How to Build a Fast Electric Model Car
An electric remote-controlled car is built using the same design principles as an actual electric automobile. Because of this, the same techniques that apply to building a fast automobile often apply to building a fast model car. To build a fast electric model car requires that you aim for speed right from the start, beginning with an RC model car kit and adding aftermarket parts to give you a car that easily bests the speeds of retail offerings.
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Things You'll Need
- RC electric car kit
- Radio transmitter
- Radio receiver
- Servos
- Speed controller
- NiMh battery pack
- Alloy chassis conversion set
- Brushless high-speed motor
- Aftermarket shock set
- Aftermarket pro-racing tires
- Hobby knife
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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Building the Model
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1
Choose a model kit you feel comfortable with. Kits come in a variety of sizes, from a large 1/10th scale to a small 1/20th scale. Kits are also divided into road cars and off-road cars. Road cars are faster, but both can be modified, so choose according to your primary uses. Get a kit that's largely stripped down as you'll be using many aftermarket parts. A kit without motor, servos, speed controller and battery pack is best.
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2
Purchase a radio transmitter, receiver, servos, speed controller, battery pack, chassis conversion set, motor, shocks, ball bearings and charger. Your transmitter should be a two-channel radio with a pistol-grip where the trigger acts as the speed control. Steering is done via a small wheel mounted on the transmitter for ease of steering at high speeds.
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3
Assemble the model car chassis using the alloy conversion set. The set is much lighter and stronger than the kit chassis pieces it replaces, including the alloyed screws.
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4
Install the aftermarket shocks instead of the kit shocks, which should give you a bit more control at high speeds over rough terrain. Use after-market racing wheels, which provide greater traction through the use of more realistic treads. When building the shock towers, make sure all four are equal in height before installing them.
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5
Assemble the motor assembly and connect your motor to the servos and speed controller. The motor is an important part of the speed of the vehicle. Motors are rated by the rpm and noted by a turn number. A stock motor is a 27 turn motor, the lower the turn number, the faster the motor, so use a six turn motor.
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6
Install the radio receiver, the charged battery pack and attach your car body to complete the build.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure the NiMH battery pack consists of specifically matched batteries, as this ensures that each cell in the pack provides an equal power discharge, improving the efficiency of the pack. Run your motor for 15 to 30 minutes after installation with the car raised off the ground to burn it in for higher speeds.
The speed controller is rated to go with a specific turn range of motors, so make sure yours is capable of handling the motor you install, or it will overheat and burn out.
