[Mike]

Just wondering if anyone else is into RC cars?

When people were coming, I was racing 1/10 nitro at leisure hours indoor in crest hill, but now it's dead. Sometimes I still play with the GTX outside in the yard or in the street, but it gets boring without other people.

GTX on the left, XXX-NT on the right

 

[YZFRob]

Yep. Havent done it in a while.

Have a Asscoc 10L graphite, a Kyosho Ultima converted to street truck and an old customized Grasshopper

Also have a .40 plane and a 3.5cc tunnel boat (for sale)

 

[Mike]

I saw yours over on sportbikes.ws I take it most others from here don't go there, since there are only a handfull of people from chicago on that site, and obviously lots of them here.

Glow engines by nature are not perfect.. what do you do when you flame out or run out of fuel out on the water? Toss out a fishing hook and try to reel in the boat? Honestly I have no idea, I've never really watched people running them but have wondered about that. It's not like you can just walk out and grab it.

 

[Champ91]

I still have my old Tamiya Supershot.

 

[HDTony]

Yup I've got A Brand new T-maxx, an old kyosho outlaw rampage, and an electric Stampede.

BTW is this the mike who got a video of me doin a wheelie on the busa about 2 year ago?

 

[Mike]

Gsxrtony (Yep, thats me)

Muddy Maxx.. Those things are a ton of fun once you get a stronger then stock steering servo. I got to play with one for a few weeks on my vacation and had a pretty good time with it. Second gear really gets that big thing rolling! A Hi torque servo just makes such a huge difference in those vehicles.

If you are in plainfield, come on out to crest hill one of these nights. Right off of caton farm rd. there is a r/c race track. In the summertime it's almost completely dead since it's indoors, but in the winter it will be pretty full. If you want, let me know in advance when you are going. It's open for practice on wed, thurs and friday. wed is 5-10pm and i think thurs/fri is 5- 7:30 or so. Saturday it's open 10am-10pm.

I don't know the names of the roads off of caton farm, but its only about 4 blocks off the main road. For exact directions I guess mapquest would work best.

820 BRIAN DRIVE
CREST HILL, ILLINOIS

 

[Odysseys]

ahh yeah i would say i am big time into r/c gas toys:evil

i heard they changed that indoor carpet to indoor off road dirt/clay is that right?

i use to go to radioactive alot outside.

i still got my 1/8 scale 7.0 inferno AWD (all pimped to the max)
and a rc10 gas Pimped to the max.

gotta get some rims for the 1/8 got 4 sets of tires waiting to be put on.

we all gotta hook up some time, and go in a practice day.

 

[Odysseys]

its right off WEBER rd...(just north of rt30) go north on weber make a right on caton farm then its down right around there never been there but i know where its at from others

 

[Mike]

They've moved buildings like 3 times in the past 3 or 4 years. This building was a carpet track at first now its a 100x52 clay offroad. I love the track surface because its moist, blue groove and hooks up like crazy. There is also an outdoor track being built but it's going to take a while yet since not many people are coming to help. I help them sometimes, but still.. they need more help building it. I might actually roll out there tonight and just see whats going on. I got nothing else planned... wouldn't mind getting a little bit more useage out of the new CV-R too.. since it's barely been broken in (1/2 a quart) heh.

 

[crxtasy]

Anyone know where I can get a good deal on a T-MAXX?
Been looking quite some time into getting in this hobby as well

 

[OmniGLH]

Hmm... been pondering a new winter hobby, since I don't have a hotrod car to play with anymore. I used to be into RC a little bit, probably about 10 years ago (nothing serious, just drive around on the driveway kinda stuff) I've still got a Kyosho Double Dare kicking around in storage somewhere (upgraded to USA-1 suspension/wheels) and a Parma Hemi Coupe. Do they even make any of those anymore? :confused I'm getting old...

My buddy Nate got ALL hard-core into this stuff 2 years ago... there used to be an indoor/outdoor place over in LITH (31 and Virginia) but I guess she closed up shop 2 years ago. Does anybody know of any places close to the LITH area? I don't really feel like driving out to freaking Plainfield to run on a track.

What kind of $$$ are we talking these days to get back into it? I figure a basic stadium truck, or buggy. I've got an old Futaba 2-ch Radio that will probably work fine... but I dunno what else I'd need. Last time I played with this stuff, I was 15.. and spending $20 on a set of tires consumed my whole monthly allowance!

 

[Mike]

Maybe AJ's in DeKalb might be closer to you?

It depends what you want to get into. Nitro and electric are a lot different, and RTR vs kit are much different. Either way you go, you should need some support gear and other stuff you might not think of at first. It seems to be a never ending money spending game.

