Brushless at 1/16?
Discussion
I bought my son (5) a blackzon slyder for his birthday, thinking it could be something he could grow into, he loves it.
Problem is so do I…
I’ve noticed that for only a little more money, you can get the FTX tracer (basically the same model?) with a brushless motor. My question is, is there any point?
My lads slyder with a 390 brushed motor spins all the wheels when you give it full beans, and seems pretty quick to me.
In something as small and light as the 1/16 tracer, is it just going to be too much power? Will it be noticeably quicker I.e can it get the power down?
Problem is so do I…
I’ve noticed that for only a little more money, you can get the FTX tracer (basically the same model?) with a brushless motor. My question is, is there any point?
My lads slyder with a 390 brushed motor spins all the wheels when you give it full beans, and seems pretty quick to me.
In something as small and light as the 1/16 tracer, is it just going to be too much power? Will it be noticeably quicker I.e can it get the power down?
Yes it will be much quicker and you will need to recalibrate your throttle finger - just pinning it won't work...
But as a grown up it's where the reward lies - getting the power down and maintaining traction under acceleration and getting it right - it will fly.... Similar to the real thing!
I run a 2wd 1/16 buggy with a 7000kv motor and it's the trickiest and most rewarding of all of my RC cars.
But as a grown up it's where the reward lies - getting the power down and maintaining traction under acceleration and getting it right - it will fly.... Similar to the real thing!
I run a 2wd 1/16 buggy with a 7000kv motor and it's the trickiest and most rewarding of all of my RC cars.
Edited by shedweller on Thursday 5th January 20:27
jimmy156 said:
Sounds good to me!
Anything other than the tracer around the £100 that I should be looking at (considering that’s already a £30-£40 budget creep compared to the brushed model!)
If you look on the Tomley RC Youtube channel there was a video with an alternative to the Tracer (not the Slyder), that seemed a bit better value, came with higher spec parts but was fundamentally the same car.Anything other than the tracer around the £100 that I should be looking at (considering that’s already a £30-£40 budget creep compared to the brushed model!)
He seems to talk about a couple of models that don't seem to be easily available in the UK, that come with some metal bits instead of plastic and oil shocks as standard. I can't seem to find something better from a UK retailer than the tracer.
Are oil shock replacements readily available. Might be a thing to do with my lad to "upgrade" them. He already shows an interesting in fixing and building things, so he would probably enjoy it!
Are oil shock replacements readily available. Might be a thing to do with my lad to "upgrade" them. He already shows an interesting in fixing and building things, so he would probably enjoy it!
Based on my previous experience with budget RC cars and YouTubers and the associated "hype" - I think sticking with a model with spares availability within the UK is a wise move!
Going out with your boy and having a play at the weekend and (perhaps breaking something) and then waiting two weeks for parts to arrive is a drag.... It's much better being able to order spares on a Sunday and receive them for Wednesday and not disappointing an enthusiastic child who wants to do more!
My son's first car was a tamiya lunchbox and he loved doing little jumps with it.... Which they don't do well (bounce and fall over) - nor do they turn...
Fitting upgrades that make a discernable difference were useful aids to keep him engaged and keep him interested
I would go with the tracer as parts, upgrades and knowledge is widely available.....
Just remember...the faster you go, the harder you hit - the more you break!!.... Fixing, maintaining and upgrading is part of it... Or at least it was/is with us
Going out with your boy and having a play at the weekend and (perhaps breaking something) and then waiting two weeks for parts to arrive is a drag.... It's much better being able to order spares on a Sunday and receive them for Wednesday and not disappointing an enthusiastic child who wants to do more!
My son's first car was a tamiya lunchbox and he loved doing little jumps with it.... Which they don't do well (bounce and fall over) - nor do they turn...
Fitting upgrades that make a discernable difference were useful aids to keep him engaged and keep him interested
I would go with the tracer as parts, upgrades and knowledge is widely available.....
