With an $800 budget , what would you get?

[PainKiller]

Correct charger, but too high on the price. The top adapters, yes. Not the EC5's to TRX. You don't need those of course.

Order the charger from RaceDayQuads, HeliDirect, or GetFPV.

I’ll check out those sites. Thanks.

 

[WickedFog]

And any other car you get, if it has a different battery connector, just buy the correct adapter cable, making sure you pay attention to the sex of the connectors you need - male/female.

But if it were me, I'd cut the connector off the cars and solder on the same connectors for everything. And that would definitely not be the TRX connector. EX5 or XT90 would be my choice for the bigger stuff like 3S and up. Anything less would be EC3 or XT60. Smaller number equals smaller connector basically. Everyone has their preferences here, but everyone eventually tries to get away from having a multitude of connectors to use.

 

[Greywolf74]

I would suggest not losing sight of what you're after. A couple cars for you and your son to run. The kits discussed in here are awesome, for sure. But there have been a number of suggestions to get you guys going with good RTR stuff, that will have you guys enjoying the hobby. You did mention you're not mechanically inclined. So a good, jump in and get your feet wet with decent stuff kinda start will ease you into working on them. And as you can see, there's PLENTY of help here.


1. Don't listen to hobby shops, unless you get to know the folks running it and trust their opinion. You need to go in there knowing more than they do about what you're buying, if possible. If not, have questions ready. You did your research as best you could. See what else they know.

2. Buy a good charger NOW. Not later, after suffering through 3 or 4 mistakes. Stay away from smart battery technology. It's just not worth it.

3. Buy a quality metric hex driver set now. Not later after you've mangled screws in your kits.

4. A Good soldering gun/station is important. Learn to use it! It's not rocket science.

All of these for sure.

I'd add to that not to buy cheap gear/RCs period unless it's a known good budget product. For example, the Flysky GT3b is a known good budget radio, and there are many people on the forum here that will attest to that. If there wasn't, I wouldn't have ever bought one. I've owned 4 Flysky radios now, and they were all decent or better radios.

 

[TeknoJ]

Don’t get too many cars too soon, you may get overwhelmed working on them.

I got one of these last year and it has been great for me, except I only paid about $100. The price went way up unless this one is a newer version.
https://www.rcplanet.com/toolkitrc-...er-workstation-6s-15a-200w-tlk-m6dac/p1453741

 

[PainKiller]

I was at a wedding yesterday and turns out that my sister-in-law’s bf is into RC. So needless to say we were talking about RC the whole time which was great since I hate weddings.

He said I could buy cans of compressed air to help clean out the motor , ESC etc. Is this a common practice? He also said there’s a sock-like product called a “shroud” that goes on under the body and protects all the internals. Never heard of this either.

While other people were showing each other pics of their kids , he was showing me pics of his Rustler and T-Maxx. So overall , it was a pretty fun wedding.

 

[332_RC]

Small world! Yeah, weddings can be fun, but a process.
Yes, I've used the compressed air cans for computers at 1st for rc. Works great! Just gets expensive. I use my air compressor on 45-50psi to blow mine out now. Not as convenient as the PC desktop cans, but not an expense. The covers are called dust covers. I've used them. They are polyester with a elastic band &/or velcro too. Works pretty good. In really dusty or sandy stuff, helps. In the heat of summer, can make electronics overheat. Kinda a pain to get it all situated on the RC to bash when I'm gonna blow it out anyways with the air compressor. Walmart or Harbor Freight have cheap pancake compressors that are pretty small, light, & portable. I actually looked at one yesterday at Walmart. Their Hart house brand. I don't need it, mine is fine, just the larger wheel type.

 

[332_RC]

Air compressor

Home Depot $59

 

[PainKiller]

Air compressor

Home Depot $59

That’s a deal

 

[332_RC]

That’s a deal

Cool. My Home Depot 5min from here has one in stock so maybe it's available. The desktop cans can add up quickly to $60. I'd rather have an air compressor Bike & car tires or hand tools.

 

[Greywolf74]

That’s a deal

Cool. My Home Depot 5min from here has one in stock so maybe it's available. The desktop cans can add up quickly to $60. I'd rather have an air compressor Bike & car tires or hand tools.

You guys would be better off spending a bit more and getting something that has a piston compressor instead of a diaphragm, but you're prolly looking at $140+. Either way though, make sure you get a moisture trap and quick connect fittings. If you have a moisture trap, you can use it for airbrushing also.

Also, Husky brand is cheap crap IMO. My first hobby compressor was a Husky brand, and I accidentally tipped it over on carpet and the handle busted right off.

 

[332_RC]

10-4. I already have a piston air compressor with a water trap.

 

[PainKiller]

Cool. My Home Depot 5min from here has one in stock so maybe it's available. The desktop cans can add up quickly to $60. I'd rather have an air compressor Bike & car tires or hand tools.

Definitely. My kid’s bike tire always needs air as does my wife’s car. I have a Home Depot close by as well.

You guys would be better off spending a bit more and getting something that has a piston compressor instead of a diaphragm, but you're prolly looking at $140+. Either way though, make sure you get a moisture trap and quick connect fittings. If you have a moisture trap, you can use it for airbrushing also.

Also, Husky brand is cheap crap IMO. My first hobby compressor was a Husky brand, and I accidentally tipped it over on carpet and the handle busted right off.

Interesting. Any brands you recommend?

 

[9x19]

These are handy as well... and portable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CB8D4LPP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[332_RC]

These are handy as well... and portable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CB8D4LPP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

I had one of those too. Did well, didn't last too long & quit working.

Definitely. My kid’s bike tire always needs air as does my wife’s car. I have a Home Depot close by as well.

A cheap house brand compressor will definitely help out around the house. May not be the 10 year solution, but won't break your budget.

 

[Greywolf74]

These are handy as well... and portable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CB8D4LPP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

These are nice for just blowing stuff out. The one I have cost me about $80 but same concept.

Definitely. My kid’s bike tire always needs air as does my wife’s car. I have a Home Depot close by as well.


Interesting. Any brands you recommend?

I wouldn't worry too much about brand. I only mentioned the Husky stuff because it was particularly cheap. My biggest concern is the airflow. That Husky pancake is only rated for .65 CFM and something like this VEVOR compressor is rated for 2.2CFM. Granted this VEVOR compressor is twice as much but will be a better compressor. At least theoretically. It also holds 1.8 gallons more air which is about 30% more. I don't know anything about the VEVOR brand, but a piston driven compressor is much more effective than a diaphragm.

 

[332_RC]

Little better than the Home Depot. This is Lowes, which I prefer, just a longer drive here. The Wal-Mart one I saw was $150 Hart brand, which probably is, well, Wal-Mart stuff.
Air compressor

 

[332_RC]

@PainKiller If you have a leaf blower, cordless or gas, use it to blow the RC out. Not spend a dime.

 

[Greywolf74]

@PainKiller If you have a leaf blower, cordless or gas, use it to blow the RC out. Not spend a dime.

Just dont try to airbrush with your leafblower!

 

[PainKiller]

@PainKiller If you have a leaf blower, cordless or gas, use it to blow the RC out. Not spend a dime.

I don’t have one but that’s a great idea.

Just dont try to airbrush with your leafblower!

No? How come?

 

[332_RC]

I don’t have one but that’s a great idea.

Two tasks solved! Yard & RC!