Decent RC but for kids?
Discussion
Little boy.. soon to be 4 has one of these gifted to him
It's 1/8 scale so pretty big, sadly it doesn't work as an RC and apparently when it did the battery lasted about 5 minutes.
Now it seems really well built, pushing it around etc it bounces off of everything and hadn't cracked or damaged.
So is there a decentish RC that is as tough, but will actually work for more than 5 minutes?
Surely a lunch box or anything like that are too delicate?!
It's 1/8 scale so pretty big, sadly it doesn't work as an RC and apparently when it did the battery lasted about 5 minutes.
Now it seems really well built, pushing it around etc it bounces off of everything and hadn't cracked or damaged.
So is there a decentish RC that is as tough, but will actually work for more than 5 minutes?
Surely a lunch box or anything like that are too delicate?!
Tamiya did do a Quick Drive (QD) series which were simplified versions of some of their kit built designs.
This is what Wikipedia says about the Quick Drive range:
The QD (Quick Drive) Series are 1:14 scale pre-built and simplified versions of Tamiya's 1/10 scale RC cars and trucks. This series was introduced in 1988 with the Thunder Shot QD aimed at bringing the joys of RC racing to children. The models were pre-assembled and supplied ready-to-run with radio gear, batteries and charger all included and featuring a two-speed gearbox. The range included versions of the Midnight Pumpkin, Manta Ray and Monster Beetle.
Something like this Playtech Logic Buggy would be a good start.
My boys had a Tyco 'Wild Thing' and it took a huge amount of abuse in its stride and had a low range (off road) and high range (tarmac) gearbox. It wasn't proportional control, but that really didn't seem to matter.
Nikko and Taiyo have also done a huge ranges of ready to use R/C cars.
The thing that breaks R/C cars is hitting kerbs at full speed. If you take them to a tennis court to run it, it should survive a long time.
If you don't buy something too expensive as a first R/C car, you won't be too stressed if they abuse it or show no interest in it.
This is what Wikipedia says about the Quick Drive range:
The QD (Quick Drive) Series are 1:14 scale pre-built and simplified versions of Tamiya's 1/10 scale RC cars and trucks. This series was introduced in 1988 with the Thunder Shot QD aimed at bringing the joys of RC racing to children. The models were pre-assembled and supplied ready-to-run with radio gear, batteries and charger all included and featuring a two-speed gearbox. The range included versions of the Midnight Pumpkin, Manta Ray and Monster Beetle.
Something like this Playtech Logic Buggy would be a good start.
My boys had a Tyco 'Wild Thing' and it took a huge amount of abuse in its stride and had a low range (off road) and high range (tarmac) gearbox. It wasn't proportional control, but that really didn't seem to matter.
Nikko and Taiyo have also done a huge ranges of ready to use R/C cars.
The thing that breaks R/C cars is hitting kerbs at full speed. If you take them to a tennis court to run it, it should survive a long time.
If you don't buy something too expensive as a first R/C car, you won't be too stressed if they abuse it or show no interest in it.
Dan_1981, if you've been given it, a a few things to check are:
- Is the transmitter the right one for the car. If it is 27, 40 or 49mhz it should say so on both the car and transmitter. It may even give the exact frequency, e.g. 27.040MHz If they aren't matched, it won't work.
- Could the battery in the car have a duff cell? If its only running for a very short time it may be this or the whole pack could be down on capacity. A new pack is the answer, although if you have NiCads or NiMH cells around you could make up a pack to test its duration on the bench.
- Have any wires broken off in the car or transmitter. Look for any obvious wires only attached at one end. You should be able to get inside them with little more than a crosshead screwdriver.
- If you have a multimeter, go around the components checking for continuity between the board and the components. If electronics aren't your thing, do you know anyone who might do a quick fault find for you?
t! If it has a high and low range switch on the bottom, perhaps it is in an in-between position, so effectively in neutral. If not, then its probably got some teeth stripped on the gears in the drivetrain, from being pushed around. In this case don't waste a lot of time on it, just look for either a new, or working secondhand, buggy. There should be plenty of good ones on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Cash Converters etc.
My daughter had an FTX Comet as her first "proper" rc car. Hobby grade so you can upgrade it and/or get any parts you need for it should you break it and was about £65 i think. Its an RTR and literally everything needed to run it is in the box apart from 2 AA batteries.
Great little car that di her well until she eventually moved up to a Traxxas Slash.
Well worth a look and also comes in 4 different body styles.
https://wheelspinmodels.co.uk/s/?q=ftx+comet
Great little car that di her well until she eventually moved up to a Traxxas Slash.