Just remember...the faster you go, the harder you hit - the more you break!!.... Fixing, maintaining and upgrading is part of it... Or at least it was/is with us
I did exactly the same thing with my lad last year when I bought him a tracer for Xmas and ended up getting one to match which I bought a whole heap of upgrades.
Mine requires more attention to maintenance whereas his bone stock brushed version hasn’t mechanically failed. The body and spoiler are ruined but everything is dirt cheap to replace.
[£116.16 7% OFF]HBX 16889A Pro 1/16 2.4G 4WD Brushless High Speed RC Car Vehicle Models Full Propotional RC Vehicles from Toys Hobbies and Robot on banggood https://banggood.onelink.me/zMT7/yg46stta
However if you are prepared to wait for shipping this is identical to the slyder/tracer but it’s fully upgraded with oil filled shocks and metal cvs brushless etc etc.
I answer to the op, go for the brushless as you can always dial down the power till they get used to it and then turn it up.
Mine requires more attention to maintenance whereas his bone stock brushed version hasn’t mechanically failed. The body and spoiler are ruined but everything is dirt cheap to replace.
[£116.16 7% OFF]HBX 16889A Pro 1/16 2.4G 4WD Brushless High Speed RC Car Vehicle Models Full Propotional RC Vehicles from Toys Hobbies and Robot on banggood https://banggood.onelink.me/zMT7/yg46stta
However if you are prepared to wait for shipping this is identical to the slyder/tracer but it’s fully upgraded with oil filled shocks and metal cvs brushless etc etc.
I answer to the op, go for the brushless as you can always dial down the power till they get used to it and then turn it up.
Edited by Matt Cup on Saturday 7th January 16:48
Edited by Matt Cup on Saturday 7th January 16:49
Edited by Matt Cup on Saturday 7th January 17:38
jimmy156 said:
He seems to talk about a couple of models that don't seem to be easily available in the UK, that come with some metal bits instead of plastic and oil shocks as standard. I can't seem to find something better from a UK retailer than the tracer.
Are oil shock replacements readily available. Might be a thing to do with my lad to "upgrade" them. He already shows an interesting in fixing and building things, so he would probably enjoy it!
If you find the Tracer on Modelspirts site, there is a link to all the tune ups they sell. The oil shocks are listed there, along with a lot of other things.Are oil shock replacements readily available. Might be a thing to do with my lad to "upgrade" them. He already shows an interesting in fixing and building things, so he would probably enjoy it!
Having now had the brushless tracer alongside my lads brushed slyder, there really is not that much in it speed wise.
The brushless car wants to wheelie, whereas the brushed one doesn't, but any extra acceleration seems to be traction / wheelie limited.
Top end, not much in it at all. The brushless tracer maybe a touch quicker, but I guess they are geared the same so it wouldn't be too different.
No bothered as they are both super fun, just thought i'd post my observations.
The brushless car wants to wheelie, whereas the brushed one doesn't, but any extra acceleration seems to be traction / wheelie limited.
Top end, not much in it at all. The brushless tracer maybe a touch quicker, but I guess they are geared the same so it wouldn't be too different.
No bothered as they are both super fun, just thought i'd post my observations.
Hi all, grateful for some advice.
My son is six in a couple of months and I'll be getting him a 'proper' RC car. He's pretty much obsessed with the things at the moment, watching every YouTube video of large RC monster trucks.
I've had a look on various RC online shops and think I've probably decided on a few, but changed my mind before placing the order. I was convinced that I'd get 1/10 or a 1/12 brushed car, probably FTX Carnage /Blackzon Smyter but then thought they wouldn't be powerful/fast enough after he gets used to them and I'd end up splashing out a fortune on upgrades.
So now I'm looking at the banggood fully upgraded car in the link above and it looks great for the money with the brushless motor etc. However I'm worried it's going to be too small and possibly too quick for it's size making it difficult to control... I've not seen any of these cars in the flesh but they do look small on the videos. Also, can anyone confirm how much slower you can make the car via the limiter on the radio?
