Welcome to the fun and exciting world of Losi Radio Controlled vehicles and the Getting
Started section. Here we will try to answer some of the most common questions, help you
figure out what kind of vehicle is right for you, tell you about the different classes of
vehicles and much more.
Understanding the Basics
We're sure you've seen RC cars and trucks before, be it in movies and TV shows, a
neighbor or even at an organized RC race. There are two different types of RC vehicles
to choose from. The first is what is called a "toy–grade" RC car. These are generally the
sort of vehicles you would find in department stores, malls and toy stores. These
vehicles provide an easy and inexpensive way to get involved with RC, but there are several
important shortcomings of these vehicles. They have limited replacement part options, they
don't perform as well as more advanced vehicles, and quite often their radio systems are more
susceptible to interference.
The second type of vehicle is what's referred to as a "hobby–grade" RC car. Hobby–grade
RC cars and trucks can be either kits that you need to assemble or what is referred to as an
RTR, or Ready–To–Run. RTR's provide additional convenience in that they are completely
assembled for you right out of the box. Often the only thing you'll need to purchase
separately would be a battery and charger or perhaps some fuel. Just about any vehicle
you could want is available as an RTR. From monster trucks to sedans, stadium trucks or
minis they're all available as ready–to–runs.
If building is more your style, you may want to consider going with a kit. When
you purchase a kit you are basically buying a box of parts that you'll need to assemble
by following an instruction manual. Because of the additional skills required to build a
kit, kits are more often than not aimed towards competition–level vehicles. Because of
their race–oriented nature kits may not include such items as wheels, bodies and tires, as
those tend to be specific to a particular track or surface. Another thing to keep in mind
with kits is that you'll need to purchase your running gear separate. This includes such
things as your radio, receiver, ESC, motor and batteries. By not including these
items you are able to better customize and tailor your vehicle towards your personal
preferences in terms of electronics.
If you're looking for a vehicle that has the performance and customization of a kit but
you don't have time to build, you may want to consider one of Losi's Race Roller chassis.
Race Rollers are competition–level kits that have been preassembled for you. When you open
the box you'll be greeted by a rolling chassis. Simply paint the body, install your choice
of engine and electronics, and you're ready to hit the track. Race Rollers even come with a
Losi Racing Team member's setup on it, including shock oil, springs and diff oil.
Besides deciding between kits, Ready–to–Run vehicles and Race Rollers, there are a
number of other crucial decisions you'll need to make before deciding on what vehicle you'll
want to buy.
Nitro or Electric
There are two different types of power sources that an RC car or truck can use. One
configuration uses a nitro methane–based fuel, commonly referred to simply as nitro.
Nitro–powered vehicles offer a level of speed and performance that can exceed what their
electric counterparts are capable of. From the sound of their engines, the impressive torque
and top speed, and more, there are many reasons why nitro–powered vehicles are popular with
a wide variety of enthusiasts.
The second option is to go with an electric powered vehicle that utilizes battery packs.
One major benefit to electric vehicles is that the initial investment is significantly less
than compared with their glow–powered cousins. Because they are electric powered, they can
easily be driven indoors due to their nearly silent operation and lack of dangerous
exhaust fumes. Electric vehicles run on rechargeable NiMH, NiCd or LiPo battery packs that
provide run times between 5–10 minutes generally. This is one area where nitro vehicles do
have a decided advantage thanks to their ability to be refueled on the go, providing even
longer run times.
