Radio Controlled Cars: Uses And Types Explained

Radio Controlled Cars: Uses And Types Explained

Radio controlled cars, or R/C cars, are a model car powered through a radio control system or remote control. A transmitter, with either a joystick or a wheel with a trigger, sends inputs to the vehicle's internal receiver. The receiver transmits the signals or instructions to the electronic speed controller, causing the wheels to move or turn. There are simple ones available that just stop and go. And there are advanced models that are specifically built for competitive racing.

There are usually two categories of radio controlled cars: toy cars or hobby cars.

Toy vehicles
Toy models are the pre-assembled vehicles found in the most common discount store or retail store. These are usually the ones referred to as merely a kid's play thing. This is the cheaper type, about $50-$100 cheaper than the hobby models. They're easy to operate and relatively safe. They usually resemble real autos and have specific features that most hobby models don't have, including working lights, sounds, windows, doors and hoods that open and interiors that look like the real thing. Some even have radios and MP3 players included in the coupe.

They do, however, suffer from poor design, construction and performance. Once broken, the spare parts needed are not available to fix it. Motors are usually weak, since it's powered by cheap alkaline or Ni-Cad batteries. This usually gives them a maximum speed of about 10 to 15 mph. Steering only follows three directions, straight, full left and full right, and two speeds, fully stopped and full power. These automobiles are limited to on road use only. There are ones that are being advertised for use off road but usually deliver a minimal performance. The industry is constantly coming out with new types, but honestly for a child this car is the best buy for your money.

Hobby Cars
There are two kinds of hobby automobiles: nitro-powered models and gas-powered. Nitro-powered offers several speeds: maximum power, medium and a slightly slower speed. A nitro-powered engine is powered by fuel and may be refueled and back to action in a matter of seconds. These cars are air cooled and you do not have to worry about having to take a break for the car to cool down. Nitro-powered operates similar to a full-sized fuel vehicle and in turn, with the exhaust containing more unburned oil, coats the chassis, which will need lots of cleaning.

Cleaning is relatively easy, with just an air blower and some alcohol. But to be able to maximize the potential of the hobby radio controlled car, proper maintenance is needed. Mechanical wear is also more likely with nitro-power because it can be driven for a longer period of time. Higher speed collisions are also more likely because of the ability to maximize the vehicle's speeds. But always remember, because of its strong design and components, nitro-powered models are more durable than its electric counterparts.

Gas-powered automobiles run using pre-mixed gasoline and oil. They're more expensive than nitro-powered and electric automobiles, with a retail price ranging from $1,500 to $3,000. They're bigger and needs more space to operate freely. They don't have very fast speeds but they do have high power and uses less fuel to run. The also require less tuning and last longer than the nitro-powered radio controlled automobiles and electric vehicles. While both great buys, beware: you must operate with caution. Always read the manuals provided and supervise children playing with such devices.

Who knew buying a radio-controlled automobile can be so complicated? As with everything you want to buy, you have to know what factors you want to prioritize when choosing what item to buy. Is it durability? Easy maintenance? Price? Design? All these factors have to be considered carefully before you can decide what kind of radio controlled cars you should buy.

By: Andy West

Nitrotek, is an extremely reputable online distributor of the best variety of remote controlled vehicles. From remote controlled boats to radio controlled cars, you are sure to find what you are looking for! Visit Nitrotek.co.uk for more information.

Why Choose Gas RC Helicopter

Why Choose Gas RC Helicopter

Decision on what type of rc helicopter to buy depend on you. But with a more reflective mind, you can arrive with a right selection. Now, if you are thinking of buying a gas rc helicopter over electric rc helicopter, then here are the things you should know…


Let us begin by discussing briefly the electric rc helicopter.

Most, if not all rc helicopter novices begin with electric rc helicopter for several reason. Electric rc helicopter is cheaper than gas powered. It is also easier to fly since it does not require an engine. And finally, electric rc helicopter produces no noise and no smell.

With these reasons, you can draw a conclusion that those who buy electric rc helicopter want convenience more than real experience.

Although there is nothing wrong with it, electric rc helicopter is not for people who require more than just simplicity.

Now we ask: Why choose gas rc helicopter?

Forget about the price since gas rc helicopter does not come cheap. Also, forget about the noise because it comes with the engine, the sound cannot escape your ear. But here lies the answer to the question.

Serious rc pilots prefer noise and price over silence, economy and most of all convenience. The complexity of the engine makes it more attractive to those who want to enjoy the real experience of flying a helicopter. You never saw an electric full size helicopter, didn’t you?

The there is one thing that rc pilots are conscious about, that is the closeness of the rc to the real helicopter.

