I know, you already have a short course RC racing truck. Your Associates SC8 is still performing at a high level and you win your share of racing events with this short course racing demon. Short course off road racing is some of the most nerve racking and competitive off road racing you can experience. There are 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive classes that can feature over 800 HP in each truck. These RC trucks have unbelievable horsepower with an extreme long travel suspension that allows drivers to hit the peak jumps with bumper and fender smashing action that’s, well lets say filled with adrenaline. Here is the problem; your kid is 11 years old now and very excited about joining your RC short course racing events. What RC short course racing truck will give you and your son a mean appearance and top performance for your buck? Well, here is my answer! How about a Traxxas RC Slash? With its authentic appearance it can jam with the best short course RC racers and has an affordable price. Great credentials as well, The RC Slash was selected by RC car magazine as one of its “Editors’ 10 Best” award winners, and Model Retailer magazine named Slash its “Product of the Year.” These are only a few of the accolades’ that this bad boy has garnered, Readers choice awards and more.
The Slash is one of my favorites from Traxxas RC trucks with both two-wheel and four wheel drive. The new RC Slash 4×4 is at the top of my list. It has an all-new rigid chassis, new body, Velineon 3500 brushless motor, it’s equipped with 2.4 GHz waterproof electronics, anodized aluminum driveshaft, long-travel suspension, high ground clearance, precise bellcrank steering, and licensed BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A tires that makes it look great. According to Traxxas the new Slash 4×4 will do over 40 mph with the included 3000mAh 7-cell battery pack and over 80 mph if you Power Up to the Mamba Monster. Check it out and get your kid started on the right track to success!
When asked, I recommend Coaxial RC helicopters for beginners or as I phase it, new comers to the RC helicopter hobby. With Coaxial RC helicopters, it is possible for a beginning helicopter pilot to start a new hobby and control cost while developing great flying skills almost immediately. Conventional RC helicopter are know for wild out of control spinning. They are inherently unstable due to the airflow that’s produced by the main rotor. RC helicopter have a tendency to try to turn in a counter direction. This is corrected by the rotation of the tail rotor. The difficulty comes when trying to maintain a balance between the pair of main rotor and tail rotor. It takes practice skill and training if you can find an experience RC helicopter pilot. This can be a trying task the first time around but there is a great solution for those new to this great RC hobby.
Today, many RC helicopters come equipped with coaxial rotors that are sometimes called the dual-rotor rotation solution. The two rotors rotate in opposite directions to counteract the torque and the tendency of the helicopter to try to turn in the opposite direction of the rotors. This aids in maintaining relative stability which makes the coax RC helicopters a great choice for beginners. The inherent stability of the coaxial helicopters makes it possible for beginners to begin training for successful flight, right out of the box. With a little practice you will build your confidence and settle in for many great RC helicopter adventures. Just think as a first time RC helicopter pilot you can get all the pleasure of flying your new RC model without prior training or going through a prolonged learning experience. There is no doubt; coaxial RC helicopters are the best choice for anyone looking to buy their first RC helicopter. The ease of flying your RC model as a beginner, whether indoors or out, will guarantee you a great experience. Ready, standby, liftoff!
Making my first choice of a first RC airplane was really fun but I was aware that this could be a difficult task and something to be taken very seriously. While not filled with dramatics, hopefully my research will be filled with good advice for new RC airplane hobbyist. I tried not to get myself too hyped and guarded my actions to keep me from running out and buying the first airplane that looked cool without understanding it features. Remember that choosing a RC airplane can be a simple process of research but recognizing your skill level is the key to enjoying your RC airplane journey. Having no experience, I chose a basic, beginner-oriented RC airplane plane, because anything more complex would ruin my RC airplane adventures. Like most new RC airplane hobbyist, I wanted to fly a sharp looking airplane plane with the capability to do all sorts of wonderful tricks and maneuvers. Yet being realistic, I knew that something smaller with less capability was the best way to go for enjoyment and success. Here are the things too consider for a Beginners RC Airplane:
(RTF) Ready to Fly RC Airplane Kits:
RTF RC airplanes are just about ready to go straight out of the box; you will probably have to attach the wings and tail, but since it was intended to be easily constructed there is nothing overly technical about getting it together. There are (ARF) Almost Ready To Fly RC airplane kits, but unless you are really sharp on physically building RC airplanes or adding your own special components to it, I would suggest that you start out with a RTF RC airplane kit.
Electric Powered RC Airplanes:
Electric powered RC airplanes are less expensive than gas powered RC airplanes. Just charge up the batteries, turning it on and you are ready to fly. Gas RC airplanes require special fuel, and it’s more difficult to maintain and fly. This is the primary reason why electric RC airplanes are a better choice for beginners.
