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The World of RC, I am finding out, seems to not offer much for the dedicated true-scale model enthusiast. Many true-scale vehicles can be had in plastic static model kits and as die-cast models, but adding drive-ability to these cars is almost non-existent.

For example, is it even conceivable or possible to a scale radio-controlled 1964 Cadillac Eldorado convertible with a detailed interior, a functional spring suspension, correct stock ride height, people and dog figures inside and a working soft top as well as fully-functional lights, horn sound and engine sound?

What scale would be necessary to make this even practical? I don't think RC cars like this are even sold in kitted form.

The RC electronics would have to be concealed in the under body, trunk and under the hood.

Yes, true-scale on-road production cars I am talking about, not just racers, hot rods, buggies or sporty cars with the windows blacked out.

I prefer the American classics from the 1950's thru the early 1970's.

Ford Fairlanes? 57 Chevys? 53 Oldsmobiles? 50 Chevy pickup trucks?

SyCo_VeNoM

people have made them in the past
I tried to make an mack army truck, but it require A LOT of custom fabrication, imagination, and knowledge of RC parts
My only hangup was the cab I designed one that should have worked, but the adhesive didn't hold properly, and it fell apart, and I've yet to have the time, drive, and parts(my LHS went under I bought stuff needed for it from) to get around to trying to do it again. I couldn't just buy one pre-made that would fit anywhere near the scale I was doing which is a major hangup in the realistic RC looks is finding a model in the proper scale to use as a base that will fit the tires, and axle setup of the donor RC part (most common are the Wheelyking, and SCX10 for axles).

jeeps, and other trucks seem fairly common for scale looks based on SCX10's. We had one member awhile back on the scale/crawler forums who used to take videos all the time of his truck with WWE wrestler figures riding in it.
We also had someone make a working RC Halo truck out of the toy that the figures could ride in.
I've also seen a few people do old vehicles with interiors, but the amount of custom fabrication they did was astounding.

Then there is the RC side that has scale working hydraulic construction vehicles, but those are extremely pricey.

Side note the easiest, and cheapest scale side of RC is tanks as they are fairly cheap and easy to get a hold of for all different price ranges.

mattster1971

I thought you were all about scale tractor trailer sets?

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I am thinking about tractors but I am exploring all the true-scale possibilities of RC vehicles first. It seems an RC tractor will be much more doable than a classic convertible based upon what's out there on the market. I have not committed to any one aspect of this hobby yet.

My endeavor is to get an RC scale model from as much kitted form as possible.

I might be able to buy a Tamiya 1/14 King Hauler tractor kit and have my custom painted Kenworth W900 cab/hood/sleeper done aftermarket by a hired pro.


I love big American (non-aero/non-Euro classic cabs) diesel trucks and classic American cars both. In the world of true-scale RC I will probably most likely swing toward commercial OTR truck.

The RC electronics industry will have to become more advanced to make scale on-road cars with true-scale interiors a doable thing that most can afford. Servos, batteries and everything else will have to be designed on a micro-compact scale.

It is relatively easy to do a scale hardtop street automobile with its windows blacked out.

Dumanyu

Years and years ago, a friend did a damn good 1/10th scale of the Monster Truck, BigFoot. Even rigged tubes out of the hood to resemble stacks that he loaded with flash paper and could trigger when desired. Anything is possible. If someone can build an RC F-14 Tomcat w/ full afterburners just off a set of plans, you can do what you want. Just have to do it lol.

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With a scale model road car like an classic open convertible with a true scale interior, the challenge is where to conceal all the RC guts that make the car go and sound like a real car? You need to have things designed super small:

-motor
-batteries
-servos
-controller
-electronic sound effects device, multi-function unit
-receiver

I think 1/14 scale might be the smallest practical size. Micro RC electronics, specially designed, and purpose-built, would have to be shoehorned under the hood, in the trunk, under the seats and inside the dash. One could even conceivably have scale sitting people and dog figures mounted on the seats which could be rechargeable lithium batteries in disguise.

Think the movie Westworld or Tron.

Technology needs to have a lot of imagination.

Dumanyu

I know what you mean. I'm currently rebuilding an RC 10 Classic that I've had for nearly 30 years. When it's complete, it will resemble my real car, a '15 Scion FR-S. If I can fabricate the pieces, it'll be complete with a rear diffuser and front splitter as I have on my car.

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My ultimate dream car would be a 1964 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible in black over black with black interior in 1/14 scale. I would take this car to truck meets since 1/14 scale is popular in scale RC trucking and construction. This baby would definitely be the talk of the show!

Even the scale soft top is dreamed by me to be RC actuated but that could be a technological long shot as a remote possibility.

My car would have a working suspension at correct scale ride height, electronic car sounds (engine revs, engine stopping, engine starting, engine idle, horn) as well as complete working vehicular lights and an illuminated instrument panel with scale gauge decals. All authentic chrome and interior hardware and the body chassis constructed of the lightest materials practical for RC use.

A true-scale car like this might run $10,000-$20,000 and demand the world's most advanced RC technology.

I would have a man, a woman in the front seat and two scale black German shepherd figures in the rear seat. These people/animal figures might even themselves house some of the smaller electronics or highly-miniaturized but very energy-dense batteries.

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This is not about trucks or off-road vehicles but about the notion of accurate scale-model production road cars that are fully-functional.
Trucks, racers and buggies have plenty of room in the body interior for clunky electronics and clunky batteries especially when the windows are blacked out and the desire for a scale interior is of little importance.

Scale-model on-road cars as I envision would demand RC electronics and batteries on such a small scale so as to rival watchmaker precision. There is very limited room to hide the working guts completely out of sight on a real-scale car with a real-scale interior and have all the sound effects to boot.

It would be the ultimate test, the cutting-edge envelope, of RC model technology and human cleverness to craft such a classic in miniature. It would be fun as heck to show up at a car or truck meet with a 1/14 model this "gee-whizz".

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It is quite easy to hide RC electronics and batteries inside of spacious tank bodies and nobody cares about a scale tank interior. Tanks are not complicated by steering servos and steering gears either since they are tracked vehicles.

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and a real-scale detailed interior? seats, dash, seat belts, steering wheel, shift lever, gas pedal, rear-view mirror, glove compartment, headliner, door panels, people figures in seats?