The Growth of 1/28 Scale Racing

1/28 scale racing has changed quite a bit over the years. What was once almost synonymous with Kyosho Mini-Z has gradually developed into its own category of RC racing, with more chassis manufacturers, racing formats, electronics, and purpose-built components entering the scene.

Mini-Z Started the Movement

Kyosho Mini-Z played a huge role in establishing 1/28 racing. The formula was simple: small cars, relatively small tracks, realistic bodies, and surprisingly competitive racing.

That combination solved one of the biggest problems in RC racing: space.

A technical 1/28 track can fit inside a hobby shop or relatively small commercial space while still providing enough room for genuinely competitive racing. Modular surfaces such as RCP also allow layouts to be changed without rebuilding an entire facility.

That accessibility helped create the foundation for the 1/28 racing scene we have today.

1/28 Is Becoming More Than Mini-Z

One of the biggest changes has been the arrival of purpose-built racing chassis.

Manufacturers such as Reflex Racing, GL Racing, Atomic, PN Racing, RTRC, MWX, Xbility and others now produce cars specifically for this scale.

Instead of modifying an RTR platform, racers can choose chassis designed from the beginning around competition.

That has brought technology normally associated with larger RC cars into a package roughly the size of your hand: carbon-fiber chassis, aluminum suspension components, adjustable geometry, ball differentials, disc dampers, sensored brushless systems and programmable ESCs.

Modern 1/28 racing can get surprisingly sophisticated.

LiPo Changed the Landscape

AAA NiMH batteries remain an important part of Mini-Z racing, particularly in stock-oriented classes, but 2S LiPo has created an entirely different side of 1/28.

Purpose-built LiPo chassis can use conventional RC electronics with separate receivers, servos and ESCs. Combined with modern brushless motors, they offer significantly more freedom in how a car is built and tuned.

This has helped create a natural progression in the hobby. Someone can start with a relatively simple Mini-Z and, if they want more speed and adjustability, eventually move into a dedicated LiPo race chassis.

Hard Bodies and Lexan Now Coexist

Another interesting trend is that 1/28 racing is moving in two directions at once.

Traditional hard-body racing remains popular because realistic bodies are a huge part of what makes Mini-Z special. Watching recognizable Porsches, McLarens, Corvettes and other cars battle around a miniature circuit gives the scale an identity that's difficult to replicate elsewhere.

At the same time, lightweight Lexan bodies have become increasingly common in performance-focused classes.

Neither approach necessarily replaces the other. They've simply created different ways to enjoy the same scale.

Even Formula and Pan Cars Are Growing

1/28 isn't limited to GT cars anymore.

Dedicated Formula chassis are available from multiple manufacturers, while pan-car-style designs have also found their way into competition.

That's actually an important sign of how far the scale has developed. Manufacturers aren't simply making Mini-Z upgrades anymore—they're designing entirely new types of cars specifically around 1/28 racing.

Why 1/28 Makes Sense

A big part of the appeal comes back to something incredibly simple: you don't need much space.

The cars are easy to transport, tracks can operate indoors, and a relatively small facility can produce technical racing where driving skill genuinely matters.

And while the cars are small, the tuning depth certainly isn't.

Tires, differential setup, suspension, gearing, weight distribution, chassis balance and driving technique can all make noticeable differences.

That's what makes 1/28 interesting. It manages to compress much of what people enjoy about competitive RC racing into a much smaller footprint.

Where Is 1/28 Headed?

The interesting part isn't necessarily that Mini-Z is being replaced—it isn't.

Instead, the category around it is getting bigger.

Mini-Z remains an accessible entry point, while dedicated racing platforms are giving experienced drivers increasingly sophisticated options. More manufacturers are developing chassis and components specifically for the scale, and modern racing includes everything from relatively simple stock cars to highly adjustable LiPo machines.

1/28 started by proving that small cars could produce serious racing.

Now we're finding out just how far the small scale can go.