Any suggestions. Starting club at school

[tomfairweather]

Hi guys,
Any help would be gratefully recieved. I am a teacher in an international school in Malaysia and I am starting and after school club racing. I used to race back in the UK before coming here.
I have a budget of about 130 quid per child and will be looking at getting 15 or so cars. The students have expressed an interest in getting indoor/outdoor cars that we can take on the astro when it's not raining.
For that money I was thinking AE rc18t2 or b2 but the issue is with getting parts. There is a Kyosho dealer in town so mini infernos might be a better choice, although i have no idea what they are like. I never saw any at the clubs i went to.
To better spell it out, I want it
- RTR
- 1/18th (more car for the money than 1/10th?)
- Very robust (11 to 15yr olds using them and parts could be an issue)
- electric
- 2.4 Tx and Rx prefered
- under 130 quid
The cars I have looked at are LRP shark, Vendetta, AE including the short course. Kyosho and x-ray. Even exceed (blundered upon them).
Also I don't want to write off 1/10th as getting 1/18th electrics here will be hard. I like the fact that Mini Inferno takes full size servo.
thanks essays in by Monday! :D..........

[sosidge]

I think you are better off with a 10th car. Obviously something supported by the local market is best, and a name brand will have more long-term value. Avoid the RTRs with powerful motors - a silvercan is plenty for first-time driver. Tamiya DT-02 series comes to mind, and if you buy kits then you could make building and maintaining the car part of the project...

18th don't really work outside unless the surface is immaculate; electrics are a bit of a nuisance at times - even if you find one that takes a 10th servo, you are still running with non-standard batteries and motors; tyres can be a nuisance too, especially if there isn't the local availability.

I own a couple of Mini Inferno STs and they are fun in the garden with the standard motor and fairly reliable, but I'm not sure they would be a very satisfying racer, they don't really steer and the drivetrain slips away most of the power.

[Dandare]

The only RTR's i can see which include 2.4Ghz within budget are the Ansmann 2wd Mad Rat/Macnum truggy (£99) though this may well prove non child proof, lol. I believe the arguably tougher LRP Twister 2wd buggy is available with 2.4Ghz (according to ebay..), as to whether parts are available to you i don't know...

We have one or two Electrix(ECX) Boost 2wd buggies at our club, these are Made via Horizon Hobby (Losi...) & seem extremely tough, built for beginners, basic but still tuneable. Retail for approx £110 truly RTR, not 2.4Ghz (though 2sets of crystals supplied):

http://www.horizonhobby.co.uk/autoonline/j28electrix/j28_vehicles/j28_ecx3000_boost/j28_boost_buggy.html

As a curve ball, if you want Kyosho, these look kinda cool:

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/kyosho-sand-master-rtr-yellow-/rc-car-products/368739

2.4Ghz, RTR (minus battery/charger), maybe easier for you to get parts for & very eye catching for the beginner.

The decision is made easier if you're not looking to upgrade too much as you'd need something which is either expensive or a bit highly strung for beginners.
There are lots of kits/RTR's out there but many will be ruled out due to either spares issues, durability, cost etc etc..

[tomfairweather]

Thanks guys. Food for thought.
I am taking a trip to a few model shops today just to get a feel of what's out there. There is loads of chinese crap to sift through!
I will go to the Kyosho shop to investigate what is there and also the Tamiya shop. The idea of a 1/10 kit is where I wanted to start as electrics here are cheap. RTR was just an easier option.
Thanks again

[tomfairweather]

Ok so I have just got back from the shops. Tamiya were no help at all and over priced and Kyosho offered me a great deal on the Kobra. 140 all in with a 4800 nmid battery. The only problem is that it is a ready set so no making just repairing for the kids.
I had an email from the main distrabutor of AE in Asia and he has told me that he can supply anything from AE.
Does anyone know of a cheap unassembled 1/10th kit under about 80 quid?
AE B4.1 seems to only come as RTR!
Thanks again

[sosidge]

If Kyosho have been the most helpful so far, you might like to look at their new "EZ" Sandmaster that is available as a kit with pre-finished body.

[Neil Skull]

soidge beat me to it.

The Sandmaster Kit!! not out out yet BTW although the readyset has just hit the shops!

Its really good value for money, glue the shocks and take out the cheap switch and you have a very good and enjoyable car to race. Apart from that the Mini-Infernos are very good too! you can lock the the centre slipper to stop the slippage BTW!!! but not a kit to build. I have a sandmaster kit here and it looks nice and easy to build:thumbsup:

[tomfairweather]

Thanks Neil. I have ruled out the mini inferno as there's too many variables with changing batteries, getting new bits and the fact its 27Mhz rtr. Also the Sandmaster just didn't feel right. I had a play with one in the shop and it felt a bit heavy and clumsy!? Maybe I will revisit this option.
I have however just sent an email to Modelsport UK to ask them if they can personalise the Mad Rat kit as I have read some great reports and they are only 47 pounds! If i get that kit I need electrics so I can personalise what the kids have somewhat. I can get a nice cheap 2.4Ghz (fly sky) here for about 20 pounds.
Anyway I am just exploring the idea. Any suggestions on electrics package for about 70 quid?
Ta