How to Choose the Right RC Car

So you've just seen your friend's new RC car or maybe you saw some cool videos on YouTube and you're ready to have your own bit of fun, that's great. But Wait! Before you go out and buy that RC car, truck, buggy, or whatever, you need to understand the pros and cons of all the different types. Hopefully when you're done reading this you'll have a pretty good idea of what's best for you.
Electric Power vs Gas Power
The first thing we're going to take a look at is the power plant. There are two ways your RC car can be powered, electrically with a battery or with gas engine (Sorry, no hybrids).
Gas or Nitro Powered RC:
Some gas powered RC cars or trucks are powered by just gas (oil separate), others are powered by a mixture of gas and oil, but most of the ones you see will be powered by nitro methane (also called Nitro Fuel or Glow Fuel). You can get nitro fuel at pretty much any RC hobby store or online. Nitro-powered RCs make more power and are faster than electric-powered RCs. Some of the disadvantages of nitro-powered RCs are that they are heavier, so when crashed they are more likely to break, they require gas and oil, which can get expensive if you're getting nitro fuel, they also tend to get messier because of gas leaks or spills, oil, and such, they may require tune ups before being used, usually when you get a new one you will have to break it in by running it around for a few tanks of fuel (without going full throttle).
Pros: Faster, more powerful
Cons: heavier so more likely to break when crashed, require special fuel, require oil, may require tune ups, messier, need to be broke in.
Electric Powered (EP) RC:
Electric-powered vehicles are geared more towards beginners, but don't be fooled some of these little guys can hold their ground with nitro-powered RCs. Although they don't have as much power as gas-powered RC cars they get all the power to the wheels faster, pretty much instant torque you could say, this helps them get off the line faster than a gas-powered RC would. They pretty much come ready to go. No gas or oil needed. All you need to do is charge your battery, plug it up, and let it rip. Another nice thing is that they're quieter, so you won't have to worry about your neighbors complaining, but a lot of people love the noisiness of the little gas-powered engines.
Pros: Easier to maintain, cheaper, no need to break in, quieter
Cons: less powerful, tend to be slower, quieter
Car, Truck, or Buggy?
There are three main classes of on-land RC vehicles, they are: car, truck, and buggy. Let's go through each one and describe the differences and capabilities.
RC Car:
If you're looking for speed an RC car is what you need. Some can reach speeds of 40+mph. They even have a few that will go 80-100+mph! There are a few main types of RC cars: drift cars, on-road, and rally car.
Drift cars are usually EP (electric powered) and are great if you have nice smooth roads or a parking lot near your house.
On-road RC cars are made just for driving on road and can be raced around on asphalt and cement surfaces.
Rally cars are just like the real thing, they can be driven on-road or you can take them off-road on the gravel. They're not made for serious off-roading use.
RC Truck:
RC trucks are great if you want some off-roading fun. There are monster trucks, short course trucks, and stadium trucks.
Monster trucks are great for off-road bashing and mudding (if waterproof!). They also look pretty cool!
Short course trucks, or SC trucks for short, are growing more popular and are now being raced competitively. They are more durable than most RC vehicles so they're great for racing. They're also good if you want to have a little fun in your backyard but might want to go to your local RC track.
Stadium trucks are a cross between a monster truck and a buggy. Stadium trucks are near always 2WD (rear wheel drive). If you look at one you'll notice that the tires are out away from the body, the wide stance of these off-roaders helps with stability and keeps the inside somewhat cleaner.
Buggy:
RC buggies are very popular. They have a good mix between on-road capabilities, like speed, and off-road capabilities, like jumping hills and dirt piles. They do well on or off-road. They are usually 2WD so you won't be doing any rock climbing with them.
What Size: 1/16th, 1/10th, 1/8th or 1/5th?
When you're looking to buy an RC vehicle you will always find one of these numbers. These numbers stand for sizes. With 1/16th being the smallest and 1/5th being the largest. There are smaller sizes like 1/32th. Before you buy, if you plan on upgrading your motor, engine, or other parts, make sure the size you're buying has lots of options. For example a 1/32th size RC vehicle won't have many available upgrades, but a 1/10 or 1/8 will have a lot more. When you're buying your RC vehicle it should give you the exact measurements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7740981