While glow–powered vehicles have become extremely popular across all categories, there
are instances when you are not allowed to use a nitro vehicle in an area. There are also
times when glow engines can be finicky to start or tune, while electric trucks offer
plug–and–play convenience. There are a number of different things you should look at when making
a decision on whether to go electric or nitro. First of all, if you plan on running in
an area where noise may cause an issue or disturbance, electric is going to be the way
to go. Secondly, nitro vehicles generally require additional maintenance, which means
more frequent rebuilds and cleaning sessions due to unburned fuel that exits from the
engine's tuned pipe or muffler. Thirdly, while the engines on a nitro truck sound cool,
you'll need to tune the engine's carburetor to ensure that you are getting optimum
performance while not overheating the engine. This tuning can be cumbersome and
frustrating if you are unfamiliar with what you will actually need to do. Finally,
electric vehicles can be slightly less expensive than their nitro counterparts in the
short term. If noise isn't an issue and you don't mind the slight extra attention your
vehicle may require, then feel free to check out a nitro–powered vehicle. However, if you're
looking to save some money, noise is an issue or you would be running indoors, then
you should definitely go electric.
Vehicle Types
Mini and Micro Vehicles
If space is a consideration and you're looking for fun in a smaller package, one of
Losi's excellent Mini or Micro cars or trucks is the ticket. Mini and Micro vehicles are
cars or trucks that are smaller than traditional 1/10 vehicles and provide a hobby–grade
experience in a smaller package. There are a wide variety of Losi Mini and Micro vehicles
to chose from, all depending on your personal tastes. For those who prefer the look
of stadium trucks, there's the original 1/18–scale Mini–T, the 1/36–scale Micro–T and
the 1/36–scale Micro–Desert Truck, just to name a few. For monster truck fans we have
the Mini–LST2, the Mini–Monster Baja and the officially licensed Dodge Raminator. Other
popular Losi Mini and Micro vehicles include the Mini–Slider, Mini–Baja and the Micro–Baja.
What really sets Losi Mini and Micro vehicles apart from others is that, realistically,
you can enjoy the same hobby experience that you would with a larger vehicle.
1/10–Scale Sedans
If you love exotic imported cars, you might consider one of Losi's excellent on–road
sedans. Losi's sedans are at the pinnacle of performance for 1/10–scale vehicles, having
won races at practically every level from local clubs to IFMAR events. Designed to be very
low to the ground and featuring an aggressive, racy look, there are some very different
features to check out, depending on what your needs are. For those looking for a reliable,
fast, fun and forgiving chassis, you may want to go with one of Losi's XXX–S–based RTR sedans,
such as the XXX–S Brushless. Featuring an innovative and efficient single–belt drivetrain,
front and rear ball differentials, hard–anodized aluminum shocks and much more, the XXX–S
is very well equipped. This chassis can be found in such vehicles as the XXX–S RTR Brushless
and the Drift–R drift car.
If you're looking for the ultimate competitive advantage and racing's in your future,
you'll want to take a look at the JRX–S Type R. In a world of clones and one–off copycats,
the Type R stands alone as one of the most potent and adjustable chassis out there.
Designed around a center–mounted battery and rear positioned motor configuration, the
JRX–S Type R features hard anodized, threaded body shocks, adjustable track width and
wheelbase, adjustable–height differentials, front and rear roll center adjustments
and even more.
1/10–Scale Off–Road Vehicles
Those familiar with the heritage and legacy of Losi know our roots are deeply entrenched
in off–road. Having won countless National and World Championships, we know what we're
doing when it comes to the dirt. There are three different types of off–road vehicles that
you have to choose from: two–wheel–drive (2WD) buggies such as the XXX–CR, four–wheel–drive
(4WD) buggies such as the XXX–4 Graphite Plus and stadium trucks such as the XXX–T CR or the
XXX–NT.
The XXX–T and XXX share many design similarities, but there are several key differences
between them. The overall chassis layout of the two is virtually identical. In each the
battery pack is mounted along the centerline of the chassis, behind the steering servo, and
a 3–gear transmission bolts to the rear of the chassis. The XXX buggy is designed to be a
very sleek–looking machine with a lower stance than the XXX–T. The XXX is also narrower
than the XXX–T, allowing it to change directions faster. While the XXX may be a more
responsive and nimble vehicle, this edginess can be difficult to drive and control over
rough terrain.
