I moved to Houston and now there are options for RC tracks!!

With this RC cars actually become a real option for me.

I just sold one of my rifles and have about $600 to use for "hobby money". (RC car or a single action revolver, most likely an RC...)

I am really thinking about a good RC car.

Currently electric is the only option (small apartment and quiet enough to use at some local places within walking distance).

I am thinking something along the 1/10th scale. Most of what I would end up doing is bombing around parks, parking lots, baseball fields and the like. But like I said before there is a track close to my place (off and on road). I dont think I would compete for awhile, but join on open nights kind of thing.

I am trying to figure out how much is good enough to start with, but still will keep being fun for a long time (those 1/5 scale gas ones are cool but I dont have the space...).

Current options I am thinking about:

Basic
Losi 1/10 22 2WD RTR Buggy $350
Losi 1/10 XXX-SCT Brushless RTR $330

Upper level
Losi 1/10 22SCT RTC $450
Losi 1/10 TEN-SCTE 4WD RTR $520


I know the 22 2.0 is out but I added up the parts cost and it was a little high for me and chances are I would pick the wrong parts, and the 22-4 is too expensive. I would rather buy a kit and put it together myself, but think I would get all the wrong parts.

I am leaning towards the buggy for a few reasons:
2WD sounds like fun
This car has been around for a long time and is a proven design
I like how it looks
I like the price
Lots of aftermarket
From what I read, 2WD buggies teach you to be a better driver


But I was swayed a little at the track as there was one buggy and all the rest were short course trucks.

I think one of the main deciding factors would be durability, is there a drastic difference in that between these vehicles? For the trucks is the "upper level" worth it as a beginner?

I'd go with a SC truck, then to a buggy. Heck, you could get both! Minus charger and batteries.
SC; http://www.amain.com/product_info.ph...-Energy-Toyota

Buggy; http://www.amain.com/product_info.ph...-w-24GHz-Radio

I am more inclined to invest in one as space is very limited. I will look into the ones you suggested.

Like I said before, durability is a priority.

Just mount some hooks on your wall and put them there. A small tackle box of parts and tools, and boom; you're ready.

The 4.2 seems to have a sensorless motor. I do remember when I was at the track and someone was looking for a sensorless motor the guy at the counter said they do not carry them.

Granted with the internet that does not matter much.

But is cogging a real issue or now something of the past?

Cogging is somewhat an issue at low speeds, but you don't do those much in racing.

Plus, I'd rather have a good sensorless motor more than a cheapy sensored one.

And when some thugs come to steal your car you'll wish you got the revolver.

I still have my semi, I just wanted a revolver

But being newish to Houston and graduated collage (other side of the country), I need to meet people and get a hobby back going.

Shooting down here is more expensive and harder being in a city.

I like the idea of the losi xxx-scb

The xxx is a older platform but that doesn't take anything away from it... Is still a good platform.

Could this be an option? Stronger and beefier?
http://www.teamassociated.com/cars_a.../SC10B/RS_RTR/

It could be a nice option but fortunately for you squirrelod a youtube channel has 3 reviews on that car Unboxing,running,after run videos heres the link he'll tell you pros and cons about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u2lPfIiqu4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mI4uX0yagU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf7GjG2kTUM
Or you can watch all these three videos in one 0_0 he combined the 3 its 27 mins long enjoy:3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGfpzWbrFIc

Darn, he was also talking about the sc10 which also looks cool...

So many choices!!

hahahaha i hate choosing.

This might be a stupid question...

Is the SC10B RS RTR a 1/10 scale or 1/8 scale?
Some sites say it is 1/10, but on the forums and pics make it look like a 1/8...

And what is the largest batter that would fit? Can it safely handle a 3 or 4S?

