In the DB01R guise its a good car, as a Durga it needs a lot spending on it to be decent. The end result is an extremely tough, very capable car. Not the cheapest option (that B44 is less and just as good if not better) but ideal if you want a Tamiya.

So complicated, so many options, had nearly decided what to get untill my budget was expansded, now back to square one almost.

Thinking either the Tamiya DB01R, Team Associated B44, Team Associated RC10B4.1 Factory Team Kit, or maybe the Tamiya 2wd Racing buggy, forget the name.

The Team Associated does seem to come higher rated, and also works out a bit cheaper on the kits, also seems to come with a bit more, wheels and things.

Or just go with what I was before and buy more batterys/spares and stuff.

Mind boggles.

If your interested id be willing to sell you my b4.1 reedy brushless system and turnigy lipos meaning youd only need a charger and radio system for your kit, pm me if your interested mate, need to know asap will be able to do youa decent price

I am definately interested, though I dont want to commit to anything just yet, I will pop to the club near me tomorrow hopefully and see what they do for sure, then go from there.

Out of interest, as someone new to racing do you think a 2wd or 4wd car is a better option?

4WD... 2WD requires a lot smoother throttle finger and controls generally. Once you master 2WD 4WD... is a lot easier.. but yeah 4WD I would say

2WD is cheaper, and in some way requires less maintenance.. but trickier to drive.

Guessed that may be the case, but wasnt sure if mastering 2wd might be a better coarse for someone knew, figured you might learn more from 2wd that you may not from 4wd?

Only guessing though, I will go with what is suggested to me on here, and of coarse what the track races.

Yeah, I have run 2WD and 4WD I personally prefer 4wd-as its a 2nd class for me as I race 1/8th nitro....4wd generally can handle variety of tracks better. Specially damp/wet astro.. its personal preference.. if you want something to stick down and go 4wd is the better route in my view..

Thinking I might go the Tamiya route, around the £200-£250 mark is this a good option? or is the B44 going to work out better?

Nearly pinned a car down :)

The B4.1 AND B44/.1 Are all greats cars, I have had both B4 and B44. And liked them both. It depends, IF you went the B44-Remember it only takes saddle packs-Not stick packs like your little one's mad cat. Something else to bear in mind..

It's personal choice tbh, for me the 4wd is easier, as I can chuck it down and race it. And its a tiny bit like my 1/8th-with them both being 4wd. I do like 2wd, but they take a lot of practice to get fast with them.. which some people like.. too..
The 4wd's generally require a tad more mech-with another 2 driveshaft ect..

If your, wanting something on the lower budget.. for some fun at the track and with your little one. I would get the B4.1 RTR.. and as stated before.. rebuild it ect.. Then if you really love it, can then think about spending more £ on it-maybe better esc motor lip ect.. then think about another 2wd or 4wd... It seems the most sensible route.. but at the end of the day its your call..

[QUOTE=jamiekerr14;it only takes saddle packs-Not stick packs like your little one's mad cat. Something else to bear in mind.. [/QUOTE]

have run saddles 4WD then put them end to end in 2WD, not managed to run both cars at once tho ;)

I'd disagree with the previous answer.
4WD is easier to drive on any given surface, but driving is not racing.
2WD is generally considered the starter class and as such has more new racers (and more forgiving heats)
If you (or anybody else) jump straight in with 4WD you'll get murdered...

I agree, but if he wants to just turn up and do some light harted racing and be able to take it with his your un to a bash spot and play about. I think the 4wd is better option. Quote-(I would like something I can also mess about with her with, but also have a go at racing)

If he thinks, he will be doing a lot of racing.. and wanting to spend £ and time then yes 2WD-Will teach you far more control than 4wd will.
But as I stated before-each to there own.. and he's the one that needs to decide.. for himself not other's...

dont go down the tamiya route, get a B4! i wanted a B44 so much but now im so chuffed with the b4 that im glad i did get a b4! makes you a better driver!

