Newbie needs help and advice :)

[Diwrnach]

Something like this?

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

[Chris56]

Originally Posted by captainlip

just go brushless

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

[David Church]

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

[Diwrnach]

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.

[JCJC]

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 )

[Diwrnach]

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

[Chris56]

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!

[JCJC]

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.

[Diwrnach]

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?

[Chris56]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

thinking of getting this http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=35886 .

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

[Diwrnach]

Originally Posted by Chris56

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

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.

[Diwrnach]

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

[Chris56]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

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.

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.

[Chris56]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

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

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)

[Diwrnach]

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.

[tsan]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

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

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

[captainlip]

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

[Diwrnach]

Originally Posted by tsan

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

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

[Diwrnach]

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

[Chris56]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

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

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 £££