NTC3 break in... and reactions...

[mykrowyre]

Ok, I've raced electric for years... never driven a nitro car... seen more
than enough at the track and thought I knew what to expect. At one point
I'd even convinced myself that nitro was too much work and that electric was
the way to go. Let me just say I was wrong. Very wrong.

Everything I ever expected from this car was completely under-estimating
what it can do. I LOVE IT.

It's more than just the smoke and noise... it's the powerband...the way it
winds out on the top end. WOW!

Without my batteries, chargers, motors, and misc electronics crap my pit box
is at least 80% lighter. Whoohoo.
-tom

[ollo]

mykrowyre wrote:
>
> Ok, I've raced electric for years... never driven a nitro car... seen more
> than enough at the track and thought I knew what to expect. At one point
> I'd even convinced myself that nitro was too much work and that electric was
> the way to go. Let me just say I was wrong. Very wrong.
>
> Everything I ever expected from this car was completely under-estimating
> what it can do. I LOVE IT.
>
> It's more than just the smoke and noise... it's the powerband...the way it
> winds out on the top end. WOW!
>
> Without my batteries, chargers, motors, and misc electronics crap my pit box
> is at least 80% lighter. Whoohoo.

Please, share us the secret how you can get by without batteries and
charger? I find that my nitro cars have more batteries than electrics...
Electric has just 8-cell (Tx) and 6-cell (car), nitro has 8-cell (TX),
2*6cell (starterbox), 5-cell (Rx), 1-cell (glow plug). That's an awful
lot of batteries and you need a better charger that can do 1-8 cells
(instead of 6-8 cells for electric). And the batteries in nitro do have
an irritating habit of dumping at the worst times.

I absolutely agree with your other points though, nitro is definitely a
lot more fun to race. Gets a big grin on my face every spring when I can
go out & play :D Now would someone please remove that damn snow from our
playground?

BR,
-olev-

[Joost Runsink]

ollo <ollo@hot.ee> wrote:
> mykrowyre wrote:
> Please, share us the secret how you can get by without batteries and
> charger? I find that my nitro cars have more batteries than electrics...
> Electric has just 8-cell (Tx) and 6-cell (car), nitro has 8-cell (TX),
> 2*6cell (starterbox), 5-cell (Rx), 1-cell (glow plug). That's an awful
> lot of batteries and you need a better charger that can do 1-8 cells
> (instead of 6-8 cells for electric). And the batteries in nitro do have

You could always buy a glowplug driver that fits in your startbox. Serpent
makes one for the 2x6 type startboxes. I also made just one pack of 14 (2
more) cells for my startbox, one accu less to charge. But originaly I fly
electric model airplanes so I had a 30 cell charger laying around.

Joost

[Divrdan007]

>Subject: NTC3 break in... and reactions...
>From: "mykrowyre"

>Ok, I've raced electric for years... never driven a nitro car... seen more
>than enough at the track and thought I knew what to expect. At one point
>I'd even convinced myself that nitro was too much work and that electric was
>the way to go. Let me just say I was wrong. Very wrong.

Absolutely... the very response I've heard from virtually every "battery
burner" that tried their first nitro.
You can LEAD an *electric guy* to nitro, but you can't make him drink.
I have posted this on the board several times... once an electric guy tries his
first nitro, the electric cars will collect dust.
If it wasn't for the cold winters here, and an available indoor carpet track, I
would have sold my electric buggies years ago.

>Everything I ever expected from this car was completely under-estimating
>what it can do. I LOVE IT.

As you get the engine dialed in, and used to the way the car handles, your
driving will improve... and you will be even more impressed.

>It's more than just the smoke and noise... it's the powerband...the way it
>winds out on the top end. WOW!

I'd say it's all of those things, AND the run-times.
Once you get your engine broken in, and tuned correctly, your run-times will
double from the break-in settings.
Slide that two speed tranny in there, and wait till you're accellerating... and
the thing hits 2nd gear... sheer adrenalin.
You will go out & buy a couple more household flashlights, to put those old
batteries to their intended use.... OR put all your electric stuff up on
eBay...Ooops, you have already done that. ;-)

All kidding aside...Unless you really need the cash, you should keep your
electric TC3... she's about as sweet as an electric can get.
The electric class racing is still plenty of fun... and let's face it, (as you
will learn) a lot cleaner.

>Without my batteries, chargers, motors, and misc electronics crap my pit box
>is at least 80% lighter. Whoohoo.

Not sure about that though. My pit box is pretty heavy. I use a 12 volt
gel-cell in my starter box.. she's a heavy bugger. After you get a starter box,
and extras of many things, (remember you will need fuel) your pit box will get
heavy too.
Extras I recommend:
Some extra gears, extra front A-arms, and at least one extra glo-igniter.
Since you're racing in the touring car class, you may as well just go and get a
BUNCH of tires right now.

[mykrowyre]

> Please, share us the secret how you can get by without batteries and
> charger? I find that my nitro cars have more batteries than electrics...
> Electric has just 8-cell (Tx) and 6-cell (car), nitro has 8-cell (TX),
> 2*6cell (starterbox), 5-cell (Rx), 1-cell (glow plug). That's an awful
> lot of batteries and you need a better charger that can do 1-8 cells
> (instead of 6-8 cells for electric). And the batteries in nitro do have
> an irritating habit of dumping at the worst times.

