Rc Car Painting

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

RC car painting is typically done using one of two methods: spray cans or an airbrush. Needless to say your skill level will be the ultimate determining factor since most people just aren t that familiar with the intricacies of airbrushing. Both methods have their particular idiosyncratic advantages and disadvantages, however.RC car painting via spray cans is the choice of many not only because they either don t have access to an airbrush or know how to use one, but also because it can be done quickly. A huge amount of space can be covered relatively quickly with a spray can. But RC car painting isn t the same thing as changing the color of a flag pole.
You want to be proud of that car and make it look as good as it runs. Although personalizing and detailing can usually done much better by airbrush, if you take your time and plan ahead, your spray can RC car painting can wind up looking quite impressive.
Of course, RC car painting with an airbrush is ultimately what you should aim for. The benefits of using an airbrush is that you have access to so many more colors than you can get from using spray cans. And that s saying a lot, because even if you do choose to use spray cans, you ll still have over fifty different colors from to pick. But when RC car painting with an airbrush, you can exponentially expand those choices through mixing and blending.
In addition to more flexible use of coloring, airbrushing also affords more control in application. Unlike spray cans, an airbrush can be adjusted, allowing you to spray the paint as thickly or thinly as you like.
The downside to using an airbrush, besides your own level of artistic ability, is cost. For RC car painting with an airbrush you ll need a compressor. You can try using canned air to begin with, but you ll quickly find yourself spending more money than you planned on saving because they empty pretty quickly. Better to shell out for an actual compressor, preferably one that produces 25 to 70 psi. By pass the 1/8 HP hobby compressors and go for the HP. Since most RC car painting is now done with next generation water-based paints, also make sure the compressor comes with a moisture trap; if it doesn t, you ll quickly find car covered in thick gobs of paint.
RC car painting with an airbrush requires not just air, obviously, but brushes. Ideally, you will want to own more than one brush, but since they can be pricy the good ones anyway you may just want to start off with one. The reason for owing two is pretty obvious. RC car painting at its finest creates a work of art that combines both thick lines and fine lines, therefore you want a brush for both thicknesses.
In addition, the paint itself comes in various thickness and some of the finer brushes just handle the thicker paints at the psi the compressor puts out. RC car painting with an airbrush obviously requires more effort, time and expense than RC car painting with spray cans, but the end result usually shows.

Renting A Car: First Time Car Renter Do s And Don ts

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

Before you rent a car for the first time, try to make an accurate assessment of what your needs are. Consider whether you’re traveling alone or with other passengers. Decide how much storage space your going to need. Do you need a compact car, a luxury vehicle, an SUV or truck- Take into account where you will be traveling and your budget for travel expenses.After you ve got a short list of your car rental needs, start shopping the different rental companies in your area (or the area you ll be traveling in). It’s very simple these days to look up these companies on the Internet. All of them have websites, and most even do locally based advertising via Google Adwords.
Pick the company that seems to have the best combination of price, terms and service. Remember the old adage, you get what you pay for holds true in this industry as well as any other. If one company is considerably cheaper than the others, they re probably going to have problems in other areas. It s hard to go wrong, however picking one of the large well-known chains. If the businesses in your area aren t any of the well known national firms, a quick call to the Better Business Bureau wouldn t hurt.
If budget is your primary concern, look for a corporation like Rent a Wreck. They ve been around a long time and provide very good rates on used cars.
When you make your rental reservations, you will need to have a valid, unrestricted license. You ll also need insurance, either your own or you may buy a policy issued at the car rental establishment. Be sure to check with your insurance company to see if your insurance covers a rental. If it does, don t buy it through the rental agency. There s no need to pay for it twice. You will also be required to have a credit card for a deposit.
In some countries, you may need an international driver’s license.
Once you have determined what you need in the way of transportation, chosen a prospective car rental company, and gathered the information and documents you need, you are ready to book your car.
You can walk in most car rental companies and rent one on the spot, but there are advantages to booking the vehicle in advance. Making advance reservations can save you time, money and lots of headaches. Often, there are packages and special offers that will save you a bundle by planning ahead. Ultimately, you save time and reduce anxiety because you know you have it all arranged and are confident that the car rental you want is available, reserved for you. Nothing is worse than scrambling at the last minute trying to get transportation when none is available.
You can make reservations by visiting the rental location in person, by phone or online. Many people, including this author, prefer to shop online to be able to look over prices and specials at leisure. Many reduced rates are only available through an online reservation.
Arrange to arrive to pick up your rental car with time to spare. There are often unexpected delays that could cause you to miss a flight, appointment or cause undue aggravation. Avoiding these with a little planning will make a trip flow much more smoothly.
Before driving away, thoroughly check the contract, review the charges, and inspect the vehicle. If there is any damage inside or out on the rental car, make sure that the employee duly notes it on the contract and signs off on them. If anything is missed at this stage, you ll be charged for it when you return the car.
Make sure you have the appropriate contact numbers in case of emergency or other concerns with your rental car. You never know when a breakdown might occur. If you re in a strange town this can turn into a minor disaster without knowing whom to call.
Finally, be sure you are comfortable with the rental terms, deadlines and restrictions before you head off to your destination.

Ensuring Safety Around The Helicopter

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

What you know and you don t know about safety around helicopter could make a big difference.Here are some important information you must know in order to be safe around the helicopter at all times:
Approaching the helicopter For some, especially the first timers, the sound of the rotor can be so intimidating at the same time exciting. These two are the main cause of absent-mindedness. And somehow, they tend to neglect the importance on knowing how to approach the helicopter.
What you should do is to keep calm and be aware of everything that is happening around you. Do not approach the helicopter if the pilot has not yet given you the signal to do so. Also never approach the helicopter where the pilot cannot see you. Approach the helicopter either from the side or front.
Approach the helicopter while keeping your head down. The rotor turns fast that could cause severe or fatal damage if you were hit. Also, in case you wear something that might fly off like hat, hold on to them carefully. If you are carrying long rod or tools, hold them horizontally. This would prevent the chance that this would hit the rotor.
On uneven grounds, make sure that you approach on the downhill side. This will keep you from the danger that you might hit the rotor. Remember this so that you stay out of danger.
While on the helicopter Like riding a plane, there is a strict rule to follow to ensure that you have a safe ride. And it will all begin at the closing and opening of the door.
Once you have approached the helicopter safely, open the door slowly and be gentle on closing. Remember that helicopters are made to fly thus they are made from light materials so be very light on the doors. Just pull it slowly and close the latch handle gently. Wear seatbelt at all times and follow everything the pilot has said. The pilot knows about helicopters more than you do.
Departing from the helicopter Departing from the helicopter is as critical as approaching it so make sure you follow the safety guidelines.
Wait for the pilot s signal that it is safe to depart. Never disobey this or else suffer the consequence. On uneven grounds, depart on the downhill side. This would prevent you from hitting the rotor blade. And, keep your head down until you are clear with the rotor.
These things may be simple and very basic that is why not everyone follows it. If you don t want to get hit by the rotor or fall off in mid-air, you have a very good reason to follow everything mentioned.

Pros And Cons For Vehicle Auctions

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

Vehicle markets enjoy a rich offer of more and more second hand vehicles that are out for sale in special vehicle auctions. The vehicles for sale come from various sources: private owners, government and insurance companies, depending on the case. The last two sources should be analyzed more carefully before someone’s participating to a vehicle auction. There are a few basic things that you need to know before going or entering on a vehicle auction.Regardless of whether you choose an online vehicle auction or a be-there auction, the basics are the same. If you choose an online auction, visit http://eBay.com, one of the best sites in the field. Anyway, after having seen the offer and decided what to bid on, first check on the historical records of the vehicle; where it comes from, why it is on sale at auction, if damaged, get information on how it came to its present condition.
Data about the origin and the history of the vehicles should be available to all auctioneers. Generally speaking, usually there aren’t problems with vehicles sold on vehicle auctions, but you’d better check as one never knows. You may also consider taking a mechanic to accompany you at the auction. If you attend an online vehicle auctions, do not sign the contract until you have the technical condition of the vehicle verified by a specialist.
Another big thing that should not be overlooked which perfectly applies to any vehicle auctions, is the price. You need to make a research on the latest trends on vehicle market that is related to what you’re looking for. Don’t rush into over bidding, or you’ll find yourself paying as you bought it first hand. Watch out for government vehicles.
At government vehicle auctions, the prices are with almost 50% smaller than the market price of the vehicle as new. It may look like a bargain, but don’t forget such vehicles have not been maintained or driven for a very long time, which is a real con to purchasing something from such a vehicle auction.
In the same category of risky vehicles for the customers are those that have been rebuilt. It is true that they are perhaps the cheapest at a vehicle auction, even less than 300$ sometimes, but they no longer have fabrication warranties, and no insurance company will want to deal with them.
Purchasing a vehicle at a vehicle auction may be like the bargain of a lifetime and you may take home a money making machine, but on the other hand it may turn out a huge scam. Better take all the precautions necessary to minimize the risk of losing your money.

