Dead Men Walking

I'm thinking of getting a radio controlled car/truck/jeep/tank/whatever for me and the lad to play with.

Looking for something with lower speed and higher torque, rather than the usual 'sh!t off a stick' models that have two speeds (fast/stop).

Battery powered, not petrol or nitro  :D.

Anyone any experience with radio controlled stuff and what would be a good purchase?

QuoteOriginally posted by Thulsa Doom@Feb 22 2005, 11:10 AM
I'm thinking of getting a radio controlled car/truck/jeep/tank/whatever for me and the lad to play with.

Looking for something with lower speed and higher torque, rather than the usual 'sh!t off a stick' models that have two speeds (fast/stop).

Battery powered, not petrol or nitro :D.

Anyone any experience with radio controlled stuff and what would be a good purchase?

[post=77988]Quoted post[/post]

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off-road buggy or on road racer?

over the years I've owned various RC cars. Started with a fast/slow tamia special which did in fact rock, progressed to a 1/24th scale F1 racer that I had to build sans instructions, front suspension is still weird, but otherwise is very cool while the battery lasts - fully proportional steering and speed control. My favourite though is a "nitro" powered Kyosho buggy, loads of fun!

I think you could find a decent electric buggy, though you're more likely to get a speed controller with minimal settings (often only 2 or 3 forward speeds)

I believe the monster trucks are probably a decent bet for better torque, though you can always replace motors and battery packs with better ones :)

Off road would be best, something that can go across grass/dirt etc easily

p.s. If my memory serves corretctly TRAXXAS were one of the best for trucks.
http://www.traxxas.com/support/contact_info.htm (http://www.traxxas.com/support/contact_info.htm)
I think Mugen and Kyosho were pretty decent as well. They might be more aimed at the enthusiast/racer rather than casual messing about, but they should deliver quality! Then again the little Tamyia I owned years ago was great fun too and was, at the time, considerably cheaper (probably about £50 in ~1989?) than the more advanced types of RC cars.

edit: anythnig like a truck/buggy should do fine offroad. 1/12th to 1/8th scale is typical, much smaller and it'll get stuck in the grass, much bigger and it starts to get silly :)

then again there's the tanks...
http://www.backyardartillery.com/tanks/ (http://www.backyardartillery.com/tanks/)

Never had one of them, I like faster cars myself. Pick a car style (buggy/truck/tank) that you likw and decide on a budget (I've not bought anything in ages, but I'd imagine you're looking at £50 for a basic car, £100 for a pretty nice one that might be uapgradeable/repairable, and then the sky's the limit depending how serious/insane you become  8)

My little F1 car was sold at a discounted price of £50 or £80 or something because it didn't have a box or instructions. I think my nitro Kyosho was about £150 and that was a few years ago. It's in need of serious overhaul (possibly a new engine...) Electric cars aren't as hard to look after, but you can't just top up the tank and carry on terrorising traffic :whistle:

one more post...
I think I bought my F1 car from ModelSport http://www.modelsport.co.uk/ (http://www.modelsport.co.uk/) but that was years ago I I bought it direct from a hobby store, somewhere in london. If you know of a shop that sells RC cars that's probably your best bet, they shoul dbe able to help you pick if they are a good shop (look for a good range of cars, including the high-spec models as the less-good dealers don't tend to stock those...imho)

cheers, should help me.

Yeah, generally best to go the kit car road rather than any ready to run rubbish generally. I bought one a while ago called "mad bull" from tamiya which was pretty nifty, also had a RC Mini cooper which was crazy until someone stood one it!  :(

Me and the lad? Yeah right. "All right son stop snivelling, you can have a go later. When you're 24!"  :D

QuoteOriginally posted by Doorman@Feb 22 2005, 03:05 PM
Me and the lad? Yeah right. "All right son stop snivelling, you can have a go later. When you're 24!" :D

[post=78029]Quoted post[/post]

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I reckon get two and race 'em. None of my friends ever bought a RC car. Had to settle for racing on bikes by doing timed laps around a church and racing skateboards down the (rather steep) hill outside my house. :D

QuoteOriginally posted by Thulsa Doom+Feb 22 2005, 11:10 AM-->

QUOTE(Thulsa Doom @ Feb 22 2005, 11:10 AM)

I'm thinking of getting something radio controlled for me and the lad to play with.[/b]

Check.  

QuoteOriginally posted by Thulsa Doom@Feb 22 2005, 11:10 AM
Looking for something with lower speed and higher torque, rather than the usual 'sh!t off a stick' models that have two speeds (fast/stop).

I know something that fits this bill although the torque curve may be higher than you might be expecting.

QuoteOriginally posted by Thulsa Doom@Feb 22 2005, 11:10 AM
Battery powered, not petrol or nitro :D.

Hmmm, well it defintely has _some_ batteries in it.