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I'm not sure if RC cars died off in the 1990's or just have a small community now. But after watching a couple thousand videos and reading lot of reviews. I can make an educated guess on some of the brands and scale models that are good to get into the hobby with. Scales 1/5 Scale - BIG RC Cars, Mainly used for competitions 1/8 Scale - Still Big RC Cars 1/ 10 Scale - Medium Scale RC Car, most common 1/16+ Scale - RCs that keep getting smaller Brands RedCat Racing- http://www.redcatracing.com/ - Cheap Starter RC cars Traxxas- https://traxxas.com/ - Popular Kids in RC HPI- https://www.hpiracing.com/ Losi- http://www.losi.com/ Team Associated- https://www.teamassociated.com/ Tamiya America- https://www.tamiyausa.com/ - They also make models! Places to buy: Remarkably https://amazon.com can help you with this as long as you stick to select brands so you won't be jipped into buying an expensive toy. https://www.horizonhobby.com/category/cars-and-trucks Helpful Sites: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3125553 - Just found out after I got this one up! https://www.rcgroups.com/cars-45/ https://www.reddit.com/r/rccars/ Terms RTR - Ready to Run: These vehicles are set up and ready to race. Just charge the battery and you are ready to go. Nitro: Hobby Grade Gas used in RC Cars and vehicles. Kit: Means you put it together like a model car, paint and everything Electric: Powered by electric batteries that can either be Li-on or Ni-MH Brushless - Brushless Motor: Means it has a motor powered by coil magnets. Overall easier to clean Brushed- Brushed Motor: Means it has a motor powered by brushed magnets.  Gas: Gas driven engine. These are reserved for BIG scale engines that require A LOT of power. 4x4: All wheels should work. Simple Tips Gas vs. Electric Gas Pros: Power and long run time. Cons: Noise and engine maintenance. Yes, you must put it through their paces before you go have fun. Electric Pros: Quieter and Easier to use. Cons: Lower run time and cost. Batteries have some cost behind them Feel free to add any additional information. PYROxSYCO fucked around with this message at 06:04 on Mar 26, 2018 |
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Nov 16, 2017 03:48
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i was thinking about getting one of these but got turned off for a bunch of reasons. it seems dead, electric seems way more popular than gas even though it's super fuckin annoying to keep charging batteries and gas is obviously cooler. and then i was looking at drift poo poo because that looked kind of fun but they're all electric, they're all already put together and i want to put that poo poo together, and it seems like there's no recent information about any of that poo poo because of how dead the hobby is. but i kinda hope im wrong about all those things
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Nov 16, 2017 06:40
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Racing communities are localized so you're slightly at the mercy of the terrain. It's not dead, but it does ebb and flow especially in places with seasons and outdoor racing. As with many things there are lots of people who cry "it's dead" whenever something changes; I've been able to race indoor and outdoor, onroad and offroad within an hour of my house without issue.  Anyone who thinks electric is more fiddly than gas has never had to unfuck a nitro motor. My 1/8 racing buggy does 8-10 mins on a tank, compared to electric racing 6 mins on a battery- not really that big of a difference. I think the 1/8 e-buggy guys race 8 minutes too. If you're just bashing, you can get a big rear end battery just like you can get a bigger fuel tank. Charging a modern lipo with an okay charger at 3c means it's up from storage voltage in <20 mins, so with three batteries you could run as long as your motor didn't overheat. If you're not necessarily set on racing, then the sky is the limit. There are non-assembled drifting kits out there; I think 3Racing makes a bunch. http://www.rctech.net/forum/ is one of the largest forums for 1/8-1/10 racing in the US.
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Nov 16, 2017 23:31
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Some of my toys: Redcat Everest 10 crawler. SUPER fun for putzing around inside the house on furniture, cheaper than any competent r/c vehicle has a right to be, slow enough but big enough that the kids can still enjoy it without breaking anything.  1/8 BSR Berserker truggy on bottom. Cheap Chinese basher, insane-o fast, falls apart constantly. Tinkerer's dream. 1/8 Mugen MBX7R Eco e-buggy in middle. 1/10 TLR 22 2wd buggy on top. My Clod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMhiCCCbGo8 God I need to sell some of these, I have a problem.
