Kids first RC car

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Discussion

austin

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

204 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Anyone got any tips for getting a fairly decent RC car for a young boy, (4)?

It's got to be strong have fairly decent battery life, (rechargeable) and be easy to drive. Preferably a little bit of "off road" and won't smash the skirting boards up to much.

I had a Tamiya one, (Grasshopper?) when I was younger but I think that would be to big for now, about half the size would be ideal.

He got the hang of them really quickly and I would love to encourage him more.

Emsman

6,923 posts

191 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
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My lad is 4 and he uses my tamiya rising fighter without any problems.
You will be suprised how quickly they are able to pick it up, and at least if you do damage something, all the tamiya bits are available as spares

austin

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

204 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
quotequote all
I would be quite happy for him to have something like that if I could get one smaller. I know that it will be used indoors as well as out.

Do Tamiya, (or anyone else for that matter) make smaller than normal, (ie half the size of the "normal" ones)?

Emsman

6,923 posts

191 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
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Not that I know of I'm afraid.
I bought jnr a mini cooper for indoors for about a rennet and leave the big one for outside

Emsman

6,923 posts

191 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
quotequote all
Actually, get him the vanessas lunchbox.
They wheelie, little lad will love it.
Mine is posted on another thread in here somewhere- cheap, parts readily available, takes plenty of knocks due to the large wheels, and will run over grass easily.

esuuv

1,324 posts

206 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
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Tamiya used to do a 1/18 monster truck - TLT-1, I have one, its great as its not really all that fast, discontinued now though.

Losi and associated and some others make smaller trucks - mini t etc, but they are all pretty rapid so not sure how good they would be indoors.

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpec...

Something like that maybe, 1/36 - 15cm long and 10 wide.

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

183 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
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austin said:
I would be quite happy for him to have something like that if I could get one smaller. I know that it will be used indoors as well as out.

Do Tamiya, (or anyone else for that matter) make smaller than normal, (ie half the size of the "normal" ones)?
Yep, although they are pre-made, so he won't learn anythiing about how to build and repair it. They are what used to be called "Quick Drive", and I now think are called "TamTech-Gear".

If you want something really small though, have a look at Losi Mini and Micros. I have a Micro-T Desert truck, which is great fun.

austin

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

204 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
austin said:
I would be quite happy for him to have something like that if I could get one smaller. I know that it will be used indoors as well as out.

Do Tamiya, (or anyone else for that matter) make smaller than normal, (ie half the size of the "normal" ones)?
Yep, although they are pre-made, so he won't learn anythiing about how to build and repair it. They are what used to be called "Quick Drive", and I now think are called "TamTech-Gear".

If you want something really small though, have a look at Losi Mini and Micros. I have a Micro-T Desert truck, which is great fun.
He's 4! Not sure how much building there is to learn just yet.

Will check out the TamTech / Quick Drive options

wacattack

576 posts

226 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
austin said:
I would be quite happy for him to have something like that if I could get one smaller. I know that it will be used indoors as well as out.

Do Tamiya, (or anyone else for that matter) make smaller than normal, (ie half the size of the "normal" ones)?
Yep, although they are pre-made, so he won't learn anythiing about how to build and repair it. They are what used to be called "Quick Drive", and I now think are called "TamTech-Gear".

If you want something really small though, have a look at Losi Mini and Micros. I have a Micro-T Desert truck, which is great fun.
Haha Id love to see the car after a 4 year old built it!!

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

183 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
quotequote all
wacattack said:
HereBeMonsters said:
austin said:
I would be quite happy for him to have something like that if I could get one smaller. I know that it will be used indoors as well as out.

Do Tamiya, (or anyone else for that matter) make smaller than normal, (ie half the size of the "normal" ones)?
Yep, although they are pre-made, so he won't learn anythiing about how to build and repair it. They are what used to be called "Quick Drive", and I now think are called "TamTech-Gear".

If you want something really small though, have a look at Losi Mini and Micros. I have a Micro-T Desert truck, which is great fun.
Haha Id love to see the car after a 4 year old built it!!
I built one with my brother when he was 6 and I was 8. With parental help (obviously!) it might be do-able.

TBH though, I'd have a look at the Losis. They are usually far more robust than the Tamiyas, and spares are more readily available in local model shops. If it's doing to be a lot of indoors then a Mini-T would be great fun, although since the brushless motor upgrade I did to my Desert Truck, it's plenty fast enough. If you want some slow fun, they do a crawler as well.

austin

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

204 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
quotequote all
Really liking the Losi Micros, (about 5" long).

If he gets into it properly we can always start upgrading

Mikey G

4,733 posts

241 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
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My mates boy was 4 when he was driving a Maverick Atom XT.
http://www.apexmodels.com/gbu0-prodshow/MV12102.ht...
Lots of fun for the money but maybe a bit fast indoors.

He is 6 now and his dad lets him drive a HPI Firestorm nitro truggy biggrin

Friend of mine just bought his 6 year old son a Step Up Stinger RTR truggy and loved it so much he went out and bought the 2.4ghz brushless version for himself!

Dont be afraid that at 4 he will wreck it as he will probably pick up driving much quicker than us oldies do... hehe

Oxygen Thief

1,729 posts

186 months

Friday 28th May 2010
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Losi Mini LST 2. My lot love ours.

austin

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

204 months

Friday 28th May 2010
quotequote all
I have here a Losi Micro-T 1/36th scale truck.

I might have charged it up and tried it out, (just for to check it worked mind you.)

It's bl**dy fast for something so small, caused chaos in the office and the cats will hate it, perfect for a 4 year old!

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

183 months

Saturday 29th May 2010
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austin said:
It's bl**dy fast for something so small, caused chaos in the office and the cats will hate it, perfect for a 4 year old!
That's the difference between toys and "proper" r/c cars. Glad we could help!

austin

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

204 months

Sunday 30th May 2010
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Well I knew I wanted a proper one over a toy one, just surprised at how fast it is, the front wheels barely stay on the ground when flooring it from static.

Can't wait to see how it goes down on Wednesday...