Posts Tagged ‘autos and trucks’

RC Car Kits – Why Not Build Your Own?

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

Radio controlled cars are the only cars that may be enjoyed by individuals of all ages. In most countries, people are not permitted to drive until they are 17 and in some countries, women of any age are not allowed to drive, but everybody can drive an RC car and race them and what is more, lots of people can even build their own.

RC cars appeal to people of all ages and although it was a sport dominated by men and boys until ten years ago, there are now numerous women and girls getting involved in RC cars and racing them as well.

There are three basic combinations of RC cars to take into account:

Ready-to-Run (RTR) RC Cars and Kits: RTR cars are really the entry point for those wishing to take up RC cars. RTR cars are already assembled. Kits on the other hand require assembly, although you get all the components in the kit.

These cars or trucks could be replicas of real vehicles or be fantasy models. RTR are invariably powered by batteries, which puts a number of restrictions on them in the way of power, speed and distance to run. An maddening feature is that the power steadily wanes and sometimes you have to bring back your car yourself.

They are quite cheap though and easy to maintain. A novice will learn a lot from assembling a kit RC car or truck and they can be modified or improved on in numerous fashions.

On Road or Off Road: on road RC cars are built for speed. These are the racing vehicles and can achieve remarkable speeds. They can use any of the power sources, but most of them use nitro.

Off road RC vehicles will be less fast but with plenty of torque, they will be able to handle rough ground and steep inclines. These are endurance vehicles that need their drivers to use different skills to racing drivers.

Electric, nitro or petrol: your choice of fuel will determine a lot about your vehicle. Electric cars are normally RTR and nitro are normally racers, but petrol -powered cars are on the increase, although petrol powered cars are normally larger in scale. The massive 1:5 scale cars and trucks are invariably run with petrol powered engines – scale copies of the engines that run full-sized cars.

Electric cars are fairly quiet, but the other two kinds are noisy, which provides realism to a race. When you have made your three choices, I hope that you have opted for self-assembly. If you have, the tools that you will need are quite basic: screwdrivers, spanners, Stanley knife, tin snips, graphite powder, oil and soap (to get tight-fitting components to go on).

My advice would be to begin by taking an RC car magazine for a few months before purchasing the kit in order to get acquainted with the jargon and some of the techniques. You should also join a club and go to a couple of race meetings. Other enthusiasts will be happy to resolve any queries you might have.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with remote controlled trucks. If you have an interest in model or toy rc vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

The Hobby Of RC Car Racing

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

RC car racing stands for the radio controlled racing of model cars. The models come in several sorts: they can be fantasy models or scale models of actual cars and trucks. After that, you can get RC cars and trucks in various sizes or scales, the most popular being 1:9 to 1:12, but there are also huge models of 1:5. The third variable is the engine; electric, nitro or petrol.

Whatever type of RC car you own, the thrill of racing it is the same. Most people find the sport of RC car racing thrilling. Racing RC cars provides most of the thrills and spills of conventional car racing but without the danger to human life.

There are also different kinds of races ranging from racing around a circuit to cross-country, all-terrain racing.

Radio controlled racing cars are controlled by a games-style console with a joystick on it. Your commands are transmitted to a receiver on board the vehicle by means of a radio. Some consoles can transmit quite complex commands whilst others just steer the model.

Similarly, the models can be easy ‘go or not’, steerable racing vehicles or they can be nearly perfect replicas of the real thing with replica suspension systems, lights and everything else deal. These super models are normally hand-made by enthusiasts. Most people purchase either a finished model or a kit.

Children love the sport of RC car racing, but otherwise the sport appeals to men and women of all ages. The sport is still dominated by males, but more and more females of all ages are being attracted to the sport of RC car racing each year too.

One of the good things about the sport of RC car racing is that it is easy to get started but there is also lots of scope to expand your interest if (or when) the bug bites. You may start with a fundamental battery-powered 1:12 scale fantasy model, but soon move onto a 1:9 nitro-powered replica racing car or even a monster 1:5 scale model with a real petrol engine. You may even begin building your own models

If you would like to get involved with the exciting sport of RC car racing, it is simple enough. The best manner to begin is to get some information before you buy your first RC car. You can do this by purchasing an RC car magazine, joining a model car club and/or by going to a couple of model car races.

