Advice on kits

[CG1]

Many of you have helped me immensely the past few days - so I return with another question. I would like to buy a kit and build it with my son – I had built an electric car with him when he was two (ok fine, he watched and I bought the kit under the guise it was for him and not me)

Now that he is older I really would like a father/son project like this. Can you please point me towards a Nitro kit that he and I could work on together – it should be nitro and off road.

 

[Lessen]

Got a budget? How complex do you want to get with him?

If you want something with moderate intricacy I think maybe an Associated GT2 factory team kit would be a good build.

If you want something more complex you could go with something 4WD with gear differentials. I don't know how old your son is now but building a gear differential is a great way to get to understand some basic mechanics of a drivetrain. If you want something like a monster truck you can get the HPI Savage in kit form. I'm pretty sure that comes with an HPI engine. Then of course there are always buggy or truggy kits. There are plenty to choose from on the market and their prices vary greatly.

 

[NCNitro]

That is some great advice from Lessen.

As he mentioned, if you can give us an idea of budget, what type of vehicle you want, i.e. monster truck, buggy, truggy, stadium truck, etc., and how old your son is we can help you find a good kit for the two of you.

 

[CG1]

Oh, budget…that one is always difficult.

I would like this to be a complex build, my son is turning 11 and shows strong signs of being an engineer. I would like this to be a project where he and I sit together for hours in the evenings.

As our first build I would like to be around $300 if possible – we prefer off road since our back yard is massive. The preference is off road – the style from there doesn’t really matter….as long as it goes fast the boy will be happy.

 

[CG1]

I looked up that Savage kit you mentioned. The HPI 1/8 Savage X SS K4.6 Kit – it’s on Tower for $374

http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/hpi/hpic1861.html


I might be able to swing this purchase, is this an all inclusive type kit – or are there still things I would need ?

 

[WoodiE]

The Savage X SS kit only includes the truck and the 4.6 engine. You'd still need to purchase radio gear, fuel, batteries, and charger (if you don't already have).

 

[NCNitro]

I am pretty sure there are no nitro all inclusive kits. With any kit you usually need to purchase servos, radio, receiver, fuel, fuel filter (still have no idea why most kits or rtrs don't include these), fuel filler bottle, and batteries or battery packs.

 

[NitroRC4Life]

With any kit you usually need to purchase servos, radio, receiver, fuel, fuel filter (still have no idea why most kits or rtrs don't include these), fuel filler bottle, and batteries or battery packs.

The new revo does!!! haha

 

[NCNitro]

The new revo does!!! haha

The revo is NOT a kit, it is an RTR. He wants a kit to build.

 

[Rolex]

Congrats on your choice to build a kit. For a lot of us here, the build is the most enjoyable part of the hobby, and it allows us to KNOW beyond a doubt that every thing was done correctly, and to fully understand all the mechanical aspects and adjustments.

#1 on the HPI Savage SS.

 

[CG1]

OK - I need more help. I am on Tower Hobbies and I am uncertain what I need to buy in order to have a complete kit.

I have this in my cart: HPI 1/8 Savage X SS K4.6 Nitro Monster Truck Kit It's $375, is this an ok price or should I shop elsewhere?

Then there are these categories:
Primary Accessories
Radio & Engine Equipment
Building & field Equipment
Optional Equipment

Primary accessories is BS, bottle, batteries and fuel – got those already.

Radios & Equipment – Radio, and Sevo’s etc….If they are needed for the truck, I need them. I have other radio’s but they are for my other cars and the car’s will be used at the same time – not sure what to order here.

Building and field Equip – skip this crap

Optional – ok, there’s a lot in here.

Can someone please tell me what to order so I have everything that I need ? thank you !!

 

[Rolex]

If you already have several other cars, it might be time to step up to a computer radio. That will allow you to save all the settings for many cars without dragging around any other radios. In the future, you'll only need a receiver.

 

[basketcase45]

OK - I need more help. I am on Tower Hobbies and I am uncertain what I need to buy in order to have a complete kit.

