Nitro Radio Cars

RC Cars – “Which One do i Get “

The difference between a toy rc car and a hobby grade rc car is a universe away in terms of quality, control and basic componants. With a toy rc car you can not fine tune the streering controls and the brakes, also it will most likley veer off and have limited control and the car will be jerking around and not so smooth. When you crash a toy shop radio control car and trust me at some point you will, you will have no choice but to bin it like most people end up doing… Why ? 

well you can’t get spare parts for toy grade RC s as these are normally cheap products made in china and parts are just not availible.

A true rc car will have parts availible and can be upgraded or modified and the quality will be much better, the response will also be much more accurate so you can judge taking corners or braking times.

The cost for a hobby rc car is more money but in the long run its well worth the investment as the thrills and excitement of a fast screaming radio control car racing around a track or park is priceless and total fun every time. Rc cars come in various sizes and range from 1/28th scale being classed as a mini rc to a massive 1/8th scale like the “acme Warrior rc buggy and the Werewolf rc car. These are awesome in size and are loaded with features and great spec, and less than a few hundred pounds you will have a quality piece of kit and a top speed of 60 km/h and a quality controller.

1/10th scale radio controlled cars are most common and most come fully built and ready to run out the box or if you have time there are also self build rc car kits where you build them up in stages , thus learning about how they work and all the parts that make up a rc car.

Electronic speed controls.  The (ESC) is a device on the electronics that transmits a signal from the radio controller to the rc car telling it to move faster or slower also turns and some have the capability to have a reverse, although nitro and petrol rc cars do not have as standard. Most rc cars come with pre painted bodyshells and stickers to apply but you can get blank clear bodyshells so you can paint or spray up your own colours or designs, rc trucks are common to have these and off rd rc buggys. It is always a good idea to have ventilation and most cut a hole though the front windscreen and you can cut the clear windows with a craft knife so they look half open  -thus getting plenty of air flow to keep the engine cool as when to hot the body shell can melt under the heat.

With a RC model it is worth to buy the best with the money you have to get a good quality 2 channel controller and basic features like oil-filled shocks, full suspension, ESC and 2 speed gearbox and maybe a steering servo, expect to pay around £150 -250 for a good hobby grade model and you can always add upgrades and chrome exhausts, wheels and much more at a later date.

Power options

There are three powered types of rc cars -  Electric – Nitro –  Petrol

Electric rc cars are common as they are very easy to use with hardly any maintainence needed. Now days electric rc cars are pretty quiet and with brushless motors now being used more and more, a brushless car can hit 60 mph and they can run much longer without getting too hot.

The batteries come in a few options and a 1800amh is a good load and a spare is also needed so you can keep going, and a good tip is to use rechargable batteries on the controller as they can get costly if using throw aways.

Nitro is a fuel burning power and with a nitro rc car there is a little more work involved as nitro fuel is messy and highly flammeable and when buying a new nitro car the engine has to be broken in slowly and this involves slowly running the car on a level ground for 5 -7 short runs without using full throttle at any time or this will damage the engine and limit the preformance.

Always use rechargable batteries as then you will always know you have fresh batteries as this is important because if they run low while driving the nitro car, you will lose control if they go under 8.5 V and just hope its not heading for a lake or busy road and also if you are going to race or go to park for day its typical the batteries will go dead as your having fun. Electric RC s do not like water and its very easy to go though a puddle and fry the ESC or the electric pack, to prevent this i use a balloon and pull over the electric box and tape all wires and open ends up and silocone to seal gaps up. Alway check all screws are tight as these work loose and if lost while running then the chance of finding is slim and the RC will be shelved until you order the new parts.

All About Gas-Powered RC Cars

Gas Powered RC cars offer many realistic features and come in a variety of types and styles. To help you choose what’s right for you, this article covers the main considerations you’ll face.

If you’re a fan of radio-controlled vehicles, but find standard RC to be lacking in power and running time, you might want to consider looking into gas powered RC cars. These cars, which run on a nitromethane-based fuel that is often referred to as “glow fuel” or “nitro”, offer a level of realism and performance that you just won’t find on battery powered cars. Gas powered RC cars are also often highly customizable, allowing hobbyists to utilize a variety of engines and design types… there are even different types of transmitters available depending upon how you would prefer your car to work. Below are some of the options available for gas powered RC cars, giving you an idea of the level of customization that you can achieve.

Engines
Obviously, one of the more important aspects of gas powered RC cars is the engine. A variety of different engine models are available for you to choose from, but in general most cars of this type will have what are commonly referred to as “glow” engines. A “glow” engine is a 2-cycle internal combustion engine, creating the power that gas powered RC cars are known for and adding a bit of realism to the car with the exhaust that is produced. Instead of the spark plugs that a full-size automotive engine would have, these engines use a “glow plug” that is heated by what is known as a “glow starter” This heat is then held by the plug and is used to fire the engine strokes for the remainder of the running time.

