Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Different Types of Tamiya RC Cars

Tamiya is a company known for producing excellent miniatures of automobiles. They are famous today for introducing the world to competitive mini 4WD racing. What many people do not know is that Tamiya also introduced the world to RC cars. The Tamiya RC car line has a lot of models that show the excellence of the company in model design.

Here are some Tamiya RC car models available today:

1) Nitro Crusher- This Tamiya RC car boasts of a powerful FS-15S engine that features a large diameter slide carburetor to fulfill your need for speed. The engine also has a precision brake system that ensures operation safety. This Tamiya RC car can also fulfill your need for power because it comes in the form of a monster truck.

Drive through all types of terrain as easy as if you were driving on pavement. This Tamiya RC car has various features that allow it to coast through different types of terrain. It has extra-large tires that are perfect for dominating mud, sand or rocks. It also features a frontal impact control system that allows you to have stable running no matter what obstacles you encounter.

2) Mini cooper- If you have no idea what a mini cooper is, think about Mr. Bean's beloved car. This Tamiya RC car is based on that small-but-terrible car of the 1960's. The mini cooper is renowned for its small size and powerful performance. In fact, the mini cooper has even been known to perform extremely well on competitions like the world rally championships.

This Tamiya RC car features an M-03 chassis that's specially designed to be as fast as possible. The double wishbone suspension also ensures the stability of your vehicle and excellent handling. This is an electric RC car, which means that the batteries can add a lot of weight. However, a special hole cut into the chassis ensures that despite the weight, this Tamiya RC car can still run its best.

3) Subaru Impreza WRC Monte Carlo- This Tamiya RC car is designed for the new kind of racing. Yes, this Tamiya RC car is designed to drift. The chassis of this Tamiya RC car, TT-01D, is built from lightweight materials and specifically designed to have a low center of gravity. This means that this Tamiya RC car will not turn over if you try to "drift" it.

What are the advantages of drift racing? Well, during normal turns, there is a tendency for cars to lose speed. By drifting, the car can maintain optimum speed and precision controls. However, there is always the tendency of something going wrong. This is the reason why this Tamiya RC car is engineered to precision.

4) XBG Nitro Force- Capable of unbelievable top speeds, this Tamiya RC car is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Powered with a precision FR-S glow engine, this Tamiya RC car employs a recoil starter for clean starting every time. This Tamiya RC car also boasts of a reinforced resin frame chassis with a low center of gravity, making it stable during driving.

This Tamiya RC car also features a very aerodynamic frame, making sure that the wind will not slow down your need for speed. All in all, if you want a Tamiya RC car that quenches your desire to defy gravity, this is the car that you should be getting.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Car Motor- The Most Important Part of a RC Car

Today the kids and adults are alike in terms of their past time. Both are engaged in radio controlled cars. They purchase these cars at the toy stores. RC cars provide an endless amount of thrill and excitement and serve as their leisure.

Radio controlled cars are consist of two units which is the car itself and the radio controller. Some radio controlled cars are powered by rechargeable batteries and some were powered by batteries with actual gas-powered engines. Gas powered engines are more expensive than electric powered engines.

RC cars are of different types. There’s the off-road and on-road vehicles, touring and racing cars, trucks and buggies. Aside from this, you can also choose on the size, color, type of car like Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Porsches. You also have an option to choose from gas powered or electric engine and if it’s a car or truck type.

The four main parts of radio controlled vehicles are the motor(s), transmitter, receiver and the power source.

Transmitter is the radio controller that you hold in your hand and usually powered by battery. The radio frequency let’s the transmitter relays the steering and controls the command you give to the receiver. Its receiver has two parts, the antenna and a circuit board inside the car. It receives the radio frequencies sent by the transmitter and relayed to the appropriate part of the vehicle.

Radio controlled vehicles features different type of engines. The motor is said to be the heart of the cars and is the most complex part of assembling your own RC car.

The nitro powered radio controlled motors has a 2-stroke or the less conventional 4-stroke version. The most popular is the 2-stroke motor because of its amazing 2.5 hp of output it produces. RC racers love the high speed and acceleration of this 2-stroke motor.

The 2-stroke motor is the 23cc displacement engine and it requires a fuel oil mixture. It is more suitable in car racing and has the advantage of producing higher rpm’s. On the other hand, 4-stroke motor can run on straight fuel and has an oil reservoir on it. It is better for off-road use and has more power and torque. It is more applicable in a truck that runs on dirt or rough tracks.

