Building A Radio Controlled Car Without Breaking Your Wallet

Photo: Pixabay

Across the nation, there are thousands of people who are extremely passionate about building and racing remote-controlled cars. If you ask one of them how much money they could spend on building a remote controlled car, you will be surprised at the answer. It is possible to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on top-notch equipment to create an insanely fast and good looking car. If you want to get into the hobby of building radio controlled projects, then you will definitely have to spend some money along the way. You will be faced with very expensive components. However, you don’t need to buy expensive parts for your first car. Read on to find out some of the ways that you can save money.

You should never buy cheap supplies just because they are cheap. If this is your first radio controlled car, you want to get an accurate feel for the hobby without spending too much. This is why you want to buy top quality parts that will make for a great car. At the same time, you may find that the hobby is not for you at all. You may burn out on it after just a few hours of putting together your model. If this is the case, that is another even better incentive to avoid buying expensive parts for your first car. Usually, hobbyists will start to invest more money and more time in their 2nd or 3rd car, after they know that they have the expertise to do it right.

The best way to build your first radio controlled car is to buy a kit that includes just the radio components and the motors. The radio control kits only cost 20 or 30 dollars at your local craft store. Buy it before you start to put the car together so that you can know what dimensions you need to allow for. You can build the car itself from cheap wood and glue (And time. Lots of time.) Go to your local hobby store or lumber store and look for some sort of light wood that you can use to make the car. You will use some sort of epoxy or superglue to hold it all together.

If you would like to take an even less do-it-yourself approach, you could buy a remote control car kit that includes the model for the car. Unless you are a master craftsman, this finished product will probably look better than anything that you could have made from scratch. These kits are very cheap as well. You won’t get much control over how the car looks, which is a huge advantage of building it on your own from scratch. If you want to make it look a certain way, all you have to do is cut the wood a little bigger or a little smaller. Ultimately it is up to you – both will give you good experience in building remote control cars, so it just depends on how much time you want to spend.

If you tried to race against some of the more advanced cars with your kit assembled car, you would be left in the dust almost instantaneously. Your car definitely won’t have much power and it probably won’t have much in the looks department. However, neither of these is important compared to the valuable thing that the new car has given you: experience. By sticking with the easy car when you first start getting into the hobby, you will be ahead of the game when you go to build a nice custom car. In addition to this, it will have allowed you to decide whether it is a hobby that you would like to stick with. So even if you are the type that likes to jump headfirst into things, just hold yourself back and stick with the inexpensive car kits.

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Different Types of RC Car Bodies

Photo: Flickr

The term "RC car body" usually refers to the shell or outer covering of the RC car. This gives the general appearance of the RC car. There are some things you should know about RC car bodies:

Two classifications - there are two general classifications of RC car bodies. These are based on how you get them:

a) Pre-built- This is the type of RC car body that comes with pre-assembled cars. This type of RC car body usually has a look that's more or less similar to other bodies that a company builds. It is often the case that people buy this type of RC car body in order to showcase the craftsmanship. Many pre-built RC car bodies are based on real cars. This means that you can buy almost any type of car you can dream of.

b) Customized- There are people who choose to shun the uniform look of pre-built RC car bodies and prefer instead to add their personal touches to its look. Customized RC car bodies are often made use of by longtime enthusiasts who want to accomplish one of two objectives:

1) Aesthetical enhancement- People who want to make their RC cars look better than what's conventional often try to customize their own RC car bodies. There are many who succeed in this endeavor, but there are also a lot of people who just end up buying a new pre-built RC car body.

2) Performance enhancement- There are those who design RC car bodies to achieve the objective of enhancing a car's performance. Many people who customize RC car bodies often do so in order to improve the aerodynamics of their vehicle. This helps them speed up the RC car.

