How to Convert Your RC Car Into Drift Spec

Remote Control Drifting is taking off in a big way, in this article I show you step by step how to convert that old 1/10 touring car into a drifters dream machine. It's very simple and generally only takes a couple of hours, using this practical guide I'll have you sideways before you know it.

What exactly is drifting?

In a nut shell drifting is the art of changing the angle of attack of your car, while still maintaining full control, so in a typical drift driver X approaches the corner and turns in hard too early, this will bring the rear of the car around, Driver X will then turn back into the slide and keep the car going around the corner while maintaining as much angle and speed as possible, then he will over correct and throw the car into another slide right after the first one, with as little straight lining as possible.

Can a RC car Drift?

Yes, if you've ever been involved with RC racing, you know the level of setup that even the basic RC Cards come with, and drifting is no exception. While a stock standard RC car can drift out of the box, there are some basic setup and chassis modification that will help you get more angle, speed and chicks.

Where do I start?

The first thing you need is a RC car, I'll use two examples, both of which I've had personal experience with, the Tamiya TT01 and the Tamiya TA05. The first step to drifting is to break that traction, due to the power to weight ratio of RC Cars we need a little help, Drift Tires are all you need to get sideways, but there is a little more you can do if you want to compete. If you can't find RC Drift tires you can use insulation tape, be sure to wrap it in the same direction that the wheel will be turning, a good trick is to lay it down and roll you RC Car over it, this is the right way, Taped tires tend to work best on surfaces that already have a little to no traction, i.e. an underground parking lot, but they don't last long. Drift tires all have different tractions, more traction = bigger drifts, but this is useless if you need to compete on a tight track as the amount of torque used to break traction will also generate a lot of speed, in the end it's down to personal preference.

What next?

Okay so you taped your tires and played around a bit, not we need to get the car to be more predictable, all the standard racing setting apply, shocks, ride height and wheel angles are up to you, but if there is a must have it's the rear differential, you need to lock it, this is also know as a spool diff, basically it means that both wheels must turn at the same time. The result is a car that will break and regain traction on command, the drifts will also be much easier to control, more throttle = more angle, less throttle = less angle.

TT01

The Tamiya TT01 uses a planetary gear setup for the rear diff, which is easy to convert (and convert back should you change your mind later) the two most command ways to lock this diff are 1. Open the Diff and fill it with glue from a glue gun, or 2. Take a small piece of fuel tubing ,cut it open along it's length, and roll this around one of the planetary gears. Once done close the diff and check if it give the desired result before you put it back. The other option is to buy a hop-up spool diff.

TA05

The TA05 uses a ball diff at the back and the front, this is not as easy to modify, but it can be done. The way I modified mine was to use pop rivets. I opened the diff and removed the ball bearings and metal plates that the balls run along. I then drilled three small holes in the side, getting both halves of the diff. I then pop riveted them together and filed down the rivets. This worked, but be careful. 1. It's not reversible and if you make a mistake the diff will be destroyed. 2. It doesn't last long, eventually the forces that go through the diff will destroy this because it's been weakened by holes. A Spool diff is available for the TA05 and this is the preferred options.

What about the front diff?

Now that we have a solid platform we can experiment with slightly different setups to find the one that suites us best, this varies from car to car, but the principle is the same. I personally love using a front one-way diff, or a center one-way diff for more control. The downside is that using brakes at any time is the same as using you e-brake (hand-brake) in a real car, the tail will slide around in a 180, while this can be useful to initiate a drift and transition to a second drift from the first it's very easy to spin out, so most people prefer not to use the one-ways. Once again this is down to personal preference.

Why drifting is much better than racing.

Well I love both, but from the drifting side it takes a lot more skill and a lot less car, what I mean is that while racing takes skill, you can compensate with an awesome car, there is no way a TT01 will consistently win in a race against a carbon fibre racing machine. But with drifting you can, a TT01 can out perform any car out there, yes it will be difficult, but so much of drifting is down to driver skill that anything can happen. This being the case it's also possible to get into drifting with very little financial backing (unlike racing)

I hope this article has given you some idea's about drifting, please feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions or need any advice, advice is always free, like the rest of my site.

Gregory Alexander was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He spent most of his younger days traveling the world, but eventually settled back home. He first got interested in Remote Control several years ago, since then it has grown into an obsession, now a successful RC Racer and Drifter he shares his knowledge with the world. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: Free RC Car Articles

Petrol RC Car Kits

Do I Buy an Electric Or Nitro RC Car Kits?

Electric RC Cars are usually more popular with beginners as they come ready to be charged up with their ni-cad battery and off the go. Overtime only minor repairs is usually the case with most electric RC Cars running up to 20 mins depending how long they are charged but some can run longer.