 

Drifting RC Cars Make For a Fantastic Hobby

Drifting RC cars as a hobby is becoming more and more popular. This is hardly surprising given the increased interest in real drift racing. To drift means to slide sideways through the corners, and this style of racing, which is concerned more with flash and aesthetics than outright speed, is a whole genre of racing in itself. It functions as a fantastic spectator sport, with howling engines and screeching tires galore making it often far more exciting than more traditional racing. As a result, many people, young and old, are pursuing this form of racing as a hobby, with dedicated RC cars instead of real ones.
Types Of RC Car
Drifting RC cars do not have to be substantially different to any other kind. This mirrors the fact that in real racing, almost any kind of vehicle can be drifted to some extent. However, some types of car drift more readily than others, and there are certainly tendencies towards using particular kinds of RC car for drifting. RC drift cars are typically electric and four-wheel-drive. There are variations on this however, and some are fuel-powered and rear-wheel-drive, which is more similar to many of the real cars.
Tires
One of the most important elements to drifting RC cars is the tires. In order to drift successfully, it is important to reduce the traction the car has in the turns. Attempting to drift without addressing this issue is typically a frustrating experience, since it will be almost impossible to maintain a drift for long. Either it will be impossible to break the traction of the tires in the first place or the car will immediately slow down to a crawl once a drift has been achieved. For this reason, look for dedicated drift tires, which are designed primarily to reduce traction as much as possible and provide a slippery surface with which to slide.
Technique
It is important to remember that the drifting technique is not easy to master. Anyone can make a car skid if they try hard enough, but maintaining a controlled drift takes a lot of practice and patience. This is as true with drifting RC cars as it is with their full-size counterparts. It is often a good idea to practice the basic techniques in an empty parking lot or something similar before entering any kind of event. You will likely find that once you have maintained a drift or two, you begin to develop the knack quite quickly.
Conclusion
Drifting RC cars is a great pastime. Just like the real thing, this style of racing is often far more exciting than the more traditional type. Rather than just going as fast as possible, the goal is to drive smoothly and dramatically through the turns and make a great show for the spectators. You can get started in this hobby quite easily, and there is no reason to break the bank just to get a good RC car as a starting point. Get a suitable model, get practicing and have fun!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7267789

