Savage SS kit ok for newb?

[okihost]

Well I have come down to choose between the Sportmaxx or the Savage or Savage SS. With it being cold as hell here in new england I am most likely going to need to wait a couple months before it is warm enough to go outside and do break in.

My question is if the SS kit would be ok for a newb who has never touched anything other than a $40 Nikko hot off the Toys R Us shelf, I am thinking this will be a good learning experience for me and just want to make sure it is not something I should wait on and do it after I get a little more familiar with the way RC's work.

Also what else would be needed to get the savage ss RTR? I called my local Hobbytown and they told me it would be $359.00 for the kit once they can actually get them and only about $69 for a two channel radio but it does not make sense to me how both the SS Kit + 2 Channel Radio ends up coming to around the same price as the Savage 25 RTR set.

 

[GilBeQuick]

That $69 radio is a base radio and most likely comes with weak servos. Most people who get the SS put a better radio in it with more powerfull servos, which cost more $$.

 

[okihost]

Can you point me out a half decent radio which is still somewhat cost effective?

Or is it possible to use the base radio and upgraded servos?

 

[WoodiE]

okihost,

How much are you wanting to spend overall?


-Michael

 

[okihost]

Well I am looking at about $360 for the kit and I was thinking $140 max for the radio if I could keep it to that, I only need a 2 channel as I do not plan on adding the reverse mod.

Well after reading this thread here it seems that the cheapest setup would be to get the RTR and upgrade the shocks and pipe a little ways down the road and I am sure it won't be long before I am ripping it apart anyway.

In addition to that everyone seems to be out of the SS kit around here and online and its like a 2 month wait which is not something I really want to wait around for.,

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[RC Rookie]

From one rookie to another...buy the RTR....you dont really plan to wait 2 months to play with the Savage..it 'dont' get that cold...:>)...if so ,you have the patience of a saint...:>).....I can't go over 3-4 days without a 'fix' from my Savage....good luck...RCR

 

[okihost]

Originally posted by RC Rookie
From one rookie to another...buy the RTR....you dont really plan to wait 2 months to play with the Savage..it 'dont' get that cold...:&gt...if so ,you have the patience of a saint...:&gt.....I can't go over 3-4 days without a 'fix' from my Savage....good luck...RCR

Yeah, my main problem is I live in new england and it is about 1 degree right now and from all the bad things I have heard about doing break-in in the cold I am going to wait around till I see atleast 50 one day and go do it then.

Right now I am just looking for the cheapest place and $399.99 for the kit plus $7 shipping seems to be the best deal I can find so far.

 

[newnitrofan]

Savage SS or RTR kit really makes no difference. The SS you would probably be cheeper to get since you will have to buy batteries and a charger for the roto start for the RTR. If you can get the RTR kit for $400.00 you should get like two batteries at least and some sort of charger for the batteries. There are many things I would recommend before upgrading the shocks and pipe. I would get it in kit form that way it already comes with a better pipe. It also comes with better shock springs than the RTR. Plus heavy duty dogbones. The radio doesn't matter as much as the servo or bearing upgrades and a hump pack battery for the electronics. Either which way you go RTR or SS you will have steering issues caused by weak servos and not enough juice to the servo itself. Good luck

 

[gta18]

get a truckzilla kit w/o wheels , and buy the parts that you plan to upgrade like the shocks. It would be much cheaper cause you don't have to buy the stock parts that come with those kits.. THis is like what trdstreetfighter did. good luck

 

[Diver6127]

Originally posted by RC Rookie
From one rookie to another...buy the RTR....you dont really plan to wait 2 months to play with the Savage..it 'dont' get that cold...:&gt...if so ,you have the patience of a saint...:&gt.....I can't go over 3-4 days without a 'fix' from my Savage....good luck...RCR

Regardles of having to wait is not really a factor since it's too cold to effectively break in your engine. With temps reaching as low as they are these days you'll have to wait anyway.

Don't be intimidated with a kit. The instructions are pretty clear and really designe for a guy (assemble according to pics ... aka, look at the cover and aim for that ) Honestly though, with a kit, you'll get upgraded parts from the get-go. You'll also be able to repair the truck when you break something ... you WILL break something. You are already familiar with the truck.

Radios come in may shapes and forms as well as prices. Plan to spend anywhere from $79 and up. For the beginner you can get a futaba magnum jr for about $119 (FM) or other models for less. Airtronics makes a 3 channel, multi model memory for about $130 ... can't remember the model. Regardless, go to towerhobbies so you can at least get an idea. BTW, 3 channel is necessary only if you have a reverse module.

If I were you, get the kit. They're not that hard, just time consuming. A person with average skills can do it in about 14 hours total assembly time. My first kit took me 3 nights at a total of 11 hours. The best part about it?, I can say that I put it together.

Hardest part is the drive train. After that it's all down hill.

 

[alkyula]

first off is the whole WORLD still out of stock on savage ss kits?? I'm realy wanting to order one (crap yah already got my eyes on another r/c and i jsut got a storm pro--) but everysite i can think of/find is out of stock....I'm almost wanting to jsut pick up the RTR and try to sell the stock radio equipment/wheels tires to go towards another FM RX and some nice servos...