For a good deal on a Maxx you might be able to try ebay.. but people beat the snot out of them and run the engines up over 300, so you might be better off just buying a new one... atleast you will have some assurance that your investment will keep running for a while. Along with the Maxx I'd also recommend buying a hi-torque steering servo ($80-$110). It's very important in those monster trucks, otherwise the steering feels really slow and loamy and dosn't like to return to center very well. You may also want to consider a failsafe ($30) which has proven to be very helpful in preventing run-aways. A 5 cell reciever pack is also a good idea. NIMH 5 cells usually run about 22-25 bucks and a wall charger for it should be around 10. A spare glow igniter is also a good idea ($12).

And if you don't already have good tools, invest in some. Nothing sucks more then working on your R/C and goobering up some of the screws or allen heads because you've got cheap tools. Ofna makes some of the nicest allen drivers IMO, well worth the price.

 

[12RPilot]

CRXtacy, I know a guy with a T-Maxx for $200. All the way over here in Freeport though.

 

[YZFRob]

Glow engines by nature are not perfect.. what do you do when you flame out or run out of fuel out on the water? Toss out a fishing hook and try to reel in the boat? Honestly I have no idea, I've never really watched people running them but have wondered about that. It's not like you can just walk out and grab it.

Basically the old fishing pole trick. Use 30lb test, bobber and a 3/4" nut with the bobber about 18" from teh nut. Then try to cast it over an area that could snag the line. The area I ran it is only 5' deep anyways with a paddle boat place in the same lagoon. I only really worry about flipping it or losing signal to it.

Wish I would had got one of teh larger weedwacker powered ones. The little ones dont have a clutch and always are in motion. Cant let it idle in the water like the big boy ones.

 

[crxtasy]

Thanks for the info.. 12RPilot. Does he have any pics?
I'd like to see the condition it's in. Don't want to take
the trip down there for nothing, since I'm by Gurnee.

 

[Wik]

I used to love my R/C gas trucks. Also I built a totally custom Clod Buster for a friend years ago. I hate to think how much $$$ was wrapped up in that thing. Race chassis, billet rims, hot motors. Gas is still the funnest way to go. I am going to see if I can find those things again.

 

[OmniGLH]

I'd love to do a gas one... but aren't there restrictions on running a gas one indoors? They're pretty noisy and stinky last time I saw one...

At any rate, I'd probably do an electric one anyways. Cleaner, I'm assuming less maintenance, and I can cruise around the house with it Plus if I just wanna zip around my street, I don't have to worry about the neighbors complaining (I have mostly retired folks on my street.) I figure so long as I get a small collection of batteries, I should be good to go.

Where would you guys recommend as the best place to buy stuff? I used to order everything through Tower Hobbies, or just go to Al's in Elmhurst. Last time I was up at Venture Hobbies in Buffalo Grove, they seemed to have a decent selection of stuff too.... any suggestions?

I've got a decent mini tool selection, leftover from the last time I was into these things (mostly tools confiscated from Dad's toolbox )

Would anybody be interested in buying an old Kyosho Double Dare with USA-1 suspension? If I remember correctly, it's in decent shape... I'd sell it with motors, and I think I have a Losi speed control that I'd give away with it (the speed control needs a new wiring harness - my cat chewed it up a few years ago.) I have no idea how much it's worth...

 

[Mike]

Al's is one of the best shops around IMO. The leisure hours hobby shop has lots of car stuff, but half of the people that work there are rude. At Al's the only guy I've seen in RC was Chip, and he's always been polite and knowledgeable.

 

[HDTony]

Al's is one of the best shops around IMO. The leisure hours hobby shop has lots of car stuff, but half of the people that work there are rude. At Al's the only guy I've seen in RC was Chip, and he's always been polite and knowledgeable.

I bought my T-maxx and my stampede at leisure hours. It's amazing how nice they get when you buy 2 trucks in the span of 2 weeks But I will agree most of the time they are pretty rude over there, most of them are the typical Hobby shop nerds. Spend all day playing D&D and jerking off to laura Croft.

Good to see you found the site Mike, I havnt talked to ya in years. Welcome dude.

 

[Mike]

It depends who you talk to at leisure hours.. Scott, AL and homeschool are about the best of the guys there. The rest of the guys that work at that place I could do without even saying hello to. Seems like the RC staff is separated into two categories.. those who enjoy working with the stuff and like helping people, and those who hate the job :rolleyes and seem bitter or rude towards everybody. I usually just stand around and wait for someone I'd like to talk to at that place. It seems to be your best bet.

I stopped at the track on the inside and they rebuilt it apparently. New track design has some really narrow lanes. It's a little bit tricky to get used to them with a nitro... it's really easy to get out of line now that it's so narrow and really makes you practice throttle your control. But they are running electric regionals later this month, and the narrow lanes allow more track space and should work out well for electrics.

Wait, Wait, Wait until the outdoors gets built. Untill then just play in the yard or drive out to Hamlet.

Thanks for the welcome.