How to Convert Your RC Car Into Drift Spec

Remote Control Drifting is taking off in a big way, in this article I show you step by step how to convert that old 1/10 touring car into a drifters dream machine. It's very simple and generally only takes a couple of hours, using this practical guide I'll have you sideways before you know it.What exactly is drifting?
In a nut shell drifting is the art of changing the angle of attack of your car, while still maintaining full control, so in a typical drift driver X approaches the corner and turns in hard too early, this will bring the rear of the car around, Driver X will then turn back into the slide and keep the car going around the corner while maintaining as much angle and speed as possible, then he will over correct and throw the car into another slide right after the first one, with as little straight lining as possible.
Can a RC car Drift?
Yes, if you've ever been involved with RC racing, you know the level of setup that even the basic RC Cards come with, and drifting is no exception. While a stock standard RC car can drift out of the box, there are some basic setup and chassis modification that will help you get more angle, speed and chicks.
Where do I start?
The first thing you need is a RC car, I'll use two examples, both of which I've had personal experience with, the Tamiya TT01 and the Tamiya TA05. The first step to drifting is to break that traction, due to the power to weight ratio of RC Cars we need a little help, Drift Tires are all you need to get sideways, but there is a little more you can do if you want to compete. If you can't find RC Drift tires you can use insulation tape, be sure to wrap it in the same direction that the wheel will be turning, a good trick is to lay it down and roll you RC Car over it, this is the right way, Taped tires tend to work best on surfaces that already have a little to no traction, i.e. an underground parking lot, but they don't last long. Drift tires all have different tractions, more traction = bigger drifts, but this is useless if you need to compete on a tight track as the amount of torque used to break traction will also generate a lot of speed, in the end it's down to personal preference.
What next?
Okay so you taped your tires and played around a bit, not we need to get the car to be more predictable, all the standard racing setting apply, shocks, ride height and wheel angles are up to you, but if there is a must have it's the rear differential, you need to lock it, this is also know as a spool diff, basically it means that both wheels must turn at the same time. The result is a car that will break and regain traction on command, the drifts will also be much easier to control, more throttle = more angle, less throttle = less angle.
TT01
The Tamiya TT01 uses a planetary gear setup for the rear diff, which is easy to convert (and convert back should you change your mind later) the two most command ways to lock this diff are 1. Open the Diff and fill it with glue from a glue gun, or 2. Take a small piece of fuel tubing ,cut it open along it's length, and roll this around one of the planetary gears. Once done close the diff and check if it give the desired result before you put it back. The other option is to buy a hop-up spool diff.
TA05
The TA05 uses a ball diff at the back and the front, this is not as easy to modify, but it can be done. The way I modified mine was to use pop rivets. I opened the diff and removed the ball bearings and metal plates that the balls run along. I then drilled three small holes in the side, getting both halves of the diff. I then pop riveted them together and filed down the rivets. This worked, but be careful. 1. It's not reversible and if you make a mistake the diff will be destroyed. 2. It doesn't last long, eventually the forces that go through the diff will destroy this because it's been weakened by holes. A Spool diff is available for the TA05 and this is the preferred options.
What about the front diff?
Now that we have a solid platform we can experiment with slightly different setups to find the one that suites us best, this varies from car to car, but the principle is the same. I personally love using a front one-way diff, or a center one-way diff for more control. The downside is that using brakes at any time is the same as using you e-brake (hand-brake) in a real car, the tail will slide around in a 180, while this can be useful to initiate a drift and transition to a second drift from the first it's very easy to spin out, so most people prefer not to use the one-ways. Once again this is down to personal preference.
Why drifting is much better than racing.
Well I love both, but from the drifting side it takes a lot more skill and a lot less car, what I mean is that while racing takes skill, you can compensate with an awesome car, there is no way a TT01 will consistently win in a race against a carbon fibre racing machine. But with drifting you can, a TT01 can out perform any car out there, yes it will be difficult, but so much of drifting is down to driver skill that anything can happen. This being the case it's also possible to get into drifting with very little financial backing (unlike racing)
I hope this article has given you some idea's about drifting, please feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions or need any advice, advice is always free, like the rest of my site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1332671

The Fast New Trend of Drifting RC Cars

The Fast New Trend of Drifting RC Cars

The recreational sport of racing remote controlled cars has taken a long overdue turn towards the drifting scene. Enthusiasts are designing, building and drifting RC cars on professionally designed courses. The RC cars are fast, sexy, and realistic with the names of popular manufacturers' from the drifting world adorning the fenders and wheel wells as seen on traditional, life-sized race cars. The ability of these drivers to control their cars into hairpin turns and figure eights, at breakneck speeds, while the vehicle is sliding seemingly uncontrollably, is profound and awe-inspiring. The new trend is expected to reach a larger global audience as the sport takes wind and grows as fast as the turning wheels of the RC cars they race.
The dedication to accuracy and realism
For many drifting RC car owners, racing is more than a hobby and the level of commitment to every detail of the car becomes important. Owners try to make their vehicles as close to the combustion version as possible, all the way down to miniature rivets and racing swag decals stickered to the side like sponsored advertisements. The tires are specially designed for use on drift cars and allow the vehicle to slide in the manner that is the trademark concept of the sport. The wheels are lightweight and also designed to resemble the actual manufacturers who produce the wheels used on professional drift racing cars. From the wheels to sway bars and exhaust tips, the cars look, function, and respond the way an actual drift car would.
Tracks that mirror a real world racing circuit, at a fraction of the size
To accommodate the technologically advanced and precision engineered remote controlled cars, enthusiasts commission the construction of elaborate and accurate model road course circuits. Oftentimes the course is equipped with tight turns and all of the obstacles seen on public roads and highways. It is common to see lanes and exits painted on the model roads to offer some measure of challenge and accuracy to the expert drifters, while beginner courses sometimes utilize miniature cones to act as regulators and guides.
Learn from the pros at competitions or online tutorials
The internet is bristling with content for individuals interested in joining leagues dedicated to the sport of drifting RC cars. There are international contests and competitions such as the Korea RC Street Drift Challenge that invite professionals from all over the world to strut their savvy slides before a live audience and professional camera crew. Guidance can be found online to assist in the design, fabrication, or purchase of a circuit ready drift car or as a tool for getting tips to drifting, handed down from credible and capable RC drifters.
The RC world is experiencing the same explosion of interest as the racing scene did at the introduction of drifting. The screeching engines and whiplash turns keep participation high and attentions focused, while the speed and realistic look of the individual cars keep the hobby modern and flashy. With the growing popularity of the sport, the world of RC drifting should expect faster cars and cooler tracks in the very near future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6903343

