RC CAR QUIDE

RC Cars - The Difference between Electric, Gas Powered and Nitro RC

2009-06-28T21:52:00.001-07:00

RC cars are quickly moving from child's toy to adult's hobby. Remote control cars got their start in the mid 1960's and by the time the 1980's rolled around, the RC car craze was still going strong. Even today the hobby is slowly picking up followers and committed enthusiasts. Slow and steady wins the race and the same seems to be true in the RC car fan base. As the fan base is growing, so are the types of RC cars and technology. Electric, gas powered and nitro are three main types of RC cars.

Electric RC cars are powered by an assembled battery pack. These are the easiest of the RC cars to maintain and operate, making them the car of choice for the beginners of the hobby. Another advantage of the electric RC car is that little or no assembly is required. Just take it out of the box and you are ready to go. This is also the best type for the collector that lives in close quarters with their neighbors because it is the quietest of the bunch.

Gas Powered RC Cars are the next step up after you have mastered the electric RC car. Gas cars operate on a mixture of gasoline and oil. They are faster and a lot more realistic than electric vehicles. One big advantage of a gas powered RC car is that you never have to stop for a battery recharge. Along with these advantages, however, comes some cons. These cars are so realistic that they even smell and sound like real cars. This limits the user to where they can run their car because neighbors usually don't appreciate the noise and smell.

Nitro RC cars are typically for more advanced RC hobbyists. These vehicles are powered by nitro fuel which is a mixture of nitro methane, methanol and oil. Even though they have more power and more speed than electric powered cars, there are some disadvantages to them. These cars constantly have to be maintained, cleaned and tuned for optimal performance. However, serious RC enthusiasts find this level of maintenance well worth the trouble as opposed to constantly recharging batteries in electric RC cars.

RC cars have something for everyone. Whether you like to build or just race cars, you will never have a problem finding someone that shares your RC car passion. In fact, you should join a local club and ask members about the type of RC cars they like best. They can help you decide and perhaps even let you test drive some of their own cars.

Go to RC Cars and Nitro RC Cars to learn more about RC and how you can get your start in the hobby.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Electirc RC Cars for Fun and Excitement

2009-06-28T21:40:00.000-07:00

Electric RC cars and trucks are generally considered best for beginners, since even if you choose to build your own car, they tend to be simpler and easier than nitro cars. They�re also a great deal quieter and run much cleaner, meaning you�re less restricted by where you can run them. In terms of speed and power, they do have a great deal of pickup, though not as much as the nitro cars.

Electric RC cars use rechargeable battery packs to power their motor and steering, which are usually recharged from a 12-volt car battery or wall socket. Batteries run for about 5-10 minutes, depending on the type of engine your car has, and charging the battery usually takes 15-30 minutes. Because of this, it is strongly recommended you have at least two battery packs, to allow for quick replacement of the battery. This means your car can keep running while the other battery is recharging, giving the car more overall running time.

At first glance, getting started with an electric RC car can be much less expensive than a nitro vehicle. But there are other costs to consider as well, such as additional battery packs, a battery charger and other accessories that will add to the cost, making it closer to the price of a nitro car in the long run. Of course, this cost also depends on what kind of car you end up purchasing and what kind of battery pack it requires, as well as how often you run the car and the quality of the batteries you get. Though the initial outlay of cash can be steep, but you�ll want to get quality battery packs and a good charger to save replacing cheaper batteries.

The main reason electric RC�s are said to be easier than nitro is in the amount of maintenance and tuning their engines require. Though the care, maintenance and cost of battery packs is steep, it is still less trouble for the new driver than the air filters, tuning, fueling and various other engine parts that require attention on a nitro car. Instead, careful conditioning and proper storage of your battery packs will keep your electric RC running smoothly for years. Always consult your manufacturer�s instructions to make sure you�re getting the right battery packs for your car, and that you�re caring for them properly.

Easier and cleaner, electric RC cars and trucks offer the genuine racing experience to the beginner on an easy learning curve. Proper conditioning and maintenance of the car and its battery packs are still easier than the many parts and problems often associated with nitro RC�s. If you�re a beginner, or if you just want to get to the races, an electric RC can offer you the speed and fun you�re after for less work.

Also keep in mind that if you think you�d prefer an electric RC, but still want the experience of building your own car, that you can also purchase electric kits. These include complete instructions to build your own car from scratch, and because their systems are less complex than the nitro cars, they are a little easier to build yourself.

Electric RC Car Motors

In order to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your electric motor, it is important to always break in your motor, before you drive it for the first time, and every time after you change its brushes. One easy method is to run the vehicle with the wheels off of the ground at about 1/4 power for about 5 minutes. This will slowly get the brushes fully seated to the commutator without causing wear and tear on the engine, and will allow your motor to run at its full potential.

