New mad rat owner, advice please?!

[Mabbs]

Just bought a Mad Rat rtr. (Kind of wish I'd bought the kit now, the instructions look quite easy to follow, from what I read they were really bad?! Have they been improved?)

I had bought a B4 from the sales forum but think I've been ripped off.

Anyway, I still fancy buying a kit and building it myself (not done one before, only a Tamiya about 15 years ago!). If I buy the kit, am I right in thinking these are the extras I need?

A receiver and servo. (which should I get?)

A speed controller. (which should I get?)

What tools do I need? Is there a set I can buy from somewhere?

One more thing. I bought a 2000 NiMh battery, is this powerful enough? The box has a picture that looks like 5200?!

I have a Fusion NX82 charger, is that sufficient?

Sorry i these seem really basic questions!

Thanks a lot.

Mabbs

[Battle_axe]

Originally Posted by Mabbs

Just bought a Mad Rat rtr. (Kind of wish I'd bought the kit now, the instructions look quite easy to follow, from what I read they were really bad?! Have they been improved?)

I had bought a B4 from the sales forum but think I've been ripped off.

Anyway, I still fancy buying a kit and building it myself (not done one before, only a Tamiya about 15 years ago!). If I buy the kit, am I right in thinking these are the extras I need?

A receiver and servo. (which should I get?)

A speed controller. (which should I get?)

What tools do I need? Is there a set I can buy from somewhere?

One more thing. I bought a 2000 NiMh battery, is this powerful enough? The box has a picture that looks like 5200?!

I have a Fusion NX82 charger, is that sufficient?

Sorry i these seem really basic questions!

Thanks a lot.

Mabbs

hey mabbs

ok you will need a transmitter and a reciver and a servo
so do you want sticks or a wheel? and will you be bashing or racing?

yes you will need a speed controler then you need to decide again bashing or racing? and how mutch money you want to spend if you stay brushed i would get a http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=31291 its a good one and will run down to a 12T motor if you go brushless the speed passion stuff is where it is at and all at a good price i would put a 7.5 or a 8.5 in the car.

now batterys again comes down to money i ran orion rocket packs to start with they are good value for moneyhttp://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpecification&ItemID=31486 these are what i used but the 2000mah will do just fine for now. if you want to race i would go lipo now and buy the trakpower gold lipos at JE spares they are on offer now

the charger you have will be good with nimh and will do a good job with those if you do go lipo then you will need another charger

as for tools a cheep set can be got from rc mart but i would recomend a EDS or Huddy set and i think ansmann do a good set too http://www.apexmodels.com/gbu0-prods...203000070.html

get back with the answers to the questions and i will be able to help allot more

Carl

[kaylon]

After just finishing my build more or less I will add to the excellent comments by Battle_Axe and say this...

Tools: a 2mm hex driver is a must, Allen keys simply wont do for the whole job but are needed for some parts.

7mm and 5mm wrench drivers or a wrench multi-tool like you get with all Tamiya's..the kit does not come with one.

I have Fastrax Hex drivers and Ansmann Wrench both are excellent and very good value.

Small Phillips screwdriver. B&Q

Superglue for tyres.

The kit has diff grease and shock oil...Shocks come assembled so it's like having some spare.

I have run my Madrat with a 2000 NiMh and it's fine..of course wont get uber speed but it's still plenty quick.

The instructions for the Madrat are quite good, the servo saver needs some study... And to note, you will need to take off the front chassis upper plate to install the steering servo but this is no big deal.

I really had great fun building and hopping up my Rat and Can't wait to start on the X4 Pro in a few weeks

J

[Mabbs]

Thanks a lot for your replies.

It will mainly be for bashing, at least for the moment! I'm not brave enough to race anyone!

I have used sticks in the past but I've got a wheel with this one I've just bought. Is one better than another?!

I don't mind spending on it as I go along. I think I would quite like to improve it in stages to as good as it can be rather than just go an buy and expensive model straight out, seems a lot more fun.

What do I need for brushless, just a new engine?

One more probably very stupid question. I've just started playing with it but I can only seem to get the ariel lead thingy half way into the tube. Is there a special technique for this?

