New hobby building electric rc cars?

Howard Bri

Hey everyone I was looking to start a hobby, since i have none aside from fixing cars. I would like to get into building and modding electric rc cars.... unfortunately i cannot find anything on the web, after searching google for an hour, related to specifically what i am looking for. what i would like to know is where to start. what parts to get Ex- chassis (car), suspension, motor, wiring, wheels, and so on. i have no experience with rc cars and so try to dumb things down for me.
tell you what, ill make my chassis and the base, just tell me the parts i need and ill go from there.

Answer
Not knowing just how far you want to get into the meat and potatoes makes it hard to answer your question.

Do you have a CAD program and a CNC? Own or have access to an injection molder? How good are your engineering skills?

Or, are you just looking to build a kit? This is where most everyone starts out. And is by far the best way to start. Another issue is just exactly what type of kit would interest you most: On road, off road, rock crawler, drifter etc. Budget is another factor that you haven't mentioned.

Take a gander at some of the kits offered at online hobby shops like http://www.amainhobbies.com/index.php/cPath/1_44/n/RC-Cars-Trucks-Kits

Stay away from ones with the RTR label as they are already built. Unfortunately, kits are no where near as popular as they used to be. 99% of everyone looking to get into the radio control hobby wants to just put the battery in and run. This means that basically no one makes a kit with everything you need, and there just aren't that many. I can't think of a single one that comes with electronics - so you have to purchase those separately. All kits will list the items you need to complete the build however. Another thing that comes to mind is that the vast majority of kits from the mainstream manufacturers are high end racing machines. They are very expensive. A typical racing kit, with everything (good quality) you need often runs well over $1500.

The brand that offers the most kits is Tamiya. Usually at this point I also recommend staying away from Chinese brands as they often don't have replaceable parts available - but I doubt you can find one of those in kit form anyway.

Finally, I think your best bet is to head over to your local hobby shop and pick their brains. You may find that the racing aspect of radio control holds as much interest for you as building (it does for me!). And many hobby shops support local racing clubs. Or at least can direct you to them. If you don't have anything locally, feel free to shoot me an email with some more specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer.
***edit****
Differentials, a-arms, caster blocks, axle carriers, shocks, shock towers, axles, drivelines, slipper, f/r bulkheads, spur gear, gear cover, antenna tube/mount, f/r bumper, transmission, motor, motor mount, electronic speed control, receiver, transmitter, servo, servo arm/saver, servo mount, steering tie rods, steering rack or ackerman, pivot blocks, toe plate, camber blocks, steering spindles, king pins, lots of bearings, body mounts, body, hinge pins, wheels, wheel hexes, tires, assorted nuts bolts washers lock nuts shims etc, outdrive cups, pinion gear, turnbuckles, ball cups/studs or captured ends, battery, battery tray, battery tie down/straps, receiver mount, battery charger, misc greases and oils...

what electric rc car or truck is best for under $100?

Q. looking for sumthing fast and strong but under 100$ aslogas or nitro but i kno they are not cheap

Answer
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJAY0&P=0
I know its $152, but there's mot an rc car for less than $100 that are worth it. This is you best option, unless you want an on-road, then there's this, its more in your price range:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVUK3**&P=0
Either way i think you will be happy.

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New hobby building electric rc cars?

Howard Bri

Hey everyone I was looking to start a hobby, since i have none aside from fixing cars. I would like to get into building and modding electric rc cars.... unfortunately i cannot find anything on the web, after searching google for an hour, related to specifically what i am looking for. what i would like to know is where to start. what parts to get Ex- chassis (car), suspension, motor, wiring, wheels, and so on. i have no experience with rc cars and so try to dumb things down for me.
tell you what, ill make my chassis and the base, just tell me the parts i need and ill go from there.

Answer
Not knowing just how far you want to get into the meat and potatoes makes it hard to answer your question.

Do you have a CAD program and a CNC? Own or have access to an injection molder? How good are your engineering skills?

Or, are you just looking to build a kit? This is where most everyone starts out. And is by far the best way to start. Another issue is just exactly what type of kit would interest you most: On road, off road, rock crawler, drifter etc. Budget is another factor that you haven't mentioned.

Take a gander at some of the kits offered at online hobby shops like http://www.amainhobbies.com/index.php/cPath/1_44/n/RC-Cars-Trucks-Kits

Stay away from ones with the RTR label as they are already built. Unfortunately, kits are no where near as popular as they used to be. 99% of everyone looking to get into the radio control hobby wants to just put the battery in and run. This means that basically no one makes a kit with everything you need, and there just aren't that many. I can't think of a single one that comes with electronics - so you have to purchase those separately. All kits will list the items you need to complete the build however. Another thing that comes to mind is that the vast majority of kits from the mainstream manufacturers are high end racing machines. They are very expensive. A typical racing kit, with everything (good quality) you need often runs well over $1500.

