Gifts for young boys?

[CivilLizard@gmail.com]

Hi,

I'm interested in getting a few radio controlled electric powered cars
for five young boys of the following ages:

2 x 13 years
2 x 9 years
1 x 6 years

I've found that they're interested in the sort of cars available at
http://www.towerhobbies.com and I wouldn't want to get them anything
that requires assembling.. Ready-To-Run is more like it.

I would like to get a complete package for each kid, including extra
batteries and some good quick charges that can work from a home/house
power source and remotely by connecting them to the family car's
lighter socket.

I don't want to pick and choose and make sure I don't miss important
parts for the cars I'm getting, so I'd appreciate your help in
suggesting a few that are suitable and I would also like them not to
have the same colors so they don't get mixed up when playing together.

Also, I expect them to be rough in dealing with these toys, so a
recommended list of replacement parts would be ideal as we're overseas
and I'm having them forwarded to me from my home in the US.

They should be suitable for flat sidewalks and dirt/sand surfaces. So,
if you find a combo that wouldn't work on both, please recommend a
combo that would. :-)


Thank you! :-)

/CivilLizard

[Justin Mahn]

CivilLizard@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm interested in getting a few radio controlled electric powered cars
> for five young boys of the following ages:
>
> 2 x 13 years
> 2 x 9 years
> 1 x 6 years
>
> I've found that they're interested in the sort of cars available at
> http://www.towerhobbies.com and I wouldn't want to get them anything
> that requires assembling.. Ready-To-Run is more like it.
>
> I would like to get a complete package for each kid, including extra
> batteries and some good quick charges that can work from a home/house
> power source and remotely by connecting them to the family car's
> lighter socket.
>
> I don't want to pick and choose and make sure I don't miss important
> parts for the cars I'm getting, so I'd appreciate your help in
> suggesting a few that are suitable and I would also like them not to
> have the same colors so they don't get mixed up when playing together.
>
> Also, I expect them to be rough in dealing with these toys, so a
> recommended list of replacement parts would be ideal as we're overseas
> and I'm having them forwarded to me from my home in the US.
>
> They should be suitable for flat sidewalks and dirt/sand surfaces. So,
> if you find a combo that wouldn't work on both, please recommend a
> combo that would. :-)
>
>
> Thank you! :-)
>
> /CivilLizard
>
As a father of a 6 year old, I recommend Traxxas Stampedes all the way
around. They come in 6 different colors/frequencies, and will be easier
on the budget than many other options. You can use cheap stick packs
with them. They are multi-surface, and can handle anything up to short
grass.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVK75**&P=ML

Batteries and chargers will be your discression, but you shouldn't need
a new charger for each vehicle, unless you will be running them all day
concurrently.

Buy two of this one:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXXG87&P=ML

[CivilLizard@gmail.com]

Hello Justin,

Thank you for your response and I sure appreciate the guidance. These
are not all my boys, they're relatives and one of them is my brother..
They would generally play all together and would go at it for many
hours.

I'm wondering how long does it take to charge one of those batteries
and how long does it take to drain them if they're using the Trazzas as
configured in the link you referenced?

I see that it connects to the car battery directly, so there's no
lighter socket input for the power to this unit?

Any recommendations for replacement parts I should stock up on to cover
aggressive use for three months? :-)

Thank you once again!

/CivilLizard

[CivilLizard@gmail.com]

By the way, when I order the five units, how do I choose a different
color for each?

/CivilLizard

[CivilLizard@gmail.com]

By the way, when I order the five units, how do I choose a different
color for each?

/CivilLizard

[Justin Mahn]

CivilLizard@gmail.com wrote:
> Hello Justin,
>
> Thank you for your response and I sure appreciate the guidance. These
> are not all my boys, they're relatives and one of them is my brother..
> They would generally play all together and would go at it for many
> hours.
>
> I'm wondering how long does it take to charge one of those batteries
> and how long does it take to drain them if they're using the Trazzas as
> configured in the link you referenced?
>
> I see that it connects to the car battery directly, so there's no
> lighter socket input for the power to this unit?
>
> Any recommendations for replacement parts I should stock up on to cover
> aggressive use for three months? :-)
>
> Thank you once again!
>
> /CivilLizard
>
If you get sport 3000 nimh packs, then it should take about an hour to
charge each one, and then maybe 10 or 15 minutes to run them out. If
you order them from tower, you can specify the color of the model. Each
color will be a different frequency, so no conflicts.

I really doubt that the trucks will hold all of their interests for
hours on end, but you could do that with 6 trucks if you bought 12
batteries, and 6 twin peak chargers. You can recharge while they run.
The motors on the trucks will need cool down periods between battery
packs, also.

[Techpriest]

The Stampede is a great truck and I would also recommend it for
beginners. If you have a local shop and you order from them, just tell
them you want the different colors. If you use Tower I am thinking it
asks you when you place the order. If confused feel free to all Tower
and have them help you with the order. I prefer my local shop, but
when I have had to go with Tower I have been happy. To get even more
variety, you can get 2 Stampedes, 2 Rustlers and 2 Bandits. They are
basicly the same kit but in Monster Truck, Race Truck and Buggy form.

Another option I would suggest would be micro vehicles. They are
smaller, less expensive and have better run times. The Minizilla
mentioned below should give you 20 minutes on a battery charge.

For $180 you can get a Hotbodies Minizilla that is ready to run and
includes the battery and AC wall charger. It will run longer then the
Stampede on a charge, 20 minutes is not to hard to get. The smaller
size also means you would not want to drive one off a picnic table,
something I have seen a Stampede do over and over. It does mean that
you can play with them in the house though, not something I would do
with a Stampede. Build an obstacle course with books in the living
room and have fun climbing over them! It is available in 6 different
frequencies so all can play together. When the 13 year olds get good
at driving them they can upgrade motors and parts to get more speed and
performance. Unlike "toy" RC vehicles all parts are replaceable when
they break.

Link:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJKY6&P=ML
Or just search Tower for Minizilla

I would also recommend an 18T by Associated but they can be hard to
find now, Tower has none in stock.

Hope you don't have to much info now. No matter which way you go they
will have fun!