I have $400 dollars to start with. I would like a truck or buggy style 1/18th scale vehicle. Something that eventually be upgraded to full aluminum parts with a fairly strong drivetrain that can handle the abuse of a brushless set up.
So my question is if you had $400 to start with what would you buy? What brand? What brushless system? What batteries? What upgrades? Would you suggest not buying a brushless system at this point & concentrate on the chassis & drivetrain? etc, etc, etc...
Thanks for any advice you guy's can give me. I've been into RC cars for a long time but these brushless systems are way over my head as far as making a choice & what all the specific's really mean. I can handle the basic stuff like proper charging & any maintenance, but when it comes to picking out the proper components to work well together I'm a NOOBIE.
Since you are US Duratrax Vendetta St, Steel Diffs, CVD's, Novak Mongoose 10.5 (for racing), Robinson Racing pinions. Really all you need. All aluminium parts just way the car down and don't strengthen it up at all.
what are you trying to do with it? just bash around or race possibly?
Well i don't really wanna bash around or race it. I want to take care of it, keep it looking pretty & performing well. More of a looker that performs stupendisly :^)
I don't wanna beat on it too hard, other then some nice speed runs here & there. But deffintiely on the keep it pretty side.
Since you are US Duratrax Vendetta St, Steel Diffs, CVD's, Novak Mongoose 10.5 (for racing), Robinson Racing pinions. Really all you need. All aluminium parts just way the car down and don't strengthen it up at all.
I do like the layout of the Vendetta buggy, the pan looks alittle like my xx4 except for the drive belt cover. So do you have any pricing & links to the hop up parts? Is the Novak Mongoose comparible to Mamba, Tekin, etc, etc. Are there any other systems that are more affordable? I've been reading about people mixing & matching components from RC planes & helicopters that seem like they don't carry the price tag that most of the popular name brand stuff does. Also, I was looking on ebay & I seen a system that Losi makes that comes with software, USB cables & the price is $114.00 are these any good? Do most of these brushless systems come with tuning software? And how user friendly is the program? Are they based strictly on select a tune or does it allow you complete adjustability?
my suggestion is READ THE FORUMS
start with all the other recent "what should I get" threads
lotsa good info
then when you have a basic idea what your interested in maybe we can help
otherwise it's like trying to teach a blind man to drive a car
my suggestion is READ THE FORUMS
start with all the other recent "what should I get" threads
lotsa good info
then when you have a basic idea what your interested in maybe we can help
otherwise it's like trying to teach a blind man to drive a car
Well I've already read up pretty much on every car even the Thunder Tiger ZK2 & have a decent idea of what the pro's & cons are. If I was gonna go for an all out basher I would get the Thunder Tiger & put a 400 size motor in it. From what I've ready you really can't beat umm for that purpose especially when they only cost $55.00.
So far this is what I've come up with maybe I'm missing out on a few things.
DURATRAX MINI QUAKE:
"Good platform for bashing with over kill suspension. But don't waste your time with anything other then the non rtr SE version because it comes pretty well set up for brushless out of the box."
DURATRAX VENDETTA:
"Platform very good, hop up support, rugged & has great handling"
XTM RAGE:
"Almost perfect for bashing right out of the box except for some minor weak links like the knuckles. Lacks hop up support at this time & what upgrade parts are out there cost a fortune compaired to others. Also there are rumors that it may be fazed out soon"
ASSOCIATED RC18T:
"Considered the best handling of all the mini's right out of the box. Only compition would be the Kyosho mini Inferno with the right amount of money thrown at it. Has issues with differentials when upgrading to brushless systems. Huge hop up support & replacement parts galore."
LOSI MINI T:
"2wd, brittle, needs alot of upgrades to increase durability. Fun factoris high because it can wheelie"
KYOSHO MINI INFERNO:
"Considered by many to be the suprime 1/18th scale if you can afford to upgrade. Needs major improvements for brushless systems. But will dominate all if you have the know how to set it up proberly for racing"
THUNDER TIGER ZK2:
"Best bang for the buck basher on the market. Can be made to go very fast & is considered very durable. Down side is if you do break something it has to be ordered online & can result in lots of down time".
So I have done alittle reasearch & I'm leaning more towards the Vendetta or the RC18t. My lack of knowledge comes in the Brushless catagory. I would really prefer the RC18t since I can convert most of it from plastic to aluminum. I was plaing on doing this to my E-Maxx but it's just way to costly & the only thing I've ever broke on that beast is a front shock tower.
At this point I'm looking to do something with alittle more eye candy that can turn out really special.
I know it's alot deeper then just what I wrote in my previous post. Just wanted to clarify that I have read almost constantly about these cool little guys now for almost a week solid. I've been up until the sun comes up every night reading, going to ebay to buy something & then keep telling myself to wait until I get some more information. I just want to buy the right one for what I plan on doing with it.
I want speed, alot of speed. Which means this requires the drivetrain to be damn near industructable. The last thing I wanna do is constantly keep tearing the diff's apart & replacing parts. So I guess another questions would be...
What 1/18th scales have the strongest drivetrains weather it be stock or parts that can be purchased from an aftermarket company?
If you can get the steel differentials for the Detta and CVD's, it will handle any brushless system. I'd say that over 30 people used Detta's at my club with brushless without one problem with the drivetrain the other night (and they have been since the release).
A big plus is that you can use 1/10 scale servos. Just about any micro Lipo you can find will fit it.
As for the Mongoose; its sensored (only one out atm) so you get NO cogging at all. The control is amazing. If you are bashing for speed get the 8.5t motor. But since it is bashing you are likely to blow up the ESC (notorious for doing that). If you can get hold of an 8.5T motor along with the Tekin RS ESC you will be set.