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Nov 17, 2017 01:22
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MY INEVITABLE DEBT posted:i was thinking about getting one of these but got turned off for a bunch of reasons. it seems dead, electric seems way more popular than gas even though it's super fuckin annoying to keep charging batteries and gas is obviously cooler. and then i was looking at drift poo poo because that looked kind of fun but they're all electric, they're all already put together and i want to put that poo poo together, and it seems like there's no recent information about any of that poo poo because of how dead the hobby is. Electric is more popular than gas because gas is not available everywhere when battery and electricity are. You are gonna have a lot of noise and maintenance with gas. I would look for Kit cars those are the ones you can put together.
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Nov 17, 2017 02:54
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Ambihelical Hexnut posted:Racing communities are localized so you're slightly at the mercy of the terrain. It's not dead, but it does ebb and flow especially in places with seasons and outdoor racing. As with many things there are lots of people who cry "it's dead" whenever something changes; I've been able to race indoor and outdoor, onroad and offroad within an hour of my house without issue. I'm not sure on that forum... It says unsecured when i went to it. Which worries me slightly. But thanks for sharing.
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Nov 17, 2017 02:57
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Ambihelical Hexnut posted:Some of my toys: I would keep the 1/10 those are always popular. They are like guns, you can never have just one.
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Nov 17, 2017 02:59
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My dad used to race 1/10 as a hobby (along with slot cars), but like many people he got out of it as tracks within a reasonable driving distance shut down. The real problem is that maintaining a competition-level facility is nearly impossible unless a) it exists on private property that the owner charges little to nothing for the use of, or b) there's a relatively large hobby shop attached to subsidize operational costs and attract patrons. In case a, suburban sprawl and the resulting increase in property values has meant that you only find such tracks way out in the middle of loving nowhere, and in case b the internet has pretty much done in old school hobby shops.
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Nov 17, 2017 03:40
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I'm hopefully getting a RC 4wd Stampede for Christmas, I'll post videos if i get it.
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Nov 29, 2017 06:35
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FYI there is a RC thread in AI: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3125553 I have a traxxas stampede 4x4 vxl (brushless). It's a 1/10 "monster truck" and at the time anyway it was one of the better choices just for bashing.  It's a fun toy, but I don't run it very much. Another downside of batteries (though honestly I'm not remotely interested in nitro) is that you should keep them about half full for storage, so whenever I think "Hey it would be fun to rip the truck around" I have to dig the charger out and wait 20-30 minutes. Since I have kids, by the time I would do all that we're on to something else. If anyone is looking to dip their toes into the water, I'd suggest getting one of the cheaper ready to run electric kits. I'm probably close to $600 into the stampede just to get up and running (stampede rtr kit, charger, 2 lipos) and I can't say that I've gotten $600 worth of play time out of it that a $150 RTR couldn't have done for me.
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Nov 29, 2017 13:32
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The premier toe dipper is the Traxxas Slash, for certain. Under 200 bucks RTR, super durable, lots of fun. I let my 9 year old jump it at the skate park for dozens of battery backs with relatively few issues.
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Nov 30, 2017 22:56
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dreesemonkey posted:FYI there is a RC thread in AI: Wait, wait, wait, wait, weight, wate, wait..... Why is it in the Automotive thread? Wouldn't RC be a hobby thing? Anyway I guess I'll follow link then... Mainly why I want the 4x4 Stampede is that it's mostly for the 4x4 wheel drive. And i like monster trucks. And it's traxxas. Is NiMH a lesser battery than LiPo?
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Dec 2, 2017 10:09
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For a given physical battery size, the LiPo can have much more capacity and be able to source higher current than a NiMH.
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Dec 3, 2017 00:17
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The lithium battery will also be lighter. I have an old TRX-1 buggy from nearly thirty years ago now, sitting on a shelf back in my parents' house, that this thread is really making me want to pick up and stick in a new brushless motor and new electronics and gently caress around with again.
