| If you are building a radio controlled car, you will be | | | | the cars are much louder when they run on gasoline |
| faced with choices every step of the way. You will | | | | seems to attract some people, who enjoy creating the |
| have to decide how to build the model, how to | | | | noisy little machines. |
| incorporate the radio transmitter, and how you want to | | | | RC cars that run on nitro gasoline are quickly |
| paint it. You will also have to decide how you want to | | | | becoming the most popular and fastest growing |
| power your car. There are several different choices, | | | | segment of remote control cars. Nitro vehicles can |
| and unfortunately there isn’t one that stands out as | | | | come in many different forms. You can build the |
| better than the rest. Each powering method has its | | | | popular and durable trucks that will take jumps at high |
| own benefits and tradeoffs that may affect your | | | | speeds and go on off road driving courses. |
| decision. You will have to consider these benefits | | | | Alternatively, if you are trying to reach very high |
| compared with what exactly you want to do with your | | | | speeds, you can build the type of racecar that is |
| car. Here are the three main ways that you can | | | | meant to speed along pavement, tracks or other |
| power a radio controlled car. | | | | prepared surfaces. As with gas, nitro requires the |
| The first and most basic way to power a remote | | | | heavy motor equipment that some people find |
| controlled car is to have a battery pack running the | | | | cumbersome. However, they are perfect if you want |
| motors. This is the kind of system that you will see in | | | | to swap out your electric motor during a race or other |
| beginning cars. If implemented correctly, it can be fairly | | | | event. |
| effective. Its main strong point is that it is very light. | | | | If you build your car the right way and avoid attaching |
| Cars using electric power can reach all new levels of | | | | the engine in permanently, you can switch whenever |
| lightness. However, like all of the options, there is a | | | | you feel a different one would be more appropriate. |
| tradeoff: electric cars are the slowest of them all. So, | | | | The average remote control enthusiast will accumulate |
| you will have to decide whether you want a light car | | | | quite a few different engines over the years, and will |
| that handles well, or a speed demon that will tear up | | | | become familiar with which ones are best to use in a |
| the competition. And that brings us to the next choice, | | | | given situation. So don’t worry too much about |
| which is definitely a bit speedier than the electric option. | | | | buying the wrong engine and being “stuck” with |
| Gas-powered cars are by far the most common | | | | something that you didn’t want. Just consider the |
| when you are looking at hobby grade cars. The | | | | pros and cons of each one, and compare them with |
| equipment required to handle all of the gas and | | | | your goals with your remote control car project. Think |
| combustion weighs quite a bit, and tends to make the | | | | about how much speed you want, compared to how |
| car less agile. However, it makes up for this deficiency | | | | much agility or how much turning speed. If you have a |
| by being one the fastest choices. These types of | | | | local hobby store that stocks all of the different types |
| motor kits are very easy to find. If you want one for | | | | of engines, then go in and ask to test drive a few of |
| your car, your best bet would be to look in some online | | | | them to get a feel for the type of engine. You will be |
| specialty shops, or your local hobby shop. While it is not | | | | glad that you put so much thought into it. |
| necessarily a positive aspect in my book, the fact that | | | | |