Slow Speed RC Airplanes:
RC airplanes that travel at slower speeds are r easier to correct in flight, saving you the horror of veering off course and crashing into who knows what. You get more time to think and find out which control does what.
Choosing 2 or 3 channels RC airplane controls:
Get less with respect to the number of channels you consider for your RC airplane kit. Each channel controls a certain directional movement of the plane. 2 channels will allow you to control altitude (up and down) as well as turning to either side. 3 channels include the first two but also allow you to control the throttle or the speed your plane is travelling. RC airplanes also come with 4 channels, but as a beginner, stay with less and enjoy your flying time more. 3 channels should be adequate and more than enough to keep you on your toes.
RC Airplane Anti-Crash Technology:
There is a wonderful Hobby Zone invention that beeps as soon as its sensors detect that the plane is diving dangerously or out of control. The system takes control and adjusts the plane’s altitude giving time to regain control and avoid that big crash. It’s a great feature when you’re a beginning RC flyer and your reaction time has not been tested.
Your first consideration should be your budget or the amount of money you are willing to spend in pursuit of your new found RC hobby. Your first RC airplane does not have to be top of the line expensive and you will want to look into the cost of replacement parts. There will be hard landings and crash at some point so be prepared. If you can, go to a RC flying field and get some help. This will increase your chance of success. After you gain experience start shopping for an RC airplane upgrade. Hope this helps. Blue skies and happy flying!
As I left my favorite Chinese Restaurant, I heard and saw a wonderful RC truck bashing event was beginning to unfold. I rushed to observe the happening and noted that it involved one of my favorite RC trucks, the Traxxxas Revo 3.3. Along with a gathering crowd, I made it closer to the action. The event was taking place in an empty shopping center parking lot with grooves and dips that transitioned into smooth surfaces and up hill grades. I checked out the Traxxas Revo 3.3 nitro’s involved and knew that this was going to be exciting. What a wonderful performance the four Revo’s gave us. With top speeds of up to 45 mph the tough Traxxas Revo 3.3 demonstrated its capacity to awe the crowd with a great performance. The run was about 50 yards which caused a momentary lost of view at some points and routes that would challenge the best RC truck drivers. What a joy to behold as the drivers delivered with sights, sounds and unbelievable action that lasted about 45 minutes. At the end, the crowd exploded with cheers and applauses. What a show! I admire RC Racers, because of their skills and creativity for finding a place to race their RC jewels.
The Traxxxas Revo 3.3 nitro is a very durable and stable RC truck with all the power and toughness you will need for an exciting day of RC racing or bashing. The Traxxas Revo 3.3, can handle the tough runs and still maintain fantastic speeds of over 45 mph. We are talking about a RC truck that will set the standard for RC truck experiences for years to come. I’ve bashed the Revo, taken jumps crashed it and it still works! It is the best all around RC truck on the market in my opinion. The RC nitro Revo has an additional 30 mm of chassis length to provide additional support around the engine mount. This longer wheelbase is combined with installed progressive 2 suspension rockers to stabilize the vehicle. The great stability along with the tough mud tires are what you need if you need to run hard on the roughest track or terrain. The Traxxas Revo 3.3 offers one-handed operation with a complete on-board, push-button electric starting system. The Traxxas EZ-Start system lights your glow plug and starts the engine quickly and smoothly with the push of a button. I am convinced that the Traxxas Revo 3.3 nitro is a very versatile RC monster truck that can handle any RC truck task with ease! Especially empty parking lots!
Finally, spring has arrived and RC boating season has begun. RC boating you say? Yes, RC boating! RC boating is not for everyone but it is growing in popularity with RC hobbyist as technology continues to make RC boats more reliable, easer to operate with more choices available than ever before. We had beautiful weather yesterday, with little wind so, I decided to go out and run on the lake with my RC boats. During these long winter months, I have done the proper maintenance, see http://www.rc-carsinfogarage.com/rc/498-caring-for-your-rc-boats/ and replaced or upgraded some of the batteries. This made any break in the weather welcomed for some long awaited check out runs. What a day, all boat systems were functioning properly and I had a chance to show of a bit with my Aquacraft Super Vee 27 RC (vee hull) RTR and Traxxas Villain EX RC electric race boat. With the admiration came questions and one that I was trilled to answer since, I love talking RC. The question, what are your favorite RC boats?As I reflected over the years of RC boating enjoyment, it was easy to conclude that today’s RC boats have to be among my favorite choices. Ok, here we go.