Your electric car will come with instructions on how to change the brushes on the motor, as well guidelines for how often. Remember, if you change the brushes on your motor, be sure to break it in again. How often you replace the brushes�and the motor, for that matter�depends on where and how much you�re running or racing your car. Generally, a motor should be replaced after it has gone through five or more pairs of brushes, but it will always depend on the individual car, its motor and how well they�re running.

Cal Golden is an avid RC car enthusiast and webmaster of the RC Car Station. Race on over and find out why rc cars are taking the hobby world by storm.RC Car Station
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Getting Into Racing Nitro RC Cars

2009-06-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

Remote control cars are growing in popularity everyday, Forget about the RC cars of the past that had the high-pitched zippy sound and were wobbly and difficult to control, the RC cars made today are absolute fun machines.

Your RC vehicle will be powered one of two ways, it will either be charged electrically or it will run on fuel (also called Nitro cars). You can also get a two or four-wheel drive vehicle, on road (for racing) or offroad such as in the case of the miniature ATVs and monster trucks that are made to rule the rough terrain. If racing is your goal, get a 4WD Nitro vehicle for optimum performance.

If you really want to make your RC car on your own, there are great kits available that come with everything you need to construct a track or offroad ready car. An example of a great kit that has everything a hobbyist could need is the Nitro RS4 3 18SS Kit - 4WD 1/10 Scale Nitro Car. This car even has an outstanding 1.5 horsepower 18SS engine. This car runs just as well on the racetrack as it will in a casual competition in your local parking lot. The difference between this RC racecar and the racecars you might remember from the past is in the 2.5 MM thick chassis that is made from aluminum and adds no discernible weight to the vehicle but will keep it steady no matter how high your speed.

When you build your RC car, take your time and make sure you build it exactly to the manufacturer's specs or otherwise you might wind up with a car that doesn't run at peak performance. Most RC kits come with everything you need to build the vehicle of your dreams, however most do not come with radio control systems, as that is usually a vastly personal choice. You won't find one radio systems is far better than another, however you will find that certain radio systems are better for your own personal RC driving style. Experiment and you will find the perfect fit.

Once you hit the track, take it slow and learn the nuances of controlling your car. There's no point to put a lot of effort into building a great looking RC car and then hitting a wall with it. Learn to control your car first and then gradually up your speed as you get better at using the RC controls without looking. When you can drive your car without looking at the controls, you're ready to race!

Kurt Clark is a freelance writer & CEO of Kurt Clark, Inc, a web development firm. Read more at: http://www.kurtclarkinc.com

Research Credit: Raceway RC Cars, Nitro RC cars

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

RC Car Terms You Need To Know

2009-06-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the common terms explained for RC cars. These terms and abbreviations are commonly used by experts, manufacturers, message board users, old professionals, racers, club members etc.

Ackerman refers to the angle between the two front (steering) wheels when turned to full lock. Altering this 'ackerman angle' will alter the steering characteristics. A greater angle will give you smooth, predictable steering, whilst a smaller angle will give you more
aggressive steering.

The angle for the rear wish bone hinge-pins relative to the horizontal refers to the term “Anti-Squat”. Increasing the angle gives more antisquat, meaning that the car is less likely to squat (drop at the rear) during acceleration.

Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles of the car.

Camber - The angle of the wheels (when looked at from the front or rear of the car) relative to the vertical is known as Camber. If the wheels lean inwards towards the car, the angle is said to be negative.
If they lean out the angle is positive, however, positive camber is almost never used. Basically, zero camber gives the maximum forward traction, whilst more negative camber gives more grip while cornering. Caster describes the angle (when looking at the front wheels from the side of the car) between the kingpin and the vertical. This is part of the car's geometry which keeps it traveling in a straight line when no steering force is applied. It is not adjustable on all cars.

Final Drive Ratio - The relationship between the speed of the motor and of the driving wheels is known as the Final Drive Ratio. For example, a final drive ratio of 8.17:1 means that for every rotation of the wheel, the motor rotates 8.17 times. Lower the number on the left of the colon, the higher is the ratio i.e. more top speed and less acceleration.

Tweak is the difference between the heights of the wheels relative to the ground (at the same end of the car). e.g. If the front left is lower than the front right the car is said to be 'tweaked' usually caused by a distorted or 'tweaked' chassis or unequal shock lengths

Toe-in is the relative angle between the two front wheels or rear wheels (when viewed from above). If the wheels point inwards (towards the front of the car) it is called toe-in, if they point outwards, it is called toe-out.

Body Roll - When people refer to body roll, they are talking about the way the car pitches, either from side-to-side (when cornering) or front-to-back (when braking or accelerating).

