Starting RC Drift- Newbies READ b4 posting qns

[*team trixie™ | X]

Introduction

While browsing through the SGdrifters forum, I realised that many similar questions have been repeatedly asked by newcomers to the RC Drift Scene. I was thus inspired to attempt to compile links to the answers that have been provided to serve as a one stop location where newcomers may be able to get most of their questions answered.

Disclaimer

None of the information here is my own. Rather, they were all bits and pieces of wisdom imparted by drift seniors. I shall claim no credit for the information, I am but the scribe that attempts to compile them. As it is the work of a human, I anticipate that errors will be made. Contact me if there are any useful threads that I left out.

Meanwhile, on with the guide.

1. Basic Terminology and FAQ

One of the first things that confronts the newcomer is the amazing array of rc terms.

Rubbish's Drifter's FAQ

In this thread Rubbish, our senior drift tech defines the terms and answers questions. Click on the link if you want to understand the basic terms such as "ESC, TX, RX".

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1148228909

2. Chassis Related Issues

2.1 Which Chassis to buy

This is an issue that has probably been discussed multiple times and answered multiple times. Here are some of the answers that have been provided. For this topic, I included the more common chassis used. Anyone who has threads to contribute on other chassis, please pm me.

Tamiya TT-01 and TT-01D

Here is one link with answers provided by my team mate J. Scroll to near the bottom of the thread to look for the answer.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1159274637


Yokomo Drift Kit

Relevant bit is the post by Alex. Scroll somewhere to the mid to find it.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&thread=1155481792&page=1

I have yet to find a more comprehensive discussion of the chassis, so anyone who has found one pls let me know.


HPI Sprint 2 Stage D

Short discussion comparing the Sprint 2 with the TT-01D

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1155885522

A list of the car specs plus short discussion on HPI D Box

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=driftchassis&action=display&thread=1154081341


Tamiya TA-05

Finally a thread discussing TA-05, TT-01 and Yokomo. Look to Jinglejangle's 2nd post for relevant bit. Slightly long but pretty informative.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1159627835


2.2 Other Chassis Questions

Belt Driven or Shaft Driven

Look to the first post by Andrew. Note: This is almost 2 years old so there might be updated info. Currently the best discussion on belt and shaft that I managed to find though.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=DriftSetup&thread=1109955128&page=1

Diff Gear

Discussion on Diff Gear for TT-01. Look to Rubbish's contributions.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=driftchassis&action=display&thread=1151615031

Hop ups for TT-01

Too many newbies ask the same question. So here's the most recent thread on this.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=AskAnswer&thread=1162372815&page=1


3. Electronics

I will just put these into one section since most of the answers can already be found in Rubbish's thread on basic terms.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1148228909

Ok. Here's one all about batteries. (Updated: 12/01/07)

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1168529474&page=1


4. Bodyshells

Short Painting Guides.

Look to Kido's reply. I did my 1st shell based on those tips.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&thread=1152147115&page=1

My own tips after learning the hard way. Also included is short discussion on repainting shells.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=AskAnswer&thread=1155619406&page=1

Comprehensive Painting Guide

This guy is really good. Check out his FAQ.

Link: www.cptnet.com/ken/gallery.html


5. Where to Buy

List of Local Hobby Shops

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1161144219

SG Drifters Online Store

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=sgds&action=display&thread=1141459838

2nd Hand

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=Trading


6. Where to Drift

(i) Serangoon
(ii) Woodlands
(iii) Bukit Batok
(iv) Simei (updated: 12/01/07)

Details found at Drift Meet Board. Check Regularly for Meets.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=DriftClass


7. Web Links

A compilation of useful weblinks.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=ForNewbiesInterestedParties&action=display&thread=1161003324


8. End Credits

I hope I managed to include most of the relevant posts. Anyone with further suggestions etc, please let me know, I will update in future versions.

[housemartiniz]

It appears that my no.2 is very very very 'free'. Hehehe...but I've got to admit his putting of all this info is indeed a very thoughtful move, especially helpful to people whose perference is to have answers in just 'one click', rather than performing searches and jumping all over the forum.