The brand that offers the most kits is Tamiya. Usually at this point I also recommend staying away from Chinese brands as they often don't have replaceable parts available - but I doubt you can find one of those in kit form anyway.

Finally, I think your best bet is to head over to your local hobby shop and pick their brains. You may find that the racing aspect of radio control holds as much interest for you as building (it does for me!). And many hobby shops support local racing clubs. Or at least can direct you to them. If you don't have anything locally, feel free to shoot me an email with some more specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer.
***edit****
Differentials, a-arms, caster blocks, axle carriers, shocks, shock towers, axles, drivelines, slipper, f/r bulkheads, spur gear, gear cover, antenna tube/mount, f/r bumper, transmission, motor, motor mount, electronic speed control, receiver, transmitter, servo, servo arm/saver, servo mount, steering tie rods, steering rack or ackerman, pivot blocks, toe plate, camber blocks, steering spindles, king pins, lots of bearings, body mounts, body, hinge pins, wheels, wheel hexes, tires, assorted nuts bolts washers lock nuts shims etc, outdrive cups, pinion gear, turnbuckles, ball cups/studs or captured ends, battery, battery tray, battery tie down/straps, receiver mount, battery charger, misc greases and oils...

what electric rc car or truck is best for under $100?

Q. looking for sumthing fast and strong but under 100$ aslogas or nitro but i kno they are not cheap

Answer
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJAY0&P=0
I know its $152, but there's mot an rc car for less than $100 that are worth it. This is you best option, unless you want an on-road, then there's this, its more in your price range:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVUK3**&P=0
Either way i think you will be happy.

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Help with getting a rc car from hpi?

best electric rc cars trucks image

Zackary

What is the fastest electric rc car from hpi. It needs to be on road and electric. Not the off road trucks or gas/ nitro car. Please help I'm trying to get a super fast rc car but there are so many. Unless you know where I can get a super fast rc car that goes over 70 mph and looks like the street race cars.

Answer
The problem with RC cars that can go that fast is that they are very light and tend to develop 'lift' in the front. I've seen a number of ridiculously overpowerd cars that theoretically could go 80+, but can never make it because the front end starts to come off the ground.

To get that fast, a car needs a decent amount of downforce, and extremely low clearance. One small rock under the chassis during a high speed run and you get a nice spectacular crash. Almost every RC that can attain these types of speed are highly modified kits. AFAIK the fastest on roader from HPI is the WR8 Flux. It will top out around 60-65. There is only one RTR on road (other than the Traxxas drag car) that I know of that can reach the speed you want. The Traxxas XO-1.
http://traxxas.com/products/models/electric/6407xo1

What would be a good RC monster truck to get for my son?

Melissa

He has had several RC cars before but they have all been slow and fall apart quickly. I want to get an electric one with a rechargable battery. I also want to spend less than $100. What are the differences in 12.6v and 9.6v RC cars? Also what Mhz should I be looking for?

Answer
Well 12.6v makes the car more faster and more stronger. while the 9.6v makes it a little bit fast and not as strong. Also 12.6v has a longer battery duration while 9.6v has a shorter battery duration.

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Whats better to start with for a RC car?

best electric rc cars trucks image

Adolfo Flo

Me and my dad ( i am 14) where looking on craigslist for a rc car, I want an electric but he wants
a nitro were are both rookies, so we went to a rc shop today (5/15/13) the electric we around 200-250( brushless too) and nitro were around 200-390 I told him we should start out with a electric, because of maintenance, gas, and all that, then he said "Man the generation of the 90's are so lazy" and he took away my money. So I can prove to him which is better to start out with
Please need help Electric Or Nitro to start of.
Don't mind the money part it don't matter for this reason.
Don't mind the money part it don't matter for this reason.

Answer
Go for nitro no doubt it has better life,speed and handling. Man your dad is so Cool dont worry about wear and tear let him take care of this. My preffered brand Kyosho and thunder tiger

Electrics suck buy buggy or truck not sports car.

What RC truck or car should I get my husband?

Gabrielle

I want to get my husband a radio controlled car or truck for his birthday. I want to get one that is good quality and wont break easily. I would prefer one made in the USA but I know it will probably be hard to find one, so that really isn't necessary. What do you suggest? I am willing to spend up to $150 on it

Answer
You are a good wife! My wife hates my RC obsession! LOL! Honestly, if you want to get him a good one it will cost a little bit more than $150. You want to be able to get replacement parts for it when it breaks, and it will break. There is no stopping that. Some of the top RC brands on the market today are Traxxas (my personal favorite), HPI, Assocaited, Losi, Tamiya and Kyosho. A great place to purchase one online is www.towerhobbies.com. There are coupon codes on the home page you can enter at checkout to get an extra $30 off the price too. If this is his first RC, I would suggest this one: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZDB3RR&P=ML This Slash is a perfect beginner RC and VERY popular right now. If you are willing to spend a little more, I would get him this one: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXYNB0**&P=ML. This is basically the same thing as the first one, just that it's 4x4 and the first one is 2 wheel drive.
If you notice, you will see a yellow and black icon near the top of the picture that says Easy Pay. This allows you to make 3 monthly payments so you are not putting one large amount on your credit card at once. Makes it nice to be able to pay it off in 3 months, and it still ships the day/next day you order it.
There are a lot of things to consider when buying a RC. Both I suggested are electric. There are nitro RCs as well and those tend to be a little more expensive. It all depends on what he would like. There are on road cars, monster trucks, etc. I suggested the first one because it's probably the cheapest and high quality RC you are going to find. These things can run up to $1000 or more. But worth every penny! Either way, I'm sure he will enjoy it! Hope this helps!