Another thing that set gas rc helicopter apart from the electric one is the level of respect and concentration required on flying each and every time. Since it involves gas and an engine, rc pilots take it more seriously. Added to this is the type of thrill that is involve every second of flying.

One last reason is that, gas rc helicopter is the best thing you get before you move to ultralight helicopter. Thus, one you have a gas rc helicopter, you don’t have to require yourself to upgrade unlike if you have an electric rc helicopter. But in the case you want to upgrade to ultralight, you can easily get familiar with flying since you have already been with an engined-helicopter.


And oh, before we forgot, gas rc helicopter teaches you the basic of the helicopter flying more than any type of rc helicopter around.

About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on RC Helicopter & other useful information, please visit http://rc-helicopter.articlekeep.com.

How To Get Started Flying RC Airplanes

How To Get Started Flying RC Airplanes



For thousands of years man has dreamed of flight. Nothing has amazed people as much as flying machines have in the past century and there is still more to come. What is even more amazing though, is the progress in personal flight toys. You can fly everything from a miniature helicopter, to a one 20th scale Cessna, which you can build at home yourself.

The more amazing thing about today’s RC airplanes is the fact that anyone can fly them, and some airplanes are very easy to fly. For example, I bought a $50 Hobby Zone airplane and the controller had two controls, one that could steer the plane left or right and then the second was throttle (speed) control. How can you get any simpler then that!

As easy as it can be, it still can be difficult for beginners to get started in this hobby. Since I now have the knowledge that every beginner should know, since I was a beginner once, I wanted to share it with other people so everyone can enjoy the RC airplane hobby.

The first thing a beginner needs to know is their power sources. RC airplanes can be powered either electrically or by an engine that runs on fuel called nitro methane. This is very important when deciding on purchasing your first radio controlled airplane. You need some knowledge of both power sources, as they both have their pros and con’s. First I would like to state that for all beginners’ I recommend an electric RC airplane over a gas RC airplane. Why? Because an electric airplane is cheaper, like under $100 cheap, and much easier to operate. In fact, all you have to do is plug in the battery and flick the ON switch. They are also much quieter and produce no fumes in the air. Plus not much maintenance is required besides keeping it in a cool, dry place.

A gas powered RC airplane has its advantages to of course. If you are a realist and what an authentic looking and sounding remote control airplane, then an airplane with a gas engine is what you want. An RC airplane with a gas engine is bigger and bulkier then an electric R/C airplane, so it is more to scale and realistic. It also sounds like a real airplane does, and is kind of like a real little miniature airplane since the engine requires fuel, tuning, and other adjustments. These types of airplanes cost a little more and take longer to assemble. Plus, they require much more maintenance and you have to continue to spend more money since you need special fuel, oil and some other small accessories.

Now that you pretty much know what type of airplane you want to purchase, let me help you get it running and teach you some tips and tricks that you will find handy out on the flying field.

If you have never flown a model airplane or a real airplane before, then you might have some trouble taking off, flying and landing. The first thing to remember is that you need a good open field to fly at, unless of course you have a slow flyer or park flyer, which can be flown in small areas like indoors or parks. A good local flying field can be located online by searching through a search engine, like Google, for a local club. Flying fields always have a club, and they are usually full of friendly people who are willing to help you learn.

Most of these clubs have flying instructors that will either help you for free, or charge you a little money. Either way you will have a guide that can teach you a lot. You also can be sure that if something goes wrong with your airplane, people will be there that have the knowledge to fix it.

Another way you can learn to fly is of course teaching yourself, but that can be costly if you crash a lot. If you are going to teach yourself, I suggest you start off with a cheap $50 electric RC airplane that has only left and right steering control and throttle control. These types of airplanes can take off from a flat surface or can be easily hand launched into the air by applying full throttle.

After you get started, there will be no stopping you and the rest will come naturally. There still is some other much needed accessories that I suggest no beginner go with out. Like a good RC airplane book, a field box, a car charger for an electric plane, and extra batteries for your transmitter. With all these tips in mind, start your flying experience right and keep the wind at your back.

About The Author

Michael Cottier has been flying RC airplanes most of his life and can help you get started in the hobby with his website, no matter what age the pilot is. Just go to: http://www.rc-model-airplanes.com/.

Model Helicopters You Can Fly

Flying radio controlled Helicopters is more difficult and challenges the flying enthusiast in more ways than a radio-controlled airplane does. You need to put in a lot of practice but the rewards are worth the effort. Most pilots or beginners prefer to train on a simulator or seek an instructor to learn flying. Radio controlled helicopters are expensive and nobody would want to risk a crash on their maiden flight. It is recommended that beginners check out the helicopter ground school to learn more.



