mini R/C cars...

[detting]

I saw some mini-rc cars in the local "Cheapy Store" for $5. First, i was amazed that they were this cheap. But second, I thought of the Model Railroad applications for these vehicles. Since these cars are approx 1/64 scale, S-Scale and Tinplate operators could use them as is. For example, they could drive these cars on and off flats or autoracks, giving additional life to a scene.

For HO guagers, like myself, there would have to be some sort of modification. My thought was to replace the tires with rail wheels and make some sort of critter or railbus replacemnet body for the vehicle. This replacement body would be dictated by the scale modeled On30 or HO.

Has anyone else tried this yet?

Later...

[Anonymous]

I've seen R/C tanks in 1/72 scale used on 4mm/1foot narrow gauge layouts (4mm/1ft is 1/76 so they're pretty close). I've also seen HO scale R/C Trucks in the past - they were European-style ones but it might be possible to rebody them as US-style rigs - as I understand it they used standard Herpa boyshells. Unfortunately, I've not seen any since the review several years ago in an R/C car magazine, and I've never seen any for sale!

[detting]

I did a comparison of the remote controlled military vehicles available earlier this year. There are more vehicles available now, but this will give you a flavor of what is out there.

It will also show off my burned out buildings and cobblestones. Having never crossed the pond, this is my attempt to model WWII Europe. Railroading_Brit, you can tell me if I got it right.

If you are interested, see:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/detting/comptank.html

Later...

[Anonymous]

The set back is that those little zip zap cars take on a charge and typically only last a minute or two. (or are there also ones running on aaa's?)

I've currently been trying to save a old riverossi someone gave me that doesn't work... it's too bad I couldn't figure out how to fit two of those little motors in it.

with such cheap remote controls if you could figure out how to supply decent steady current with a switch you could remote control lots of goodies on your layout!

If someone was really thinking and skilled just think... into a rifrigerator car or passenger car, you could mount one of those little cars... and have essentially a foward and reverse winch off their power tire for something as well as a tiny servo for a mini switch by turning left and right might turn something else on and off.

[detting]

Rabbidgerbal,

The running times very on a number of factors, including the size of the batteries and the charging methodologies. Seeing how your idea is to mount the electronics in essentially a bigger chassis, you an not limited to the constraint of the mini-batteries. You have the options of using track power with a voltage regulator or batteries. I really do like the idea of using the wheels as a winch. This would add some extra functionality to the logging Porter.

As for HO, the chasis are too wide to be used on the tracks without major modifications. It seems the best applications for these cars are in the larger scales. I will post some thoughts about the basic anatomy of these mini-cars and mini-tanks in the near future.

Later...

[Anonymous]

My daughter runs a body shop and one of her vendors gave her one of these small RCs which she passed on to me. They are as cute as a button but I can't see how you could integrated them with a serious layout. I am afraid this one will go on to my grandson at Christmas.

[Anonymous]

I have been considering the use of one of these for my Lionel or possibly an HO layout. There is no posible way to drive this thing slow enough to control on a layout (Trust me I tryed!). It's a great load on the Lionel layout. But past that Its somthing I use to chase ants with at the laundrymat!