How To Build An RC Car

Step 1: Choose the type of RC car you want to build

Firstly, you’ll need to choose the type of remote-controlled car you want to build. There are various types available, such as on-road, off-road, drift cars an others. It’s important to choose the type that best fits your interests and needs. In short, if you like using flat surfaces and tarmac – go on-road. If you like rough terrain, then your chose is between buggies, truggies, monster trucks and rock crawlers. Consider the following options:

• On-road RC cars: designed for speed and agility on paved surfaces
• Off-road RC cars: designed for rugged terrain and off-road adventures
• Rock crawlers: designed for slow-speed, high-torque crawling over rocks and obstacles
• Buggies: designed for speed and agility on a variety of surfaces
• Truggies: designed for speed and agility on a variety of surfaces, with a focus on durability and reliability

Once you’ve chosen the type of RC car you want to build, you can start selecting the components you’ll need. For more information refer to our article – how to choose an RC car.

Step 2: Buy the chassis

Once you have worked out the type of car you want to have, it is time to shop for a DIY RC kit that has both the chassis and the body pre-made for you. You can either purchase a pre-built chassis or build one from scratch using materials like aluminum, carbon fiber, or plastic. There are multiple pre-build options on the market, but to name a few, here are some options: On road:

• Tamiya TRF420X Chassis Kit
• Tamiya TA04-S Chassis Kit
• Team Associated DR10 Team Kit
• Kyosho 1/8 GP 4WD INFERNO GT3 CHASSIS KIT
• Kyosho 4WD Touring Car FAZER Mk2 FZ02 Chassis Kit
• HPI Racing 1/10 SPORT 3 Kit

Off road:

• Tamiya XV-02 PRO Chassis Kit (light off road)
• Team Associated RC10SC6.2 Team Kit
• Team Associated RC8B4 Team Kit
• Traxxas TRX-4 Sport Kit
• Traxxas TRX-4 Crawler Kit
• Traxxas Slash 2WD Kit
• Axial 1/10 SCX10 PRO 4WD KIT
• Axial 1/10 SCX10 III 4WD KIT
• Kyosho 1/8 GP 4WD KIT INFERNO MP10 SPEC A
• Losi 1/16 Mini-B Pro 2WD Buggy Roller

Step 3: Select Components

After putting the chassis together it is time to fill in the gaps and select the components that are missing. Those typically are:

1. Electronics: This includes a transmitter and receiver for controlling the RC car, a servo for steering, an electronic speed controller (ESC) for controlling the motor, and a motor for powering the RC car. The type and specifications of these electronics will depend on the chassis you have selected in the previous step.
2. Battery and Charger: You may need to purchase a suitable battery and charger for powering your RC car. The type and capacity of the battery will depend on the size of the battery bay in the chassis you have picked.
3. Body and Paint: If the kit does not include a body or if you want to customize the appearance of your RC car, you may need to purchase a separate body and paint for it. In addition, you may even want to buy some stickers to your liking. Bodies are typically made of polycarbonate and come unpainted, allowing you to choose your own color scheme.
4. Tires and Wheels: Depending on the type of RC car and the intended use, you may need to purchase separate tires and wheels if they did not come in a kit. There are different types of tires available for various surfaces, such as on-road, off-road, or specialized tires for racing or drifting. If the wheels did come in a kit, you may want to buy additional wheels for different terrains you’d want to you use your car on.
5. Tools and Building Supplies: You may need to purchase additional tools and building supplies, such as screwdrivers, pliers, hex drivers, glue, lubricants, and other building materials, to assemble and customize your RC car kit. This is an investment that will last you a while, so pick quality tools as they’ll serve you longer.
6. Optional Upgrades: Depending on your preferences and performance goals, you may choose to purchase optional upgrades for your RC car, such as upgraded shocks, suspension components, bearings, or performance parts to enhance its performance, durability, or appearance. Upgrading to high-quality RPM front a-arms and rear components can significantly enhance your car’s performance and durability.

Step 4: Test, tune, review, repeat

Once you’ve assembled your remote-controlled car, test it out to see if it works correctly. Testing and fine-tuning an RC car involves a series of steps to ensure optimal performance and customization. Here are some general guidelines:

1. Initial Assessment: After assembling your RC car kit, perform an initial assessment to verify that all components are functioning correctly, including the transmitter, receiver, servo, ESC, and motor.
2. Baseline Setup: Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for setting up your RC car, including adjusting ride height, camber, toe, and other suspension settings. Set the initial gear ratio and shock settings as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Field Testing: Take your RC car to a suitable location, such as an RC track or an open area, and conduct test runs to observe its performance. Pay attention to acceleration, top speed, cornering, and handling characteristics.
4. Fine-tuning: Based on the performance during field testing, make small adjustments to optimize the RC car’s performance. This may include tweaking the gear ratio, suspension settings, shock settings, and other parameters. Consider upgrading the rear differential to improve handling and performance, especially if you plan on intense driving or jumping.
5. Trial and Error: Tuning an RC car often involves trial and error, as you make incremental adjustments and test the performance to assess the effects. Keep track of the changes and their results, and iterate the process until desired performance is achieved.
6. Data Logging and Analysis: Advanced RC cars may have data logging capabilities, allowing you to collect performance data for analysis. Utilize this data to make informed tuning decisions.
7. Practice and Refinement: Practice driving your RC car on the track to further fine-tune its performance. Make adjustments based on track conditions and optimize performance accordingly.