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Would like to buy an RC car

workaccount

Hello,
What's the difference between nitro, electric and petrol. I would like to get something sporty looking and not spend an awful lot. Something quick would be deadly.

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RC car fanatic

in boyztoys santry(Boyztoys.ie) have onroad nitro car deals for 170e

workaccount

Ok. Cheers for the link. Whats the difference between electric and nitro though as in positives and negatives?

coolwings

Electric starts every time but nitro ......

Cheap electric costs very little but is like a toy, advanced electric costs more than basic nitro, but is faster than nitro

Nitro makes smoke and lots of exciting noise but electric .....

Electric required less modelling-engineering knowledge to make it work, so just about every model can be called a success.
But nitro is a learning curve than can frustrate some non-mechanical type so they give up, whereas others master it and have a brilliant time.

Cheap electric works (sortof) but cheap nitro will break your heart trying to start or keep it running.

Electric cars break fewer parts than nitro cars during use.

Some of the points that matter .... hope it answers your questions.

workaccount

Ok mate, you sound like you know what your talking about there, very helpful. I think I would like the nitro type so from the sound of things. So is petrol even better than nitro then?

I'll be honest i'd just like someone to say get this or this because otherwise I'll never make the decision. Theres too much choice and I don't really know alot about them yet. Something reasonably priced.

EDIT: This looks wicked but I can't find a price. http://www.hpiracing.com/kits/rtrnitro3evo/rtr3-m.htm
Would this be overkill for a beginner seeing as i'll probably crash it alot in the beginning?

BFassassin

Well Nitro can be difficult to source whereas petrol is the same as you would put in your car. Petrol models are a lot dearer usually.
For that one you have in the link you would need some really flat ground i.e a car park but if you go for the off roader then anywhere can be a track.

workaccount

What about this one
http://boyztoys.ie/index.php?subj=itemdetails&id=5575

I actually found it for 333 on modelsport.co.uk as opposed to boystoyz 449. Would this come with a remote aswell? What about fuel, do they use much?

I can't find top speed information. Anyone know what it would be?

vectra

As BFassasin said,
Make a decision as to you would prefer onroad or offroad?

Me.?
I have tried them all

Electric.. (coolwings said it) they are all a success as in they go easily.

Nitro.. Can be a Ba$t....!! but if you are prepared to learn and get it right then they are awesome fun..

Petrol.. Yup these are BIG buggers.. 1/5 scale and run on 2 stroke petrol/oil mix.. These will run for approx 40 minutes on a 700 ml tank of fuel and are damn fast.. ( see the audi in my sig. ?) That is my one.

I had a Traxxas Revo that I spent quite a lot of money on and sold it ( foolishly ) Now I have just gone a bought another nitro offroader ( See post called " Vectra's Back" )

Like I said. Decide if you want onroad or offroad.. Then decide what power source you would prefer. :cool:

vectra

workaccount wrote:

What about this one
http://boyztoys.ie/index.php?subj=itemdetails&id=5575

I actually found it for 333 on modelsport.co.uk as opposed to boystoyz 449. Would this come with a remote aswell? What about fuel, do they use much?

I can't find top speed information. Anyone know what it would be?

Hypers are good buggys..
If It is a buggy you want then maybe you might want to ask coolwings about his Barely ran in buggy.. I think you may get a Bargain from him... Bearing in mind that his model is supported by Green Hobby and Models in Dublin.. so very convenient for you in the case of something getting broken

workaccount

Yeah I have more or less decided to go off road based on BFassassin's post. You guys are giving the impression that petrols don't cause much problems, is that true?

So would the nitros be as quick and everything as a petrol?

You said 40mins - 700ml. That's nothing. So what about nitro, a litre seems to cost about 7 and half times more.

workaccount

If coolwings has one i'd be interested in hearing about it at least.

vectra

1/5 scalers are big and when you break them they can be expensive to repair.

I think first option would be to have a chat with Coolwings about his buggy. you would get proffesional advice ( as you probably guesed ) and also as I said. excellent backup service from GM&H

Nitro is more expensive then regular petrol but it is not like you are gonna use a gallon a day

workaccount

vectra wrote:

1/5 scalers are big and when you break them they can be expensive to repair.