I'd suggest sticking to 2wd if your club racing, as Col said, it'll have slower heats to race in...as most newbies start there (certainly at our club anyway!), but it's the best place to learn how to drive a car! Teaches you loads about car control, and the maintenance/cost of running side is easier/cheaper.

The 4wd's, although maybe easier to drive in one sense, are also a bit of handful to race as they are quicker! Once you've mastered the 2wd, 4wd will be much easier to cope with.

Another thought, ask at the club your planning to use which class has the most newbies in it, and maybe use that help you choose?

Trouble you'll be having now is the amount of options for everything! To be honest, as long as you stick to some of the main brands, it's all decent enough stuff. Once your in and racing you'll get a better feel for what's what and can start to make some more informed choices from your own experience.

Lipo's, someone has mentioned it, but I thought I'd just remind you...don't worry about the BRCA list too much, that is just for the big national/regional events. Most (if not all) clubs don't run to that rule, so any reasonable lipo will do.

:thumbsup:

Thanks alot for the help everyone, thinking of going with a B4 as suggested, and maybe the cheap one and get a decent set of radio gear/ecm/batterys etc that will be good enough to transfer to future cars.

Though the factory kit looks very appealing for an extra £70.

So guess its between the Stealth and Factory kit B4.

Just got back from the local track, which I was very impressed with, the track is really nice, but unfortunately not a soul was there, I know its a very new track, only a couple of months old, and when I emailed for information they said membership runs from Jan-Dec, but to come down and meet everyone Sunday, but guessing its really going to start in January.

Also being an outdoor track, it was raining today, so maybe called off due to the weather.

Still not 100% on what cars they run, I did ask in the email but didnt get an answer, mailed again just now and see if I get an answer this time, if not I may look at another track.

So Stealth or Factory kit B4 hmmm.

Stealth - http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=14046

Factory - http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=37030

ive upgraded to all the factory parts now :thumbsup: but obviously has cost me more to do.

stick with the stealth and upgrade as you go along, its great fun waiting for an upgrade then fitting it to the car :thumbsup:

you wont go wrong with the b4. even though there are twice as many 4wd racers in our club ill be sticking to 2wd for at least another season.

Yeah I know what youre saying, but I am really torn, if I get the stealth kit, as you say I can upgrade as I go, and would enjoy that as well, but then I would sit and work out how much it had cost me to make it into a kit thats only £70 more to start with, and possibly cry :P

Too many options in this sport :P

either buy the stealth and upgrade and you will have it out every weekend and fiddle with it.

or get the factory team you will only pull it out to race with as its all the parts on it as standard

if i was you i would snap this guys hand off for this

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56462

its a b4 from my local club ive been trying to convince him to sell me his shell. its got the correct springs on for racing so no need to spend £20 on spring kits.

To be honest I would rather buy new, if I was going for a really expensive car I may opt to go second hand, but at this level I think I will go new.

Quick question though as I was thinking of going with a basic brushed motor with lipo to start with, then go brushless as I progress, do you need different ESC for both types of motor, or can you get one that will do either?

just go brushless

Something like this?

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=35886

There's quite a few used combos on the trade forum. Personally I would choose an esc that has a low turn limit (4.5/5.5T), that way you will only need to buy a new motor as your skill improves, without the need to upgrade the esc. Should be able to pick up a decent brushless combo for £70-£90 or a good esc (such as a Speed Passion GT2) for about £65

Brushless is a must, don't mess around with a brushed motor, it's not worth it.

Think someone needs to right a guide on what to buy thats cheapish but decent to get you racing for a newcomer :)

I'm pretty sure I will go for the cheaper option B4 now, and get all the lipo/brushless etc set up with a decent set of radio gear.

Just out of interest which is the better buy would you all say http://www.jespares.com/electric-mod...tegory_id=1150

or http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=14046

Alot of places seem to have nothing but good for the mad rat, and thinking I will likely get my daughter one of the basic ones.