There are also certain recognizable types of RC car bodies available today:

1) Realistic- This, of course, refers to the various types of RC car bodies which are modeled after real cars. It is often the case that this RC car body type is based on a winner of a competition such as the World Rally Championships. It could also be based on "cool" cars such as the Hummer.

This RC car body type is often judged by its faithfulness to the original. It is also highly regarded for the craftsmanship. People who own this type of RC car body often make use of it in "on-road" races as it minimizes the potential for damage.

2) Monster Truck- This type of RC car body is made for one thing: bashing. It is often the case that people who have this type of RC car body make use of their RC cars to leap ramps, "off-road" races, and generally to have as much fun with their vehicles as possible. The monster truck RC car body is often made to be durable which means that it can survive most of the maneuvers that owners put it through. This is the undisputed king of RC car bodies.

3) Racing buggy- These are vehicles made to race. Whether it's off-road or on, it is definitely made for speed. This type of RC car body is made to conquer every type of terrain you put it in. It has a distinctive triangular shape meant to make this RC car body more aerodynamic as you use it to dominate every race.

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What RC Car Accessory You Should Get for a Well-Maintained Car

Photo: Flickr

One of the hottest hobbies on the road today, RC cars and trucks will let you experience the real world of road race tracks and events but no red lights and speed limits for you. You simply drive that RC car or truck of yours and decide on yourself how fast you can go. 

You also got options to choose from. Just like the real automotive world, the radio controlled world of cars and trucks provide the same choices of futuristic concept cars, on-road and off-road cars, entry-level buggy, and monster trucks, and, nitro-powered cars, even mini-cars. 

There are endless options for everyone and RC cars and trucks are for all personalities and ages. The choice is yours; it solely depends on your preference. On the other hand, if you need more information you can get advice from different fellow enthusiasts. 

Again, just like with the “real” on-road and off-road vehicles, radio controlled ones require the same kind of maintenance and care from you. This is to ensure you keep your vehicle in top condition so to avoid failures. 

Maintaining them would include everything from keeping them powered, whether through electricity or nitromethane-based fuel, to replacing parts and accessory. You also must have a certain stock of standard RC car/truck equipment for the maintenance. 

In addition, there are a plethora of accessories that are available for you, which you can get for your RC car. If you want to keep your vehicle always aesthetically pleasing and aggressive or want a higher level of experience on the road, RC car accessories will allow you to attain these.

Accordingly, the following top RC accessories are amongst the components that your car should not go without:

1. Starter boxes. Starting your new vehicle will include break-in of its new engine, which could be a tough process at first. With the starter box, though, this is made easier by eliminating the need to pull-start the RC car. It gives the boost needed by the engine’s break-in; thus your car gets you going in no time. 

2. Fuel. Of course, without the fuel, you won’t go anywhere with this car. There are specially formulated fuel kinds for RC cars, and you can get one, which is recommended by the owner’s manual provided. 

And since you will probably do the refueling job, you might as well include in your purchase a fuel filler bottle, which will fit your car’s need. There are several sizes available, with long, angled tips to allow for a speedy process as well as to prevent spills. 

In addition, a fuel cleaner and rags will be handy accessories in cases there are spills and drips.    

3. Glow plugs. Instead of ending your fun in driving because of glow plug failures, with spare glow plugs, you can change bad plugs along the course. In addition, a small kit stashed in your box will be the best idea. This is usually included with the spare glow plugs, glow plug igniter, glow plug wrench, and charger. 

4. RC tools. These are the specialized tools to keep your vehicle going. A standard RC toolkit usually includes magnetic balancer, gear puller, temperature gauge, tool pouch, and glow plug wrench. 

5. Air Filter Oil. Replacement of the air filter at an interval is a must. In this case, it will always be better if you got special air filter oil with you to improve the function of an air filter and keep the life of the engine longer. 

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All About RTF Remote Control Helicopters

Photo: Pixabay

If you are interested in purchasing rtf remote control helicopters, then you’ve come to the right place.  I personally recommend any type of rtf remote control helicopters because I have found them to be uniformly well made and durable.  