Nitro RC Cars are more likely need assembling and also to be serviced and repaired down the line, which is actually very enjoyable so an exciting part of this hobby. The engine will need a run in after being setup with mixtures altered to give optimum performance and temperature kept to a minimum. Nitro fuel is usually purchased from model shops with a tank full giving a minimum of 5 minutes run time but takes seconds to refill unlike an electric car which can take much longer to charge. After several tanks of nitro, cooling down for a few minutes maybe required with regular maintenance to keep these Petrol RC Cars in prime condition.

How Fast Do These Cars Go?

The best acceleration usually comes from an electric rc car even the ones built with rc car kits, and their top speed from 15 to 40mph, the 40 mph being competition cars built, configured and optimized by dedicated petrol RC cars long term hobbyists. Nitro RC Cars have a slower acceleration due to a centrifugal clutch but their top speed beats most electric cars with their own top speeds anything from 20-80mph.

On Road or Off Road Cars?

You may see people out and about playing with their Remote Control Petrol Cars. These are classed as on road or off road cars. On Road cars are designed for flat surfaces with low chassis and body shells with minimal suspension. As with the F1 racing cars, this means very good speed, handling and control. There are many types of tyres available for the different terrains. Off road RC Cars are designed more for grassy surfaces, dirt tracks, bumps and gravel. Not suited to on road surfaces because of their suspension, movement and tyres. A Rally car which you can find more and more now are a compromise between both so you do not need to look for a specific surface orientated car.

Overall if you have not seen what speed Nitro Cars and Petrol RC Cars can produce speed and powerwise then you will be pleasantly surprised. As well as these RC Car Kits you can also get many other models such as Remote Control Tanks, Remote control helicopters and planes as well as boats.

You can find more information on RC Car Kits at http://www.petrolrccars.co.uk/

Don't Blink: The Different Types of RC Race Cars

RC cars are made to have fun. However, there are some people who take their "fun" very seriously. These are the people who build serious RC race cars and actually pit their skills against each other. This is actually not a new trend. People have started racing model cars even in the early 1940's. However, the technology during that time was insufficient to properly control the models. These cars were control using a tether and thus, could only run around in circles. True RC race cars were introduced in the late 1960's. These RC race cars could be controlled from a separate unit and be raced around a track.

There are different classifications of RC race cars according to fuel use and terrain. This is because of the fact that different types of RC race cars may be called superior in different conditions. Here are some classifications:

According to power source:
1) Electric- Electric RC race cars are generally lighter than gas-powered models. They also have the advantage of having more torque. Another advantage to electric RC race cars is the fact that these models are generally more responsive to the controls. This means that a person using an electric RC car will be able to react faster to different conditions on the track. There is also the fact that electric RC cars are generally cleaner in terms of fuel and in terms of the accumulated dirt during races. This means that electric RC race cars are easier to maintain than gas-powered models.

One disadvantage to electric RC race cars is the fact that it can take a long time for people to recharge the batteries. There is also the issue of speed: although electric RC race cars accelerate faster, they generally reach lower top speeds than gas-powered models.

2) Nitro- Nitro RC race cars are powered with a miniature engine that uses a mixture of Nitromethane and lubricant as fuel. Nitro RC race cars are known to reach record-breaking top speeds -much faster than what electric models are capable of. They can also run for longer times and are easier to refuel, which means that they can be enjoyed longer.

The disadvantages to this type of RC car are rooted in the fact that combustion is the process that makes it work. Combustion produces smoke and a lot of noise, which means it can't be used indoors. It also produces a lot of dirt, which means that Nitro RC race cars generally require more effort to clean. A nitro RC race car also requires regular tuning and maintenance in order to remain in top form.

According to terrain:

1) On-road- Some types of RC race cars are used to compete in paved race tracks. These RC race cars are specially designed to achieve tops speeds and maintain them during races. The wheels of these RC race cars are often designed for maximum speed and minimum friction.
2) Off-road- These RC race cars are made to accelerate and maintain control even when the race track is not paved. These RC race cars are specially designed to grip the ground and maintain top speed. The key to off-road racing is high bottom end torque. This allows off-road RC race cars to dominate the competition when encountering tricky obstacles such as mounds.

RC Car Kit - Building Your Own

RC cars are the cars of all ages; it doesn't matter if you are eighty or sixteen, there is simply the kind of radio-controlled car that you would enjoy. If you know how to take fun with these vehicles, you certainly will cherish the endless excitement brought about by them.

If you are getting your first radio-controlled car, you might consider the three most important things:

Ready-to-run (RTR) car or a kit
The RTR cars are most ideal for the beginners and those who do not have the skills for assembling the car. These cars will let you automatically enjoy their features and start them running through electricity-powered batteries. RTR cars tend to be a little inexpensive than building the car.