Aquacraft Super Vee 27 (vee hull) RTR= Brushless electric. Out of the box it will run 30+ mph. comes with Grimracer hardware. With a few modifications, new prop and good batteries and a scuffed hull bottom) you can reach a speed of 40+ mph.
Aquacraft Miss Vegas Hydro (Hydro boat style hull) RTR = Nitro boat. The U-18 get’s you ready race-ready fast and delivers mind blowing speed and style! Aquacraft makes it also comes with Grimracer hardware.
Traxxas Villian (Vee hull) RTR = Brushed electric. Ok boat from what I’ve heard but it nowhere near as fast as the SV 27. Twin motors that are counter rotating so the boat is pretty stable.
Aquacraft Nitro Hammer (vee hull) RTR = haven’t heard any reviews only people sarcastically talking about this boat, whatever they mean by it? I don’t think this is faster than the SV 27? Aquacraft makes this boat;
For what it’s worth, these are my selections; I hope this helps you in your search for an RC boat. Remember these are hobby grade boats that demands your attention. If you are looking for a toy RC boat, then these recommendations are not for you. Go to a toy store and buy a plastic boat that looks like a Fountain or Donzi? You’ll still be at or below your budget and have a boat that looks good. Not fast though. I not trying to discourage you, I am just relaying some real time facts.
So you purchased that fine RC airplane car, boat, helicopter or whatever with LiPo batteries. What about the RC battery charger? Batteries can only last so long and replacements are costly. RC hobbyists like me, who own a variety of RC vehicles, are constantly required to recharge multiple types of RC batteries. To make this a productive and safe endeavor a quality RC multi function battery charger can be one of the most important items in our pool of accessories. Just think we spend a lot of money buying RC batteries and battery packs, so it is reasonable to expect that we will do our best to take care of them with proper charging for higher performance and a longer life span. After all, when we are ready to go, battery power should not be our major concern. RC battery chargers are often taken for granted and most new comers will buy the charger recommended by a friend or sales person without doing any homework. This will cause them to purchase a charger that does not meet their needs and leave out some important features that are available on today’s robust multi function chargers. Purchasing a quality multi function charger is an investment for years of enjoyment and fun with your RC hobby vehicles, so don’t take it for granted. LiPo and various forms of lithium chemistry such as LiFe, and lithium ion, are very popular so good lithium battery charging & balancing support will make or break a good multi function charger. The first considerations when buying your multi function charger is how much power it can deliver and maximum cell count it will support. Most good RC multi function battery chargers support at least 6S LiPo cell counts and up to 15 or more NiCad, NIMH celled packs.
For the last year or so, I have used the Venom Pro charger/w/Power Supply and found it to be a great asset for charging all of my RC batteries. They have been a bit hard to find but a few are available now. Here are a few notes on this quality charger that has a very reasonable price tag.
It is available in both DC and AC/DC power configurations (very important) so there are no limitations. This machine can handle charging, discharging, balancing (LiPO/LiON/LiFE cells), cycling and more!
If you have multiple kinds of RC vehicles and other battery charging needs, the Pro Charger is able to service multiple types of batteries.
This multi function Pro Charger as a stand alone charger can handles five different kinds of batteries; NiCD, NiMH, LiPO, LiON/LiFE ,Lead Acid batteries and a whopping one to fifteen cells for NiCD and NiMH batteries.
This charging system allows users to define charge rates from 0.1 amps to 5.0 amps depending on what they need and also allows the user to create up to ten different charger profiles with a USB PC connection.
That’s my take. Check out a RC multi function charger and keep your RC vehicles batteries powered and ready for your next big RC adventure! Zoooooooom!
Finally, a small break in the weather and a great day to head out to our local RC airfield. The time had come to fly my new HPI 456MB Delta Twin RC Jet airplane. I have been waiting all winter for this opportunity and was totally pumped. I was greeted at the airfield by an old friend who is considered to be an expert in flying RC jet airplanes and since this was my first RC jet, help was in order and welcomed. The Delta twin model I purchased was RTF brushless, so there was nothing to do but review the manual, checkout the engine, connectors and control transmitter and we were ready to fly. Taking the transmitter, my friend instructed me in the skills required of flying a RC Jet airplane. You should have been there to see this baby perform. Getting altitude, dives, loops rolls the whole nine yards. Here is the best part, after a brief indoctrination, I was flying this RC Jet airplane alone and with great confidence. What a great combination, learning and flying!
A few tips before you run out and buy your own RC jet airplane
First, if you are a beginner just getting into RC jet airplanes, do your research and learn carefully about all the different models currently available for sale today. The knowledge you gain will help you make a informed decision. Your local RC airfield is a great place to start. Experienced RC pilots will greet you with a warm welcome and answer your questions about this exciting hobby.