Ball differential is a design of differential unique to model cars which use ball bearings instead of bevel gears to achieve differential speeds at both wheels. It has the effect of allowing one wheel to slip whilst still delivering power to the other. It is also known as 'limited slip differential'.

Belted Tires - Tires which have a flat ring of ridged material molded into the rubber to prevent 'growing' at high speeds, an effect that reduces the tires contact area with the track, resulting in loss of grip. These tires are known as Belted Tires.

Commutator is also known as 'com' for short. It is the part of the rotor (the part inside which turns) which has three copper contacts for the brushes to run on. Keep clean and skim regularly for optimal efficiency and motor life.

Skimming - When a motor has been used several times, the commutator can become deformed, thereby reducing the motor's efficiency. Skimming refers to placing the motor's rotor on a small lathe and turning-down the commutator so that the surface is smooth
and round again.
Brushes are the two copper contacts that supply power to the commutator of the motor. These should be replaced regularly for optimal efficiency and motor life.
Frequency Clash - When two or more drivers in a race are using the same frequency, causing interference to one, or both of the drivers it is known as Frequency Clash. All radio-controlled equipment uses crystals to set the frequency which they operate on. Crystals resonate at a set frequency when an electric current is passed through them.
They are very delicate and should be stored and handled with great care. Crystals come in pairs, one for the transmitter which is marked 'TX', and one for the receivers which is marked 'RX'. Make sure you use the correct crystals, it DOES make a difference.

Squat - When heavy acceleration is applied to the car at relatively low speed, the forward force exerted by the motor is resisted by the inertia of the car. The rear springs store some of this energy (temporarily) by compressing, thus making the rear of the car drop. This is known as Squat.

Dive is the opposite of squat. A car dives when it is under heavy breaking. This is because of the momentum the car has built-up is being resisted by the breaking force of the motor. The front slings store some of that energy by compressing, this making the front of the
car drop.

Dampers absorb the excess energy stored by the springs when the car goes over a bump. Without dampers the car would bounce up and down uncontrollably.

Grip Roll - When you car has just has so much grip that the body roll is just too great, causing the car to completely roll over onto its side it is known as the Grip Roll.

Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) is the electronic box that takes the throttle/brake signal from the receiver and feeds the appropriate amount of power to the motor.

Glitch - When your car makes a sudden twitch causing you to lose control, it is known as the Glitch. This is usually due to some sort of electrical interference.

Transponder is a small electronic device which when fitted to your car, registers that you have completed a lap every time you go past the start/finish line. This is how your race result is recorded, so don't forget to fit it or you won't register any laps!

Trim is the setting on your transmitter which determines whether or not the car runs in a straight line when the steering is in its neutral position.

Under Steer - If when making a turn the car fails to turn enough, instead preferring to go straight. This is called under steer. On the other hand if while making a turn the car turns to much, making the rear-end slide it is known as the Oversteer.

Rostrum is a raised platform for drivers to stand on whilst racing, so they can get an elevated view of the track.

TQ or the Top Qualifier is the racer with the fastest qualifying time overall.

BRCA stands for British radio car association. It is the governing body of the sport in Britain.

Inserts are foam or rubber rings placed between the tire and the rim to help the tire keep its shape.

Apex is the exact mid-point of any given corner. This is the point where you should be closest to the inside of the corner.

Kick-up is the angle of the front wishbones to the ground.

RC CAR TOYS FOR KIDS

2009-06-28T20:07:00.000-07:00

Who would not want to be a part the of fantasy of owning a car? Even a child would want to own a car. Moreover, if you are an RC car enthusiast then there are all the more chances that your child would want to be like his father. The old saying goes… Like Father-Like Son.

So it would be all the more necessary for the child to own a car and you would also need to take a look as to what would be the best suitable option for him. You may be an old pro at work but a childs desires and his wants need to be taken care of. Remember he might
want to take care of the engine, air filters, carburetor, and spinning wheels just like you do. He might also want the same speeding car as yours. But the best buy would be the most look alike, with functioning that might or might not resemble yours.

Most of the toys are for kids and allow very little control over the car. If you want to buy it for a child who would just like to play with it then fine but if you want one for an enthusiast like you then possibility is that he would get bored with those models fairly quickly.

Toys with limited capabilities are good for children from three to five years of age which can be handled by the child by himself. These toys require minimum maintenance or care to be taken since they have limited actions.

But for the older ones a little more is asked for. Micro sized cars can be a good choice. They have full control over all directional movement, are sturdy enough and slow enough to withstand crashes without causing much (if any) damage. Radio Shack's Zip Zaps feature full control over the cars, come in several collectible versions, have built in frequencies that allow you to join in with up to five additional cars.

