New to RC cars - tips tricks and advice for RC cars

The world of RC is massive and far reaching with several different genres from speed runs, bashing, racing, crawling and the shelf queen collections. But there are mistakes that are made by most and some great gems of advice that can help people new to the hobby.
This is the first video which gives general advice to newcomers to the hobby and there will be more to come as we build a catalogue of advice and guidance videos in 2024.
if you have any questions about anything RC drop it in the comments and we will do our best to answer them.

[@rogergale3297]

Great as always. Just realised only 10% of youtube channels ever reach 10k subs. Really great 👍

[@PopalongRC]

cheers Roger

[@webbon]

Great video and extremely helpful hints and tips. Many thanks guys.

[@jamesmedlow]

I'd love to see a detailed video about lipo battery safety. When I got my first proper RC car, I got myself freaked out reading the horror stories about houses set on fire.. Batt Box and a proper balance charger was purchased, maybe not needed, maybe it was the correct thing to do? Storage charging, balance charging, how long to leave them charged, where to keep them, your own battery safety practises etc etc. I feel this is often overlooked and rarely explained in detail (or at least the details that matter).

[@PopalongRC]

RC CAR LIPO FIRES kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKuueXWQj9-AbKc

[@deanwellard711]

Thanks great advice you spoke about racing this is something i would like to do with my kids but i don't know where to go Thanks

[@PopalongRC]

find your local club and go and watch and chat to the locals if you have questions about what to get it will all depend on what your local clubs run

[@3Y3ECE]

Great video. I hope to see more like it!! Learning is a curve, we all take in new things... That said, prepare yourself by doing these simple things, start with a smaller, popular, cheaper rig... That way you dont get price tag shock when it comes time to buy a new differential, differential housing, bearing set, and possible shocks/A arms, etc. I tell ya, I dont run my 6s 1/8 rig nearly as much as my 1/18 micro missile, because I can buy an entire new 1/18 setup for the cost of light damage on my 1/8! Keep up the great work fellas!

[@PopalongRC]

we plan to make more

[@flyinghotdog7270]

Thanks guys, I have just got back into the hobby. since my tamiya subaru, lunchbox and grass hopper original days in mid 80s 90s. having guys like you help young and me (old) to push the hobby forward. wishing you the best in 2024 and hope to se you on the track. i will definatly want to have a chat...

[@PopalongRC]

see you trackside

[@BasilNortje]

You two are absolutely legend from the Nitro millisha South Africa 40 plus truggy animals .keep up the excellent work continuously forwarding your channel to our racing groups for the youngsters a d tell no lie watch you will getting race cars ready

[@PopalongRC]

Awesome 🤩 maybe one day we can Popalong

[@BasilNortje]

@PopalongRC you get here well take care of the rest.

[@barrycheesemore2928]

Some very sound advice there lads, nice one!

[@PopalongRC]

cheers Barry see you trackside soon

[@adamknight6752]

I love opening my subscriptions and seeing another popalong video can't get enough Boyz...... Keep it going you got great momentum 💪💪

[@PopalongRC]

Thanks! Will do!

[@JJsRC-JacobJarvis]

For lipo safety I recommend if you are going on holiday or not going to be racing for a while you put them in storage mode. When you put them in storage mode you plug them in put the charger on storage mode and it will instantly drain every tiny bit of battery out of it to prevent it from accidents happening

[@JJsRC-JacobJarvis]

@@huubbouten3041 I think it also depend on the charger to be honest

[@JJsRC-JacobJarvis]

@@huubbouten3041 Kk thanks

[@beyondRC]

Some great points in this video. I am properly against skateparks as mentioned it’s a sure way to break a car and secondly it’s a bad image for the younger generation. My 5 year old for example was watching a Kevin talbot video once and turned to me and said “dad can we go and smash up some cars?” To which I replied absolutely not! Rc is for fun not to smash them to bits at a skatepark. Especially when dad has to work hard to pay for your cars. I have nothing against Kev but just don’t think it’s setting the example when he has such a large influence. If people want to do that stuff it’s fine it’s their money but it’s not something I will promote on my channel. I stopped skatepark vids a couple years ago now. Also there is more to an RC than just durability testing. Handling, power, upgrading etc. skateparks are not an accurate reflection as to how good an RC car is and lots of cars have been unfairly judged this way. One final thing please don’t ever worry if fellow RC creators will like what you have to say you are entitled to your opinion and if they don’t like it… oh well! I get criticism for my opinions all the time and couldn’t care less 😂. Cheers lads happy new year and hopefully get a race sorted later in the year 🎉👍😎

[@PopalongRC]

we dont mind a pump track as you can often have a bit of a race but skate parks are not our thing

[@beyondRC]

i agree. Not mine either way more to an RC than durability testing at skateparks. @@PopalongRC

[@AtomskTheGreat]

regarding tools: get a good set of allen drivers from a hobby brand (long thin hex drivers are really hard to come by outside the hobby) as well as the occasional special tool, and for the rest check regular tool brands. no need to pay a premium for a set of rebranded needle nose pliers. it's also a great idea to look in unusual places for tools. e.g. personally i love to use hemostats to position nuts in those typical awkward positions, no one can reach without breaking down half the car. for lipo: just for a little peace of mind get a can of lith-ex. it costs about 30-40 a can and is better than nothing. also for permanent/long term storage a box like the bat case is preferable to the usual pouches as the cases will usually contain the flame burst. the pouches can leak some of the initial flames.

