Newbie Help

[ShaneyB]

I'm really keen on getting a 1:10 electric buggy for myself and 8 year old son. Got a few models I'm keen on for different reasons and would appreciate any advice you can give. I live in a nice place with plenty of dirt tracks, old bmx tracks and skate parks so decided to go for a buggy rather than touring car (even though WLRC is a few minutes away from me) as I thought I'd get a lot more neighbour friendly use from electric as opposed to nitro/petrol. I'm also not sure how often I will get to local clubs for race nights.
So.....what to go for? For different reasons I'm looking at the following models (no specific order):

1) FTX Vantage 4WD RTR for general bashing. Seen a couple live with a few upgrades and they don't look bad to the untrained eye. Very robust.

2) FTX Edge 2WD RTR as above.

3) Associated B4.1 RTR (too good for running through my local trails)? Remember I may race it also....

4) Losi 22 RTR as per B4.1

Would love to buy a kit and build it with my boy but price seems to be much higher that way and I set a budget of around £300.00 as we may both get bored (doubtful) in a few months.
Also I haven't used any decent RC vehicle before so reciever is confusing me. I quite like the idea of the wheel but I would prefer to use the throttle with my right hand finger and steer with my left. All seem to be the other way around?? Should I look at sticks instead?? Like I say I haven't used any of note so think we'd adapt to any eventually.
Sorry to rattle on but I can't wait to get hold of our new toy.

Fingers crossed I'll be at a DMS/Taplow meeting this week.

Thanks in advance.

Shane

[bomboms]

I race a 22 which is fantastic but a couger kit is 130 on modelsport which is another good car

[Naushad]

22 all the time

Owned a Cougar....not bad but 22 is better

[(off)roadrunner]

have you considered a "shortcourse truck"? still 1/10th offroad class, but they tend to be alot more forgiving than buggys especially if your mainly going to be using it for play more than racing but still want something that you can chuck on a track and race properly (maybe just a change of tyres keep a set for races and a set for playing),

main adavantage of the SCT's is that the body encloses most of the car and absorbs most of the impacts, whereas with a buggy the suspension and wheels stick out and are very exposed and can break in heavy impacts, meaning that if you plan on running at skate parks bmx tracks etc with your son there is less chance of breakage with the SCT's

Also its a good fun class to race in with body comtact being allowed more and good close racing without the tangles of buggys arms etc.

if you do fancy one for the £300 area you can get some good RTR trucks

hpi blitz
kyosho ultima readyset
venom gambler
losi XXx sct
(2wd)

4wds tend to be more expensive with the trucks although there is the LRP 4wd which is under your budget

[JCJC]

You are on the best plan, visit local clubs, Taplow (new venue) in Slough and DMS in Watford, there is also another club in Watford: http://hertfordshirerccc.webs.com/ run outside on Sundays I believe.

Of course DMS also have one of the best shops in the country, (catchyerlaterDarren)

You will find the speed controls we use do not have reverse at this level, forward & brake mostly, takes some getting used to when starting for younger drivers, the cars are much faster than you may expect, advantage of the B4 is everybody in the sport has had one, fixed one and a good chance you may get spare parts trackside or quickly, they can be converted to mid motor(X6) if you are inclined. What about a B4 RTR and a B4 kit, upgrade the kit as and when. There is second hand stuff around as well. (B4 is Associated = imperial tools)

[Jamesk]

HRCCC,is ideal for beginers and people having fun, we have a few members running the cars you listed, so come down and talk to the guys running the cars and a general chat with us. As you get to grips with the hobby you can pace yourself agaisnt the quicker guys too.

jK

[VintageRacer]

Have a look at Ansmann as well, their kits and RTR are good value but still good for racing as a beginner to intermediate.

[ShaneyB]

Thanks guys,
I'm a typical bloke who wants the fastest, best thing I can get my hands and no doubt will struggle with it at first. Got hooked on the buggy's watching RC6 on Motors TV so have my heart set on a buggy. Went to look at a Mad Monkey a week or so ago but can't get the B4.1 out of my head. I've looked at more pictures and vid's of that than I have my family recently! Didn't realise it could be converted to mid motor so that's a bonus as the main reason I was looking at a 22 was for that versatility.
DMS are probably fed up with me already so apologies to the staff there. I'm lucky it's only a 10 minute drive from my office. Also seen a Durango on sale on this forum for £200.00 with spares - worth a look??

Thanks again all.

[Layloo9136]

The B4.1 is a great car no doubt. I got a factory team version and it was an easy build and nice car. I now have a Losi 22 which is also very good as per peoples comments above, so you really can't go wrong with either. Durango is very much the new kid on the block and a couple of friend have the 210. The 410 some have issues with linkages bursting lipo's etc. But I don't know too much about them to comment

Bear in mind when you commented about the Mid motor in the 22 and mention about the B4.1 being able to be mid motor too - remember that to get your B4.1 mid motored will cost you well over another £160 for the C4.1 conversion kit http://www.modelsport.co.uk/pages/cm...roducts/366927. The Losi gives you the choice out of the box but only in the kit version. The RTR 22 only comes set one way and you can buy the parts to convert it the other way which is a lot less than buying a C4.1 chassic for a B4.1 (sorry for the onslaught of initials! )

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Layloo9136

The 410 some have issues with linkages bursting lipo's etc. But I don't know too much about them to comment

Probably best not to then, eh.

