Purchasing RC Car - Useful Tips For Beginners

Nowadays, kids and grownups alike have similar hobbies. Radio controlled cars are the latest buzz and everyone is rushing to the toy stores to purchase them. People find them enormously thrilling and a great way of spending free time.

There are two components to a radio-controlled car- the car itself and its radio controller. Some cars run on rechargeable batteries while some have batteries powered by gas engines. The ones powered by gas engines are costlier than the electric powered ones.

The different types of RC cars are the on-road and off-road vehicles, racing cars and touring vehicles, buggies and trucks. Also, there are a range of types, colors and size to choose from. The types of cars include Lamborghini, Porsche and Ferrari. You also have a choice between a truck or car type and an electric or powered engine.

There are 4 main parts to a radio-controlled vehicle - the motor(s), the power source, the transmitter and the receiver.

The transmitter, also the radio controller, is held in the hand and it is usually battery powered. Steering, and other commands that you make, are relayed by the transmitter to the receiver via radio frequency. The receiver in turn has two components - the antenna and the circuit board located within the car. It is responsible for receiving the frequencies from the transmitter and relaying them to the concerned part of the car.

There are different types of engines featured in radio-controlled vehicles. The motor is the most complex when it comes to assembling an RC car.

There are two versions to the radio controlled nitro powered motors- the 4-stroke version or the more common 2-stroke version. The 2-stroke motor which produces an amazing output of 2.5 hp, is the most popular. The high speed and breathtaking acceleration of this motor is loved by all RC racers.

The 2-stroked motor has a displacement engine of 23cc and it needs fuel oil mixture. It produces higher rpm's and hence is more suited for car racing. The 4-stroke motor runs on straight fuel and contains an oil reservoir. It has better torque and power and is suitable for off-road purposes. It is applied in trucks that run on rough tracks and dirt.

If you want to run your car in your neighborhood then you will want to go for the quiet running electric car. Whereas if you want to make your presence on the racetrack you might want to choose the nitro-powered motors. When it comes to pickup, though electric motors have immense speed, the nitro-powered motors steal the show.

Though the initial cost of an electric RC car is much less than the expensive nitro powered vehicles, there are additional costs like battery charger, battery packs and other accessories. These costs, however, depend on the type of car and the kind of battery pack required. But it is advisable to purchase quality battery packs and charger if you want to cut down on repeated replacement of cheaper batteries.

The advantage of electric motors over nitro powered ones is that not much tuning of the engine is required and maintenance is low. It is also more suited for beginners as all they have to do is condition it and store the battery packs properly. This done, the car can run smoothly for years.

Additionally, there are two types available- ones without and ones with a pull start. The pull start version, though cheaper, needs a starter box.