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Smallest RC Cars?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the cat-toy dept.

fredhsu writes: "My brother-in-law bought two micro RC cars in Japan for me. They are both smaller than a matchbox. DigiQ from Takara is infrared-controlled, has two independent rear wheels powered by two tiny motors, and comes with a pistol-style analog controller. Bit Char-G from Tomy (Tomica) is radio-controlled, single-motor rear wheel drive, front wheel steering, and comes with an awkward controller with forward/backward + left/right switches. You really need to see the video clips to appreciate how small and maneuverable these cars are. I personally like DigiQ more, because of its powerful motors and analog controls. On the other hand, Bit Char-G has an extensive line of hop-ups and accessories. DigiQ sells for $50-$80 and Bit Char-G for $30-$50."

15 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. Bit Char-G is cool by jamesidm · · Score: 4, Informative

    I have a Bit Char-G, and it is pretty cool. It comes in kit form and you build it yourself. To drive it is ok, but better if you leave the chasis off (you can spin a lot better with less weight). You place the car on the side of the controller to charge it up before you use it, so no heavy batteries are on the car. The charged up car lasts about 2-3 mins before needing charging again but it is pretty cool.

    1. Re:Bit Char-G is cool by Don't+Exist · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, and you charge the thing for about 45 seconds to get about two minutes of racing. Just remember to pull out the antenna on the controller all the way and point it in the direction of the car to get the most range which is about 5 metres. 4 of these things make good racing on hard floors in the corridor! Just put a few cones or obstacles and race around them!

  2. thinkgeek! by \\ · · Score: 3, Informative

    thinkgeek sells little mini "desk rovers" like these, which look too damn cool.

    1. Re:thinkgeek! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
      They are not all they are cracked up to be. It's neat to have a tank-like car with treads, but it's extremely slow.

      Also, if I were ever to bring it into the office, I'd be lynched for the amount of noise it generates.
      The USB/Serial interface you can get for it (hooked up via the controller) allows for control from your Mac (OS X only) or PC, but it's not precise. Any macro you try to set for it would fail after a few runs.

      Add to all that, the fact that it uses those mojo-expensive Lithium CR123 batteries (2 of them) and you have a rather unappealing gizmo. I bought two, so I could give one as a Christmas present to my friend, but it's still sitting in a cupboard. I got him a phone, instead.

    2. Re:thinkgeek! by IIOIOOIOO · · Score: 2, Informative

      I own three of those tanks, and they're pretty lame. The ir guns don't sense properly, the treads constantly come off, they're slow on any surface, and won't go at all on carpet.

  3. Mini-z anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I've had my Mini-z for more than a year now, they are really neat. But quite expensive here in sweden, around 150 USD.
    And you can spend a fortune on extra parts...
    http://www.kyosho.com/cars/kyod01x1.html

  4. Such fun by kerincosford · · Score: 4, Informative

    We've got a couple of these in our office, that someone brough back from Tokyo.

    They're so much fun its just silly. Incredibly detailed too - we've got different suspension kits, bodytypes and drift tyres, so we can do powerslides around the desks. Amazing little things. Fast as hell too.

    Why are they so hard to get hold of in the UK? I'd gladly buy a raft of these.

  5. Re:You must be kidding? by JPriest · · Score: 2, Informative

    from the DigiQ site:
    "Dual Ni-MH batteries allows a 15-min run time w/ a 10-min charge"

    --
    Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
  6. Bit Char-G Review by The+Whinger · · Score: 5, Informative

    There is a review of the Bit Char-G here.

    It includes some better images.

    1. Re:Bit Char-G Review by The+Whinger · · Score: 3, Informative

      ... and more information on the Digi-Q here.

  7. heli and saucer by profeti · · Score: 3, Informative

    Keyence (Japan) has an heli and something called Gyrosaucer, which looks like it could be pretty cool. They also have a mini tractor tralier .

  8. Re:RC cars? by tramm · · Score: 3, Informative
    You can help develop a Free Software autonomous helicopter. The current hardware is a bit too large to fit on the smaller electric helicopters, but most glow or gas engine rotorcraft will work.

    --
    -- http://www.swcp.com/~hudson/
  9. Where to buy... by TheLocustNMI · · Score: 3, Informative

    Matrix Collectibles

    Toys N Joys

    Kicks Hobby

    --
    thelocust[dot]org
  10. Micro-R/C gonna be big next Xmas... by hockeyrink · · Score: 2, Informative

    I just came back from the New York Toy Fair in February, where I made note of 4 different distributors of these devices.

    The original was by Tomy, being imported as "R/C MicroSizers". The others were Chinese knock-offs (very common in the toy industry...) called "Z-Cars R/C". I think the other was called "Canned Heat, where the cars were packaged in transparent cans. Can't recall the name of the last one.

    All the cars at the toy show only had the FCC clearance for the 45 and 27Mhz frequencies, unlike the Tokyo/Tomy, which offered those plus the 57 and 35MHz. Hard to play 4-man R/C car soccer on only 2 frequencies...

    The price will come down when they hit North American shores in volume, especially with the Chinese knock-offs costing almost 1/2 as much as the Tomy models, although the $40USD/ea I paid for my originals from Hong Kong were well worth it!

    --
    Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high...
  11. Re:RC cars? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    They DO have indoor RC helicopters.

    > Now attach an X10 cam to this and have all
    > those upskirt views you've always craved :)

    They even have attachable microcameras.

    Both here

    AGS.