RC car kits combine two exciting hobbies into one.
Experience two rewarding hobbies with a single purchase when you order RC kits from Horizon Hobby. If you’ve ever built a plastic model kit, then you know how enjoyable it is to assemble an impressively finished subject from a box of parts. It’s even more exciting to build your own remote control car kit and then actually drive it!
RC kits make an especially great hobby for anyone who likes to work with mechanical devices and explore how they work. The internal engineering of a radio control car is very much like what you find inside a full-size automobile. It’s just scaled down to a much smaller size. When you put together RC car kits, you’re essentially building functional, miniaturized vehicles using parts and following instructions supplied by the kit manufacturer.
Remote control cars and trucks began gaining popularity over a half century ago. Back then, most of them were sold in kit form. Hobbyists in those days enjoyed taking the time to build RC kits. Today, most people seem to prefer the instant gratification of factory-assembled, ready-to-run (RTR) RC cars that can be driven almost right out of the box. Nevertheless, in the eyes of many dedicated and experienced radio control hobbyists, RC car kits are still preferred for the advantages that come from doing it yourself.
The advantages of building your own RC car kit.
Even if all you really want to do is drive your remote control car, you should at least look into the benefits of building an RC kit before selecting an RTR. High on the list are the skills you gain from the assembly process. Once you’ve completed your RC car kit, you’ll understand exactly how everything about it works. You’ll have the know-how necessary to handle maintenance and repairs like a pro, and to quickly diagnose and fix anything that might go wrong.
Ready-to-run RC cars come with whatever appropriate motor, ESC, and radio gear the manufacturer chose to put in the box. Some modelers find this convenient. Others don’t want to pay for completion items that aren’t what they would like to install in their vehicle. RC car kits do require more additional purchases than RTRs, but that also means you’re free to choose the power systems and radio gear that you prefer.
Similarly, manufacturers of ready-to-run remote control cars rarely offer more than just a few different color options. You’ll be driving an RC car that looks exactly the same as hundreds of others. Many RC car kits either don’t provide a body at all or include one that’s clear and unfinished. That gives you the opportunity to design your own look and drive a radio control car that’s one of a kind.
You need at least a few specialized hobby tools to build an RC car kit. The advantage is that when your kit is finished, your workshop will be ready with the right tools to keep it running at its best. Like kits, ready-to-run RC cars can also be maintained and upgraded to improve performance. The difference is that it will take you more time and preparation to do it.
How to choose the right RC car kit for you.
When comparing RC car kits to RTRs, you might initially think that the RC kits will save you money. It’s true that kits can be lower priced. Remember, however, that you won’t be able to run your kit without making additional purchases.
As explained earlier, RC kit manufacturers purposely leave some equipment choices up to you. Most kits do not come with a radio system, motor, ESC, or battery. Other RC car kits might require you to supply your own body, wheels, and tires. So be aware that remote control cars in the kit category can have very different levels of completeness. Read their descriptions carefully and choose one that fits your interests best.
Here are a few examples to illustrate the point. The 1/10 scale TLR (Team Losi Racing) 22X-4 Elite is a top-of-line racing buggy kit that does not come with wheels and tires. A body is supplied, but it’s left unpainted for the driver to customize. The RC car kit category also includes the 1/10 scale Axial® SMT10 Monster Truck Raw Builders Kit. This one has no body at all.
RC roller kits feature a prebuilt chassis and therefore offer some of the convenience of RTR models. But because they don’t come with a motor or other on-board electronics, roller RC car kits still allow for a high level of customization. And not all rollers are identically equipped. The 1/5 scale ARRMA OUTCAST 4WD EXtreme Bash Roller Stunt Truck includes a factory-finished body. You’ll need to purchase a body separately for the 1/10 scale Losi 22S No Prep Drag Car Roller.
Every RC car kit’s Horizon Hobby product page explains what additional components will be needed to complete the vehicle. All come with expertly written and illustrated instruction manuals that take you through the assembly process step by step. Building a kit is fun and gives you valuable experience that you’ll use with every other RC model you might purchase. Check out the wide variety of RC car and truck kits available from Horizon Hobby today.
