Matteeboy

The big kid in me wants an RC buggy - of course the little boy (5 months old) can have it once he is old enough.

Want electric, 1/10 scale. 4WD and buggy shaped.

Looking at the Kyosho Lazer and a couple of Tamiyas (Dark Impact maybe) with a better than standard motor.

Any pointers? Don't want to go silly priced as it's only for larking about on the beach or in the garden. And hopefully it might scare the **** out of the moles that have made our place into a mini Mud Alps.

T5OLF

iTrader: (4)

Brushless is what one want. Might be a bit quick for the back garden though

YouTube - Brushless TC4 - 121.7mph/196kmh

davyboy

Are you sure the wife will let you buy it

When I was a child, I bought Tamiya.

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

The Tamiya Dark Impact is a belter for a starter buggy. Almost identical to my aged Gravel Hound, athough very few parts on mine are standard now

Main thing to watch is the shock towers on big jumps, mine are replaced with aluminium ones now. They run fine on sandy beaches too.

EddScott

If it were me I would take the Lazer if your looking at electric only.

However, I would look on ebay for a little used ready to run 1/8 rallycross buggy - nitro.

Don't have to wait between runs, much faster and much more satisfying to control.

1/8 Rallycross is my favorite class closely followed by 1/10 4WD off-road.

Actually I would probably go retro and get one of the re-manufactured Hotshots that Tamiya have out. Or if I had a couple of hundred to waste an original Avante or Egress (unbuilt kits can be over £1000).

Matteeboy

Davy - I am "allowed" on this one. I am also allowed to book a nice place in Biarritz in May (any recommendations anyone?) and have been told that now is not the ideal time to buy a new car but that when we do, it will be a 335d Touring - so I am making progress...!

I like the idea of Nitro but they are bloody noisy and not sure if I can be bothered with the fuel (getting hold of it). I'd get a spare battery and have enough rechargeable AAs to fill a skip.

Lazer is edging it - I loved the "Optima" when I was a kid. Also loved the BigWig but they don't make them any more. Schumacher Cat would be best but well over £300 is just too much for a little toy!

Matteeboy

Bravo - open to suggestions really. As you can tell, I know very little about them but loved my little RC buggy when I was a young un. Trouble was, it was a pre-built Nikko job (1/10 scale) and not very quick. All my mates had top end cars and now I can buy one, I want one!

If anyone can suggest a reasonable nitro buggy for sensible money, I'd be interested. How expensive is the fuel?

EddScott

Electric - Duration depends on what type of cells you use and what type of motor. Budget 3 or 4 packs plus a decent fast charger and don't get a high spec motor because it will be uncontrollable - 19T Super Stock to start with will be just fine (I could beat a mate with a low wind mod with my Super Stock because it was just too fast for him)

Nitro - any of the RTR (Ready to Run) cars will do the job just fine

Hobao Off Road 1/8th Buggy

These will have good spares back up as you will break it at some point.

XR350003 - XRAY XB808 1/8TH LUXURY OFF ROAD BUGGY KIT

I raced the previous one to this and it was a work of art IMO.

Nothing better than 8 of these things on the start line - can't hear a foofing thing!

SirFozzalot

TRAXXAS do some nice stuff.

I've got a Revo 3.3 (nitro) but they do the E-Revo now which is the battery powered version!

TRAXXAS - Video Vault - E-Revo Brushless Edition

Here's mine in action









Clocked at 40mph last summer on grass.