1/10th scale in the RC's named like that by AE the number is its scale like the SC18b is 1/18th scale

4S doubtful as most 1/10th motors would explode with that many RPM's only reason 1/8th scales can do it is cause the motors Kv(revolutions per volt) are way lower so they kinda equal out in revolutions in the end to the higher kv smaller brethren

I am going to order the SC10B after Easter (traveling and dont want to have packages waiting at my door). Any suggestions for batteries and chargers (yes, I will be getting a LiPo charging bag)?

Personally I don't recommend lipo charging bags...

For one, they don't work (check YouTube)
and two, u can't see the battery so if its puffing up u would have no idea.

Well ill lipo's and chargers depend on ur needs and how deep ur pockets are.

cheap option.... Standard any brand 2s 5000mah lipo 25c with 1c charge rate with a cheap 5a charger will see batteries charged in under 80min,, something like zippy or turnigy lipo and a IMAX ACB6 charger should total around $50-$60

Or..... U could look for a battery that can be charged at a much faster time ranging from 1/10 to 1/5 of the 80min the other batteries would take... But that gets expensive

For what Phaximus said about the bags
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEkewCjiDs0 Was gonna post a vid, but got distracted, and closed it

Personally I say get a ammo can
Here is a test of an ammo can with a few lipos in it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jwS2puM800 Notice the cell was snuffed out almost immediately as the guy said the paper he put by the lipo wasn't even burnt

For the ammo cans do you have to ground them?

And for the batteries, the main reason for asking is I dont know who the name brands are...
But this one looks decent and already has a deans connector:
http://www.amazon.com/Duratrax-LiPo-...x+Onyx+LiPo+2s

nah no grounding as you aren't gonna touch bare wires to the can.

As for that battery to me its way overpriced. You could get a higher spec battery off hobbyking, a cheap 200 watt soldering iron, solder, and the deans connector for the price of that one battery.

The thing with electrics if you don't want to learn to solder you will pay higher premiums for getting the battery connector you want. Soldering is one skill you pretty much need to learn to not get ripped off

And from my understandings there are only like 4 companies that make Lipo battery cells they just sell them to these other companies who throw them in a case, and slap their sticker on them. Hobby King I think is one of the only of the 4 that sell their batteries themselves. I will say I've not bought any batteries in the past year or 2 off hobbyking, but that is cause my 6 or so I got are still going strong for the times I can actually run my RC's.

I dont have a soldering iron (I know how), but they are cheap and it does not hurt to have one.

I was guessing all the batteries came out of 3 or 4 factory's lol.

In terms of charges, anything that is balancing is basically good?

This is a great little charger for less than $60 http://www.hobbypartz.com/73p-ac680-accharger.html but currently they're out of stock. It's quiet, charges at 6 Amps (80Watts) And will charge a 5000mah lipo in under an hour. Hobbypartz sells Gens Ace brand lipos I've found to be a good value. You can get a 5000mah 2S with a 40C rating for the price of other brands with only a 20C rating. In my experience, getting a higher C-rated pack means the pack will run cooler than a pack with a lower C-rating. IN all things electronic, heat is bad. And being in Texas, that's going to compound things. Get yourself an infrared thermometer to monitor your motor and ESC temps. Motors can run at 140F all day. But getting over 180F will start to damage it. ESCs usually have a thermal shutdown mode if they get too hot, but usually they'll run around 100-120F. If your motor gets too hot, gear down by installing a smaller pinion gear.

I am retired. So I'm all about saving money. Don't be put off by what some people call "cheap chinese junk". I used cheap chinese junk with great success, i.e. the HobbyWing EZrun motor systems, Thunder chargers, and Gens Ace batteries. Even had good luck with $15 servos, tho not lately, as I bought an EXI servo that HobbyPartz had to send me THREE of (they lost money) since the first two crapped out. But I still have another brand $12 servo in my Evader that'
s still going three years later.

I am a drummer, as well. Cheers!

Starting to drum again after taking a break during collage (orchestral, kit, jazz, rock, Cuban, drumline, Highland and everything in between).

I can see if I can get my hands on an old pyrometer from work.

Or one of these....less than $25 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEMG5