Vintage Model Battery Options

[Pylon80 4318]

I am building my first ever vintage model, a Tamiya Group C chassis. Installing the one-and-only shorty lipo pack I use on all my cars is not impossible but it is definitely not very practical! So I think I will either use a round lipo pack like the Reedy WolfPack 3300 (Option 1) or try a NiMh pack (Option 2). The car will be driven occasionally once or twice a year (too many cars and not enough time...) so the battery will essentially be in storage year round. It really annoys me to buy a new battery just for that model but I think I will bite the bullet or fork the extra 30$ or so.

I am not interested in debating lipo vs NiMh thank you very much.

But I would be interested in knowing what people think of the round lipo packs in general. Are these just a round shell with 2 small lipo pouches inside or is there anything special I should know before I make my decision?

[alvinlwh 8068]

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[Pylon80 4318]

Thanks Alvin, I guess the question becomes more specific: with so many Group C cars being built at the moment, has anyone used the Reedy WolfPack with this chassis?

[Jonathon Gillham 4716]

I've had this same problem with an F103. In the end I used little spacers to raise the top deck so I could fit a shorty

NiMH - the biggernthe capacity tye bigger the cells. A 5000mah NiMH wont fit. Around 3000mah and smaller should, but I dont have a Group C chassis and the batteries are probably different across brands.

Lipo - i have the gensace 4000mah round case lipos. The only measurement that is the issue is the length. They are a few mm too long, but the other dimensions fit. I'm pretty sure the Core RC CR293 fits though as its a couple of mm shorter than most. @TurnipJF will be able to confirm if I have that model number right.

Those gensace batteries fit my other rere - they are a little long but still fit. This is Boomerang, Novafox, Lunchbox, Monster Beetle, Super Astute, Top Force so a reasoanble range. Also obviously fits the modern stuff too.

[Pylon80 4318]

Thank you Jonathon, I didn't think about the length. For the record the Group C without any modification has 136mm while the WolfPack measures 139mm (claimed) so it would not fit without modifications.

But then I like mods  Decisions decisions...

[ImALlama 1697]

For the past 3 years whenever I can’t fit a modern lipo I’ve been using Gartpot lipos I got off Amazon for $40 a pair. Still going strong with no issues so far. Not sure what the insides are like as I’ve only got the two and neither have died so haven’t cut them open to see.  I think they only come with deans connectors though so if using something else would have to change them or get adapter. So far they fit I everything I own. Sometimes it can be a snug fit but haven’t had to modify anything yet. Here’s one in the c11. The battery is measuring 134.38mm length 

[Pylon80 4318]

So there are 3 options in the US right now for a lipo that fits the Group C - limiting factor is often the length: Gartpot (rolls off the tongue doesn't it 🤣) on Amazon (which irritatingly comes as a 2 pack) and a rather cheap looking "RC World" one on eBay.

Everything else is either too long or will not ship to the US!

[GToddC5 2918]

7 minutes ago, Pylon80 said:

So there are 3 options in the US right now for a lipo that fits the Group C - limiting factor is often the length: Gartpot (rolls off the tongue doesn't it 🤣) on Amazon (which irritatingly comes as a 2 pack) and a rather cheap looking "RC World" one on eBay.

Everything else is either too long or will not ship to the US!

Isn't the Tamiya LF2200 battery an option, and can be purchased on Amazon?

[Pylon80 4318]

14 minutes ago, GToddC5 said:

Isn't the Tamiya LF2200 battery an option, and can be purchased on Amazon?

At 88$ I didn't even consider it Although it's not a lipo, if it were 30$ or so I would absolutely give it a try 👍Edit:

Since we are talking Li-On, I am wondering if I could solder a 2S 2P pack using Alvin's favorite shotgun round: the 18650 cell! I would have to include a balancing lead with the usual JST connector. I think the dimensions would work both in terms of length and diameter. More food for more thoughts.

@ImALlama don't go and make one such pack over the weekend! 🤣

[GToddC5 2918]

12 hours ago, Pylon80 said:

At 88$ I didn't even consider it Although it's not a lipo, if it were 30$ or so I would absolutely give it a try 👍

Ah, I see. I purchased one mostly to add to my battery collection, but also to run with the BBX and any future BL built kits.

[Pylon80 4318]

I actually realized that a regular aircraft style lipo (no hard case) will weight less than 100g and fits with tons of room to spare. And it costs 15$ free shipping on Amazon...

[alvinlwh 8068]

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[Pylon80 4318]

9 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

I considered this and personally, will advice against it. When I looked into it, 2 or so years ago, 18650s have a max discharge rate of only 30A to 35A. They are just about to run what a 1625 ESC can run, 260, 370, 380 and 490 motors. 

Actual operations shows that they are only good for small 1/16 or smaller sized cars, maybe 1/14 at a push.

Now you said 2P, I maybe wrong here, when they are done in parallel, their C ratings double or triple to match the number of P?

Either way, it has poor capacity and performance. When I pop a 1Ah lipo into the tank, it is just more powerful for longer.

18650s are still best used in vapes, torches or this. 😁

I agree this would be way too complex and I wouldn't trust these cells necessarily.