Fuel
As mentioned above, the “gas” used by gas powered RC cars isn’t actually gasoline… it’s a special fuel that is nitromethane-based and formulated for the cars’ engines. Special lubricants are added to the fuel mixture to protect the engine from excessive heat and wear; the lubricants work in much the same way as gas-oil mixtures in some chainsaws and other small-engine equipment. Other fuel accessories may be needed to go with your car. A pump or special bottle may be used to get the fuel into the RC car’s fuel tank, and filters in the fuel line may need to be replaced from time to time.

Radio
The radio that you use to control your gas powered RC cars can be the same type that is used to control an electric model of RC car. A 2-channel radio system. It’s important to keep in mind that just because the car’s engine runs on a liquid fuel doesn’t mean that you have no need of batteries. In addition to the battery that powers the radio controller, you might find yourself in need of batteries to supply power to the radio receiver in the car itself. Of course, with some receivers it may be possible to have the power supplied by the motor of the car itself. The type of receiver that you use and the power supply that it needs are one consideration to keep in mind when comparing different parts or different cars.

Sport vs. Competition
A variety of different options and body styles exist for gas powered RC cars. You can choose from trucks, sedans, buggies, popular car models, and even stock cars. Once you’ve decided upon the body style and layout that’s right for you, however, you may find yourself facing one additional choice. Many of the car models available commercially come in two distinct types; a sport version, and a competition version. Sport cars tend to cost less, and offer basic options that are popular with beginners and casual hobbyists. For those who want to race their cars against other dedicated hobbyists, though, there are the competition cars which tend to have more power and higher speeds and offer advanced options such as oil shocks and ball bearings. Competition models may not be a complete car, however, since they are designed to allow for more customization… many of these kits require you to get the engine that you want to go with it separately, as well as the car body in many cases (since the kit only provides the main chassis.)

Kits vs. RTR
If you’ve decided that you want to buy gas powered RC cars, you often have to make a choice between buying a kit, so that you can build the car yourself, or buying a ready-to-race car (also known as RTR) that is ready to be fueled and go right out of the box. RTR cars are good for beginners or casual hobbyists, but aren’t highly customized. Kits, on the other hand, may require additional work but allow the builder to decide exactly how they want their car put together. Should you use a kit, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to make sure that you have the engine that you want, paint and basic tools on hand for assembly and decoration, and additional tools and parts depending upon the kit that you purchase.

Regardless of the type of car that you buy, though, you’re certain to find yourself amazed at the power and performance of these cars loved by hobbyists and racers around the world.

RC Cars: What You Need To Know Before You Buy One

RC or radio controlled cars can range in price from less than fifty dollars to thousands of dollars. If you are planning to buy your first RC car, you may be fazed by the difference in price of RC cars, not to mention the huge variety of models that are available. If you are planning to buy your first RC car, then getting to know some of the basics that determine the price and performance of remote controlled cars will help in making your decision easier.

Some of the main things that you need to know about radio controlled cars before you select and buy one are:

1. The Grade: The price of the same model of a radio controlled car can greatly vary based upon whether it falls into the toy or the hobby grade. The hobby grade of cars includes radio controlled machines that are built for the RC enthusiast, and thus come with the best features, functions, durability, speed and scaling. On the other hand, toy grade machines are just that—toys that are built for kids, but even these might offer quality and a host of features based on their price. If you are an adult venturing into radio controlled racing, then you might want to invest in a hobby grade car or a high end toy grade car to get started and in order to perfect your driving skills.

2. The Fuel: Radio controlled cars today can run on different energy sources, ranging from batteries to petroleum. The latest of these are the gas powered cars. These cars are generally built to a larger scale than other types of radio controlled cars and run just like normal automobiles, producing fumes and noise in the bargain. Their engines are petrol driven and while their tanks can carry fuels for long distances, they are slower to accelerate than RC cars that run on other fuel sources.

The oldest type of RC cars is the one that runs on batteries. These RC automobiles rely on rechargeable batteries for power. Most racing enthusiasts keep spare batteries for races so that they can replace a car’s exhausted batteries mid race. The advantage of battery run radio controlled cars is that they are the cleanest and the easiest to control. Being light weight, they accelerate quickly without producing noxious fumes.

In between these two kinds lies the racing enthusiast’s favorite—the nitro car. Running on a combination of nitro-methane and lubricating oil, these cars can accelerate fast and achieve higher speeds than both gas and battery powered cars. However, because of the fuel used, they tend to produce both noise and exhaust, which is great if you are racing outdoors, but may prove painful if you are running your car in the drawing room even for a small period of time.

3. The Terrain: Radio controlled cars can be either off road or on road. On road models have racing tires and are built for high speeds for on road racing. On the other hand, off road RC cars generally come in the form of SUVs, trucks or truggies and have broader tires that provide a good grip over rough terrain. These are always slower and more rugged than on road RC car models. Both types come with all three energy options.

Electric RC Cars are Better for the Novice

One of the first decisions for the newcomer to the world of radio controlled cars is whether to buy an electrically powered or a nitro powered car.