On the other hand, the kit will let you do the assembly works. For the enthusiasts, this has more advantages, as it will allow you to maintain it easily. If there are alterations and repair jobs needed, you would find these yet another easy task as you know how the chassis, engine, and other parts were put together.

On-road or off-road
On-road cars are designed for such speed needed in a smooth, paved surface. Also, if you intend to get into the race competitions, these are clearly your option.

Off-road vehicles are those trucks and buggies that have the ability to negotiate rough terrains, jumps, and obstacle courses. Naturally, these are not intended for racing events.

Electric or nitro-powered car
Simpler and slower vehicles are the choices for the beginners. As mentioned, rechargeable batteries are used to power the cars. Though they are clean and quiet, one disadvantage is they do not exude realism for radio-controlled car racing.

Nitro- or gas-powered cars are those intended for racing and higher-level of performance and power. In the recent years, the quality of these cars has much improved in terms of performance, safety, reliability, and aesthetics.

Having all these factors answered, you are now ready for your visit to the store. If you prefer building your own car, you will have the kit.

After getting the kit, you will need your red tool box and make sure every necessary tool is included. Specifically, the things you would need are: screwdrivers, flat blade screwdrivers, pliers, slip-joint, hobby knife (no. 11 blades), flush cutter, and needle-nose varieties. Adding soap could be used as a dry lubricant for the tight parts.

RC car kits cost a few hundred dollars but if you want higher performance and power you may add another bit of expenses. You can elect to acquire few pieces of RC car accessories or necessary parts for the upgrade. You can also finish the car with your own design you have in mind. Accessories and add-on parts are offered through local stores or online stores and you can check out their availability through them

To avoid getting mistakes along the process, study well the owner's manual. Familiarizing with every step and process will make it easy for you to finish the job. Completion of the process will not finish in one sitting, so you better prepare yourself for this task. It would be wise to work in a clear, well-lit, and with an uncluttered area to avoid mistakes.

Get relevant information on how to start with your RC car kit

There are books, e-books, and other materials containing information and ideas about building cars from a kit that you can use for additional help. Accordingly, obtaining wisdom from experienced RC car racers would be very beneficial for you. Once you get all those things and information needed, you can build the fastest RC car in no time at all.

How to Choose RC Car Parts

First of all, you should be informed that there are no available toy-grade RC car parts available today. The reason for this is the fact that toy-grade RC cars are pre-assembled and made to be enjoyed while they last. Although they are excellent for teaching the basics of vehicle control, they are not made to be tinkered with. Hobby-grade RC cars, however, may be tinkered with a lot. A lot of RC car parts are available in order to enable people to fully customize their driving experience.

Many people are confused as to the standards of choosing RC car parts. This is because of the fact that manufacturers today always claim that they have the best parts or the cheapest parts around. So how should a person choose RC car parts to use?

1) Compatibility- Some RC car brands or models can only be used with specific RC car parts. This may be because the company who made the RC cars is trying to corner their market, or maybe companies are just ensuring the high performance of their cars. Before you buy any brand of RC car parts, you should see if those parts are compatible with your RC kit. If you are just beginning in the hobby, you should strictly follow this rule in order to avoid damaging your car.

Advanced hobbyists sometimes disobey this rule and try to custom fit different RC car parts to make improvements on their vehicles. However, you should be careful when doing this and you should always make sure that you have the skills necessary to pull this off.

2) Price- Of course, you should realize by now that this hobby will cost you some cash. This means that you should definitely budget your money when you are selecting RC car parts to buy. One tip you can follow is to stick to a certain price range. You can then select the best RC car part that comes within the price range that you have in mind.

If you really want to buy something top-of-the-line, you should try and save your cash. Do not be impulsive when buying RC car parts. Remember that something better will always come along and that costs go down all the time.

However, if you really love RC car racing, then maybe you can sacrifice a bit in order to buy the RC car part you want.

3) Quality- As said before, many advanced users try to mix and match different RC car parts in order to improve the performance of their vehicles. This is because of the fact that different manufacturers have different specializations. Some companies may excel in making engines while others may have high quality chassis… etc. If you can, try to get RC car parts that will improve the performance of your car.

In this case, try not to be too restricted by your budget. Remember that if you buy cheap but low quality RC car parts, you might as well be throwing your money away. By buying high quality RC car parts, you will be able to make sure that you enjoy your investment for a long time.

These are just some of the tips you should follow when buying RC car parts. Remember that the final decision will always be yours. It is your money and your enjoyment on the line, so carefully choose the RC car part to buy.

