RC car enthusiasts aren’t interested in this hobby for the ride alone. Oh no, there’s so much to these wonder gadgets than it meets the eye. Let’s not forget the fact that you have an opportunity to build your own RC car just the way you want it. How cool is that? It’s amazing actually, especially since everything is customizable, which means you get to pick the parts, the looks and, of course, the performance.
Now, if that hasn’t piqued your interest, nothing probably will. And to be completely honest, who doesn’t like tinkering with toys that aren’t really toys, to begin with? These are actually powerful machines that can entertain anyone and everyone, despite the age, gender or whichever other criteria you may think is preventing you from enjoying RC vehicles.
Believe it or not, most RC car enthusiasts spend more time building their vehicles than actually driving them. Of course, you’d want to test what your little Frankenstein’s monster is capable of, but that’s just part of the fun.
And when the time comes, there are even specialized race tracks designed for RC cars specifically, so that you can truly test your car to the limit. But, before you can do that, you gotta build one first. So, without any further ado, let’s go over some details on how to build an Rc car.
Bodyworks and Design
Before you get to any actual tinkering and engineering part, you should consider what your RC car should look like. The beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so why not make your RC car visually appealing, aside from making it a top-performer? After all, if it’s gonna blast through a race track, it might as well look good doing so.
This is the foundation for your DIY project. Whatever will be under the “hood” comes later and you’ll have plenty of time to make all the necessary adjustments that you have in mind or might come up with later on.
That said, consider browsing some RC car bodies first and foremost, so that you can pick the right model made from the right materials for your future project. Oh and keep in mind that you don’t have to stick with the original design. Bodyworks is primarily designed for aerodynamics and performance, but as far as design itself goes, you can re-paint and make modifications as you see fit. You’d be surprised at just how many accessories there are that will make your RC car truly stand out.
Tools of the Trade
Building pretty much anything requires the right tools, and RC cars are no exception to this rule. When you purchase a kit, it always comes with recommendations regarding which tools you may need to complete the vehicle.
Of course, you might want to consider procuring additional stuff, especially if you want to add more parts or modify existing ones in one way or another. Therefore, it’s advisable to stock up on whatever you may need before you start to build your own RC car. Here’s a list of possible tools you may need.
- Paint brushes, spray paint and paint sprayer for the design modifications
- Various screwdrivers like hex drivers, nut drivers, flatheads, philips screwdrivers, torque screws and so on.
- A soldering iron
- Lexan scissors, especially curved ones for modifying car bodies.
- Sprue cutter and pliers
- Duct tape, never forget duct tape!
- A heat gun, possibly a hot glue gun as well.
- A digital caliper with LCD display (precision matters).
- Any and all tools recommended in the instruction manual.
Another helpful tip to consider is to have a dedicated space where you can work in peace. A workshop or a good-old workbench in your garage will do the trick, as long as you have everything you need within reach, so that you can focus on whatever you’re doing at the moment.
Car Parts, Replacement Parts, Additional Parts, Spare Parts
Okay so the gist of how to build an RC car comes down to having the right parts, as well as having a few extra ones on hand. Now, why is that? Simply put, you might change your mind midway.
Every RC car kit comes with specific parts required to build a specific car. However, if you wish to make modifications or if something doesn't work properly, you should be proactive and get spares. This way, you don’t have to order extra parts or replacements while in the midst of your project.
Once you delve into building an RC car, stopping for whatever reason can be quite frustrating to say the least. And by stopping we don’t mean going to sleep or eating, but instead, putting the project on hold while you drive to the store or wait for the parts you’ve ordered online to arrive.
This is why you should try to envision what kind of a car you wish to build, beforehand. This will give you a general idea of what parts you might need. So for example, you may want to have an additional one or two RC car chargers and batteries, just in case. RC cars can’t run without those, so having a few extra ones is always the safe bet in case one fails or breaks down.
Another reason why you should have a general plan in mind is so that you can pick the parts that are compatible with the RC car model you’re building. Although most models support additional parts from other models, you should make sure they’ll work well together so there aren’t any hardware or software conflicts along the way.
Testing different parts is always a good thing, especially if you’re trying to boost response rate and performance. Therefore, here are a couple of additional parts you should always have in spare and test out properly before installing them in your RC car.
Speed Control and Motors
The essence of performance comes from the engine itself. For RC vehicles that is the electric motor that poses as an engine. This is why RC car motors and ESCs (Electronic Speed Control) are the most essential parts you need to have. As mentioned before, every kit comes with essential parts, motors included, but if you wish to take things up a notch to boost speed or performance, you might want to consider buying a few extra parts.
As you may already know, an electric motor converts electricity into mechanical energy, while ESC is an electric circuit that regulates the motor’s speed by adjusting the current. Now, there are numerous models of both with different specifications, designed to increase or regulate your RC car’s performance.
Keep in mind that too much speed means less control, while too slow of a car means driving it will get boring after a while. So, try to test out different models to find out which performance suits your driving skills the most. You can always switch out parts later on if you want more stability or more of a challenge.
Radio Control
RC or Radio Control is how you drive the car you’re about to build. But you already know that, which is why stocking up on RC car radios is of vital importance. Sure, you’ll get the corresponding one when you buy a kit, but that doesn’t mean you should have a spare or a different model to boost responsiveness and have more control over your vehicle. Like motors, RC radios come in different shapes, sizes and abilities.
Look around, do some research and find a model that suits your needs most. Once you do, get another one because it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you don’t like the first one or it breaks for some reason, you have a spare on hand to drive your RC car whenever you feel like it and most importantly, without any unnecessary delays.
The Assembly Process
If you’re trying to build your own RC car for the first time, there’s nothing to worry about. Purchasing a kit comes with a very thorough instruction manual that details every step of the assembly process.
Provided you have the right tools, you just have to follow the guidelines and you’ll have a functional RC car in no time. Making adjustments is a completely different story. Although it requires some level of skill and expertise, you can still manage just fine even as a beginner.
There’s a multitude of guides and videos online that will help you build and modify your car as you see fit. The important thing, however, is to be patient, take things one step at a time and not get frustrated if you make a mistake.
Unless you manage to somehow blow up your RC car, which is highly unlikely, you can take a step back and fix whichever mistake you made. The point is to enjoy yourself while building the car, that’s the beauty of it all. So, don’t rush and if you notice that you’re losing focus, step away and rest, as you can always continue tomorrow.
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Planning Your RC Car Project
Deciding to build your own RC car is a big step, indeed. It may seem complicated and perhaps even daunting, but it’s actually nothing to be troubled about. All you need are the right parts, the right tools and the will to see your project through until its completion.
With a bit of patience, you can plan everything ahead and fully enjoy the craftsmanship process. After all, that’s what building an RC car is all about — enjoying creating something and seeing how things will turn out in the end.