Budget Blasters! 7 Hot Kits for $100 or Less Words: PETER VIEIRA
There are hobbies that are way more expensive than RC (polo, anyone?), but compared to collecting bottle caps or SPAM sculpting, RC tends to be a bit dollar-intensive. What's a budget-minded RC guy to do? Settle for some department-store cheesemobile with a lame turbo mode and transforming robot action? Heck no! You don't have to spend a lot to get real RC gear, and you don't have to step down in quality, speed, or durability just because you're on the cheap. Want proof? Check out these budget kits; there's something to suit any RC taste. From touring to off-road to straight-ahead speed machines, they're all here. For the purposes of this article, we included only 1/10-scale vehicles that were available at a lowest price of $100 or less. The price of each kit will vary with the local dealer or mail-order retailer you purchase from.
BOLINK PRO STOCK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Speed, baby! Combine direct-drive with a nearly weightless pan chassis and foam tires, and you get a kit that can exceed 30mph with almost any motor. Bolt in a modified motor, and the sky's the limit! Just don't hit anything; the Pro Stock isn't built for abuse. If you decide to take on a curb with this car, the curb is gonna win. If you want to play rough, check out Bolink's Digger II, Legends and Little Red Wagon; they're nearly indestructible. BUY IT IF: Your need for speed outweighs your need for durability and versatility. SAVE UP FOR: Tires! Hard play is tough on foam tires, which are used on all Bolink kits. OTHER BOLINK KITS TO CONSIDER • Econo Rail $70 • Funny Car $68 • RC Cruiser $65 • Digger II $55 RTR FACTOR: Sorry, the Pro Stock is sold as a kit only, but some Bolink models are sold with painted bodies. The RC Cruiser can be purchased with an assembled chassis and painted body.
SPECS TOP SPEED: Varies with choice of motor and battery (equipped as shown, the Pro Stock will top 30mph) WHEELBASE: 10.2 in. (260mm) OVERALL LENGTH: 17.3 in. (440mm) COST: (kit only) $65
YOU'LL NEED • Radio set with one servo • Electronic speed control • Servo-saver • Polycarbonate-compatible paint • Motor • 6-cell stick pack • Charger
1. No differential here; drag cars don't use 'em. Aluminum side plates, composite aluminum/plastic hubs and a thick spur gear get power to the wheels. 2. O-ring front tires help the Pro Stock turn every bit of horsepower into forward motion. Steering is another story …. 3. Rear suspension? What rear suspension? The Pro Stock is built to go blazing fast on smooth surfaces, and it does that job well.
PARMA PRO '37
WHY WE LIKE IT: Hot-rod fans and detail-oriented modelers, your car is here! A beautifully injection-molded small-block engine is the star of the Pro '37, but the bodywork is special, too. The three-piece shell includes a massive drag wing and undertray that can be assembled in a variety of configurations. Impressively fat foam tires on chrome wheels complement the hot-rod look perfectly, and thanks to Parma's minimalist “Good Times” chassis, the Pro '37 goes even faster than it looks—if you dare risk all that lovely bodywork. For a classic roadster look, check out the Hemi Coupe. It rolls on the same “Good Times” chassis and fat drag foams as the Pro '37 and also includes a fully detailed engine—as well it should, since it's completely exposed in the open engine bay! BUY ONE IF: You dig hot-rod style and static models, and you don't plan to thrash your RC car. SAVE UP FOR: Nothing, really; the kits include everything you'll need to make a killer model that moves. OTHER DURATRAX KITS TO CONSIDER Check out the Hemi Coupe for classic hot-rod roadster lines in RC. $90 RTR FACTOR: As you might expect, these super-detailed cars and their multipiece bodies are sold as kits only.
SPECS TOP SPEED: Varies with motor; about 25mph as shown WHEELBASE: 10.6 in. (270mm) OVERALL LENGTH: Hemi Coupe/Pro ‘37 13.8 in. (350mm)/18 in. COST: (kit only) $98
YOU'LL NEED • Radio set with one servo • Electronic speed control • Servo-saver • Polycarbonate-compatible paint • Enamel paint • Motor • 6-cell stick pack • Charger
1. Fat foams on chrome wheels give the Parma cars super grip and an aggressive stance. 2. The Hemi Coupe includes a beautiful Chrysler 426 engine that's fun to detail (Mike Ogle built this one). The Pro '37 includes a Chevy small-block V-8 that you can build with fuel injection, a front-draft blower, or a “six deuces” setup. 3. Parma's “Good Times” chassis features aluminum hubs, a ball diff- and a stamped aluminum rear pod.
TRINITY STREET SPEC
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Street Spec is the backbone of Trinity's Street Spec cost-controlled racing program. Participants race Street Spec cars straight from the box using the included foam tires, motor and battery pack. The battery and motor are clearly labeled “Street Spec,” and the tires' white bands identify them as Street Spec-legal. By controlling the equipment used, Street Spec racing emphasizes skill as the ticket to the winners' circle—not dollars. Don't want to race? The Street Spec is still a fast, fun car for on-road play. It has a tough, 1¼8-inch fiberglass chassis, an aluminum motor plate with adjustable ride height, adjustable T-plate rear suspension and a smooth-turning ball differential with aluminum hubs. You can buy the Street Spec chassis with a NASCAR, touring, or NASTRUCK-style body. The kit does edge above our $100 price cap, but remember that it includes a nice motor and a battery pack! BUY ONE IF: You like to go fast on the street, and you appreciate an adjustable chassis. If your local track races Street Spec, you need this car! SAVE UP FOR: A couple of extra packs if you plan to race. If you like to play on pavement, save up for tires. OTHER TRINITY KITS TO CONSIDER If you're on a budget, the Street Spec is it! Trinity's other cars are all no-holds-barred racing machines—mucho dinero. RTR FACTOR: Kit only.