Drifting for Beginners: How to Drift Your Car in 3 Easy Steps

Drifting is becoming more and more popular by the minute. Everywhere we see, on the street and in the stores, drifting is on fire. Ever since drifting busted out onto the mainstream with help from Hollywood movies and with the increase in drifting fans, the surge for wanting to learn how to drift, like they see in the movies has grown rapidly.
Sure drifting looks easy, just drive really fast and get your car sideways and smoke the rear tires. But as you'd know if you've already tried drifting, it isn't as easy as they make it look on the big screen.
Here's a short drifting lesson for beginners. The very basics of drifting. First, here's what you need:
1. You need a car - preferably rear wheel drive.
2. It should be a manual car preferably. Automatics are harder to drift but not impossible.
3. You need to go practice in a wide open area where its legal and safe. Drift days are the place to go.
4. You'll need some spare tires. Obviously.
Now, here's what to do:
1. You want to practice doing circles or donuts in one spot on the donut pad or wide open flat area around a pilon / cone. DON'T go straight to the circuit trying to drift around corners on your first time attempting drift.
Do donuts to the right, then change and do circles to the left. Start with small circles and then get bigger.
2. Once you have mastered the donuts, you can start to use the handbrake and try some 180 degree spins. Set up 2 pilons about 100 feet apart and go up and back doing 180 handbrake turns.
You shouldn't try to drift out of the turns yet, just get used to your handbrake and feeling of the slide of your car. Once you can get it nice and smooth, you can try drifting out of the slide.
NOTE: Keep the handbrake on for longer than a split second. Slide it right around with the handbrake until you're facing the way you want to go then you can power out.
3. Keeping the 2 pilons where they are, you can now try figure-8 drifting around the pilons. Just like you we're doing in the 180 degree spins, use your handbrake to slide it right around and then power out straight, lining yourself up for the other side of the pilon at the other end. Repeat and try to get close to the pilons with your ront bumper as you can - touching the clipping point - just like the pro drift drivers!
Try these beginners drifting tips before you hit the track and total your car. Just like any sports, practice makes perfect and the right training when learning how to drift will keep you and your car safe so you can live to drift another day.

Source : http://goarticles.com/article/Drifting-for-Beginners-How-to-Drift-Your-Car-in-3-Easy-Steps/685482/

