Buyers Guide Buyers Guide
Many sedans share similar designs from car to car, but there are some key differences to be aware of. Some cars are going to have features that, while they may make a car look more aesthetically pleasing or realistic, will not affect the car’s performance and handling. Some cars will feature incredibly detailed bodies that rival static models; some even include working head and taillights. While these bodies look great, they often are heavy and have details, such as rearview mirrors, that can be easily broken off in a crash. Other cars include bodies that, while lacking some of the scale detail, are more functional in terms of creating downforce and grip for your car.
Stadium trucks feature a wider stance and more ground clearance than buggies have. These differences in design help stadium trucks handle ruts and bumps better than a buggy can, making stadium trucks a little easier to drive. Stadium trucks also have a full truck body that covers the entire centerline of the chassis (stadium trucks still feature an open-wheel design). This difference in body design helps to protect the shock towers on a stadium truck better than on a buggy, improving durability. Finally, stadium trucks tend to be more popular than buggies in most areas. If you think you’ll eventually have a desire to race your off-road car or truck, you’re often better off going with a truck, as there is simply a better chance that you will have others to race against
Nitro and large-scale vehicles offer intangibles that no other RC vehicle can match. From their impressive size to the sounds of the engines, nitro vehicles have seen an explosion in popularity in recent years. When deciding on a large RC car or truck, you’re generally going to be looking at vehicles that are fuel-powered. There are three different categories of large-scale vehicles to consider: 1/8-scale buggies, truggies, and monster trucks.
1/8-scale buggies are designed primarily with one thing in mind: winning races. Many of the 1/8-scale RTR buggies have been tailored to perform well on a variety of different surfaces from race tracks to backyards, open fields to parking lots. While some may look at RTR 1/8-scale buggies as cars designed for less experienced hobbyists, there are a number of excellent-performing 1/8-scales that could take you to the winner’s circle if you simply don’t have the time to build a kit.
Truggies are basically 1/8-scale buggies that have a wider stance, larger truck tires and a truck body. Since they are based upon modified 1/8-scale buggies, they sit lower to the ground than a monster truck does, which translates into better handling and performance on a race track. While offering more ground clearance than a 1/8-scale buggy, truggies have less ride height than a monster, which can cause some issues over rougher terrain or in backyard-bashing applications.
Nitro monster trucks are by and large the most popular form of RC vehicle currently available. These giants have huge tires, bodies, and engines that put out a ton of power. Monster trucks are extremely versatile vehicles, in that they can be tuned for backyard bashing, tricked out with awesome-looking aftermarket parts, or tuned for killer racetrack performance. Monster trucks are truly the "go anywhere, do anything" RC vehicles.
Once you’ve decided the type of vehicle you want to go with, there are several standout features that can help set one vehicle apart from the crowd. Perhaps the biggest deciding factor is whether to buy a vehicle that is battery- or fuel-powered. Battery-operated cars and trucks feature a lower initial price tag, but you will need to purchase additional support equipment such as battery packs and chargers to get running. Electric vehicles are also very quiet, making it possible to run an electric vehicle practically anywhere. Nitro vehicles will cost more initially, but generally everything you will need to get up and running, minus fuel, is in the box. Nitro-powered vehicles are faster than their electric counterparts and thanks to the ability to be refueled on the go, nitro vehicles offer longer run times. Nitro vehicles do produce noise, however, which may not be conducive to running in places with noise ordinances.
While many RTR cars and trucks include oil-filled shocks, some vehicles come out of the box equipped with friction shocks. Friction shocks are functional, but owing to their lack of dampening, a car with friction shocks can get tossed around or be less surefooted over rough or inconsistent terrain. Vehicles that include oil-filled shocks will have a more sure-footed feeling as you drive over imperfect surfaces.
For electric-powered vehicles, the type of included motor can drastically impact your runtime, torque, and top speed. Some kits include a basic motor that cannot be serviced called a closed or sealed endbell motor. Not being able to service a motor means you cannot change the brushes or clean the inside of the motor optimally. Next is a traditional open-endbell motor. With an open-endbell motor, you can change the brushes and clean the commutator with a commutator cleaning stick. Some can be disassembled, allowing you to remove the armature to cut the commutator on a motor lathe. Some motors feature oilite bushings for the armature to spin on, while others include ball bearings for reduced friction. When looking at the included motors, the lower the turn of a motor, the faster it will be. For example, a 14-turn motor is a faster motor than a 20-turn. Keep in mind that a lower-turn motor will drain your battery pack more quickly, reducing your runtime.
Before you run any vehicle, inspect the tires to ensure they are glued properly. Tires that aren’t properly glued can cause erratic handling or, in extreme circumstances, the tire can be pulled off of the wheel. Taking a few moments here and touching up the glue job with some quality CA can save you time and aggravation down the road.
Nitro-powered vehicles need some extra attention before you really run them for the first time. You’ll need to run several tanks of fuel through your engine with the carburetor tuned to be fairly rich to ensure that the parts all fit properly. Make sure you read your engine manual on the recommended break-in process. You’ll typically run two tanks of fuel through your vehicle with it at idle before you can start driving slowly and leaning the settings out. Expect to spend an hour or two breaking in your engine before you can really drive it hard.
Electric vehicles are slightly less labor intensive to get running but there are some keys to success here too. If your car didn’t include a battery pack, you’ll obviously need to pick one up. Battery packs do not come from the factory charged, so you’ll need to charge your battery pack before using it for the first time. Using a high-quality peak-detection charger will ensure that your battery pack will get a complete charge without overcharging or damaging it.