RC enthusiasts love talking about their sport and most of them would be willing to reply to your questions. Whilst deciding on your preferred type of model, bear its maintenance in mind. You can hugely prolong the life of your RC model with proper maintenance, so you ought to purchase a car that you are able to look after.

If the first car or truck that you purchase is not actually what you wanted, but it matches your degree of skill, do not worry, there is always a learning curve with a new sport or hobby and as your competence increases you will be able to purchase one of the larger, more powerful, more complex models.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with gas remote control cars. If you have an interest in model or toy rc vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

The Different Kinds Of RC Cars

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

Radio controlled cars, remote controlled cars or RC cars and trucks are items, with which to have fun. However, many RC hobbyists take their fun very seriously indeed. They want their RC car or truck to be the most realistic or the fastest by tweaking the basic kit and by fine-tuning the engine. This is not a new trend at all. Hobbyists have been building and racing model cars since the 1940′s. However, these early cars were hamstrung by technology.

In the early days of the hobby, the models had to be manufactured by hand by hobbyists and radio control was ineffective and too dear for home use. Those early models were controlled remotely by wire. Consequently remote controlled model cars could only run the length of the wire, which meant in effect that the car went round and round the handler. It was not until the 1960′s that radio control was available and this meant proper races around a proper race track. The true hobby-cum-sport of model racing was born.

After the hobby or sport had been opened up by genuine radio control, it became more exciting and it attracted more hobbyists and with them came improvement and commercial interest. This means that the technology involved in radio controlled cars and trucks has come on in leaps and bounds. One point worth saying here is that a big differentiation between model cars used to be whether they were remote controlled or radio controlled. Unfortunately, they are both shortened to RC and so the terms are often used indiscriminately these days.

The most popular RC cars for beginners are the electrically driven model cars and trucks. Electric RC cars have to depend on rechargeable batteries for power. This is their main drawback, but being electrically driven also means that the car is cleaner and more responsive to control. Electrically driven cars tend to be lighter and therefore faster. They are cleaner because there is no exhaust. They are easier to maintain, but also less easy to modify. They accelerate very quickly

The next step for many RC hobbyists is the Nitro car. Nitro cars are powered by miniature engines which run on a mixture of nitromethane and lubricating oil. These cars are very fast with a fast acceleration. They can reach and maintain higher speeds than electric cars, whose batteries are continuously running down meaning less power for speed.

Nitro cars and trucks are noisy and smelly. They produce the loud whine that people link with model racing, but they also produce exhaust which means that they cannot be used indoors.

More and more replica cars are now using petroleum powered RC cars. These models tend to be the larger ones. These RC cars and trucks have engines that are more familiar to the non-specialist, but they have all the characteristics of an typical car. They produce fumes, noise and are slower to accelerate that the other types. However, petrol driven engines will last longer than nitro engines. Because these models are larger, they can take more fuel on board and so go longer distances.

All three of the above varieties can then be on-road or off-road. On-road cars will be made for racing only and the tyres will be racing tyres and the engines will be finely tuned to reach top speed quickly and maintain it for the length of the race. On the other hand, off-road RC cars are built for travelling up and down hill over all kinds of geological objects, so the engine has to have more torque and the tyres need to be able to maintain a good grip. These cars are usually slower.

The last distinguishing feature of the various RC cars is size or more precisely the scale. 1:8 was and still is quite popular. That scale means that for every eight inches of the actual car, the replica is one inch long. Other popular sizes are 1:10 and 1:12, but there is a new class of RC cars and trucks gaining popularity, the monster 1:5 cars and trucks, which are petrol driven.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with gas remote control cars. If you have an interest in model RC vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

categories: rc,radio,kids and teens,family,entertainment,sport,models,toys,vehicles,autos and trucks,product reviews,outdoor,other

Model RC Racing Cars

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Do your interests in model remote control cars lie in high speed, fast acceleration and magnificence of form? If this is exactly what you are looking for in a model car, then a model sports car is almost certainly what you are looking for. Authentic size sports cars are a $4.5 billion industry with about 55,000 units being purchased each year.

Sports cars and their model counterparts are manufactured as high performance machines, which means that they can be driven in ways that normal assembly line cars can not. For example, in the case of a real sports car, it frequently takes no more than five seconds to go from 0 to 100 mph. Likewise in a model high performance gas replica, it often takes no more than two seconds to reach 60 mph from a dead start.

