Sunday, November 9, 2008

Saving Money On Buying Radio Controlled Parts

When the Car breaks down or requires repair after an accident, many owners send it back to the dealer. If the parts and the labor are too expensive, it is sent to a smaller shop that is much cheaper and uses surplus parts instead of the original ones.

The RC Car is often referred to as a miniature version of the real thing. When the toy gets broken due to wear and tear, the person has the choice of replacing it with the same parts or upgrading; making it better than it was before.

Most radio-controlled parts regardless of the name of the manufacturer are compatible with each other. If the individual needs to change the battery and finds the original to be expensive, it can be changed for something similar at a lower price. The customer must simply determine if the toy's performance is the same or will be better after the switch has been made.

But what should the hobbyist do if the item needed in the specialty store is expensive? Then its time to be resourceful and look elsewhere so that the radio-controlled car can still be used. Here are three places worth checking out to make that toy run again.

1. The first place to check is the electronics' store. This is because the establishment has wires, batteries and other electronic gadgets that can make the radio controlled cars work. The hobbyist should just ask the assistance of a sales clerk to will help get the right parts and even connect it/them properly to prevent the toy from short-circuiting.

2. Another place worth checking out is the Internet. There are some websites that sell these spare parts. The individual should buy two pieces so there is a spare and keep the contact number just in case another item will be needed in the future.

3. People will rarely find RC car parts in the classified ads of the newspaper. The person will have better luck checking out specialty magazines that feature these products.

Some of these items listed may be cheap because they are pre-owned. It would be a good idea to meet the seller in person so this can be checked before any payment is made.

As long as there is a market for RC cars, hobbyists can be sure of an ample supply of spare parts. The hobbyist can pay a lot for these by going to a store or save some money by looking elsewhere to get these goods.

you may be interested in reading this too: Drag Racing and Repairing RC Car

Friday, October 31, 2008

Tips For Drag Racing With Radio Controlled (RC) Cars

For most people, the idea of drag racing implies exhilaration and excitement. It also connotes danger. It's a good thing that RC cars can now enable anyone to experience the thrills and excitement of drag racing without being exposed to too much danger.

Drag racing is all about speed. As compared to ordinary RC car races, the drag racing with RC cars entails much more attention on setting-up the vehicle than having driving skills. The main deal with car racing is to eliminate the forces (aerodynamic) that prevent the car from attaining and maintaining maximum speed. The following things should be given much importance when racing RC cars at maximum speed:

Chassis
Getting and maintaining a good chassis for drag race RC cars is very important. The thing to remember is that there are numerous materials that make up modern RC drag cars today such as graphite and carbon fiber. They differ in how they support the cars and how they "flex" during acceleration. The chassis needs to have flexibility when accelerating is a key to attain the car's maximum speed.

Front end design

RC car dragsters have distinct front-end designs. They are usually pointed to minimize the drag from the air. The front axles should be set up in a simple way to make them easier to adjust during accidents during race day.

Battery packs
Usually, RC car drag races are determined by the kind of battery pack that the cars are equipped with. Nickel-cadmium batteries are very popular nowadays. The batteries used in cars are usually in 6-cell or 7-cell packs. The two main things that one should look for in battery packs are internal impedance and voltage. These are two main indicators of power and speed. The battery packs used in RC drag racing are perhaps the most powerful in the whole RC racing arena.

Tires
For RC drag race, the usual dragsters employ thin front wheels which are most often referred to as "pizza cutters" because they resemble the kitchen apparatus. When it comes to selecting tires, there are two beliefs: smaller is better and the "big wheels rule." As with any other contradicting beliefs, both have advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day, it's personal taste that really counts in choosing the kinds of tires.

Weight
RC drag race cars have been stripped of their excess weight throughout the years. An optimum weight should be achieved to be able to get maximum acceleration.
RC drag racing is a really fun and exhilarating experience. One should try watching races over the weekend to find out.

Also, check out my other guide on RC Car Upgrading and Buy RC Car

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Taking Care of Radio Control Car Parts

The RC Car. It is one thing to know how to drive the RC car; it is another to maintain it so that it will be in good condition at all times. Here are a few tips for those who want to know more about taking care of the RC and its parts.

1. Most radio controlled cars have bushings made either of plastic or bronze. These are designed to take on the negative effects of friction when driving on the racetrack. It is advisable to replace these with balls bearings instead since these have proven to be more durable that the latter.

People who do this don't have to change them very often and will notice that the RC car is able to maintain its speed on or off the track.

2. In most RC car races, the two most important things in the machine are the engine and the tires. Those who compete should not rely on hard tires but get those made of rubber. This will allow the person to make those sharp turns and while maintaining control on the road.

The RC car should be examined from time to time so that the individual will know when to replace the old tires with new ones.

3. Racers need good engines when competing. A majority of radio controlled cars come with mechanical speed controls that are either rotary or wiper typed. If the racer wants to get the best performance from the machine, it would be a good idea to change these to electronic speed controls. These are maintenance free and are much smaller making the vehicle lighter and smoother to drive. So the RC car will move faster.

4. RC cars also need something to absorb the impact of the track called fluid damped shocks. Since these bog down due to wear and tear, the user should replace these after a few runs so that there won't be any damage to the vehicle.

5. RC machines run on batteries. It is advisable to get those that are rechargeable so that the owner does not have to buy new ones when these are no longer as effective as they used to be.

Preventive maintenance is the best way to make sure the RC car is in good condition at all times.

Also, check out my other guide on Classic Model and RC Business