Fetch modellers - model cars, trains, lego, meccano, airfix etc. :-)
24 watchers
Jul 2019
12:52pm, 5 Jul 2019
8,696 posts
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Watford Wobble
The Rebound was a massive seller in Europe and was the first mass produced, low cost RC car. You could just bounce it round and not have to worry about driving skills. Maybe you should consider one for racing 
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Jul 2019
1:16pm, 5 Jul 2019
31,988 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Ha ha WW. That is a cruel and cutting comment. I'll have you know my driving skills are improving! I am now, regularly, not last! G
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Jul 2019
3:57pm, 8 Jul 2019
32,005 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Refreshed my GT12 ad for sale. Down to 90 quid (it's the off season for indoor racing, so stupid time to sell, but hey ho, said I wouldn't buy the 4WD until I'd sold the 1/12th scale). Bargain at 90 quid! Just need to add receiver compatible with your transmitter and it's ready to go. (Fmail me if you're interested - the world's least effective ad on Fetch!!) Looking to buy a 4WD, probably a used X-ray XB4. Assume it will cost me £150, plus £150 for motor, speed controller and servo if it needs one. I've got the receiver. Will need to get a second transponder too. They're 85 quid. Argh! Expensive business. Even second hand! G
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Jul 2019
1:52pm, 22 Jul 2019
32,106 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
GT12 sold. And another good day at the races yesterday. 35th out of 46 in the 2 wheel drive. I started in the bottom 8 and qualified in the next block up, in 36th, so in 6th place in the 31-40 final (D Final). And I made my way up to 4th before falling back to 5th in the final. Happy with that. Am going to get a 4 wheel drive as well, as it's more driving time. There were 48 4WD and 46 2WD. So obviously if you run both you get twice as much driving during the day. And it's a long day! I got there at 7.30am on Sun morn and I was late. Tents were already up, generators running, track had been set up during the week and day before by the host club. Computers doing the lap timing and allocating the practice and qualifying heats were all ready. First practice started at 8am and heats by 9am. 3 mins practice each 13 heats, so it was all pretty tight. Then 4 rounds of 5 min races for all 13 heats and a final. We finished about 6pm and weren't packed to go until 7pm (stayed to help with taking down tents, putting away equipment and ensuring all litter removed). The rain from 4pm made for a very soggy finish! And some hilarity in the last heats and finals! Great fun though. G
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Jul 2019
9:56am, 23 Jul 2019
32,111 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Ooh, I've bought the 4WD. It's an Xray XB4 (same make as my XB2 2WD, means I should be able to interchange some parts etc.) teamxray.com Second hand 130 quid, spotted on a forum for sale in Manchester by a local club in Scotland. They really are a helpful lot. I forwarded him the photos from the seller, he checked it out then told me it was good to buy and he'd help me tidy it up. So, tonight is taking apart the ball bearing differential on my 2WD, with assistance, at another club mate's house! Hoping not too much needs replaced as they are 60 quid! But told that it's probably just cleaning out, smoothing off any rough bits on the plates, then adding grease again. First time any bit of car mechanicals has been taken apart. I've done electricals (replaced receiver, speed controller and transponder) but really apart from changing wheels / tyres I haven't done any other set up at all. Looking forward to seeing some bits come off an how best to clean, identify wear etc. Then when 4WD arrives that's another tidy up and add the electrics. Again, poss someone else either doing or helping though! I'm thinking of getting a cheaper model (more like a toy, like a Tamiya), to build myself. Because then if I stuff it up, it's only £200 rather than £500 plus! G
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Jul 2019
11:23am, 23 Jul 2019
225 posts
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icenutter
So. Humour me: if I was to get a RC car, what would you recommend? Just a toy to play with my son. Second hand from eBay probably. I’ve got a Tamiya Rising Storm from eBay, but I’ve got fed up of fixing little niggles. I think I’ll jump ship to something more durable. Hypothetical budget £100? |
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Jul 2019
11:52am, 23 Jul 2019
32,117 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Ooh, hiya, someone to talk to! *waves*. Hmm, that's the good thing about the more expensive models. They are much stronger. But they also tend to be faster, so if you do crash, the breaks can be quite big. They are designed to be re-buildable, but that costs money and takes time. And you say that's what you are trying to avoid? The big brands (for 1/10th electric - buggies, trucks etc.) are Associated, Schumacher, Losi, Xray, Kyosho, Yokomo. You could get an older one for £100 second hand. But that's just the chassis and body (a "roller"). You stil need all the electrics: transmitter, receiver (another 100 at least, probably), steering servo, speed controller, motor, battery(ies) and charger (again, another 100 at least depending on number of batteries etc.) So 300 all in? Minimum really. To make it more durable, you could put in either a slower motor (13.5 turns, or even as high at 20.5 turns, rather than the crazy 6.5 and 5.5 turns that some folk have) or just limit the top speed (you can do that on speed controller or transmitter). And depends how old your son is, but rather than just doing jumps and tricks and driving in a "dangerous" (to the car) area like car parks or roads, you could join a club so that you are driving in a place designed for the car? There are then fewer breaks because you're not driving to destruction - you're driving to get round a track. You can simulate this (I've been thinking about this for my house) by making a narrow, slow track in a confined space and make it about getting round with fewest touches on the lines - start with 100 points and deduct 10 every time you go over a line. Encourage slow, careful, controlled driving rather than just smashing it. Great for learning driving skills too? The other brands (Tamiya, HPI, Traxxas etc.) are all fine, but probably tend to be a bit more fragile. Much cheaper though, of course. Does that help? Ask away, by all means. And if you are looking down the local club route, ask what car brands they run. Always best to just have the same models as everyone else! G
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Jul 2019
1:16pm, 23 Jul 2019
226 posts
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icenutter
Mmm I was hoping for less. Can you throw some names of cars at me so I can look? |
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Jul 2019
2:15pm, 23 Jul 2019
32,118 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Of the ones in the 300 plus range? Schumacher is Cougar KC or KD, K2, KF2 etc. Xray is XB2 or XB4 (2 and 4WD) Associated B6, B5, B44 Losi 22 Kyosho RB6 (2WD), ZX6 (4WD) Yokomo YZ2, YZ4 (2 and 4WD) Proline PR S1, PR SB401 (2 and 4WD) Some others I don't know so well - Durango, Tekno, Serpent What do you and son want to do with them? Have you thought about "crawlers"? They are the big, chunky trucks, designed for going through tough terrain and over obstacles, but not for speed. Might be less likely to get broken? I think the cheaper ones like Tamiya, FTX etc. you just need to drive them a bit more slowly so as not to crash them too much! G
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Jul 2019
4:14pm, 23 Jul 2019
32,120 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Try googling "bashing" RC cars. Bashing is what folk call anything that isn't racing. Look at this one. Might be more durable? modelsport.co.uk Then try and find similar on ebay for half the price? Actually, that's only £119 including transmitter, receiver, servo, motor and speedo. Err, that's quite cheap. I don't know anything about this make or model, but might be the sort of thing? G
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