I think first option would be to have a chat with Coolwings about his buggy. you would get proffesional advice ( as you probably guesed ) and also as I said. excellent backup service from GM&H

Nitro is more expensive then regular petrol but it is not like you are gonna use a gallon a day

Jesus a gallon would cost me over e25 but I know what you mean. I just would not want to spend much more than a tenner a week on fuel for it messing around. I'm willing to fork out initially for the model but I'm not really willing to continue throwing in loads of money to fuel it. Obviously maintenance and repairs will be a reality... but loads on fuel—not ideal.

Perhaps a petrol model would work out cheaper over the long run. Maybe coolwings will be able to give me a estimate of running costs seeing as you say he's quite experienced. Is coolwings buggy a hyper, how do you know hes interested in moving it?

Thanks for your input so far.

vectra

workaccount wrote:

Perhaps a petrol model would work out cheaper over the long run. Maybe coolwings will be able to give me a estimate of running costs seeing as you say he's quite experienced. Is coolwings buggy a hyper, how do you know hes interested in moving it?

Thanks for your input so far.

Petrol model is deffo cheaper to run.. How do I know?
I have two of them.. One I ran about 5 tanks through it.. The other one was never even started..:o
Just bought it as an ornament I guess. Might be selling it though.. Onroad Opel Vectra DTM..

How do I know Coolwings is selling his?
It is a Carson Specter 1/8 scale ( similar to the hyper you saw )
He has used maybe a gallon or so on it.. would be mint though knowing him.
He told me in another thread that about €250 would buy it.. Drop him a PM

workaccount

vectra wrote:

Petrol model is deffo cheaper to run.. How do I know?
I have two of them.. One I ran about 5 tanks through it.. The other one was never even started..:o
Just bought it as an ornament I guess. Might be selling it though.. Onroad Opel Vectra DTM..

How do I know Coolwings is selling his?
It is a Carson Specter 1/8 scale ( similar to the hyper you saw )
He has used maybe a gallon or so on it.. would be mint though knowing him.
He told me in another thread that about €250 would buy it.. Drop him a PM

Oh sorry I was referring to the running costs of a nitro but interesting to see the petrol takes little. He's dropped into this thread already so I won't drop him a PM just yet as he may drop by her again.

vectra

workaccount wrote:

Oh sorry I was referring to the running costs of a nitro but interesting to see the petrol takes little. He's dropped into this thread already so I won't drop him a PM just yet as he may drop by her again.

Yes he will drop by again, but the reason I said to PM him about it is because you cannot really conduct sales on this forum.. ( Watch out for Fobia ..!! )

coolwings

workaccount wrote:

Jesus a gallon would cost me over e25 .....

Depends on where you buy it from!
Some places it comes for up to a third less than that ....

Cost depending on the nitro level of course.

I worked it out about 5 yrears ago with at 1:10th rally , 140 miles to the gallon on 5% glowfuel. Very impressed I was at the time! Less distance on 10% glowfuel, but it was of course a good bit hotter in performance, so not fair to expect fuel economy at faster speed. When you get to 20% a car is a hot little thing, but don't expect to have the same gallon last you all summer any more!

The 20% guys use about a little over a half gallon a day if they are out for the full day.

As a guide .... The guys I know, a gallon (on average) lasts 2 months if they are average modellers, 1 month if they are real busy guys out every week for a couple hours, and lasts 2 weeks if they are out midweek and weekends.
I am referring to a proper gallon of fuel, not tiddly US gallon (3 1/2 litre) bottles that some fuels come in.

The Specter and the Hyper ... close but not identical.
But very very similar, and a good few parts are the same.
In some I have seen the engine is the same, for example.
But I can not speak for all Hypers, since I have only inspected 5 or 6 close up so far. I had a 1:10 Hyper rally car myself about 2 years ago, and that also had the same engine as the Carson, but the rest of it was totally different. So I suspect Hyper buy a chassis, choose a "special" setup-version and re-label and market it as theirs.

