My soldering got a lot better when I ditched the basic Weller iron from Lowes and got a hakko fx-888d

1/10/2016 9:13:04 AM

I used the Weller from Lowes. Hard to be real precise with that thing

1/10/2016 9:17:01 AM

It doesn't have the juice necessary to get it done quickly enough to not overheat your components. I spent most of my time waiting for it to warm back up because the heat was so quickly sucked out of it.

You flip the switch on the hakko and its up to temp in about 10 seconds.

1/10/2016 9:34:50 AM

Yep, I've used the same Hakko soldering station for the last 15 years. Still works like a dream. Definitely the best upgrade you can make at first in RC.

1/10/2016 10:45:32 AM

add an SCX10 crawler to my list. My wife is soooo going to kill me

1/16/2016 8:56:52 PM

Get one of these! http://www.amazon.com/Hubsan-4-Channel-Quadcopter-2-4Ghz-System/dp/B00VQTDLGY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1453351173&sr=8-4&keywords=q4

It's cheap, durable, and nimble as hell. If you already have a micro quad that looks similar to this, be assured they are light years apart. This thing will keep you on your toes. Best r/c purchase I have made to date, and I've been buying r/c shit since I was old enough to mow lawns

[Edited on January 20, 2016 at 11:45 PM. Reason : I got one a week ago. Go ahead and get the crash pack just in case. It takes a beating but never k]

[Edited on January 20, 2016 at 11:55 PM. Reason : It's an Estes Proto-x clone so if you have a proto x then you have this already]

1/20/2016 11:44:27 PM

I ordered a Syma X5C-1 a few weeks ago from Gearbest. I guess it's on the slow boat from China though..I just got notification last night that it had shipped. Should be a freaking blast though once it's here. I've heard great things about them.

I wanted to cut my teeth on a cheaper quad before I step up to a DJI Phantom 2/3 or similar.

1/21/2016 8:43:31 AM

I'm looking for a small indoor quad that's stable. I have one I bought on a lark, but the damn thing wanders around a lot, particularly in the vertical.

1/21/2016 7:24:47 PM

My Syma X5C was delivered today, oddly enough. I took it for a test flight around the livingroom and managed to crash it about 15 times. It's fun as hell though. However, it's not super stable (vertical) so if that's what you want, I dont recommend this one. It's also definitely too big for indoors.

[Edited on January 21, 2016 at 10:48 PM. Reason : .]

1/21/2016 10:48:28 PM

Most everything you get will not hold altitude. Part of flying these is staying on the sticks, particularly the throttle, to control altitude. That said, you can find some with ultrasonic or barometric altitude stabilization.

Honestly the best route with these if you haven't flown anything before is to start small and crash the hell out of it. They are cheap and if you have some basic skills you can fix them easily. The parts are cheap. The one I recommended a few posts up is the best micro out right now. It's the Hubsan H111 Q4 (aka estes proto x) and it is fantastic. This little quad will make you a better pilot. It's only $23 shipped on amazon. Get the crash pack with spare props, batteries, and motors. The prop guard things are nice to have too. Instead of crashing every time you barely nick something it will just bounce off 90% of the time instead.

1/22/2016 12:18:45 AM

I just ordered my DJI Phantom 3 Advanced with lightbridge. I can't wait to get flying. I have been reading for weeks in which one to buy, and lightbridge seems to make all the difference. With the prices coming down, it was the ideal tie to buy

1/22/2016 5:25:45 PM

Any recommendations on off road tires for a 1/10 Rustler? My rustler has so much power to the rear tires, I can't get any traction on anything except the road.

If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten a 4x4 for my first car. Driving it on the road is fun, but it gets boring after a while.

[Edited on January 29, 2016 at 7:50 AM. Reason : a]

1/29/2016 7:48:48 AM

My all-time favorites for just bashing around are Proline Dirt Hawgs. Can't beat that bowtie tread pattern. And they seem to last forever. But I havent bought a set of tires specifically for "bashing" in over 20 years. There may be better options now

1/29/2016 12:18:57 PM

^That seems to be the consensus on everything I've read. I just bought 4 mounted ones on ebay for $70.

1/29/2016 1:32:12 PM

Got the dirt hawgs today. Amazing how much more off road capable with these tires.

2/2/2016 9:12:15 PM

sweet! Glad you like them. I have a set for an old stadium truck i'm rebuilding and cant wait to bash the crap out of it.

