Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

RogersJetboat454

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A couple days before Christmas, my grandmother heard a loud crash come from the direction of the garage. Why? a flipping 12" pine branch came off a previously damaged pine tree, and landed on her garage roof! While the hit didn't take the roof down (probably thanks to my grandfathers love of over-engineering everything), the damage is extensive, and 1/2 of the roof beams will need to be replaced. I've been storing allot of my life in her little garage. Tool boxes, motorcycles, car parts, engines, even my jet boat that's in pieces. It all needs to be cleaned out, so the contractor can have room to replace the damaged roof.

During the initial clean out, I caught up with an old friend;
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It's a 1/10 scale Traxxas Nitro Stampede that I've had since I was a senior in high school. It needed a bit of immediate love, since I noticed the relatively new (in terms of running time) engine was locked up. It was pulled apart, and oiled up to clear away the gummy oil that happens when nitro fuel sits for a long time.

I had installed the new engine about 3 years ago. The car originally came with a .15 (CI) that was peppy, but not incredibly powerful in the broad scheme of things. That engine was one of the originals Traxxas made for their nitro powered cars. They have since come out with more advanced engines, and I installed their 3.3 TRX engine (.20 CI), which is the automotive equivalent of switching out a small displacement V8 for a big block. The car was now on the ragged edge of controllable, and stuff started breaking. When it started to cost down time, and a decent amount of money every time I ran the thing, that's when it took a break on the shelf.

Think in my winter down-time, I may charge the batteries, clean out the fuel tank/lines, and fire her up. :)

So... Anybody else out there into hobby grade R/C anything?
 

arks

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

Sorry to hear about your g-mom's roof...
Yeah, I've got a couple R/C boats. Fun to 'play-race' when anchored out. Big Boy Toys!
These are Warehouse Hobbies Enforcers with Homelite weedwacker motors and clutches.
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RogersJetboat454

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

Nice looking boats!
The stuff that runs weed-wacker style motor's can be expensive initially, but I bet they are probably a lot more reliable than the nitro powered stuff.

I have an electric powered boat that is a cheapie model of a Glastron Scimitar. I was running a 14 turn quad, with a Novak Rooster ESC. Went pretty good, and was fun to use. Sadly, it was pretty old when my friend gave it to me, and the hull is in rough shape. Still floats, but the plastic is getting pretty brittle.
 

nwcove

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

i still have two 24" nitro ob tunnel boats here. what a blast to run many years ago . the little 3.5cc k&b outboards would just scream! ( no mufflers) i would spend countless hours balancing and tuning props. have since scavenged the servos out of them to run in a scratch built cape island fishing boat....which now is collecting dust also, but it was a ton of fun to build from basement junk, and a ton of fun to play with! that one weighs in at 45lbs in the water.
 

bruceb58

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

I have RC power(electric and gas) planes, gliders, cars and sail boats. Haven't used any of them for many years and going to get rid of all of them eventually except for the electric stuff and the sailboats.

The sailboats are only fun if you have people to race against.

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arks

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

Nice looking boats!
The stuff that runs weed-wacker style motor's can be expensive initially, but I bet they are probably a lot more reliable than the nitro powered stuff.

Found 'em both on ebay so they didn't bust the budget. Yes, they're really reliable-which is primarily why I got them over a nitro boat.
OTOH, the nitros can be blisteringly fast.
Here's a pic of a buddy's nitro rig. This was the boat's first splash and it GPS'ed at 59 MPH :eek:nthego: but WOW was it unstable!!!
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nwcove

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

yep, the nitro stuff can turn some crazy rpm's and go!!! coincidently....the electric boats hold all the top speed records! short runs...but amazing speed. those guys must spend alot of time tuning the boat to stay on the water and not become an airplane! lol
 

WIMUSKY

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

Nitro! Here's one of them. Should have dusted first.....

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nwcove

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

7.5cc??? or 12cc???
 

WIMUSKY

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

3.5cc 11cc/13cc would be very cool. 1/4 scale tunnels........ They're big........
 

arks

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

WIM- Nice looking hydro build.
What happened to the sponson tips?
Or did you just go ahead and cut them off BEFORE they got damaged??:peace:
 

WIMUSKY

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

Thanks arks. They do angle forward and square off a little. Pic is a little deceiving, especially the head on one. Still not pointies tho...... I hit a log just below the surface and tore half the transom off at one point. Boat stopped on a dime. Sounded terrible when it hit. Thankfully, it was a pretty easy fix...... Can't tell anything happened after the repair.......
 

MTboatguy

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

My passion is RC Helicopters, I have several including a couple of Huey's as well as a Blackhawk, fun to play with, but darn expensive to repair when I screw up!
 

Alwhite00

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

My buddy has a 3' long helicopter, It's a blast to see it fly.

LK
 

kfa4303

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

There are a group of guys that run little RC speedboats at a local lake. It's amazing how fast they can go and turn. Although, I try not to look too much for fear of getting hooked :) Real boats are addictive enough. On the other hand, they sure look like fun and would be perfect for fiddling around with over the winter. Must resist!
 

WIMUSKY

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

There are a group of guys that run little RC speedboats at a local lake. It's amazing how fast they can go and turn. Although, I try not to look too much for fear of getting hooked :) Real boats are addictive enough. On the other hand, they sure look like fun and would be perfect for fiddling around with over the winter. Must resist!

They are fun, very fun! Especially, if you get with a couple other guys and start racing around the buoys. Building them can be almost as fun as running. Once you start, you get hooked. Don't resist the force, Luke..............:)
 

MTboatguy

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

One of my Huey's if over 3 foot long and when you fire up and get it flying, you can actually here the wap of the blades, not as loud as the real thing, but it gets the heart racing every single time.
 

RogersJetboat454

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

Some neat looking stuff people are posting pictures of.. :cool:

It does seem like electric has taken over as the medium to use if you want speed. When I was hardcore into R/C, and could tell you practically everything about it, Nitro or gas was what the big boys used, and electric was where you started. 10+ years later, looking at all the stuff they have for electric, such as brushless motors, LiPo batteries, etc, it's just amazing. Looks a bit cost prohibitive for those not rolling in it though.

Those with planes, or especially helicopters are a brave bunch. I thought it would be cool to have a plane, but was never big on the idea of having that much cash flying or LANDING, especially in my area where big open areas to fly them aren't ah-plenty. Then there's the whole learning curve to flying a chopper. My girlfriend's uncle has both, and offered to let me try them out some time. See if it ever happens. I think most of his stuff is in various states of repair.
 

Stevens520

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

Stared building a scale R/C boat before I could afford a real one:
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bruceb58

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Re: Common interest? R/C (radio controlled) cars/boats/planes.

I would never get anything with fuel ever again. Electric is the only way to go. I will miss the nitro smell though.
 
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