RC cars

Andybtsn said:
Can anyone recommend a petrol kit to completely build? I had a buggy about 8 years ago and I got more enjoyment building it than actually racing the thing around, my kids are at an age where they would love it too. They're petrified of my drone mind!

I'm not sure if they were recommended but I had an FTX Carnage a couple of years back, really great fun and fast but the waterproof element is a massive factor, even light dew on grass and they will burn out unfortunately, living in England means I would go all out for something waterproof.
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Not really a lot of 1/5 scale kits but this one springs to mind
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-baja-5b-ss-buggy-kit/rc-car-products/380700
looks like you need radio gear with it too
Cheers
Dave
 
hornetstinger said:
when storing lipo you should not discharge them. I believe 80% charge then store.
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Please quote fully next time to avoid taking things out of context.

Do you even own any RC products or is this what the internet told you?

So if a lipo has been fully charged and then not used on an outing how does one store it then safely for a period of time without discharging.
 
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hornetstinger said:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_store_batteries

  • Lithium-ion must be stored in a charged state, ideally at 40 percent. This prevents the battery from dropping below 2.50V/cell, triggering sleep mode.
  • Discard Li-ion if kept below 2.00/V/cell for more than a week. Also discard if the voltage does not recover normally after storage. (See BU-802b: What does Elevated Self-discharge do?
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Aye OK you store your lipos at '40 percent', good look with that.
 
Jase said:
Which way and where do you store them? or do you think it's just a few horrow stories.... time is running out for me to order for the weekend, have to do it tomorrow but seriously being put off by the horror stories now.
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Most/all decent chargers have a storage charge option. Preferences vary from around c3.8v per cell and 60-80% capacity.

It is worth checking the cells every few weeks on the charger battery test function.

Physically storing them in a tin/lipo bag in the garage or our concrete pre fab shed at the bottom of the garden works for me. I bubble wrap the outside of the box for insulation in winter.

If you are un sure, get on the modelsport / tamiyaclub forums and read up. These are UK based forums and will give friendly advice if you can't find an existing thread to assist.

As for which batteries and chargers, I use these chargers https://www.modelsport.co.uk/core-rc-uac50-charger-12v-110-240v-6a/rc-car-products/365880 (as you get all the connectors)

For a battery these or similar are ok https://www.modelsport.co.uk/peak-power-plant-lipo-2s-7.4v-4000mah-45c-deans/rc-car-products/405505
 
I just charge and use - 4500 or 5200 etc at 5 amps. Depending on what car I'm running I like to get 2/3 runs in between charges. Indoors on a tight ish carpet track I can get 3 runs out of a 4500 shorty. 10.5t blinky. 2 runs outside 8.5t stock with a little ESC timing.

Never discharge, never storage charge and my batteries are up to 5 years old.

Never had a lipo pop and none of my cases have expanded. I've seen them go in cars a few times though. Due to poor wiring rather than just spontaneous combustion.

I keep mine in a plastic tub - I have been meaning to go to the army surplus place and buy an ammo box. Might pop out now and look for one.

All my batteries are from Hobbyking and I use dual charger which is branded Overlander - this charger has a few different brand names.

BRCA recently announced that all drive batteries must be hard cased. Just bashing about I guess you're fine but if you want to race a BRCA club it's hardcases only. I have 2 soft cases which I use in my crawler.
 
EddScott said:
I just charge and use - 4500 or 5200 etc at 5 amps. Depending on what car I'm running I like to get 2/3 runs in between charges. Indoors on a tight ish carpet track I can get 3 runs out of a 4500 shorty. 10.5t blinky. 2 runs outside 8.5t stock with a little ESC timing.

Never discharge, never storage charge and my batteries are up to 5 years old.

Never had a lipo pop and none of my cases have expanded. I've seen them go in cars a few times though. Due to poor wiring rather than just spontaneous combustion.

I keep mine in a plastic tub - I have been meaning to go to the army surplus place and buy an ammo box. Might pop out now and look for one.

All my batteries are from Hobbyking and I use dual charger which is branded Overlander - this charger has a few different brand names.

BRCA recently announced that all drive batteries must be hard cased. Just bashing about I guess you're fine but if you want to race a BRCA club it's hardcases only. I have 2 soft cases which I use in my crawler.
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I know you're in (or was) in my part of the country, where do you use your cars? I'm really striggling at the moment to decide what I want and I had hoped to get something for the weekend, looks like it will be next week now :( Think a 4WD truggy will be my best option but really fancy a buggy. Had originally thought an E Revo just didnt realise how bug they were.

I used to use my Jato in Withbush or Carew but not sure if they are still options. There was a club over in carew but only raced indoor track cars.

A mate on mine picked up an Ammo box for me which I'll collect on the weekend.
 
Jase said:
There was a club over in carew but only raced indoor track cars.
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Saundersfoot Model Car Club :)

We race touring cars, rally cars and short course trucks on Wednesday evenings in Carew market. I would imagine Jato would be fairly horrible on the surface in Carew.

I race touring cars as short course and rally cars let you hooligan around I want the smooth discipline of touring cars as it helps with racing buggies indoors. We have a winter season championship but it's only run in Caldicot. It's a trek from Pembs but very well attended and fully booked well in advance 1/10 2&4 buggies, Micro and Vintage classes. Outdoor championship starts in April (1/10 2&4 buggies and probably Vintage) with ours being the first meeting - we have a really nice outdoor track and probably the most space out of all the clubs in South and West Wales.

