R/C Car forum FAQ and resource Guide

[JettaManDan]

There are many choices out there these days if you want to get in Radio Control Modelling. The Biggest part of the hobby is R/C cars. There are 2 main types. Electric Powered, and Nitro Powered. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Electric cars are quiet, (so the neighbors won't complain), are clean, (no fuels to mess with), and in general are cheaper to buy and run. All R/C cars require at least the car, a radio system, batteries, and paint and glue. There are RTR (READY TO RUN) cars out there...these are gettting more popular....they come fully assembled and ready to drive..but a lot of people prefer to build the car so you know how to fix it when it breaks.
If you buy an electric kit..here are some basic supplies you need to have.

Car Kit
2 Channel Radio system.
An Electronic Speed Control (ESC) is recommended
Battery Pack(s)
Battery Charger
Glue
Basic Hand tools - needle nose pliers, small philips and flat head screwdrivers
Paint for Body (Lexan Scissors recommended)

A beginner electric car and all the accesories you need can be had for under $300.....there are also several different classes of cars...On road cars...touring cars...off road buggies....trucks...and many others. You have to decide what you want. The downsides? Electric cars are in general slower than Nitro cars....and the faster you make them by replacing the electric motors with faster ones..you decrease the time the car runs. You can make them run longer by buying a battery pack that has more storage capacity..but they of course, cost more..and take longer to charge. The old addage....How fast do you want to go? How much $$ to you have to spend? works here.....it is generally better to have several battery packs so you can charge a few and have them to run.....Electric cars can be a ton of fun and a good way to learn how to handle an R/C car.

And then there are Nitro Cars. These are the hottest car segment out there. Why? They are damm cool! Plus in most cases they are very fast..and your run time is only limited by a fuel fill up. But Nitro cars require more support equiptment, and a certain level of skill to run and maintain. Here are some basic supplies you will need for a Nitro car:

Car
2-3 channel radio depending on kit. (maybe heavy duty servo for steering)
Nitro Fuel (depends on the requirements of the engine what % Nitro content)
Glow Plug ignitor
Starter (some cars are pull start - others require a "Bump Box" or a hand starter)
Tools for glow plug and hand tools for assembly
Thread Lock
After Run oil
Glue for Tires
Spare Parts
Paint for Body (Lexan Scissors recommended)

Advantages? Nitro cars are a lot faster...can be upgraded like a real car with exhaust....carberators......intakes.....hotter fuel...gearing.....etc....and of course you run longer on tanks of fuel...

Disadvantages? Nitro engines are very tempermental..they take specific break in procedures.....need to be broken in slowly.....the fuel is messy and corrosive....is expensive......the cars get infinitely more dirty (the nitro fuel gets all over the car and dirt sticks to it) and these engines require some maintaince to keep them running well....suggestions to help keep them alive include after-run oil in the engine after every time you use it..and a rebuild at some point down the road. These cars/truck are also not quiet....so if you live in a heavily populated area you could get people calling the cops on you . In addition...becasue these cars are generally faster...it takes a certain degree of skill to drive them well.....a 8lb 40mph missle hitting you or a friend in the leg can casue serious injury....so these vehicles deserve respect. The cost of replacement parts is also more than electric cars in general....

Building and running R/C cars/trucks is all about fun. Once you get one you will see your friends all getting one Most kits have a clear plastic body that allows you to paint them to your own design. These bodies are made from Lexan....and you paint them on the Inside..and once you are done most have a very thin film that covers the outside of the body...you peel this away to reveal your nice paint job and then you use the stickers that are usually included with the body and stick those on the outside. You can make the car pretty realistic with most of the sticker sets that are included. These bodies also need to be trimmed...you need to cut out the wheel wells and other trim parts..a curved set of "Lexan Scissors" you can buy at most hobby shops will make this step a LOT easier..regular scissors and exact-o knifes are hard to use on these flexible bodies.

The best thing about R/C cars for us Vortexers? There are several compaines that make kits and bodies of German cars....some VW here and there...Audi....Porsche....BMW.....etc.....you can posibly find a body of the car you love most and make a car look just like it.

Hopefully this thread wil lanswer some qustions...below is a list of some online resources to find more info and kits to be bought. If you have a hobby shop local it's worth going down there to check out what they got....but do some comparison shopping 1st before you buy anything!