The electric car runs quietly and is better suited in your neighborhood while the nitro powered motors lets you feel the real car on racetracks. Electric radio controlled cars and trucks uses rechargeable batteries to run or power the motor and steering, which is usually runs for about 5-10 minutes. In terms of speed, electric motor vehicles have a great deal of pickup though not as much as nitro powered motors.

At first, electric RC cars can be much less expensive than a nitro powered vehicle. But there are other costs like additional battery packs, battery charger and other accessory the will add to the cost. Still, it depends on the kind of car you purchase and the battery pack that it requires. Of course for a good performance, you will purchase the good battery packs and good charger to save replacing cheaper batteries.

The good thing in electric motors is it doesn’t need much maintenance and tuning of its engine compare to nitro powered motor. It is more suitable for beginners because it only needs proper conditioning and proper storage of battery packs that will keep your RC cars running smoothly for years.

In addition, the motors come with or without a pull start. Those with pull start are cheaper, but you still need a starter box.

Monday, July 26, 2010

RC Car Kit - Building Your Own

RC cars are the cars of all ages; it doesn't matter if you are eighty or sixteen, there is simply the kind of radio-controlled car that you would enjoy. If you know how to take fun with these vehicles, you certainly will cherish the endless excitement brought about by them.

If you are getting your first radio-controlled car, you might consider the three most important things:

Ready-to-run (RTR) car or a kit

The RTR cars are most ideal for the beginners and those who do not have the skills for assembling the car. These cars will let you automatically enjoy their features and start them running through electricity-powered batteries. RTR cars tend to be a little inexpensive than building the car.

On the other hand, the kit will let you do the assembly works. For the enthusiasts, this has more advantages, as it will allow you to maintain it easily. If there are alterations and repair jobs needed, you would find these yet another easy task as you know how the chassis, engine, and other parts were put together.

On-road or off-road

On-road cars are designed for such speed needed in a smooth, paved surface. Also, if you intend to get into the race competitions, these are clearly your option.

Off-road vehicles are those trucks and buggies that have the ability to negotiate rough terrains, jumps, and obstacle courses. Naturally, these are not intended for racing events.

Electric or nitro-powered car

Simpler and slower vehicles are the choices for the beginners. As mentioned, rechargeable batteries are used to power the cars. Though they are clean and quiet, one disadvantage is they do not exude realism for radio-controlled car racing.

Nitro- or gas-powered cars are those intended for racing and higher-level of performance and power. In the recent years, the quality of these cars has much improved in terms of performance, safety, reliability, and aesthetics.

Having all these factors answered, you are now ready for your visit to the store. If you prefer building your own car, you will have the kit.

After getting the kit, you will need your red tool box and make sure every necessary tool is included. Specifically, the things you would need are: screwdrivers, flat blade screwdrivers, pliers, slip-joint, hobby knife (no. 11 blades), flush cutter, and needle-nose varieties. Adding soap could be used as a dry lubricant for the tight parts.

RC car kits cost a few hundred dollars but if you want higher performance and power you may add another bit of expenses. You can elect to acquire few pieces of RC car accessories or necessary parts for the upgrade. You can also finish the car with your own design you have in mind. Accessories and add-on parts are offered through local stores or online stores and you can check out their availability through them

To avoid getting mistakes along the process, study well the owner's manual. Familiarizing with every step and process will make it easy for you to finish the job. Completion of the process will not finish in one sitting, so you better prepare yourself for this task. It would be wise to work in a clear, well-lit, and with an uncluttered area to avoid mistakes.

Get relevant information on how to start with your RC car kit

There are books, e-books, and other materials containing information and ideas about building cars from a kit that you can use for additional help. Accordingly, obtaining wisdom from experienced RC car racers would be very beneficial for you. Once you get all those things and information needed, you can build the fastest RC car in no time at all.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Different Types of RC Race Cars

RC cars are made to have fun. However, there are some people who take their "fun" very seriously. These are the people who build serious RC race cars and actually pit their skills against each other. This is actually not a new trend. People have started racing model cars even in the early 1940's. However, the technology during that time was insufficient to properly control the models. These cars were control using a tether and thus, could only run around in circles. True RC race cars were introduced in the late 1960's. These RC race cars could be controlled from a separate unit and be raced around a track.

