RC kits for beginners

[Del]

I've wanted to build an RC car since I was a kid, but even as an adult with disposable income, the Tamiya kits are a little pricey.
I've had a look through the WPL thread, and they look interesting, but I'd really prefer a buggy.
Are there any companies that do kits for cars similar to the Hornet or Grasshopper, but a bit cheaper or is Tamiya's Rising Fighter about the best value that I'll get? I very much want it to be a kit rather than ready-built.

[Del]

I was hoping to come in under a ton for a kit and basic radio gear.
But then I thought if I spend that on some decent radio gear, and maybe £60-80 on a car, then I can buy more cars later, and just need a receiver for each one (seeing as I can only drive one at a time!).
The back garden is all paved and the driveway is concrete and gravel, so need a car that won't panic when it sees a bump, hence leaning towards buggies.

[gte86]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamiya-1-10-Rising-Fighter-Car-Kit-without-ESC-NIB-In-Stock-/203287505060?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

[gte86]

On one ebay bnib for 65 buy it now. Get yourself a cheap 2.4ghz transmitter and receiver, ball race bearings and brushless esc and motor.
Then let the bills rack up as you chase more speed and break it piece by piece and change the broken bits for pretty anodised bits

[gte86]

I've just got a goolrc 3ch transmitter and receiver from amazon for 38. I'll let you know if it's any good.
I ordered the same part for 25 pounds from a 'UK seller' on eBay. Unfortunately the Chinese gentleman in customer service neglected to post it but wanted positive feedback nevertheless

[Del]

It certainly looks like Tamiya are the best value for kits.
So the question then comes down to which car. Apart from styling, is there any real difference between any of the 2wd buggies?

[Soopahfly]

For a beginner? Definitely Tamiya. They've been at it so long that even a child could follow the instructions. However the Rising Fighter is a bit junky. My son has one and it feels so cheap and nasty.

There is an Absima AB3.4 Kit - www.modelsport.co.uk/absima-ab3-4-1-10-ep-buggy-4wd-kit-version/rc-car-products/437209

It's a more advanced build, the instructions are Chinglish but it's a much better buggy than the Rising Fighter.
The GoolRC Transmitter/Receiver are good value, in fact it's the same as my sons.
Personally, I like the DumboRC with gyro, helps straighten out faster cars. One of my crawlers use a FlySky 3ch setup, again all of it is peanuts compared to the old brands like Futaba.

China is really doing some interesting stuff in the RC Game, you can get good quality servos, transmitters/recievers etc for pennies now.

The cheaper Tamiya buggies, Grasshopper, Holiday Buggy, Rising Fighter, etc all have the same rough parts and behave muchly the same. Live rear axle, undamped suspension, bascally a more durable Argos RC Car.

Have a look at the TT02B chassis cars. You get wishbone suspension front and rear, oil filled suspension. Something like the Neo Scorcher.

[bricol]

If you've never driven an R/C car and will need to get used to left become right and viki verki when coming towards you, then you need something cheap and easy to get bits for - Tamiya in other words.

Or buy some cheap Argos type and learn which way to waggle the sticks (or is everything wheel and trigger now?) then go for speed with a kit. Just don't go all out for speed first - you simply won't be able to control it and wont enjoy it, and itll just gather dust in the attic/land on ebay.

As a teenager in the 80's I got a lot of enjoyment out of racing buggies.

[Adambt]

Good idea for a thread. I used to race at a local club as a teenager and had touring car, mini and a mardave. Plus off road stuff (I was quite spoilt looking back!). I sold it all once real cars came along and recently looked into getting back into it, but even with my past experience I find it a confusing world to break into again.

[steveg]

I've always like Tamiya stuff especially the more scale model cars but they were a bit flimsy. Not sure what later ones are like though to be honest. I've had Mardave Ministocks as well and the original ones are almost indestructible. Not sure what is available currently but Kamtech do a lot of interesting bodies for them. Not buggies as such though.

www.kamtec.co.uk/

[mr2fc]

Mar 4, 2021 10:32:21 GMT bricol said:

If you've never driven an R/C car and will need to get used to left become right and viki verki when coming towards you, then you need something cheap and easy to get bits for.

Best way to get used to the "left becoming right" thing is to imagine you're actually behind the steering wheel of the car.

When my house move and car purchase are sorted, and lockdown is over, I want to get back to touring car racing, if my local club is still going...

I think an XRAY would be nice to own (I had one when they were released, amazing quality)

[bmcnut]

When i started with RC many moons ago I had sticks. Id always found it difficult with the left becomming right thing. When I tried trigger and wheel I didnt like it at first, but then I found the trigger more 'natural' after being used to slot cars, and the wheel somehow makes the left becomming right thing alot easier to get used too than on sticks.

[bricol]

Never managed the swop to trigger and wheel - all mine are still sticks. I restarted a few years ago with the same gear as I last used in 1987,m including cells - when I started to suffer from wall impacts at indoor racing due to interference on the 27mHz stuff, I changed to the new fangled stuff, lipos, brushless etc - all the skill of gearing to get duration, keep heat manageable, while still being quick enough all gone - gear how you like, and just drive.

It did prove there are still an enormous number of people still shouting "marshall!" before they've even finished crashing, while being too busy to marshall themselves when its their turn - annoyed me then, annoys me now.

[Del]

Thanks for all the advice. I am completely new to RC, so I think the ‘Argos’ idea is a good one. There seems to be some well-regarded RTRs for less than £50, and even some of those seem to be upgradeable, so I think I’ll start there.
Not sure about sticks v wheel. Might have to pop along to the local model shop after lockdown, to see if I can try a couple out.

[astranaut]

I got a Tamiya Quick Drive Subaru for Xmas 97, that is what got me into RC, they take really hard knocks being more toy grade than hobby, I dug it out from my mums last week and bought a new battery, my 8 year old daughter loves it.

They can be had quite cheap, and have proportion throttle and steering.

[gte86]

Mar 4, 2021 20:27:30 GMT Del said:

Thanks for all the advice. I am completely new to RC, so I think the ‘Argos’ idea is a good one. There seems to be some well-regarded RTRs for less than £50, and even some of those seem to be upgradeable, so I think I’ll start there.
Not sure about sticks v wheel. Might have to pop along to the local model shop after lockdown, to see if I can try a couple out.

I've just noticed you live very close to me. I'm newport pagnell. I'll have mine up and running soon. When Boris says it's allowed you are more than welcome to have a go on mine.
It's a shame they have banned them from the BMX track at Willen

[Del]

I’ve moved since then but not far away, I’m in Roade now so will gladly take you up on that offer when we’re allowed!

[rapidyellow]

its something I think I would enjoy again after 30 odd years away, I only had cheap stuff back then, tamiya grasshopper [much modified by myself] and twin stick acoms kit, I did buy a tamiya boomerang but didnt get on with it.

but then I remember why I gave up, real cars came along, and at the time my cheap rc was costing the same to run in parts and time as my real car lol, so real car won.

used radio gear and electronics, and a new kit, Hmm

but great topic!

[mr2fc]

Had a chat with a mate who I used to race with about starting up again, partly started by a discussion about driving being less enjoyable recently, dodging all the ****s texting and facebooking there way along the roads.

Seeing as I can't make up my mind on a new car, maybe RC instead?

[gte86]

I struggle to think of places to take mine. There is a small bmx track at a local park but its always busy. I started to rebuild it about 3 months ago and I've only actually used it outside my house once. The rest of the time I'm waiting for parts