First RC car... recommendations please!
Discussion
Hello all...
My son would like a remote control car for his 11th birthday. I have no idea what's a good idea as the last time I had one, at a similar age, it was a Midnight Pumpkin. I used it out of the box and didn't change or upgrade anything before I got bored of it!
There is every chance it will be a fleeting interest so I don't really want to start down the modifying route until I know if he wants to make it more of a hobby.
He would like a 'truggy' I think, a pick-up bodied type. Budget is £200-250max for everything including controller and batteries.
Can anyone recommend something suitable, please?
Thanks!
My son would like a remote control car for his 11th birthday. I have no idea what's a good idea as the last time I had one, at a similar age, it was a Midnight Pumpkin. I used it out of the box and didn't change or upgrade anything before I got bored of it!
There is every chance it will be a fleeting interest so I don't really want to start down the modifying route until I know if he wants to make it more of a hobby.
He would like a 'truggy' I think, a pick-up bodied type. Budget is £200-250max for everything including controller and batteries.
Can anyone recommend something suitable, please?
Thanks!
The FTX Tracer is often recommended as a great first car. It's got good spare parts availability, is upgradeable and comes in well under your budget.
If that's a bit small the other RTR FTX cars are equally as good for beginners.
If that's a bit small the other RTR FTX cars are equally as good for beginners.
Something like the FTX Carnage brushless should be ok for an 11 year old and within budget. Only thing to note with the FTX's is that they are a little on the fragile side, ok if you have plenty of space to run them, but do break when crashed (But parts are very cheap).
https://www.kingslynnmodelshop.co.uk/ftx-carnage-1...
The other option would be something like the Arrma Vortex Mega 4x2 Boost & then purchase the 4x4 conversion kit. This is brushed rather than brushless, still fast, just not as fast. But Arrma take a lot more punishment and do not break as easily, so you will probably save some time and money not having to repair it as much.
https://wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/350705/?o=350701
https://wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/350692/?gclid=Cj0K...
https://www.kingslynnmodelshop.co.uk/ftx-carnage-1...
The other option would be something like the Arrma Vortex Mega 4x2 Boost & then purchase the 4x4 conversion kit. This is brushed rather than brushless, still fast, just not as fast. But Arrma take a lot more punishment and do not break as easily, so you will probably save some time and money not having to repair it as much.
https://wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/350705/?o=350701
https://wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/350692/?gclid=Cj0K...
I went for an FTX comet for my boy. It's been great - we have 3 batteries for it which gives us more than enough use if we take it out somewhere.
It's best in carparks on the weekends rather than big grassy areas, but it is great fun. Am tempted to buy a second one.
The spare parts thing is massive. I've replaced a few bits on it - most notably the whole chassis! (~£12 on ebay) when the daughter crashed it into a kerb and it snapped. Up and running 3 days later!
It's best in carparks on the weekends rather than big grassy areas, but it is great fun. Am tempted to buy a second one.
The spare parts thing is massive. I've replaced a few bits on it - most notably the whole chassis! (~£12 on ebay) when the daughter crashed it into a kerb and it snapped. Up and running 3 days later!
Hi
Standard reply - find your local model car club(s), go along and have a look, pick a car to suit the club/class you like the best..
Truggy/Buggies can lead to this:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NgLblhsy8Q
IMHO, best hobby for any youngster, especially if they have any interest in anything mechanical, as it delivers such a good foundation stone to their knowledge and doesn't involve sitting in front of a screen every evening..
But be aware..its contagious (or at least a good excuse!) and you'll end up with a 'family' team!
Standard reply - find your local model car club(s), go along and have a look, pick a car to suit the club/class you like the best..
Truggy/Buggies can lead to this:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NgLblhsy8Q
IMHO, best hobby for any youngster, especially if they have any interest in anything mechanical, as it delivers such a good foundation stone to their knowledge and doesn't involve sitting in front of a screen every evening..
But be aware..its contagious (or at least a good excuse!) and you'll end up with a 'family' team!
Thanks for the replies everyone.
The FTX Tracer looks good. I had a look at the Modelsport website and there's a brushless version as well which has a bit more speed and isn't a lot more expensive. Apparently oil filled shocks are a must have upgrade and they're only a tenner. Youtube has plenty of vids on it and it looks pretty durable? Seems to take plenty of knocks anyway.
That model comes with a LiPo battery... something I know nothing about! What's the crack with these then? They're not as idiot-proof as Li-ion, and require a charging bag in case they explode?! Am I better off with a special charger over and above the usb-thing that comes with it? How long is a charge likely to last? Should I buy 2, or more, batteries?
