My R/C truck will be stealing my knife money!

The Stampede comes in either nitro or electric. I like nitro because they are usually faster and can be run longer than electric. Just buy the gas and go. They require more work with tuning etc. but are pretty fun to work on. The coolness factor is there too, I mean, it's NITRO! You should try and make it out to a track where you can watch different types of cars run, and ask at your local hobby shop. The stock pipes on them have the noise under control, but they make pipes that have them sounding like 2-stroke motorcycles. Once the truck is a few feet away, the sound diminishes a lot.
 
Hey,

I just finished my HPI RS4-3 Type SS, 1/10 scale nitro touring car with 1 HP motor, 2 speed trans :D This thing flys. Here's a pic of it with a Lambo body that I painted last weekend, to the left is a Tamiya Juggernaut (4X4X4 Electric Monster Truck, 4 wheel drive with 4 wheel steering) and in the background is an HPI Nitro Rush, 2WD stadium truck. Another expensive hobby.

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Ed
 
Those are some nice toys! I've heard of some of those RS4's doing over 70mph! Definitely expensive, but definitely fun! My Maxx is sitting in pieces right now because I blew out my whole rear end, so there's another $50 blown!
 
I got into the Kyosho Mini Z Racers. They are a lot of fun indoors, are RTR and have tons of hop-ups form various manufacturers. They are pretty cheap at about $140.00, the best thing is you can put model bodies on them. It's a blast watching the Batmobile, General Lee, Monkeymobile, Mach 5 and the Mystery Machine go at in a grueling 20 lap race.

Ed, sweet Lambo.
 
The cheap electric RC cars can be fun, too. You tape a bag of catnip to the roof and go trolling for cats. :)
 
Since my re-entry to RC I've discovered several things:

I remembered why I had two trucks before. So I could still play after breaking the first one.

The guys at the local hobby store got to know my name because I broke my trucks so often (like everytime I played with them).

RC Cars are faster AND my reaction times are slower than they used to be.

You have to visit the local Hobby Store a coulp etimes a week t keep the damn things running.

jmx

PS It would be easier if I could avoid crashing into things.
 
I have broken at least one thing every time I've taken mine out. Sometimes it costs $3, and sometimes ALOT more! My LHS is getting to know me pretty well.
 
what is the best way to go when you are just starting out. Nitro or electric?????:confused: .........Ira
 
They both have their own pros and cons. Nitro has more of a learning curve because of all the break in and tuning involved. I was a complete newbie to r/c when I got the T-Maxx. Once you see a nitro truck run, you'll probably want it over electric, they're just plain cool! I like Traxxas because they have a great website with a lot of support and troublshooting, and they also have a good forum (Yep ANOTHER one for me to hang out at!) Make sure the hobby shop you buy from has some good guys working there. You will be in there ALL the time, and it helps alot when the people are friendly and know what they're doing.
Nitro Pros:
Usually faster than electric
Gas it and go, no batteries
Can run all day, again, no batts to charge
Plenty of hop-ups to make them faster
They sound cool, and are basically just like little cars!
Nitro Cons:
Engines can be tricky to tune
Gas is about $25 a gallon (but you can get about 60 tanks of gas out of them)
The engine will not last forever. The leaner you run them, the faster they go, but the faster they burn out.
Most of the large hobby stores have a few types of cars they will let you test out. You can get a feel for what you like. Also, as a newbie, get a RTR (Ready to Run) model, that's what the T and E Maxx's are.
 
Thanks tknife. I have been thinking about this for Months. I have always wanted to get an R/C truck but I did not know if I should go nitro or electric. The Traxxas T-Maxx seems to be the "bad boy" of R/C and well worth the money. So I buy a nitro T-maxx, now would you be so kind as to tell me:

1. how do they start
2. How tough is the maintainance
3. What is the range
4. What type of Controller comes with the T-Maxx

Thanks guys!!!! Another hobby to melt a credit card!!!! :D :D :D
 
Hey Ira

I would second the nitro suggestion. I had an electric car (RC-10), and while fun, it seemed I spent as much time charging batteries as playing.

I bought an RTR nitro truck (HPI RS4MT)...spent a few hours breaking in the motor and tuning it (carb). Not too bad, my lower end truck has only one jetting adjustment. Some of the higher ones have a high speed and low speed adjustment. If you have done anything with dirt bikes or cars, it will be easy.

Mine has a pull start just like a lawnmower. Put a little battery on the glow plug and give the cord a few tugs and it burbles to life. Take off the battery and you're good to go.

I have driven mine about 100-150 feet away without problems. I also bought a little gizmo that shuts down the throttle and applies the brakes if it gets out of radio range or gets interference. My RC-10 got out of radio range a few times and all I could do is watch while it went full throttle into a log.

Maint. is not too bad. If you don't run into things (good luck) it is just basic cleaning and tightening stuff. Use Locktite. I put some oil through the motor after running...they have special stuff (Marvel Mystery Oil I heard). Clean and oil the tiny air filter once in a while.

You will have a ball...feel like a kid again. Take a trip down to the magazine rack and pick up a few RC magazines. Lots of good info in there.
 
