Interested in starting RC
 

Hi,

I am not sure if this is the best place to post but here goes anyhow.

I live in fareham and am interested in starting RC. I have a bit of of an electronics background but do not relaly where to start. I am currently reading this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radio-Contro...0615758&sr=1-1

Can anyone point me in the direction of some good resources, local model shops etc.

Thanks in advance

Hi jk,

I would suggest by far the best 'resource' is the local club! Why not come down to TORCH (Sundays 9am-1pm) to have a look and a chat, you can see what's involved and also the sort of racing you could be doing locally.
I've just started again after a 20+year break, and have found it a good track with friendly people.
Cheers,
Richard.

Indeed helpful bunch. I was going to come down this weekend, but I'm playing paint ball with work..

So next weekend fingers crossed my B4 will hit the track

Thanks I will try and make it down this Sunday.

John

I may pop down early as I think the paint ball is just up the road. Bit gutted as I thought it was today and then my boss said no - Sunday :cry:

I recently started racing (again) here, and just wanted to say that they are a very helpful, friendly bunch :). There's also no other clubs in the area, as far as I am aware.

It's true, though, that you have to be rather dedicated to find them. It took a substantial amount of trawling the internet before I located the web site.

I did find one other on the internet near Waterlooville (http://www.bolwextric.co.uk/rem/index.html) but titchfield is closer to me.

The Clanfield track is 1/8th Nitro only. Whereas TORCH is 1/10th off road.

P.S, sorry could help with the astro moving today guys, only just finished working on the car:thumbdown: and I've had enough today.

Hope to be down somewhen soon

Clanfield I think are due to have a 1/10 track, but Titchfield location wise is perfect and with a rise in numbers fingers crossed

I'd like to see a lap counting system there and I'd happily pay for my own PT

Titchfields a little bit of a drive for me but the idea of only racing in the morning is the main thing that puts me off going.
if i go out for a days racing thats exactly what i want ;)

It's quite good, but if the numbers rise maybe it'll run for longer ;)

I'll prob get down their at 08:15 tomorrow before heading off to paint ball as it's only down the road :)

May pay Iain for using the track later in the day for a practice

Old Newbee.....
 

Hi All,

I used to race between 1988 and 1994 around the South East, mainly at Ash, Aldershot linked to Surrey and Hants model in Frimley.

I am thinking off getting back into it but I need a heads up on the type of machinery now involved?.

Cells?
Motors?
Cars 2wd/4wd?
ESC?
Controller?.

Have things moved on since Kyosho ZX-R stage?. Used the use 2200 cells with carbon stuff and temp charger.....

Regards

Neil

Yes things have moved on, brushless motors and lipo cells are the order of the day. car wise, anything goes down there, infact, there's a guy down there called Dave, he has more than one ZX-R, which he happily races.

Showtime, you'll be lucky with the whole day racing thing, they all want to go home and watch F1. I'm willing to bet at least 80% of them have never done a "whole days racing", ever, hell, none of them had ever heard of spectrum till about 18 months ago.

No chance either of a transponder based timing system, not unless someone is willing to donate.

Not being derogotory, just hard facts.

Crazy L,

So what is the most popular 4wd or 2wd?, my choice was always 4wd. What is the best car to have at present in the world 1/10th off road world?.

I think I'll need to get searching for brushless cells and Lipo cells!

Most popular 4wd, is probably the RC10 B44, takes saddle packs if thats your thing. others to consider are of course the Schumacher Cat sx, available in lipo cell chassis or sub C version, the Losi XX4, which is a bit long in the tooth now, and the Tamiya Durga DB01, belt drive, takes stick packs, if you feel minted, there's always the Predator X11. Not forgetting also the Yokomo Bmax and the X Factory bastard car.

As for 2wd, well, RC10 B4 is the worlds favourite, and has been for a while now, other cars include the X Factory X(5 or 6, I can never remember) and Losi's ark relic, the XXX BK2.

How did it go today?

I was there early 08:00-08:45, but had to leave to head off to paint ball. Looking forward to running next week. Just hope my toe in and camber tools arrive.

I could only make it for a couple of races, but it looked like there were enough people for two full heats (11+). The numbers seem to have been rising ever since I first went there - I wonder if I can take credit :D.

Neildudman - Quite a few people at the track still run NiMH/brushed setups and do well - there's not too many long straights, so it doesn't seem like you *need* the fastest motors to compete. You can pick up brushed kit for a song, as well. I was doing alright-ish yesterday with a brushed/NiMH setup, and my driving is pretty awful :)

hi do you know how to change your name?

Fantastic and I'll be there next week along with a friend who has purchased a B4 RTR. Was Ed there and how did he get one Just got to work on the set-up this week as I'm experiencing grip roll at the mo, so gone for micros on the rear and minis on the front minus the outer spikes. Fitted an anti roll bar last night, so will see how it goes.

Paint Ball was wicked (and only up the road), but I wouldn't be in pain today if I'd gone racing....

Yep Ed was there, had a drive of his B4 which seemed to go quite well. Don't quote me on this because i know little about 2wd, but i think the standard tyre setup for b4's at this track is Yellow Mini pins or spikes on the back and staggered ribs on the front (not sure what colour, think yellow).

