the hitech servo's work very well to me. With the mamba motors you can run up to I believe 12 cells. I was pondering building a 10 cell pack out of 2 ib 1400's. That should be super powerfull if not as much maybe more than a 2c lipo. I would suggest the alum sterring upgrade for the 18 though. My stock one is crazy sloppy and at the brushless speeds I have with the 8000kv it's all over the freakin road