There are many things that make the world of RC so attractive for so many people. Whether you love cars or you are a fan of scaled models, you enjoy hobbies that include socialising and competing in a variety of events, you like model building, mechanics, or doing repairments, or you are looking for a hobby for yourself, for your entire family or your kids, the RC hobby can provide you with all of that and so much more. It’s a great way to unwind from your everyday worries, and it can be a very fun and educational hobby for your kids, promoting cognitive and motor development, and a great way to bring your family together. Nevertheless, with so many great options out there, getting into it the right way can get a little bit complicated.
Radio-controlled vehicles have come a long way, and with long-lasting and extremely advanced models, the RC hobby has become very popular, constantly gathering new audiences and avid enthusiasts. Nowadays you can find incredible models, such as RC cars that can go as fast and even faster than regular cars, from 50 km/h to over 300 km/h, electric RC vehicles that run on strong rechargeable batteries, and you can find a quality RC car charger to prolong their life even further. Of course, as a result of the technology as well as the popularity of the hobby, these RC devices can get quite expensive, which is why you need to learn everything that you need to take into account to get started.
Choosing an RC Vehicle
If you are new to the game, to choose the right RC vehicle to ease you into the world of RC, first you should determine how far you think you want to go with the hobby. If you simply want to get a radio-controlled car and take it to your garden or around the neighbourhood and enjoy some driving alone or with someone else, you can start small – for instance with a preassembled vehicle, and see where it takes you. On the other hand, if you are a more serious fan and you really intend to be a part of the RC world, you can dive deep from the get-go, and go for something more advanced, build your own RC vehicle, customise, repair, change parts, etc.
While driving and controlling a scaled vehicle is incredibly fun and the biggest incentive for most of the enthusiasts to get into RC in the first place, for many the process of customising, upgrading, repairing, etc., is what makes this hobby so interesting. So, if you are certain that you want to go further than just playing with your RC from time to time, you should also learn about the power, maintenance, parts, repairments for your vehicle.
Choosing RC Chargers and Batteries
One of the most important things to think about, in terms of longevity is the propulsion system, or, in other words, the RC battery charger and the batteries themselves. While your first remote control car might come with a basic RC charger, especially if you intend to use it more often and play with it for a long time, you may need to think about finding something better and more powerful. A good charger is a crucial investment, as it is one of the most important RC equipment you need to support your hobby. In order to choose the right new charger, first of all, you need to consider the batteries that you use.
Of course, larger capacity batteries, as well as higher voltage or cell count, are the better choice, but they will require a more powerful RC car charger. In any event, the important thing is to make sure that your charger matches the batteries that you are using. As a rule of thumb, go for the best quality you can afford, both for your batteries and for your charger. Also, don’t forget about safety, and invest in a protective bag or container for your charger and your batteries.
Choosing the Right Parts and Equipment
One of the best things about the RC hobby is the range of things you can choose, as well as the fact that there is so much that you can do with it. This is why it’s the perfect activity for people who love challenges. However, this can make it more complicated to learn. When you are buying a new RC car, always take the spare parts into consideration, how available are they, how expensive, and so on.
Moreover, whether you are a beginner or you have been into the hobby for some time, somewhere along the line you may find yourself wanting to upgrade your RC equipment, looking for ways to make your hobby even more fun. Aside from the tools you need for repairs, as well as the charger and the batteries, there are many other things you can upgrade, including the motor, the pinion and spur gears, the servo, the radio system, etc.