Can You Upgrade A TERRIBLE RC Car And Make It Good?

[@andyraven6219]

You can't polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter.

[@RCKickschannel]

Thats a great video title

[@iankunz7842]

Actually you can polish a turd. Mythbusters did it a long time ago.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

1st, thanks for using my comment Gav, and secondly, yeah some cheap RC’s just aren’t worth upgrading, this is one of them..

[@RCKickschannel]

The channel is still small enough that I read almost 95+% of every comment posted, so I like that I can still interact with almost everyone that watches the show.

[@alantaylor353]

Well, we've got Tomley.. "The UK's biggest RC channel".. And now we've got Gav.. "The UK's biggest turd polishing channel".! 😉 😉 😂 😂

[@ronaldsmith5375]

Well done. I have enjoyed a few budget RC's that I tried to "save". You went farther than I generally have as I try to retain the electronics in my attempts. Oil shocks and bump steer are the primary things that I try to fix. I have an old Tamiya hornet that is a Frankenstein build as I've created parts to fix chassis issues, adapted parts from the spare parts bin, etc. Now I'm starting to live that life with my Tamiya King Cab, but that is a whole different world of chassis pain (and I've not been lucky enough to score a sassy chassis. Keep up the good work.

[@Paul__FC]

Speaking as a hard core Tamiya fan. Dumping money in a non performer is half the fun. :)😂

[@RCKickschannel]

That needs to be on a Tamiya T-Shirt :) "As a Tamiya fan, dumping money into a non performer is half the fun."

[@buffalodiehard]

i’ll buy one lol

[@steveblackbird]

It actually wasn't half bad after the mods...When you fitted the oil shocks I was thinking...This thing might actually have a chance. Look..it's still a turd but who here hasn't got a parts bin with enough gear to get a toy like this running less ...well...shite. I've done it...I'm the guy that shims diffs on WLToys buggies...Why?? Cos' I want it running as best as it can... It's half the fun... Even shimming the hub carriers on my Traxxas XRT to help it be a little more precise with it's handling. Did it work..Hell yes. Tinkering is the best part of the hobby. You are right though... Buy right the first time and you'll have a lot less headaches. Love the channel mate! Congrats on 40k Subs!!

[@RCKickschannel]

:)

[@edwinumayam2722]

Love the sound effects in the beginning. Car sounded weird after it was fixed.

[@mosabari7681]

These videos are great. Half the fun is tinkering

[@joe-dp3ng]

Huh so the saying polishing a turd came from the UK? I have been using it for at least 50 years now. Us Yankees owe a lot of things to you guys across the pond and across the channel as well.

[@powersmodelgarage]

Nice bit of polish. It’s slightly better. Nice work

[@fabianmcgale_9160]

We have a saying in Ireland...'ye can't make a silk purse out of a pigs ear'. 😂

[@stevenkee61]

In Asia, there’s a saying, cheap things no good, good things no cheap…😂😂😂

[@James-bristol]

If that was an animal making that noise you’d put it out of its misery

[@RCKickschannel]

LOL

[@DonaldBurns-we3wy]

Thanks for the video. I have a piece of junk Redcat Blackout XBE that I plan to rebuild and hope to make it worth something, this gives me a bit of hope. Didn't realize I hadn't subscribed before, am now. Thanks again, have fun.

[@slaphead2965]

Lol You'd have had better luck upgrading the Wheelie bin! 😜👍🇬🇧 Nice video though 👍

[@BopoGamel]

Love this video. Great concept. Please can you let us know what the bits you used with the Bosch electric screwdriver, or maybe a set that not as easy to break haha. And, while I'm at it, that amazing-looking tool you used to remove the ball mounts? Thanks!

[@techspeedrc]

They look like Arrowmax bits, but for the best look at MIP speed tip. The ball joints are being removed with shock pliers, many versions available and their biggest use is to grip the shock shafts when screwing on ball joints as they are softer than the shaft so can't mark them.

[@Mini-z1994]

Looked like it ran pretty well before it broke that screw for the motor mount, but with how cheap the car is made it was expected i suppose that something was gonna break sooner or later. Maybe look at putting the stock electrics of this into a good chassis ? either from something you got around or whatever you find used that's a roller with no electronics basically.

