Shorts and Sandals

I knew as soon as I got up it would be a nice day. Jay had to go to work but I started charging the batteries in my remote-controlled car. It hadn't been out for any exercise since last fall.


I was at Pier Park yesterday, but knew that I would put the Traxxas in its bag and head there again this morning. Of course I put on shorts and sandals for the first time in 2014 as well.



The two NiMH were attached in series so I had quite a good go at it today. I don't feel as though I forgot how to steer it over the winter. At least there are only a few new scrapes from today's outing. It goes like a bat out of hell. I have never used the adapter to run the batteries in parallel. I guess it can top 60 miles per hour when running lithium cells.

Unfortunately I could not hold my phone and the controller, so all I could manage was this 8 second clip accelerating from one end of the asphalt section of the old pier.

A Traxxas Type Afternoon

When I decided to go for a daily walk uptown this morning, it was cloudy and cool. It even misted a bit so that, as a glasses wearer, I spent a bit of the trip admiring my feet. Then as the weather forecast predicted the sun showed up, abet a little late.

I wondered what I should plug in to take advantage of the better weather. I could top up the battery on the electric scooter and go for a spin, or ensure the NiMH cells for my model radio-controlled car were fully charged.


I chose the latter of the options above. I had to walk the length of New Westminster's downtown parkade and then across through the maze of support trucks and equipment for the shooting of next year's movie, Godzilla. Pier Park was full of citizens. The huge easterly section of blacktop area was pretty free. I raced the Traxxas around it. Of course, I did my best to avoid scaring the old ladies.

Today, a number of kids came up to investigate and try their hand. I'm a little hesitant of relinquishing the controls to a toy that can go upwards of 50 mph. I did have the batteries in parallel rather than series. Actually some of the little brats were more adept and putting the car through maneuvers than I am. I'm not sharing the controls anymore!

Slash VXL Crash

I thought for sure I'd wrecked it.

My RC truck was cruising along at quite a clip. It was at the other end of the tarred part of Pier Park. From my angle, I thought I had enough room to make the corner, but I certainly didn't.

I had to walk the 300 or 400 ft, but at a distance of about 50, I was already convinced I'd managed some deadly damage. There was a chain-link fence and I'd driven the front end right down under the bottom. The tires seemed to be pressed into the tar and the bottom of the links were about midway up the hood. In fact, I had a difficult time trying to extricate it. I could hardly pull up on the fence, so I know the vehicle must've been doing a good 30 mph or more. I think I mumbled, "Damn!"



I did manage to get it free. I removed the clips and popped up the plastic body shell. It sort of sprang back to it's original shape. The front bumper must have absorbed a tremendous force, but nothing on the frame looked bent or misshapen.

I am impressed by how tough these little things are!

My 1/16 Traxxas Slash Rocks!

The weather here is now officially fantastic. There's a stretch of sunshine and temperatures of about 22C (72F) during the day. At night it'll cool down to around 14C (57F) for great sleeping. This is perfect. I have totally forgotten that we had to go through eight months of rain to get to this. Other than having a 3-second memory, there are not many ways in which I'm like a goldfish.

I finally had the time and weather to take out the little, 4x4 RC truck. I went to the far end of the new Pier Park. I have to walk about twenty minutes at the present time, but after stairs and an elevator are built from the New Westminster downtown parkade over the tracks, it'll take me around five only.

The tarred area at the east end is a perfect venue for racing around. The little thing goes like a 'bat out of hell'. It's amazing! I'm only hitting around 30 mph most likely. After I get another NiMH battery pack, I can plug them in series and get to at least 50 mph. I really don't think I'll do that often as if I put them in parallel, I'll be able to double the running time. Today, I was completely flat after just a half hour or so. I will probably move to LiPo power after I get used to its handling and maneuvering.


This clip is just 5 seconds. I found it impossible to hold my phone and the remote control for the vehicle at the same time. The throttle and steering definitely require two hands. Also, I forgot to hold my Nexus One horizontally. Oh, well. You'll be subjected to additional vids later, I'm sure!

Un-Boxing Day

After shopping for groceries this morning, I drove over to SN Hobbies on 12th Street. I picked up my 1/16 Traxxas Slash VXL 4x4. I opened that.

Later in the afternoon, we thought we'd find a replacement vacuum cleaner as the old one died this week. Tomorrow, expanded levies go into effect on electrical items sold in British Columbia. They help pay for recycling programs for all equipment with a cord or batteries. This law has been phased in over the last half dozen years starting with computers and monitors. This vacuum cleaner is the fourth we've needed. That's an average of only four years per device.