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What RC truck or car should I get my husband?

best electric rc cars trucks image

Gabrielle

I want to get my husband a radio controlled car or truck for his birthday. I want to get one that is good quality and wont break easily. I would prefer one made in the USA but I know it will probably be hard to find one, so that really isn't necessary. What do you suggest? I am willing to spend up to $150 on it

Answer
You are a good wife! My wife hates my RC obsession! LOL! Honestly, if you want to get him a good one it will cost a little bit more than $150. You want to be able to get replacement parts for it when it breaks, and it will break. There is no stopping that. Some of the top RC brands on the market today are Traxxas (my personal favorite), HPI, Assocaited, Losi, Tamiya and Kyosho. A great place to purchase one online is www.towerhobbies.com. There are coupon codes on the home page you can enter at checkout to get an extra $30 off the price too. If this is his first RC, I would suggest this one: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZDB3RR&P=ML This Slash is a perfect beginner RC and VERY popular right now. If you are willing to spend a little more, I would get him this one: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXYNB0**&P=ML. This is basically the same thing as the first one, just that it's 4x4 and the first one is 2 wheel drive.
If you notice, you will see a yellow and black icon near the top of the picture that says Easy Pay. This allows you to make 3 monthly payments so you are not putting one large amount on your credit card at once. Makes it nice to be able to pay it off in 3 months, and it still ships the day/next day you order it.
There are a lot of things to consider when buying a RC. Both I suggested are electric. There are nitro RCs as well and those tend to be a little more expensive. It all depends on what he would like. There are on road cars, monster trucks, etc. I suggested the first one because it's probably the cheapest and high quality RC you are going to find. These things can run up to $1000 or more. But worth every penny! Either way, I'm sure he will enjoy it! Hope this helps!

What is the best Nitro RC car for someone just getting into the hobby?

Q. I'm looking for an Off road type of Nitro car. Needs to be easy to get started with. Friend of mine bought a Savage X he is having a ton of trouble with parts breaking and starting the car even when he put 8 tanks through it breaking it in he cant even get it to run more then a few minutes if he is lucky before it stalls out on him. Is there something out there that is easier straight out of the box that is a Nitro car?
Thanks for the input. Yes I have looked on-line and been to stores but I need some personal experiences to which in your opinion is a good starter nitro RC truck. Most of the stores I have been to will just about throw anything at you to make a sale so I am sick of those guys, and online all you can do is read discriptions. Have any of you found that a certain car was a lot easier to break in and get running than most? I am thinking of going to electric since they are hell of a lot easier to get running but I really would like to go with a nitro.

Answer
the Tower Hobbies TOWER nitro st w/.15 rebuilt is a good starter but if you went with the electric Traxxas rustler XL-5 it would last longer with hardly any tuning and it's 9mph slower than the savage but it has better handling and is less fragile

P.S. both trucks cost the same in the end

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What is the best brushless electric RC buggy for under 275 dollars?

best electric rc cars trucks image

Samuel K

Looking for a good rc car that is quick, off road and fairly priced that can replace my aging tornado epx pro from redcat racing. I want a decent one but don't want to abuse my wallet too much.

Answer
Team Associated buggy now brings high-performance in the brushless RC10B4.1 RTR. Team Durango DEX410R 1/10 Electric 4wd Off Road Buggy Kit. Team Associated T4.1 Brushless RTR 1/10 Truck w/2.4GHz Radio. These might work for you.

Where can I get a quality build your own rc car kit?

brandon

I'm into mechanics and tinkering and I want to get one to build my self and use I'm new at this and I'm looking for a kit that will supply a fun build but also a good sized quality rc car.. Any suggestions?

Answer
A great place to start is:
http://www.amainhobbies.com/index.php/cPath/1_44/n/RC-Cars-Trucks-Kits

Here you can take a look at a good portion of what is available. Not knowing your budget, preference for off road vs on road, nitro or electric makes it tough to recommend something.

Once you click on one of the categories, make sure you select kit, and not Ready To Run (RTR's are prebuilt). 1/8 is bigger than 1/10 of course, and 1/8 nitro buggy is my own personal favorite racing class.

If you make a decision on what type of RC you want, head over to your local hobby shop if you have one. Then see what they carry. It's always a big plus to have something you can readily get parts for. Feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions.

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