keeping it cheap,... an RC car for the wife :-)

[Big Wig]

I will be building an off-road track in my backyard this summer and I asked my wife if she wanted her own RC car. She seems to think it would be fun and said yes.

I'm planning on buying her an RS4 MT (when I'm done building my new TC3 http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ) and I plan to let her use the Traxxas radio that came stock on my T-Maxx and one of the Traxxas servos. I want to keep the cost down until I see how she likes it so I'd like to know what reversing speed control you folks could recommend that wouldn't cost a bundle. Also, could you suggest a good motor for this vehicle? One more Q: I understand this truck comes with bushings and the bearing kit is a hop-up,... has anyone taken the bearings to a supply house to get them matched up? I would really like the bearing #'s if someone wants to share them with me!

Do any of the married guys out there share the hobby with wifey? My wife doesn't share my other interest (dirt bikes) so it would be cool if she got into RC.

[ZenLosi]

Hey Big Wig, that's funny, I got married last weekend! (we leave for our honeymoon tonight)

Anyway, sounds like a great idea to get her involved in R/C. I would recommend a 17 turn speed gems motor. They're relatively inexpensive and the car is geared for a 17 turn mod. I would suggest bearings (HPI and Duratrax have bearing kits). I would also suggest CVD's and an extra set of rims for off road tires (if you get the Beetle, the Dirt Hawgs are great for street or off road).
As far as the supply house bearings, I can't help ya there, sorry.

I'll have to let my wife play with one of my old kits to see if she likes R/C or not. She has shown interest before. Should be interesting!

-Zen

[This message has been edited by ZenLosi (edited 03-22-2001).]

[digex]

My wife loves driving my Rally. I am looking at getting 2 wild willy's soon so that her and my daughter will each have one to mess with while I run mine around. The wild willy is the obvious choice in my mind since its inexpensive, easy and fun to drive and as an added bonus, it pops wheelies!!! Good luck and have fun together. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Anker Steadfast]

Building a track and then saying it have to be cheap ? Sounds like you are committed, but afraid to use money on it .. don't worry, buy what you think will be best for your wife's enjoyment and worry less about the money - If she smiles and have fun, it's worth it.
Besides, if she don't want to pursue it, you can use some of the better parts afterwards, like the ESC, batteries and the remote control.

As she is a beginner to the RC world, I would just put a stock engine in it, that's more than sufficient to begin with - Perhaps even buy a spur gear and pinion to get the car geared lower so it don't run so fast but for a longer duration, will be more fun as she can drive for a longer time.

Drop in a Novak Rooster electronic speed controller and some ball bearings and the car should run trouble free for many hours of fun http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

You have to remember that a beginner need something simple, that is easy to drive and drives for as long as possible - Not to mention fairly easy to assemble and keep clean.
However, since your wife is an adult (I assume) the difficulty of assembling is not so bad, it is a much more important matter if it's a 12 year old kid.

As for which bearings to buy : When you get the kit, check the manual - It'll say which is needed in there I assume.
Until you get the ball bearings, you can just use the bushings. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

Oh - A good car to have fun with for beginners is the Stampede from Traxxas - Very fun to drive and it's rather simple and very durable http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif
But I guess you have already made up your choice of car for your wife.

Heh - I still remember my first RC car - a Tamiya Grasshopper (the original one, not the Grasshopper 2 or super or something like that), I got it when I turned 11 .. now I'm 26 and still driving - I drove that car until it fell apart, took me 4 years to wear it down. *g*

My first proffesional car was a Blue Eagle LS from Traxxas - Ah yes, the memories http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

---
Jens L Nielsen
Denmark

[Nairb]

Wow, ZenLosi, you just got married and you're hangin' out here? I'd be hangin' out in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I agree with Anker. Get a stock motor (P2K or MVP), Novak Rooster ESC, and a set of bearings (you can order a set wherever you get the truck). That'll be the best setup for her IMHO.

[This message has been edited by Nairb (edited 03-22-2001).]

[ZenLosi]

Nairb- like I said, we're going on our honeymoon tonight. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I have to do something while I'm at work, right?

Have a good one, R/C Dawgs.

-Zen

[Artur]

Have fun

[This message has been edited by Artur (edited 03-22-2001).]

[Nairb]

Hold on, there. If you're gonna be racing it on an off-road track (in yer backyard), you want the slipper clutch to do its job (slip). It's a traction-control device. If there was no slipper, you'd have a hard time getting grip because every time you gun it, the tires would slip. The slipper clutch smoothens the power delivery and absorbs drivetrain shock (like when you land off a jump with the power on). By all means, don't disable the slipper clutch when off-road racing.

[Nairb]

Oh yeah, Zen, I know...I just wanted to give you some crap anyway. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/tongue.gif HAVE FUN, DUDE! (I'm jealous, kinda)

[aphex4000]

BigWig, I think it's really nice that you're building up a car for you wife. I let my girlfriend drive my car a few times. First time out she slammed it sideways into a curb and literally flattened the muffler(the stinger was pressed flat) and her second time out she drove it though water. It was kinda funny, but a real pain to clean up. I'm hoping she will get better in time.

[Isky]

If i were you i would go with a Team Orion Orbital 2 Pro BB motor thats 17x1. Since the MT is geared for 17 turns(as someone else pointed out) this is an awesome motor. Some time ago RCCA(several months to a year) dynoed all the speed gems and like 40 other motors. The Orbital 2 had much higher RPM, efficiency, and many more features...if you want i can copy downt the comparison to here.
- Isky

[Distro]

I'd almost get her a buggy as they are easier to drive and it will make her feel better when she runs your car down hehe.. Also the novak rooster wouldn't be a bad choice or a dully duel (if she doesn't use the speed controlls you will have one for your cars hehe). Also make sure you have plenty of battery packs.

[Project TL01]

I'm getting married in August and I'm hoping that my future wife will get into the hobby like I have. I'm gonna woo her into by making my Project TL01 look like her favorite car... her own '98 Mustang!! Then hopefully she'll like it so much she'll let me get a T/E-Maxx!!!

[RC Crazy]

That truck is pretty fast so dont be serprised if she starts laping you! That truck is a great choice, just remember not to clamp the slipper cluch so it doesnt slip because somthing will go poof on the drivetrain if you hit somthing hard. It happend to me but it is very durable. As for bearings, it takes Six 10x15x4mm, six 5x11x4mm and four 4x8x3mm bearings.