[@kanenstuff]

The best thing was the shock pliers I need some of them that 💩 can't be polished.

[@ericchristopher9037]

Great job Gav, you succeeded in doing exactly what you said it would do! It was a great effort though. Nice to see my name in lights. 🤓

[@traviscozza7177]

Just coame across your videos. You got a new subscriber. Cool content!

[@RCKickschannel]

Hi and welcome to RCKicks. 700 plus RC videos on all kinds of stuff on the channel. 👍🏻 Gavin

[@alaricbragg7843]

Congratulations on your efforts! Lol so much for the racing suggestion...🤣

[@philapps3805]

Been watching your videos for a while now and I'm building tamiya rc but I've been replacing the plastic bushes with racepace bearings

[@rcigv5422]

Loved your pneumatic impact wrench ( spanner ). 😂😂 For sure need one of those myself.

[@tomhunter3075]

Thats it I'm getting 2 of them!

[@zoridor16]

wonderful improvement! I have thought about improving cheap Chinese brand cars sold by banggood or aliexpress by replacing the electronics with something of better quality (Savox Servos, Brushed Hobbywing 1060 Variators, Traxxas 12 turns motors (I think many of these cars can't handle more than 30 mph), a 2s Gens Ace battery and some Spekrum, Futaba, or Kyosho syncro station and controller) I think that with 23 mph and that the electronics last for many lipos without causing problems and without worn gears... do you think it is a good idea? Greetings and thanks for sharing

[@Pablo668]

Well if nothing else, throwing upgrades into a crap car to see how it goes, is fun, and sometimes rewarding.

[@Bogues_88]

No it's a complete waste of time and money. Far better to put into a good new car or existing one he already has.

[@davemorris6747]

Yes it is. If youve got the gear kicking around anyway then it’s good fun. I’ve done it to loads of RC cars over the last 40 years.

[@Andy_Yates]

Anxiety took hold and my thought seeing that skatepark? Oh no, that Justock esc isn't waterproof! (or isn't advertised as such)

[@nathancunningham3720]

is the original hotshot 2 being rereleased soon?

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep!

[@matthewbarker6766]

Your site is epic - turdtastic … so glad I found you, great humour and I love your family input

[@RCKickschannel]

Welcome aboard! 👍🏻👍🏻 Thanks for watching

[@tman3831]

Alright! Next for the scate park series Kyosho maybe a mid

[@SnorriMc]

Subbed and bell rung- much prefer your approach and presenting style to Tomly and Talbot. Currently going through your back catalogue looking for beginner friendly Touring Car stuff. Leaning towards Tamiya or HPI :)

[@RCKickschannel]

Welcome to RCKicks! Well you have overt 750+ videos in the back catalog so enjoy 👍🏻

[@butchmeister80]

Actually went well haha, for that money buy an ftx ram raider, really enjoyed that the end made me laugh lol

[@shadyhazza]

isn't that saying "you can't polish a turd" ? I think the point of upgrading a car is doing a car that you want to be good. Kev's best car was that rock bouncer, costs be damned, and I bet he has zero regrets on that one. One of my friends asked me to revive a car, he didn't even know what it was, its a HSP flying fish. Is it worth upgrading ? no idea, but the running gear is ridiculously cheap - 3gbp for the center shaft with cups and grubscrews - 7gbp for steel spur and 6 different size pinions. And I can upgrade it to brushless for 30gbp. 2 new diffs 10gbp. 50 is more of a sane upgrade budget for this kind of turd I think

[@shadyhazza]

A sign that Gavin's made it when he's got spam bots ;)

[@Coyote.five.0]

there's alot good rc's you can even buy with 90 us dollars

[@nic.25]

It was interesting to see what not to do 😊

[@RCKickschannel]

100% thats what this video is for. Hopefully it will help some new RC fans save a few $$$£££ by not doing this.

[@Tamichtube]

That's a lot of work to make a shiny turd, thanks for the effort though 😄

[@RCKickschannel]

LOL 👍🏻

[@paulmcnamara2908]

Wasn't sounding so good towards the end! 🤣👍

[@extec101]

it does not look crazy with slash tires its cool and got that ultra4 style, to bad that the motor mount and transmission cant keep up to eaven light bashing.