Well worth a look and also comes in 4 different body styles.
https://wheelspinmodels.co.uk/s/?q=ftx+comet
Why not get something like a Tamiya Grasshopper or truck that you can build for him, but fit it with a slower motor? You can get high torque rock crawler spec motors and go a little over walking pace which would be fine for a small child learning.
That way once he gets bored of it you can upgrade it for yourself and turn it back into a rocket
. Or if he doesn't get bored of it once he starts getting older you can upgrade it for him (and get yourself one to go with it)
That way once he gets bored of it you can upgrade it for yourself and turn it back into a rocket
. Or if he doesn't get bored of it once he starts getting older you can upgrade it for him (and get yourself one to go with it)Civpilot said:
Why not get something like a Tamiya Grasshopper or truck that you can build for him, but fit it with a slower motor? You can get high torque rock crawler spec motors and go a little over walking pace which would be fine for a small child learning.
That way once he gets bored of it you can upgrade it for yourself and turn it back into a rocket . Or if he doesn't get bored of it once he starts getting older you can upgrade it for him (and get yourself one to go with it)
Well.... the plan might be that if he's getting RC for xmas then Dad can get RC for xmas.... I fancied a Hotshot...That way once he gets bored of it you can upgrade it for yourself and turn it back into a rocket
. Or if he doesn't get bored of it once he starts getting older you can upgrade it for him (and get yourself one to go with it)Dan_1981 said:
Well.... the plan might be that if he's getting RC for xmas then Dad can get RC for xmas.... I fancied a Hotshot...
It's a good plan in my opinion. And the Hotshot is a good choice. I'm currently considering going the other way and getting hold of the F-350 High-lift with the MFC-02 unit. More slow and show
Hmm.. the FTX stuff does seem to get pretty decent review - or is it overkill for a 4 year old?!
https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/collections/ftx-all-prod...
https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/collections/ftx-all-prod...
https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/collections/ftx-all-prod...
https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/collections/ftx-all-prod...
Well to update the thread from our perspective we opted for the FTX Tracer.
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/index.php?product_id=...
Not played with it yet - will update once the big fat man delivers on the 25th!
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/index.php?product_id=...
Not played with it yet - will update once the big fat man delivers on the 25th!
Dan_1981 said:
Well to update the thread from our perspective we opted for the FTX Tracer.
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/index.php?product_id=...
Not played with it yet - will update once the big fat man delivers on the 25th!
I've just done the same having deliberated over what to buy for a while now, whilst heeding the advice on here and trying to figure out the 'best' option for a small human and for me barging in on the proceedings.https://www.modelsport.co.uk/index.php?product_id=...
Not played with it yet - will update once the big fat man delivers on the 25th!
Did debate the "shop local" advice from the local council but shopping local seemed like a complicated, drawn out process courtesy of my local model shop so ordered via eBay instead and it arrived four days later.
Just away to take it out, put the decals on and check it works ahead of Christmas... I suspect his patience won't extend to faffing on the day, charging batteries and God forbid, it not working. But thus far, it looks pretty good for £50... how long it lasts, that remains to be seen!
Ftx tracer is lots of fun.
It's been driven j to lots of things so far and seems pretty resilient.
Speed is adjustable, in the lowest setting in a big space our 4 year old has a chance.
On the highest speed setting it's hilarious. In the cold and ice yesterday it was just donutting.
Highly recommended for £50ish
Agreed!
I bought my 3.5yr old one for Christmas but on anything bar the lowest speed setting and in a big, object free area... it's just too much for him. So I've been playing with it instead and to be honest, for £50 I was expecting it to be a bit crap really.
Far from it... it's a really good piece of kit and how it's still running is beyond me. It's been used at the local concrete skate park and had some big hits and it's fine... bit bruised but walking wounded. It's been in the snow and it's been on ice which was hilarious.
Granted the charger is a bit cheap as is the controller and mine (his) needs a good jab on the trigger to get reverse but really, for the cost... it's trivial. Fantastic little truck for messing around and not being too precious about. I'd definitely recommend one for kids and bigger kids alike.
I bought my 3.5yr old one for Christmas but on anything bar the lowest speed setting and in a big, object free area... it's just too much for him. So I've been playing with it instead and to be honest, for £50 I was expecting it to be a bit crap really.
Far from it... it's a really good piece of kit and how it's still running is beyond me. It's been used at the local concrete skate park and had some big hits and it's fine... bit bruised but walking wounded. It's been in the snow and it's been on ice which was hilarious.
Granted the charger is a bit cheap as is the controller and mine (his) needs a good jab on the trigger to get reverse but really, for the cost... it's trivial. Fantastic little truck for messing around and not being too precious about. I'd definitely recommend one for kids and bigger kids alike.
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