Matteeboy

Brilliant info everyone - thanks!

speedymonkey

Ive got the Hotbodies Lightning and love it
Really fast, great over mildly ruff terrain and a hoot on a Bmx track

Parts are easy to source and cheap, and for a beginner/novice its a great buy




Never visited this place yet (only 40 minutes drive away from me), but theres a great outdoor 1/8th outdoor circuit in Preston, check out the circuit

Matteeboy

A lot of RTR cars seem to come with "trigger" transmitters which I'm afraid I hate. Do any/many come with "stick" ones? Much prefer them.

speedymonkey

I said the exact same thing when i bought mine, but after playing about with them both, the trigger style transmitters are miles easier IMO, i got to grips with mine really quickly

Having said that, the place i bought it from let me have a 'quick go' in the car park at the side of the shop the day i picked it up.
He said 'just take it easy and push the trigger forward if you need to brake ', i then proceded to give it full throttle straight into the far wall at near 40 mph felt like a right d1ck as the shop owner was screaming 'BRAKE!!!!!!' at me, just panicked so bad as it flew off

SirFozzalot

Same here. Much prefer trigger control now.

Traxxas spares are easy to source and cheap (online especially, ebay etc.), most model shops stock spares for traxxas. I found them very reliable and hard wearing compared to some other brands some of my friends were using. Traxxas are a bit more expensive to buy than, say, HPi, but you really get what you pay for. The traxxas stuff is really good quality and you get loads of extra stuff in the box, i.e. tools, spare shock oil and different rated springs/suspension brackets etc.

The Traxxas stuff also has the electric starter motor on board for the nitro cars, so no messing with a pull cord!

davyboy

Wouldn't it be better to find a local club so you can race the things?

I'd think after an hour on a beach it would get boring.

I used to race in the Tamiya Challenge, twice reaching the finals at the Malvern showground

Matteeboy

Davy - you've forgotten that we have a mahooosive garden full of "jumps" and all sorts. Fun on an MTB so bound to be fun with an RC car!

davyboy

I'd suggest I had more land to play on when I did it (including a full international motocross track), but it still gets boring.

Matteeboy

Davy - It's only for a bit of fun. It'll get a second round of use when the little one is old enough too.

Jamie

This my lil rc

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I have a Dark Impact and a Schumacher Menace Nitro, Dark Impact consigned to the cupboard when we got the Nitro.

EddScott

After an hour running an RC car on the beach it will be the only hour you get with it.

I royally knackered a Yokomo YZ10 Works '93 on the beach once. It was open diff mind!

speedmonkey - that track looks awesome and only 40 mins from you. My local club is over an hour away and not as big as that.

I would say if you can, go to a club. If you got a big garden OK but be careful running these things anywhere near anyone else. They can hurt and break bones.

YouTube - Girl getting hit with RC truck

This makes me lol.

Matteeboy

Probably made a terrible mistake but I've just bought one of these and ordered an 11.1v Li-po battery (and charger) to go with it. Should be fast!

BananaHobby - 1:10 XSTR-Pro 4x4 High Speed Brushless Racing Buggy Powered Radio Remote Control RTR Off Road Racer

YouTube - XSTR-PRO Brushless 4x4 RTR Off Road Race Buggy! Track Test!

EddScott

Looks OK but did you buy it from that US site? Don't know how they think its list price was $600. If it is imported it could cost if customs pick it up.

My only concern would be parts. Never heard of that make before.

Stick up some pics when you get it

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

This is bringing back the memories, back in the day I had an Associated RC10 and then a Schumacher CAT. Now that the kids are nearing the age I might have to look into all this again

Matteeboy

Edd - I bought it from an Aus shop.

TBH I'm not holding up massive hopes of it being anything amazing but it was pretty cheap and looks okay - done lots of checking around and it does seem well known in Oz, Canada, the US and for some reason, France.

The nearest I could find here was nearly £300 without a Lipo battery. This was £160 all in (extra Lipo battey, lipo charger, delivery)

Matteeboy

Bravo - they still sell most of the "old" Tamiya cars albeit with updated electronics. The Frog, Hornet, Hotshot, yours and many others - and they seem to attract a premium over Tamiya cars that are probably "better" in many ways design wise.

You'd easily be able to sort yours out - always liked the Boomerang.

Shame they don't do the BigWig any more - I loved that car!

Not much has moved on - except for brushless motors (the one I ordered has one) and Lithium Polymer batteries. Most come with conventional motors and NiMH batteries though it seems.