Ok, Just Stumbled in Here, I am Hooked where to Start?? TOTAL NEWBIE WARNING!!!!

[Ziptar]

I Stumbled on to tinyrc.net and the TTTT forum yesterday while looking for info on Mirco/Mini Planes and, I am hooked.

I wound up blowing off the rest of the day at work surfing for 1/87 and TTTT info. After watching a number of Videos in the galley and on several web pages. I decided I wanted to try to build a 1/87 R/C and see how it goes..

Here is the thing... I am total Newbie... I have never built an R/C Car of any scale, everything I have is RTR. I have built some Plastic Models but, it's been years and I never scratch built, I had a hard enough time just getting the decals on straight . I have basic electronic skills and can solder (Not SMD Though). (So in True internet Newb fashion... here are lots of questions....)

So... Knowing that where do I start..

I need a good primer on Building R/C Cars, especially 4WD. I have no Idea how to hook up ESCs, servos, Motors, Transmitters, recievers etc... I need "Building R/C Cars for Dummies" Basically.

As far as building 1/87 R/C and TTTT I translated a number of German sites to English yesterday. I found lots of info on Models and Parts but, Not allot of mention of Tools.. Could someone give me a list for a basic starter tool set?

I tried to get an Idea for the Costs involved in building TTTT But, couldn't really add it all up becuase I wasn't sure what I was missing. What should I budget to build a TTTT???

Are we stuck with trucks? It looks like there are several sites where smal cars (ie: Smart) have been built.

I really want to give this a shot and I know I have a Steep learning curve but, Can anyone give me some
advice to get started??

Or would your best advice be "Ziptar, 1/87 TTTT R/C are going to be way too tough for you. You should go try your hand at building larger scale vehicles first, improve your skills then come back here. Better yet you forget this place and go back to your happy little RTR R/C world."

I am eager and willing to learn.. devored everthing I could find so far... Any input would be appreciated.

[frizzen]

Welcome to the hobby, glad you found us. For english speaking sites, this is probably about it; most is in german.

For a really worthy TTTT, expect to blow $200-300 USD. Basic list of parts: TX, RX, micro Servo, ESC (or second servo to hack into ESC), Batteries, Motor (if you don't hack a servo). Then you'll need brass stock (chassis), gears, a body, grippy tires...

You'll probably want your first TTTT to be 2wd for ease of building, unless you want to buy the front end from one of the TTTT stores. Basically, you ARE stuck with trucks, or using a scale larger than 1/87, I've seen a few Bit-size vehicles done with TTTT components but they're rare.

On the TTTT page of this forum, at the bottom there's a pulldown menu: View threads from. Set that to "The Beginning". Read everything you can.

You *CAN* build one. I haven't built one yet though, so I'm rather limited help.

[Ziptar]

Thanks Frizzen,

I missed the "Show from beginning" option. I'll paw throught the messages from the begining and start educating myself.

[akura2]

having never built ANY RC vehicles of any kind I would advise that you spend time taking apart and putting together your larger RC vehicles so you can get a handle on the manual dexterity it takes to mess with these things... having built three TTTT truck myself I can tell you it can be pretty hard... but it's very rewarding... I bought my parts for one of my trucks from www.tttt-parts.org as a "kit" ...that's a start... it keeps you from having to make the really hard parts your self.... you still have to source the electronics and batteries... but it can be done