Introduction and Beginner's Guide to RC Cars and Trucks

TIPS

INTRODUCTION TO RC CARS

Welcome to the fun hobby of remote controlled cars, a hobby that will help us get away from the daily stress of life.

HAVING FUN WITH RADIO CONTROL CARS

Having been in this hobby for over 25 years (I started in the 70’s) I still find it fun. The idea of building a model car on your own, then seeing it run is something to experience. And whether you are just playing in your backyard, or race with friends, it’s all about having fun.

STARTING OUT

It is recommended that newcomers to the hobby start out with electric powered cars (see article on electric vs. gas cars). The ideal car would be a 1/10^th scale off road vehicle, which are generally durable and can be driven in rough roads or off road. Buy from manufacturers such as Tamiya, Associated, and Kyosho as they not only sell the cars, but also sell spare parts. Hops up parts are also available to improve your car’s speed and handling.

SPEED

For those of us who love speed, this hobby is a way of fulfilling this need in a safe manner. These "toy" cars can go from 0 – 60 mph in 3 seconds, and some have a top speed reaching 70 mph. And if speed is not enough then there is the fun of racing with several friends.

FULL CONTROL

These cars are fully proportional, meaning you can variably control the speed and the steering of the car. In essence, you have full control over the car. You can accelerate slowly, or accelerate quickly, brake hard, or brake softly. Full control means total freedom to run your car anywhere.

LOW COST

While the quality of the cars has been improving over the years, the prices have been dropping. When I started in the 70’s the cars were very heavy, slow, and were generally unreliable. Today even the basic entry-level cars are much faster, lighter, and durable than the best cars of the 70’s. You can get a good brand new complete kit for less than P 10,000. And if you look around, there are good bargains with second hand models, and a complete second hand kit can be as low as P 5,000 (including all needed equipment).