Expert advice wanted!

[RCangel]

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all well. A handful of you may remember me from (quite) a few years back as I used to regularly race at Louth. I'm hoping to start up again but would appreciate any advice on what I'll need as I'm sure there's been a few technological advancements in the last seven years!

I've still got most of my gear so will use that until I get back into it properly but I'm thinking of buying a new transmitter and obviously batteries as I doubt mine would even hold a charge now! Has anyone got any advice / suggestions on the above (or anything else that I might need) as it would be much appreciated?

Many thanks in advance
Gemma :)

[RCangel]

Meant to also ask if anyone has / knows where I can get some setup hints for a Losi xxxs it would be much appreciated too! Thanks again

[Rich D]

Hi Gemma

Things sure have moved on from 7 years ago. The vast majoriy of people use 2 cell 7.4v Lipo batteries ( Lithium Polymer ) and brushless motors now. Batteries dumping mid race has become a thing of the past. Even the most basic of lipo batteries will do two races easily. The downside obviously are the setup costs involved. A brushless motor needs a brushless speedo ( although some brushless speedos will also run brushed motors if wired to do so ). Lipo cells need a lipo specific charger. You dont need to spend an arm and a leg but as with everything, you get what you are prepared to pay for.
As for transmitters, they are now available in three forms. 27mhz, 40mhz and 2.4Ghz. If you decide to go for 2.4Ghz then it means that you can forget ever clashing with someone else on the same frequency. You just bind the receiver to your tranny, switch on and go. Personally i have stuck with 40 mhz as its never caused me any trouble. If your budget isnt too restricted then the KO Universe is a good stick transmitter available in both 2.4 Ghz and 40 mhz. A few of us run those.

Im not allowed to put links on here ( forum rules ) but you can get reasonable 3200 mah 7.2V lipos for £29.99 now. My advice would be to buy new Lipos unless you know who you are buying from and then buy used gear for the rest. You can get away with one Lipo and just keep topping it up but i prefer to run two so they get time to cool down between charges.
Back to the motors, if you are a bit rusty then start off with a 15.5 or 17.5 brushless motor until you get back into the swing of things and run in the "club" class. There are some very good drivers who still run in the club class so trying to beat their times will keep you busy for some months!
Brushless motors ran indoors are pretty much zero maintenance aside from occasionally lubricating the bearings. Forget com skimming now.

Cant help with the specific setup of a xxx-s as myself and a few other A drivers run the Tamiya 416 series. i dont think that anyone still runs the xxx-s now.

Suffice to say that we all still use 21mm yellow minipins though.

Theres really too much to go over so best that you ask what you are unsure of and i`ll help if i can do so. Go and see Pete at Castaline if you are looking to buy some gear and im sure he will do you a good deal and advise you further as he still runs the club shop.

EDIT : - you had better check that you are able to fit a Lipo battery in a xxx-s without too much modification. Spending your hard earned on sub C NiMh cells seems a waste thats all.

[RCangel]

Thanks ever so much for the detailed reply Rich, gives me a really good starting point: you're right, things really have moved on haven't they?! I remember buying quite a lot of new stuff just before I stopped, and most of it's obsolite now! Never mind, least I've got plenty of spares to replace broken bits......

Think I'll consider buying Lipo's as they sound a lot better than the old stuff, I'll get the car out tonight and check they'll fit first though. Are 3200's the minimum you'd recommend as I notice there are lower ones but I remember the lower NiMh batteries didn't always last a race especially outside / on carpet. I'll have a look for 40 / 2.4 transmitters and see what's around and the prices. Think my old one was 40 and I never had a probem either so I'll prob stick to one of them as I've still got a few crystals. Typically, minipins are the only thing I've not got any of! The motors have got me a bit confused though as I had a quick look on the Internet last night and there seems loads of different ones, including sensored and sensorless but not really much info on what's best so if anyone can explain / recommend anything in particular that would be great though I think I'll have a trip over once the car's on the road to see where you are, say hi to everyone and have a chat with Pete!

[Rich D]

3200 is about the smallest capacity lipo available at the minute. As with everything it's all down to money. The largest ones we use are 5900 now but they are three times the price. They are also a little larger than the slim trakpower lipos. I would check that they are going to fit before you part with any money. I have my doubts but may be wrong.

Speedos, we all use sensored speedos and motors. You can pick up a decent lrp tc spec or nosram matrix second hand for about 75 quid. These have lipo protection built into them to prevent permanent damage to your lipos should you run the voltage too low. I've always been of the opinion buy quality buy once. Better to have decent used gear than crap new stuff for the same price. I have got a Tamiya 416 worlds edition for sale and a tc spec speedo that I will be advertising at the club a week on Friday.

Cheers

[Preacher Man]

Hi gemma
nice to here from you again, Rick has given you lots of sensible advice as usual .
I.m still running oldish gear though, charge your old stuff up bring it along and get some racing in again then make decisions about whats the right way for you to go for you

see you soon Dave Fid an Mitch

forgot to say Alec ainsworth still running xxxs losi

[RCangel]

Hi, thanks again for all the great advice.

I was thinking I might be better off making do with what I've got at the minute as I'll no doubt break a few things plus I can have a good look at what's around now before I start spending too much money, not to mention that'll also give me some time to try and remember how to drive again, though thinking back, I always was better at crashing 'with style' as opposed to driving (I'll never forget finishing a race by going over the line on my roof!!).

I've actually found a box of 3300's that I never even soldered together so think I'll solder them all up and see how they charge as I'm not sure if LiPo's would fit, at least not without a few mod's. The only thing I will need is a new transmitter as I've only got a 'wheel' thing that I can't get on with!

Thnks for the tip, I'll have to see if Alec would mind giving me some advice on setting the car up as I can't believe how much I've forgotten about what does what!

Many thanks again, Gem

[Rich D]

If you can drive with a wheel or sticks then you must be better than i am ;)

You should pick one type and stick to it if you want to improve.

Im pretty sure that Julian Beckett may have a nice Futaba Stick set for sale 2.4 Ghz as hes just upgraded to a KO Universe.

[RCangel]

I never actually said I could drive in the first place!!! :)

I'll stay with sticks, never could get the hand of forward and reverse with the wheel, must be a female thing (or more likely just me!!!). If you don't mind too much, would you be able to find out if he is selling and let me know, or I can send you my number to pass on if you prefer? I won't be able to get over for a couple of weeks yet but am definitely interested! Thanks

[Jules]

Hi there,

yep I have a Futaba 2.4 Radio and receiver - no rush to get rid, so I'll at least hang on to it so you can have a look.

regards


Julian

[RCangel]

Hi Julian,

Thanks for letting me know. I'll definately have a look if you're sure you don't mind hanging on to it for a couple more weeks? What sort of price are you asking so I can put some money to one side?

Thanks again
Gemma

[Jules]

We'll discuss when I see you. If I gave a price here, we'd have the moderator waving his big stick...

[RCangel]

No probs, don't want to upset the moderator! Thanks again and see you in a couple of weeks.