Many thanks.
My son is six in a couple of months and I'll be getting him a 'proper' RC car. He's pretty much obsessed with the things at the moment, watching every YouTube video of large RC monster trucks.
I've had a look on various RC online shops and think I've probably decided on a few, but changed my mind before placing the order. I was convinced that I'd get 1/10 or a 1/12 brushed car, probably FTX Carnage /Blackzon Smyter but then thought they wouldn't be powerful/fast enough after he gets used to them and I'd end up splashing out a fortune on upgrades.
So now I'm looking at the banggood fully upgraded car in the link above and it looks great for the money with the brushless motor etc. However I'm worried it's going to be too small and possibly too quick for it's size making it difficult to control... I've not seen any of these cars in the flesh but they do look small on the videos. Also, can anyone confirm how much slower you can make the car via the limiter on the radio?
Many thanks.
Bigivo1 said:
To cut a long story short... Basically at my budget (around £100 but a little stretchable) the options are either big and slow or small and fast, unless there's any alternatives to what I've posted above.
I’d be looking at something like this.
Parts are readily available to from Modelsport (+other shops too) just look for FTX tracer parts as it’s the same model.
The benefits of the banggood one over the equivalent FTX brushless model is it comes with oil filled shocks and metal drive shafts and gearing too, which are weak points on the FTX version.
It takes a good bashing, you can control the speed on the controller too if you find it too fast for your little-in.
It’s a great starter RC car.
Matt Cup said:
I’d be looking at something like this.
Parts are readily available to from Modelsport (+other shops too) just look for FTX tracer parts as it’s the same model.
The benefits of the banggood one over the equivalent FTX brushless model is it comes with oil filled shocks and metal drive shafts and gearing too, which are weak points on the FTX version.
It takes a good bashing, you can control the speed on the controller too if you find it too fast for your little-in.
It’s a great starter RC car.
Thanks Matt, been looking at that one but not sure if it might be a bit small. There's another on banggood, it's the HBX 901A. It's a 1/12 so a bit bigger but seems to be pretty well upgraded like the one you posted. Just wondering if there's a FTX equivalent of that one too, be easier getting spares from modelsport than waiting for them to come from China! Parts are readily available to from Modelsport (+other shops too) just look for FTX tracer parts as it’s the same model.
The benefits of the banggood one over the equivalent FTX brushless model is it comes with oil filled shocks and metal drive shafts and gearing too, which are weak points on the FTX version.
It takes a good bashing, you can control the speed on the controller too if you find it too fast for your little-in.
It’s a great starter RC car.
Matt Cup said:
The good thing about the 1:16 for me was the portability, I could throw both mine and my sons in a backpack jump on our bikes and to take them to the park. We have now both got 1:10 trucks so getting them about takes a bit more time and a lot more carrying.
Yeah good point about the portability, never considered that. Think I'll go for the smaller one at banggood. If he doesn't like it I'll have it... Lol.Think I'll probably look at a better charger when it comes. Presume the USB one packaged is pretty bog standard.
The usb is not the greatest, I have a couple of them knocking about to charge my sons Li-ion batteries up, but I used one of these to charge the lipo batteries up.
https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/products/overlander-rc3-...
I now have a proper balance charger but they cost more.
https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/products/overlander-rc3-...
I now have a proper balance charger but they cost more.
Matt Cup said:
The usb is not the greatest, I have a couple of them knocking about to charge my sons Li-ion batteries up, but I used one of these to charge the lipo batteries up.
https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/products/overlander-rc3-...
I now have a proper balance charger but they cost more.
Ordered the 1:16 from banggood Matt. Went for the one with three batteries for a few more quid... https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/products/overlander-rc3-...
I now have a proper balance charger but they cost more.
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