Toy Vehicles

There are train sets, and then there are model railroads. The difference is that one's a toy and one's a somewhat obsessive pursuit requiring careful assembly by very intense adults.

Customizing your layout is an ongoing process.

Designing a train scene is a matter of your historical interest and attention to detail.

The scale you choose depends on what you want to do with the car. Common scales are 1/24, 1/32 and HO - from largest to smallest.

RTR, which stands for "ready to run," is a slot car that can race right out of the box.

Slot car components must be changed regularly to ensure that your car moves around the track as fast as you want it to.

Slot car accessories differ from components in one way: they aren't about making the car run, but about making it look cool.

Assembling slot cars is time-consuming and detailed work, but for enthusiasts, it's as much fun as racing the car.

Caring for a slot car is not unlike to caring for a real car. Regular service prevents breakdowns.

Premade slot car tracks snap together easily. But they don't come apart that easily, so make sure you get it right the first time.

The guide is the most important part of your slot car. Treat it with care.

How big is your basement? Your garage?

Buying a train set is a matter of deciding what you want to do with it: build on it or just watch it toot around.

A wagon is a traditional toy that's sure to please any young child.

Pedal toys are old-fashioned favorites that can still be purchased today. They are sure to inspire hours of creative fun.

Scooters are fun ride-on toys that provide a refreshing change from bicycles and tricycles. Today, even teens and adults are getting in on the action and using scooters to get places fast.

Sometimes, you can save five to ten dollars by putting your new scooter together at home instead of having the store do it for you.

Sleds are classic toys for winter fun and now come in a variety of designs.

Collecting die-cast cars is an easy and relatively inexpensive hobby. And you can do more than just look at these collectibles.

A veteran helicopter pilot once said that learning to fly a whirlybird was similar to "learning to juggle while standing on a beach ball." Scale model, radio-controlled (R/C) helicopters require...

Jeff Gordon, Alex Zanardi and other famous race car drivers work for years to develop the skills that allow them to push a race car to its limits. R/C race car hobbyists apply many of the same...

Building and flying a radio-controlled (R/C) glider utilizes and develops various skills. You'll receive great satisfaction putting together your model, guiding it through the air and landly it...

Do you want to get into real R/C cars? Not just toys from the toy store, but self-assembled racing machines that require maintenance and care? Here are the steps to take to build and drive your...

Wheelie bars are a pair of short arms, made of metal or plastic, that are attached to the rear end of radio-controlled (RC) cars. They are used to stabilize RC cars when performing wheelies as...

Many RC (radio-controlled) car and truck enthusiasts enjoy assembling their own RC trucks rather than buying them ready-to-go from the manufacturer. This allows users to customize their RC trucks...

Those looking to learn to fly RC (radio-controlled) helicopters should be prepared to undergo a learning curve. While the techniques involved can be mastered with a little practice, novice RC...

Until recently, RC (radio-controlled) airplanes were not sold in ready-to-fly form. As a result, many RC airplane purists prefer to build their own RC planes. Though it can be challenging to...

While nitro powered radio-controlled (RC) cars already boast an impressive acceleration capacity, it is possible to outfit them with turbochargers to enhance their acceleration capabilities as...

If you're an RC car enthusiast looking to soup up your car for a race competition or just to blow your buddies away, there are many things you can do to improve your car's performance. From adding...

RC boats are among the easier forms of RC (radio-controlled) vehicles to make, but still require considerable patience and assembly expertise. From yachts to submarines, virtually every kind of...

With the incredible advances made in small-scale electronic components in recent years, it's become possible to make headlights, tail-lights and other luminous accessories for RC (radio...

One of the most fun aspects of the world of RC (radio-controlled) cars is the incredible and intricate designs that enthusiasts paint on the bodies of their vehicles. They're limited only by the...

Learning to control RC (radio-controlled) helicopters poses the greatest challenge for beginners. Because the radio controls used to operate an RC helicopter are virtually identical to the ones...

Replacing the broken axle on a toy can easily be done by even the most novice do-it-yourselfers. The following steps will guide you through this process.

Battery powered ride toys are available for children approximately 3 to 10 years old, but these toys can be dangerous for children when a malfunction occurs. Parents must supervise and...

Batteries may look like they can't hurt you, but they can cause severe burns. Batteries generate hydrogen gas which is highly explosive--a battery can explode even under normal operating...

A monster truck has extremely large wheels and a large suspension to accommodate the tires. Mud bogging, tractor pulls and Motocross racing are popular competitions for monster trucks. A remote...

The Awana Grand Prix is the biggest event in many Awana clubs. It's easy to give your car a competitive edge by making some minor modifictions.

A remote controlled motorcycle is just as much fun to play with as remote controlled cars. A wireless controller gives the motorcycle instructions on speed and where to move. Remote controlled...

Everyone loves monster trucks. They're big, they're loud and they can crush things. Who doesn't love that? You can bring home your own mini monster trucks if you know where to look. Once you find...

With this "how to", you will find a new way to let your children have fun outside! Boys will be boys, and sometimes boys like to get dirty. This is a fun, safe, and inexpensive way for your boys...

Pedal cars are a nostalgic part of childhood. If you didn't have one when you were a kid, you probably wanted one. Now, you can buy your own kids a pedal car and share the excitement with them....

You will laugh. What happens is the car will go around the loop forever (or at least until the batteries run out).

Has racing remote controlled (R/C) cars gotten boring? Give your old hobby a jumpstart by transforming your standard 1/10 scale electric R/C car into a drifting vehicle.

A customized Hot Wheels car can be a model of your dream car or a replica of a car you once owned. For a true collectible, consider having your dream Hot Wheels car customized by a professional....

Remote control toys can provide hours of fun for kids of all ages. Until, that is, they stop working. Often non-working remote control toys just need a quick fix, not the garbage. Take a few...

Buying a used go kart helps save money, but if you don't know what to look for before you make a purchase, you could end up with someone else's problem. Before looking at used go karts, research...

When looking at RC cars, 1/10 scale is one of the more popular options. Most of the kit models on the market are 1/10 scale, as are most of the vehicles you can buy in non-specialty stores. If you...

When you first take your RC car out of the box, you might be tempted to hit the local track right away. Ideally, before trying to drive on a track, you'd practice your driving skills, read through...

If you've ever had your car stuck in a snowdrift, you know how hard it can be to get it out. RC cars move fast, but these little cars can also get stuck in the snow fairly easily. If you find this...