Slide into Success with an RC Drift Car

Slide into Success with an RC Drift Car

Have you ever seen a car chase in a movie where one car slides sideways while taking a high-speed turn? Or, have you ever driven on a slick road, and panicked when your wheels lost traction and your vehicle started sliding sideways? In today's RC Car world, these scenarios describe drifting, which is the art of making the entire car go sideways without losing control. This new, challenging driving skill has made the RC Drift Car one of the most popular cars in the RC world.
In preparing for this hobby-gone-competition, it's good to know that you can buy RC cars which are already set up for drifting, such as the Sprint 2 Drift car from HPI, or you can customize any 4 wheel drive (4WD) on-road, touring type car. Below are the basic RC drift car set-ups, plus some additional options you can try.
Why Modify?
A 4WD RC car is a necessity in order to get the front and rear ends to drift (go sideways), and to prevent looping (360 degree turn). Electric RC cars are preferable because of their lighter weight and motor durability whereas Nitro RC cars are more likely to suffer damage due to over-revving the motor when the wheels start spinning.
Tires
RC drift cars sold today use special hard-rubber tires that lose traction easier than normal tires. However, because these tires are a bit expensive, many have looked to a popular and cheaper alternative to tires by using PVC pipe around the wheels to achieve the same drifting. To do this, cut 4 pieces of pipe of to the width of the wheels. Using a vise around two boards, press the pipe onto the outside of the wheel. In addition to less cost, PVC also outlasts the hard drift-car tires.
Note: whether you choose to purchase hard tires or use customized PVC tires, you must alter all 4 wheels in order to achieve drifting.
Suspension (optional for most cars)
Most RC cars come out of the box with adequate suspension characteristics to make the car drift. However, a car will lose traction easier with a stiffer suspension. So, if you want to experiment with obtaining a firmer suspension, you can purchase stiffer springs and/or replace the oil in the shock absorbers with a "heavier" grade oil.
Motor
RC cars with stock motors don't have what it takes for drifting. If this is the case with your car, you'll need to upgrade the engine. In doing so, look for a balance between speed and torque (acceleration power). When choosing what to buy, remember the lower the number of engine turns, the higher the rate of speed. For example, a modified, high-performance 17-turn motor will deliver the right amount of speed and torque to get those tires spinnin' and keep 'em spinnin'! At about $40, it's a good, cheap upgrade to make your regular car into a drift car.
Drive Train (optional)
Because the limited -slip action on cars attempts to cancel one of the tires from spinning,
another option to achieve drifting is to lock up the front and rear differential gears. To keep the gears from slipping (all 4 wheels spinning), take a small piece of paper towel, wad it up and stuff it in the front and rear differentials. This little trick has the effect of making a 4WD into an AWD (all wheel drive), which gives longer lasting drift performance.
How to Drift
Now that you have either purchased an RC drift car, or modified an existing 4WD, you're ready to roll! Test your drifting skills by taking a turn at high speed. As the rear tires lose traction, steer the car into the skid and the front tires will pull the front end in the same direction. Remember, the primary goal is to keep from looping the car. When you master the technique, the next challenge is to keep the car in a drift for as many feet as possible. Some of the best drivers have recorded 30 foot drifts! So, get your motor runnin'...now it's your turn!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Root

Nitro RC Drift Cars: How to Care For and Maintain Them

Nitro RC Drift Cars: How to Care For and Maintain Them

Nitro RC drift cars require constant maintenance if they are to run at their best. Compared to electric models, they are a bit harder to maintain, because their engine is more delicate and so needs frequent cleaning. In addition, with some Nitro RC drift cars that have an oil reservoir you will also have to change the lubricating oil quite often. And then there's the regular changing of tires, but this is something that's done just as often with electric RC drift cars. Though extra work, all this maintenance will seem really like play if you're passionate about RC drift cars.
Basic Maintenance
New cars tend to be sturdy and equipped with good engines, meaning that they can normally run without requiring hours of weekly maintenance. However, to get the most of them you have to carry out a series of basic maintenance tasks, as often as you can.
The first of these tasks is cleaning the engine and then tuning it. The engine of Nitro cars is more delicate than of electric cars, and so needs more careful handling. Setting it right from the beginning and keeping the dirt away from it will be necessary.
Then you must consider the fuel. Nitro RC cars usually run on a mix of Nitro methane, methanol, and oil. Just like with real-size cars, using high-quality fuel is crucial if the engine is to run smoothly. You should be especially careful to use clean fuel, otherwise the engine may be damaged.
Next you must see that all moving parts are in perfect condition. Lubricate them regularly so that they will work smoothly. After a few drifting sessions check them to ensure that they're in a good condition. If you don't lubricate the moving parts or if they are not fixed properly, you may see the endurance of your cars decrease, or at worst the engine failure altogether. Also, note that each model may require specific maintenance tasks, so check your user manual.
Tires
RC drift cars require adequate tires to drift properly. Whenever you can afford it, buy manufactured drift tires because these make the car more controllable. Otherwise, make drift tires by yourself from ABS piping or PVC. ABS or PVC tires last for a short time, so changed them as often as possible, otherwise your car won't drift smoothly.
Chassis and Body


Good RC drift cars have a resistant chassis and body that requires little maintenance except cleaning with a cloth, brush, and warm water. Don't expose your cars to rain, snow, or direct sunlight. Also, don't deliberately crash your cars into other cars while drifting because even the sturdiest cars can be easily damaged. When it comes to aesthetic modifications, you should stick to paint and decals in the beginning. When you want to add LED light kits or wide body kits follow closely the instructions that come with the parts and wait for the glue to dry before starting a drifting session.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Davison