Gas Powered Remote Controlled Cars - An Addictive Hobby!

Operating gas powered remote controlled cars can be one of the most rewarding hobbies on the planet. Although called "Gas" gas engines really run on a substance called nitromethane, or nitro for short.

If you're thinking that this fuel sounds exactly like what the real-life dragsters burn, you're absolutely right. The only difference is, radio controlled vehicles do not have a lubrication system like real automobiles do, so the manufacturers of RC nitro fuel mix it with a bit of castor oil to keep the engine from overheating.

Gas powered remote controlled cars operate much in the same way as conventional automobiles do. They have an engine, a spark plug (called a glo plug), and they use a set of gears to transfer energy from the engine to the drive wheels (a transmission).

They utilize a sort of power steering driven by devices called "servos". The servos are battery operated and they respond to radio commands from the radio transmitter. When they receive a "left" command, they turn the wheels left. Conversely, a "right" command turns the car right.

Gas powered remote controlled cars are built to a scale that is compared to an actual car. Scale refers to the relationship between the size of remote controlled cars to an actual automobile. Scale dimensions are represented like this: 1/10th, or 1/8th. This means that the RC car is 1/10th, or 1.8th the size of a real car. The most common sizes are: 1/24, 1/18, 1/12, 1/10, 1/8 and 1/5. The 1/24th scale being the smallest, and the 1/5th scale the largest.

Unlike regular automobiles, gas powered remote controlled cars use 2-stroke engines. In the case of 1/8 scale cars, a .21 size engine is used. For 1/10 scale, .12 size engines are normally used.

Gas engines are started either with a pull-start cord, somewhat like a lawn mower, or with an external starter which uses an electric-driven rubber wheel which is bumped against the engine's flywheel to get the motor turning. When choosing gas powered remote controlled cars, there a few considerations to keep in mind. The biggest one being that you definitely cannot operate them in an enclosed area.

They make a lot of noise and they spew exhaust just like real cars. The cost of acquiring gas powered remote controlled cars vary depending upon the brand and type of car. My personal favorite is the 1/10th scale touring nitro cars. Touring cars are equipped with 4 wheel independent suspension, 4 wheel drive, and have 2-speed transmissions that are able to move the car at speeds of up to 50 mph. Speaking of speed, when speed ratings are given for RC cars, they are not to scale. That means that 50 MPH for a RC car is the exact same 50 MPH as your father's Oldsmobile!

If you look around you can get a good touring car for under $125.00. If speed is more your style, gas powered remote controlled cars come in a variety of sports and dragster models as well. Some of the high-performance cars can exceed 100 MPH. Remember that's a real 100 MPH so imagine what happens if you lose control and hit a solid object. It isn't pretty. Of course, with 100 MPH cars zooming around, it only makes sense that there are police gas powered remote controlled cars as well.

Complete with flashing lights and sirens, they come in all models including cruisers and off-road vehicles. Remember, RC cars are lots of fun and there's one to fit almost anyone's budget. You can start out with an inexpensive model and trade up as your interest grows.

I hope this information on gas powered rc cars has been helpful. Click here to get more great info about rc cars and trucks.