Thanks again!
The FTX Tracer looks good. I had a look at the Modelsport website and there's a brushless version as well which has a bit more speed and isn't a lot more expensive. Apparently oil filled shocks are a must have upgrade and they're only a tenner. Youtube has plenty of vids on it and it looks pretty durable? Seems to take plenty of knocks anyway.
That model comes with a LiPo battery... something I know nothing about! What's the crack with these then? They're not as idiot-proof as Li-ion, and require a charging bag in case they explode?! Am I better off with a special charger over and above the usb-thing that comes with it? How long is a charge likely to last? Should I buy 2, or more, batteries?
Thanks again!
Tracer fan boy here...
My 5 year old has had his for about 1.5yrs and it's now at the stage where he's probably ready to upgrade so sub conciously, the Tracer has been getting subjected to even more abuse. We found a skate park with a half pipe that had a vertical section that must be a good 15ft high. You can probably see where this is going.
It did finally fail... a little screw came out that holds the link bar to each side of the steering arms. £3.75 and 48hrs later courtesy of Jadlam, replacement in hand and fitted and back in business. He's also managed to snap the rear of the shell off just behind the mounts. Still works, just with added Mad Max asthetics.
Just an astonishing thing...
My 5 year old has had his for about 1.5yrs and it's now at the stage where he's probably ready to upgrade so sub conciously, the Tracer has been getting subjected to even more abuse. We found a skate park with a half pipe that had a vertical section that must be a good 15ft high. You can probably see where this is going.
It did finally fail... a little screw came out that holds the link bar to each side of the steering arms. £3.75 and 48hrs later courtesy of Jadlam, replacement in hand and fitted and back in business. He's also managed to snap the rear of the shell off just behind the mounts. Still works, just with added Mad Max asthetics.
Just an astonishing thing...
Sorry, just noted this. It's just the standard battery pack which usually gives about 20mins run time. I keep threatening to buy more but I think it's nearer the stage where he's probably ready to upgrade. That said, as a RTR model for ~£70 it's excellent and with the power turned down, has been good for him to learn. With it turned up to 11, I'm not embarrassed to say that I struggle to keep it under control. I've not done any upgrades, no love, no care... it's just done nigh on 18 months of skate parks, the woods and the beach without any issues.
Cheers. I've bought a Tracer! Went for the cheaper brushed version with lion batteries to start with. There doesn't seem much in it between that and the brushless/lipo, and I'm sure it'll do to start with. A went for a couple of extra battery packs as well, and a decent charger. The only upgrade I've gone for is the oil filled shocks!
We have an FTX and would recommend it - spare parts are available and often needed as it’s not the most robust thing and fast enough for the kids to crash + damage it
We also have a traxxas slash 4x4 it’s a lot more capable ofc but also has had some far harder crashes and has yet to break a part
We also have a traxxas slash 4x4 it’s a lot more capable ofc but also has had some far harder crashes and has yet to break a part
r44flyer said:
Cheers. I've bought a Tracer! Went for the cheaper brushed version with lion batteries to start with. There doesn't seem much in it between that and the brushless/lipo, and I'm sure it'll do to start with. A went for a couple of extra battery packs as well, and a decent charger. The only upgrade I've gone for is the oil filled shocks!
Can you let us know how you get on with oil shocks? Good damping? Do they leak? My lad’s Tracer has had well over a year of hard thrashing and it’s still going strong, but the friction shocks as well as being a bit crap suffer with rust and get really creaky. The 2nd set are just about coming to the end of their life now.I bought these ones...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404149559462
I have no comparison but they seem really good and certainly don't appear to leak, but they've only had one outing. They come with quite stiff springs, which I suppose are good for jumps etc. You have the option to dismantle them (easy) and swap the springs from the standard shocks to the oil dampers, they are the same size. Seems like a good compromise so I did this before it went out the first time. Worked well but it did bottom out on some higher jumps so maybe the stiffer springs they came with would be better. I can't help think they would be over-damped on rough ground.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404149559462
I have no comparison but they seem really good and certainly don't appear to leak, but they've only had one outing. They come with quite stiff springs, which I suppose are good for jumps etc. You have the option to dismantle them (easy) and swap the springs from the standard shocks to the oil dampers, they are the same size. Seems like a good compromise so I did this before it went out the first time. Worked well but it did bottom out on some higher jumps so maybe the stiffer springs they came with would be better. I can't help think they would be over-damped on rough ground.
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