Your child might want to create a race team with his friends. Stuntsters from Tyco RC, like Air Rebound, are almost indestructible when used by children of younger age. They would be at an age old enough to understand or imitate but lesser inclined to assess the full
implications of working functionalities. The newest in a line of these Stuntsters RC Cars is a blast to play with.

The bottom-line is the interactive models are readily available on the market and fall in the same price range as other static toys. It would be a great idea to introduce your child to such interactive toys that would give push to their creativity or maybe guide them to a new
hobby.

Tips On Buying Your first RC Car

2009-06-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Every RC enthusiast at one time or another faces the task of choosing whether to go for a Nitro or an Electric Model.

To get a frank opinion on this it is always better to ask people with various demographic backgrounds who essentially have different taste and choices. This makes it easier to know the real pros and cons of any choice. Those who feel passionately may have prejudices over
their opinion and may not tell the cons too frankly. Similarly those who prefer not to agree may prefer to overlook the pros of a model.

In the end you should have all sorts fr opinions about each category or model and the final choice should always be your own, that makes your feel comfortable, suits your budget, is easier for you to handle and costs you less maintenance. You should not make your choices
just because someone else prefers to choose it and then maybe you are not comfortable with it later on.

The foremost criteria for anyone is the investment in a hobby or the cost. The budget needs to be fixed. As such electric kits come fall in the less expensive category for initial investment. Although they can give much enjoyment, you end up paying more for the battery packs,
battery chargers, accessories, etc. This in the long run means that you have more stuff for maintenance later on and it also means that the recurring costs for these are substantial. Over time, the total investment in parts ends up being equivalent to a Nitro car.

Care must be taken when choosing an electric set up. The important thing is to buy a quality set up. A cheap set up would require sooner replacement and more repairs. Packs of quality batteries and a quality charger will bring down your recurring costs in the long run.

Nitro kits come in expensive with the initial investment. Even hough you can buy inexpensive engines or accessories, their initial costs would be more than the electric ones.

Getting Started In The RC Car Hobby

2009-06-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

Getting Started In The RC Car Hobby
The Radio Control car hobby can be great fun. You get the feel of
driving a car or truck like you could never drive your real car.
Beginners usually begin with an electric RC truck or car and they love
being totally in control of a fully functional scale model that is just
waiting for your next command.
To enjoy this hobby, it is important to know the various type of options
available to pursue your hobby. The most popular type of R/C car is
the Off-Road Buggy. Big tires with "knobby" spikes, full-travel
suspension parts and a high ground clearance allow the off-roader to
go almost anywhere. They come with either two-wheel drive (2WD) or
four-wheel-drive (4WD), and reach speeds of 15-30 mph. On-Road
cars usually have lower ground clearances, slicks tires, aerodynamic
bodies, and are capable of a bit higher speeds.
RC Cars use two different kinds of energy sources to make them go .
The source can be either electric or fuel. Cars that run on battery
packs are electric cars. They use a rechargeable NiCad battery pack for
power. They can run up to 10 minutes and can be recharged in about
15 minutes. Nitro cars are actually powered by a small engine that
burns a special glow fuel. Some can reach speeds of over 50 mph.
You can choose to make your own car or to buy one that is ready for
get – set – go. These cars are identified as RTR (ready – to – run)
which come with installed radio system or ATR (Almost – ready – to –
run). ATR models need to have the radio systems etc installed into
them.
If you are new to the hobby, you will probably want to select from
models that are RTR. This helps you enjoy the hobby more than
getting into the technical details. Such pre-built models are also
preferred by “backyard” drivers. Kits that need building up are
suggested for older hands who have been into the hobby for
sometime. The advantage to building a kit yourself is that you will
know how to repair any possible damage. These kits are opted by
racers bent upon winning organized competitions and showing off their
models on the tracks and hitting the tracks hard. Although building a
kit rather than buying prebuilt does require extra time, there are
advantages. You'll gain a expert understanding of how your machine
works, which comes in handy when performing maintenance and
tuning.
A 2-channel Radio system is also required to control your RC Car. If
you chose an electric car, you will also need a battery pack, preferably
NiCad, and a charger. Buying the car, radio, battery and charger
together is preferable as you get all the compatible parts and save
money too.
The speed of the model depends upon the energy source it uses.
Although nitro (gas) cars have more power and speed, electric models
are the best choice for beginners who want to get the "feel" of
operating an RC Car before moving up to the faster gas cars. After
mastering the skills of the hobby you can always upgrade to a faster
electric model or gas model.
Some other requirements to pursue the hobby are to have a well –
equipped tool box with ordinary tools such as screwdrivers, nut
drivers, pliers and the like.