Tamiya and young kids

[Tamtastico]

With the better weather on it's way (less rain in some parts of the UK) it will be time to get the trusty RC cars out of the garage.

My six year old girl wants to go 'driving' with me and I'm all for it; kids after all are the future of the hobby so I'm putting these questions out there for some advice really;

Is there any way that I can limit the speed on the cars as previous trips out have resulted in full throttle (direction optional) until a solid object has been struck?

I don't want to be altering the gearing and motors I just want to restrict the forward and backward speed but still give her an enjoyable time so that she wants to go out again.

And whilst I'm on is there any transmitters that are specific for smaller hands; she finds my Spektrum gear a little bit difficult to get away with?

Cheers

Mark

[mr crispy]

I was going to suggest fitting a higher turn motor, something like 50-65T to limit top end speed but as you don't want to change them you maybe able to set your max speed via your controller.

What car will she be driving and what model of controller do you have?

My 6 year old just about controls my VLB with a 50T motor and it's surprisingly nippy.

[Gruntfuggly]

Have you got a stick transmitter? If you have, it might be simplest to make a 'gate' for the throttle stick - some thick plastic cut to a circle to fit, then drill an elongated hole in the middle - you can gradually make it bigger as she gets used to the speed...

[DaveB]

Some transmitters have percentage limits for throttle and steering (its called epa I think). My Tamco has this, I run my 6.5 turn motor at 75% via the epa setting (because its way too quick at 100%!). I've tried it at much lower settings too and you can get the car to go pretty slow at full throttle if necessary.

[Tamtastico]

Thanks for the advice so far.

I have got a 55T motor in an SCX Crawler that I could use; it would be easier enough to drop out and put in. I like the idea of making a gate too; I have an old 2.4 stick transmitter that I could use for this too.

I could on the other hand program my Spektrum but to be honest I think kids prefer a stick transmitter, I know I did all those years ago but there was nothing else at the time.

My daugher has a mini Losi Baja Beetle, 1/16 scale I think but I was going to introduce her 1/10 Tamiya and start off with a cheap buggy, Fighter FX or something.

[XV Pilot]

If you are using a trigger TX with no EPA, a chunk of something rubbery taped behind the trigger as a backstop is a quick and easy way to restrict speed.

[Gruntfuggly]

Sticks for me all the way - wheel transmitters make me feel like I'm cheating.

[TongueTied]

It is probably easiest to set the limits on your Spektrum. We learnt on sticks but let's face it, things have changed and us dinosaurs can't and shouldn't try to inflict our pain on the little ones. Give her the wheel and trigger and set the limits. Now, if she uses your modern Spektrum you can use your old sticks so you both can be happy

[MadInventor]

You could always go 'old school' and use a 6v 5 cell battery. This is what all the first tamiya RC's ran, and the step up from a 6v to 7.2v 'racing pack' was quite significant. . Easy enough to chop 1 cell off an old pack and resolder the battery connector on.

[mr crispy]

Or buy a new one without breaking the bank

http://bit.ly/1pOLpS8

Or get her a car that takes a 380 motor and upgrade it when she's ready.

I found it's a good idea to pick a car that has a full width front bumper. They will likely drive into a table leg or clip a tree root on full power so the steering often takes the damage. A bumper helps a lot with that and often pushes the car up and over lower obstacles rather than coming to a sudden stop.

[Shodog]

Limiting travel on the radio will only make your speedo work harder to maintain a slower speed. A better way is to slow the car down with a slower smaller motor.

[kaylon]

You could fit a programmable ESC on it like the Etronics systems. They come with a simple to use program card that allows you to limit all aspects of the system, from power output to reverse and ABS systems. The one I have cost about £60 for a 10T brushless ESC combo ..

K

[Tamtastico]

Thanks for all the posts guys; I'm opting for the higher turn motor with some minor adjustable restrictions via the transmitter.

I have a re re brat I had in mind after I nipped out to the garage earlier but I'm also considering a full bumper buggy as suggested in a reply above; I just need to source a reasonably priced used roller, something that I don't need to do much to (other than put the servo, radio gear and batts in) and something that I'm not going to care about too much should her driving skills be slow to learn.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

Mark

[Shodog]

I started my son with a Falcon that he soon ran into a brick wall. after that I let him run my WW2 with 27turn stock motor and it was much more enjoyable for him. He has since moved onto a Modded XRay T1 and a modded RC10T3. I credit the slowness of the WW2 honing his driving skills

[MadInventor]

Thanks for all the posts guys; I'm opting for the higher turn motor with some minor adjustable restrictions via the transmitter.

I have a re re brat I had in mind after I nipped out to the garage earlier but I'm also considering a full bumper buggy as suggested in a reply above; I just need to source a reasonably priced used roller, something that I don't need to do much to (other than put the servo, radio gear and batts in) and something that I'm not going to care about too much should her driving skills be slow to learn.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

Mark

Can't go wrong with a mad bull. Pretty much indestructible if you stick with a silver can or high turn motor, and not to expensive to pick up 2nd hand, especially if the bodies are a bit rough.

[XV Pilot]

I would second the Mad Bull suggestion. Tough, stable, cheap, usable on a wide variety of terrain... I think it is the ideal kids' car. Fun for grownups too!

[mr crispy]

Won't the Brat chassis take a Hornet/Grasshopper style front bumper? That's all you'd need and they're £4.50 for a new one on eBay

http://bit.ly/1dSOroh

[WillyChang]

Won't the Brat chassis take a Hornet/Grasshopper style front bumper?

both use same "Audi Quattro" part bud

[sidewaysdave69]

your cheapest option would be, too let her watch dad have all the fun

[MetBoy]

My Daughters, Thing 1 & Thing 2, 7 and 4 respectively, run my Mad Bull with sticks and I turn the epa down to limit the speed.

Prior to having end point adjustment, I use to wind back the trim (we do not run with reverse), the brakes are always on in neutral, and it did not slow it too much, but some was better than none at the time.

Problem is we tend to run at the beach, and hitting something hard is not the problem, it is hitting something wet!!

My brother and I have been the only ones who have managed to physically break it, and that was from big jumps not necessarily agreeing with the ABS body!

C..

[sidewaysdave69]

MetBoy was it you or your wife that came up with the fantastic names.

my two are big turd and little turd. ( not on the birth certificates )

[WillyChang]

MetBoy was it you or your wife that came up with the fantastic names.

my two are big turd and little turd. ( not on the birth certificates )

what when #3 turns up?

[chriss76]

I put a 50 turn motor in my lil girls car but soon found out that with lipo it still does standing wheelies if she goes full throttle but top speed isn't too bad, she drives it on an old all weather football pitch at our local park and does a really good job. Her transmitter is a futaba 3prka and she can just about reach the throttle .... She's only 4.

Great to see people getting their chrildren into this great hobby.

Chris

[MetBoy]

MetBoy was it you or your wife that came up with the fantastic names.

my two are big turd and little turd. ( not on the birth certificates )

Dr Suess!

[jkyamog]

My son started when he was 9. Our first car was a shared DF02, he still runs it today. He then built his first car, The Hornet. He loves it a lot, in fact he likes the older ones. He has a NIB Hotshot. My daughter was 2 back then, she keeps on getting to our cars. She then started driving this year, she now has a GF01. They sometimes also run my 2 DB01 (Durga and Baldre). Both of them love the building and driving parts. Some photos of young kids below, although my son is not that young anymore. At times they loose interest, then go back it again. I guess eventually I will be left with the cars, photos and memories.