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Dec 3, 2017 04:07
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Hi all! New to the thread... going to read around but thought I’d also ask for some advice: I have a 5 year old boy and it’s reignited my love for play... I didn’t do a lot of toys as a kid (poor then, etc...) so I’m probably just picking up where I missed out. Anyhoo, I want to get a big, beefy, grass-friendly off-road RC car/truck that will satisfy me but also I would let my kid play with in giant open fields, etc. He was watching some obnoxious YouTube video with people playing with a Traxxas X-Maxx and I google that and holy poo poo it’s a thousand dollars! Anyway, best electric RC monster truck/dune buggy for maybe under 250? Sturdy, doesn’t require a degree in electrical engineering (I’m handy, though!) I can find 4.5 star rated Traxxas etc on Amazon but just want to make sure I make a wise/fun decision. Thanks!
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Jan 27, 2018 19:11
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Take a look at the stuff on Hobbyking. I don't think there's a lot of overlap between what a 5 year old can safely use (more toy-grade stuff) and what a grown-up wants (the serious cars that can hit 40mph+) but you might be able to find a compromise. If I personally were in your situation, I think I'd look for a 1/10 or 1/16 buggy or truck, and buy it with a programmable radio so that I could dial down the power for the kid. Example: car https://hobbyking.com/en_us/quanum-vandal-1-10-4wd-electric-racing-buggy-arr.html radio https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-gtx3-afhds-2-4ghz-3-channel-radio-system.html batteries (get two) and charger https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-4000mah-2s-30c-hardcase-pack-roar-approved-de-warehouse.html https://hobbyking.com/en_us/accuell-s60-ac-charger-us-plug.html So for $220 you have a solid off-road buggy with enough power to not get bogged down in the grass, a radio that can be programmed for different sorts of throttle response, and a quick charger that'll recharge the battery in half an hour. Set the radio to low power while the kid is learning and use full power when daddy gets to play with it on his own. You can get stuff that is much cheaper, of course, but I would say that's kind of the entry level for a "serious toy" with replaceable parts that you can take apart and fix if it breaks. e: oh, and as a bonus, if you do it this way you won't have to be always waiting for the thing to recharge. A car like that will get maybe 10 minutes of spirited driving using full power, but if you cut the power to half for the kid it could easily last 30 minutes, at which point the second battery is ready. Sagebrush fucked around with this message at 19:53 on Jan 27, 2018 |
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Jan 27, 2018 19:49
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I've spent many dollars at hobbyking and have several of their vehicles, so don't think I'm decrying them too bad but they are really tinkerer's cars. A first system involving a kid, in my experience with my own, needs to be focused on reducing delays which means parts and support available in person, and reliability at a premium. For those reasons I'd say Traxxas intro cars (slash/etc) with two batteries will let your dollar go the most number of play sessions without it becoming boring or too much of a headache. We have a hobbyking BSR Berserker 1/8 truggy which is insano fast but every time the kid wants to use it I always have to say "we're still waiting on X part to arrive from the last time", versus the slash which he can charge and run himself. Obviously a little more autonomy than a five year old would get, but I think a lot of the enduring value comes from minimizing disappointment of not being able to use it when they want. I'm sure other people have had more reliable experiences than me.
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Jan 27, 2018 20:26
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Sagebrush posted:Take a look at the stuff on Hobbyking. I don't think there's a lot of overlap between what a 5 year old can safely use (more toy-grade stuff) and what a grown-up wants (the serious cars that can hit 40mph+) but you might be able to find a compromise. The knuou for this and we may “graduate” to this kind of thing... my 5 year old listens well, and “gets it” mostly, but I think the Traxxas-tier suggestion by the poster below you might be more of what I had in my own head... I just want to make sure I wasn’t missing some obvious “king” of that tier of product.  Further suggestions welcome... I just wanted something badass enough to satisfy me more than an off-the-shelf Target POS, but still with at least one foot firmly planted in the “kids can play with it too” Camp. It seemed like Traxxas might be the answer but I just want to do my homework before assuming.
