| If you're a fan of radio-controlled vehicles, but find | | | | have no need of batteries. In addition to the battery |
| standard RC to be lacking in power and running time, | | | | that powers the radio controller, you might find yourself |
| you might want to consider looking into gas powered | | | | in need of batteries to supply power to the radio |
| RC cars. These cars, which run on a | | | | receiver in the car itself. Of course, with some |
| nitromethane-based fuel that is often referred to as | | | | receivers it may be possible to have the power |
| "glow fuel" or "nitro", offer a level of realism and | | | | supplied by the motor of the car itself. The type of |
| performance that you just won't find on battery | | | | receiver that you use and the power supply that it |
| powered cars. Gas powered RC cars are also often | | | | needs are one consideration to keep in mind when |
| highly customizable, allowing hobbyists to utilize a | | | | comparing different parts or different cars. |
| variety of engines and design types... there are even | | | | Sport vs. Competition |
| different types of transmitters available depending | | | | A variety of different options and body styles exist for |
| upon how you would prefer your car to work. Below | | | | gas powered RC cars. You can choose from trucks, |
| are some of the options available for gas powered | | | | sedans, buggies, popular car models, and even stock |
| RC cars, giving you an idea of the level of | | | | cars. Once you've decided upon the body style and |
| customization that you can achieve. | | | | layout that's right for you, however, you may find |
| Engines | | | | yourself facing one additional choice. Many of the car |
| Obviously, one of the more important aspects of gas | | | | models available commercially come in two distinct |
| powered RC cars is the engine. A variety of different | | | | types; a sport version, and a competition version. Sport |
| engine models are available for you to choose from, | | | | cars tend to cost less, and offer basic options that are |
| but in general most cars of this type will have what | | | | popular with beginners and casual hobbyists. For those |
| are commonly referred to as "glow" engines. A "glow" | | | | who want to race their cars against other dedicated |
| engine is a 2-cycle internal combustion engine, creating | | | | hobbyists, though, there are the competition cars which |
| the power that gas powered RC cars are known for | | | | tend to have more power and higher speeds and |
| and adding a bit of realism to the car with the exhaust | | | | offer advanced options such as oil shocks and ball |
| that is produced. Instead of the spark plugs that a | | | | bearings. Competition models may not be a complete |
| full-size automotive engine would have, these engines | | | | car, however, since they are designed to allow for |
| use a "glow plug" that is heated by what is known as | | | | more customization... many of these kits require you to |
| a "glow starter" This heat is then held by the plug and | | | | get the engine that you want to go with it separately, |
| is used to fire the engine strokes for the remainder of | | | | as well as the car body in many cases (since the kit |
| the running time. | | | | only provides the main chassis.) |
| Fuel | | | | Kits vs. RTR |
| As mentioned above, the "gas" used by gas powered | | | | If you've decided that you want to buy gas powered |
| RC cars isn't actually gasoline... it's a special fuel that is | | | | RC cars, you often have to make a choice between |
| nitromethane-based and formulated for the cars' | | | | buying a kit, so that you can build the car yourself, or |
| engines. Special lubricants are added to the fuel | | | | buying a ready-to-race car (also known as RTR) that |
| mixture to protect the engine from excessive heat and | | | | is ready to be fueled and go right out of the box. RTR |
| wear; the lubricants work in much the same way as | | | | cars are good for beginners or casual hobbyists, but |
| gas-oil mixtures in some chainsaws and other | | | | aren't highly customized. Kits, on the other hand, may |
| small-engine equipment. Other fuel accessories may | | | | require additional work but allow the builder to decide |
| be needed to go with your car. A pump or special | | | | exactly how they want their car put together. Should |
| bottle may be used to get the fuel into the RC car's | | | | you use a kit, it's important to remember that you'll |
| fuel tank, and filters in the fuel line may need to be | | | | need to make sure that you have the engine that you |
| replaced from time to time. | | | | want, paint and basic tools on hand for assembly and |
| Radio | | | | decoration, and additional tools and parts depending |
| The radio that you use to control your gas powered | | | | upon the kit that you purchase. |
| RC cars can be the same type that is used to control | | | | Regardless of the type of car that you buy, though, |
| an electric model of RC car. A 2-channel radio system. | | | | you're certain to find yourself amazed at the power |
| It's important to keep in mind that just because the | | | | and performance of these cars loved by hobbyists |
| car's engine runs on a liquid fuel doesn't mean that you | | | | and racers around the world. |