[miyo]

thanks man.. helped mi alot.. ;D

[*team trixie™ | X]

Updated new thread discussing TA-05 and assorted chassis. Update is in RED under Section 2.1.

[jinglejangle]

hmm that thread is a comparison between a TA05, TT01D and erm Yokomo drift kit. has only abit of laymen/"potential buyer" info.

[DrunkenDori]

want more comprehensive answers then ask lor.

Anyway KUDOS to you for compiling the thread!

[J]

As an add-on to help all the new drifters ( numbers are increasing so quickly ), there are very few or no TT01Ds left on the first hand market as it is a limited release. So if you intend to buy first hand, it'll be hard to find them anymore, if the price is right, grab it while there is still that lingering stock.


Also, if you are a newbie intending to buy a 2nd hand car, please do come down to some of the main drift meets first, take a look at the cars, get a first hand experience of what is drifting about, and ask your questions regarding the different chassis.

Try to get an experienced drifter that you trust to overlook your transaction if you are buying a 2nd hand car. Or buy a car that you know has been tested and proven ( from what you see after making a decent comparison ) to be a good car.


know what the extra hop-ups ( upgraded parts ) look like, and how to find them to ensure they are there if the seller says it is included with his car. Because there have been rare cases of sellers swapping out the good parts that he claims will be included with the car ( hence a higher retail price ) and selling the car with inferior/cheaper parts.


While the drift community is usually tight and we're mostly all friends, there is no way of filtering out people who join the forum. There may be people who pm you or sms you offering a "very good car" but there's no way of knowing how good it is if you have no knowledge at all about drifting/chassis or even what is value for money.


While everyone can understand the thrill and desire to start drifting after watching the SGdrifters videos ( its how most of us started out after all ), at the end of the day, its your money and your investment. Don't kill your love for drifting by getting cheated and feeling that this is not a good hobby/community.
Taking some time to learn and slowly choose will be better in the long run than making a rash decision.

gd luck, have fun, and may the force be with you.

[*team trixie™ | X]

ok. updates to my stickied thread.

1. Added section on hopping up TT-01
2. Added section with web links
3. Changed link to thread of local hobby shops to most updated one by mivec.

footnote: once again, to all newbies, please read before asking on forums. if you ask a question that has been answered multiple times already, you are just clogging the forums and making it even harder for ppl with unanswered problems frm getting sufficient attention.

cheers

[E3lipse]

Ximen maybe can add this on. Don't want to start new thread.

Basic forum functions and etiquette

Just speaking from my observations and a relatively an experienced forum user. I frequent at least 7 forums often and here is my input.

In all, it's just to keep the forum neat and tidy isn't it? Who wants a forum that has the same thread reappearing 10s and 100s of times asking the same question when the previous thread is just below it?

Appears that many do not know of the magical search function that can probably lead your answers faster then ever.




1. No one likes spam. Seriously, NO one likes it.

2. Refrain from posting more than 2 times in the row with 1 sentence each or more. There is a function called "Modify". You can click there as many times as you want to edit your post to add or remove things.

3. There is a delete button too. Use it to remove unwanted posts that you made.



4. 40 Exclamation marks (i.e !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) does the same job as 1 (i.e !) to around 3 (i.e !!!)

5. Same for question marks (i.e ?). Refer to point 4.

6. Same for question marks plus exclamation marks (i.e ?!). Refer to point 4.

7. Posting >>>>>>>>>>>>> and relevant is really irrelevant and it makes reading posts a pain in the eyes.

8. Emotes are there to use but use them appropriately. Using an angry face emote at the wrong time makes other's wonder what have they done wrong when nothing happened.

9. Save the sacarsm.

10. Post in the correct section. This is very important. For example, do not start coffee talk chit chat session at the SGDrifter's Online Shop section. Nor do you ask things that are meant to be in "HelpDesk" in "Newbies, Interested Parties, Pls read".