Thanks for the help, I'm keen to learn.

[peetbee]

Hi Mabbs,
Sticks v Wheel - I think it's more down to personal preference.
To go to brushless you need a suitable speedo as well as the motor.
With the aerial I always make sure it's pulled straight and then try to twist the tube slowly as you insert the wire. Hope this helps!

It's difficult to say what to buy without knowing your budget. Should you need a speed controller I have one of the ones that Battle_axe linked to and it's been great, nice and compact with easy to replace wires.
For brushless, there are a variety of options, but again budget really comes into play here!

[Mabbs]

Budget maybe £200 - £250? Would that be enough? I see the kit is around £45.

[kaylon]

First updates I'd suggest would be a full bearing set and aluminum shocks.

The base Ansmann Aluminum Shocks (75mm and 95mm) fit very well and are quite good for being quite cheap.

I have the X Pro set which are excellent but cost over £50, more then the original car In truth I should have just got the X Pro from Day one heheh

J

[peetbee]

Can I check that I've got this right? You've got a Mad Rat RTR and you're looking to buy the Mad Rat kit, so you can build a kit?

[Mabbs]

Yeah that was the plan, I suppose I'm going about it the wrong way?!

Would I be better to get that x pro kit? Hope I've got that name right.

[mark christopher]

stick with what you have, then when you think your driving is better buy a better race car such as the b4, you will find more spares available and more help with set up and go faster

[peetbee]

What Mark said, the RTR will be fine to get you started, tbh I wouldn't buy another car for now. Once you're sure you like it and decide about racing, then look around.

[kaylon]

Ansmann are about to let loose the Blizzard/X4 Pro in a few weeks. 4x4 pretty high spec buggy but still with the Ansmann price tag. If you are just thinking of bashing around and club racing I'd maybe have fun with you're Madrat RTR till April and then get the X4 Pro.

I personally think the new range of Ansmann/TeamC and TeamQ cars will be able to compete against Losi, AE etc if you are wanting to get racing now then probably get the low end scale B4 or Cougar SV for about £180.

Currently The X Pro buggies etc are competing quite well in the US.. I believe Rob Martin has driven some in anger and has done well

I'll be racing my Mod'd Madrat and X4 that's for sure

J

[Battle_axe]

Originally Posted by kaylon

Ansmann are about to let loose the Blizzard/X4 Pro in a few weeks. 4x4 pretty high spec buggy but still with the Ansmann price tag. If you are just thinking of bashing around and club racing I'd maybe have fun with you're Madrat RTR till April and then get the X4 Pro.

I personally think the new range of Ansmann/TeamC and TeamQ cars will be able to compete against Losi, AE etc if you are wanting to get racing now then probably get the low end scale B4 or Cougar SV for about £180.

Currently The X Pro buggies etc are competing quite well in the US.. I believe Rob Martin has driven some in anger and has done well

I'll be racing my Mod'd Madrat and X4 that's for sure

J

well i broke mine tonight hit a track marker in the first heet the car is so good i say to all these b4 people they should have a go before slating it the car is just as good as a losi or a B4 in the right hands

[Mabbs]

Had a first play with mine late last night, love it! It jumped down my big steps with ease. I don't think the mud and wet was the best idea but it seemed to handle it all with no problems and even a couple of wall crashes without any scratches. It's faster than I imagined too. My girlfriend got the aerial sorted for me!

Can the aerial be trimmed down?

[Battle_axe]

Originally Posted by Mabbs

Had a first play with mine late last night, love it! It jumped down my big steps with ease. I don't think the mud and wet was the best idea but it seemed to handle it all with no problems and even a couple of wall crashes without any scratches. It's faster than I imagined too. My girlfriend got the aerial sorted for me!

Can the aerial be trimmed down?

glad to hear all went well the aerial cant no if you do you will loose range

[kaylon]

Grats on the first run

If you get a 2.4ghz micro rig like the new Ansmann one you could in theory have a shorter aerial cover..and the micro receiver only has about a 10-15cm aerial cable.

So you could trim the white areal cover to be a little bit smaller then stock.

NEVER cut an actual aerial lead though.

J