Because it is more tricky to maneuver a speeding vehicle, sports cars and model sports cars are especially designed to handle best at high speeds. In deed, the word “sporty” was coined to refer to a sleek but robust design that exudes power. It was later personified to refer to the person behind the wheel or in the modelling world, the person at the remote controls.

The following is a basic glossary of sports car terminology and a basic directory of sports car manufacturers (many of which have their counterpart vehicles in the world of model gas remote control vehicles).

- FF ? front engine, front wheel drive. The FF layout has a medium capability for high speed handling and is seen in some models such as the Fiat Coup?, and the Lotus Elan M100.

- FR – front engine, rear wheel drive Considered the ?classic? sports car design, the engine drives the rear wheels but keeps the weight off the back. The FR is good at drifting corners while still maintaining control. Mercedes-Benz is recognized for using this layout for its models.

- RR ? rear engine, rear wheel drive With the engine at the back powering the rear wheels, weight placement on a RR layout provides outstanding traction for a car. However, without auxiliary driving aids like stability control, handling becomes arduous. These days, the only maker who retains the RR layout for its vehicles is Porche.

AWD – all wheel drive An AWD design offers the easiest handling, making it perfect for those who are just starting to race sports cars. Audi started the widespread use of this technique with the Quattro. Japanese makers like Mitsubishi employed this layout to increase handling, making it an excellent rally car.

Because of more stringent regulations in the United States, sports car manufacturers are more prevalent in Europe than in America. Nonetheless, American brands are in equal competition with their European and Asian counterparts. Some recognized manufacturers and models are:

Alfa Romeo; Alpine; Aston Martin; Austin-Healey; BMW; Bugatti; Caterham; Davrian; De Lorean; Ferrari; Fisker; Jaguar; Koenigsegg; Lamborghini; Lotus; McLaren; Maserati; MG; Morgan; Panoz; Porsche; Triumph; TVR; Vector.

If this article has whetted your appetite for a sports car, go out and buy one now, if you are well-off. If not, why not do the next best thing and get yourself a 1:8 or even a 1:5 petrol-powered, remote-controlled sports car?

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the petrol remote control car. If you have an interest in model or toy rc vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

categories: cars,rc,radio,kids and teens,remote control,entertainment,sport,models,toys,vehicles,autos and trucks,product reviews,outdoor,other

Tamiya RC Cars

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Tamiya is a firm well-known for producing first-rate miniatures of vehicles. They are famous today for introducing the world to the sport of mini 4WD racing. However, what many people do not know, is that Tamiya also introduced the world to RC (remote controlled or radio controlled) cars. The Tamiya RC car line-up has a quantity of models that show the excellence of the firm’s skill in model design.

Here are some of the Tamiya RC model cars available today:

Nitro Crusher – This Tamiya RC car has a mighty FS-15S engine that incorporates a large diameter slide carburetor to fulfill your need for speed. The engine also has a precise braking system that guarantees operational safety. This RC car can also fulfill your need for power because it comes in the appearance of a monster truck.

You can drive through all sorts of territory as effortlessly as if you were driving on the roadway. This RC car has a variety of points that permit it to cruise through special kinds of terrain. It has extra-large tires that are perfect for dealing with mud, sand and rocks. It also features a frontal impact control system that permits you to enjoy steady running no matter what hazards you encounter.

Mini cooper – If you do not know what a Mini Cooper is, consider Mr. Bean’s much-loved car. This radio controlled car is based on that small-but-awesome car of the 1960′s. The Mini Cooper is renowned for its small size and powerful performance. In fact, the Mini Cooper even raced tremendously well in events like the World Rally Championships.

This Tamiya RC car features an M-03 chassis that is especially intended to be as fast as possible. The double wishbone suspension also ensures the stability and first-rate handling of the vehicle. This model is an electric RC car, which means that the batteries add a lot of weight. However, a hole cut into the chassis guarantees that this RC auto can still run very well regardless of its weight.

Subaru Impreza WRC Monte Carlo – This RC car is designed for the latest kind of racing. This Tamiya RC car is intended to drift. The chassis of this RC vehicle, the TT-01D, is built from lightweight materials and has been specifically constructed to have a low center of gravity. This means that this Tamiya RC car will not roll over if you attempt to “drift” it.