Don’t try to buy the fastest and most expensive RC Jet airplane out there. You can get a wonderful RC jet airplane for under $150. Like any other RC hobby, learn the basics first and when you are comfortable with the high speeds you will be able to progress. Radio controlled jets are fast and can fly at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour. You will need good reactions to maintain control. Beginning pilot thinking of flying a fast radio controlled plane should start off with something a little slower.
RC jets airplanes come in many different sizes, different engine types and plane shapes. As you would expect one of the most popular choices is the RC jet fighter airplane. You can get the popular ducted fan RC jets that are easy to fly in comparison to the other types. Ducted fan jets are safer to use since, both the propeller and engine are tucked away inside a duct out of harms way. Next would be the pusher versions. Pusher jets are a bit slower than the ducted fan jets and are easier to operate. This is your cheapest option. Pusher jets have their propeller right in the center of their backs and work in a simple way. The propeller pushes the RC jet through the air. So, even beginners can fly these RC jets and make the hard banking turns with unbelievably quick moves. Turbine ducted jets more challenging to fly. They use real jet fuel and will fly at incredibly fast speeds. They are the kings of the sky RC jets but you must have a great deal of experience to fly one. Turbine ducted RC jets are not planes for beginners; they can very quickly turn in to a lethal weapon if they get out of control!
Enjoy your RC Jet experience, what a thrill.
Trying to decide between a Brushed or Brushless RC Motor for your dream RC model? Making a big RC motor decision with price in mind? Well, this is an easy choice if you are talking about motors for hobby grade RC models. The two main types of RC electric motors are – Brushed and Brush less.
Brushed motors- have small contact brushes inside the motor to make it spin! This is what you will find in a lower hobby grade RC, like toy grade RC trucks. Most, but not all have replaceable brushes that can be fitted. Regularly cleanings are necessary since dust and debris will builds up inside and cause overheating. Brushless- motors in the RC hobby world are more popular now than ever before and offer more benefits with no brushes. There is much less friction and the motor produces less heat for faster and longer run times. Brush less motor can take more voltage than the brushed motor so speed and performance is greatly improved. Overheating becomes less of a problem and you will be less likely to burn out the motor. Brush less is worth the extra cash outlay but you will save in the long run. Now, go get your prized RC.
The Traxxas RC Summit is back. If you have been looking for one there has been a change, expect a slight price increase but here is the good news, they now come with 2 Batteries & 2.4 GHz TQ Radio. Had a chance to see one last week, and it was awesome and gained my respect? The Summit is an all-around great RC truck. It is not a speed demon, but the fact that it can go over just about anything makes it worth it. You can upgrade the motors and such, but I have other trucks that go fast and nothing I own or have ever owned can do everything that this truck can. The locking diffs, and selectable 2 speed tranny are genius. The lights are built into the bumpers rather than the body, pretty clever. No pesky wires to deal with that way. I’m not sure how competitive the RC Summit will be in comparison to other RC crawlers, but this thing would be a no brainer for your average backyard basher.
For those who wonder if it is worth it, I have to say yes and no. It is expensive, but so are tickets to a ball game, golf clubs, new shoes, or anything else that you know in your heart isn’t justified by the cost. Decide for yourself and enjoy. The great thing about the Traxxas Summit RC truck is that you own it and the fun lasts a lot longer than 3 hours. If you have to sell it, the resale value is pretty strong as well. Most vehicles I see don’t resale as well as the Summit does. Enjoy!
Check out XTM’s new Rage brushless1/18 RC truck. I don’t own a 1/18 scale RC truck, so when an opportunity presented itself for me to see and handle this little monster in action, I could not resist. This small or mini RC Truck is faster than a bunny, (top speed of over 35 mph), with a killer look and profile about it. Standing only 4 inches tall with full-functions, I was surprised at the way it can handle high-speed turns and mini off-road tracks. The owner, a close friend commented “It a Blass… I had never owned a brushless RC before now… It blows my mind”
The brushless version comes (RTR) and includes cast aluminum knuckles and upper suspension mounts so you can push this mini RTR truck to the limit. I have not seen the RC 18 in action but I hear it runs between 17-20mph which is pretty quick for a 18th scale RC truck. The Mini Rage comes stock with brushless but not lipo! The only issue I encountered was turning down the power output compared to other setups; I totally rolled it a few times. The aftermarket support for the RC 18 seems strong, which gives you the opportunity to change anything on the truck and parts come pretty cheap. Overall this small RC truck is so much fun to control and run, I am sure that it will adapt to your favorite RC track or off-road adventures.