When I was recently out with a friend flying our rtf remote control helicopters, she mentioned that she was upset because she had also purchased a non-rtf remote control helicopters, and simply did not get the same type of quality, and it actually crashed and broke into a thousand pieces on the second day she owned it!

I’m happy to say that she was able to return it the next day and get her money back, but it was still an upsetting experience for her, and she’ll always remember from now on that she only should purchase rtf remote control helicopters.

Mine is blue with white stripes, and the propeller is really beautiful—gold and red glitter, so it really sparkles when it’s flying.  I love flashy rtf remote control helicopters, but if you’re more into the utilitarian version, then you will be happy to know that there are many models out there, and you could probably even find one in all black or all white.  Actually, I think it might be fun to get one in black and one in white and fight them until one crashes and breaks.  Of course, you’d have to purchase them wholesale, or at least on a good deal, because you know you’ll be breaking one of them completely, and the other one might never be the same.  But it would certainly be a cool game to play once, and you could even videotape it and upload it to one of the video sites, such as YouTube.

Either way, I’m sure you’ll enjoy your rtf remote control helicopters when you finally decide to purchase them, and I would certainly recommend, as always doing a few hours of comparison shopping before making the purchase.  This is especially important for rtf remote control helicopters, and I cannot stress it enough, because I have talked to people who have purchased the exact same models for wildly different prices.  When I talked to two people, one of which paid twice as much as the other one for the same model, my jaw dropped, and it was then that I was sure of the importance of comparison shopping.  And the funniest thing was, the person who spent twice as much ended up crashing her helicopter after only having it for one year!  I felt so bad for her, but it was really the definition of irony.

Anyway, I hope that you’ll heed this advice before you purchase an rtf remote control helicopters, even though they are universally well made and durable, you can still pay hugely variable prices for the same degree of quality.  No matter how much money you have, you should always try to make the most educated purchases, to retain your hard earned cash.

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Introduction To Radio Controlled Helicopters

Helicopter - Photo: Pixabay

Nobody is truly complete unless they have a hobby they are passionate about. Having a hobby will give you something to spend your time on, and something to enjoy when you have free time. If you are trying to find what hobby you can stick with, you should think about experimenting with radio controlled hobbies. You can build models of almost any vehicle, from boats to cars to planes to helicopters. Many hobbyists will get their start with helicopters. Helicopters are very complicated, but using the right kits you can get started without a problem. Once you fly your helicopter, you will feel that the entire experience was very rewarding. Flying the helicopter is a blast.

The most important part of flying a model helicopter is to be proficient in controlling it. You should understand exactly how to fly the helicopter, otherwise, you run the risk of crashing it and ruining your entire investment, which is never good. Borrow a flight manual from someone who you know has a radio-controlled helicopter. Take that chance to read through it and find out about all of the different terms, and the many knobs and levers that are required to maneuver the craft through the air. After you have read through it, take someone’s helicopter out for a test flight to see if you have what it takes to control one of your own. If you crash it, be prepared to pay up!

After you have decided that you will be able to handle a helicopter and that you even want a helicopter, you can start looking for your own kit. You can buy radio controlled helicopters that come completely assembled and ready to fly right out of the box. However, there is not much fun in this, and they will probably only allow for a few hours of entertainment. The real fun comes when you buy a model that has to be constructed from hundreds of small plastic pieces. It may be frustrating while you are in the middle of the process, but at the end when you have a great looking helicopter that flies smoothly, you will be glad you spent the time.

Your helicopter building experience doesn’t have to be limited to the simple kits. There are many different options for extremely advanced helicopters that have different shapes and features. You can find these in specialty shops all over the internet, and even in some brick-and-mortar locations. You shouldn’t buy a helicopter just because it looks interesting. Do research before you commit to building a particular one so that you can find out what all it has to offer. You can find reviews and customer experiences all over the internet, on many different commerce sites. Find out about how well it flies, how easy it is to maneuver, the ease of assembly, and anything else that may matter.