ASSOCIATED DS QUALIFIER
WHY WE LIKE IT: It's an Associated with legendary RC10 bloodlines; in fact, the DS is the only remaining Associated car to use the classic aluminum tub chassis. But what's really important here are the features: realistic BBS-style wheels, race-proven Stealth tranny with ball diff, VCS shocks, and front and rear swaybars. You even get a wiper-type mechanical speed control and 23-turn motor. BUY ONE IF: You've always wanted an Associated with all the fixin's. SAVE UP FOR: A set of bearings to replace the kit's oilite bushings. OTHER ASSOCIATED KITS TO CONSIDER If you're not into the truck look, you can get the DS Qualifier with a Camaro shell, but you won't find a less expensive Associated kit. RTR FACTOR: DS Qualifiers are sold as kits only.
SPECS TOP SPEED: 19mph WHEELBASE: 10.3 in. (263mm) OVERALL LENGTH: 18.5 in. (470mm) COST: (kit only) $100
YOU'LL NEED • Radio set with two servos • Polycarbonate-compatible paint • 6-cell stick pack • Charger
1. Associated provides a wiper-type mechanical speed control, but you'll need a soldering iron to assemble it. Save up a few more bucks and spring for an ESC instead. 2. A Reedy DS Spec motor gives the Qualifier plenty of power, and it will last a long time, thanks to its replaceable brushes. 3. Swaybars, VCS Macro shocks, fiberglass shock towers and the classic RC10 aluminum tub chassis highlight the Dual Sport Qualifier.
TAMIYA BAJA CHAMP
WHY WE LIKE IT: Tamiya's Baja Champ and TL01 sedan platform share the same monocoque-style chassis that seals the drive train from dirt and debris. The Baja Champ uses longer arms for a wide off-road stance, whereas the TL01 sedans come in a wide variety of bodies that include a WRC Ford Focus, SVT Mustang Cobra and Lexus GS400—among others. On-road or off, these super-tough cars are as much fun to build as they are to run, with bonuses of super durability and plenty of upgrade potential. BUY ONE IF: You're really stoked on building your first kit—nothing builds better than a Tamiya. SAVE UP FOR: A set of bearings to replace the kit's oilite bushings. OTHER TAMIYA KITS TO CONSIDER: • Mad Bull $80 • Mad Fighter $70 • Blitzer Beetle $100 Blazing Star $95 • Stadium Blitzer $100 RTR FACTOR: Tamiya's XB line of RTRs doesn't yet include the Baja Champ, but a pair of TL01-based Fords (SVT Lightning, SVT Mustang Cobra) are available as well as two rally machines (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. V1, Subaru Impreza WRC).
SPECS TOP SPEED: 17.5mph WHEELBASE: 10.1 in. (257mm) OVERALL LENGTH: 15.8 in. (390mm) COST: (kit only) Baja Champ $85; TL01 series $100
1. A heavy-duty steel drive shaft gives the Baja Champ full-time 4WD. 2. A mechanical speed control and a 540 motor are included. 3. The Baja Champ's short, undamped shocks make for a bouncy ride; oil-filled shocks would be a smart upgrade.
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Evader is the most feature-packed stadium truck you can buy. It does creep above our $100 price cap, but it's just $10 more—and that's with an included ESC and Photon 20-turn motor! Not to mention the Evader's other features: soft-compound tires, heavy-duty steel turnbuckles, full ball bearings, threaded-body aluminum shocks, factory-finished body and 3-gear transmission with ball diff and slipper clutch combine to make the Evader a high-performance play machine that's quite raceable. It might be the best way to blow a C-note (plus 10 bucks) on RC. BUY ONE IF: You like the stadium-truck look, and you might want to enter a race or two. SAVE UP FOR: Nothing! The Evader is loaded with features. But if you want an Evader with a different look, get an aftermarket body. Try a set of RPM wheels, too; rims designed to fit Losi trucks fit the Evader. OTHER DURATRAX KITS TO CONSIDER There are lots of nitro-powered DuraTrax trucks to think about, but for electric-powered RC, the Evader is it. RTR FACTOR: DuraTrax offers all its kits RTR, and the Evader is a terrific value with its DuraTrax-by-Futaba radio system and fast, 20-turn Photon motor. Unless you have radio gear to transfer to the prebuilt/no-radio version of the Evader, the RTR is your best value.
TRAXXAS RUSTLER
WHY WE LIKE IT: We're featuring the Rustler, but you should also consider Traxxas' high-riding Stampede; the Rustler and Stampede are virtually identical except for their main chassis; both stuff a lot of fun and features into a low-cost package. Oil shocks, slipper clutch, bombproof ball-bearing gearbox and go-anywhere versatility make both trucks winners, and it doesn't hurt that they look just plain cool. BUY ONE IF: You want a go-anywhere truck with upgrade potential. Plan to run on the worst lunar-landscape terrain? Get the Stampede; it has more ground clearance. SAVE UP FOR: Ball bearings for the wheels. The Rustler and Stampede transmissions already have bearings, but the hubs are bushed. OTHER TRAXXAS KITS TO CONSIDER • Bandit $63 • Street Sport $80 • Spirit $100 (RTR!) RTR FACTOR: Both the Rustler and Stampede are available RTR, with or without an ESC. Spend a little extra for the version that includes Traxxas's XL-1 ESC, and you'll have better throttle control and eliminate the need for speed-control maintenance.
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