Online R/C Car Shops and Resources

http://www.TowerHobbies.com
http://www.HobbyPeople.net
http://www.EHobbies.com
http://www.HPIRacing.com
http://www.Tamiyausa.com
http://www.Strongsvillehobby.com
http://www.Southeastrc.com

Submissions for this thread are desired..if you have another online resource to add or a very good tip to submit..please do so....it will be included!

Dan

[JettaManDan]

if anyone has a good web link or a good general tip for this forum please post...and it will be included....thanks!

Dan

[THE KILLER RABBIT]

all mkiv bodies have been discontinued. find them on ebay once in a while. they were made by proline. part number 3121-00 for 200mm jetta

[stophovr6]

RC engine info

http://www.dubairchobbies.org/...s.htm

[gti1497]

R/C suspension setup

how to make a A/C power supply for your 12V only charger

Titainium parts for you HPI car

Self Taught helicopter flight

rc image and video hosting and storage database


Modified by gti1497 at 9:15 AM 8-26-2004

[mk3jett]

and for the best r/c mag, xtreme r/c cars magazine

http://www.rc411.com

[MeanGreenTDi]

There are very good forums at:
http://www.radiocontrolzone.com/forums
http://www.rctech.net/forums

A very good (but difficult to register for) RC monster truck forum is:
http://www.rcmt.com

In the electric RC scene, there is a newer technology that is finally coming to RC cars: brushless. In a traditional RC car electric motor the windings spin around a magnetic field. They use brushes to get the DC voltage to the commutator which transfers it to the windings. This is inefficient on many fronts. Brushless motors do not use brushes, the windings are built into the cannister and the magnets are spun around. This requires a specialized controller but these are becoming readily available.

What are the advantages of a brushless motor system? More efficiency and more torque (sounds like a TDI!). This means longer run times and more power to the wheels for the same battery packs compared to a traditional brushed setup.

[vduber#4]

a very good RC forum is.....
http://www.rcuniverse.com/

[CapeGLS]

My take: I researched the _____ out of this hobby, before I bought anything. I went with a HPI RS4. While I love it, I wish I went ELECTRIC.
Just a word to the wise.
I can also be contacted for anyone who needs any questions answered. (I am still learning)

[GLI2NR]

Quote, originally posted by my merc 4 »

all mkiv bodies have been discontinued. find them on ebay once in a while. they were made by proline. part number 3121-00 for 200mm jetta

So no more mk IV bodies? damn... What about Corrado bodies ... I herd there is a company that makes Corrado bodies now. Any truth to that? if so where can i find one ...

The only damn vw bodies i can seem to find is new bugs

[CapeGLS]

I actually found a jetta body. $22.00 shipped... I should have it soon!

[GLI2NR]

Quote, originally posted by CapeGLS »

I actually found a jetta body. $22.00 shipped... I should have it soon!

Want to share where you found it ..name of place, link, phone# anything?

[CapeGLS]

Quote, originally posted by GLI2NR »

Want to share where you found it ..name of place, link, phone# anything?

I would... but... I am no noob in the knowledge base of these bodies. I know where I found the deal... I would like to help, but I am being greedy!

[GLI2NR]

damn...Well can I buy one from you ?

[GLI2NR]

never mind just found them ... HA!

[CapeGLS]

Quote, originally posted by GLI2NR »

never mind just found them ... HA!

Good deal....

[GLI2NR]

and I will share w/ all..... here ya go http://www.cmldistribution.co.uk/pro_car.htm thats one spot I found them


Modified by GLI2NR at 5:46 PM 5-1-2005

[corrado2nr]

Pimp Iv Got to get one of those

[CapeGLS]

Quote, originally posted by GLI2NR »

and I will share w/ all..... here ya go http://www.cmldistribution.co.uk/pro_car.htm thats one spot I found them Modified by GLI2NR at 5:46 PM 5-1-2005

Good for you.. Too bad that isnt where I found em.. Mine are inside the US!

[GLI2NR]

Quote, originally posted by CapeGLS »

Good for you.. Too bad that isnt where I found em.. Mine are inside the US!