They sure don't make 'em like my mom's old Electrolux.

I Got da Power

As a kid, I remember our family eating dinner together. Perhaps that was more common forty years ago. Anyway, one of the constant questions at the table was what I'd learned that day. I always said, 'Nuthin'. Of course that couldn't have actually been true or I'd still have trouble with basic multiplication. Wait, maybe I still do?!?

Anyway, I wanted to introduce the fact I started studying about something new today. This new knowledge comes as a byproduct of my recent interest in RC cars and trucks. Incidentally, I left a hefty deposit for a 1/16 Traxxas 4x4 Slash at SN Hobbies on the way home from class today. It might arrive in town as soon as tomorrow.



I have been learning about LiPo batteries. They are a real alternative to other types of rechargeable batteries. In fact, they are what has made electric, hobby planes and helicopters possible.

I sort of knew that batteries had made a lot of recent progress. Moreover, the continued progress in real-world electric vehicles will come from developments still in laboratories. It really is an interesting topic to me. Here's probably more than you'll ever need to know about this subject. Although it all seemed new to me, I guess they're quite close to the type of battery I've been using for years in my smartphone.

What did you learn in school today?

Your Opinion is Important

I'd welcome your comments.

For a couple of weeks, I've been scrutinizing stats for electric RC cars and trucks. I really don't know where I got the idea to become the owner a hobby-grade vehicle. I've already mentioned this topic in my eJournal and images twice in the last week. I have already picked a vendor, basic configuration, and even a colour. I even know I'll order through a local hobby shop on 12th Street. There's one important aspect which has not been set. The more important decision involves whether to go with a street or off-road body.

Here are images of the two, Traxxas candidates which I saved on Pinterest. The top is 1/16 scale Rally model and the other is a 1/16 scale Slash truck. On which should I spend my cash? Rather than drawing straws, I'll ask my readers' advice? Which do you think I should order?

Source: rcspeedshop.nl via Dennis Sylvester on Pinterest

Source: kennycarlile.com via Dennis Sylvester on Pinterest

More Research Than For a Real Car!

I walked up to the public library today to see if they had any sort of RC magazine in their second-floor periodical section. There were lots of hot-rodder titles but nothing expressly for remote control vehicles. I figured that it is an expensive enough hobby so publishers would have no trouble selling advertising space.

After, I walked over to the London Drugs and looked in their magazine section (probably for the first time ever). They did carry RC Rider. I thumbed through it and it was exactly what I was thinking of. I realized though that I'd probably seen most everything interesting in the 10 minutes I was standing in that aisle. I didn't pay the Canadian price of $6.99 as I figured everything I really need to see is already online.

In fact, I've been rapidly narrowing down the specific features I'd like. I've decided that I will probably go with the Traxxas brand. They have a number of models which really seem suitable. These are all four-wheel drive rigs with brushless motors and 2.4 Ghz radio spread. Also, I've chosen to go with the 1/16 scale rather than 1/10. That means the vehicles are a little longer than one foot rather than a foot and a half or more. I do live in an apartment afterall. I guess I was underestimating the budget I need.



My only real remaining choice is between the e-Revo or Slash trucks, or a Mustang Boss 302. Picking a body type might be the most crucial factor as it determines the main terrain on which I could run. I am leaning toward the traditional car. Off track bashing might be fun but I've a perfect place to run on asphalt. The new Pier Park near my house stretches along the Fraser River. There were funds to replace and re-mediate about half of the piers. The first section when entering from the west is completely new and landscaped. The far end to the east, has simply been cleaned up as it is on the original timbers. The surface was smoothed and prepared and would be somewhat like a perfect parking lot with never a chance of meeting a real car.

Toys for Bigger Boys

I hadn't really considered buying a radio-controlled car until quite recently. It must have stemmed from a perfect new space afforded by the Westminster Pier Park. There's a wonderfully large area that'll be great for any sort of RC equipment. It is a big enough area to land a fixed wing model aircraft. Those fancy newer helicopters seem pretty sophisticated and look fun too. Although near the Fraser River, the park really doesn't offer an area where it'd be possible to launch a RC boat.



After thinking about the possibilities, I think I should stick to an outdoor toy with wheels. I am just in the research stage at this point. Yet, I've found online websites offering RC hobby equipment sales in Canada. I even located a local shop which carries quite a selection at prices similar to online stores. I will probably go to ask the local guys their suggestions.

I want to start out spending only a few hundred bucks. I'll probably go electric rather than with gas/nitro. If you're into RC cars or trucks, drop me a message and let's chat about my future, new hobby.