Simple. Yes, I have 4 extra cells for the receiver and a couple rechargeable
cells for my glow starter, which I trickle charge and make sure I have a
couple charged. I use a pull-start (for now) so I dont need a starter box
or battery for it. For electric,
7 battery packs, chargersolderng irons, etc, are pretty heavy to lug around
in a box.

Electric:
======

4 1700 mah practice packs for race day, each one gets runs once or twice
3 2000 mah packs (for the main, each one gets run once per day)
1 charger
8 transmitter cells, and 8 backups
2 soldering irons, one big one for battery bars, and one small one for
everything else
1 power strip
1 extention cord
1 box of tools

Gas:
====

12 AA cells (and 12 backup aa cells)
1 jug of fuel
1 box of tools, glow plugs, etc.
1 glow starter and extra battery
(optional but desired) starter box with starter battery and spare.

-tom





>
> I absolutely agree with your other points though, nitro is definitely a
> lot more fun to race. Gets a big grin on my face every spring when I can
> go out & play :D Now would someone please remove that damn snow from our
> playground?
>
> BR,
> -olev-
>

[mykrowyre]

> All kidding aside...Unless you really need the cash, you should keep your
> electric TC3... she's about as sweet as an electric can get.
> The electric class racing is still plenty of fun... and let's face it, (as
you
> will learn) a lot cleaner.

Maybe... I think I'll be ok.

> >Without my batteries, chargers, motors, and misc electronics crap my pit
box
> >is at least 80% lighter. Whoohoo.
>
> Not sure about that though. My pit box is pretty heavy. I use a 12 volt
> gel-cell in my starter box.. she's a heavy bugger. After you get a starter
box,
> and extras of many things, (remember you will need fuel) your pit box will
get
> heavy too.

Possibly. It sure beats having to charge, monitor and discharge packs all
day while turning comms, etc. I used to have to start charging 2 hours
before I went to the track so I'd have enough packs to practice while I
charged my packs for the main. What a hassle...

-tom

[ollo]

mykrowyre wrote:
>
> > Please, share us the secret how you can get by without batteries and
> > charger? I find that my nitro cars have more batteries than electrics...
> > Electric has just 8-cell (Tx) and 6-cell (car), nitro has 8-cell (TX),
> > 2*6cell (starterbox), 5-cell (Rx), 1-cell (glow plug). That's an awful
> > lot of batteries and you need a better charger that can do 1-8 cells
> > (instead of 6-8 cells for electric). And the batteries in nitro do have
> > an irritating habit of dumping at the worst times.
>
> Simple. Yes, I have 4 extra cells for the receiver and a couple rechargeable
> cells for my glow starter, which I trickle charge and make sure I have a
> couple charged. I use a pull-start (for now) so I dont need a starter box
> or battery for it. For electric,
> 7 battery packs, chargersolderng irons, etc, are pretty heavy to lug around
> in a box.

Well, you're just getting started. If you would be just starting with
electric, you wouldn't have half of the electric stuff either:)
> Electric:
> ======
>
> 4 1700 mah practice packs for race day, each one gets runs once or twice
> 3 2000 mah packs (for the main, each one gets run once per day)
> 1 charger
> 8 transmitter cells, and 8 backups
> 2 soldering irons, one big one for battery bars, and one small one for
> everything else
> 1 power strip
> 1 extention cord
> 1 box of tools

My saldo (el touring):
4 3300 packs for racing
3 3000 packs for practice and comm lathe
1 charger
8 transmitter cells (1700 NiMH) in the TX. No backup needed.
No soldering iron. I use connectors for batteries and for the motor I
just use a friend's iron:)
On our own track, no extension cords. I really only need 1 socket for
the charger supply.

> Gas:
> ====
>
> 12 AA cells (and 12 backup aa cells)
> 1 jug of fuel
> 1 box of tools, glow plugs, etc.
> 1 glow starter and extra battery
> (optional but desired) starter box with starter battery and spare.

8 AA NiMH's, no backup. If necessary, I just charge them up before main.
Usually not needed. Rx pack (5 cells) stays in the car, but is almost
always recharged before main.
5 litre fuel canister + fuel bottle
1 glow starter, built-in battery. Lasts through the day.
Starterbox with 2 6-packs.
1 charger (1-8 cells) still needed.
Tools stay almost the same. Comm lathe not needed, but I need tire truer
(which I don't have yet).

IMO the fuel canister and starter box make up for the 7 batteries
nicely... but yeah, I can see your point if you're not using starterbox
and don't charge anything onsite.
I'd probably run only nitro, if I only could. Sadly the outdoor season
is only 3-4 months, so I have to run electric as well.

BR,
-olev-

[mykrowyre]

> I'd probably run only nitro, if I only could. Sadly the outdoor season
> is only 3-4 months, so I have to run electric as well.
>

I hear ya. I'm in Florida so we can race pretty much all year, except during
the huricanes.

-tom