| Tips On Buying Your First RC Car |  | | Buying Tips | | Every RC enthusiast at one time or another faces the task of choosingwhether to go for a Nitro or an Electric Model.To get a frank opinion on this it is always better to ask people withvarious demographic backgrounds who essentially have different tasteand choices. This makes it easier to know the real pros and cons ofany choice. Those who feel passionately may have prejudices overtheir opinion and may not tell the cons too frankly. Similarly those whoprefer not to agree may prefer to overlook the pros of a model.In the end you should have all sorts fr opinions about each category ormodel and the final choice should always be your own, that makesyour feel comfortable, suits your budget, is easier for you to handleand costs you less maintenance. You should not make your choicesjust because someone else prefers to choose it and then maybe youare not comfortable with it later on.The foremost criteria for anyone is the investment in a hobby or thecost. The budget needs to be fixed. As such electric kits come fall inthe less expensive category for initial investment. Although they cangive much enjoyment, you end up paying more for the battery packs,battery chargers, accessories, etc. This in the long run means that youhave more stuff for maintenance later on and it also means that therecurring costs for these are substantial. Over time, the totalinvestment in parts ends up beingequivalent to a Nitro car.Care must be taken when choosing an electric set up. The importantthing is to buy a quality set up. A cheap set up would require soonerreplacement and more repairs. Packs of quality batteries and a qualitycharger will bring down your recurring costs in the long run.Nitro kits come in expensive with the initial investment. Even thoughyou can buy inexpensive engines or accessories, their initial costswould be more than the electric ones.Another criteria that affects the cost is the maintenance and operation.As discussed earlier recurring costs for an electric model can in the endcompare to the initial cost of a Nitro pack. Another factor that greatlyinfluences the recurring cost is the frequency of use and tracks. If youare using your model on rough tracks then it would obviously requiremore maintenance and regular use of your tool kit or cleaningequipment.Both the types of models have their own typical power systems thatrequire regular maintenance. Frequency of operation or frequency ofuse of your model would cause faster wear and tear and would meanregular maintenance.If your model does not meet any mishap, crash or breakdown eventhen nitro vehicles require much more maintenance than electric ones.For an electric kit their batteries need to be taken care of properly,conditioned properly and stored at proper temperatures, etc tomaintain their charge.In a nut shell, the over all cost difference between the two is not muchbut the only difference lies between the initial investments of both.Therefore if cost is not as much a determining factor you can chooseany model, but if you are short of dimes then it is safe to go in for anelectric setup. These would not only require much maintenance and iftaken care properly would give great enjoyment to an RC enthusiast.There's more to running an R/C car or truck than the vehicle itself.Usually all models come with all necessary equipment and accessoriesrequired for running of the car. Electric vehicles require a two channelradio, motor(s), speed control and battery. Gas vehicles require aradio, engine, fuel and muffler. Some or all of these items may beincluded with the vehicle but additional purchases may be required forsome as well. It is important to read the read the product descriptioncarefully for details.Most RC cars have a retail price, which is the suggested selling price.But note that most hobby shops sell kits for 20 - 40% less than theretail price, which is called the street price. To get the best deal on RCcars, when shopping, always pay the street price and not the retailprice.You can get RC cars from a local hobby shop (LHS) or order it fromonline hobby shops. Buying your model from a local hobby shop ismuch more preferable. If the shop owner is helpful, you get a lot ofadvice and useful tips to help you get started. Local hobby shops alsousually keep spare parts which you can easily buy. It's also nice tosupport your local hobby shop, they help set up racing tracks, organizeraces, and keep the RC hobby alive in your area. But if you live in anarea where such local hobby shops are non-existent or not up to themark or you are not happy with the person on the sales counter, youcan also opt to purchase from the online hobby stores.To get the best deals on Remote Control cars form online stores, lookfor special offers, clearance sales and discount coupons. Remember tofactor in the shipping cost. Payment is easily done via credit cards.Some models may also require items such as pinion, tires, wheels andbody. If one has purchased the model from online hobby shop, thendetails of all such requirements may be obtained from accessoriesrequired links for the model on their website. One can choose from thelist to see the items needed. If you order by phone, ask for help fromthe friendly Sales and Service representatives who should tell youexactly what you'll need for each specific car or truck.Most R/C vehicles use 2-channel radio systems. They will usually notinclude batteries, so you'll need to buy alkaline cells or rechargeableNiCad to power the transmitter and the receiver. If you drive anelectric model and have a BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuitry) equippedradio system, you can power the receiver from your motor's batterypack.Another consideration when choosing an R/C car or truck is makingsure that you'll be able to get replacement parts quickly and easily—that way, if anything breaks, you won't be stuck in neutral for verylong.Manufacturers also make “aftermarket" parts available along withdirect replacement parts. These parts may be wheels, tires, bodies,suspension and steering components, decals, etc. These can be usedto improve your model's performance and customize its looks. | |  | | | | | |
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1/10th Nitro
