Anybody here into RC?

[Genebaby]

1/8 Buggies specifically.

Late last year my brother was getting into it with an electric powered HSP branded car (known as Redcat Racing in the US) and I ended up catching the bug!

I ended up getting a HPI Vorza Flux and he now has a Losi Eight 2.0 along with two other HSP's.

The Vorza seems to have been a good choice in the "ready to run" category with good parts and a very tough nature, it's taken some amazing spills and come back for more.

I've visited the local off road racing track and had some practice and should be attending my first official race meet on Sunday to compete in the novice class amongst all kinds of others.

The coolest thing to master at the moment is controlling a big jump. Adjusting the throttle or brake mid-air is very cool and something I only started getting the hang of last time when I lost my stock steering servo horn. The replacement just came today and I've been setting it up, in readiness, along with a new servo as recommended by my friends.

A guy at work and his two friends are into it, as is my drummer who bought a car but hasn't used it in ages, and I've met some people while practicing.

It can get expensive, the cars do break as they get treated rough and there are upgrade parts galore if your so inclined.

I am going to repair and strengthen my original boy shell and I have a new one I am going to paint red and strengthen before I use it. As I said, these things cop a beating, something you have to get used to with your shiny new toy.

This is the stock look of my car.

[shramiac]

Nuh. One of my drivers races locally though. He's looking to upgrade to petrol class. He says they're rockets!

Amazed your's doesn't have a flame job???

[PinkWiz]

My father is big into RC model airplanes and has been ever since I was a kid... builds 'em, flies 'em, crashes 'em... then starts all over.

[Genebaby]

Ooh, planes would be scary, so much danger of a crash and big damage.

I'm all set to visit the track for a race meet tomorrow, batteries charged, car prepped.

Andrew, electric is the way to go nowadays, the new brushless engines and LiPo batteries kick ass.

Once you have nitro it can cost a bit to convert, so I chose electric from the start and have a kick ass charging setup, something the nitro guys don't need, their battery needs are low. It cost a bit but can be used for as many cars as I get in the future, though I only intend to have one car at a time. But you never know....lol...

[Genebaby]

An update on last weekends track visit.

I ran in the Novice class and ended up coming third even though I was having a hard time controlling the car at times. I stopped and checked the steering a couple of times as I was running a brand new servo and wasn't sure if it was faulty or I'd lost a screw somewhere. That was all fine.

Then I was wondering if it was the super wet track maybe. Turns out the reason was this!



Right rear shock broke at the base!!! My racing day was over so I went home and cleaned her up.

I already had new, larger rear shocks ready so no problem there and I ordered some spare shock bases in case this happens again. You just never know what you're going to break at any time.

I needed to swap over the shock tower to install the new shocks and found two of the screws holding the wing on were very bent, as was the original shock tower, but not too badly, as I hadn't noticed at all. Not bad considering the crashes this thing has gone through.

I'm gonna service all the shocks and put on some covers and a couple of other upgrade parts before using it again.

Also looking at getting another car, dedicated to racing, while this will remain as my learning/bashing car, which my daughter can also use with the power dialed down to suit.

[Genebaby]

Here is the results of new shocks and shock tower, with shock covers on this time around, to help keep the dirt out of the oil.



Car sits much better now and it looks like I'll be getting some practice time at the track on Thursday, then racing again on Feb 10, after a gig, so I'll sleep in as much as I can before heading out there. Either way, looking forward to seeing how it goes now.

The other upgrade parts in the steering arms were a pain to fit, but I learned a lot and got there in the end!

Here is another shot from yesterday.



I have decided on a colour scheme for the new car, it comes with a clear body you need to paint yourself, this one came with the body pre-done as per above, so that's the stock look. I have a new shell for the Vorza as well which will also have a similar theme.

Just gotta decide when the time is right to get the second car and then find the time to build it from scratch!

[1031]

Its really pretty big here, we have on of the top RC parts place about a 3 miles from my house they ship all over the country and some out. Theres a RC plane park about 20 miles away we have gone to watch them a couple times its crazy how big some of them are. And as you said very expensive, We did get a mini rc copter its kinda fun its a cheap one.

[Genebaby]

I drive past the RC plane place every morning. I've never been tempted to join them as planes are scary $$$ I think. Too easy to crash I fear. Like, I would do it every time, lol.

Which is the store near you? I get a lot of stuff from Amain Hobbies.

[metatron]

I want one of these.
[youtube][/youtube]

[Genebaby]

Nice, but I am worried about flying craft. Crashes are so deadly and I would crash a lot.

I actual ordered a new buggy for racing today, the Tekno EB48.

I went back to the track on Sunday and made it through all five rounds and finished up 3rd, which was pretty good. Just need to be more consistent, but I am a beginner really.

[Genebaby]

Back with the RC craziness!!

The EB48 Buggy kit I ordered back in Feb has finally been completed!! Here are some pics from yesterday, before I took it out with my brother just to a local oval/car park.







Today we're going to the track to practice, and for me to give the Tekno its first workout, and see how it performs. I hope nothing breaks or leaks!!!

Being my first build a lot of it was new to me, but it wasn't as hard as I thought and I have learned a lot about how these are put together.

I ended up buying two kits so in the near future, when I'm used to the electrics I picked for this one I'll build that one up. I plan on painting that one white, to match a white wing and wheels set.

[PinkWiz]

NICE!

[Genebaby]

Thanks, it was fun putting it together from scratch. It's a little less mint now after being at the track yesterday, but it was good to see how it went and what changes need to be made.

[mrblitz]

looks like a blast! i used to race 1/32 slot cars, but this here looks like a whole 'nother level.

[Genebaby]

Yeah, it's a blast for sure, 1/8 scale off road buggy is where it's at I think. Next race. S the 14th, can't wait!

Vinnie should try this, if only he'd open his window.........