Looking to try this hobby, can you check my spec please?

[Tycos]

Hi,

A while back, it must be over a year now, I posted about wanting to get in to RC cars, build my own & have some fun. Some stuff came up and I couldn't at the time, but now I'd like to re-visit this world and see how I get on. I must apologise for disappearing and give my thanks to the guys that helped me initially!

 

I love the idea of starting with something that's a bit of fun, but then gradually upgrading it to (hopefully) be a bit of a beast. I would mostly do off-road stuff, grass, dirt, that sort of thing.

 

Anyway, I still have the links to the stuff you guys helped me choose back then, a couple of HPI items were discontinued, but have been replaced by newer models, so I found those.

 

So, here's my basket:

 

Couple of questions - what sort of battery life would I see out of this setup? And more importantly, will it all fit together?!

 

With regards to the car itself, that's a kit - would I need a soldering iron or anything like that, or is it all just "plug (or screw) & play"?.

 

Thanks again,

Craig.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Tycos

[losi8igh]

How much is it all in total?

Only ask cause it might almost be cheaper to buy something ready to run,I appreciate you might want to built it but just a thought.

Also that set up is based around a brushed motor set up,brushless is considered more the "norm" these days and again like I said you might be able to buy a ready to run brushless set up for similar money.

[Tycos]

That's £256 total. I've also added some rubber sealed bearings, but they'd either come from eBay or rcbearings.

 

I think a big part of this for me is going to be building it, I love doing that sort of thing even if it is a little more expensive & painful!

 

I will look in to brushless stuff.  Any suggestions for what I might need to replace in that basket?

Thanks.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Tycos

[losi8igh]

You just need to take into account that Tamiya models in general wont handle a very powerful brushless system.

You would need to consider changing the ESC (speed controller) and motor as they are both brushed types at the moment.

The lipo battery you have chosen might also not fit in the car,not sure what size battery is the maximum size for the buggy you have chosen so you might need to check.

Also the battery has no connector on it so you will need to either solder one on yourself or have Modelsport do it which costs extra,maybe you have chosen that option and it just isn't showing in the picture you put up?

In a brushless set up I have got 20-30 mins out of a similar sized battery before,in a brushed set up you could find it running for anything up to 40-60 mins

[losi8igh]

The lipo you have chosen is only slightly longer,2mm longer in fact,than the NIMH battery that comes as part of the package deal  for that car so it should fit okay,it just depends if there is 2mm spare space in the battery compartment or whether or not the battery compartment is only 135mm long as opposed to the 137mm long the battery is.

The width and height aren't a problem by the look of it.

[Kpowell911]

Looking on Google images there looks a little bit of space for a larger lipo battery. Personally with that budget if be expecting something a lot better than a Sand Viper, I think Tamiyas are seriously under specified and over priced, that said its only of the few options if you want a kit unfortunately. I think if Tamiya weren't such a huge iconic brand they would be struggling to compete these days....

 

id look at a mild EZ run brushless set up, something like a 35/60a esc and a circa 3000kv motor, I'm not sure what gearing options you have in Sand Viper mind....

Edited August 10, 2016 by Guns

[Tycos]

Yeah, I forgot to add the connector for the screenshot, but that is in my list, thanks.

 

I will double check the battery size, but pretty sure the guys that helped me previously checked that for me & it was fine.

 

Brushless brings the price up a fair bit, with these two for example:

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-flux-shot-4300kv-brushless-motor/rc-car-products/363294

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-flux-vapor-pro-waterproof-speed-control/rc-car-products/363726

 

Part of me thinks I should go brushed to begin with, to keep things cheap (after all, this is all new to me, so I might not properly get in to it in the end or whatever!!). If I can just drop in a brushless motor and ESC and see how it goes, then that sounds good to me.

[Kpowell911]

The thing is, you don't have to go cheap, you have the budget. You can get your lipo/charger/esc/motor from Hobbyking uk for cheaper. A lot of RC is rebranding. That HPI Brushless combo you have linked is a rebadged set up with HPI's mark up. You could the original version for about the same money as you are paying for the brushed set up from Modelsport.

