R/C Cars

[crofty]

I still have my original Tamiya Frog's from '84!!
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Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

[Randall]

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[SteveVanB]

Got a Tamiya cr-01, Losi 8ight e, and a Losi scte.

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91 CARAT

[mrmarcdude]

Reading this thread go me into poking around in the r/c closet. I completely forgot that I had a 1/18th scale losi buggy too.... That green Land Cruiser is sweet!

[sandfan43]

My son is going to be 12 in dec, were wanting to get into rc buggies, my dad was always into planes and when he passed couple years ago he left my son a complete beginner plane and a 2 radio (buddy box) system, 6 channel.
Its been quite a few yrs since i had my Wild Willy and really wish i still had it but i dont, so i believe we got the radio that will work fine so what is a good beginner for him? i like the simplicity of elec as far as just charging but also like the power and cool factor of gasser, without getting real intense would like to build it from a kit along with my son, so any ideas?

[mrmarcdude]

[sandfan43]

Thanks i appreciate the good info, ive found a hobby shop within 30 miles of me that carry alot of tamiya and thats probly what il end up goin with, so what is average run time on a charged battery? is it best to get 2 batteries so 1 charging while playing? 110 charger or 12v charger? thanks again.

[mrmarcdude]

Run time depends on the MaH rating of the battery, the driving conditions (tall grass, pavement, dirt) the speed controller being used, and the motor. IMO running a battery with anything less than 2000MaH is a waste. Assuming you are getting a Tamiya, you can expect about 10-15 minutes of run time with a 2000Mah battery running the stock mechanical speed control, and a stock 27 turn "closed endball" motor on flat pavement.

If you were to bump up to a electronic speed control you could squeeze out another few minutes or so. If your budget allows I would consider getting "matched packs". Conventional packs aren't matched, and tend to slowly discharge over time (car gets sluggish for the last few minutes). Whereas with a matched cell battery the cells are matched in a way that gives you maximum power throughout your runtime, then at the last 30 seconds or so the car rapidly slows down.

I would get 3 batteries. One in the car, one to charge, and one to cool down. As for chargers... any charger you get should have both 110, and 12v connections so you can use it in the field, or at home. Stay away from timed chargers, and just get a peak charger. Its well worth the money! Maybe the guy at the hobby shop can work you some sort of package deal?

Years ago when I was cutting my teeth at the local tracks I would go to www.rccaraction.com for tips, and information. That sight is "The Samba" for rc cars. Remember.... HAVE FUN!

[sandfan43]

Huge info, thanks alot i appreciate it

[SteveVanB]

If you decide to get into the LiPo game, BE CAREFUL! these things can be very dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. That said, it's the only way to go! The voltage stays up till the end of it's charge as opposed to a
NiMh or Nicad pack where the voltage steadily drops till the end. Generally, the higher the Mah rating, the longer the run time. There are a few exceptions/variables such as vehicle gearing and weight. I could run my rock crawler for a solid hour on a 3000 mah 2s lipo. Put the same battery in my short couse truck and I'm lucky to get 4-6 minutes. I have some 6000 mah 2s batteries for the short course truck that will get me 10-12 minutes on an 1/8 scale track. There's enough info out there to make your head spin off but is worth doing the research.
http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-lipo-batteries.html
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91 CARAT

[joehadams]

Ive got a 1/10th Traxxas Nitro Rustler with 2.5R that ive been beating the shit out of since 2007
also a1/8th Ofna Hyper 7 buggy with a .21 that doesnt cooperate. runs like a bat out of hell when it wants to though

exhibit a..


Link

[mrmarcdude]

Yeah, like Steve said. Lipos are no f**kin joke. My girlfriends brother, and I fly planes that use lipos. One time after he lawn darted his plane he just ripped out the electronics, and threw the plane away. I told him to throw the battery in his lipo bag (its a fire proof bag) because it took a hard hit. Luckly he listened to me (for once), and threw it in the bag. About 15 minutes later while we are packing up our stuff the lipo went up, and smoke came billowing from the bag. There are two people at our flying field that have lost garages, and one that lost a car because they didn't "follow the rules".

Look up lipo fires on you tube if you have a minute. After seeing it in person I have a newfound respect. They are violent as hell, and shoot a flame out like you wouldn't believe.
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- Marc M.
-65 Beetle -1600dp-

[1lostVW]

I've got the hpi baja 5b. This pic isn't me or my baja, but it shows the size of it. Mine is all red, powder coated most parts to rid the purple. Bigger motor, exhaust, yadda yadda yadda. Uses the 'weed whacker' motor, 2 stroke.


As a kid, us poor kids had electric & the money cars were nitro. Grew up, bought a few nitro cars & trucks. Converted electric to nitro. Ended up with this 2 stroke. It rules. No drama with tuning, it always starts. The batteries on the buggy run out before the fuel. I used to tell stories about that 1 perfect day, when my nitro truck ran good & gave me a couple hours of fun. That's cause almost every other time was a game of tuning just to make it run. Now I hear the electrics are bad ass. Brushless motors & crazy batteries. Makes sence since the hybrid car technology is growing stronger, so has stored energy. I haven't tried a newer electric r/c yet.

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Melburg LUFT

[ubercrap]

HPI Nitro mini RS4, Xpress Roadrunner and GTO 962, JrX2
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'74 412 wagon
(2) '74 412 2dr. sedan
'73 412 2dr. sedan

[mrmarcdude]

The mini RS4 was the car to have when it came out. It put up against BRP's, Kyosho Mini Z's, when it came to smaller-than-12th scale cars it was the hottest ticket. That little car rocked the r/c world... not quite like the T-Maxx, but it rocked it. Shit, they still rock!
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- Marc M.
-65 Beetle -1600dp-

[Chad aka Chud]

I just got this losi 4x4 SCT. Some local racer owned it and it is totally bad ass!!!! A lot of fun to drive

[Zero419]

I just got my 6 year old boy a losi micro 1/36
lots of fun.

My wife is getting me the same one for fathers day.

I hope to clear some space in the basement and make a track.
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1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[mrmarcdude]

^Doooo it, you won't regret it! When I was a teenager I helped my dad with restoring our old house (built in 1882). For a long while there we had tons of sheetrock in our basement so I decided to take 6 pieces, and tape/mud them into a smooth surface. I then used pvc for the walls of the track, and hot glued them in place. I can't count how many hours my buddies and I spent racing our Kyosho Mini Z's around that track. We even began to make a racing groove from driving so much. DO IT!
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- Marc M.
-65 Beetle -1600dp-

[shano63]

I semi retired earlier this year and have been trying to keep myself busy, I've been getting back into lego and these RC cars. I still have my original sand scorcher from 1982. I bought the re-release back in 2012 and just bought the buggy champ. I put a sport tuned 540 into the sand scorcher and just finished painting the buggy champ. I forgot how fun these cars are.

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63 T1 Ragtop Gulf Blue
20 Toyota Corolla 6spd
22 Wrangler 6spd
78 F250 4x4 4spd

Chris

Take it as it comes-- Morrison

[YDBD]

Yep they are an absolute blast! I don't run mine too much anymore, but used to run them at an indoor track in Okinawa "RC Paradise".

The left is the Tamiya '67 bug, center Sand Scorcher and right one is a Cox Buggy with a Tamiya frog chassis.

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'56 pan Dune Buggy since '69
don't live in the past...but when I did:
'67 bug
'64 baja
'60 dune buggy
'73 Personenkraftwagen Type 182 "Thing"