The world is slowly building a “new normal” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictures around the country show how businesses, families, friends, and individuals have had to adapt to prevent the spread of the virus. Pick up an RC hobby is an excellent way to do that.
RC hobbies are best when conducted outside in the open air. They could involve an RC car, RC helicopter, RC warship, or any other remote-controlled vehicles, but outdoor terrain is usually more fun and challenging. It’s a hobby that can be family-friendly, a way to bond with friends, or something you do alone.
To find out how to get started, check out the guide below.
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RC Hobby Basics
RC is an acronym for “radio controlled.” RC vehicles are equipped with a receiver that communicates with a joystick or pistol grip transmitter used for control.
Over time, RC has been conflated with remote control. Despite this, RC enthusiasts don’t typically conflate the two. Remote-controlled vehicles can be radio-controlled, infrared controlled, or physical wire controlled. The true meaning of RC, however, is exclusively radio controlled.
Types of RC Models
RC vehicles can be powered in a few different ways. These include:
- Electric models
- Nitro models
- Gas models
Electric RC models are powered by some form of electricity, like a battery pack. The motor is usually brushed or brushless. Brushless motors are more powerful but often much more expensive.
Nitro powered RC models are powered by nitromethane. They are more similar to real cars, using a two-stroke engine that even creates a realistic engine noise. They are powerful but require a lot of maintenance that is not ideal for beginners.
Gas models are powered by gasoline and are not as popular as electric or nitro models, likely due to their large size and cost. Their size requires a large space to use, but this is not difficult to accommodate off-road vehicles designed for the outdoors. Another benefit of this model is that they last longer than other types of RC cars.
Kit vs. Ready-to-Run
Many RC vehicles, like these RC warships, are incredibly lifelike. RC vehicles can be purchased as a complete model, known as a ready-to-run model, or as an incomplete kit.
There is a lot of fun but also a lot of potential frustration in completing an RC kit. There are many tools needed that may need to be purchased at an additional cost. These tools include:
- Hex drivers
- Nut drivers
- Slip-joint pliers
- Needle nose pliers
- Curved Lexan scissors
- X-Acto knife
- Flush cutter
- Body reamer
This is the standard toolkit needed for RC enthusiasts that insist on building their own vehicles.
Getting Started
Starting up an RC hobby is not exactly cheap. There are a lot of parts involved in the RC universe. However, this makes for a great project to engage with friends, family, or by yourself. Most importantly, it’s a COVID safe way to spend time with others or in the fresh air.
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