Car advice required for competition giveaway

[andysputnik]

We're thinking of running a competition, primarily for our clients as part of our newsletter (but then we thought we might just open it up to anyone).

We want to create a custom designed car, and being a design agency, we'd like it to look cool.

But we're also keen not to put form over function, so a respected (and of course fast) car would be perfect

A friendly man at Southport RC Club suggested a Team Associated RC10 B4. (as well as suggesting Oople to get more advice)

Although slightly more expensive, we noticed there's a 4 wheel drive version which has a much nicer spoiler for our designers to colour in.

So....any advice on the following would be appreciated;

• is that the right car for us?
• 2 or 4 wheel drive?
• where can we get custom decals made (are they still applied with water, its been over 20 years since I had a Hot Shot II)
• what about controllers, batteries etc

Many thanks

Andy
Team Sputnik

[Answer-RC-Pete]

2wd is simpler if its going to a noob
You can fit the 4wd spoiler off the B44 without a issue I should think.

The RTR is the best value *ready to run* as it comes with all electrics needed and is pre built, other than a battery and charger which can prob be had for as little as £20 for a very basic set up.

Custom decals - they are vinyl now and hell of a lot better than waterslide crap. Plenty of places - sure a few people will post up here about who offers what in respect to that.

Pete

[DCM]

if you want something, that you can advertise, then you wouldn't go far wrong with a Team Associated SC10 RTR truck.

[andysputnik]

Originally Posted by Answer-RC-Pete

2wd is simpler if its going to a noob
You can fit the 4wd spoiler off the B44 without a issue I should think.

The RTR is the best value *ready to run* as it comes with all electrics needed and is pre built, other than a battery and charger which can prob be had for as little as £20 for a very basic set up.

Custom decals - they are vinyl now and hell of a lot better than waterslide crap. Plenty of places - sure a few people will post up here about who offers what in respect to that.

Pete

Thanks for your help

Can you explain why 2wd is simpler than a 4wd?

If we dont go RTR, what would be missing? I think the guys here would like to put a bit of ourselves into it. It comes without electrics?

[c0sie]

A kit would require (99% of the time, anyways)
Transmittor, receiver, ESC, motor, servo, cells and possibly wheels'n' tires to complete.

Plus the paint for the bodyshell.

Hope that helps?

[andysputnik]

any suggestions on reputable suppliers also welcome, or should I just leave that to Google?

[Welshy40]

Its down to ease of building it. If a newbie who has not done this before building a 2wd would be an easier task to do than a 4wd. Not saying that you couldnt but one gearbox is much easier than two.

The B4 RTR comes with everything in and is task free, so is really down to what you want, to build it yourself and add a specific named brand esc, servo and radio.

[Si Coe]

I'd certainly second that a truck is a good idea. Since Associated looks like the popular choice then the T4 or SC10 would be the way to go. Trucks offer lots of lovely flat areas on the shell for doing fancy stuff and being bigger its that bit clearer. And they still race them at Southport!

Depending on your budget personally idea say that for the best form and function effect I'd go for the T4 with a few nice blue alloy bits on it, matched to an LRP brushless system (an Eraser would be cheap and beginner friendly whilst still fast) in a similar blue.

[shanks]

In my humble opinion no point going for one of the race cars at all really (rc10 b4, b44 etc etc)

Why not look at something from Traxxas - i.e. the Traxxas Slash.

Theese are available ready to run (RTR) so little build knowledge required.

They are far tougher than any other 1/10th buggy that i know of - very good for a newbie who is going to crash it.

Parts are far cheaper than most other makes - and readily available.

The Traxxas Slash although 1/10th is loads bigger than buggies - so more room to get your designs onto....

Have a look see what you think

[andysputnik]

Originally Posted by Si Coe

I'd certainly second that a truck is a good idea. Since Associated looks like the popular choice then the T4 or SC10 would be the way to go. Trucks offer lots of lovely flat areas on the shell for doing fancy stuff and being bigger its that bit clearer. And they still race them at Southport!

Depending on your budget personally idea say that for the best form and function effect I'd go for the T4 with a few nice blue alloy bits on it, matched to an LRP brushless system (an Eraser would be cheap and beginner friendly whilst still fast) in a similar blue.

Good point about the Race Spec having blue components. Our branding is red, not that we couldnt work around it.

[peetbee]

Use Nosram instead then, plenty of red there. There's a few places that would do anodising for you if you really wanted to push the boat out, so you needn't worry about what colour it comes as.

The SC10 would have great appeal to non-RC people and judging by the comments on here, it would have great appeal to RC people too!

[andysputnik]

Thanks for all the comments so far. I dont think we're scared of building something, especially if it gives us a chance to customise it.

We felt something as close to F1 as possible would be appropriate for the kind of campaign we had in mind. Buggy might just win over truck on that score.

We're keen that what we give away is not perceived to be a toy, but something of high standard - even if it ends up in the hands of a newbie who crashes it.

[ashleyb4]

Lots of diffrent cars on the market lots of diffrent places to get them from.

Check out some of the manafactures websites look though there produsts and see what you like the look of.....

http://www.teamassociated.com/

http://www.losi.com/

http://www.traxxas.com/

http://www.tamiya.com/

http://www.hpiracing.com/

http://www.hbeurope.com/

http://www.xfactorystore.com/

As for UK suppliers check out.....

http://www.dms-racing.com/

A

[sosidge]

Originally Posted by andysputnik

Thanks for all the comments so far. I dont think we're scared of building something, especially if it gives us a chance to customise it.

We felt something as close to F1 as possible would be appropriate for the kind of campaign we had in mind. Buggy might just win over truck on that score.

We're keen that what we give away is not perceived to be a toy, but something of high standard - even if it ends up in the hands of a newbie who crashes it.

If you want something that looks like F1... then why not an F1 car?

Tamiya will be launching their F104 soon which will have a clear body and is more or less a replica of the '08 spec cars...



Aside from that, a 2wd or 4wd buggy is probably the closest to an "F1" look with open wheels and wings. If all it needs to be is a promotional paintjob then there is not much to choose between the many models on offer. Obviously an unpainted shell will be required.

Stickers are printed on clear vinyl, the water-transfer decals are from static models. I daresay that if you wanted a custom all-paint job on the car there are a few painters on this forum that are capable of an amazing one-off job.

[Si Coe]

Given your line of thinking, then the Team Xtreme Predator is probably what you are looking for. A more F1ish buggy you will not find. Of course the price tag is a bit steep for your purposes, but nothing yells 'design' like a Pred.
See if you can get the anodised bits done in red, fit Nosram instead of LRP (internally its the same) and paint fancy logos on the front and rear wings.
Would look mega bling, but its gonna cost yer!