2/3/2016 12:06:39 AM

short video from this past saturday that another guy put together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr07cF1h0jU

2/22/2016 8:27:16 PM

^wheres that track? Looks nice

2/24/2016 5:02:35 PM

Rocky Point, NC

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RockyPointRaceway/

2/24/2016 6:08:35 PM

here's part of a buggy qualifier: https://youtu.be/EufnGsiV2k0

that's me calling the race on the PA

2/24/2016 7:43:07 PM

we're one of the closest 1/8 scale tracks to Raleigh. come check us out sometime.

2/24/2016 8:51:36 PM

I’ve got a Kyosho RB6 1/10 2wd for sale. Hardly any wear on the chassis (see pics). Lots of upgrades. Currenty setup rear motor, but all the parts needed to change it to mid-motor, including an additional body, are included.

Tekin RS Gen 2 ESC w/ Tekin 9.5T sensored brushless motor
Hitec servo
(3) Turnigy nano-tech 4600 mah 90C 2S LiPo batteries
MIP Pucks Shinydrive axles (stock axles included)
Kyosho gear diff (ball diff included)
Avid Triad slipper clutch with lots of extra spurs and aluminum top shaft
Kyosho aluminum hinge pin holders
Aluminum steering rack
Several pinion gears, never opened
Several sets of wheels and tires
Two boxes of spare parts, shock oils, manual

Almost ready to run, all you need is a tx/rx and a battery charger to go racing for $550.

I can throw in an Airtronics MT4 w/ receiver and radio bag (add a LiPo charger and go racing) for $125.

Located in Wilmington, NC. Shipping on your dime.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/DSLAh3EN88Kq3NC36

3/15/2016 8:47:03 PM

this channel has videos from our track: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcjljMV7iGWotxH1XlqWiqQ

3/16/2016 8:58:23 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272207710684?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

i am selling this

4/13/2016 7:37:25 PM

If I didnt already have THREE TLR 22 2.0's, I'd be interested.


[Edited on April 13, 2016 at 9:00 PM. Reason : .]

4/13/2016 8:55:39 PM

the RB6 is a sweet ride. i thought i'd go race it at the indoor track in Myrtle Beach, but i ended up so involved at the local 1/8 track, i just don't have the desire to mess with it.

4/13/2016 9:09:28 PM

Absolutely. They're SUPER nice.

4/13/2016 9:18:16 PM

part of a truggy qualifier from yesterday: https://youtu.be/y9ExD7qrPos

4/17/2016 7:40:19 PM

we've got our lights working now at Rocky Point. got a 35 kW propane-fueled Kohler generator. outlets around the parking areas for charging and some layout changes are next.

4/24/2016 7:51:30 PM

our 2nd and 3rd Saturday schedule meant we had 3 weekends off and 4 weeks to work on our stuff. i completely tore down, cleaned by degreaser/hose/wd-40, then rebuilt both my buggy and truggy. all new bearings in both. rebuilt all diffs and shocks. replaced a few worn out odds and ends. hopefully they are good to go for the summer season.

5/3/2016 8:27:05 PM

Nice! I would think your cars are like new! Power sounds good too.

PS, I have a 3d printer now. If you come up with anything that you can't find, or some little plastic piece you want to modify, lemme know.

[Edited on May 3, 2016 at 8:46 PM. Reason : fird dimentchional printah]

5/3/2016 8:45:22 PM

Hell yeah! I need to tear down my buggies and prep them for the summer indoor season too.

Also working on picking up either a 1/8 buggy/truggy, or at least a 2wd SCT for some outdoor action this summer.

5/4/2016 11:45:13 AM

go 1/8 so you can come race at Rocky Point. we rarely have enough for a SCT class.

5/4/2016 7:22:29 PM

I don't know who I'm kidding. I'll probably just get both

Advantage of the SCT is that they run them here at my indoor track every Friday night.


So now, here's the full stable of RTR cars...

Associated gold pan buggy from 1992 - collectors item that I just wanted on the shelf

Associated T3 stadium truck - (my first hobby-grade RC I raced back in the 90's)

Sakura XI touring car - built up for USGT carpet racing

(2) Sakura Zero S touring cars - built up for USVTA carpet racing

(3) TLR 22 2.0 buggies - indoor clay racing

Associated B44.3 4wd buggy - indoor clay racing

(2) Associated B44.2's - will be backup parts cars for the B44.3...

