What starter model to get

[GoCar]

My young son is really keen to get a good RC car, and so I'm hoping there's someone here who can suggest some models.

I am a complete newbie to RC models, and have just bought a Team Losi Mini Monster Baja for my son.

However, although we had a long chat to the shopkeeper when buying it, it was not made clear that the batteries may explode or burst into flames at any point, and it wasn't made clear either, that you shouldn't use the Baja in the street or anywhere near people to avoid injury, as stated in the instruction manual...

So, sadly, it looks like I'll have to return the car to the shop, and would very much like some advice on what to get instead.

It would have to be completely safe, my son would like to use it near people both indoors and out, on the pavement and in the park, build tracks for it, and if we can find any tracks where he can race against others, he'd like to do that too.

Any ideas?

And any ideas for where to find racing tracks where you can race others?

Many thanks in advance,
Susanna

[GoCar]

No, the car we bought is truly lovely, but although mature for his age, my son's only 6, and we were planning on using this new car for general use here at home (with my 1-year old always nearby) on the pavements around here and in the local park, which is very busy with children.

And I guess there's no point risking it, I don't fancy either of my children maimed.
When he's 13, we'll get him another one :-)

So, is there really no alternatives?
That sounds incredible...
What's the LEAST dangerous cars, then?


Thanks a lot,
Susanna

[GoCar]

Hi all,
thanks a lot for your replies:

I'm not worried about the speed of the car, nor is my son too irresponsible, my post today was prompted by the fact that the instruction manual for our new car has a number of warnings about the LiPo battery exploding or catching fire, and it also directly states never to use the car anywhere near others, whether on pavements or in parks etc.... which, unless we find a track near us, is exactly where my son would be using it.

To someone with no experiece of LiPo batteries, they sound too dodgy to bother with, and so I thought we better return the car and find a more suitable one - if we follow the manufacturers instructions, we can't use the car anywhere :-)


But I can see that none of you are particularly worried about the batteries, so what I need is more information about them.

I've just googled LiPo batteries, and so far I've found the following, please let me know your thoughts on it all.
My questions are in brackets:


The batteries are only likely to burst into flames when being charged/overcharged, or when vehicle has crashed/battery has received dings. (I imagine that RC cars get a fair amount of bumps and rolls, how do I know when the battery has been affected?)

If battery has been in a crash, remove it and put it in a safe place. (How do you inspect/remove the battery without risk of injury to hands/face?)

You should keep an eye on the batteries all the time while recharging, to check for ballooning, smoke, smells etc..
If anything funny is going on, disconnect the battery and move to safe place.
(How long does it take to charge? Doesn't it drive you mad to only be able to charge when you're around?)

You should recharge the batteries outside away from everything, or alternatively in a fireproof box (where would I get that?).

It is recommended that a fire extinguisher of some sort be kept close to where the batteries are being charged.
(where do you keep the batteries when not in use/overnight? In a fireproof box in a place away from your house?)


Thanks a million again,
Susanna

[GoCar]

Hi all,
just to let you know that we kept the car :-), and it's great, my son loves it already, I now hope to find a track or club nearby (NE London).

[GoCar]

Hi all,
just to let you know that we kept the car :-), and it's great, my son loves it already, I now hope to find a track or club nearby (NE London).