Wolfmann, once you get over the sticker shock, you will LOVE the T-Maxx. Just wait till you're hauling along and hear it shift into second! It's got 2 speeds in forward AND reverse, and was the first to have that feature. (I love that!) It starts with an EZ Start motor, and you simply attach the EZ Start with a battery to a plug on the truck, push a button, and it heats the glow plug and turns over the engine. (Sometimes these are tempermental, but mine usually starts pretty quick) Maintainance isn't too bad, I'm not very mechanically inclined, but I am learning as I go. Right now, my whole rear end and rear diff is in pieces! (I would never have thought to even attempt this, but it wasn't too bad) You will need to buy new glow plugs once in a while ($4), getting it tuned after it's broken in can be tricky, you may have to play with the carb needles for a while to get it running at it's best. As Oni said, you need to put after run oil in the engine if you aren't going to run it for a couple of days, and I clean my air filter after every day of running because the dirt I'm on is like powder. Some of the bolts seem to vibrate loose and need to be tightened, the shocks need to be rebuilt once in a while. Other than that, maintainance isn't too bad. Things will break and need to replaced, but that's true of electrics too. The range in the manual says 1/4 mile, and I can't say for sure, but mine has gone pretty far away from me with no problems. It comes with a 3 channel controler, trigger style with the wheel mounted on the side. Break in is pretty easy, you just have to run about 4 tanks through it without going wide open, and it gives you a chance to learn to drive it. Once you get started, they are such a blast! There are so many hop ups and aftermarket parts, that walking into the hobby store now is wayyyyyyyy better than any kid in a candy store! Prepare your wallet, it will be smokin'!:D :D
 
Oh I forgot to add, here's exactly what you'll need to buy with the truck, and about what you'll spend (If you go with the T-Maxx):
T-Maxx $390
Battery $15
Charger $10 - $60 (depending on which type you get)
Fuel $24
Fuel Bottle $5
Glo Plug $4 (Get at least one spare, they can foul easily during break in)
Fuel filter $5 - $10 (Highly reccomended!)
Surprisingly, it seems cheap when you look at some of the kits out there, and it's basically ready to go as soon as the battery is charged.
Check out http://www.t-maxx.com/
 
Well guys, I really appreciate the advice. I have been wanting to do this for years. I have come real close to buying the $199.00 truck I always saw at ToyRUs but it just did not seem to have enough fun factor.
Now, after looking at the RTR T-Maxx at the website Oni posted, I am HOOKED. They have a package deal for about $425 that seemed pretty reasonable. Now I know what that 7.2 volt battery is for!!!!![the starter].
My biggest fear is being a serious klutz. What kind of controls does the T-max gome with? A trigger and rotary type dial or something more complicated?. I also looked at the enormous parts list for really jazzing up the T-Maxx and I can see this is going to be a very expensive hobby. But I have wanted to do this for so long.

I appreciate the advice and you can bet once I get my T-Maxx I will be looking for you guys to help me keep it in good shape. I found a local track not to far from my house so once I get the hang of it and can control the T-maxx enough not to be laughed off the course I am going to race!!!

Next I will be selling my most favorite Lightfoot folder to get me started:eek: :eek: Or burn up the credit cards. But I gotta do it.........Ira;)
 
Hey Ira, I sold a straight handled Battle Mistress to get mine! (Yep, it was tough:() Yeah, the contol is a pistol grip with trigger and a wheel knob on the side. Pull back it goes, forward, it stops, with a DISC brake I might add! the hopups are neverending, try doing a search on Yahoo! Plenty of anodized aluminum and ti parts (Music to a knife lovers ears!) You'll be surprised at the speed the T has, I have seen bone stock ones spank the souped up stadium trucks at the local track. The pure joy comes in jumping them. I've sailed mine about 5 feet high and 20 feet long (But when you land bad, things break!)
 
Congrats Ira!

You are going to have a lot of fun. Be patient for the break in of the motor...follow the instructions, then let'er rip!

Let us know how you are enjoying it once you get it. I am still practicing...don't want to have everyone laugh if I venture out to a track. :p

The controls are pretty intuitive...but I still screw up and turn the wrong way when the truck is coming towards me! :mad:

Have fun.

Mark
 
Guys, thanks again!!!! I will let you know how it goes. Now that I am working on puting the money together I have been surfing the net to read up about R/C cars. I am already like a little kid waiting for Xmas!!!!

Oni, one quick question. WHICH WAY do you turn when the truck is heading towards you!!!!!!!

Thanks again. I will post some photos prior to my first crash.............Ira
 
Ira

:) You're gonna have a good time with your new toy!

As far as turning...the controllers have a small wheel, like a steering wheel, turn left, the truck goes left...right the truck goes right.

My problem is when the truck is coming towards me and I want it to go to my left...I turn the wheel left. WRONG! The truck still goes to IT'S left. :p

I guess that's why I run into things so much! :grumpy:
 
What's the story with buying an already hopped up T-Maxx from E-bay?

Since I have no clue what language they are talking when they talk about modifications and different controllers, etc. is buying one that is highly modified a good idea for a newbie?

I see there are alot of nitro T-Maxxs for auction on E-bay but I have no idea which ones are good deals:confused: :confused:
 
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