So once you get everything built, what are you going to do with your radio controlled helicopter? It seems pretty boring to just take it out for a flight every weekend. If you’re really passionate about it, you should look for ways that you can interact with others who are equally interested. This can be in the form of clubs where you just go flying every month or two, or large conventions with hundreds of remote control enthusiasts crowded in, talking and exchanging ideas. Getting involved like this will give you a chance not only to have an outlet for your passion but also to find out more about it and become better at building and flying helicopters.

If the thought of flying a toy helicopter seems at all exciting to you, then look into getting a kit today. It is a great feeling to discover a new hobby that you are good at and enthusiastic about, so don’t hold yourself back if you think it could be a positive addition to your life.

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Stuffs to Think About: Two Types of RC Cars

RC Car - Photo: Pixabay

Do you feel the need for speed? Do you find underground racing a bit too dangerous for your taste? Do you think that playing the latest racing game on your PC is just too boring for you? If this is the case, then you need to get into RC car racing. RC car racing is one of the fastest growing hobbies today. This is because it appeals to the kid within people while challenging them to hone their skills. If you think that RC car is just about getting the most expensive model out there, you are on the wrong track. Here are the basics of RC cars:

THE TWO CLASSIFICATIONS

There are two general classifications of RC cars according to the power source:

1) Electric- This RC car type is the most common type in the market today. This might be because of the fact that most toy companies make this type of RC car for children or beginner RC car enthusiasts. Some advantages of the electric RC car are:

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a) Noiseless- This means that an electric-powered RC car can be used without causing a lot of disturbance (excluding, of course, the number of people who will unwittingly trip over your machine).This also means that you can use it stealthily. Countless movies have featured the use of electric RC cars in recording conversations or taking hidden videos. Make your spy dreams come true!

b) Smokeless- Since this type of RC car makes use of electricity to power it, there is no smoke output when the engine is running. This is because no combustion happens within the engine of the RC car. 

Disadvantages:

a) Limited running time- An electric RC car runs on batteries. Because of this, the power it can use to run is limited to the capacity of the battery. A user who goes for this type of RC car has to cope with the delay of charging batteries or replacing them every time that they run out of power.

b) Limited power- The power of electric RC cars is limited not only in terms of time but also in terms of intensity. Put plainly, electric-powered RC cars just don't run as fast as gas-powered models. If you are looking for speed, this is not the RC car for you.

2) Gas powered- There's one thing that needs to be said about gas powered RC cars: you cannot put gasoline in it. Gas powered RC cars make use of a special mixture of fuel in order to run.

Advantages:

a) Speed- Many people are opting for gas powered RC cars mainly because of the fact that they are much faster than electric RC cars. 

b) Longevity- Gas powered RC cars can run for long times before they need to be refueled. This means that you get to use your RC car for a longer time. Thus, you get to have more fun.

Disadvantages:

a) Smoke- Since gas powered RC cars run because of combustion; it is natural that there would be smoke coming out of the car. This means that you won't be able to use your RC car indoors.

b) Noise- Gas powered RC cars make a lot of noise. This can either be a positive or a negative, depending on your attitude. For some people, the noise that this type of RC car can help them get attention from other people (Hey, some people do buy RC cars to get noticed).

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The Process Of Building A Radio Controlled Plane

RC controlled plane - Photo: Pixabay

People can spend hundreds and hundreds of hours on building a radio-controlled plane. It is a hobby that is very pervasive throughout the world, and no matter where you can go you can find at least a few die-hard enthusiasts who will continue to devote their time to creating the best radio controlled plane possible. Some people get started on the project on a whim, without putting proper thought into the amount of effort that it will take to get finished. If you are thinking about making a radio-controlled plane, you should know exactly what will be required of you. You may decide that it is too much work for too little payoff – or you may be passionate enough to stick with it and give it a try.