There are fewer car makers than most people think. Much fewer than there are car brands.

g5hn710m4xpdwy

€250:eek: Thats cheap. I am looking at getting a truck or a plane in teh future *watchs for deals on this thread:p

OT: If you were to sell the other 1:5 would it cost closure to €1k than €500?:D

vectra

The other one is belonging to my son and I dont think he will sell it.

coolwings

workaccount wrote:

... You guys are giving the impression that petrols don't cause much problems, is that true?

Petrol is indeed trouble free. Once you have paid for it. Between double and triple the cost of nitro cars.

workaccount wrote:

... So would the nitros be as quick and everything as a petrol?

Much faster than petrol. But that is to do with size and weight and roadholding (petrol engines are far heavier) as well as to do with power.

workaccount wrote:

... So what about nitro, a litre seems to cost about 7 and half times more.

Not right there...
The standard fuel currently 16.99 per gallon = Eur 3.72 / litre.
Petrol 1.19 / litre.
So for the better model shops nitro fuel is not 750% petrol fuel.
It is 310% petrol cost.

This applies to 5% castor based nitro fuel which is the basic nitro fuel, most popular make in Ireland, used by vastly more people than any other mix.

Up the power, double the nitro and make it synthetic to increase the cost, and you have high quality nitro fuel now costing 400% petrol cost.
But that NITRO FUEL IS FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN PETROL. If fed into the petrol engine the petrol engine would overheat and seize pretty soon. (Yes I did those experiments with petrol engines myself - it's not something vague I read somewhere on the internet)

I am aware that some model car people pay crazy :eek: prices for fancy name fuel (encouraged to do by crazy marketing spin) and it is possible that your 750% comparison is accurate based on those fuels, but I don't use them, and I feel no need to do. I would rather have the cash for my next model.

I accept that guys in racing have no choice but to use high cost fuel, but they are not in car racing to save money (grin). They want to win regardless of cost.

My BEST Suggestion: If you want really big models - get a petrol car, stump up the dosh, your fuel costs will be low later. Petrol does "big" better than nitro fuel.
However - if you want good fun at a reasonable cost ... get a nitro model with a good engine. Use medium nitro fuel and stay away from model extremists who say buy cheap, or buy dear, buy huge or tiny, or only use "special" fuel, or only race competition, or only go to "one place".

The middle is a good place to get started. Get yourself reliable medium to good quality stuff that works with the minimum of hassle, like the thousands of happy modellers who already do so.
Leave the super technical trouble gear to the technophiles who love it.
Maybe later you will find that is what you want too and you can move up into it, or maybe you will be perfectly happy with what you have already. Maybe you will say "I've done cars, now I want a plane, or heli" and then you will be happy you didn't get carried away before you knew what was what!

workaccount

coolwings wrote:

Petrol is indeed trouble free. Once you have paid for it. Between double and triple the cost of nitro cars.

Much faster than petrol. But that is to do with size and weight and roadholding (petrol engines are far heavier) as well as to do with power.

Not right there...
The standard fuel currently 16.99 per gallon = Eur 3.72 / litre.
Petrol 1.19 / litre.
So for the better model shops nitro fuel is not 750% petrol fuel.
It is 310% petrol cost.

This applies to 5% castor based nitro fuel which is the basic nitro fuel, most popular make in Ireland, used by vastly more people than any other mix.

Up the power, double the nitro and make it synthetic to increase the cost, and you have high quality nitro fuel now costing 400% petrol cost.
But that NITRO FUEL IS FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN PETROL. If fed into the petrol engine the petrol engine would overheat and seize pretty soon. (Yes I did those experiments with petrol engines myself - it's not something vague I read somewhere on the internet)

I am aware that some model car people pay crazy :eek: prices for fancy name fuel (encouraged to do by crazy marketing spin) and it is possible that your 750% comparison is accurate based on those fuels, but I don't use them, and I feel no need to do. I would rather have the cash for my next model.