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Jan 27, 2018 21:34
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Any thoughts or obvious differences (that I may be overlooking?) between Big Foot No.1 and Stampede? https://m.traxxas.com/products/models/electric/bigfoot-classic https://m.traxxas.com/products/models/electric/36054-1stampede [Edit] leaning towards Big Foot No. 1. Classic body, some nice features, etc... [Ed] pulled the trigger on the Bigfoot No.1 eeeeeeeeeee!! Feenix fucked around with this message at 01:39 on Jan 28, 2018 |
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Jan 27, 2018 23:40
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Soooo, the Traxxas BigFoot No.1 is awesome. Fast, and super fun. Took it out today with my kid and he did great, right up until he panicked and hit the only picnic table in an entire field, head on. Broke the plastic front driver-side axle. I need to learn part pieces better because I need to see what I need to replace. Also, someone who was watching who has a similar Traxxas said "oh yeah, the plastic on the axles they give you are pretty cheap, I got some different, more durable ones..." Anyone know what/where/who I should be looking at for aftermarket "better" replacement parts?
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Jan 31, 2018 04:16
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Probably talking about something like RPM or Pro-Line parts which are made out of different plastics. Just consider, though, that when you make one part more durable you tend to shift the failure to a different part in the system. It takes experience (researching on rctech or whatever) to know when that's a good idea and when it's not, but it's sometimes better to have a weak component A which you know will break, so you can keep a couple on hand, than to replace it with a strong part that causes components B-D to fail in a slightly harder crash.
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Jan 31, 2018 04:43
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Ambihelical Hexnut posted:Probably talking about something like RPM or Pro-Line parts which are made out of different plastics. This is a good point and was rattling around in my head already in an abstract “what if I keep having to “replace the weak link” until my entire RC car is made out of Iron. So, fair point... From the diagram view... here:  It seems like I need to replace just the caster block?  Everything is OK except for that snapped piece that holds the Suspension Arm to the Camber Link.
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Jan 31, 2018 04:54
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It looks like you also bent the vertical hinge/kingpin. Exploded view: https://traxxas.com/sites/default/files/36084-1_explodedviews_171005_36084-1%20Front%20Assembly.jpg Parts #3740 (pin) and whatever variant of #3632 you need. That pin is retained by e-clips, which it looks like you lost in the crash. These are common things to lose because they're tiny, every tool box needs some on hand and they are trivially cheap.
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Jan 31, 2018 06:08
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Not arguing but where in my pic are you seeing that? What (in the pic) is the kingpin? [Edit] ok I get you on the eclips... just wasn’t sure about the “bent” part.
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Jan 31, 2018 06:32
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Does your controller have any kind of exponential or dual-rate functions (look them up)? Setting the maximum power down to like half of its original value would be a real good idea...otherwise this will probably keep happening. Little kids aren't real good with reflexes. Then again, the genuine RC experience is racing your vehicle for twenty minutes on Saturday and then spending the next week fixing it, so
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Jan 31, 2018 06:49
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Sagebrush posted:Does your controller have any kind of exponential or dual-rate functions (look them up)? Setting the maximum power down to like half of its original value would be a real good idea...otherwise this will probably keep happening. Little kids aren't real good with reflexes. The ECM has a sport (default) racing ( no reverse) and learner (half speed mode.) I just didn’t bother cuz we were in a giant field. Just an unlucky break. I’d use Learner for him normally...
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Jan 31, 2018 07:30
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Feenix posted:Not arguing but where in my pic are you seeing that? What (in the pic) is the kingpin?
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Jan 31, 2018 14:54
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  I did it! Replaced the left (broken) caster block, steering block, bent kingpin, e clips. Did the right caster block, too, just to have them both be Aluminum. Took about an hour. Eclips frustration aside, very satisfying!
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Feb 2, 2018 19:24
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Feenix posted:
That's great you are enjoying the hobby. Also if you check my last comments there is a RC thread in the Automotive Section so you can bounce around on there as well. I have been recently racing around my 4x4 Stampede. I hope you have fun of what is left of the winter.
