RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

as of late, there has been a bunch of the same kind of threads being started. guy digs out his old r/c from his parent's attic or basement and now he wants to get it going again with modern electronics. i know for me, i get tired of answering the same questions over and over again, and that seems to be what's happening in these cases. so what i'd like to do is make this thread a sticky at the top of the page, and when more threads get started along the same lines, they can get directed right to here.

i know a lot of you guys search for cheap, quality electronics far more often than i do. so anyone that wants to contribute to this it would be appreciated. if we can, let's try to do our best to not turn this into a discussion thread. just links to online shops and products: 2.4 radios, lipo packs and charger, brushless system, etc.

if you have some of the products you're linking to your posts, feel free to offer your opinions on them too.

so with that, have at it.

Absolutely the best source for inexpensive/high quality lipos.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/geacerorasps.html

They are usually sold out of the popular hard case batteries so check often.

And you will need to charge them.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/73p-ac680-accharger.html

I have the AC only version of this charger. It is great. You will see many name brands re-badging and selling this as their own for much more money.

And if you are planning to run lipo you may need one of these. If you are running an older speedo without lipo cutoff then this is a must. I have these in all my brushed cars. Does the job.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/libaprforcar.html

Heck while you're at it grab one of these.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-gt3b-carradio-lcd.html

I have not played around with mine yet but my initial impression is that with the mods that everyone is doing it should be a good radio. The best part is extra receivers are only $8.

I like your idea but it should probably be limited to the area of modernizing electronics in vintage cars, because it would be impossible to cover all the other areas that are more brand- and car-specific: i.e. suspension & steering upgrades, chassis materials improvements, etc.

But I think I speak for most of us when I felt totally overwhelmed by all the new terms & technologies regarding batteries (NiMH/LiPo/LiFe), ESC's, brushless motors and modern digital radio components.

Maybe it would be a good idea to summarize all the major topics and considerations of upgrading to modern electronics with a vintage car?

Modern 2.2" wheels for the RC10 - great product, fits the original stock front AND rear axles with no modification at all.

http://www.jcracingproducts.co.uk/products/

Tire options for OEM wheels - all Tamiya tires which are still currently available.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=22274

The above mentioned Gens Ace Batteries, Fly Sky GT3B TX / RX are both excellent options. I use the 5000 mah 7.4 40C lipo (hard case ROAR approved) one in my car. It is a tight / snug fit and you have to take the stock battery trays out but it will need to be squeezed into the rear bulkhead.

For a replacement, use these B44 battery posts:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=associated+%3Cb%3Ebattery%3C%2Fb%3E+post+%3Cb%3Eb44%3C%2Fb%3E

Along with these thumb screws:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKYX4&P=M

As for brushless motors, I'm using this 5700 kv:

http://www.castlecreations.com/products/nc1406.html

Along with this ESC:

http://www.castlecreations.com/products/mamba_max_pro.html

My contribution as one of these same guys that got back into this very recently only to discover a radically different world with Lipos/brushless/2.4 ghz.

I like the Turnigy lipos from hobbyking.com and an idiot-proof lipo ready charger (which I'm selling now on the for sale section, but it served me pretty well) is the Onyx 230 available from Towerhobbies.

Also I wish I had discovered the Associated outlet store section on their website sooner when I got back into this as well as their ebay store. They frequently have very good deals there on quality brushless motors and LRP electronic speed controls (brushed and brushless).

I race once or twice a week, so what I purchase needs to be reliable aswell as providing good performance, i've always been a believer in 'you get what you pay for'. I've heard very mixed reports on some of the chinese produced items, some good some not so good... I think if you do buy cheap, you have to keep an open mind. That said I know alot of people that are running Hobbywing ESCs with great success, & i'm thinking of buying one to stick in a basher/fun buggy.

CHARGERS

I personally use the (so often copied) Bantam BC6 charger, which i've been using for the past 3-4 years with (touch-wood) 100% reliability;
http://www.glypo.com/reviews/bc6/ The link is for the same device I use but I believe there is now an updated version.

BATTERIES

Similar reliability with my Trakpower LiPo batteries for my touring car;
http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/trakpower/tkpc0270m.html

..... & Vampire saddle pack batteries in my 2wd buggy;
http://www.vampire-racing.com/

On the subject of batteries - I only have one pack for each class, they just get re-charged between races.

ESCs

I race my Touring car in the 13.5 'Turbo' class - I personally don't think you can beat the Black Diamond for ease of use, smooth responsive control & reliability.... its worth the extra Ca$h in my opinion
http://www.modeltech.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=882&PHPSESSID=rqwjxkusxic

For the buggy I race in open/modified 2wd class - i'm using the old ESC from my touring car which is an LRP Sphere TC spec, its a non timing advance speedo but is perfect for controlling my 6.5 motor. I've always liked LRP ESCs ever since I ran an original ICS Digital BITD. For me, for a buggy, i'd prefer to buy either a second-hand Sphere or a Novak GTB than risk my luck with something cheap from China...

I've had great success with this ESC:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sensored-Brushless-60A-ESC-USB-Link-1-10-RC-Car-/160728488101?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item256c2a18a5

The only down side is they take 2-3 weeks to get.

They are a hobbywing/speedpassion esc, they just don't have the branding on them.

I flash the speedpassion software on them and run them like that. I have one in my xxxsct and love it.

They have more timing built into them than my Tekin rs/rs pros so they end up having more top end.

I've been using older Orion lipos that are shaped like nicad/NiMhs. Only downside is that they only have 3000ish mah.

If anyone has a cheap similar Lipo to that with more MAH I'd love to know about it

Hi which mamba max system will make my vintage rc10 go faster and do wheelies easier, a 6900kv 7700kv? Thanks

Even a 4600 will do a wheelie, just depends on gearing, tires, slipper setting.

8rad wrote:And if you are planning to run lipo you may need one of these. If you are running an older speedo without lipo cutoff then this is a must. I have these in all my brushed cars. Does the job.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/libaprforcar.html

Anyone know if these will work with a Spektrum 2.4GHz receiver? The description is a little vague.

LTO_Dave wrote:

8rad wrote:And if you are planning to run lipo you may need one of these. If you are running an older speedo without lipo cutoff then this is a must. I have these in all my brushed cars. Does the job.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/libaprforcar.html

Anyone know if these will work with a Spektrum 2.4GHz receiver? The description is a little vague.

I'm sure it will since it is merely monitoring the voltage.

Thought I'd ask this here rather than start a new topic.
Can someone tell me what "industry standard wheel fitment" is? I have tried googleing it but all I can see is what cars have it? Is it simply 12mm hex drive?

12mm is the most versatile, but there is no real standard. It can be confusing trying to cross brands and models. Not what you want to hear I'm sure.

I thought as much, it would all be far too simple otherwise!

i just need to know what i should do with my original 6 gear tranny in my rc10 when i already have new electronics batterys and motors,the faster motors keep tearing up my idler gears(22t32p)and i cant find metal idlers for this tranny so i was wondering what i should do