Whether an adult or a child, when it comes to sports and hobbies, it is RC cars that they love the most. Ever since its appearance in 1966, RC cars became popular among people and the truth is that they still are. Over the years, remote-controlled cars have developed a lot, and nowadays, the choice is so huge that it could satisfy the needs of each and every customer there is in the world. If this is a new hobby of yours, and you want to get the best out of it, the first thing you need to understand is that there are different types of RC cars offered by RC car hobby shop suppliers. Knowing them will help you understand which one is the model that you want to invest in.
Types of RC cars
Drift
Similar to on-road cars, the drift models of RC cars gave slicker tyres, allowing you to slide around turns while still moving extremely fast. Practice shows that these cars are perfect for those of you who want to drive faster and get easily bored by regular cars.
Street
As the name suggests, these cars are designed to be used on paved and flat surfaces as these are the places where they can show their speediness. Keep in mind that they are designed to be used on flat surfaces, so if riding them in the backyard or any other irregular surface, their power will not be the same.
Buggy
Buggy RC cars are something in between on-road and off-road cars. They are considered the second-fastest on-road cars, but the slowest off-road type of cars because of their low wheelbase.
Truggy
Unlike buggies which are more of an on-road type of cars, truggies are off-road kinds of cars. The look of these cars is quite the same as the look of buggies only that they have bigger tyres, like truck tyres.
Trucks
Without a doubt, trucks are the fastest off-road types of vehicle and the slowest on-road. Giving the fact that they have big tyres, they are ideal for driving in the woods and on grassy areas.
Choose Between Electric and Nitro
Electric
Giving the fact that you are new to this world, it is recommended to choose a model that is easy to operate and maintain, and such are the electric models. When looking for RC car hobby shop can provide you with numerous models ranging in operation, type, colour, size and design, which means that you have the freedom to choose literally anything you want. The thing that makes these cars so popular are its affordable price, ease of maintenance, their faster acceleration and cleaner look. The only downside of these models is that might need to be recharged more frequently, so consequently, the run times are shorter.
Nitro
Unlike electric cars, these can provide you with longer run times and here we stop. This is one of the main and maybe the only benefit of these cars. Unlike the others, they run on gas, so you will need to buy gas for it. They also have a bad smell and are more complex to maintain and run. They are also quite more expensive than electric cars which is considered as another downside.
Types of Motors
Another important thing to consider is the motor of RC cars. There are two types of motors, brushed and brushless and each of them has its own kind of ESC (electronic speed controller). When comparing both of these motors, the brushed one is more affordable but it has less power. The brushless motors, on the other hand, seem to be more expensive yet more efficient and powerful. Consequently, they are much longer-lasting than brushed motors.
Another important thing you should know about these motors is that brushed and its ESC can usually last around 6 months – 1 year, while the brushless motors and ESC’s don’t have an expiration date. These motors also differ visually, as the brushless model is completely sealed and has three wires, while the brushed versions have ventilation holes and only two wires.
Some Interesting Things You Should Know About RC Cars
Silicone-Rich
Giving the fact that RC cars are designed mainly for outdoor use, it’s not strange that they will be subjected to some harsh outdoor elements. Speaking of which, they need to be made of quality and durable materials that can withstand any form of ‘threat’. That is why most of them are made of silicone-based materials, starting from the shock fluid and ending to the electric wire coverings.
Electronic Speed Control
The NESC – 1 electronic system was first created by Novak and it had a built-in BEC circuit. This system was so efficient and reliable that it was sold in the RC market in the 1980s.
Monster Truck Models
The first created monster truck model was the Marui Big Bear truck. This model had oversized tyres, 2WD and injection moulded body that was capable of running through the roughest terrain and any other roads.