[@PopalongRC]

good points

[@kanenstuff]

I just refreshed 2 of my old nitro buggies after 12yrs. I full stripped cleaned and replaces brearings all shock and diff oils some grease and some apple cider vinegar to rid of rust. Now there just like brand new with sctratches but both are nitro and started first pop a quick tune and now rippn again.

[@shadyhazza]

someone just listed a vintage HPI savage (super sport) for 50 quid on my local gumtree. i'm sure there's people that would tell me i'd be mad not to get it, and others that would tell me i'd be mad to get it. "hasn't been started in years", i think it even works

[@kanenstuff]

@shadyhazza sure with a bit of love you can get it working. One of mine is a Hobao Nitro cage buggy and the other a Turnigy 1/16 nitro buggy 0 it was cheap as Chios and now running like a champ with its 2 speed gear box. Get the HPI for me being in Malaysia it's too much for the shipping.

[@shadyhazza]

@@kanenstuff HSP seem pretty common in SE Asia, I was just watching a funny review of their 1/10 2 speed nitro Flying Fish, seems like a really cheap way to get into it. This 1/8 Savage is a lot of car, twin vertical plate huge monster truck with 8 shocks. I'm a bit intimidated just looking at the thing online :D

[@PopalongRC]

love a good restoration project

[@kanenstuff]

@shadyhazza HSPis very common here I have on back home in Australia had it for 12yrs or more a Camper or Bazooka even a road car are a good start. For me don't worry what it looks like if it's that cheap and it doesn't work or you don't like do the worst thing and shelf queen it after a good cleaning.

[@bluegroovemodelsports9650]

Your channel hard for us USA 🇺🇸 viewers to get a first comment post with the time difference.

[@PopalongRC]

Everyone still in bed as these ones go out at 7-8 in morning

[@0xpadx0]

I'm pretty new to the hobby, and battery's confused me the most lol Don't have a local hoppy shop the next is pretty far away, so i did lots of reading and youtube to learn stuff. I personally put my Lipos in a lipo bag thats inside a ammo box(remove the rubber sealing) and have sand bags on top. It may be over the top, but I've seen lipo fires. Also but them in storage mod if not used for longer. I also recommend getting a cheap tamiya kit. While building it, you learn a lot, especially to not overtighten screws. Gives you a bit of general rc car knowledge. Then there is the waterproof rc car that doesn't really exist since they refer to the electronics and not all the metal bearings that while start to rust. Even Kevin Talbot tells you not to get your rc car into the water lol at least a time a go lol

[@PopalongRC]

yeah cars hate water

[@SRG-HITMAN-11]

What do you think of the monster beetle? I had 1 30+ yrs ago as a 17 yr old now getting back into rc so bought the re release monster beetle + mip diff and alloy upgrades etc before i build

[@PopalongRC]

screams nostalgia

[@Helghast73]

I’ll have to check if you’ve covered proper chargers and balance boards for lipo batteries but as a newbie when you first get your new kit and you see all the buttons on the charger and the balance board and a manual with the charger ( but who reads those 🤷🏻‍♂️ ) it can be a bit 😬 I though it’d be like my phone and plug it in and job done.

[@shadyhazza]

they're like programming a VCR but once you get all the settings right it is just plug it in and press a button or 2

[@PopalongRC]

will do another video on chargers this week

[@dvanzweden]

Hi Lad's will there be some review of that FTX Tracer in the future. Looks like a fun thing to take with you when your on a vacation. Greetz from a dutchman, Dennis

[@PopalongRC]

We shall just waiting on the weather to dry up a bit

[@shadyhazza]

nice shiny new carnage. do some racing with the busta like the old days? bugsta shell is about 13gbp, i got a couple cos my old one has seen better days

[@PopalongRC]

we need to do that

[@oohahitsanrccar1913]

Its a shame my local hobbyshop is a general hobbyist. They stock alot of rc (Arrma, Traxxas mostly and ftx) but they have almost no knowledge and have little support 😢

[@PopalongRC]

fire questions our way and we will see what we can do

[@beandean356]

RC has to be kept to a level because stuff gets carried away fast. personally i have a few cars but only really run a couple of them because maintaining that many cars is a nightmare. Some RC cars that cost thousands of pounds i look at them in the shop and think to myself wow nice car but i would hate to have to maintain that thing! And thats why i mainly run my HPI 2wd Jumpshot because its so simple. But most will tell me no you need 4wd/you have no brakes/air control bla bla bla. Damn i grew up with 2wd Tamiya cars all i have to say to them people is SUCK LESS!

[@PopalongRC]

im undecided on the Jumpshot

[@beandean356]

@@PopalongRC Whats not to like?

[@bluegroovemodelsports9650]

First comment

[@PopalongRC]

boom

[@myharryface]

If you want to break your vehicle, go to a skate park. -- Skate parks are ONLY for very very experienced drivers. And then experts still break their cars. --- If you are new buy an inexpensive (but good) vehicle. Spend a good year driving the hell out of hit. Then work your way up. -- It's just like going to an actual real car track ... don't buy a McLaren/Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo first ... start with a Miata/GT86.

[@PopalongRC]

true .. walk before you run

[@huntsolofighter4265]

Third. Nope second. From S.E.A.

[@PopalongRC]

congrates