The kit-building faithful in RC land will ikely burst into angry flames and run for the nearest device with Internet access after reading this, but there are several benefits to buying a ready-to-run. If you’ve ever spent hours building a kit only to find that a tiny, but vital, car-specific piece necessary to complete the next step is absolutely nowhere to be found, you’ll appreciate knowing that a fully built RTR is less likely to be missing anything. Not only that, but manufacturers have an easier time diagnosing faulty parts and warranty issues when they’re not trying to determine if the builder was at fault. Perhaps most importantly, though, is that through the miracle of proprietary brands
and manufacturer partnerships, it’s much less expensive than purchasing each component
separately. Who am I kidding? ;e best part of buying an RTR is being able to drive it the same
day without spending hours putting it together. It’s not all fun and games, though, as even the
most ready of the ready-to-runs benefit from a little bit of attention before you flip the switch.
HOW TO
UNBOX
YOUR RTR
From cardboard to carnage
WORDS AARON WALDRON PHOTOS JOEL NAVARRO
When you tear open the packaging in excitement, make sure to account for any included
tools and spare parts; stash these away in your
toolbox for safe keeping. Check for sticker
sheets, parts lists, manual addendums, and any
other important information before you start
throwing stu; away. Carefully cut any zip-ties
that might be securing the chassis or transmitter to a cardboard insert, as they can be tough;
tough like driving your new truck if you cut your
fingers.
CHARGE THE BATTERY
Charge your new battery according to the instructions that came with your charger and battery. Especially when charging LiPo packs or when using an aftermarket charger, it’s important
to verify that all of the settings are correct. While you’re waiting for the alarm to sound, you can
move onto the remaining steps.
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
When it comes to
playing with a radio
control item that
came nearly completely prepared for
operation, there’s
nothing more embarrassing than botching
something that was
clearly explained in
the instruction manual. Read through
each page of the included literature and
follow what it says to
do. After all, no one
knows your RTR better than the company
that made it.
