Forum menu

[Closed] Any RC car enthusiasts in? Looking for some advice

Zedsdead

Posts: 2853

Full Member

Topic starter

Evening all,

one of my sons is interested in RC cars (off-road and rock crawler type stuff).

As a kid I would have loved a Tamiya Grasshopper. But that's as far as my knowledge on the subject goes...

So, what would be a good starter kit? We don't want to spend a lot of money as this may be a passing fad, but I'd like something like the old Tamiya where you build it up yourself and then go run it.

Also, are electric still pretty rubbish where the battery lasts a few minutes?

What's good these days? What's best avoided? Any hints, tips etc is much appreciated.

Thanks

Posted : 26/10/2013 5:27 pm

chestrockwell

Posts: 6789

Full Member

You can still get the Tamiya kits including some old re-issues. Check out www.modelsport.co.uk

When I was last in to RC around 10 years ago batteries were still mince but I've been told they're much better now.

Posted : 26/10/2013 5:34 pm

wiggles

Posts: 0

Free Member

Stick to electric, brushless motors and lipo batteries mean high speeds and long run time.

Check out http://www.modelsport.co.uk/rc-electric-models/rc-car-categories/9900/990010&MSAttributeID [88]=512

For plenty of kits if that's what you want

Posted : 26/10/2013 5:36 pm

Zedsdead

Posts: 2853

Full Member

Topic starter

Thanks guys, can you receomend some radio kit to control it too? I have no idea about ony of that!

Posted : 26/10/2013 5:38 pm

wiggles

Posts: 0

Free Member

Look up flysky on eBay can get a 2.4ghz set cheap (not interference like old 27/40mhz radios)

Posted : 26/10/2013 5:44 pm

demonracer

Posts: 111

Full Member

Rc rock crawling is actually something of an obsession for me. What kind of budget do you want to stick to? Would you/he prefer a scaler (something that looks like a real car) or a true crawler?

Posted : 26/10/2013 6:04 pm

itsmygame

Posts: 0

Free Member

IMO stick to electric. The nitro gets dirty and it's very noisey limiting where you can actually use it.

Posted : 26/10/2013 6:07 pm

trailmoggy

Posts: 0

Free Member

I have an old grasshopper I'd sell if you like

Posted : 26/10/2013 6:38 pm

Zedsdead

Posts: 2853

Full Member

Topic starter

hi demon, as I have no knowledge on this I really don't know? Not very useful is it.

I don't want to go overboard as I'm already forking out on a new bmx frame for his Christmas this year.

What do I need to spend at entry level?

Thanks

Posted : 26/10/2013 6:41 pm

Zedsdead

Posts: 2853

Full Member

Topic starter

can i have details of that please trailmoggy

Posted : 26/10/2013 6:43 pm

nosedive

Posts: 1428

Free Member

im thinking of the same thing for me lad for xmas. cash is an issue though.

anyone have any experience of one of these?

http://www.nitrotek.co.uk/beam-electric-radio-controlled-buggy.html

Posted : 26/10/2013 6:54 pm

demonracer

Posts: 111

Full Member

If he'd like a crawler and you want to keep cost down then you can buy a ready to run Crawler called a Maverick Scout for £119.99 whiz even comes with a battery and charger. There are much more capable models out there but a scout can be improved vastly for not a huge amount of money.

There are a few forums which you might find helpful. The guys on scalerc are very knowledgeable and also very friendly.

Www.scalerc.co.uk
Www.ukrcrc.com
Www.rccrawler.com

Here's some of my models ...

[IMG] [/IMG]

Posted : 26/10/2013 7:06 pm

househusband

Posts: 4686

Full Member

Nice RC4WD Trail Faster, demonracer - I've always wanted one!

Junfac/GMade are bringing out a new pseudo-scaler, the Sawback, sometime soon - may be a bit more affordable:

[img] [/img]

I've got enough servos, motors and ESC's lying around!

Posted : 26/10/2013 7:17 pm