new to rc

[rcguy49]

hi there Im just getting into gas rc car racing and I just need a little help. I plan to get the team associated rc10gt but I dont know what engine to get.I need something that is fast,good for racing,and not to difficult for a beginer to handle. What should I get :confused: :p

[Jwelch]

Well, first of all, I NEVER recommend a nitro to a newbie, because the learning curve is HUGE. I'd buy an electric stadium truck, because they be just as fast as nitro if you set them up properly. If you want a car similar to the RC10GT (which i own and absolutely ador), I'd take a look at the Factory Team T3. Terrific ride. I wont avoid the RC10GT question, however, so here it goes. If you absolutely have to have a gas stadium truck, the GT is the answer, bar none. If you have a big wallet, buy the Factory Team GT, and fit it with and O.S.CV-X. But, building your first nitro car with no previous building exeperience, can be awful. I know kids who have bought top-of-the-line nitro trucks and had fits over the fact that they couldnt get the thing to run right. Most of the trucks are sitting in their basement while they play with their electrics.

[OZZUSA]

i've got an RC10GT RTR and it's great it was my first, the engine is e-z to tune

it's an all around good truck and it was pretty e-z to learn on, it's just breaking in the engine was a pain cause i wanted to zoom up and down the street's, but now once break in is done it's a blast and if you wanna get into nitro stadium truck's go with the RC10GT RTR, and if you ant a good basher (just backyard funn and some racing insted of mostly racing), go with the T-Maxx it's a 2 speed nitro 4WD monster with 4" of ground clearince, wich makes for some kick *** R/Cin, did i mention it's also RTR? it's going to be my next purchase i know that

[rcguy49]

thanks you guys I guess I,ll probably go with the rtr version but I just have some questions. After the break in is it hard to start how many pulls does it usally take to fire it up,and is it a good truck to learn on and do some occasional racing with.

[Jwelch]

My brother has the RTR, and it kicks major butt. BTW, the AE .15 engine can be a huge pain to tune with the restrictor in, so be careful. Also, you cant race it if your track uses ROAR guidelines. The .15 displacement is too much. The engine will take a bunch of pulls to fire the engine up for the first time, b/c the pisto sleeve is a little stiff. REMEBER, follow the engine break in rules to the letter. It will be your Bible for the first 6 or so tanks of fuel. In addition to the break in process, i always let the engine idle through 2 tanksbefore i ever run it.

[rcguy49]

thanks for your help but I'm still not sure if it is a good truck for a newbie.your info and help will be considered towards my purchase and it could really help me get into the hobby

[ 06-03-2001: Message edited by: rcguy49 ]

[jeepinator]

Wow, the electric vs. nitro debate has got to be one of the biggest in the hobby.
As a person who has owned several of each, and has been in the hobby for quite a while, I recommend you start with electric and then decide from there.
There is so much to learn and so much practicing to be done. Adding the nitro equation simply may be overwhelming to all but the most stubborn, or quick learning folks. If you have great local support (friends, or just helpful people) in abundant supply then go for it, but if you are learning on your own I recommend against nitro.
Just to rehash the generaly agreed upon advantages/disadvantages to electric vs. nitro debate:
1) Run times are longer and play time can be increased with nitro, BUT ...
2) Nitro engines are by no means ultra reliable or easy to keep running, SO ...
3) If you have good help and CAN keep your engines running and in good shape you may have a blast, BUT ...
4) If you can't, you will be in misery for quite some time until you get it all figured out. And you will spend virtually no time actually driving.
5) Electric can be more expensive. With motors in the 30-60 dollar range and battery packs in the 30-90 dollar range, this can add up real fast. Don't forget that $100+ charger, $100+ speed controller ... on and on, BUT ...
6) Those elctric components will pretty much last forever if treated properly (well, not the packs or motor, but the rest will).
7) Nitro fuel is cheap considering the amount of run time you get on it.
8) Beginners tend to go through motors/engines pretty fast, so that is probably equal, cost wise. Maybe a slight bit better on the electric side.

Did I miss anything ?
I am trying to be nuetral here. Nitro seems to have a higher "fun factor" when they are running, but I just shake my head when I see newbie nitro people spending insane hours pulling on that dang starter cord and not actually playing.

[JP]

I didn't read all of the posts, so if it seems weird, sorry.

BUT, did you notice how he said that hes new to gas racing. But none of you know his background. So ask him this: How long have you been into real R/C electric cars?

If you ARE new, I dont recommend a nitro for the first car. It IS a major pain in the buttox for the first time. BUT...if his heart is set on getting nitro, theres nothing we can do except guide him through it.

So I recommend, if you really go nitro, have someone there that knows it well. Go to your track after you get it, and all the supplies and ask someone there to help you learn how to break-in the engine, run it, tune it, and all the little tricks. I can almost 100% guarentee nitro WILL be fustrating, whether your new or now, there always seems to be a problem. So get someone there that know what their talking about. Even ask them a quiz question like: "To lean it, do you turn it clockwise, or counter-clockwise?" If they answer counter clockwise, find someone else, because to LEAN it, you turn it CLOCKWISE (did you get that one chat guys like CBlake :D ). It will help your fustration if someone is there to help guide you.

[rcguy49]

I havent really been into racing that much. But I have done it acouple times maybe 5 or 6 but I usually just go out to my friends house and we race each other on his small track.I'm not really sure what to do though I have tried a gas truck once and it didnt seem that bad,So now i'm saving up for the rtr rc10gt or the factory team.all I really want is something to have fun with at the track and with my friends

[new2nitro]

i had always wanted a gas truck, had seem them when i was little but had only owned cheap electric toys (like the stuntmaster 360, remember that????, i still run it inside when it rains :D) now since i have grown up (15) and could handle more money maturely i looked at magazines for about a month asked on this forum and another about which truck to get, got the pros and cons of each and decided to purchase the hpi nitro mt 4x4, i love this truck and am just getting the feel of the engine and handling characteristics of this awesome truck,
granted i have had some frustrations (keep your glowstarter charged)but i havent broke any thing yet(1/2 gallons), so if you are mechanically inclined, have turned a screwdriver, nailed a nail, ride 4wheelers or dirtbikes, get a nitro, its awesome to have your own little engine light up with fire and to be able to show off to little kids while they are drooling :D, the little kids will still watch you drive if you get electric however....they wont drool :D ;)