The Advantages of RC Car Forums

The popularity of the World Wide Web spawned areas where individuals can list or join in discussions of whatever topics they wish. These are public message centers. Forums are vast source of information of any topic to inform, discuss, and inquire or anything in particular. In this case, we will take a look on typical remote controlled car forums.

You can see a lot of discussions about modding your favorite models to your content as there are endless sites that will cater to your needs. There will likely be topics which you can actively join or participate in any given time, suggest anything or simply post your own topics and share them all over the world.

The best thing on forums is convenience and a very nice support of the whole community of RC car lovers. You can even trade items to your hearts content. Considering the enormous people that are viewing your views and needs, the response can be as quick as minutes or just a few days, you can even get the information instantaneously as there will be a messaging system on the forum system so you can post your preferred Instant messaging system I.D. let help come directly to your desktop.

Radio controlled cars are categorized as toy or hobby grade. Toy grades are electricity powered while the hobby grade uses either fuel or electricity. Whatever your grades are, they are also supported in the forum to which u post your questions for the masses to find the best suitable answer. Mostly many people will likely have a clash of ideas resulting in debates and discussions ranging from shorts to numerous pages of information.

Let me review some of the most used topic headers or discussions in a typical forum for remote controlled cars. There will likely be a polling station which you can vote for anything that is related or usually not related to RC cars. Another one is more likely about the Electric types, On and Off-road types as well as Nitro boosted vehicles section. There will be also a part where you can post paint and detailing of your vehicle and the sorts. The threads will have the support for micro, mini cars, monster trucks.

What better reason to go to the forums is to see the ongoing projects of people that will inspire and motivate you in making your very own kits and parts upgrade. From there you can also see the best records, stats to date and the stories that come along with them.

Likely, there will be a tuning section of your desired models. Extensive help can be no problem as they are the culmination of mostly the best in the essence of the topic itself. There will be posts that will monitor the stats of every vehicle for comparison and reference purposes.

Whatever your RC car forum needs, there will likely be a nice junction of help and information as well as friends on the forums that you chose. The virtual niche can always have vast quality information, feel free to try one forum yourself, it wont hurt to see your opinions posted all over the world and share some ideas which can help the overall community of enthusiasts. There is always a nice feeling of belonging when people share ideas and get the best out of your set of wheels. Enjoy!

Stuffs to Think About: Two Types of RC Cars

Do you feel the need for speed? Do you find underground racing a bit too dangerous for your taste? Do you think that playing the latest racing game on your PC is just too boring for you? If this is the case, then you need to get into RC car racing. RC car racing is one of the fastest growing hobbies today. This is because it appeals to the kid within people while challenging them to hone their skills. If you think that RC car is just about getting the most expensive model out there, you are on the wrong track. Here are the basics of RC cars:

THE TWO CLASSIFICATIONS

There are two general classifications of RC cars according to the power source:

1) Electric- This RC car type is the most common type in the market today. This might be because of the fact that most toy companies make this type of RC car for children or beginner RC car enthusiasts. Some advantages of the electric RC car are:

• Noiseless- This means that an electric-powered RC car can be used without causing a lot of disturbance (excluding, of course, the number of people who will unwittingly trip over your machine).This also mean that you can use it stealthily. Countless movies have featured the use of electric RC cars in recording conversations or taking hidden videos. Make your spy dreams come true!
• Smokeless- Since this type of RC car makes use of electricity to power it, there is no smoke output when the engine is running. This is because no combustion happens within the engine of the RC car.
  

Disadvantages:

1. Limited running time- An electric RC car runs on batteries. Because of this, the power it can use to run is limited to the capacity of the battery. A user who goes for this type of RC car has to cope with the delay of charging batteries or replacing them every time that they run out of power.
2. Limited power- The power of electric RC cars is limited not only in terms of time, but also in terms of intensity. Put plainly, electric-powered RC cars just don't run as fast as gas powered models. If you are looking for speed, this is not the RC car for you.
   

2) Gas powered- There's one thing that needs to be said about gas powered RC cars: you cannot put gasoline in it. Gas powered RC cars make use of a special mixture of fuel in order to run.

Advantages:

• Speed- Many people are opting for gas powered RC cars mainly because of the fact that they are much faster than electric RC cars.
• Longevity- Gas powered RC cars can run for long times before they need to be refueled. This means that you get to use your RC car for a longer time. Thus, you get to have more fun.
  

Disadvantages:

• Smoke- Since gas powered RC cars run because of combustion; it is natural that there would be smoke coming out of the car. This means that you won't be able to use your RC car indoors.
• Noise- Gas powered RC cars make a lot of noise. This can either be a positive or a negative, depending on your attitude. For some people, the noise that this type of RC car can help them get attention from other people (Hey, some people do buy RC cars to get noticed).