How to Get Started in Radio-Controlled Models

Radio-controlled models, or "RC models", for short, are becoming more popular than ever as hobbyists are buying them up to fly the skies, race them across the ground, or even zip across bodies of water. If you're not familiar with these, then this article will tell you how to get started in radio-controlled models.

These models are controlled by radio transmitters and receivers. The operator uses a handheld, tuned transmitter to send radio frequencies to the receiver that is placed inside the model. The receiver "reads" the signals and then tells the radio-controlled model what to do. This remote control system allows the operator to be as close as he wants to the model, or many yards away. That's part of the fun of running RC models. If you watch this type of model, it looks like it has a "mind of its own" since the operator is usually a pretty good distance away.

There are a variety of radio-controlled models you can buy. They are readily available at your local hobby store, at many department stores, and on several online retail websites such as www.towerhobby.com or www.hobby-lobby.com. Or, you can visit manufacturers sites such as http://www.traxxas.com/ or http://www.kyosho.com/ to find the right radio-controlled model for you.

There are On-and-Off-Road cars, trucks, Jeeps, boats, airplanes, and helicopters. "On-Road" cars, are, of course, meant to be run on smoother, bump-free areas of land like pavement. "Off-Road" radio-controlled cars, on the other hand, are built with suspensions that can handle the ruggedness of most any terrain.

If you visit a store and browse through their selection of radio-controlled models, you'll find they are powered by one of two ways. Either they are "electric" or "gas powered." The "electric" models are equipped with small electric motors and rechargeable batteries. The "gas powered" models are equipped with small, internal combustion engines. The fuel they use is actually a mixture of nitromethane, methanol, and oil. The use of "nitromethane" in the mixture gives these radio-controlled models their nickname of being "Nitros".