How did YOU get into this hobby?

[BanditTransit]

How did you get into the R/C hobby? I'll start.

My friend at school said he had an R/C car that went 35 mph. I though he was joking. He said come down to the park this afternoon and see it. So I rode my bike down to the park. He wasn't there yet so I waited. When he did come, I saw his car. 7-year old Rustler with a Titan in it. I thought it was extremely fast and I couldn't stop giggling when he drove it. That my friends, is how I got into it.

[ian-slash]

my little brother got a18th scale buggy for his birthday so of couse i had to one up him! well, more like ten up him!

[Bloody_Wheels]

I bought a box full of parts (t-maxx). Figured out how to put it together (no instructions). Ran it, and been in love ever since.

[08kgraves]

i had read some rc magazines when i was younger which included the one about the more original t-maxx, but i always loved some of my cheaper rc cars from toys r us and whatnot. got to college seen a couple people running them here and there and wanted one even more then last spring my roomate owed me alot of money for various reasons and i said go buy me this brand new t-maxx 3.3 and he did. since then i bought another maxx which i fixed up and sold to my brother, then traded my roomate for his maxx he bought since he found out he didnt like it as much as he thought he would, bought a micro crawler for in the house, and bought a slayer pro most recently just before leaving college.

[Biereend]

When I was 5 or 6 my parents bought me a little Nikko buggy for my birthday. Nothing spectacular. Just a small one wich drove on AA's.
I picked RC-driving up this month again. And again I'm a little kiddo:)

[pavmentsurfer]

I had cheap RC's since I was 2. One day on about my 7th birthday my dad, who flew RC planes as a teenager, said "were going to go to a proper hobby shop and get you a proper RC car". We went to every shop in the city looking for the right one and didn't find anything that fit... I guess the budget. But I got introduced to ALOT of different vehicles that day and I still remember how the hobby shop smelled to me. We ended up settling on a Tyco Lobo 2 from Sears. It broke in the first 2 days and we ended up returning 4 of them before we gave up and go our money back. About a year later we tried again and my dad bought me a Losi 1/10 Nitro stadium truck. I can't remember the brand exactly. I want to say it was Junior T... but it was nitro... was there a Junior NT? Not sure. I think that truck ran a total of about 4 times. Never ran right, took hours to start and I think we replaced the pull starter about 15 times. I traded it for an Electric Junior T with a few nicad packs and thats when the fun really started. That was about 1992.

I didn't get "in" to RC at that point. Just played with the one I had and by the time I was done with it there was little left of the original truck. I had hacked and chopped it into other things using other parts.

later in life I got back into RC in a big way twice. First was with a Savage, Nitro RS4 and Nitro RS4MT. I upgraded and ran them alot (most integy upgrades LOL). Then got fed up with nitro and go out of them again. The 2nd time was when i worked at a high end sports resort. One of their summer programs was building and racing RC cars so i bought a REVO 3.3 and a Mini T. (revo to run on the 3 outdoor skateparks they had and the mini T to run on the indoor skateparks). I upgraded the REVO big time and rebuilt the mini T from the ground up with every cool part I could find. But never actually ran it. When i quite that job I sold both... but the revo impressed me so much I knew id own another traxxas someday.

Fast forward about 6 years. I was bored one day in the early spring. Looking around on line and found a new Stampede XL5 for sale. On a whim I bought it. When It was delivered I started running it and have, from that point, never looked back. I still own that truck (or what started out as that truck).

[jman98]

i was 11 and my cousin came to one of our family get togethers with his revo 3.3 and i said dad i want one and i got a slash 4x4 right as the came out for christmas....it had gotten to the lhs on the 23rd and i got it christmas day and now every dollar i make goes to the lhs cash register

[dcsally97]

Where to begin.....My root are very similar to Pave's. I had neighbors with Radio Shack Turbo Lobos and a neighbor with a Nikko Rhino and I tol my parent that I wanted one. That Christmas I received a Tyco Fiero (toy grade) I was happy but after I drove it I was very disappointed. I started saving money from lawn mowing jobs and other odd jobs to get a hobby grade rc vehicle. My friend with the Nikko Rhino parents bought him the Grasshopper and I fell in love with that car. I had to save a little longer and I bought the knock off, World Engines Rockbuster. Sadly, I could only afford the car and not the Tx/Rx, battery and charger. I ended up giving that to my friend with the Grasshopper since they shared parts. I then was offered by another friend a Tamiya The Frog. It was beat up some, but ran strong. It came with some extra parts, one of which was a Speedworks 350 modified motor. I put that in and there went the dogbones!!!! Needless to say it became a dust collector after that. My next rc vehicle was a Futaba FX/10. It ran fantastic and I was very happy with it until I ran it into a mailbox post and ripped off the left front end. That was it for my rc vehicles until my nephew a few yaers ago gave me a Stampede 3610 (msc) in mint condition. It was slow but capable, yet I wanted more. That February I bought a Pede xl-5 and was addicted to the hobby once again. That xl-5 is now a Pede vxl with Protrac suspension. Our livery now includes My Pede vxl, my Slash vxl with Protrac, my oldest sons Rusty vxl, my oldest daughters Pede xl-5, my youngest sons Pede xl-5, and my youngest daughter will have a Rusty xl-5 once I am done with the build. I am currently in the process of building a Bandit vxl for a speed machine. For those who are reading this and just got a Traxxas rc vehicle, WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION!!!!!!

[nitrofool]

My first "REAL" RC was a blackfoot that came as a kit. No RTR. From that build to now its been a love hate relationship.

[unsulliedspy]

I always had those cheap little RCs (Tyco and the like) but dreamed of having a big real deal. I remember when the Nitro Rustler first came out I wanted one more than anything in the world (back in the day 35 MPH was fast to me!). It was a dream to buy one and I fantasized about it all the time. A few years later I got a good deal on one on eBay, which turned out to be a total dud. The engine held no compression and it needed about $40 worth of parts on top of that so I sent it back but never got my money back.

I got discouraged for a while but then I was in HobbyTown and they had an electric Rustler. I kinda cringed at owning an electric at the time, it was like dreaming of owning a Rolls Royce and ending up stuck with a Yugo, but it was a blast to run. Mechanical speed controller, 20T Stinger motor, all undersized bushings instead of bearings, old 2018 plastic-geared servo that stripped after 3 runs, ~5 minute run times on a 1500 mAH NiCD, the whole 9 yards of oldschool electrics. I ran it for an hour a day or so for a long time before I found the Mamba Max 5700, which spun me into a whole new world. The truck has undergone some serious work since then, only the upper and lower chassis and rear shock tower are still original pieces. Everything else has either been upgraded with aftermarket parts, Traxxas accessories (aluminum C blocks, steering bellcranks, steel output yokes, etc), or new stock parts (Revo-spec clutch, VXL tranny internals, Jato drive shafts, VXL stub shafts, etc). I still run the truck several times a week and it just keeps on going. I've actually still got the outter box in a closet somewhere, kind of fun to look at sometimes just to see how far the hobby has come. I did eventually buy a Nitro Rustler, but by that point I was too won-over by brushless to fiddle around with nitro anymore.

I've owned numerous Traxxas RCs since I first started with the Rustler, but I've been experimenting with other brands and with the current economic situation I'm trying to keep my fleet as small as possible so I can keep it running. I have built several custom electric conversions (including a Revo conversion before the E-Revo came out), and have an insatiable thirst for big, powerful motors in my trucks. I still own the Rustler and my Mini Revo, HPI Baja and Savage, 2 Ofna Hyper 7s (converted to electric), Losi Muggy (E-conversion) and micro Desert Truck, 2 Parkzone F-27C Strykers, E-Flite Blade CP Pro, working on making a flying pizza box, and probably a few more things that are buried under a pile of spare parts. Not bad for someone who started out as a kid in a candy store :)

[1979chevy.]

When I was young I had a fascination for anything mechanical.
I loved watching heavy construction equipment.
Later on I started getting interested in cars, didn't know a thing about them besides that they were neat :lol:
I started collecting die cast models at the age of nine haha, not a very big collection but I liked the little cars. Then I got a fewtoy grade RC's and drove them into the ground so to speak, I would customize them, and keep them looking like new with car wax. Then one day I heard a local hobby shop's radio advertisement and decided to go check it out. I was hooked pretty much immediately, the first model I bought was a mini monster truck (can't remember the name) I loved that thing.
It lasted a good while, but it eventually broke down. I then saved my money up and bought a mini Losi Baja, I drove that thing for years. As the many years went by I attained more hobby grade RC's and it's led me to where I am now.



Life is rough, God is good, let's go.

[deerhurst]

I have had a bunch of those toy grade RCs until about 7 years ago, maybe more. Not exactly sure. My first hobby grade RC was a first gen duratrax evader. 20 turn motor and even an esc. All the other trucks forsale at the time had MSCs. I had the "big" 2400mAh packs and got maybe 20mins max of run time. And a nice timer charger. I don't think I ever broke that rig, except the steering servo. Went through that the first day. Put a nice futaba metal gear servo in it, Novak XRS esc and a 17t trinity mod motor. Boy was it fast then! After that I manage to break an arm, the bulk and shock tower when hitting a flaggers stand at a race.

Next truck was a 1/18 scale duratrax mini quake. I was hoping it would be just as strong as the evader. Nope. Not even close. Broke every time I looked at it. It's still in a box , running the evader's original esc, with broken arms. After that I took a few year break.

Next was a tamiya f150 kit. It was my first 4x4. Not very durable in the transmission but did OK. I did want more.

Then came the slash. I though that was a beast once my old timer charger finished charging that massive 8.4 3000mah pack. Still have the slash though it's mainly aftermarket now. Still havent broken an a arm on it yet. Lol. The slash now has the strc lcg, 17mm wheels and adaptors, tekno CVDs, castle SV2 with the 4600kv, flysky gt3b, RPM bumper and a j concepts raptor body that's almost in 2 pieces from wearing through after flipping over on speed runs. I used to run a 5800kv on the slash. That was quick on 3s. It currently sits with a broken bulk and broken gear case. Sadness.

This last summer I picked up an erevo for a steal. Came with a Novak HV Pro brushless, many many nimh packs, the good ol am radio, some wheels and tires and the old brushed setup. I managed to kill the sensor on the Novak. I'm sure 5s didnt help on a 4s rated esc that could handle 14 cell nimh. That was a smooth and fast setup. it's currently sitting on my desk waiting for my LHS to finally get my parts I ordered before I have to go back to school. I have a set of trenchers on tech 5s, leopard sc8 esc, and a 6 pole ******* track star one it. Waiting for 2 more mounted trenchers and my spur and pinion before I can create havak again. It's also connected to the gt3b.

That's my rc adventures and how I came to be a manner of the traxxas forums.

[humayrayakongkinaon]

It all started back in '97, when I walked into the grocery store at the magazine section, there it was an rc magazine, pick it up and hook-up ever since. :) I'm just living my childhood since I dont have this kind of stuff when I was growing up. Back where I came from we all play pretending this pretending that.

[Kitteh298]

Been hooked on rc since I was a baby!

But it really started when my tv got stolen and I used the insurance money to buy a 2wd slash!

[DiggerPede]

I actually started out many years ago with one that req'd 8 AA batteries that was a coupe that turned into a patrol car when you made it go max speed LOL. Later my folks got me a Radio Shack Golden Arrow Buggy. I keep thinking late 80's or so. All I know is I was young and had to have one. That was my first real RC back in the day. After I wore out the RSGA I went years w/o one. Those were highschool years, think I was interested in the ladies more. Then I got married in 2003 and we moved into an apt and got bored.....haha. I went online and purchased a Nikko Ferrari that went 22mph, but had to be driven on the flatest ground possible. I think I drove it like 10 times before putting it away in a box in the closet. Then 2011 came and I am a big Monster Jam Finatic and I saw this beast that opened my eyes *Traxxas Grave Digger*. As soon as I got home from the show I went online and found the best deal and purchased one and have since been hooked. My clan now includes the following:

DiggerPede
EMBE
Slash
4x4 Truggy
ERBE


Am I hooked.....????? Nah.....no way....never....!!!!! LOLOLOL :thumbup: :eek: ^_^ ;)

[slash2147]

i was at the races one day in my rookie year, was doing bad and discouraged, thought id never be where i am now but i heard a noise so i went to check it out and there was a tmaxx. didnt even know the kid but i watched him. messed around with toygrades, me and the kid became friends, he made me a 100$ offer on a used stampede. i never came up with the money. got a slash for christmas the next year. built a LTO Dirt oval in the backyard this summer and got a losi late model this year. Bringing in a truckload of clay in the summer and some walls and lights hopefuly

[The VXL]

tbh it's a miracle I'm still in the hobby. I too liked the toy grades but had had enough of them dying after 6 months and needing new batteries every run so looked into hobby grade stuff... only I didn't think this through and bought an acme 1/16th brushless truggy. A nasty clone to be precise. The esc caught fire on the 2nd run and I replaced it 3 times before giving up on it. Then my friend got a hobby grade rc of 1/10th scale so so did I. After a year got a rusty vxl and here I am today after one year of owning the rustler

[MooseSlash]

Well it's a long story. I got in to 4wding when my dad got a book about it, then he got a Ford Expedition 4x4. My dad said he found a good trail to go on, so we went to this trail. The week after my family and I went on a trip to L.A. to see family for Thanksgiving. My mom said: "Make a Christmas list." so I said ok then got on the computer to look for some stuff. At that point I was really into 4x4ing so I looked up "4wd R/C". It gave me results that said "1/16 Slash 4wd by Traxxas". There was very good comments about Traxxas so I looked up Traxxas. Then I eventually stuck with the 1/16 Slash 4WD and got it. I got the Mark Jenkins edition body and one of the decals said "Traxxas.com" so I went there on the Internet. When I got on it I realized that this was the hobby for me. Now I have a 1/16 E-Revo VXL, and a Losi mini high roller that I use for racing.

[oldbikedude]

My dad tolled me about them when I was 9 (I'm going to be 15 in March) and like a week later I got my first R/C magazine (sometime in January) and I thought they where awesome. In November (same year) I got a JATO 3.3 I've been hooked ever since. :D

[rag6]

Went to a monster truck/motocross/mudbog/pulling event at 3 Rivers Stadium when I was 13 or something(awesome show bigfoot broke off of the mx jumps!). During one of the intermissions, someone brought out a ¼scale raco jack rabbit(I think) and was pulling huge long jumps off of the table top. The rc show lasted about 5 min till he broke it but I was hooked. Took my paper route money and bought a nikko thunderbolt. Then came the Lunchbox,Rc10,Big Grizzly,Royal Crusher, HiRider Vette,Double Dare,Javelin,Clod, and then A Nitro Pede. Been a TRX Guy ever since...

[Josh2511]

When i was young about 10 or so i saw a movie called home alone 3 and it had a mutator in it and ever scince then i have loved them, i have had all sorts of rcs from $2 ones to $600 ones :)

[all aluminum]

Like everyone here I started young with toy grade RC cars. I never really got into real RC cars till I moved in to my first house when I got married that was located near a hobby shop. It was a new construction neighborhood and it was a perfect RC playground. I picked up an electric Stampede but quickly got bored of it since electric back then had a very short run time. I quickly upgraded to a Nitro Stampede and that is when the addiction started. I've picked up a few more Nitro vehicles like the NTC3, 2 Kyosho Madforce, N-Rustler, and the Revo2.5r when it first came out. I've been in and out of the hobby ever since but have been active with RC's again especially having two young boys of my own. As my 1:1 scale toys have diminished, my RC collection (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/derick1105/SCX10/) have grown...:lol:

[MooseSlash]

Well it's a long story. I got in to 4wding when my dad got a book about it, then he got a Ford Expedition 4x4. My dad said he found a good trail to go on, so we went to this trail. The week after my family and I went on a trip to L.A. to see family for Thanksgiving. My mom said: "Make a Christmas list." so I said ok then got on the computer to look for some stuff. At that point I was really into 4x4ing so I looked up "4wd R/C". It gave me results that said "1/16 Slash 4wd by Traxxas". There was very good comments about Traxxas so I looked up Traxxas. Then I eventually stuck with the 1/16 Slash 4WD and got it. I got the Mark Jenkins edition body and one of the decals said "Traxxas.com" so I went there on the Internet. When I got on it I realized that this was the hobby for me. Now I have a 1/16 E-Revo VXL, and a Losi mini high roller that I use for racing. Oh, I fergot to add something. My friend has an MERV VXL and he let me drive the beastie. I have a 1/16 Slash 4x4 but ever since I drove it I've wanted a 1/16 E-Revo. On that same day a hobby crusher :rolleyes: wrecked my friends front a-arm, and shattering a pushrod. One evening I driving my 1/16 Slash around and my friend (Brandon) came out to see what I was up to. He said, "You know that I have the Velineon system," so I said, "Yes. I drove your Revo, remember?" so Brandon said, " I will loan it to you, be right back." So after about five minutes he came back with his Merv. So as we were chatting about were we drove our trucks, he was installing the (V)elineon system in my Slash. After a while he said, "Got it in, let's see what it can do." So ever since that time I've had his brushless system and I've been converting mine to a MERV. My friend drives it around whenever I'm out with it. The end! :thumbup:

[Meebert]

in 2004 I saw an ad in a car magazine, the nitro-4-tec could do 0-60 in 4.5. Then I saw pictures of the t-maxx getting muddy and I wanted one. fast forward a year or so an I found this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Zmq0ANj5Y

[08kgraves]

nice, did you just find the video meebert, or was that what you ended up getting was the revo?

[Meebert]

The revo 2.5 was released around the same time I got my first RC, which was a used S-maxx. I didn't think much of the revo till I found that video on the traxxas website because the t-maxx was labeled as the king of RC trucks. A year later I got a revo 2.5 which got an OS.18 then a TRX 3.3 and a chassis extension and later an axial .28, still have my revo and it may become an e-revo soon.