There are different classifications of RC race cars according to fuel use and terrain. This is because of the fact that different types of RC race cars may be called superior in different conditions. Here are some classifications:

According to power source:

1) Electric- Electric RC race cars are generally lighter than gas-powered models. They also have the advantage of having more torque. Another advantage to electric RC race cars is the fact that these models are generally more responsive to the controls. This means that a person using an electric RC car will be able to react faster to different conditions on the track. There is also the fact that electric RC cars are generally cleaner in terms of fuel and in terms of the accumulated dirt during races. This means that electric RC race cars are easier to maintain than gas-powered models.

One disadvantage to electric RC race cars is the fact that it can take a long time for people to recharge the batteries. There is also the issue of speed: although electric RC race cars accelerate faster, they generally reach lower top speeds than gas-powered models.

2) Nitro- Nitro RC race cars are powered with a miniature engine that uses a mixture of Nitromethane and lubricant as fuel. Nitro RC race cars are known to reach record-breaking top speeds -much faster than what electric models are capable of. They can also run for longer times and are easier to refuel, which means that they can be enjoyed longer.

The disadvantages to this type of RC car are rooted in the fact that combustion is the process that makes it work. Combustion produces smoke and a lot of noise, which means it can't be used indoors. It also produces a lot of dirt, which means that Nitro RC race cars generally require more effort to clean. A nitro RC race car also requires regular tuning and maintenance in order to remain in top form.

According to terrain:

1) On-road- Some types of RC race cars are used to compete in paved race tracks. These RC race cars are specially designed to achieve tops speeds and maintain them during races. The wheels of these RC race cars are often designed for maximum speed and minimum friction.

2) Off-road- These RC race cars are made to accelerate and maintain control even when the race track is not paved. These RC race cars are specially designed to grip the ground and maintain top speed. The key to off-road racing is high bottom end torque. This allows off-road RC race cars to dominate the competition when encountering tricky obstacles such as mounds.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

People Just Love to Watch RC Car Videos

A lot of different videos can be found on the internet. Some can be silly. Other videos can be touching. Some videos can be eye-opening. There are videos which can be enraging to watch. There are videos that some people may find amazing. There are videos that some people may find fascinating. RC car videos may be among the last category. Why exactly do people find RC car videos so fascinating?

a) Bashing- Many people love watching RC car videos because these videos show them what can potentially happen to a car if it goes through various types of "experiments" and miniature disasters. Most people just enjoy watching RC car videos because they are able to see different miniature cars going through just about every type of abuse. While some people may just take pleasure at watching various RC cars getting bashed, others are impressed with just how durable certain RC cars are.

Some people just like to watch RC car videos because of the fact that they see a sort of metaphor in it. In RC car videos, they might see their ability to survive any type of obstacle in their lives.

b) Similar interests- Some people might watch RC car videos because of the fact that they are also interested in the hobby. Some people might want to get into the hobby and thus, watch RC car videos to help them get started. There are also those people who are already into the hobby but they wish to improve their skills in handling RC cars. These people may watch RC car videos in order to see if a certain maneuver is possible.

Other people may also like to watch RC car videos because they are looking for something new to try. These people often watch RC car videos in order to study new maneuvers and to try and hone their RC skills.

There are also people who study RC car videos of competitors. Yes, there are competitive RC car races held all over the world. A participant may study an RC car video of an adversary in order to prepare for a race. People often try to anticipate a person's moves in order to prepare defenses for anything that an adversary could try. By watching RC car videos, people can study different maneuvers in detail and learn how to counteract them.

c) Imitation of life- Many people watch RC car videos because they just want to see the different maneuvers that may not be possible with real cars. RC cars can do so much more than just run around a track. RC car videos feature different cars jumping ramps, insane aerial flips, gravity-defying stunts, and other types of maneuvers that people could only dream about doing with a real car and survive.

The reason that we love items such as RC cars is the fact that these give us an opportunity to actually reach the unreachable. It allows us to do the different types of stunts that we could only see on movies. And we are able to do all these without actually damaging anything expensive like an actual car.

People watch RC car videos for different reasons. If you ask a person why he or she likes to watch RC car videos, however, the answer you would likely get is this: "it is just so cool".

Friday, July 23, 2010

Guide To Choosing The RC Car Parts

First of all, you should be informed that there are no available toy-grade RC car parts available today. The reason for this is the fact that toy-grade RC cars are pre-assembled and made to be enjoyed while they last. Although they are excellent for teaching the basics of vehicle control, they are not made to be tinkered with. Hobby-grade RC cars, however, may be tinkered with a lot. A lot of RC car parts are available in order to enable people to fully customize their driving experience.