I have this in my cart: HPI 1/8 Savage X SS K4.6 Nitro Monster Truck Kit It's $375, is this an ok price or should I shop elsewhere?

Then there are these categories:
Primary Accessories
Radio & Engine Equipment
Building & field Equipment
Optional Equipment

Primary accessories is BS, bottle, batteries and fuel – got those already.

Radios & Equipment – Radio, and Sevo’s etc….If they are needed for the truck, I need them. I have other radio’s but they are for my other cars and the car’s will be used at the same time – not sure what to order here.

Building and field Equip – skip this crap

Optional – ok, there’s a lot in here.

Can someone please tell me what to order so I have everything that I need ? thank you !!

Do you have a set of QUALITY tools? IMO a good tool set is money well spent, particularly when getting into building kits. Of course you will be needing them later as well. MUCH better and faster than the bent allen wrenches.

+1 on the Quality Radio system. Get one that has a multi model memory, like the Spektrum 3.0- it has 10 model memory, and is interference free. The new one has a 30 model memory. All you would have to do when you add a new model, is to get a new reciever.

You will need a GOOD steering servo for that MONSTER truck- plan on at least $100 there. Any Decent servo will do for the T&B.

 

[CG1]

Do you have a set of QUALITY tools? IMO a good tool set is money well spent, particularly when getting into building kits. Of course you will be needing them later as well. MUCH better and faster than the bent allen wrenches.

+1 on the Quality Radio system. Get one that has a multi model memory, like the Spektrum 3.0- it has 10 model memory, and is interference free. The new one has a 30 model memory. All you would have to do when you add a new model, is to get a new reciever.

You will need a GOOD steering servo for that MONSTER truck- plan on at least $100 there. Any Decent servo will do for the T&B.

OK, I am going to take the advice from this forum - with that in mind, if you can - please post the item I should buy or a link. i wouldn't know a good streering servo froma peice of crap -- I'll get what you all say to. Now, if you need tax advice or perhaps saltwater aquarium help....I am in the know there

 

[WoodiE]

Here would be my shopping list

Truck:
HPI Savage SS 4.6 Kit

Required Items:
Radio - Futaba 3PM 3-Channel 2.4GHz FASST Radio System
Steering Servo - Hitec HS-985MG (172oz torque)
Throttle Servo - Hitec HS-5625MG (140oz @ .13 sec)
Fuel Filter - Racers Edge Large Fuel Filter
Fuel Bottle - OFNA 500cc Fuel Bottle
Glow Igniter - Team Losi Aluminum Glow Igniter w/Charger

I didn't include batteries, charger, fuel and tools because you said you already have them. Besides the above you'll also need paint... to paint the body. Other than that this should be everything you "NEED".

There are a TON of hop-ups for the Savage, my recommendation is to get the truck built and drive it for a while. If you find you're breaking a certain part(s) a lot then start looking for upgrades. I don't see any reason to spend a bunch of money up front for hop-ups when the Savage is a very nice truck right out of the box.

Take your time to read over the manual first before doing anything and then take your time and enjoy building the truck with your son. You guys should have a blast I'm sure.

 

[CG1]

Thank you WoodiE – exactly the response I was looking for !

I am going to place this order absent of the Radio as I think I can defer that purchase while we are working on the build. I am hoping the build will take us a while (preferably a weekend project)

Can I defer the Servo’s or will I need them immediately? I am good buying them now, its not too expensive – just curious to how much I need to spend off the bat and how much I can put off during the build.

I really appreciate your assistance with this project !! thank you !

 

[WoodiE]

To start the build the only thing you NEED is just the truck, everything else can be postponed. There's going to be plenty to do before you start to run the truck.

If it was me I'd still buy the servo's and the fuel filter with the truck anyways. The reason why is once you get to the point in the build to start installing linkage, etc having the servo's on hand will be nice to have at that moment.

I'd also purchase the fuel filter now because it's easy to forget about it later on, get it while you're thinking about it.

 

[hamz9561]

+1 on the servos and the filter. I never ran my nitro rigs without a fuel filter. I just built a scale crawler kit and it was really easy to adjust the steering linkage with the servo already in hand.