I accept that guys in racing have no choice but to use high cost fuel, but they are not in car racing to save money (grin). They want to win regardless of cost.

My BEST Suggestion: If you want really big models - get a petrol car, stump up the dosh, your fuel costs will be low later. Petrol does "big" better than nitro fuel.
However - if you want good fun at a reasonable cost ... get a nitro model with a good engine. Use medium nitro fuel and stay away from model extremists who say buy cheap, or buy dear, buy huge or tiny, or only use "special" fuel, or only race competition, or only go to "one place".

The middle is a good place to get started. Get yourself reliable medium to good quality stuff that works with the minimum of hassle, like the thousands of happy modellers who already do so.
Leave the super technical trouble gear to the technophiles who love it.
Maybe later you will find that is what you want too and you can move up into it, or maybe you will be perfectly happy with what you have already. Maybe you will say "I've done cars, now I want a plane, or heli" and then you will be happy you didn't get carried away before you knew what was what!

Ok then, so would the hyper be a good nitro? Would the normal cheap (5% is it) do the job for that? What kind of speed would the hyper do?

Whats the other 95% of the fuel made up of?

coolwings

workaccount wrote:

... Would the normal cheap (5% is it) do the job for that?

We have done this many times on this forum ...

When I say expensive I am not talking about the nitro content, I am talking about the degree some makes are overpriced.
High nitro costs more, but some charge twice what others do for the same nitro content. You must check it out for yourself, and if you believe their sensational claims buy the €50 a gallon fuels, there are plenty of others who will say you are right. I disagree with them.
But what would I know about it ....

I assume these people drive past filling stations (of the wrong brand) with an empty tank in their automobile because they think the petrol from the other makes is no good ......

workaccount wrote:

...What kind of speed would the hyper do?

If you are a beginner .. they ALL go faster than you can drive ...
Usually a beginner can not get a very high performance engine started in the first place ...

workaccount wrote:

...Whats the other 95% of the fuel made up of?

All glowfuel is made from: Methanol, nitro methane, marker dye, oil. Some fuels have trace additives (less than 1%)

vectra

coolwings wrote:

If you are a beginner .. they ALL go faster than you can drive ...

Now that has got to be the most descriptave and funniest reply I have read in a long time

Well said.

workaccount

So are you interested in offloading your specter coolwings?

coolwings

I'll give it a run tomorrow to make sure all is fine.
Drop me a PM.

workaccount

Hmmm, I was going to buy the viper in the next few days and can't seem to find it anywhere on the net anymore.

vectra

workaccount wrote: »

Hmmm, I was going to buy the viper in the next few days and can't seem to find it anywhere on the net anymore.

Hyper or Viper ?

bonisio

If you get the buggy dont forget to check out the Navan Nitro Nuts Club. Running around on your own can get boring after a while but racing will keep the pulses racing and its a great place to get help from fellow racers.

Regards,

Oisin

Hobbies Ireland - Specialists in R/C Motorsport

Serpent - Radiosistemi - GS Racing - Mega - Merlin Fuel - Xceed - Ultimate Racing

E - info@hobbiesireland.ie
W - www.hobbiesireland.ie

workaccount

vectra wrote: »

Hyper or Viper ?

My mistake. I got the words mixed up. Is e277 a good price for one?

http://cgi.ebay.ie/HOBAO-Hyper-7-TQ-SPORT-MACH-28-RTR-nitro-RC-buggy-car_W0QQitemZ110224772999QQihZ001QQcategoryZ19168QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

vectra

workaccount wrote: »

My mistake. I got the words mixed up. Is e277 a good price for one?

http://cgi.ebay.ie/HOBAO-Hyper-7-TQ-SPORT-MACH-28-RTR-nitro-RC-buggy-car_W0QQitemZ110224772999QQihZ001QQcategoryZ19168QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That one comes out at around €325 by my calculations

workaccount

vectra wrote: »

That one comes out at around €325 by my calculations

Including postage yes. I am just thinking a trakkas revo is only about a hundred more and am under the impression these are better.

Though a hundred is a good lot more anyway.