[@whitecompany18]

Cheese and rice, don't mention boilers, new one fitted last week and I'm two and a half grand lighter 😒

[@RCKickschannel]

Yep heating can get expensive real fast.

[@Ultegra10SPD]

Lipstick on a Pig. -U10

[@RCKickschannel]

100%

[@buffalodiehard]

in the U. S. we call it putting lipstick on a pig

[@dannyseville2543]

With this kind of 'glowing' report, it must be bad. I think that's the first time I have seen that ending in any RC channels videos.

[@wadeskelton7585]

Certainly more lively this time around Gavin - your driving could use a little work though 🤣🤣🤣

[@RCKickschannel]

Below average Pro driver I will have you know!

[@paulmcnamara2908]

Please tell you didn't actually put that truck in the bin? If its that bad send it to me I love trucks like that to use them for custom builds! 😉👍

[@RCKickschannel]

Don't believe everything you see on TV. I was going to drive over it with the car but I didn't want to damage the car bumper wing

[@paulmcnamara2908]

@@RCKickschannel okeydokey and feel your chilly pain matey but our boiler died last week was condemned were just waiting to have a new one fitted! That's my bank account completely emptied! 😱

[@butchmeister80]

Surely can nick a servo off the other 50 cars you have lol 😂

[@RCKickschannel]

50 cars! 100! 🙄

[@slashraptor9317]

For that much money you can get for a little bit more a team associated mt10 and plus parts support buy once cry once #support local hobbyshops

[@joewood306]

I guess this approach is not that wrong... many people probably can't affort a 250-300€ RC-Basher. It's an awful lof of money after all. And many people don't trust the used market. So a 100€Car would be the way to go. Especially when it is about to find out if RC is fun at all for them. If yes, they might invest the mentioned amound of money anyway; probably not at once but step by step. And as already mentioned in the comments... isn't that part of the fun? No matter where you start, you can always improve...

[@RCKickschannel]

This strategy works better for garden runners and road cars but if it’s for bashing, it’s really not the way to go. A large chunk of new RC fans are attracted by bashing as it looks more fun.

[@joewood306]

@@RCKickschannel I am totally with you and agree as someone who is into this hobby for ages and hast a pretty decet idea what the market looks like. However, I come back tothe price tag... 250€ is an awful lot of money, that really not everyone can (or wants to) affort right from scratch. But, true... even for 100-150€ there are better RCs out in the field. But how should a beginner know that seeing the shiny 100€ car on a chinese website? Whould he be able to distinguish between friction dampers and oil shocks and the according (dis)advantages?

[@Hendaz89]

I'll stick with tamiya kits 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jemster38]

This thing pretty much sums up typical china made crap. They look like the real thing, but once you start to use them, they don't perform as advertised and quickly fall apart.

[@prophetate]

Hahahaha It fought hard though 😊👍

[@gsxrdave1974]

please please put it out of it's misery gav

[@RCKickschannel]

LOL It's going off to a new home, I gave it away.

[@dangrady2938]

hilarious .

[@AntsRC]

Sorry just looks like you’re pumping out videos for Christmas and has no real value for me. But I do love the racing videos.

[@RCKickschannel]

NO, you must watch all of the videos and then comment on the ones that don't interest you.

[@curtisaustin4535]

So it's like traxxas😂

[@RCKickschannel]

LOL

[@roloreoandy9867]

Awww that poor truck. 🤣

[@Bogues_88]

This video is not because of me . I said don't waste time or money on bangood shit. You said you don't have money to buy other kits , I said you could do video on other cars you have using them maintaining or improving. So you spend money trying to make bang good shit better. No this video isn't because of me. The poll you recently conducted overwhelming response was people aprox 6% only wanted to see this crap. Why have a poll if you simply plan to do the exact opposite of the results.

[@RCKickschannel]

I don't know, maybe filming has a schedule, and content doesn't just get pulled out of thin air in five seconds after you post a poll on what people would like to see in 2024. As for spending money trying to make BG shit better, like I said in the video, I didn't spend money making the car better, it was all from my parts bin. Unfortunately, I don't think RCKicks is really for you, so we have refunded you your subscription fee and wish you well. Sorry we failed to deliver the quality RC content you desire.