The first, and the longest, part of the process is to build the model. By itself, the model is no more than a bunch of wood, glue, and maybe a bit of metal in the shape of a plane. How much effort you spend on this will be dependent on what your goal is. Do you just want something that will get off the ground? If that’s the case, the style won’t matter too much to you. You can build a very basic box that will be able to lift off. However, most of the time hobbyists will create lifelike representations of existing airplanes. This involves creating an airframe out of a light material such as balsa wood, then covering up the sides with some kind of plastic. The dimensions are usually scaled representations of whatever plane the model is based on.

After the basic model is built, the builder will begin to bring the whole project together by installing the motor and radio components. They should always be easily removable, in case they need to be replaced. Get everything fit in to make sure you created the model correctly. Usually, you will buy all of the motors and radio transmitters in one set, and by following some quick instructions you can get it all pieced together. After you have installed it once to make sure, you should take it all out and finish the details of the model. Add decals, paint it, and do anything else that you have in mind. Once that is done with, put the motor equipment back in one last time.

Unless you have followed directions word for word down to every last detail, your plane probably won’t be ready to fly right away. At this point, you can take it out to a field or a park and attempt a takeoff, but you shouldn’t hold your breath. You might have been lucky enough to get it right the first time, but you will probably need to make some tweaks. This is by far the most frustrating part of making a radio-controlled plane. You will have to determine whether it is a problem with aerodynamics, or whether your radio equipment simply isn’t working. If you are stuck on this step, it’s a good idea to consult a radio controlled hobby expert to see if you can get a diagnosis.

The process definitely takes a lot of time and a lot of effort, but it is worth it in the end. When you can make a flawless takeoff and maneuver the plane through the air, you will be proud of the work that you have done. While you are toiling over building the model, getting everything to work right, and getting it to take off, just imagine that first moment when you are able to take off. Go out to the park one day, and see if you can catch another model plane enthusiast out flying his or her plane. Take a turn, and get a taste of what is coming in the future. If you keep reminding yourself of that, you will be able to remain inspired

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The Many Types Of Radio Controlled Hobbies

Osaka Motor Show 2013 - Photo: Wikimedia

Radio controlled toys and projects have a huge following among hobbyists all across the globe. The concept is certainly a fun one – a miniature model of some real-life vehicle, fully functional and ready to get around. There are many different types of radio controlled hobbies that can be enjoyed. All it takes is basic knowledge of the radio equipment and the motors, and you can enjoy all of them in some way or another.

he most basic (and arguably the most fun) type of radio controlled hobby is the remote control car. Small model cars can be rigged in a way that will allow you to accelerate, steer, and brake them at will. There are numerous ways that you can accomplish this. The first is to just buy a remote controlled car and some good batteries. However, if you are interested in the technical aspect of it then this may seem uninteresting. Another option is to build a model or a kit from scratch, putting together all of the components of the car and installing the radio control system. Still another option is to take a pre-existing toy and mount all of the radio components inside.

Toy cars aren’t the only radio controlled hobby. Remote controlled boats are also very popular. It is fairly easy to convert a boat toy to be radio controlled. The biggest challenge faced by those trying to make a radio-controlled boat is the issue of having a waterproof area for the engine and electrical equipment. Usually, this is solved by placing the motor in the hull of the boat, and having the propeller emerge underwater through some sort of rubber, watertight seal. It is a good idea to buy this part of the boat pre-made since a do-it-yourself, trial and error approach could lead to quite a few ruined engines before you get it right.

Radio planes are probably the most difficult project to undertake. Since a plane requires very detailed calculations and measurements in order to stay afloat, you will have to be attentive every step of the way. Makers of radio controlled airplanes will usually take one of two routes. The first is to buy kits that include cutout pieces of some sort of light wood that can be assembled using glue. After that is done, the radio and motor equipment are purchased and added in. The second method is to skip the kit and find (or even make your own) plans for a model plane. After you have plans, you buy all of the necessary wood to make the plane from scratch.