Edd had changed his car to this and it was loads better that last time i saw him drivinig it.

Cool, I expect he'll be there next weekend as Dan is coming down.

I've got some new staggered ribs in one of my boxes, but no front wheels at the mo. I fitted a rear anti roll bar last night, so will see how that is.

I'll be running a 19x2 stock brushed motor which runs pretty well. Toying with a LRP brushed set-up as I'm about to be put on the callout rota :) (Callout role is to unplug the firewalls if we have a sustained attack - £2500 a year with no calls in 18 months :) )

Need to get a PT too as I'm looking at doing regionals if I can get good enough.

Only thing I really really don't like about the circuit... My real car grounds out on the run into the circuit :(

Ed looked like he was going pretty well when I left. He lifted his front end a bit with some shock spacers (I couldn't even get my little finger under the front of his car before), and it seemed to be handling a bit better.

If you're looking for a cheap upgrade for your stock motor DMS have got Trinity D5s on sale for a mere 25 quid (or 3 for 60). Just picked a 12 single up and it's damn quick for the money :).

Cheers for the heads up, I'll be heading to brushless LRP Sphere etc rather than purchasing brushed motors I think. Although my LRP 19x2 is going to be slow....

Cool, fingers crossed Ed will be there next weekend

Can we carry on running for a couple of hours after the meeting or do we have to leave once the meeting ends? I think 2 of us will be there sunday either way.

I think they pay rent for the whole day, so I can't see why not. We'll find out on Sunday.. I'd like to stay on longer

Don't quote me on this, but i think it is ok. I have quite often stayed behind/been the last one to go and no one has said anything to me. Be good to see you there Southwell.

Mikey i have a feeling Ed said he couldn't make it next weekend

Ah well it'll just be Dan and me then.. (Ed was Dan's best man and we all got very drunk in Cardiff.) Unless Ed doesn't know Dan's bought a B4 RTR

Iain indicated it was ok to stay on, but how late I don't know. I popped back last Sunday at about 17:30 till 18:00 after paint ball to do some set-up work

How much does it cost for a banner, as I was thinking of looking into a TORCH banner for the Rostrum

Not sure where you would get a banner to be honest.

One thing i keep forgetting to say about the racing is that they always try and get at least 6 races in for each person.

6!! Christ that's a fair few, years ago when I was at torch it was more like 3/4, but was due to higher numbers.

Time to order some more SMC 4200 cells... The 5 I have aren't going to be enough!

I've been pitching this club to anyone who'll listen for a few years now, and all it needed was a few members to actually get on the internet and contribute to forums, aside from me, noone has ever bothered, untill now, and thanks to that, and you, it looks like numbers are on the up.:thumbsup:

Step 2 is maybe either a whole days racing or an actual race series with proper dates, that would get people attending as they will know when to turn up, Dibble, you get down there more regular than I nowadays, have a word mush.

The argument for this is that all racers in the 21st century organise their racing around dates that are plastered all over the internet. A Torch calender would be beneficial. It doesn't do a club any harm to have a calender, I'm sure most people here agree with that.;)

So how many of us are going to turn up on Sunday? Yup don't think Ed will be there due to his daughters birthday i think

I shall be there, weather permitting :thumbsup: I know Ian is back too

I think for now, we just need to see how it goes. I don't want the original members to feel pushed out or like it isn't their club, but i think it is going in the right direction and let's see what happens :)

From a selfish point of view it suits me to be half day as i have a 1yr old and don't want to be out the whole day at the moment.

There was another chap that came to see what's what last sunday, so things are looking much better.

Anyone know what the weather is going to be doing and will people run if it's wet as i'd quite happily run

Fingers crosssed it does work out otherwise it'll be newbury and clanfield for me.

It was looking dodgy, but i think it looks a bit better now. We have run in damp/wet track conditions before, but not in the rain as far as i am aware and not if there is standing water on the track. I only live round the corner so unless it's chucking it down i always go and have a look.:thumbsup:

I'm only down the road too, so will check it out too :)

Wet weather days, may have to get a Cats SX for those ;)

That's what I meant, I didn't mean like, now:lol:. If things continue to improve like they are then a few new ideas will have to be put forward to keep new people coming along, or they'll just get bored and clear off, then they'll be back to square one.

Just remember, If you always get what you've always got, you'll always only ever have what you've had.....or some crap like that:lol:

Anyway, enough of the philosophical nonsense

Hopefully Southwell will be down and give a few tips and maybe a thumbs up and maybe come back with a few more, I'll be back sometime after getting my Golf sorted (brakes are done, just need to do the Head:cry:)

What time are you lot getting down to the track tomorrow? I'll get down there between 8-8:30


Looking forward to it as it'll be my first racing since 1994

Cheers for a good day today, found the cause of some of my problems though :(

a dead cell in two of my packs of batteries :(

Anyone recommend anywhere for a cell swap and pack rebuild?

Overall the car ran ok, just needs a bit more speed, so I'll be ordering a motor later, but not winding it full up on the ESC. Not bad for a come back from 1994

It was great to see everyone there! We had a nice lot of people around, particularly considering we were missing a couple of regulars.