What are the benefits of drift racing? Well, during normal bends, there is a tendency for vehicles to lose velocity. By drifting, the car can maintain the optimum speed and precision control. Nevertheless, there is always the opportunity of something going wrong, which is the reason for Tamiya’s excellent engineering.

XBG Nitro Force – Capable of mind-boggling high speeds, this car is unquestionably a power to be reckoned with. Powered by a precision FR-S glow engine, this car uses a recoil starter for clean starting every time. This Tamiya RC model also boasts of a strengthened resin frame chassis with a low center of gravity, making it extra stable during fast driving.

This Tamiya RC car also features a very aerodynamic frame, making sure that the airstream will not adversely affect your desire for speed. All in all, if you want a Tamiya RC car that will satisfy your desire for speed and excitement, this is the car that you should be getting.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with 1:5 scale RC cars. If you would like to know more about these monster 1/5 scale rc cars, please click the link to our website now.

categories: rc,radio,kids and teens,family,entertainment,sport,models,toys,vehicles,autos and trucks,product reviews,outdoor,other

Remote Control Car Reviews

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

I have read loads of reviews about remote control cars, because I am a subscriber to a remote control car enthusiasts’ magazine that carries articles about all the different kinds of remote control gas cars on the market. It also recommends the best one to acquire depending on whether you are a first time owner or an RC old hand. The magazine is great, and it helps me see what other RC car owners feel about the different models and brands of RC cars and trucks.

I have to say that people’s views vary quite widely on every subject, which is why it’s probably always best to do your own studying and get what best suits you, rather than getting what other people say will suit you, when they do not even know you. Having said that, many first time buyers do not really know what they are looking for, and it is really these people that these reports are written for.

However, these reviews are not meant to be taken too factually, rather they are meant as a guideline so that prospective greenhorn purchasers have to think about the aspects of buying a remote control gas car or truck. It also gives experts a run down of the salient details. Then you need to make up your own mind whether you care, for instance, whether the car’s engine runs on gas or nitro.

All in all, I like this magazine because it takes into account people from all walks of life, and its writers and editor appreciate that even if you are interested in purchasing a gas remote control car, you may not have enough money or you might be reading just out of interest in RC cars or trucks.

We all realize that money is difficult to come by these days, and purchasers are becoming more and more well-informed about the goods they want, which is a good thing in my view. After all, there are other merchants who just desire to get the most money they can for their products and mark up their RC model car prices to excessive amounts in the hope that they will get a couple of stupid customers that did not do their research.

And I am sure that they probably do get a few customers like that, because they do stay in business one way or another and I regularly hear horror stories about individuals who have paid far too much for their RC gas car or truck.

When you ask them why they did not take the time to read the reviews in a magazine, they usually say that they did not know about the magazines, or even worse, that they did not have sufficient time. Therefore it seems that they had enough time to work like a dog for the money, but then not enough time to read a short magazine review? I doubt it very much. With a bit of luck, consumers will continue becoming more and more cautious about their purchases.

It is such a pity, so, If you happen to be a new RC car enthusiast, or you know someone who is, please make sure you read the remote control car and truck reviews before concluding a purchase. It can literally save you hundreds of your hard earned dollars.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the remote control-gas-car. If you have an interest in model or toy rc vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

categories: reviews,rc,radio,kids and teens,remote cotrol,entertainment,sport,models,toys,vehicles,autos and trucks,product reviews,outdoor,other

Radio Controlled Autos – An Enjoyable Pastime

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

If someone likes radio controlled hobbies, they almost certainly started with a car. This is because, unlike a boat or a plane, vehicles will not usually be completely destroyed if the operator makes a big mistake or the engine fails. It is fairly straightforward to construct a basic radio controlled car, but as you are doing it, you will realize that there is a vast amount to be learned.

As you gain this knowledge, you can make use of superior techniques to create cars that are tougher, faster and more efficient than your previous efforts. You can either throw one together in a few days, or you can spend months creating an astonishing car which has superb speed and handling.