11. Double posting. Accidents do happen, you can delete one post away. Refer to point 3.

12. It is pointless to open more than 1 thread of the same question or request. It doesn't hasten the speed of people answering as if they can answer it, they would have done so already. Once again, if you are the only one who posted there, you can delete your posts and the thread would automatically be deleted too.

13. Constructive posts/ Contructive Criticism. A post constituting of just an emote, hehe or haha is basically spam. Can close one eye in Off topic section if the thread is of jokes and stuff.

14. Keep religious and race jokes and comments away from the forum.

15. Forums are not your journals. A thread should have discussion value in it, ie showing that new ride, asking a question and so on.

16. Got a problem with another member? Settle your differences via PM.

Will add more on when i can think of more

[csr]

e3lipse said:

9. Save the sacarsm.

I agree. Good that you brought it up, wJ.

Another thing which I feel is undesirable is to post ten times (in the same section) within a few minutes with each post having 1 or 2 words, adding nothing to the post, only to that particular forum member's 'no. of posts'. Those guilty parties, I'm sure you know who you are. Please stop it.

[E3lipse]

Np. Been wanting to make this for a while already.
Now that i think of it, maybe make a thread for itself also good.

[blaz]

Hi,
I hope i put this in the right post...
i have been reading around and and understand some of the ready to drift kit model that used for drifting...
here is my question..
i m interested with the tb series of the tamiya model.. is this model able to convert to drift car (off course possibilities is there) but in practicality. coz i thought of getting this car for drifting and in the same time i can always use back this car for on road touring..anybody drift with this model?

if this questioin has been asked before please let me know the link to the post.
thank you

[blaz]

blaz said:

Hi,
I hope i put this in the right post...
i have been reading around and and understand some of the ready to drift kit model that used for drifting...
here is my question..
i m interested with the tb series of the tamiya model.. is this model able to convert to drift car (off course possibilities is there) but in practicality. coz i thought of getting this car for drifting and in the same time i can always use back this car for on road touring..anybody drift with this model?

if this questioin has been asked before please let me know the link to the post.
thank you

got my answer yesterday... so just to share the answer..
the tb series is just too expensive, esp if it used for drifting, what i understand from some shop and thread in this forum... drifting is meant for budget cost hobby.. ..

anyway.. another input will be good to have.. thanks

[E3lipse]

blaz said:

blaz said:

Hi,
I hope i put this in the right post...
i have been reading around and and understand some of the ready to drift kit model that used for drifting...
here is my question..
i m interested with the tb series of the tamiya model.. is this model able to convert to drift car (off course possibilities is there) but in practicality. coz i thought of getting this car for drifting and in the same time i can always use back this car for on road touring..anybody drift with this model?

if this questioin has been asked before please let me know the link to the post.
thank you

got my answer yesterday... so just to share the answer..
the tb series is just too expensive, esp if it used for drifting, what i understand from some shop and thread in this forum... drifting is meant for budget cost hobby.. ..

anyway.. another input will be good to have.. thanks

We don't play because of low cost, we play because we enjoy this hobby of r/c drifting.
We have people using expensive kits here like Cyclone, XRay T2, TB05 and more.

[dan]

just a little something to change here...

6. Where to Drift

(i) Serangoon
(ii) Woodlands
(iii) Bukit Batok
(iv) Simei <-- Just appeared recently.. hee.. thanks!

Details found at Drift Meet Board. Check Regularly for Meets.

Link: sgdrift.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=DriftClass

[blaz]

e3lipse said:

blaz said:

got my answer yesterday... so just to share the answer..
the tb series is just too expensive, esp if it used for drifting, what i understand from some shop and thread in this forum... drifting is meant for budget cost hobby.. ..

anyway.. another input will be good to have.. thanks

We don't play because of low cost, we play because we enjoy this hobby of r/c drifting.
We have people using expensive kits here like Cyclone, XRay T2, TB05 and more.

..

[*team trixie™ | X]

ok. updates again.

1. New drift location - Simei
2. New thread on Batteries added.

thanks to the contributors. ;D