Airplanes aren’t the only radio-controlled devices that take to the skies. Remote control helicopters are becoming more and more popular. They require around the same (perhaps a little less) detail as planes and allow for a more interesting flying experience since they can hover in midair, and go backward / forwards on command. The novelty of flying a toy helicopter is what attracts many people to build one, while planes usually attract those who enjoy the technical and mathematical aspects of getting the plane to leave the ground. Both are extremely rewarding, especially after hours and hours of labor.

These are some the many different ways that you can apply the intricacies of radio electronics to regular toys. While these make up the main areas that are focused on in this hobby, they certainly don’t confine you. If you have an idea for a radio-controlled toy that is not a car, a boat, a plane, or a helicopter then, by all means, pursue it. By starting with the more basic toys, you can learn about the radio systems and the motors that power whatever it is that propels the vehicle forward. All it takes is this basic knowledge, and the hobby of radio controlled toys can span a vast number of possibilities.

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Making a Radio Controlled Boat

RC Boat - Photo: Pixabay

For some reason, being able to control a miniature boat as it skims over the water of a local lake is something that many people find very appealing. It doesn’t matter whether you are a kid or an adult; remote controlled boats are universally fun. On top of that, nothing is more fun than undergoing a huge and daunting project and eventually seeing the results come through. Therefore you should consider building a remote-controlled boat on your own, out of materials that you can buy from any local craft or hobby store. If you are here, you have likely already considered this prospect. It is more than possible and probably easier than you would think.

Since you have taken the more interesting route and decided to build your remote controlled boat rather than buy one pre-made, you will have quite a few more challenges facing you that you wouldn’t have run into otherwise. However, all of the hard work that you put into your remote controlled boat will pay off in the end, and you will feel like you have really accomplished something when you take it out to a lake for a day and it is able to successfully navigate the treacherous waters. You will probably be frustrated along the way as your boat falls apart, or even sinks into the water never to be seen again. However, if you persevere you will be glad that you did.

Unless you have experience in the construction of boats, you will probably want to use plans that someone else has created. You can find plans for remote control boats all over the place – on the internet, in magazines, or in books. You may even use the plans for a full-sized boat, and make a scaled model of it. As long as you are confident that the motor and radio components will not interfere, this is a good route to take. Regardless of where you get your plan, you will need one that is utterly clear in every aspect. Even the slightest typo or misreading could result in your boat sinking, or spin in circles struggle to stay afloat.

As you build the boat, you will need quite a few supplies, first, the wood is a very important part. If you are using custom plans, wood is probably the material you will be working with. You can find quantities of light wood such as balsa at your local hobby store. You should always get extra, since a wood that light is prone to snapping when you least expect it. The wood is held together using glue, and you will start with a hull-shaped structure then plate it with sheets of wood. After it is all done, you caulk the holes and cracks with some sort of putty, then spray it all with a sealant to make it waterproof. After that, you are free to paint it however you see fit.

The motor equipment on a radio controlled boat must have more attention paid to it than other remote controlled projects like cars or planes. If even one droplet of water gets into the electrical components, your entire project will be ruined, and you will have to buy new (possibly expensive) radio equipment. Waterproofing the motor equipment is fairly difficult, and you should always test it with no electricity involved before you actually go out on your maiden voyage. It is usually accomplished by having the motor extend an arm through a waterproof sealant that will prevent any water from getting in.

There are many parts to the process of creating a radio controlled boat, and each one needs to have close attention paid to it. As long as you can invest this time, you should have a great experience. You don’t want the little sailors in your boat frantically tossing things overboard as they try to stay afloat, do you?