If you are just starting out with remote controlled hobbies, it is almost certainly wise to buy a pre-made, RTR (ready-to-run) radio controlled car. It is possible to purchase these in toy or modeling stores almost anywhere. They may be slow and ungainly and they may not satisfy your technological desires, but they are still a good place to begin. Play with it for a few days, and then take it apart. Look at the way the motors are connected to the wheels, and examine the overall architecture of the car.

After you have grasped it all, you will have much better picture when you begin to build your own. You may even be able to utilize a few bits and pieces, such as the shell of the vehicle or the radio control apparatus. The motors will probably not be as powerful as you will desire.

After you have acquired this essential basic knowledge of the way that radio controlled vehicles work, you can start with whatever your next project is going to be. The goal for most people is to build a model car from wood or plastic, put in the electrical components, paint it, apply decals, and get it looking as good and performing as well as possible. Others may want to build an extremely fast remote controlled auto in order to show off to friends. But no matter what you want to do, you will only be able to accomplish it, if you take it one small step at a time and become skilled at everything there is to know about remote controlled pastimes.

However, there are many different means that can help you become an expert in remote controlled hobbies. You will almost certainly spend a great deal of time reading about all the different data that you need. You can find information and even tutorials on the Internet. For more specific questions, you could always go to community groups and forums. This is where people from all over the world meet together on the Internet to discuss their hobby, assist each other, and brag about their latest accomplishments. These groups welcome newcomers, especially if you are polite when posing your question.

Remote controlled vehicles can also enter competitions. If you want to put your car up against those of other enthusiasts, there are different races and shows around the world. A quick Internet search will reveal where nearest event is. You could make a weekend trip out of it and it will be worth it to be around others who are as obsessive as you about what you are doing. These events may include races, or they may just be a get-together to share tips and tricks with other radio enthusiasts. You will be amazed at the amount of information that you can acquire from the people who go to these dos.

It may be daunting at first to start a new hobby, since there is probably heaps of stuff that you probably know nothing about. However, the best thing to do is just get started with the basics and learn steadily.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with gas remote control cars. If you have an interest in model or toy rc vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

Remote Control Models – The Helicopter

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

If you like remote controlled models and have lots of space, then you might want to think about purchasing one of the new large remote control helicopters that have recently been introduced by several makes. These helicopters, which can sometimes be as big as ten feet long, rival real helicopters in agility. They are expensive and can set you back three thousand dollars or more.

As with many fads, some people just have to possess one of their own. So, the next time you are walking in the park and you see a helicopter flying around, look again closely. At first you will probably think that it is a real helicopter that is just further away then you first thought. But look again and you will almost certainly see someone controlling the helicopter with a huge remote control unit.

If you see one of these remote controlled helicopters in flight, consider yourself very lucky. Because it is so expensive to own one of these beautiful models, they are also still pretty uncommon. However, because I am an ardent collector myself, I have thought about buying one of these big remote control helicopters, and I even put a bid on one in Ebay once, but in the end I did not get it and instead decided to wait until the cost comes down a bit more.

Just as with any new, trendy item, big remote control helicopters are the latest fad, but in a few years, I am sure there will be a better supply and the price will fall. Then I will be ready and waiting to buy. But until then, I have a very bighearted and rich friend who owns one, and I will rehearse flying his. I have already taken it out once – it is so much more powerful than the normal, small remote control helicopters that you are most likely used to. When you first turn it on, the big remote control helicopter?s rotors spin with such ferociousness, that you may worry that you are going to break something. and then, when it lifts off the ground, you will experience a huge sense of achievement, knowing that you are the one who is controlling it.

And if you are able to make a successful, smooth landing as well, then you can truthfully consider yourself a helicopter pilot, because even those very experienced with small remote control helicopters will be impressed to see someone land a big remote control helicopter, because it truly is completely different. So if you happen to be lucky, well-off, or just determined enough to purchase one of your own, take pleasure in your time with your giant helicopter.

I assure you that it will be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. For me, the entire process was surreal, and when it was all over, I had to call everyone I knew and tell them how I had flown a 10 foot helicopter and landed it smoothly. I bet that?s how pilots feel the first time they fly a real aircraft.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with remote controlled trucks. If you have an interest in model or toy rc vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars

categories: rc,radio,kids and teens,family,entertainment,sport,models,toys,vehicles,autos and trucks,product reviews,outdoor,other