| Every phase of your lifestyle is full of choices these | | | | for 6.0v, 15 - 20 minutes for 7.2v, and 10 - 15 minutes |
| days; so many choices that you often agonize over | | | | for 9.6v. As you see the larger models need larger |
| which one to make in any given area, and fear that | | | | battery voltages. Some smaller vehicles use AA |
| you'll make the wrong choice. | | | | batteries instead of battery packs.) The same holds |
| Choosing the right remote control car is no different. | | | | true for NITROs, with further impact from the size of |
| At first glance the options seem simple; will you select | | | | the fuel tank of course. |
| an electric RC car or a NITRO? That's easy, right? But | | | | - If your running surface is the sidewalk or street any |
| what prompts your final decision? Do you care how | | | | model works. If your driving surface includes off-road |
| much you spend? Is it sound effects? Is it how long | | | | you'll need design options. If you'll drive on rough, rocky, |
| you get to drive before a refueling stop, either battery | | | | or hilly terrain get a car with beefed up suspension. If |
| change/charge or gas up? What about the conditions | | | | you're driving in desert, or other dusty, conditions make |
| of your driving environment? What size radio control | | | | sure your engine compartment and moving parts are |
| vehicle do you want? What type driving do you plan? | | | | sealed, and learn special maintenance procedures to |
| Choices...they're nice to have, and a dilemma too. | | | | protect from the dirt. |
| Here's a short list of thoughts about the initial selection | | | | - Are you into "cruising the boulevard," designing an |
| process: | | | | off-road course, or building a racetrack. Your choices |
| - Consider that NITROs are faster than electrics. | | | | include different types of cars for each of those |
| Learning basic driving techniques with an electric helps | | | | driving conditions. |
| beginners ease into the higher speed fuel-powered | | | | - If you decide a NITRO car is in your future be aware |
| cars. That way they're more comfortable with control, | | | | that manufacturers design these models to burn one |
| and avoid excess crashes and repairs. | | | | of two different fuels. Most NITRO cars have glow |
| - NITRO cars are more expensive than the electric | | | | plug engines that run on a fuel with the three main |
| models. If cost is a concern, look for battery powered | | | | ingredients of: methanol, nitro-methane, and oil. Models |
| vehicles first. | | | | that run on gasoline are less common, but available, |
| - Do you have close neighbors, and will you drive your | | | | and usually have two-stroke engines. |
| vehicle in that area? If you operate a NITRO on the | | | | Once you get into radio control cars you'll find that |
| street in front of your house, you might upset your | | | | new choices appear to further cause you |
| neighbors with the noise. NITROs run much louder than | | | | contemplation. You start with a simple toy, soon you're |
| the electric models. | | | | studying the latest designs and upgrades, and then |
| - Run time depends on power capacity. A smaller | | | | you're building your own models. |
| vehicle runs longer than the bigger ones - usually - but | | | | RC cars give us hours of pleasure when we take time |
| beyond size is the output of the batteries (average | | | | to choose the right model for our personal driving plans. |
| figures are: 30 - 45 minutes for 4.8v, 20 - 25 minutes | | | | |