Yeah I found 2 other places also ..on in North Carolina and one in TX that has them. .. and cheaper than The first one I found

[RC Car Guide]

Geat information!I agree

Check out this one:
RC Car Guide--RC Plane Guide
Extensive guide to learning to how to fly and how to select your first RC Airplane & Car.

url:

http://www.rcplaneguide.com/Radio_Control_Car.html

http://www.rcplaneguide.com/RC....html

http://www.rcplaneguide.com/Electric_Cars.html

http://www.rcplaneguide.com/Nitro_Cars.html

personally I love this site!!
great online RC Hobby Shops Information

[tektoo2]

Quote, originally posted by GLI2NR »

Yeah I found 2 other places also ..on in North Carolina and one in TX that has them. .. and cheaper than The first one I found

ok so where did you find them in the US?

[corrado2nr]

i have the links @ home ill pm you

[Thunder7]

corrado rc body on ebay, 2 of them actually... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...=WD1V

[VDubFebru]

Pretty cool site I came across for those into Mini Z's and XMODS.

http://www.micromotorsport.com

Add that to the list...

[CapeGLS]

Quote, originally posted by VDubFebru »

Pretty cool site I came across for those into Mini Z's and XMODS. http://www.micromotorsport.com Add that to the list...

Plus they own vw's. One has an R32 and the other has a 337!

[vwtuninggruppe]

if your interested in competition

http://www.roarracing.com

its great fun,give it a try!!!

[nitroman]

Hey GUYS!!!!
now i dont know about you but these are some pics of my baby. First one, Cadillac Escalade with colour shifting paint, complete with bigger and better spinners and the secondone is my "homie-roller" BMW M3.

What do you guys think??

http://i32.photobucket.com/alb...8.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/alb...4.jpg

[Insomniax]

VW Body Sources
Kamtec on Ebay kamtec webpage
I'm just posting this here so it will be stickied, loads of people want to know where to get VW bodies, here's a guy who is making them. I've bought a few from ebay, and I thik I'll be back for more

Modified by Insomniax at 6:38 AM 12-9-2005

[DJazzGTI]

I own many brands....30+ to be honest. My most owned brand is Tamiya. I have mostly Vintage Tamiya's that I restore. Some can get very pricey. I have $300+ into Tamiya Fox that still needs a few parts to complete.

But my favorite site is:
http://www.TamiyaClub.com
Here is my Showroom on there!
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom.asp?id=488

They are the best site for Taiya Information.
Video's, Manuals, Forums, Chat and Much Much More!


Modified by DJazzGTI at 7:21 PM 1-17-2006

[FuzzyBlackRabbit]

i have a Tamiya 1\10th FF Rover Mini Cooper that i used to race. I need to find a MK1 rabbit body for this beast, Where they @? I would also be nice if it was in the U.S, because i found a couple but shipping be horrible.

[Insomniax]

The only Mk1 bodies I know of were kamtec,

http://kamtec.co.uk/products.p...cat=8 and the Group2 Golf by Tamiya, long since discontinued, and very rare. Last seen on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Tamiya-VW-G...wItem
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Tamiya-1-12...wItem
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Tamiya-VW-G...wItem
http://cgi.ebay.ie/TAMIYA-NIB-...wItem

[333_VR6_333]

If you ever have any questions about Tamiya's.....IM me. I have been doing this hobby since 1985 and I am a special at Tamiya brand even though I have owned about every Traxxas and other brands too!

If ya need help. IM me!

[JettaManDan]

Quote, originally posted by 333_VR6_333 »

If you ever have any questions about Tamiya's.....IM me. I have been doing this hobby since 1985 and I am a special at Tamiya brand even though I have owned about every Traxxas and other brands too! If ya need help. IM me!

got ya beat my borther..been doing R/C and Tamiya since about '82... guess i'm older....

any help anyone needs i'm always on here checking stuff out..

[Bronco1138]

I def. need some help in the R/C car world. I just bought a redcatracing car in 1/10 scale from the wonderful world of ebay. Thinking that this was a gas a go hobby, boy was i wrong. I followed the instructions exactly as stated (oiled filter, loctite all bolts) and had a hard time with the first start up. Well when she fired up she was reving so hard I thought it was going to blow up. The radio control and high rev idle control was way off and there was no way of me knowing how high they were out of the box. I finally thought I got the car dialed in only to find out that every time I pull the glow plug off she stalls on me. This is a brand new plug that I used mabye five times to start the car... I never thought this was going to be such a pain in the ass...

Any advice or links for newbs would be much appreciated....