RC India

Hey guys,
I want to buy a RC car.I am a beginner and my budget is 20-25k.Electric ones are my first options as i have idea about the electrics as i am into electric planes,but heard nitros are better than electrics in terms of driving experience.I was interested in the mini E-revo but read in the posts that it is difficult to control,and as i am a beginner it would be even more difficult for me to handle.I am looking for a car for both bashing and racing.Please help me out! :)

Traxxas Slash VXL 4x4 1/10 scale for short course action (scale appearance) (~30000/-)
(Durable & scale appearance)

Traxxas Slash VXL 1/16 scale for short course action (~15000/-)
(Affordable & decently durable)

Thunder Tiger EB4 G3 for Buggy action (~25000/-) (full 1/8 scale!)
(1/8 scales are quite durable)

since you would be bashing and racing remove the mini slash as there is no category, the others listed are nice too. u can go for any, when it comes to platform, both are good in their own ways. 1/10 and 1/8.  

I forgot that mini slash has no class. Thanks pravesh736 for clarifying.

Also as far as driving experience is concerned, nothing is better...just preferences. The nitro has as some ppl say 'real engine feel' which is actually good. But the brushless systems have instant torque. Actually, the brushless electrics are more efficient converters of chemical energy to mechanical energy so they can be more powerful. Both of them drive differently & you will have to see what you feel.

@1firefly2
Thnaks for the reply.But for some reason i am not interested in slash.I have seen nitro cars on track and i like the feel and driving experiece,but are they advisable for beginners who have zero knowledge about nitro.I was looking for T-maxx but heard it has some tuning issues,and revo goes out of my range.
What i was thinking was to buy a brushed Emaxx and convert it to a brushless system later.what do u suggest?

I don't have much experience with nitro. They do require more involvement compared to electrics but not as scary as people think.
As per your choices, I can figure out that you like Monster Trucks...no wonder! Well, I would not recommend T/Emaxx line of trucks as they are not very tough and dated designs. The Revo is far superior and advanced design than Tmaxx. But, I believe Losi makes better nitro vehicles but they are north of 40k. And for nitro Monster Trucks, go no further than Losi LST XXL (~45k)

The Emaxx you mentioned is about 28000/- brushed + ~8k-10k cheap brushless system installed later.
As per my opinion, for some more money I would recommend Thunder Tiger MT4 G3. It is ~31k, already brushless 'Monster Truggy'. Not quite stylish as Maxxes but very tough, very powerful.

Fuel engines are awesome for their feel, sound, smoke etc. But.....see this & think ???

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXtPZ1qp4ik

So Tmaxx and Emaxx are out of consideration.What about the durability and parts/spares availability for MT4G3 in india?..and yes im interested only in monster trucks and truggys :)
How much does a brushed e revo 1/10 cost?

MT4 G3 durability is top notch. You will not be breaking it any time soon. Parts availability is good for thunder tiger cars as there are many dealers active in India like rcskyhobby, rotor.in, and many others. Towerhobbies.com like online stores keep stock of all parts.

One thing more, the drive train especially differentials are same in MT4 G3 as in Team Associated cars. If you know what Team Associated is in RC world. For the money you pay, you can't get more than this.

1/10 scale brushed E revo is in my opinion not available in India at the moment but ask Kapil at www.dogboneracing.com for prices if he can provide that.

Also, many parts are compatible with Thunder Tiger ST-1 truggy which is a common popular truck in India.

Read some pretty good reviews about MT4G3.Which rc outlets sell these cars in india?
Are there any other trucks in the same price range from HPI and others that i should consider?

I bought from rcskyhobby.com

In this price range for this kind of vehicle, difficult to get an HPI/Traxxas.
They are around 50k or more like Savage flux/ erevo.

axx21 is selling savage flux 2350 for 46k
http://www.rcindia.org/for-sale/savage-flux-8960/?topicseen

What is your experience with the truck?
What li-po's do you use?
And thanks for pointing out the deal but 46k is way beyond my budget! :)

Well since the truck is monsterised truggy, it is a flat/pan chassis vehicle which is very easy to work on. Its drive shafts are very thick & can handle brushless power easily. CG is low for stability.

It is the best handling monster truck and very controllable in air while jumping. You can drive it at top speed because it will not flip.
And it it TOUGH! As I told you it has one of the beefiest metal drive shafts, metal chassis, metal shocks, 5mm metal shock towers...all in all mostly metal.

The stock motor system is very smooth, feels like sensored. I have driven it in my room! Also weighs less than savage flux/ erevo.
I use 4S packs: zippy 4000mah & turnigy 5000mah hardcase. But it is 6s capable.

Thanks 1firefly2 for your review.
And where do you buy your Lipos from?.
I have read that importing lipos (especially 5000mah) is difficult.
I just want to get a good truck both for bashing beacuse it's only a one time but for me and there will be no other truck for me in the near future.I just want to make sure that i don't keep replacing parts as i am beginner! :)

You have mentioned that u drove it in your house,but have u tried bashing and riding it offroad?

The review by rcnightmare was very straightforward. They seemed to be quite blown away by mt4 g3.
They sounded honest & said 'it is the best rc for a beginner as an RTR' which is logical. A beginner needs a tough truck which can guide the person through learning curve without giving hassles to him/her which mt4 g3 beautifully does. It doesn't break frequently, has all the power to keep a newcomer captivated & after that, if he/she becomes knowledgeable, it can provide opportunity to do all the tweaks n tunings. :)

Yes it is difficult. Custom guys may take notice. But don't worry, rcskyhobby.com can provide you Lipo batteries too.
I hope you will not be disappointed with your purchase.

I have driven it out doors also & believe me, it is unstoppable!
I said I have driven it in a small room to show how controllable it is on very slow speed with very less cogging which is the major drawback of brushless systems vs brushed ones.

Okay....so i guesss it is MT4G3 for me. :)

thanks man ...i was banging my head on chossing my car! :bow:
I checked the rcskyhobby site...the battery was listed out of stock...do u Know any alternative sites?
And within how many days did u get your parcel from rcskyhobby?

u can get 'hardcase' zippy or turnigy lipos from hobbyking . very cost effective options and worth it.

Mention not dear.  :)

I got my parcel delivered to Mumbai from Delhi within a week. As soon as he got payment credited to his account, he (Manish) shipped it.
Just check with him about Lipo on his mobile (from site).

And as pravesh736 said, go for hobbyking site.

@pravesh736
But is it possible to import 5000mah batteries from Hobbyking?

@1firefly2
Okay.....I'll call him up and ask him about the shipment and batteries! :thumbsup:

Best of Luck!  :)

@1firefly2
I just called rcskyhobby people and enquired about the batteries,they said they are out of stock! :(
I just wanted to clarify whether i can use a zippy 3s 2200mah 25C battery(soft pack which i use for planes),and is there any compulsion that we should use only hardpacks?
And coming to hardpacks,is it only the hard casing that is extra compared to a soft pack or are there any differences?

@1firefly2
How much run time do u get with a 4s 5000mah battery?

A 4s 5000mAh pack should give 10mins+ of runtime on reasonable driving.

Btw, good choice with the MT4G3. And you don't want to run 2200mAh(4s) packs in a 1/8 MT. It will suck the charge out of them before you know it.

@iamhanuman
Thanks for the reply......the run time which u have specified,is it for zippy or any 5000mah.Does the run time depend upon the discharge rate of the battery?
And even for longer run times,does the truck accommodate two batteries?
What setup do u suggest for a 20-30 min runtime?

20-30 minute runtime may be achieved by going to 6s and re-gearing for 35 mph or so.

Runtime has multiple variables. Tire choice, traction, weight, mechanical efficiency, driving style et cetera.

can i use this battery?
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__8586__ZIPPY_Flightmax_5000mAh_6S1P_25C.html

I can get up to 20 mins of runtime on 'normal' driving with very few times triggering hard on fully charged Lipo. This is with normal fun driving. Not abusive bashing. This is possible because stock truck is geared somewhat low. As per iamahuman, if you abuse it, you will get 10+ mins.
Iamahuman is correct that runtime depends upon Tire choice, traction, weight, mechanical efficiency, driving style etc.
Its weight as I told you is less than competing trucks, those huge tire/wheels are one of the lightest as compared to comparable tire/wheels.
And the differentials are efficient because they are helical cut. etc.

Its battery tray is 138x51x49. So according to that, select the battery.

As i am a beginner i will be doing normal driving....and cani purchase this 6s battery from the sale?
http://www.rcindia.org/for-sale/clearance-sale/msg125207/#new

Thats too big as per the battery tray specs.
I will recommend 4s battery as you are a beginner. 6s will be too much on stock gearing.
On 6s, drivetrains wear faster on all rc trucks. mt4 g3, savage flux are bullet proof on 4s.
Kindly order 4s packs from hobbyking. Get hold of it and thereafter buy 6s for occasional abusive bashing.

okay!...its just that i have to wait 15-20 days for the battery to arrive....but i guess i dont have any other options now! :)

firefly got that right. The MT4G3 won't take very well to 6s bashing.

Some people(not firefly) don't realize that 6s can be more efficient than 4s when used correctly. If you gear for the same speed(same power draw), a system on 6s will draw less current than a system on 4s. That will mean lesser heat and more efficiency. That generally translates into pretty high runtimes. You can't slap in a 5000mAh 6s though as it'll be quite heavy and upset the balance of the car. People go for 3300mAh 6s packs or the like with low Kv motors (around 1400Kv).

The MT4G3 was made with 4s in mind. Stick to it.

Thanks for the advice :salute:
And does 20C batteries supply enough power,as i am planning to order these batteries
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__15521__Turnigy_5000mAh_4S1P_14_8v_20C_hardcase_pack.html?

20 c is not enough and before buying do check if battery will fit the tray of the car. 

The battery fits perfectly according to the dimensions give by 1firefly2.
so should i take these?
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__21004__Turnigy_4000mAh_2S_30C_hardcase_pack_ROAR_APPROVED_.html

Yes, higher voltages mean lower current draw for same power as power is the product of current and voltage. W=IxV. If you take a 6s pack, lower the gearing for similar speed, then current draw will be less along with lower I2R losses. Same thing can be achieved by use of lower KV motors as iamahuman described. Power & hence speed will be similar due to higher voltage.

See, the recommended continuous 'C' rating is ~40 for these kinds of trucks especially mt4 g3. But 20 C batteries for people have held up ok.

C ratings tell you how much current battery can discharge. For example for 20C 5000mah battery,
max continuous current = (20x5000)/1000 = 100A
if voltage of nominal 4s pack = 14.8V, then,
max continuous power = 14.8x100 = 1480W
For burst 30C, Power is = 14.8x150 = 2220W

These are around the rated motor powers stated by motor manufacturers (have to take ~90% efficiency into consideration for output)
So, theoretically they can lug these 1/8 scale monsters. But motor power draw can be from 0 to these calculated figures & not always these. For eg if you are climbing an incline at top speed, power draw will be more than if you are cruising on flat ground.
But the quality of batteries must be good.
You can get higher quality batteries from our rcindia friend spherehobbies. Not sure about their stock status.

I'd go for a minimum of 40C.

Thanks guys for helping me out! :hatsoff: :hatsoff:
Finally ordered the MT4G3:)
Will be receiving the package within two days(as said by rcskyhobby  people).Cant wait to put my hands on the truck:)