of R/C.

Castle will probably stay on the "when it's done" rule by now, I just hope they will not completly disappear from community forums because of this.

Getting support and technical comment on brushless technology is priceless, and definitly prove that they like what they do (like a recent large explanation post from a castle guy about capacitor on battery input)

The Mamba25 has evolved since they first came out with it. A couple years ago when Shawn was still there he told me then that they could probably have renamed it Mamba35. It has better fets and other components than the first release.

The real reason, imo... for the new Sidewinder tag and cheaper price.... is to make room for the all new 1/18 :D

Well, Here is my two cents.

I think the main reason just about all of us are upset about this is not only is Castle aware that we are looking forward to the release of the MMM, but they keep dropping date after date after date! The problem is just that! I have personaly dealt with Castle for along time and I rarely have ever seen so much political mumbo jumbo as with the release of this MMM. I honestly hope that Dan and the gang at Castle are reading these posts because honestly we the consumers are your best friends and your worst enemy! You keep bitting the hand that feeds you and eventually your gonna have to be put down. Quit making empty statements and promises of dates and then get caught in your own words. Your running a business based on a limited consumer where it is a must to be presise in what you say and how you say it! In the business I am in, No matter what the weather is. If we say we are going to get it done by that date, it's getting done. No and, if, or buts. There is no room for error and objectives need to be set in stone with a reasonably set time limit. You dont go to McDonalds drive thru to make an order and when you get to the window they tell you to return next week for your order! And if we are talking about apple to oranges, Well you dont go to a store to buy a computer to have them tell you it will be built by next year and we will call you!

The one point that castle should realize is that alot of us here are waiting for that package! Not just the ESC, But the whole deal! Im just affraid that my patience as a faithful consumer for over 3 years who has done nothing less then praise Castle with everyone intrested in Electronics. Im affraid that my relationship with Castle might end based on the one pet peeve that annoys me to no end! I hate being lied to.

Now I might be one person, but words have a way of spreading and so do results. With results like this following email (posted below) from Castle, I have no doubt that the business practices that Castle displays only reflects the true meaning of what we as consumers mean to Castle Creations.

On an end note I will say this. Besides the wrong of posting dates and making false statements. I can only hope that I am wrong and Castle will return us with respect for our dedication and patience. Look at the Microsoft XBOX, we all waited, those who got it and in that wait we recieved what pressure to meet dates can get us. CRAP! 1 out 4 XBOX'S crash. And this was supposed to be the god send of gaming technology. Lets hope Castle doesnt give us the same results.

(the email sent to me today from Castle)

"Not allowed to give out any more information per the owner of the
company. Too many people getting upset that it's taking a while to get
final product development done."

Joe Ford
Product Specialist
Castle Creations

At last... It only took 2 years to learn that. Good job castle.

Now it will be, when it is, and no dates to worry everyone about.


EDIT: Now if they can just avoid falling into a relapse of givin-n-missin-daten-itis disease...
.................................................. ..............................^^^Scientific term^^^:tongue:

No one has placed an order for an MMM yet though. I don't think we are all upset, I'm disappointed it's not going to be out this month but I would definitely prefer a good well finished product then something that is rushed and has the same problems all the other controllers have. If what castle was doing was easy there would be 10 other comparable escs on the market already.

That being said, what castle should be saying is "That due to unforeseen problems with something have caused yet another delay. We are sorry for the inconvenience and we will no longer giving estimated release dates as not to jinx ourselves. It will be done when it's done. Once again sorry for any inconvenience but it will be worth the wait."

I think I have a solution to this problem.

I am eagerly awaiting the release of the mmm. But I suddenly realized what am I going to put it in? I have a decent selection of 5s batteries, and motors to go with those batteries. So I started looking at the setups I have that seem to be on the edge of running correctly. My revo with the 7xl and the mm seems to be the best candidate, as it can pull some juice, and I need a better esc. But it would be nice to run 6s in something, and use the MMM capability. All of my 5s setups use quark escs, and all of them work fine, so no need to replace anything. I guess that I will have to by a pair of 3000 mah or so 3s lipos to run 6s with. FP 3300 cells?

So I did the only thing I could, I just bought a crt roller, and will use the MMM in that! Yes I know, the pimp needs another vehicle, like he needs another hole in his head. Oh well, almost finished with everyhting else, and the aftershock needs to be pushed back again, so this will do it!

I find having 10 or so unfinshed vehicles really keeps ones mind of pesky things like the MMM release date!

Actually... can anyone here name a release date? I don't recall any...

Seems like I'm a lone ranger in supporting CC here. I agree that they keep dangling a carrot but are not delivering. It's a classic Charlie Brown vs. Lucy thing.

But... most of the talk about the MMM has been "off the record" type of comments. The projections or prognostications about a release date have been rather vague IIRC.

IMO, anyone who is all bent out of shape over this needs to stop living-n-dying over the MMM and understand that Castle doesn't owe you anything for not meeting your hoped-for time frame.

Thanks to all the crying and bitching... now we likely will only get the typical BS answers about what's going on. I would much rather have straight talk and be disappointed (along with the guys at CC) with continued delays.

For everyone who says their boss would fire them or their company would loose a contract with this type of "performance".... that's great. The same thing applies here with Castle. Any pissed off customers can "fire" them and go buy the MMM from someone else. Oh yeah.... there is no one else to buy it from. Funny how that works.

I have my gripes about this too, but it has more to do with questioning the priority CC put on the MMM project (and how much that has impacted the delay) and not about how they handle public relations.

Peace LOL

There's always Quark, MGM, and Shultz...all overseas companies. I guess that's what bothers me most...I would think that would kinda irk others too.

Imo
 

I think everyone is bent out of shape for the same reason, and that is we still do not have the MMM in hand. Your right G Dr. that is totally our problem not CC's. Your not alone in this opinion. It has been said a few times that we all just need to take a deep breath and calm down. Life just keeps moving forward weather we have the MMM or not. If the time line does not meet with anyones schedule then spend the extra $$$ and get one of the other ESC's out there. Give CC a little respect for even attempting this bold move for us. Build it and we will buy it, today, tomorrow or next month. Hey Pimp why don't you send in a butler monkey to straighten all of this out for CC:lol:. HA HA HA:rofl: