Start up for a BRP
So, what would be recommended equipment to fully outfit a BRP 1/18th to get a new driver started? (Besides the 370 motor.)
Looking for good, inexpensive hardware to make the kit BRP car RTR, including cost:
Radio.
ESC.
Servos.
Batteries.
Charger.
Anything else I'm missing?
It seems that you can get everything you need to go racing for about $200-250, right? (that's new...ebay could be half that if you shop around, right?)
My son and I are lucky enough to race with Bud Bartos (the designer of the car)
As far as the the radio goes, although you can fit a standard receiver in the car, a micro takes up a lot less space. My son has an RS310 and I run the Spektrum 3500 and they have worked great. I pickep up a Spektrum DX3S on this site for $80.00 plus shipping
If you are going to race the 370 motor, the Tekin B1 is the only way to go. Very small and very efficient. List is over $100 but I picked up a new, still in package one on Ebay for 24.99 plus 9.00 shipping just a couple of days ago. Skip the Novak, it is too big and doesn't respond as well as the Tekin.
The best batteries I've found: TeamScream matched 1500's. I have tried other manufacturers but they do not perform as well, both in initial punch and overall strength. Bud can sell them to you directly, he ships very quickly and is a wealth of information about the car..
Chargers are a matter of opinion, but the Duratrax Ice and the Checkpoint 1030 (check the model number to be sure I'm correct) are the most used where we race. The Checkpoint looks exactly the same as the Ice but has a higher discharge rate for the packs. There are less expensive ones out there but you if you compete you will eventually migrate to something of this quality anyway. You will also need a 12 volt power supply but these are relatively inexpensive on Ebay used as well.
I also have a Tekin Mini Battery Doctor for discharging the cells to the same level individually prior to storage and charging.
The Futaba 9650 servo, while not the smallest, seems to balance out the car and centers better than the others I have tried. (This was on advice from Bud as well)
Be sure to get the diff lube from BRP. It serves both as diff lube and the dampening agent on the kingpins. This smooths out the handling of the car dramatically. The bushings need graphite infused oil to be as efficient as possible, also available from BRP.
Also, widen the hole in the top of the pod and use a couple of drops of 100 weight shock oil to dampen the pod.
I hope this helps. You're going to love this car. Very relialble, tunable and if your local group doesn't mess with the class, inexpensive and competitive. A real driver's class. Good luck!
PS: Read the "Track Tips from Tang" thread on this forum, extremely helpful to me starting up and it is specifically about BRP's.:wave:
No, wait a minute, I was mistaken!!!:lol::tongue:
