Without exception, everyone wants a fast, maneuverable, cross-country, perfectly controlled and obedient radio-controlled car. To drive in the snow, mud, puddles and sand, jump from the hills, not break, sound realistically, be inexpensive and not require recharging… Alas, to combine all the wishes in one model is almost impossible. Let’s try to understand the main features of radio-controlled cars which are worth paying attention to.

Evaluating forms and types

As you know, we judge a book by its cover. So the choice of a RC rock crawler should start with the visual impressions. If you have a low-mounted copy of a racing car in front of you, you will not be able to ride such a car along a country road and rough terrain. A massive SUV with large wheels will look ridiculous in an apartment. External differences are not limited to form. Of great importance is the size, or rather the scale, in which the radio-controlled model is made in relation to the full-size analogue.

Inexpensive and easy-to-drive small cars (1:24, 1:18, 1:16) are suitable for children, collectors and beginners. SUVs and road racers on a scale of 1: 8, 1:10 can be full participants in sports competitions. With them you can participate in races, various individual or team tournaments.

Among 1:5 cars, models with ICE prevail, which are not inferior in terms of complexity of service to full-size cars. Owners of such cars should be prepared for the need to often “delve” into the engine and perform laborious inspection.

Varieties of radio-controlled cars by body type

All cars on the radio control are divided into on-road (racing, highway) and off-road. The type of the car defines its basic skills and capabilities depend.

Buggy is a great racer with a recognizable sports design. These nimble cars often perform in competitions on prepared dirt tracks and are perfectly adapted for driving in extreme environmental conditions. The special lightweight chassis design and reliable shock absorbers allow them to deftly overcome barriers, easily maneuver and enter steep turns. And their spectacular pit or springboard dives will leave no one indifferent.

Truggies have a very similar construction to buggies. This is a kind of hybrid between buggy and monsters. It can strike with speed, easily overcome obstacles, but nevertheless one should not expect faultless passability from it.

Radio-controlled monsters – here they are, the real lords of dirt roads, forest potholes, sand embankments, small streams and low snowdrifts. The most spectacular of all radio-controlled models. The whole essence of these formidable cars with large wheels and high suspension is reflected in their name. The creators of these radio-controlled SUVs were inspired by American truck shows, so driving a monster will not be devoid of entertainment, excitement and showiness. Monsters do not need a track, they make their own way.

Built on elastic suspension, short corsa also claim the title of conquerors of impassable routes and dirt tracks. They can easily cope with extreme obstacles in the form of dirt, sand, pits, potholes, bumps or stones, and finish the race with minimal damage.

Crawlers are cars with a very powerful engine and a special “moving” suspension design. Like spiders, they can climb winding climbs, big and small rocks. But no matter how hard you try, it is difficult to find a crawler able to drive at a speed of more than 15 km / h.

To feel completely at the mercy of speed, you will need a highway car – a small copy of a racing car with low ground clearance and special tires. For acceleration over 100 km / h, such cars will last a few seconds, which is beyond the means of many full-size cars.

Drift models are race cars for special competitions and demonstrations, where the “driver” needs not to lose control while sliding in a drift and maneuvering at high speeds.

No matter what kind of a car is in your hands, you will get an excellent generator of good mood and bright entertainment.

The content

Choosing which radio-controlled cars is better – with an electric motor or ICE – is the same as arguing who is cooler – Batman or Superman. It is too individual and depends on the personal preferences of the pilot. Each category of cars has its own fans and opponents.

At the dawn of modeling, ICE cars more often attracted the attention and preference of professionals. The reason for this was the imperfection and low capacity of the batteries, which were not able to provide the necessary engine traction. Therefore, models with electric motors were perceived as toys. The rapid development of technology today allows us to choose from a huge number of powerful electric motors and miniature batteries with a large capacity. Now it’s up to you to decide which radio-controlled car to buy:

Pros of models with ICE:

• The relatively low cost of the engines themselves (if you do not take into account professional sports models).
• Realistic motor sound.
• Long riding time (especially for models with a large fuel tank).
• Moderate fuel consumption.

Cons of models with ICE:

• The engine tuning process is quite complicated and requires certain skills. An error in starting the engine can lead to a chain of malfunctions or problems in operation.
• Over time, the model will have to be washed away from the remains of unburned gas, road dirt and dust, which stick not only to the body, but also to the car chassis.
• Models with ICE are quite bulky. The minimum scale in which cars of this type are produced is 1:18 (but the choice here is not as great as on a scale of 1:10 or 1:8).

Pros of models with an electric motor:

• Small size and lack of exhaust do not interfere with riding indoors.
• To start, you do not need to configure the engine (just charge and install the battery).
• Exhaust fumes do not spoil the appearance of the car.
• Minimum operating costs (no need to buy fuel).

Cons of models with an electric motor:

• Short duration of races, non-linear traction (power drop during battery discharge).
• Speed ​​controllers and lithium-polymer batteries significantly increase the cost of a car.
• You must have a high capacity battery or several spare batteries. Compliance with the algorithm and safety procedures for charge / discharge of LiPo or NiMh elements.
• Dependence on the temperature of the environment.

The comparison is rather conditional and is not 100% true. In each class, there are exceptions when certain pros of the model can be neglected, and the cons cannot overshadow the pleasure of racing.

Knowing how to choose a radio-controlled car, you can easily get used to the assortment of stores and buy exactly the model that will give you aesthetic pleasure and satisfy all your wishes. Perhaps this will be a powerful car that overcomes any off-road, not noticing obstacles in its path. Or a tenacious all-terrain vehicle that is not afraid of bumps and collisions. Or maybe you want to feel like a participant in a rally, just like Formula 1 or Paris-Dakar. The choice is yours! And you can always rely on the support of the employees of the specialized stores. They will not only help with advice, demonstrate the model in action, but will also select the accessories you need: batteries, chargers, internal combustion engines and electric motors.