As a general rule, electric radio controlled cars and trucks are the best choice for the beginner since they tend to be simpler, quieter, cleaner and easier to operate. The trade-off for this simplicity and ease of operation comes in the form of cars that do not have the realism and the power brought to radio controlled cars by nitro engines, but it is undoubtedly a wise decision to cut your teeth with an electric model before tackling the complexities of nitro power.

Electric radio controlled cars use battery packs to power both the motor and steering and these are normally recharged using either a 12-volt car battery or a mains powered charging unit. Batteries run for between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on the type of engine in the car, and re-charging usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you buy at least two, if not three, battery packs to allow for more or less continuous running.

At first glance, electric radio controlled cars can appear to be much less expensive, but the cost of such things as additional battery packs, a battery charger and other accessories, will often bring the final cost of an electric car close to that of a nitro powered car. Naturally, the long-term cost also depends on the model of car that you purchase and the type and quality of battery pack that it requires, as well as how often you run the car.

The main difference between electric and nitro powered radio controlled cars is seen when it comes to maintenance. Though the cost of battery packs can be high, their care and maintenance is relatively easy when compared to the work involved with changing air filters, tuning, fueling and attending to a variety of engine parts on a nitro powered car.

As mentioned earlier, electric radio controlled cars are not as powerful as their nitro powered cousins but, nonetheless, modern electric cars are still more than capable of holding their own on the racing circuit. Perhaps more importantly however for the beginner, they provide a quick and easy answer to getting up and running and to learning the ins and outs of model car racing, without the steep learning curve, and often frequent frustration for the newcomer, provided by the complex modern nitro engine.

Many beginners are tempted into buying a nitro powered car because, in addition to simply running and racing the car, they also want to build their own car and mistakenly believe that this is only possible if they purchase a nitro powered vehicle. This is not the case.

Both nitro and electric powered cars come in kit form with complete instructions so that you can build your car from scratch. Admittedly, electric car kits are less complex and an electric car is easier to build, but this is still not an easy undertaking for the beginner and is certainly a challenge.

At the end of the day the choice is of course yours but, as with many other hobbies, if you rush in and try and achieve too much too quickly you often meet a host of obstacles and frustration and end up walking away feeling that it was perhaps not all it was cracked up to be. Radio controlled car racing is an exciting and rewarding hobby, but it will take time to master, so choose the simple route in and enjoy the speed and fun of racing your electric car before moving on to the added thrill and excitement that comes from nitro power.

The Cool World of RC cars

RC Car are becoming more and more popular among all different ages groups. RC cars and the RC world in general, is a hobby that can totally consume your life… and your wallet. It doesn’t have to though. When I first became interested in RC car racing, all I wanted was a fast rc car. Fast RC cars were in and everyone was getting them. This was before mini rc cars became popular, before Nitro rc cars were huge and definitely before RC drift cars resembles those in the movies. Now, I’m not that old, but old enough to know that my definition of a fast rc car might different than a kid’s is today. My first RC Car was a Turbo Hopper that my mother (Santa) picked up at JC Penny’s. Though I thought it was the best thing in the world, not to mention the fastest Remote control in the world, it was far from. Fast RC cars were for the big dogs; people who has money to spend; gas rc cars were the thing to have. Actually, my gas powered rc car was quite slow. Cross RC Car are a great way to pry children’s grubby little fingers off the video game controllers and get them outside. While operating RC Cars isn’t exactly a physical activity in itself; chances are amateur RC enthusiasts will have a crash or two and they will have to retrieve the vehicle. Let’s get one thing squared away: RC cars aren’t only for small children. Several Remote control car owners are well into their teens, 20s, 30s and so on. There is competitive racing circuits, national championships and several types of classes in both the amateur and professional RC racing realm. RC Cars can be fun for people of all ages and price ranges. If tricking out your remote control car is your only hobby, you might find yourself spending every last cent to your name on the latest suspension upgrade or high performance nitro rc car. If you’re just getting started in the world of radio controlled cars, you might only race remote controls around the local parking lot to kill an afternoon and get a few rays. One thing can’t be denied and that’s the pure fun and excitement you’ll experience when you take control of your first RC Car, dictating it’s every movement. RC Cars acceleration is really quite impressive and probably faster than you think. Gas powered RC cars were previously quite a bit faster than electric RC Cars, but times have changed somewhat and the discrepancy has narrowed. It’s more of a preference thing when it comes time to choose your first RC Car. Do you want a quiet, subtle sleeper or do you want an aggressive exhaust sound when you punch the gas? Either way, you’re sure to love the total control you’ll have once you get used to your controller and radio controlled vehicle, regardless of the salary or age bracket you fall into. The world of RC Car Racing is becoming extremely popular. People have taken it as far as fully customizing their rides and racing them on miniature racetracks. To keep up with the trend, you are going to want to consider getting some high quality RC Racing equipment. First thing is first, you want to strip down your RC car and remove any parts that may be weighing it down. You also want to add some aftermarket shocks to give your RC optimum performance. To get RC cars, why not online marketplace? After all, you have much more choices as well as they are much cheaper. Source by http://blog.topons.com/index.php/2010/08/the-cool-world-of-rc-cars/