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What You Need to Know About Nitro RC Cars

Radio-controlled 1/8 scaled nitro racing buggy - Photo: Wikimedia

Because of the movie "The Fast and the Furious" many people today think that the word "nitro" means having something extra on your car that boosts its speed. Thus, many people who encounter the term "Nitro RC Car" think that it refers to an RC car that's been upgraded. 

This thinking could also be due to the fact that many people think that gas powered RC cars actually run on gasoline. This is a very wrong assumption. The term "Nitro RC Car" is actually synonymous with "gas powered RC car" because of the fact that this type of RC car uses a specialized mixture of nitromethane and lubricant to run. 

So what do you need to get started with Nitro RC cars?

1) Experience- Before you go ahead and get a Nitro RC car, you need to have sufficient experience with an electric RC car. This is because of the fact that Nitro RC cars can be too much to handle if you are a noob in RC car usage. This is the reason why people who want to get into the hobby of RC cars are advised to get electric RC cars before they move on to Nitro RC cars. 

2) Interest- Without the right interest to drive you, why would you get into Nitro RC cars? You need to have some reason in order to truly get something from the hobby of Nitro RC cars. This is because Nitro RC cars will cost you some money and nobody spends money on something that they will not profit from in some way. The "profit" in this case does not refer to financial gain exclusively.

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3) Information- You need to know different things before you get started with Nitro RC cars. This is because Nitro RC car racing can be a very complicated business. Having the right information can help you a lot in getting the car that you want and taking care of it. In fact, having the right information about Nitro RC cars can help you profit from the hobby financially.

4) The right materials- Many people wonder exactly what tools and materials you need to get into the Nitro RC car hobby. Here are just some of the things you are going to need:

a) Nitro RC car kit- This pretty much contains everything you are going to need to build yourself a "basic" Nitro RC car. This is a kit containing what you need to build the car itself including the engine, the chassis, and the whole enchilada. Beginners are advised to stick to the specifications found in the manual included with Nitro RC car kits. As you progress in the hobby, you may want to divert from the basic look of your car and start customizing your vehicle.

b) Fuel- The nitromethane-castor oil mixture used in powering Nitro RC cars can be found in various hobby shops and stores. Remember: you must never attempt to use gasoline to run your Nitro RC car. The fuel used to run Nitro RC cars is less volatile than gasoline for the reason that the engine may explode if used with gasoline. This means that if you want to enjoy the Nitro RC car hobby for a long time, use only the type of fuel recommended. By doing so, you will ensure that Nitro RC car racing will grow with you.

The Basics Of Radio Controlled Plane Flight

Radio controlled aircraft model transmitter - Photo: Wikimedia

Radio controlled planes can rack up quite a bill when you consider all of the different things you have to buy in order to enjoy the hobby. You have to buy the plane model itself, as well as all the radio and motor equipment to keep it in the air. Then you have to buy gasoline or pay for electricity to charge the battery. All in all, it can be a very expensive venture. After you spend all of this money, nothing is worse than seeing your investment crash to the ground and erupt into a huge fireball (well, maybe not the fireball part; however, you can expect all of your components to be smashed beyond any working state). So when you fly your plane for the first time, you have to use extreme caution in making sure that you don’t ruin your plane and consequently waste your money.

The most important part is to choose the day and the place carefully. On an ideal day, there are perfectly clear skies, with little to no wind. Hopefully, it is also warm, but if it isn’t that won’t jeopardize your mission (unless you are shivering so much that you can’t effectively control the plane). You should go to a place that offers some sort of good take-off point. Sidewalks and roads are perfect for this. You should also try to look for an area that is low on houses, trees, and preferably doesn’t have many people around.

First, you need to check all of your equipment. Even if you are a pro at handling radio controlled planes, nothing can save you from faulty equipment. Check and double-check everything before you send the plane up. Be sure to pay special attention to the landing gear. Make sure it is secure, and that it will be able to withstand the force of impact when the plane touches the ground after you are done flying. Also, check all of the connections between the motor and the fuel supply or batteries. Test all of the radio equipment to make sure that every motion is interpreted by the plane. Hold it in your hand as you or a friend tries all of the levers and knobs.

