Hello from another newbie looking for advice!

[foz75 93]

I've been reading quite a few threads on here lately, absolutely loving all the info, builds, and going back in time 30 years to when I played aorund for hours with my Fox in the back yard    Lots has changed though I spent ages trying to work out why most RC "packs" only include one server, until I realised that ESCs don't need a server like MSCs do...

Now, my eldest is soon to be a teenager, he's really into building stuff and anything mechanical, so that's my excuse to get back into RCing!

I never raced and have no intention of (although he might, who knows) so just want something to have fun with together and be easy to fix when it breaks.

Any suggestions? Something like a Racing Fighter looks like a decent place to start for him? I'd love another Fox, but there don't seem to be any around, and from what I've read they use a dedicated platform so spares and repairs might be tricky? I can see me getting a hotshot for myself, it's the other one I always wanted as a kid. Are spares easy to come by?

Any advice on how to get myself and my lad into this again would be great!

Thanks in advance, I'm off to go look at more vintage build threads 

 

 

[Mark_C 198]

The fox isn't currently available, so you'd have to buy a used car and fix up whatever needed repairing. There are specialist parts suppliers like tonystamiyaparts975 on ebay and jk-rc who do seem to have bits for them. There is one on ebay now, but its quite pricey..

I would say get him a DT03 (like the rising fighter) or a TT-02B based buggy that are a bit more modern. Lets be honest - there's no way you're going to get him a car and then stand and watch him playing with it, so best get yourself something too... stuff like hornet/grasshopper/frog are available new if you wish, but also have lots of spares support. You could look at getting one off ebay and tidy it up, there are always abandoned cars and those old classic buggys are fairly affordable.

imho, initially at least stick to brushed motors and nimh batteries, cheaper and especially in the case of batteries much easier to handle. Whatever you end up with I'd just do some light upgrades like bearings and leave it at that, if he enjoys it the tinkering to upgrade with pocket money / birthday presents etc is much of the fun growing up with RC cars !

 

[foz75 93]

Thanks, that's useful!  I might have found a 2013 Fox NIB, just not sure I want to go that route because of the spares or possible lack of, plus it's the same price as the hotshot...

The idea is definitely to get two cars, his is just the excuse for mine 

They'll only be for playing around with, so like you say I'll be sticking to NiMH, no need for anything else just so long as we can get decent run times

thanks!

[Mark_C 198]

Wouldn't worry too much about availability - just go on ebay and do a search, then look at tamico.de, t2shop.de. tonystamiyaparts will order anything you need provided it is available at the supplier. There is a fox manual here: http://tamiyakits.blogspot.com/2011/03/tamiya-fox-build-manual.html as always it has a parts listing at the back, so you can look for those part numbers. According to Tamiyabase the chassis is shared with the novafox too.

Far as everything else goes - radio gear I use flysky which I don't have any problems with and is pretty cheap everything is 2.4Ghz now, no crystals! and no interfernce between multiple cars. For an ESC if you buy a new kit most of them have one included now, but if you find something that doesn't the Hobbywing 1060 will do everything you need. All the rest will be quite familiar..

[foz75 93]

Thanks for the info! dumb question, but how do controllers and receivers "know" each other then? must be some sort of pairing between them? Is it possible to use the same controller for different cars (not at the same time, obviously)?

Will check out the manual!

[Finnsllc 917]

tt02b, dr03, df02 great starting platforms. 02/03 in my showroom

[Jonathon Gillham 4606]

6 hours ago, foz75 said:

Thanks for the info! dumb question, but how do controllers and receivers "know" each other then? must be some sort of pairing between them? Is it possible to use the same controller for different cars (not at the same time, obviously)?

Will check out the manual!

Welcome to the slippery slope.

 

Yes, you bind the transmitter to the receiver so they work together and you don't get interference from others.  Many transmitters have multiple model memory, with between 10 and 40 slots available.  Its great as you can set the cars up and they keep their own settings (trim, EPA etc) and you just switch between the models.  The cheapest sets won't have the multiple model memory, but the next model up in each range usually do.  Cheap and cheerful is the Flysky GT3C.  Get the C not the B model as it comes with a lipo battery included but the B uses 8 AA batteries, which are a pain and heavy.  Otherwise the old brands are still around, Sanwa, Futaba etc.  I have a range of Flysky, Futaba and Sanwa for various things.  All work fine, but my favourite is my Sanwa MT4S.  Its a mid-range radio which costs about 5 times as much as the Flysky GT3C but its really nice to use.  Look at Futaba 3PV, 4PV, Sanwa MTS, MT44 and Flysky to see what you prefer.

Another thing to consider is the price of receivers.  You have to use the specific receiver to match your transmitter.  Flysky are very cheap, about $10 each.  Sanwa are about $100 each, but then you get third party clone ones which are cheaper and work fine.  I use the clones in my Tamiya's and the Sanwa ones in the race cars.

