Okay, the Christmas thread reminded me of my desire to get a good R/C car kit. I know next to nothing about the current state of R/C cars...
I'm looking for an electric car kit that I can build and play with recreationally. I don't want a monster truck, but I'm open to buggies/cars/etc. I want it to have a working 4 wheel suspension. I also want it to have a battery life > 15 minutes.
So... where should I start?
Nothing to add other than the cars are SO MUCH BETTER now than they were when I was mucking about with this stuff 20 years ago. LiPo battery, brushless motors, and stuff seems so much cheaper to boot.
I fully support your quest sir, go forth and refuse to grow up!
I want a buggy / truck running a weedwhip engine
In reply to slefain:
That's good to know. My dad built a buggy about 15-20 years ago, and the biggest annoyance was that it only ran about 10-15 minutes on a charge.
Depends on what you're after. They all have 4 wheel independent suspension these days. I'm partial to Tamiya's TT-01 kit... because it's cheap, strong, shaft drive, and can be built a million different ways, from sedan to drifter to rally car. Parts are plentiful, and also cheap (seriously found an entire rebuild kit which was about 70% of an entire kit for $10 at the hobby store). I also have an 18MT which IS a monster truck..persay, but the chassis itself is about the size of my hand, and it's a tire swap away from being any of the other 18th scale kits Team Associated offers. Last but not least, I do have a pair of stadium trucks. I have a Team Associated t4 Factory Team (it's a clone of their team trucks, CF/Graphite everything, aluminum shocks, the whole bit) and a Traxxas Rustler with a VXL/Brushless conversion. The Traxxas is about as strong a truck as I've ever run into (Seriously, it was only after a 60mph roll into a curb that I finally broke it) and it's FAST. Probably too fast for beginners, but the ECU in it can be tuned to limit power. Other things to consider
Your radio. I have several, all AM/FM whatever they are with the crystals. These are pointless nowadays. I recently picked up a Spektrum DX3C for like 100$ @ the hobby store. Can store 21 cars worth of recievers, does 3 channels, stores settings and everything. Is the cats ass. I'd go with that.
In reply to Grtechguy:
http://www.redcatracing.com/RC-Cars/1-5-Scale/Rampage-XT-GAS
A neighbor down the street has a new brushless motor buggy (Traxxas Bandit, I think) - it's so fast it's difficult to control. If he pegs the throttle the car will pop wheelies even if it's already going 20 mph. Needless to say, it's a barrel of monkeys to watch.
nderwater wrote: A neighbor down the street has a new brushless motor buggy (Traxxas Bandit, I think) - it's so fast it's difficult to control. If he pegs the throttle the car will pop wheelies even if it's already going 20 mph. Needless to say, it's a barrel of monkeys to watch.
Same setup as my Rustler. Safe to say, BRUTALLY fast. I have a wheelie bar on the truck so I have some semblance of being able to control it.
sounds like great fun for RC ice racing
Here is all we need.
http://www.bre2.net/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=B&Product_Code=breabc510model46&Category_Code=models_sub_radiocontrol
Anyone have input for chassis type? Would any of the street cars have issues driving on a sidewalk? Size?
Back in the day it seemed like you could only get a dune buggy, and anything else was rare by comparison.
I've been eyeing one of these for a good while.
http://www.nitroplanes.com/93a333-1400-51-silver-kit-eretract.html
In reply to e_pie:
nitroplanes is not a bad company to buy from, but the airfield kits have had some issues, you can read up on nitroplanes and the other china importers on rcgroups.
Most of the sedans "street cars" have about .5" clearance AT MOST.
I would suggest a 2wd off road buggy or truck (Like a rustler) for playing outside.
I have been racing RC (on raod and offroad) for over 20 years. I currently race 1/12 scale and sedan on road. I have gone to all of the major races on the east coast and midwest for the last 5 years.
Right now there is such a rapid change in technology going on that lasts years "race stuff" is this years playground stuff. Anything you buy right now will be stupid cheap and stupid fast compared to just 3 or 4 years ago.
Make sure you buy something that is from a large company (Team Associated, Traxxas, Team Losi, etc...). make sure your hobby shop carries the brand you want and replacement parts. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to play with your toy because a $2.00 part broke and you can't get one!
Just my .02$
Rob R.
Cars are fun but are dedicated smooth track vehicles. If you are going to be outside, you want a 2WD buggy or truck. They are about 100x more rugged than a touring car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHNHpTErgDA
Traxxas makes awesome (durable, fast, fun, easy) stuff!
In reply to Tom Heath:
That was down right funny. Thanks.
+1 on Traxxas building some good stuff.
I have one of these.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlJgd9f0aJA&feature=relmfu
The amount of abuse they will take is just amazing.
Traxxas is also a US based company, pretty sure all the production is in the US and for SURE their customer service center is. They're in Texas actually. I have no problem supporting them, even if they're "toys" by a lot of peoples standards. Traxxas has brought speed and power to the masses.
Can you swap bodies on the Block Fiesta? Like if I wanted to put a Miata or 240Z body on it? I presume that as long as it is the right scale, that it would be no problem.
Craigslist. You can buy a $5-600 set up for a couple of hundos. Get an off road truck or buggy. You can swap for on road tires and stiffer springs/shock oil to play in the street. Curbs shatter on road cars.
I have a new Traxxas Boss 302 Mustang and love beating the snot out of it. http://traxxas.com/products/models/electric/7303boss302mustang
I NEED a Traxxas Monster Mutt (scroll down page) Woof! It's not for me, I promise. It's for the kid. http://traxxas.com/products/models/electric/3602monsterjam
Traxxas sponsors World Challenge and appears to be getting even more involved with road racing.
One year, Mom gave RC cars to my brother and brother in law, and one of these to me (I was in the Army at the time). It couldn't catch them, but if they got sloppy, the tank could run OVER the cars.
Get an Airsoft version for even more fun.
Steve Chryssos wrote: I have a new Traxxas Boss 302 Mustang and love beating the snot out of it. http://traxxas.com/products/models/electric/7303boss302mustang I NEED a Traxxas Monster Mutt (scroll down page) Woof! It's not for me, I promise. It's for the kid. http://traxxas.com/products/models/electric/3602monsterjam Traxxas sponsors World Challenge and appears to be getting even more involved with road racing.
What you really want is a 'pede 4x4 vxl. The monster mutt is only 2wd. You can buy the body separate. Strongest frickin basher truck on EARTH. It's mindblowing how hard i've slammed some traxxas stuff, and it KEEPS GOING.
At one of the races we went to this year, I think it was the ALMS\Indy car weekend, Traxxas had a booth set up and were running cars. My 3 year old son wanted to stay and watch those things the whole time. It was cool, they had a ramp set up and would jump the cars 15 feet in the air. I was amazed at how they could change the pitch of the car in the air by running forward or reverse, very cool.
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