Anyways, the simple 2S 2200mah/50C I found will do the trick nicely. That's going to be a very light car...

[ImALlama 1697]

3 hours ago, Pylon80 said:

I actually realized that a regular aircraft style lipo (no hard case) will weight less than 100g and fits with tons of room to spare. And it costs 15$ free shipping on Amazon...

A lot of my speed runs were done using my helicopter batteries, since I don’t need long run times I can use smaller batteries and it saves ton of weight and space, and let’s me run 4s in the P34 (F103). I don’t recommend for off-road, as I’ve found they tend to get beat up pretty bad, might just be from my particular cars or driving though.

[Pylon80 4318]

7 minutes ago, ImALlama said:

A lot of my speed runs were done using my helicopter batteries, since I don’t need long run times I can use smaller batteries and it saves ton of weight and space, and let’s me run 4s in the P34 (F103). I don’t recommend for off-road, as I’ve found they tend to get beat up pretty bad, might just be from my particular cars or driving though.

That's a good confirmation then. There's plenty of space for me to cushion the battery in foam and in the group C it should be a very smooth ride (famous last words 🤣). I reckon that by the time the battery would ever get damaged inside the group C's tub the car would have been pretty much pulverized.

[ImALlama 1697]

12 hours ago, Pylon80 said:

@ImALlama don't go and make one such pack over the weekend! 🤣

Won’t be able to, too busy building a F103GT 911 RSR  , just kidding, although there is one on buyee that’s on $36 right now

[Pylon80 4318]

2 minutes ago, ImALlama said:

Won’t be able to, too busy building a F103GT 911 RSR  , just kidding, although there is one on buyee that’s on $36 right now

... DON'T! 🤣

Back to the topic, you got me thinking... I could use a 4S from my TRex with a 45t crawler motor to get the rough equivalent of a Sport Tuned. Again, just a thought...

[ImALlama 1697]

9 minutes ago, Pylon80 said:

... DON'T! 🤣

Back to the topic, you got me thinking... I could use a 4S from my TRex with a 45t crawler motor to get the rough equivalent of a Sport Tuned. Again, just a thought...

The 4S might not fit, I found some are slimmer than others and will fit, most won’t. Not sure why but most my 4S batteries quickly die or the balance wires break at the battery end, so I’ve been mainly doing two small 2S with a series adapter wire for 4S in the F1, run about 5 mins at a time before letting cool with the silvercan. Don’t imagine it’ll last long as it smells horrible after every run (and smokes), but keeps working with no loss in performance yet so I keep running it.

[ad456 551]

As someone who vaped on 18650 in parallel and series with custom built coils that were down at 0.1ohms(virtually a direct short) I’ve messed with the limits of 18650s a fair bit some years ago. I’d reckon that a 2s2p pack built from high quality, high discharge, IMR chemistry cells from the likes of Samsung or LG would handle something like a Quicrun 1060 and 540 silver can on some sensible driving(opposed to bashing etc) without too much trouble.  

I’ve had a cell discharge/vent when sat on the kitchen counter and I guess since it wasn’t a direct short that caused it, it was not a volatile situation, I actually never noticed it happen and only found out when it wouldn’t charge did I inspect the cell and realise it had signs of venting, albeit not the shotgun scenario. 
I believe it was a Samsung 25R, it’s a great model of battery, takes some serious abuse and has a 25A continuous/35A burst discharge. Two in parallel would handle about 65a. I’m nearly tempted to dig some out and throw a pack together and see what happens.
Many Chinese RC come with 2s2p 18650 packs and I’ve not seen a wake of carnage from those, not that I’ve really gone looking but bad news travels fast  

This isn’t really meant to be a point of encouragement but only another point of view and sharing some experience.

[Pylon80 4318]

I found the Core RC 2S lipo from L&L who were able to ship to the US. That's probably one of the nicest ones out  there and will fit the Tamiya battery compartment based on the feedback of some of our club members. Shipping was outrageous but then they miraculously had the Shimizu tires I wanted for my M chassis in stock so I was going to bite the bullet anyway.

All sorted!

[Biz73 603]

Has anyone tried the Orion Ranger Lipos? Listed at 134mm length in this ebay auction. They are also available with a Tamiya connector if you still use them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294036279940?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110025%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPOSITELISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20220405142716%26meid%3D643f22e16e014c69b0cd5cbc781d6037%26pid%3D101506%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D25%26sd%3D295296076846%26itm%3D294036279940%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D3458402%26algv%3DAlgoIndex5SimRanker&_trksid=p3458402.c101506.m1851

[Pylon80 4318]

29 minutes ago, Biz73 said:

Has anyone tried the Orion Ranger Lipos? Listed at 134mm length in this ebay auction. They are also available with a Tamiya connector if you still use them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294036279940?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110025%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPOSITELISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20220405142716%26meid%3D643f22e16e014c69b0cd5cbc781d6037%26pid%3D101506%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D25%26sd%3D295296076846%26itm%3D294036279940%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D3458402%26algv%3DAlgoIndex5SimRanker&_trksid=p3458402.c101506.m1851

Oh wow! I wish I had seen this before dumping so much money on the Core RC 😥