[Kpowell911]

6 minutes ago, Tycos said:

Yeah, I forgot to add the connector for the screenshot, but that is in my list, thanks.

 

I will double check the battery size, but pretty sure the guys that helped me previously checked that for me & it was fine.

 

Brushless brings the price up a fair bit, with these two for example:

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-flux-shot-4300kv-brushless-motor/rc-car-products/363294

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hpi-flux-vapor-pro-waterproof-speed-control/rc-car-products/363726

 

Part of me thinks I should go brushed to begin with, to keep things cheap (after all, this is all new to me, so I might not properly get in to it in the end or whatever!!). If I can just drop in a brushless motor and ESC and see how it goes, then that sounds good to me.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKYRC-9T-3300KV-MOTOR-60A-ESC-5V-2A-BEC-LINEAR-MODE-PROGRAM-CARD-COMBO-G8K0-/252392735625?hash=item3ac3c78389:g:geUAAOSwQoFWPXJ7

[Tycos]

Hmm, last time I was here, people seemed to praise the Sand Viper for its cheap parts, size, ease to work with, etc!

 

I am quite set on getting a kit though, I suppose I might not get the best setup compared to pre-built, but building and tinkering is part of what I'd want out of this hobby.

 

I'll check out hobbyking now

[Tycos]

That eBay one looks good!

 

Is it waterproof? It doesn't say.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Tycos

[Kpowell911]

Im going to come across Anti Tamiya. I get the romance if Tamiya. Theyre great to build and are responsible for building this hobby into what it is. But personally I think this would be a better set up for possibly cheaper. I will use a few of your things, as I quite like the charger and radio youve chose. I will try and come in under £250 allowing you to have more money for either more batteries, or improved radio/motor/ESC

 

Kit: £65

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/team-c-tr02-v2-2wd-buggy-kit/rc-car-products/389023

or

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/team-c-1-10-ep-truggy-tr02-v2-2wd-kit/rc-car-products/389024

 

Radio: £29.99

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/absima-cr2s-v2-2-channel-2.4ghzradio-control-system/rc-car-products/376271

 

Servo: maybe over kill but you have the funds £16.19

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/power-hd-9001mg-metal-geared-servo/rc-car-products/35545

 

ESC/Motor: £32.15
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3650-3900KV-4P-Sensorless-Brushless-Motor-60A-Brushless-ESC-W-BEC-for-RC-CN-W7W8-/361521923430?hash=item542c62c566:g:6OYAAOSwh-1W6h~K

 

Charger: £42.00

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/overlander-rc6-vsp-80watt-7a-output-ac-dc-charger/rc-car-products/379060

 

Battery: £22.63

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__34284__Turnigy_nano_tech_6000mah_2S_25_50C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html

 

£207.96+ few pinions, connectors and postage. Gives you enough money to either improve the electronics OR if you really wanted to get a really special kit such as this:

 

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/associated-rc10-worlds-car-kit/rc-car-products/381127

 

Might need some refining and I didnt check the lipo would fit, but you get the idea.

 

 

Edited August 10, 2016 by Guns

[Kpowell911]

 

Id even go for this over the Tamiya...

 

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/lrp-s10-twister-2wd-buggy-kit/rc-car-products/394933

[Tycos]

Thanks for that. I will have a closer look when I'm home this evening.

[Kpowell911]

Could make changes to ensure its water proof too, although I didn't think the Tamiya had a waterproof reciever box so didn't consider it?

[Tycos]

It really depends what it means to be not-waterproof. If I take it out in winter in the wet grass, or a puddle, is it going to destroy the thing? Or does waterproof just mean if I crash it in to a river, it isn't going to break?

Edited August 10, 2016 by Tycos

[Kpowell911]

It's not a problem finding a waterproof esc and servo. I didn't bother because in all 'waterproof' cars, the reciever is enclosed in a water sealed box. The reciever to me is the main thing to keep dry. Tamiyas don't have this box, suppose you could add one.