The wider stance and additional ground clearance that both the XXX–T and XXX–NT
feature help them handle ruts and bumps very well. This provides additional stability,
which in turn makes a truck a little easier to drive. 1/10–scale trucks also have a full
truck body that helps to protect the shock towers on a stadium truck better than on a
buggy, improving durability.1/10–scale trucks have become more popular over time thanks
to their easier–to–driver nature. If you think you'll eventually have a desire to race
your off–road car or truck, you're often better off going with a truck, as there is
simply a better chance that you will have others to race against.
1/8–Scale Nitro Vehicles
Losi's lineup of nitro vehicles offers intangibles that no other RC vehicle can
match. From their impressive size, the sound of the engine running and shifting gears,
to their winning on–track performance, Losi nitro cars and trucks are at the front of
the pack for a number of different reasons. When deciding on a nitro car or truck there
are three different categories of vehicles to consider: 1/8–scale buggies, truggies
and monster trucks.
Losi changed the landscape of the monster truck scene with the original LST and
continues to do so now years later. Losi monster trucks feature huge tires, enormous
bodies, and easy–to–fire and maintain engines that put out a ton of power. Losi offers
a wide variety of extremely versatile trucks that can be tuned for backyard bashing,
tricked out with awesome–looking aftermarket parts or tuned for killer racetrack
performance. Losi monster trucks are truly the "go anywhere, do anything" RC vehicles.
While perhaps not the first to enter the arena, few will argue that there was a more
significant entrant into the 1/8–scale buggy class as the 8IGHT. The 8IGHT was designed
primarily with one thing in mind: winning races. The 8IGHT is available in three
different configurations: Kit, Race Roller and RTR. All three 8IGHTs feature a
centrally–mounted engine for optimized weight placement and lightning–fast response,
innovative fuel tank and clunk, hard anodized, threaded body shocks and more.
The 8IGHT and 8IGHT Race Roller are identically equipped, the Race Roller simply saves
you time by not requiring you to build the kit up from scratch. The 8IGHT RTR is a
complete package that includes a potent 427–engine with Spin–Start, Spektrum DX2
transmitter, prepainted body and more.
The Losi 8IGHT–T has taken the proven design and performance of the 8IGHT and
optimized it for Truggy use. The 8IGHT–T has a wider stance than the 8IGHT, larger
truck tires and a truck body. Since it is based upon the 8IGHT, the 8IGHT–T has a lower
CG and sits lower to the ground than what a monster truck does. This translates into
better handling and performance on a race track but can cause some issues over rougher
terrain or in backyard–bashing applications. There are two variations of the 8IGHT–T
available, a Race Roller and an RTR with 427 engine, Spektrum DX2.0 radio and more.
Completing the package:
Whether you buy a Kit, RTR, or Race Roller, you're going to need some support
equipment. While an RTR will include the radio, servos, motor or engine, there are
other necessary tools and equipment that you will need to either get up and running or
to maintain it and keep it running. If you are planning on purchasing an electric–powered
vehicle, you'll need to purchase at least one, and likely several, 6–cell NiMH or
2–cell LiPo battery packs and the appropriate battery charger. You may even need to
purchase these items for a nitro vehicle as well if you need to supply power to an electric
starter device, such as a hand starter or a starter box. For nitro vehicles, you will
also need the appropriate fuel, be it 10%, 20% or 30% fuel. And never try to use airplane
fuel in an RC car or truck; use only fuels specifically blended for RC car use.
In addition to batteries, there are several key tools that you should have on hand at
all times in case you need to perform basic maintenance, repairs and tuning. All Losi
vehicles include a basic assortment of tools and Allen wrenches. After several uses, the heads
of the wrenches can round off, making getting a good bite on a screw head challenging. Losi's
hand tools, such as our Race Wrenches, are a wise investment and you'll realize their value
the first time you use them. These Allen wrenches and nut drivers feature titanium nitride
hard coated tips for better durability and performance. Other key tools for your pit box
include things such as a tuning screwdriver for making needle adjustments on your engine,
a body reamer, Lexan scissors, needle–nose pliers, fuel bottle, glow igniter (also known as
a glow driver), and extra glow plugs.