Beginners Guide to Electric R/C Cars

Fast, Fun, and Endlessly Upgradable, R/C Cars Are a Great Hobby

Of the three major categories of R/C vehicles (cars, airplanes and boats), electric cars are the easiest to break into. Easy, and a whole lot of fun. Without a certain amount of previous R/C experience, however, it can be a bit complicated to understand.

First, lets discuss the major difference between what makes a radio controlled car a “toy” or a “hobby”. What are often referred to as “toy” cars are the ones that you might see at a department store like Target or Radio Shack. These R/C cars are pre-built, mass produced, self contained units that are not designed to be taken apart by the owner, or fixed in the event of an accident. Generally speaking, once you drive a toy car down the stairs it's broken forever. Toy cars are the ones most commonly advertised on television, and probably have some sort of gimmick that appeals to little kids (the ability to flip over, claws that come out of the wheels, etc). When buying a toy car, you often have to beware of misleading advertising on the boxes. For instance, the term radio control most certainly refers to a car that relies on radio signals to control it. The term remote control can mean several things. It can mean that it's either radio controlled, or it can mean that it's attached by a long wire. Technically, a 12ft wire still allows you to control the car at a remote distance.

Hobby cars, even if pre-built from the manufacturer, are designed to be taken apart, rebuilt and upgraded. Hobby cars offer an almost endless level of customization. You'll rarely see these cars advertised on television, most often only seeing them in hobby related magazines.

Now let's look at what to expect when you're ready to plunk some cash down and get into the hobby.

The Car