[Juggular 4964]

7 hours ago, foz75 said:

how do controllers and receivers "know" each other then? must be some sort of pairing between them? Is it possible to use the same controller for different cars (not at the same time, obviously)?

I think of it as the transmitter assigning a code to a receiver.  

It's saying, "don't listen unless somebody says 'Hollywood.' "  And the transmitter would say, "turn right, Hollywood," "full throttle, Hollywood."  Flysky GT3C has 10 car memories, so it might be a number.  It's called "Binding."  

The radio's LCD screen will give you 3 characters to choose for a name for each receiver.  I've got Wild Willy 1, Wild Willy 2, Wild Dagger, so I would have to name them WW1, WW2, & Dag.  I don't know what I'd do for "Wild One."  But for a $45 radio, it exceeded my expectations.  Back in the days, a radio with exponential function alone would cost $100.  Flysky GT3C has all the basic functions like Servo Reverse, Trim, but it also has expo, end point adjustment, dual rates, and the mysterious ABS function too.  

When you get another car, just get another receiver for $8-$10.  Slap that on and bind.  All you have to do is choose that model from your radio. You can't control all 10 cars.  You only need one transmitter per person, not per car.  This binding thing had enabled Tamiya cars to breed like bunnies. (I lurked like 15 years before I re-started the hobby about 2 years ago, so all this stuff was new to me too) 

 

Oh, and I wouldn't worry about parts.  Back in early 2000, I got Fast Attack Vehicle from the 80's.  Parts were hard to come by, but you could still find them.  My vintage Fox is from then too.  (I'm not saying, "no problem, just wait 20 years like I did, Tamiya will re-release again!")  Wild Willy1 was never re-released, but I would still run it.  Some of the easily broken parts are available from 3D printing places.  

I'd say just get what you want and think about parts later.  I'm a planner. I won't commit to anything unless I know what's on the other side of the door. That's why I've accumulated mounds of parts, but most of them are unused.  DT03 is a good starting point.  If you want Hotshot, why not? (it's the coolest looking out of all the 80's buggies, but I wasn't impressed with it as a runner) 

 

[Finnsllc 917]

went from old school to new school with a flysky gt3b controller. so easy, no crystals or worring about interferance. also will bind to 10 cars so easy. recievers are $5 and the controller in $50. old school futaba rcievers cost 45.its a tech improvement that is awesome

[Finnsllc 917]

also stores steering trim and power to cars as u set them. its easy and great

[Finnsllc 917]

love the evoloution from the old 80s cars to now. i just built a super shot with one of my sons. great car but even the dt03 is just so much more as far as not chunky and slow. i have simple setups in the neo fighter and sand viper and they rip. fast and fun.

[Finnsllc 917]

[foz75 93]

Wow, things have come a long way then 

thanks for the info!

[foz75 93]

Another quick question - I never really got on with the wheel type controllers, but most seem to be this type now. Are there any resonably priced stick type controllers that have the same type of functions? What's the reason behind the move the wheel type? And how do you do reverse, if they're a trigger style throttle?

[TurnipJF 9192]

Not sure what drove the change to pistol type transmitters, but they appear to be here to stay, so if you can, I'd recommend training yourself to use them. There are far more to choose from, giving more car-appropriate features at better prices. 

[Mark_C 198]

59 minutes ago, foz75 said:

Another quick question - I never really got on with the wheel type controllers, but most seem to be this type now. Are there any resonably priced stick type controllers that have the same type of functions? What's the reason behind the move the wheel type? And how do you do reverse, if they're a trigger style throttle?

I have a flysky stick controller, they are really meant for aircraft so you need a self return spring (usually sold seperately) and lock the sticks so they only move in one direction next problem is you need to switch the channel for the steering as by default the planes use channel 3 for this. I managed it by switching plugs around in the controller itself.

You do get 2 channel stick controllers, Futaba for example still do them, but they are expensive, IIRC my flysky was £28-30 for the transmitter, receivers are about £5. I think a set from Futaba is mroe like £80+.

Not sure if you are buying rc cars for kids too, but the wheel one is easier for my niece & nephew because they can hold it with the throttle hand and then twiddle the steering. If they had to use sticks I think they'd struggle to hold it.

[foz75 93]

Thanks for the advice. I've been looking at controllers, and looks like I'll have to get used to the wheel type...  Most stick types seem to be 4 or 6 channel (or more) for planes, etc, and the cost goes up. Absima and Carson seem to have some more affordable stick types, but as far as I can see they're limited to a single RX. the Absima CR2S V2 is available in a pack with 2 RX, but it doesn't say if it is multi model or not. I imagine you can install in two different cars at least, and switch between them?