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Feb 3, 2018 07:43
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I have a Kyosho Inferno MP9 TKI4 1/8 electic buggy, a Traxxas X-Maxx and a Traxxas Rustler. It is a very fun, very frustrating and very expensive hobby. I'm building a dirt track for 1/8 buggies/truggies that will hopefully be done by this summer. I'll have some info you can add to the OP in a bit. The X-Maxx could break someone's leg going full speed. I lost control of mine and knocked down a baby tree I had planted a few months earlier.
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Feb 8, 2018 01:36
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PYROxSYCO posted:That's great you are enjoying the hobby. Also if you check my last comments there is a RC thread in the Automotive Section so you can bounce around on there as well. I have been recently racing around my 4x4 Stampede. I hope you have fun of what is left of the winter. Thanks! I’ll check out that thread! What’s the fundamental “in practice” difference between 2wd and 4wd with these RC cars?
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Feb 8, 2018 05:38
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Feenix posted:Thanks! I’ll check out that thread! 4x4 is easier to control in my experience
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Feb 8, 2018 17:18
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Kak posted:4x4 is easier to control in my experience Less pop ups and wheelies I’d imagine... (when throttling harder from a standstill...)
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Feb 9, 2018 03:47
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I wanted to make a little RC Clone of a Ur Quattro
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Feb 9, 2018 04:17
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CommieGIR posted:I wanted to make a little RC Clone of a Ur Quattro Well, Good news and bad news. They have Audi Quattros that are Rally cars, but they a over the top expensive.
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Feb 9, 2018 07:51
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Pulled the trigger on a Traxxas Stampede. I was interested in the Big Foot 1 but the guy started talking about downgraded versions and bushings vs bearings and other stuff I as a filthy casual am not versed in and he sold me the slightly cheaper but updated or whatever one. He said if I wanted he could just order the shell for Big Foot later and it'd fit just the same. Whatever I just want to scoot around the backyard and poo poo. They have a fancy dirt racing course too and on non race days you can run around the track for free, which I might do.
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Feb 10, 2018 22:52
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Blackchamber posted:Pulled the trigger on a Traxxas Stampede. I was interested in the Big Foot 1 but the guy started talking about downgraded versions and bushings vs bearings and other stuff I as a filthy casual am not versed in and he sold me the slightly cheaper but updated or whatever one. He said if I wanted he could just order the shell for Big Foot later and it'd fit just the same. Ya, the Traxxas Stampede is a Big Foot with different tires and shell. You might have saved some money there.
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Feb 11, 2018 05:40
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Well I'm going to end up shelling out more money regardless. I want to change the rims to anything not super-fake chrome (the black chrome and satin chrome kinds look better) and some cooler looking tires. I took it out yesterday in the parking lot with the speed restricted to learning but I called it quits when the tires became caked in snow/slush and it was just sliding around. The snow should be gone in a day or two and I'll be able to try it on the grass and dirt.
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Feb 11, 2018 11:10
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Here are some more brands. I am biased towards 1/8 scale buggy class, but these guys make all kinds of stuff: Kyosho - http://rc.kyosho.com/en/ - The Inferno has one more IFMAR 1/8 nitro buggy championships (8) than any other brand. Made in Japan. My recommendation if you want the best quality. Mugen Seiki - http://www.mugenseiki.com/menueefi.htm - Another great Japanese brand. Hot Bodies - https://hbracing.com/en/ - Won the last two IFMAR 1/8 nitro buggy championships. Made in Switzerland. X-Ray - https://www.teamxray.com/ - I think the owner/founder of the company might have autism, but he is really passionate about his product. Made in Slovakia. Tekno - https://www.teknorc.com/ - Also known for making durable stuff - Made in Japan (I think) I would stay away from Losi. Their quality has gone to poo poo ever since they were bought out by Horizon Hobby. Kak fucked around with this message at 09:16 on Feb 13, 2018 |
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Feb 13, 2018 09:14
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PYROxSYCO posted:Well, Good news and bad news. They have Audi Quattros that are Rally cars, but they a over the top expensive. I'm probably going to start drafting some CAD to make a 3D printable version.
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Feb 13, 2018 14:32
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