A lot to be said for running the same car, one box of spares, you break a wishbone on the B4 you aint gonna fit a rat one,
you will break wishbones, towers etc, why not have one pool of wheels/tires/shock springs/bearings/screws/nuts.

I know the B4 is imperial, is the rat metric? = 2 sets of hex tools/spanners


(no prize for the first to tell me a rat wishbone goes straight onto a B4 :woot:)

From what I can gather yes the B4 is Imperial and the Rat metric.

Thats correct.

With regards which one to go for, you'll find that drivers of either car will not have a bad word to say about them so you wouldn't be disappointed. Obviously a £60 price difference may play a part!

That was my guess, we run (sometimes) a D4 metric (a metric B44 if you like that has spare parts kept with the rocking horse poo and hens teeth) and an imperial X6 (a conversion from our old B4) spares easy peesey.

I have to keep the hex drivers in different box's, expect if you stick with the hobby you will end up with all the tools, but to start I would keep it simple.

OK 99% sure I'm going to go with a Mad Rat and X Pro.

Standard motor in Mad Rat, basic Acoms 27am Techniplus radio gear with the modelsport ESC for the daughter.

For me probably the acoms 2.4ghz set, but when it comes to comes to lipos, esc and motor I get a bit confused, thinking of getting this http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=35886 .

Then its lipo choice, so many different sizes and types.

This sound good?

Its certainly good value and will get you started, however when it comes to getting a faster motor you will probably need to upgrade the ESC too to deal with the higher currents.You'll probably be better off getting a higher spec combo 2nd hand. Even if you get a fast motor from the outset (say a 7.5T) you can always turn down the throttle limit (either on the radio by reducing the "end point", or on the speedo if that function is that available)

A 2.4 GHZ radio and Lipos is definately the way forward:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Thats cool, could you tell me what kind of numbers im looking for on an ESC please?

I'd rather get one that will last than having to replace it later.

Maybe like this? http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=34311 but wont 6.5t be way too much?

Depending on the track you could be using something as fast as a 6.5T so an esc that will take it is needed. The 2 i've used are the Losi Xcelorin and the Speed Passion GT2 pro. Since going brushless I've only tried the Losi Xcelorin motors (6.5T and 7.5T) but neither of my motors/escs have let me down.

I know quite a few people who are running LRP SXX and Nosram Pearl Evolution ESCs, which you can pick up quite cheap and are mean't to be reliable.

It might be worth looking under the "electrics" forum as there are quite a few threads for good cheap escs

Im not quite sure how much current a 6.5T motor will draw but im pretty sure the Ansmann system will cut out.

That could work - a 6.5T will be too fast to start with, however if you had a radio with "end point adjustment" then you can simply reduce the throttle limit to whatever level you can handle.

Here is a good radio with that function:

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=36842

With this system you can reduce the throttle limit on the esc

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=30214

(i've actually got a 7.5T combo for sale;))

Think I would rather go with the ESC/motor option, in my mind I can picture using a wheel controller the other way round with right index finger on the trigger, but the other way round as they all are in my mind seems totaly alien, dont know why :P

Thanks for the offer on the 7.5t combo, but I always tend to buy new where possible, not saying anything is wrong with the one you have but been burnt a couple of time with second hand things off the net over the years and prefer new when I can.

I think you guys pretty much have with this thread. :P

Last chance if you want a reedy system esc and motor!

Very true, alot of very helpfull and knowlegable people on this forum, hopefully this may come in usefull for other people in my situation, as I am sure there must be a few :)

How does this look btw? http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=34160

I got back into racing last xmas after a 15 year time off and wish I had known of this forum beforehand. I went into my local highstreet modelshop (effectiviely Tamiyas r us) and the guy convinced me that the best car for a beginer was a Tamiya TT01 as they are cheap, easy to drive and competetive. They didn't sell 2.4GHz radios so I spent £40 on a hitec 40MHz sytem. Needless to say that lot went on ebay some time later!

If I had done my homework properly I wouldn't have wasted so much money and would had a better setup from the outset for the same £££