Not sure how you get the Detta in the US but if it comes with the aluminium shock towers you will be better off with the carbon-fibre ones (double them up if you are doing huge jumps).
your initial spending ($400) will get you a base vehicle, bl set up,lipos and a charger. What you want/expect is gonna cost you any easy $800 or more....
That is not including a high quality TX/RX....
In order to have a high speed poser mobile you will need awesome batteries and charger. $50 per pack and about $100 for a charger.
Your TX/RX needs to be glitch free and have a built in failsafe (for runaways)
Hopefully you have a decent TX and only need another RX $100.
Your spending is already at $300 and you have no base vehicle or bl set up...
If your looking for the bling the best vehicle will be the RC18T because of aftermarket support.
I had some blinged out Mini Ts that were freaking fast and wheelie machines...I have a feeling finding mini t hop ups will be more challenging but they definitely have the poser/bling effect....
Whatever you build remember after your bored with it it will be virtually worthless....$1000 new....will get you about $250 when you sell it...
your initial spending ($400) will get you a base vehicle, bl set up,lipos and a charger. What you want/expect is gonna cost you any easy $800 or more....
That is not including a high quality TX/RX....
In order to have a high speed poser mobile you will need awesome batteries and charger. $50 per pack and about $100 for a charger.
Your TX/RX needs to be glitch free and have a built in failsafe (for runaways)
Hopefully you have a decent TX and only need another RX $100.
Your spending is already at $300 and you have no base vehicle or bl set up...
If your looking for the bling the best vehicle will be the RC18T because of aftermarket support.
I had some blinged out Mini Ts that were freaking fast and wheelie machines...I have a feeling finding mini t hop ups will be more challenging but they definitely have the poser/bling effect....
Whatever you build remember after your bored with it it will be virtually worthless....$1000 new....will get you about $250 when you sell it...
Bermbuster,
Thanks for the info, thats what I was looking for. The good news is I was able to wheel & deal today for a used but in great condition RC18t & a brand new in the box Tekin Rage BL system. I'm not sure if those are any good but I was able to get him to toss it in. He has 3 RC18t, 2 Vendetta's, 1 Mini T & a XTM Rage. I was trying to get one of his Vendetta's, but he had bought a bunch of parts for both of them & had some specific plans for both of them. Anyways, I had a brand new home stereo reciever & 5 disc CD player that I got for free & was able to trade him straight across for the RC18t.
So now I got a 1/18th scale & a brushless system are for the price of free-fifty. So now I should pretty much be able to take my $400 dollar buget & start turning it into the poser mobile you described it as. But this isn't going to be a shelf queen either. I plan on driving the thing hard, but I'm extremely cautious & like to make sure my stuff stay's nice & in proper working order.
So Burmbuster, what type of TX system do you recommend that will not have any of the glitching issues with a BL system? I have an older Futaba FM TX that has a micro receiver. I think I bought it way back in 2001 but it still looks & works like new. Will this do the job? Or do I need something newer that has better technology?
Thanks for the info, thats what I was looking for. The good news is I was able to wheel & deal today for a used but in great condition RC18t & a brand new in the box Tekin Rage BL system. I'm not sure if those are any good but I was able to get him to toss it in. He has 3 RC18t, 2 Vendetta's, 1 Mini T & a XTM Rage. I was trying to get one of his Vendetta's, but he had bought a bunch of parts for both of them & had some specific plans for both of them. Anyways, I had a brand new home stereo reciever & 5 disc CD player that I got for free & was able to trade him straight across for the RC18t.
So now I got a 1/18th scale & a brushless system are for the price of free-fifty. So now I should pretty much be able to take my $400 dollar buget & start turning it into the poser mobile you described it as. But this isn't going to be a shelf queen either. I plan on driving the thing hard, but I'm extremely cautious & like to make sure my stuff stay's nice & in proper working order.
So Burmbuster, what type of TX system do you recommend that will not have any of the glitching issues with a BL system? I have an older Futaba FM TX that has a micro receiver. I think I bought it way back in 2001 but it still looks & works like new. Will this do the job? Or do I need something newer that has better technology?
Thanks again for the info
Your Futaba FM is a good starting point. The RC18 and the Tekin BL is awesome as well....
The kool thing is you can bash it as is....see what breaks down then upgrade and bling as you go along.
starters for a bullet proof drivetrain
MIP cvds
MIP super diffs
carbide diff balls
60t spur
10-15t pinions (assortment for fine tuning)
If you want aluminum get the AE aluminum set....arms knuckles towers etc...
(personally I would not use these until I could handle the power...they will bend when crashed hard)
first I would get rpm arms and towers in blue (durable and blue bling)
wheels/tires high speed you will get the best results w foams...
you can get parma foams (look sweet to me) or even use 1/10 TC foams or even onroad drifting tires wheels...for whatever kind of running you feel like...
you just need 12mm hex adapters...
The kool thing is your on your way to a sweet posermobile
There are lots of parts available for both Mini T and 18 B,T,R. The Mini T in stock form will outperform an Associated 18 series. You can make a Mini T entirely aluminum if you wish. You can put in a brushless and ESC and be extremely fast. Ball diff, CVDs, and dual slipper would be required for that type of power.
I have run my Vendetta in some pretty rugged races and it handles the abuse. I would replace the small self threaded screws that hold the wheels on with some 440 hardware. I even ran stock diffs and gears for a year without any failures.
Help me spend some money, the right way.
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