RC car kits combine two exciting hobbies into one.
Experience two rewarding hobbies with a single purchase when you order RC kits from Horizon Hobby. If you’ve ever built a plastic model kit, then you know how enjoyable it is to assemble an impressively finished subject from a box of parts. It’s even more exciting to build your own remote control car kit and then actually drive it!
RC kits make an especially great hobby for anyone who likes to work with mechanical devices and explore how they work. The internal engineering of a radio control car is very much like what you find inside a full-size automobile. It’s just scaled down to a much smaller size. When you put together RC car kits, you’re essentially building functional, miniaturized vehicles using parts and following instructions supplied by the kit manufacturer.
Remote control cars and trucks began gaining popularity over a half century ago. Back then, most of them were sold in kit form. Hobbyists in those days enjoyed taking the time to build RC kits. Today, most people seem to prefer the instant gratification of factory-assembled, ready-to-run (RTR) RC cars that can be driven almost right out of the box. Nevertheless, in the eyes of many dedicated and experienced radio control hobbyists, RC car kits are still preferred for the advantages that come from doing it yourself.
The advantages of building your own RC car kit.
Even if all you really want to do is drive your remote control car, you should at least look into the benefits of building an RC kit before selecting an RTR. High on the list are the skills you gain from the assembly process. Once you’ve completed your RC car kit, you’ll understand exactly how everything about it works. You’ll have the know-how necessary to handle maintenance and repairs like a pro, and to quickly diagnose and fix anything that might go wrong.
Ready-to-run RC cars come with whatever appropriate motor, ESC, and radio gear the manufacturer chose to put in the box. Some modelers find this convenient. Others don’t want to pay for completion items that aren’t what they would like to install in their vehicle. RC car kits do require more additional purchases than RTRs, but that also means you’re free to choose the power systems and radio gear that you prefer.
Similarly, manufacturers of ready-to-run remote control cars rarely offer more than just a few different color options. You’ll be driving an RC car that looks exactly the same as hundreds of others. Many RC car kits either don’t provide a body at all or include one that’s clear and unfinished. That gives you the opportunity to design your own look and drive a radio control car that’s one of a kind.
You need at least a few specialized hobby tools to build an RC car kit. The advantage is that when your kit is finished, your workshop will be ready with the right tools to keep it running at its best. Like kits, ready-to-run RC cars can also be maintained and upgraded to improve performance. The difference is that it will take you more time and preparation to do it.
How to choose the right RC car kit for you.
When comparing RC car kits to RTRs, you might initially think that the RC kits will save you money. It’s true that kits can be lower priced. Remember, however, that you won’t be able to run your kit without making additional purchases.
As explained earlier, RC kit manufacturers purposely leave some equipment choices up to you. Most kits do not come with a radio system, motor, ESC, or battery. Other RC car kits might require you to supply your own body, wheels, and tires. So be aware that remote control cars in the kit category can have very different levels of completeness. Read their descriptions carefully and choose one that fits your interests best.
Here are a few examples to illustrate the point. The 1/10 scale TLR (Team Losi Racing) 22X-4 Elite is a top-of-line racing buggy kit that does not come with wheels and tires. A body is supplied, but it’s left unpainted for the driver to customize. The RC car kit category also includes the 1/10 scale Axial® SMT10 Monster Truck Raw Builders Kit. This one has no body at all.
RC roller kits feature a prebuilt chassis and therefore offer some of the convenience of RTR models. But because they don’t come with a motor or other on-board electronics, roller RC car kits still allow for a high level of customization. And not all rollers are identically equipped. The 1/5 scale ARRMA OUTCAST 4WD EXtreme Bash Roller Stunt Truck includes a factory-finished body. You’ll need to purchase a body separately for the 1/10 scale Losi 22S No Prep Drag Car Roller.
Every RC car kit’s Horizon Hobby product page explains what additional components will be needed to complete the vehicle. All come with expertly written and illustrated instruction manuals that take you through the assembly process step by step. Building a kit is fun and gives you valuable experience that you’ll use with every other RC model you might purchase. Check out the wide variety of RC car and truck kits available from Horizon Hobby today.