 

i don't usually run in the wet even though my vehicles are waterproof. Too much hassle re sealing bearings and drying out screws that end up rusting lol.

 

if running on wet grass or a puddle, I'd personally look at getting waterproof electronics and sealing the reciever

[Kpowell911]

For example this is a Traxxas waterproof reciever box.

 

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/traxxas-waterproof-receiver-box-1-10th-rally-slash-4x4-lcg/rc-car-products/372845

[Tycos]

Yeah, it's not something I'd go out of my way to do (use it in the wet), but this hobby is also not something I'd want to be limited in that I can only go out when it's perfectly dry.

 

So many options! Looks like something that might become quite addictive, with all the upgrades etc and stuff!

[losi8igh]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the whole waterproof thing.

Just don't go driving through standing water is the simplest answer.

Even wet grass might be a problem if the electrics start to get wet but they do dry out again.

You have to ask yourself would you be that happy standing in the pouring rain running a toy car,if the answer is no then don't worry about waterproofing too much,just do like I said which is avoid standing water.

Whatever you do make sure you buy something you can get spares for,people here have bought cars and then not been able to easily get spares,it might limit your choice a bit but sticking to one of the major brands such as Tamiya might help in that respect.

Fun is the thing to bear in mind,you can have as much fun with a £100 car as you can with a £400 one and the £100 one is probably going to be cheaper to fix as long as you can find the spares.

 

[dazp1976]

£8.00 for AA's? May as well get these for the radio for £2 more:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DURACELL-8-x-AA-1700-mAh-Rechargeable-NiMH-Batteries-by-DURACELL-in-FREE-CASE-/331499214423?hash=item4d2ee49657:g:UrIAAOSweW5U-zLv

Been using these for about 2 years now and give good time on the tx. The newer higher mah "pre-charged" type ones are a fail.

 

Edit: Also Argos do a box of 20 standard duracell AA's for £9.99

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9805952.htm

 

Edited August 10, 2016 by dazp1976

[dazp1976]

1 hour ago, Guns said:

The thing is, you don't have to go cheap, you have the budget. You can get your lipo/charger/esc/motor from Hobbyking uk for cheaper. A lot of RC is rebranding. That HPI Brushless combo you have linked is a rebadged set up with HPI's mark up. You could the original version for about the same money as you are paying for the brushed set up from Modelsport.

Don't think HK have an AC charger anymore, they're all DC and need a psu. Everything else tho 

 

Actually I stand corrected  but the budget ones are on backorder. The only one they have is £60 

Edited August 10, 2016 by dazp1976

[Kpowell911]

4 minutes ago, dazp1976 said:

Don't think HK have an AC charger anymore, they're all DC and need a psu. Everything else tho 

 

Actually I stand corrected  but the budget ones are on backorder. The only one they have is £60 

Well, without opening a can of worms again, Id only ever go for an all in one, especially as a newbie, so linked the £42 MSUK one

[Nitroholic]

If you want to waterproof a receiver .... just use a balloon!

 

Used to be the way before waterproof receiver boxes came along. You just stuff the receiver into the balloon after you plug in the servo and ESC wires....the close up the neck with a small cable tie. To be doubly sure, a little blob of silicon sealant in the neck of the balloon will sort it out. Completely waterproof in most circumstances whatever your receiver box. This is a car...not a U-Boat!

 

 

[dazp1976]

18 minutes ago, Guns said:

Well, without opening a can of worms again, Id only ever go for an all in one, especially as a newbie, so linked the £42 MSUK one

No worms totally agree. Newbie, 2s, 3s or 4s (just about depending on mah) All in one 60 - 80w straight in a socket. Once you get confident and have more lipo's then drop £120 ish to charge parallel 3+ lipo's at once. Or just get a second 80w to do 2.

 

It's once you bump up above 4s when the AC ones can come up short, then you need to think a bit differently.

Interested to hear your thoughts on this one tho  

https://www.robotbirds.co.uk/default/chargers-power-supply-leads/chargers/ft680-ac-dc-80watt-charger.html