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[Closed] Off road RC car for a first timer?

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[#3351259]

Always wanted an off road RC car. Thinking of asking my wife for one. Any advice? Are there any that come with everything in one box so I can go out to play with it immediately. 🙂

Cheers

Ed


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 9:55 pm
 ski
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Tamiya still do (I think) a Mad Bull kit, great for off road/rough tracks, rear wheel drive power slides & reasonably tough to take a few hits

Half the fun for me was building up the kit, lots of option to upgrade too.

Basic kit will not have a radio, but sure your local model shop will bundle up everything you will need.


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 10:07 pm
 DrP
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Anything rtr (ready to run) will do you.prob need to get a few aa batteries though, and if you're going nitro (which you should!) You'll need to get a nitro starter kit too....
DrP


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 10:09 pm
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Half the fun for me was building up the kit

90% of the fun was building mine, I've barely used it since.


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 10:11 pm
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Dont waste your time with nitro, its noisy, messy and just generally a pain in the arse.

Brushless electric is the way forward, its almost silent, as fast if not faster than nitro and is charge and go.

I have a few different cars, a HPI savage 4.6 (nitro) Traxxas Stampede VXL (Brushless) , hyper 7 (nitro buggy) and a Associated B4 buggy.

I have just finished building this for my 7 year old, this was his first time out with it.

[img] [/img]

I did enjoy building it and going back to my youth, my stepfather owned the modelshop in Cromer, Norfolk so i spent most of my time in the shop building and fixing for people.

Flying (Heli's and fixed wing) is my main hobby.


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 10:50 pm
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pacemaker has a point about nitro it is great fun but u need so much room/time for it to really open up im jacking in my nitro for a brushless setup it just takes up to much room and effort
probably going for a traxxas or hpi myself if i cannot rig a motor in my current hpi rush.
have a gander over on modelsportuk forums there always a great help.

pacemaker are u running a brushless in that? how douse your young one cope with reactions?
my 3yo had a go with my nitro and loves it so would love to build a kit with her tamiya brushed kit lookes the fav atm


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 10:56 pm
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90% of the fun was building mine, I've barely used it since.

Totally, I did this a few years ago, ended up selling for a little less that it cost, was worth it thou, as I never had one when they were big in the mid 80's


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 11:01 pm
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Is there anything in the cheap end of the market worth considering?
I'm talking less than £80-£90.


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 11:03 pm
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rp16.

The lunchbox is as standard at the moment, he is very experienced with the controls as he flies co-ax rc helicopters (and has been flying for a couple of years).

I did wonder about putting brushless in the LB but it just lumbers about. (i always remembered mine was a bit a bus 25 year ago!).

It is ideal for him though as it takes loads of abuse and keeps coming back for more.


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 11:04 pm
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OP i would buy [url= http://www.modelsport.co.uk/ansmann-racing-mad-rat-2.4ghz-rtr/rc-car-products/33535 ]this[/url] if i were you, its £99 but it a proper rc car, not a toy.

The Mad Rat is used as an entry level racing buggy quite a bit.


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 11:07 pm
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for that price the mentioned is best u will get also if u dont like the buggy look then they do a stadium truck version that will take abit more abuse


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 11:15 pm
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@pacemaker
On that Mad Rat link, do I need all or just some of the stuff in the "Sport Combo" section? (not including the car obviously)


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 11:33 pm
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you would need 8 AA batteries for the transmitter and a 7.2 pack for the car and a charger but you can get cheaper entry level stuff

[url= http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-plazma-7.2v-1800mah-nimh-stick-pack-re-chargeable-battery/rc-car-products/363457 ]basic battery[/url]

[url= http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-overnight-charger-for-7.2v-ni-cd-battery-ac220v-3pin-/rc-car-products/24147 ]basic overnight charger[/url]

these will do the same job, but the battery wont last as long, and is a slow charger over a fast one.

The other car worth a look is [url= http://www.modelsport.co.uk/ftx-edge-1-10th-brushed-rtr-2wd-electric-buggy/rc-car-products/365620 ]this[/url] it comes with everything but isnt quite as good, but is still a good deal.
my freind has the 4wd version of it and its well built and decent quality for the price


 
Posted : 14/11/2011 11:59 pm
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Cheers. Appreciate the advice.
Any idea roughly how long the car will go for once fully charged?


 
Posted : 15/11/2011 12:09 am
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Flying (Heli's and fixed wing) is my main hobby.

Ooh, another one. What do you fly?


 
Posted : 15/11/2011 12:20 am
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Hi folks. Just wanted to say thanks for your input so far. I have ALWAYS wanted an RC car and I figured now was as good a time as any to have a go.

Thanks for your advice.

Ed


 
Posted : 15/11/2011 9:49 am
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I recently bought a second hand Traxxas E-maxx off of the RC equivalent of STW calssifieds:

http://www.msuk-forum.co.uk/forum/7-for-rc-sales/

It's an absolute hoot, and remarkably inexpensive compared to MTBing as a hobby.

That car is a beast though, and deffo not for kids. Although we did build a big jump for my son and his mate to lie under it, Evil Kinevil style, as we launched the monster truck over the top. Great fun, not wife approved however... 😆

Kev


 
Posted : 15/11/2011 10:05 am
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So many brands I've never heard of. Back when I built mine, it was "Tamiya" and "everything else." I think I'd be scared of getting something that's built out of custard and can't get spares for.


 
Posted : 15/11/2011 10:14 am
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This brings back good memories from my past.

Got my first RC car when I was about 10 or 11 I think - Tamiya Boomerang.

Then a couple of years later spent months saving up to by a Schumacher Cat XLS.

Then I 'grew up' and got into other stuff.

Was recently given a Traxxas T-Maxx nitro truck. Not used it in anger yet, need to spend some time tuning the engine I think as it keeps stalling when it's started up.

I might get it out of the loft and have a play at the weekend.


 
Posted : 15/11/2011 10:18 am
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If you're anywhere near London, then it might be an idea to go and talk to my mate Wayne, what works in [b]ModelZone[/b] in Holborn. He knows tons of stuff about RC cars; builds them up, races them the lot. He's yer mayn in tahyn!


 
Posted : 15/11/2011 10:40 am