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antipodi
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Sat Feb 04, 2006 2:05 pm
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 RC Cars Beginners Guide Info
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Radio Control Cars & Trucks
DuraTrax FireHammer Many radio control modelers get their start in the hobby with an R/C car or truck. That’s a good idea. Getting the hang of a model that stays on the ground — most of the time! — is a little easier than controlling one that also challenges you to beat the law of gravity.
While R/C cars are easier to control than their flying counterparts, some are still high-performance machines that are loaded with powerful, sophisticated engineering. That brings up one of the most exciting things to do with R/C cars — race them!
An R/C car race can be as informal as two kids tearing around a ball diamond...or as organized as the IFMAR Worlds Championship, which attracts top R/C drivers from all over the globe to compete in such exotic locales as Italy, Switzerland, and Australia.
Off-Road vs On-Road
The most popular type of R/C car is the Off-Road Buggy. Big tires with "knobby" spikes, full-travel suspension parts and a high ground clearance allow the off-roader to go almost anywhere. Most are 1/10 scale (about 15" long), are either two-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD), and reach speeds of 15-30 mph. On-Road cars usually have lower ground clearances, slicks tires, aerodynamic bodies, and are capable of a bit higher speeds.
Electric vs Nitro
Electric cars use a rechargeable NiCd battery pack for power. They can run up to 10 minutes and can be recharged in about 15 minutes. Nitro cars are actually powered by a small engine that burns a special glow fuel. Some can reach speeds of over 50 mph! We recommend gas cars for advanced modelers. A Rewarding Hobby
Kits, Prebuilt or RTR?
Of these three model categories, Kits require the most building time and effort. That’s not necessarily a disadvantage. You gain the pride of knowing that you’ve successfully put together a fast-moving vehicle by yourself. And you learn a great deal about how it works — experience that will help you upgrade its performance and quickly repair any possible damage. Replacement parts as well as “hop-ups” are available from most Hobby shops.
The majority of cars and trucks aimed at first-time modelers fall into the other two groups. Both come almost entirely factory-assembled.
RTR (or Ready-to-Run) models let you start driving almost immediately after opening the box. They come fully equipped with a power plant and radio system already installed. Prebuilt models (also known as ARR, or Almost Ready-to-Run) are usually identical to RTRs but don’t include a radio, in case you have one already or would rather choose your own.
What else do I need?
You will generally need to get a 2-channel Radio System to control your model. You will also usually need at least one NiCd battery pack and a charger.
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