Fatboys RC
Recently I have returned to my favorite hobby of all time, Radio-controlled vehicles. I have run, built, and maintained radio-controlled vehicles for many years. I had my first proper radio-controlled car at the age of 12 and it started a lifelong hobby for me. This is why I decided to start Fatboys RC reviews.
My First ever Car was the Tamiya Grasshopper. This was the entry-level Kit back in the 1980’s. All the cool kids had the Hornet which was the Grasshopper Big Brother but, I was happy with the Grasshopper because I worked for it and paid for it myself.
There were fewer options for the enthusiast as RTR was not a thing. RTR cars of that period were like the toy shop models of today. they went about 3 miles an hour and the signal could be corrupted by almost any radio device.
Radio Controlled Kits
There was no real option but a kit if you wanted something serious. This was great because not only are you buying a car but, also a model kit. If (Like Me) you were a little bit of a nerd this would bring you great joy. The best thing about the Kit models is the learning curve. If you bought it then you needed to build it. I remember sitting with my brother-in-law scratching our heads and putting this model together.
This was my first experience of building a car.
Upgrades
The first thing I realised about the Grasshopper was, it was painfully slow. It came with a 380 Motor. All my friends had faster cars. This was the first time I upgraded. Weeks of saving money and doing jobs gave me enough money to go down to One 0 One Models in Chatham and purchase a 540 motor and new pinion gear. I was ready to rock.
Car in hand I was off to meet friends. Unfortunately, I was still slower than the stock Hornet. This is when I noticed that the Hornet stock battery was a 7.2v and the Grasshopper had a 6v. My friend showed me how to make Batteries for the car using rechargeable cells. This was good because I could not afford a new battery. After some research (Before the Internet) I discovered that bearings would speed the car up. I got hold of some bearings and stripped down the gearbox. Once the model was back together it shifted.
I am trying to tell you that the kits are a great way of learning how to fix the models. The Grasshopper had many cheap brakeable parts which I replaced over some time.
Moving on from the basics
Over the years I have owned or worked on various models. everything from cars to planes. I have watched gliders drift off into the distance never to be seen again and I have seen my fair share of extreme crashes leading to complete vehicle rebuilds. many times I have fabricated parts to fit and make do. the parts were not easy to get hold of back then.
RTR Explosion
Technology has evolved rapidly over the last 25 years since the internet became a main part of our lives. the Chinese technology companies now mass produce the kits and ship them here within days. there are now many brands of RC available and Even Tamiya makes RTR. The RTR explosion or revolution opened up the RC market to many more people. It went from being a nerd hobby to being a mainstream hobby over a short period. this is great for the industry and the hobby.
RTR kits appeal more to the person who just wants to drive, fly, or sail and not build the vehicle. I like to build and customize my kits. That said, most of the good RC RTR kits have upgradable parts and share the same mechanicals as their kit cousins. At this moment in time, my sons and I are running Corally Syncro 4, Maverick Phantom XB, FTX Carnage, FTX Stinger, FTX vantage, Tamiya TT02 GR, Tamiya Grasshopper, and a Tamiya TA02 rs Cosworth. This is a mixture of RTR and Kit.
About Fatboys RC
The Fatboys RC Blog was new in June 2024. This blog aims to bring you information, views, and reviews. I will be adding ads and product links over time. I hope to help you choose your models carefully and I would like to point out possible problems and benefits.