Set your plane on some sort of surface that will act as a good runway. If you’re in a park with sidewalks, find a large strip of sidewalk that will give your plane plenty of room to roll, gather speed, and take off. Just make sure there are no people walking in the way. Get up to speed, and if everything goes right you should lift smoothly in the air. Hopefully, you will have read through the manual that came with your plane. Every radio controller is slightly different, so I can’t give you detailed instructions on that aspect of the flight. You will have to read your manual to find out how to do it well.

After the flight, you need to do yet another inspection of the equipment. If it was in good shape at the beginning of the flight and the flight went by without a hitch, it isn’t likely to have some sort of new problem that has suddenly shown up. However, you should always investigate anyways, and save yourself some grief in the future. If you notice something wrong, you can take the plane directly home and take care of it, rather than wait until you notice it the next time you come out to fly.

Follow all of these procedures, along with any local laws or regulations that may affect your flying session. Flying is a fun hobby, and if you are able to follow all of the guidelines that I have provided, as well as any other factors that may affect you personally, then you will find it to be a very enjoyable and worthy pastime.

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REMOTE CONTROLLED Cars Make A Fun Hobby

If someone is interested in radio controlled hobbies, they almost always start with a car. Unlike a boat or a plane, cars usually won’t be completely destroyed if they fail. It is very easy to make a basic radio controlled car, but as you do it you will discover that there is a huge amount of knowledge that can be gained. As you gain this knowledge, you can start to use advanced techniques to create cars that are stronger, faster, or more efficient than your previous ones. You can throw one together in a few minutes, or you can spend months creating an amazing car with superb speed and handling. The amount of effort you put into it is entirely up to you.

Hyper 8 Radio Controlled Racing buggy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are just starting with radio controlled hobbies, it is probably wise to just buy a pre-made radio controlled car. You can buy these in toy shops almost anywhere. It may be slow and clumsy, and it may not satisfy your technological urges, but it is a good place to start. Play with it for a couple of days, and then take it apart. Look at the way the motors are connected to the wheels, and look at the general architecture of the car. After you understand it all, you will have much better luck when you start to build your own. You may even be able to use a few parts, such as the body of the car or the radio equipment. The motors will probably not be as strong as you would like.

After you have gained this essential basic understanding of the way that radio controlled cars work, you can start on whatever you want your next project to be. For most people, their goal is to build a model car from wood or plastic, install the electrical components, paint it, apply decals, and basically get it looking as good and performing as good as possible. Others may want to build an incredibly fast remote-controlled car to show off to friends. No matter what you want to do, you will only be able to achieve it if you take it one step at a time and learn everything there is to know about remotely controlled hobbies.

Many different resources can help you out along your way to becoming an expert in radio controlled hobbies. You will probably be spending a lot of time researching all of the different information that you need. You can find it all over the internet, including many different tutorials. For more specific questions, you can go to community groups and forums. This is where people from all over the world gather together on the internet to discuss their hobby, support each other, and brag about their latest accomplishments. Usually, they are very welcoming to newcomers, especially if you are very clear and polite in asking your question.

Radio controlled cars don’t have to be without competition. If you want to put your car up against those of other enthusiasts, you can find many different races and exhibitions around the world. Just do a quick internet search, and find out what the nearest option is. You might have to take a weekend trip, but it will be worth it to be around those who are as passionate as you about what you are doing. These meetings may include races or just a good old convention to share tips and tricks with other radio hobbyists. You would be surprised at the large amount of information that you can learn from the people who go to these events.

Starting a new hobby may be daunting at first since there is a wealth of information that you probably know nothing about. However, if you just get started with the basics and use all of your resources that are at your disposal, you will be able to succeed.

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