Repair/Consolidate, or start again

[NotDave]

Right, new to this section of PH so be gentle.

I'm a former RC enthusiast, right from age four until eighteen, I collected and ran all manner of RTR and kit form RC stuff, and the five big ones are:

> Schumacher (SP) Axis 2 - full indoor race electric spec (run very little in the last 8 years)
> ThunderTiger RTR touring car (Nitro) - that I suspect has a warped head, as it pisses fuel out the side of it. (Hasn't been run in 8years)
> Tamiya FF02 (FWD Alfa kit?) - again, done 10 years storage
> Glider. Flown a couple of times, since then sat in a wardrobe. Will check-up which kit.
> Tamiya baja buggy (electric) run to death for 10years, now beyond ecomic repair.

Now, after spending the last 8years letting uni/life/full sized cars lunch their way through my finances, I'm tempted to scratch the RC itch again.

Due to time constraints, and "flat areas".....A nitro buggy/stadium truck appeals, as there's plenty of open grass nearby, but not flat/smooth tarmac.


Basically, the question I have, is as follows:

In the 8 years+ that I've been away from "the scene"..... Things have moved on, and changed... Which of the following is my best bet:

a) buying something like a HPI nitro stadium truck, all in, RTR, for £250 (circa) and having some fun

b) buying a chassis & body then consolidating all my spares knocking around

c) going electric in baja buggy form

d) another option that I've missed entirely.




As I say, haven't had anything to do with the RC stuff since pre-uni, when things got in the way. So curious as to what, if anything has changed.


Thanks in advance

[Rude-boy]

As someone who went through all this a few years back I have 3 broken Nitro buggies/cars in the garage waiting for the next 10 years to pass.

When that time comes I will be going brushless.

Nitro rapidly loses it's appeal after the 8th rebuild and 4th time you have given up having a quick blast and the bloody thing wont start. Plus you have the mess of the petrol and the noise meaning you can't just do a 5 minute run up when you have finished the latest rebuild at 1am.

[zasker]

Could be large scale and get 1:5 Petrol job!

[Blakeatron]

Been in and out of rc for years but always go back to battery - quiet, clean and just - if not more powerful than nitro.

[sgrimshaw]

Do you have a maximum spend in mind, you mention £250 for a RTR Nitro but is that your max?

[pmessling]

Rude-boy said:

As someone who went through all this a few years back I have 3 broken Nitro buggies/cars in the garage waiting for the next 10 years to pass.

When that time comes I will be going brushless.

Nitro rapidly loses it's appeal after the 8th rebuild and 4th time you have given up having a quick blast and the bloody thing wont start. Plus you have the mess of the petrol and the noise meaning you can't just do a 5 minute run up when you have finished the latest rebuild at 1am.

Very reasons i gave up on nitro fun whilst it lasted, but in the end went back to electric, then sold the lot to use the money on my TVR, which is one big toy that i can take apart and put together again.

[NotDave]

Thanks, max spend would be £250 ish yeah. As I don't want to go back to full on plowing money away.


1/5th petrol off-road did appeal


Brushless - Tell me more. They were "New tech" just as I was giving up due to uni etc, and cost £200+ just for Novak motor and controller.


Re-builds on Nitro - agree. The Thundertiger touring one, was fantastic when it ran. Bloody rapid, would keep up with more expensive stuff on track. (Halifax/Dronsfield/etc) but was stting out parts, courtesy of not being meant for the purpose.

Hence the warped head, massive fuel leak, knackered 2 gear system