Regarding RTRs versus kits, I recommend getting a kit if you can afford it. Assembling your own car from scratch is a great learning experience. It will also allow you to hand pick all of your own electronics.

Regarding batteries, LiPos are worth the money vs NiMH. I'd suggest ProTek from amainhobbies because they're cheap and have a great warranty and customer service. I buy them, Thunder Power, and MaxAmps. They get more pricey in that order.

As far as a soldering iron, you won't need one for a while. You only really need them when you're putting together your own kit or changing out a motor or speed control. When you do get one, order a good one from a hobby shop. The ones at Home Depot usually aren't very good.

I'd suggest you consider investing in a good set of hex wrenches and a set of tires that the guys at your local track run (they usually all run the same tires). Tires have the single largest impact on performance. Adjusting your setup with a shock oil optimized for your local track is a good cheap upgrade.

Down the road I'd consider a good servo, a good ESC/motor combo, and a new radio, in that order.

There are a lot of servos to choose from. I almost always go with Futaba but Hitec, KO Propo, and JR are also good. A $50+ servo will have a really noticeable difference from the stock one.

For an upgraded ESC/motor, you'll be very happy with an LRP SXX/X-12 13.5T combo. Tekin and Castles are also good.

For a new radio I'd strongly recommend saving up for a Spektrum DX3R. It's fantastic radio and will allow you to bind up to 40 cars to it in the future. Each time you get a new car you just add a $100 receiver to it and you're set.

All three of these things can wait. Get some track time and see how much you get into it first. Most people get sucked in pretty quickly - especially if you're near a good track. And I know Portland has some good tracks.

i went with the NiMh batteries because of price. ~$57 compared to ~$109. i purchased a tmax nitro, a slash 4x4 electric and now a rc10b4.1 electric (on order should arrive by monday) all rtr. once i get some knowledge of the hobby i plan on building one up from a kit. currently all i know of kits & parts is cost. i don't know the difference yet between quality and just expensive. that is why i am going with Ready To Race (rtr). i can just unbox it and go. have some fun while learning about the different components. because when it's all said and done it's all about fun and kicking up dirt.

as far as kits are concerned:
i started reading threads surrounding kits. what i gather so far is team associated makes a decent kit. they have solid parts and the instruction manuals are clear enough.

kyosho kits are also cited as being good kits. though some questioned the quality of the manuals.

losi kits faired the worst so far. (from what little i've read so far). i will continue to read and to learn. i understand not everything you read on the internet is to be taken as gospel. not even the good stuff. people are saying parts are not machined properly & manuals are insufficient.

on the bright side, all kits are upgradable. i am still unclear what upgrade means. if it means just a shiny blue part that costs $$$$$ or if the part actually makes the car handle better. i don't know the answers yet. i hope to know soon when i get my buggy and start to play. i may, when i decide on at kit, start a thread. i want to chronicle my progress and have a forum to ask questions. the good thing about this RC venue is i can take pictures of what i'm seeing and having problems with and post them for you all. it's easier to get help when there is some reference to go on.


-pdx

my order from rpp went from processing to shipped. woohoo!

-pdx

i use venom lipo's and only paid $50 for them, a 5000 mah with 20c max burst, a 4000 mah with a 30c max burst, and a 5000 mah with 35c max burst. and I've never had a problem with my venoms, ever!! and that was the price at my local hobby shop, not online.
if you stick with team associated kits(when you are ready to buy one), the factory team kits come stock with a bunch of upgrades, v2 shocks, cva axles, anodized aluminum parts, etc.

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!

Far as kits , of the three brands mentioned , AE is the worst to build as every part needs to be sanded , filed , or drilled out so everything will fit and be free . Losi and Kyosho have perfect fit right out of the box . You are the first I have ever heard about Losi parts not machined properly or a bad manual . I have built many AE and Losi kits and those words are not true .

cool, thanks for the input, as i continue to learn and grow in the hobby i hope to have first hand experience with these kits as well. perhaps the persons whose posts i read got a bad batch and vented. who knows?
i am open to suggestions regarding buggy kits. that when the kit is done the car will be of quality, and whose manual is clear for the novice builder.


-pdx

i have some good news and i have some bad news.

the good news is i received my RC10 B4.1 buggy!

[IMG][/IMG]

the bad news is the radio was broken.
[IMG][/IMG]

good news is AE is sending me a replacement! bad news is i have to wait a few more days before i can play.

i upgraded my choice of battery to a lipo. in this photo i have the buggy and battery and charger.
[IMG][/IMG]

overall i can't complain. i like what i see so far. i plan on taking the car to the Portland R/C Raceway. first to practice then i want to try my car out in the novice class race. i can hardly wait.

thank you all for the input.

see you around the forums.

-pdx

congrats man!!!, sorry to hear about the radio

I started in the same spot you were. Just getting into rc and wanted a good car that would suit me. I looked into it and asked around and most people said get the associated b4. I got it and it is great. You should definitely get it.

looks like i may have to wait another week for my radio. no confirmation yet on them actually shipping me the unit. i boxed up the old one already. now all i can do is wait and wipe the dust off my buggy.



-pdx

sorry to hear that bro, that sucks. shoot, I probably could've sent you 1 of the 2 ae radio's that I have(that are just collecting dust) quicker than yours will get to you.

my radio arrived!!

unfortunately i don't have time tonight to play. but tomorrow afternoon? heck yeah!

i am so excited!

unless things happen to prevent me from going; i plan to run my car at portland r/c raceway tomorrow afternoon. yeeeeehaaaaa!


it's buggy time........

-pdx

i went to the race track and ran my buggy for an hour. it is a lot harder than it looks but man is it fun.

bad note: my new radio from AE died. it is the XP3-SS 2.4GHz 3CH radio system. after 1hr of use! the unit wont power on anymore. i thought maybe i had dead batteries. when i got home i put a new set of eight batteries in the unit and no power up. i am going to surf the forums for any fixes or advice. i may have to buy a new radio/esc combo.

the car itself is nice. but i am not too impressed with team associated's out of the box radios.

-pdx

i found the problem with the radio.

the wires coming from the battery pack are faulty. i will try to post photos later today to show details.

the battery compartment is the only accessable compartment on the radio. i opened it. i pulled it out and tried turning the radio on. the led's on the radio flickered when i moved the battery pack in my hand. a closer inpsection showed when i moved the wires connecting the radio to the pack i was able to get the radio to turn on. (indicated by green led's) not sure how i'm going to resolve this. i may try to trim the suspect wire down a quarter inch and solder it back in place. i will need to purchase a soldering iron.

are all ready to race RC cars this way?

i imagine building your own, one has control on the quality of all the car's components.

oh well,

i guess it's part of the learning process.


-pdx