Many people are confused as to the standards of choosing RC car parts. This is because of the fact that manufacturers today always claim that they have the best parts or the cheapest parts around. So how should a person choose RC car parts to use?

1) Compatibility- Some RC car brands or models can only be used with specific RC car parts. This may be because the company who made the RC cars is trying to corner their market, or maybe companies are just ensuring the high performance of their cars. Before you buy any brand of RC car parts, you should see if those parts are compatible with your RC kit. If you are just beginning in the hobby, you should strictly follow this rule in order to avoid damaging your car.

Advanced hobbyists sometimes disobey this rule and try to custom fit different RC car parts to make improvements on their vehicles. However, you should be careful when doing this and you should always make sure that you have the skills necessary to pull this off.

2) Price- Of course, you should realize by now that this hobby will cost you some cash. This means that you should definitely budget your money when you are selecting RC car parts to buy. One tip you can follow is to stick to a certain price range. You can then select the best RC car part that comes within the price range that you have in mind.

If you really want to buy something top-of-the-line, you should try and save your cash. Do not be impulsive when buying RC car parts. Remember that something better will always come along and that costs go down all the time.

However, if you really love RC car racing, then maybe you can sacrifice a bit in order to buy the RC car part you want.

3) Quality- As said before, many advanced users try to mix and match different RC car parts in order to improve the performance of their vehicles. This is because of the fact that different manufacturers have different specializations. Some companies may excel in making engines while others may have high quality chassis… etc. If you can, try to get RC car parts that will improve the performance of your car.

In this case, try not to be too restricted by your budget. Remember that if you buy cheap but low quality RC car parts, you might as well be throwing your money away. By buying high quality RC car parts, you will be able to make sure that you enjoy your investment for a long time.

These are just some of the tips you should follow when buying RC car parts. Remember that the final decision will always be yours. It is your money and your enjoyment on the line, so carefully choose the RC car part to buy.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Get into the Game! Race Your RC Car

The most exciting part of having RC car is by joining a car racing game. Kids and Adults enjoy playing RC car racing game on off-road or on-road tracks. But before you join the race there are steps you need to take to prepare for that competitive car game.

First, select for the best RC car racing tire wisely. Choose the tire that is matched to the surface that you will use in car racing game. Also choose the best type of motor, maintenance and size that you will use to win the game.

The touring and racing cars like Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches are the best and popular choices for on-road use. Your car must be run in smooth surface tracks for best performance. Conversely, trucks and buggies are not good in racing game because it is not as fast as the touring and racing cars. But they can be run anywhere and can even jump on hump tracks.

The on-road vehicles are the most popular type of radio controlled cars. It is the best choice if you want to hook up in car racing. It runs in paved surfaces, built-in smooth race tracks and even in streets with an amazing speed. On the other hand, off-road vehicles can run anywhere. These are the sturdy and truck type RC vehicles that can handle jumps, hills, and uneven terrain, even sand. Off-road vehicles come in two or four wheel drive and a variety of electric and nitro trucks and cars from which to choose.

The radio controlled car has two popular sizes - the 1/8 and 1/10 scale. The 1/10th scale is the standard size for the on-road users and is best in car racing game while the 1/8th scale is more popular for off-road use like trucks and buggies.

When it comes to motor, the best type to use is the nitro powered engine. It can produce higher rpm’s that is suitable for racing. It can run up to 70 mph which is the fastest speed in RC car racing game. The resulting high speed and acceleration is what the car racers want in this type of engine.

Two wheel drive car is less expensive and much easier to work on. But if you want a better handling and traction, pick the 4 wheel drive. This would make an ideal choice for car racing game.

Still, maintenance is the most important in having a RC car. It is a definite requirement especially when using nitro powered motor. Always maintain car parts such as Air filter, Clutch, Header, Differential and Pull start cord. Keep the parts and tools properly for long last use.

So now you already have the best radio controlled car for car racing game. You are now ready to face the challenge in RC car racing. Joining car racing game would not just give you excitement but also you’ll gain more friends and different ideas on how to keep your car running in its best performance. You will learn some tips from RC car enthusiasts by hanging out with them but be careful who you listen to because some of them might just fool you.

You can also see the latest radio controlled cars in action when you’re in tracks. The best combinations of RC cars are competing and you will see which the best of all. Goodluck!