Nitro for RC Cars

By Nathan Tyler 

If you've had enough of remote controlled toy cars and want to get into something more serious and exciting then the world of nitro radio controlled cars awaits you. It's certainly a step up from your usual battery powered toy car. RC toys that are powered by nitro fuel are built completely differently and under the body you'll find a real engine.

With a normal remote control car, there's not much maintenance required and you can't really customize it. You will be amazed at the number of nitro radio controlled vehicles there are; land, water and air types including planes, helicopters, boats, trucks and buggies. Most people generally find that the satisfaction lies in building their own RC vehicles. Land vehicles are generally the most popular and they allow for full customization. It's like building a real car but scaled down. You can choose your own tires, customize the body kit, choose the engine and a whole lot more.

Building nitro RC vehicles is more than a hobby. There's a huge community of enthusiasts that share ideas online and also get together to race and display their vehicles.

Enthusiasts love the rush of racing nitro radio controlled cars too.

Nitro Powered RC Cars - Tips for Choosing Your First Gas RC Car
 by Greg Root

RC (radio controlled) cars, especially the nitro or gas powered RC cars, are becoming increasingly popular. If you want to join this exciting hobby, there're a few things you should consider before you buy your first nitro-powered RC car. The basic considerations are: size, type, 2 or 4-stroke motor, maintenance, 2 or 4 wheel drive, and ready-to-run (RTR) or kit cars.

Sizes

1/10th scale is the industry standard for on-road racers, while 1/8th is more popular for off-road trucks and buggies. The larger 1/8th scale on road car comes standard with a 2 or 3 speed automatic transmission.

Types

The touring and racing cars are are the popular choice for on-road use. Motors Nitro powered RC motors come available in the popular 2-stroke or the less conventional 4- stroke versions. The 4-stroke motor has an oil reservoir and can run on straight fuel. The 2 stroke engine has the advantage of producing higher rpm's (revs up faster) and is more suitable for racing. The most popular 2-stroke motor is the 23cc (cubic centimeter) displacement engine. The resulting high speeds and acceleration are what RC racers love.

Maintenance for Nitro Powered RC Cars

Maintenance is a definite requirement of running a nitro powered vehicle. Most hobbyist love tweaking and tuning their vehicles.

·        Clutch

·        Differential

·        Air Filter

·        Pull start cord

If you're new to the hobby, you'll find a 2wd car less expensive and easier to work on. Kits or Ready to Run (RTR) RC Cars.

Nitro powered RC cars come in kits or ready-to-run right from the box. The primary difference is the whether you want to save time with a RTR car or save money with a kit. If you choose to build an RC car, don't expect to finish in one sitting. Some of the things you will need are Extra fuel line - to hold screws while positioning, Needle nose and regular slip joint pliers and Flush cutter.

You should keep the parts and tools separated using tin boxes, trays, or even an old fishing tackle box.