SCX10 Rock crawler/trail truck

5/5/2016 9:51:00 AM

Worlds warm-up race this weekend...

http://live.liverc.com/662-2016_IFMAR_Worlds_Warm_Up_-_RCTLV/

5/6/2016 4:27:58 PM

We got our lights fully operational last night: https://goo.gl/photos/VKCU7Rxn3tBX6aQU9

5/7/2016 9:35:05 AM

Short Course Truck acquired. TLR 22 SCT. Also got another Sakura XI onroad car that I'll be using as a spare parts/backup car for indoor carpet racing.

The madness continues....

Really the only things left that I'd be interested in are a 1/8 buggy and/or truggy.

5/15/2016 10:36:11 PM

how do you get into RC as an adult, for a complete beginner with little to know circuits education. Something i really thjink would be fun to get into with my boy when he's old enough, but i guess i should learn a bit before then.

5/22/2016 10:46:30 PM

What kind of RC are you looking to do? Cars/trucks, Airplanes, drones, etc?

For the most part, most of the power systems are plug and play. Once you figure out which kind of vehicle, then you can read about and learn how all the electronics work together (radio, receiver, servo(s), electronic speed control (ESC), motor, battery).

But again, most of this stuff is just plug and play. You MIGHT have to solder a few wires, but it's all relatively simple stuff.

[Edited on May 23, 2016 at 9:49 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2016 9:49:02 AM

Cars/trucks. My babies due in September so I have a few years to figure it out


Any resources that are better than others?? Or just start reading?

5/23/2016 10:34:25 AM

Do you want to race or bash?

5/23/2016 12:29:42 PM

I'd probably start by just poking around the internets.

http://www.rccaraction.com/ is a decent resource. And they have a printed magazine you can pick up/read at Barnes & Noble and some other places.

Additionally, rctech.net is a GREAT online forum. They even have a subforum for "n00bs".

5/23/2016 12:37:24 PM

race probably but "bashing" sounds enticing

5/23/2016 1:20:15 PM

If you want to race, then the first thing you should do is go to a race and start asking questions.

I started about a year ago and everything online completely confused me. Once I went to the track and started talking to folks, it all made sense.

[Edited on May 23, 2016 at 3:05 PM. Reason : Dh]

5/23/2016 3:04:40 PM

Ssclark, whereabouts do you live?

5/23/2016 7:35:59 PM

The cars that get raced on the tracks like Rocky Point are always truggys right? Seems to be what I always see in the videos

5/26/2016 8:36:32 AM

Not sure about Rocky Point specifically, but Buggy is typically always the larger class. Truggy is gaining popularity though.

5/26/2016 10:00:25 AM

sorry was moving this week! I actually just moved to Detroit for the next 2 years :x

5/26/2016 12:08:44 PM

I guess buggy or truggy is what I meant^^

5/26/2016 7:59:55 PM

Yeah, most outdoor tracks you see these days are more geared toward 1/8 scale cars. These are going to be mostly nitro (buggy/truggy) but there's also a huge surge in 1/8 electric buggies and truggies the last 4-5 years. A good bit less maintenance/hassle with electric motors over nitro. You'll also usually see a class of Short Course Trucks (2wd and 4wd classes). They can typically take the abuse of a 1/8 scale track much better than any other 1/10 scale vehicle. Also, Short Course Truck (SCT's) classes tend to be a little less competitive and more of a "fun"/rubbin's racin' class, so people dont really care that they cant clear a triple that the nitro vehicles can.

There are still some "true" 1/10 scale outdoor tracks here and there though. You'll see 1/10 2wd and 4wd buggy, 1/10 stadium truck, Short Course Trucks, and the occasional Nitro stadium truck class (although they have pretty much been a dying breed since the late 90's).

As for indoor, almost ALL indoor offroad tracks these days are clay, and made for 1/10 electric vehicles. Clay for several reasons, but the main reasons are ease of maintenance on the track, and slick tires last quite a while compared to treaded tires which equals lower racing costs for racers. But for indoor offroad, the big classes are always 2wd buggy (the bread and butter of RC racing), 4x4 buggy (the "F1" cars of offroad...they're freaking ballistic missiles and handle like they're on rails), 2wd and 4x4 Short Course trucks, stadium truck (again, dying breed since late 90's).

Now, everything above is geared towards US tracks. Europe and Asia are basically totally different. Because of the shitty weather over there, almost all indoor AND outdoor tracks are either carpet or astroturf. US racers typically hate when the larger races (World Championships, etc.) are held on carpet or astro because they dont get to practice on it like the Europeans do.

Then there's ONROAD racing (touring cars, F1, USGT, etc.) but that's a whole different ballgame.

5/26/2016 8:52:40 PM