Personally, if you wanted to race and don't want to run (T)Boring Cars :) I would look at a rally car. You could still use it for bashing but would still be able to race it. Do an ebay search "Team Associated Pro Rally" there's 3 on there at the moment. If you buy 2nd hand at least you don't take a big hit if you lose interest and sell up.
 
Jase said:
I know you're in (or was) in my part of the country, where do you use your cars? I'm really striggling at the moment to decide what I want and I had hoped to get something for the weekend, looks like it will be next week now :( Think a 4WD truggy will be my best option but really fancy a buggy. Had originally thought an E Revo just didnt realise how bug they were.

I used to use my Jato in Withbush or Carew but not sure if they are still options. There was a club over in carew but only raced indoor track cars.

A mate on mine picked up an Ammo box for me which I'll collect on the weekend.
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How much do you really want to spend?

If you are planning on racing there are limited opportunities these days and unless you are into touring car or a casual stock series (Tamiya are always still popular for this) you will need to look at a short course truck, buggy or rally car for off road.

It seems to be a dying hobby sadly.

A number of the big brands aren't as widely supported as they used to be. HPI have had distribution issues in the EU and UK for example.

By the time you are kitted out with batteries and chargers etc the upper end Traxxas rtrs like the 4x4 vxl variants or e revo will set you back £400-£800.

A great option is the tamiya XV-01 rally car.

This holds its own against the competition as they are made from the frp rather than usual Tamiya plastic. Bargain on these at the moment if you want the Subaru at timetunnelmodels as you can select upgrades to the bundle deal but the deal starts at £226. The lancia version is £210 kit only. You can upgrade to brushless or run a 3s lipo on the stock brushed motor with a Hobbywing quickrun 1060 ESC from modelsport and get very impressive performance for a relatively low outlay.

http://www.goldstarstockists.net/li...-bundle-radio-control-rc-car-kit-p-51102.html
 
EddScott said:
Saundersfoot Model Car Club :)

We race touring cars, rally cars and short course trucks on Wednesday evenings in Carew market. I would imagine Jato would be fairly horrible on the surface in Carew.

I race touring cars as short course and rally cars let you hooligan around I want the smooth discipline of touring cars as it helps with racing buggies indoors. We have a winter season championship but it's only run in Caldicot. It's a trek from Pembs but very well attended and fully booked well in advance 1/10 2&4 buggies, Micro and Vintage classes. Outdoor championship starts in April (1/10 2&4 buggies and probably Vintage) with ours being the first meeting - we have a really nice outdoor track and probably the most space out of all the clubs in South and West Wales.

Personally, if you wanted to race and don't want to run (T)Boring Cars :) I would look at a rally car. You could still use it for bashing but would still be able to race it. Do an ebay search "Team Associated Pro Rally" there's 3 on there at the moment. If you buy 2nd hand at least you don't take a big hit if you lose interest and sell up.
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I didn't realise that was Saundersfoot Model Club, I went there a few years ago and someone kindly sorted the Jato out when I was having issues. It of course wasn't really suitable for the indoor track you guys used.

Where is your outdoor track, is that at Carew as well? I guess it can only be used on club nights? that's what put me off getting just a track car as with my work I'm always on call and never know what nights I have free.

Those rally cars look pretty cool though, not a bad price either.
 
Scrutinize said:
How much do you really want to spend?

If you are planning on racing there are limited opportunities these days and unless you are into touring car or a casual stock series (Tamiya are always still popular for this) you will need to look at a short course truck, buggy or rally car for off road.

It seems to be a dying hobby sadly.

A number of the big brands aren't as widely supported as they used to be. HPI have had distribution issues in the EU and UK for example.

By the time you are kitted out with batteries and chargers etc the upper end Traxxas rtrs like the 4x4 vxl variants or e revo will set you back £400-£800.

A great option is the tamiya XV-01 rally car.

This holds its own against the competition as they are made from the frp rather than usual Tamiya plastic. Bargain on these at the moment if you want the Subaru at timetunnelmodels as you can select upgrades to the bundle deal but the deal starts at £226. The lancia version is £210 kit only. You can upgrade to brushless or run a 3s lipo on the stock brushed motor with a Hobbywing quickrun 1060 ESC from modelsport and get very impressive performance for a relatively low outlay.

http://www.goldstarstockists.net/li...-bundle-radio-control-rc-car-kit-p-51102.html
Click to expand...

I'm not planning on racing as such, just for a bit of fun etc. I didn't really have a budget as such but figure up to £500 for the car and then extras on top if I can get something decent for less all good :)
 
Jase said:
I'm not planning on racing as such, just for a bit of fun etc. I didn't really have a budget as such but figure up to £500 for the car and then extras on top if I can get something decent for less all good :)
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Great

At the top end, my money would go on one of the following.

Stampede 4x4 vxl 40mph on the 7cell NiMH or 60mph on 3s lipo

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/traxxas-stampede-4x4-vxl-id-rtr-tsm-blue-/rc-car-products/395378

Slash 4x4

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/traxxas-slash-4x4-brushless-rtr-oba-tsm-fox-/rc-car-products/394343

Arrma Nero 6s

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/arrma-nero-6s-edc-4wd-blx-monster-truck-rtr-blue/rc-car-products/403883

HPI Savage XL Flux

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-savage-xl-flux-rtr/rc-car-products/397409
 
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