For a club racing starter don't get hung up on mid/rear motor, to a starter there is not be much difference. Until you get hooked on racing and you get a couple of years practice at racing it will not matter at all.
The B4 or the Losi willbe fine. Possibly Durango will bring out a 210 RTR at some point with rear & mid in the kit, who knows.

If you just want to go smashing about the local BMX track it matters not what you get as you'll soon smash it up and get bored/frustrated.

[neiloliver]

I agree with Stu. My advice would be to go for either the Associated B4.1, Losi 22 or Durango DEX210. Forget about C4.1, Cougar or X6 for now (and I am saying this having run two of the last three). You will have enough to worry about without having to consider conversion kits and making bits from other kits fit each other.. leave that to when you have raced for a few years and have reached the limit of your initial talent.

All of these three models will be good to learn with, easy and cheap to repair and would win a club/regional/national/european or world meeting in the right hands.

Try to race at a club.. driving around BMX tracks is OK for a while but leads to the darkside and boredom. Racing around a track against other people with the same passion as you leads to great fun, great friendships and is a fantastic way of using weekends.

Neil

[Layloo9136]

Originally Posted by Stu

Probably best not to then, eh.

What can I say - I simply go off what I read on forums and see from people experiences - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e_0nKDne4A

[RoyalCBR]

I was a newbie at the start of 2011, and my first 2wd was a B4 - it's a good car don't get me wrong but as a newbie the main thing you will be doing is breaking it! Trust me I know.

Getting spares for the B4 was ok, but alot of the time things were always out of stock in my opinion either go for a Losi 22, or an Ansmann mad monkey (x2c if you can afford it). Both are mid motor and I can only comment on the Ansmann which is easy to handle, cheap spares and lots of availability - plus it transformed my club racing

[ShaneyB]

Originally Posted by neiloliver

I agree with Stu. My advice would be to go for either the Associated B4.1, Losi 22 or Durango DEX210. Forget about C4.1, Cougar or X6 for now (and I am saying this having run two of the last three). You will have enough to worry about without having to consider conversion kits and making bits from other kits fit each other.. leave that to when you have raced for a few years and have reached the limit of your initial talent.

All of these three models will be good to learn with, easy and cheap to repair and would win a club/regional/national/european or world meeting in the right hands.

Try to race at a club.. driving around BMX tracks is OK for a while but leads to the darkside and boredom. Racing around a track against other people with the same passion as you leads to great fun, great friendships and is a fantastic way of using weekends.

Neil

Thanks Neil,
I will race at a club but thought I'd spend a while getting used to the car first before I turn up at a meet and embarress myself.

I am SO confused on which car to go for......

Can get a Mad Monkey Kit with the the following spec for around £300.00 + tools

1 x Ansmann Racing Mad Monkey £65.00
1 x Etronics AX3G LED Controller £32.99
1 x Metal Servo £17.99
1 x Brushless 9.0T Motor £69.99
1 x 7.4v LiPo Battery £24.99
1 x 11v LiPo Battery £42.99
1 x Core RC UAC50 Fast Charger £45.99
1 x Tool Kit £15.99
1 x Set Alkaline Batteries £ 4.00

Total £319.93

Any thoughts??

[Col]

Originally Posted by ShaneyB

Any thoughts??

Dump all ideas of running the 11v lipo. Even if the electrics take it, the car wont.
A 1/10 car can already be far too fast with 2cell brushless

[Jamesk]

NEIL, get a good reliable and easy car to fix and i'd agree the Mad Monkey fits the bill. Pop down to a club or two and everyone will be happy to chat to you, what ever you choose it will be great fun and very frustratilng at the same time. Speed is only a matter of money and talent is cost free (ish)

jK

[RoyalCBR]

I think the 11v Lipo was for the TX?

Totally agree about getting something easy to fix. I have raced at Taplow quite a few times and the majority of the 2WD cars are Losi 22s and Ansmann X2Cs (the pro version of the Mad Monkey).

My thoughts:

• Mad Monkey kit
• Radio system - have a look here
• Stick Lipo - anything really (get 2 if you can)
• Servo - go for a Savox if you can afford it
• AA batteries for your Radio
• 9.0t brushless should be fine to get you going

Some things you have missed:

• ESC - speedo, I use Hobbywing nice and cheap and on ebay
• PT (personal transponder) you could borrow one of these when at your club night

I know how confusing everything can be, one of the best things would be to go along to a club and see if anyone has anything for sale 2nd hand or check out the oOple FOR SALE section.

Hope that helps, Mark

[mattybucks]

Originally Posted by RoyalCBR

- plus it transformed my club racing

Did it??

[bomboms]

Originally Posted by ShaneyB

Thanks Neil,
I will race at a club but thought I'd spend a while getting used to the car first before I turn up at a meet and embarress myself.

I am SO confused on which car to go for......

Can get a Mad Monkey Kit with the the following spec for around £300.00 + tools

1 x Ansmann Racing Mad Monkey £65.00
1 x Etronics AX3G LED Controller £32.99
1 x Metal Servo £17.99
1 x Brushless 9.0T Motor £69.99
1 x 7.4v LiPo Battery £24.99
1 x 11v LiPo Battery £42.99
1 x Core RC UAC50 Fast Charger £45.99
1 x Tool Kit £15.99
1 x Set Alkaline Batteries £ 4.00

Total £319.93

Any thoughts??

Dont get a ansmann as they may not be making parts or cars anymore

[JCJC]

Originally Posted by bomboms

Dont get a ansmann as they may not be making parts or cars anymore

is that true ?