Radio controlled helicopters are available as 'full kit' in which very few parts are assembled and in kits with almost 90% or more parts assembled. Some kits have the helicopter assembled excluding only the radio and the engine, while other kits have the engine, gyro and radio assembled. It is recommended that you look for a package deal that includes the radio, engine and gyro, as this is the best setup for a beginner.

Nitro gas powered remote controlled helicopters make a very realistic sound and are preferred over electric powered ones. Also the nitro-powered helicopters can be flown for longer durations; all you need is to fill in more gas. On the other hand electric powered helicopters will fly for 8 to 10 minutes before loosing power. You need to have an additional pack of batteries or have to recharge the batteries.

The only advantage the electric powered helicopters have over the nitro gas fired helicopters is that they are super quiet. In case you intend to fly often in areas that have noise restrictions then the electric powered helicopter is the best option otherwise stick to the nitro gas powered model. The Mini Electric RC helicopter is ideal for indoor and year round flying.

The Reflex XTR 'Next to Reality' Flight Simulator or Radio Control Dave Brown RCFS 2001 Flight Simulator is a cost effective way for beginners to learn to fly a radio controlled helicopter. Crashing model helicopters is an expensive proposition and flight simulators will pay for themselves in the first 30 seconds of use. Simulators closely mimic the real conditions and helps new pilots learn how to react to the controls.



Some people want to get started with the real thing and are not interested in simulators such people should consider the .30 size radio controlled helicopter as it is relatively inexpensive along with the repair kits.

Some models, which are recommended for beginners, are Dark Knight RC Electric RTR Helicopter, Radio Control * Thunder Tiger Raptor V.2 RTF Helicopter 49 BB Pro Mod Engine-TTR 4839-A11. These helicopters are belt driven and are more precise than helicopters that have torque rod driven tail rotors. Performing 3D maneuvers is easy with belt driven tail rotors.



Start with the Raptor 50 model and when you have gained some experience try the Radio Control*Thunder Tiger Raptor 50 High Performance Helicopter Kit w/ Engine- TTR 4851 K 11 which is slightly bigger and expensive. It has a larger rotor disc; parts are compatible with the Raptor 30. it is more powerful and has a real cool muffler. However the Raptor 50 is worth the investment.

By: Victor Epand
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model planes and model helicopters. You can find the best marketplace for model planes and model helicopters by visiting the best sites for model planes, model fighter planes, and model helicopters.

Finding the line! RC Car Racing To Win!

Finding the line! RC Car Racing To Win!

by: Todd Levi

What's the point of practicing from a racers perspective? I mean, why waste all this time and car wear? Yeah, right! Practicing is one of the core components to becoming a good driver. This is the time where you get to discover how your car, and your driving style adapt to a new track or layout. Take the first few laps slow, think of your car going from corner to corner hitting your target spots. We will call them targets because it's a target that you will want to place the inside front tire of your car on every lap. These targets are normally a few inches from the edge of the board at each corner. The distance out from the board where you aim to target is dependent on your skill level. Remember: the goal is to drive such that your inside tire passes directly over all of these target points every lap. The more confident you become of your targets location and the better you get at judging these targets, the more your lap times will drop.

Tip: Always remain on or outside your targets. If you find yourself going inside your target then two scenarios will have happened: 1. You are finding that you crash a lot, or 2. You may have become a better racer and need to set your standards higher (or targets closer to the board). It is important to remain outside your target to ensure you are hitting your target well (not dodging in or mistakenly missing your target).

The best line to drive on entirely depends on finding the best set of targets to hit on each corner. During those first practice laps, don't even try to go fast but simply concentrate on accurately placing the car within a foot of your targets. With each lap you will develop confidence of the location of these targets and a feeling of how to place your car near them. You will begin to drive a tighter line with the eventual goal of consistently hitting every target point on every lap. The most important thing to take away from this sort of practicing is to commit to memory all of these targets so you can make judgments and alternative routes when there are pile ups, lap traffic or corner marshals in the way.Your trying to get a feel for the line you want to take.

Get comfortable with the targets locations and then you can start to build on your driving skills. When you drive through a corner decide how well you took it in accordance with your target and speed. Pay close attention to the sticky section of the track and then branch out. Focus on the ares of the track that require the most attention. While you are practicing, spend your time thinking about the two or three corners that you need the most help with and only worry about those corners until they feel comfortable. It's a good idea to constantly evaluate your performance in each corner while you're racing, and with each lap try to get closer to your target while carrying as much corner speed as possible.

It is important to use your race heats and main to improve upon your target/speed strategy. Use these races, just like you do practices, as tools to help you become a better driver overall. Even evaluate your lap times with the heat posts to see how consistent you where.

About The Author
Todd Levi of TeamDogFight.com has been racing RC cars for years. Visit our new RC site at http://www.teamdogfight.com.