Lpg: An Assessment Of Alternative Fuels

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

Availability of alternative fuels by number of stations (taken from energy savings trust):LPG- 1228
Biodiesel-138
Natural gas- 31
Electricity-12
Bioethanol-10
Hydrogen-0
LPG is by far the most available alternative fuel. This enables more customers to be targeted and more customers are also more able to reach the fuel stations making it a more attractive option for customers. LPG is best suited to thirsty fuel consuming cars or cars which have a high annual mileage. LPG cars bring many benefits i.e. less toxic emissions, cost savings per mile and congestion zone discounts.
Another option is biodiesel, which is biodegradable and better for the environment. It doesn t really affect vehicles in a bad way and could make the engine run more smoothly. It is about the same price as diesel and generally believed to be better for the environment.
Natural gas is mainly used in trucks and buses etc, and includes benefits including being much quieter than diesel cars, less toxic emissions and a congestion zone discount. Drawbacks include low availability and large storage is needed.
Electricity is thought of as the ideal sustainable transport solution but in order to be zero emission must be produced using a renewable energy source. Performance is similar or improved but barriers include high cost, lack of investment and large storage tanks are needed.
Bioethanol is again much better for the environment but running costs are similar to petrol and there is very limited availability.
Lastly, hydrogen is almost pollution-free but is still at an early stage in development and can cost up to 20 times more than petrol. There is currently no availability but there is potential for growth.
Undoubtedly, at the moment, LPG appears to be the best option due to its availability and benefits and will be looking to become even more widely known and used in the future.

North Carolina Traffic Citation North Carolina Traffic School

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

North Carolina traffic citation is shown to people who break traffic laws. The degree of North Carolina traffic citation varies on the basis of traffic offence you are charged for. There are basically two types of moving wavers imposed by the North Carolina Magistrates Associations. The following point laid under specifies the condition in which you become liable to North Carolina traffic citation. Waivable Traffic Citation:
Speeding Violation:
Speeding violation is one of the most common citations that people face. When you drive over a specified limit over 55mph but not over 80 mph.
Driving without, or with expired non-commercial driver’s license (except when revoked or suspended), or operating motorcycle without proper license endorsement, or knowingly permitting an owned vehicle to be so operated, or violating restrictions on graduated licenses.
North Carolina Traffic citation can be waived only upon the execution of your written waiver of appearances and trial. It can also be waived through your plea of guilty or acceptance of responsibility to the offense(s) as on the traffic citation.
Exceeding a safe speed $ 35 and costs
Speeding in a school zone or on school property $ 50 and costs
Driving too slowly $ 25 and costs
Speeding in a work zone $ 250 and costs
Failure to reduce speed to avoid accident. $ 50 and costs
Non-Waivable Traffic Citation:
For the North Carolina traffic citation offenses require a mandatory court appearance and may not be waived. If a citation has a charge that is waivable and one that is not waivable. For all those traffic offenses which are waivable and non waivable you will have to appear in court against the North Carolina traffic citation.
As to traffic offenses: The date, time and location of the court appearance are indicated on the front of the citation. Failure to appear for a traffic citation will cause the revocation of the privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state or any other state where you have a license to operate a motor vehicle.
North Carolina Traffic School is a registered and an authorized course which is also approved by the DUI/DMV/DMW departments. The course helps you clear your traffic citations and improves your driving record. Many of the times people are suggest by Traffic officers to take up this court ordered traffic safety course. North Carolina Traffic safety course has proved really successful in removing your traffic allegations and traffic citations.

What Car Finance Deal Should You Choose?

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

Financing the purchase of your car can be difficult. Recent research has highlighted the fact that most consumers have decided how to pay for their vehicle even before visiting a forecourt. Reasons for this include high interest rate charges and the motor trade s poor reputation. Showroom finance is often not considered as an option, with high street and online lenders greatly preferred, perhaps not surprising considering that they do traditionally provide better car finance deals.There are six main ways in which a new car can be financed. The first is a credit card. However, high interest rates mean that this should only be used as a short-term measure, possibly to pay a deposit. One of the most popular ways of paying for a car is through a personal loan. This simply involves taking out a loan with a bank or other financial institution, and can often be arranged over the phone. Interest rates are competitive and you can pay for the whole cost of your car. Alternatively you could deal with your existing lender if you have a mortgage. Money can be borrowed from a mortgage provider, either by getting a second mortgage or withdrawing equity from your house. The advantage of this is that you can deal with your existing lender and interest rates are very low. However, mortgage loans are over a longer period and a penalty may be imposed if you decide to repay the loan early.
Personal loans, mortgage top-ups and credit cards are the three most popular and well-known methods of paying for a new car. However, three additional options are available which may suit certain people. The first is Hire-Purchase or Conditional Sale, whereby you discuss and agree with the dealer how much you need to borrow. The dealer then gets in contact with the Motor Finance Company and pays for the car on your behalf. You then agree to make monthly payments to the dealer, with the car only owned by yourself once the car has been fully paid for. Low interest rates, deposits and flexible payment terms are associated with this form of payment.
If the car you wish to buy is slightly out of your price range you may want to consider a Personal Contract Purchase. In this option you defer part of the cost of the car until the end of the payment agreement, at which point you can decide to trade-in the car, hand it back to the dealer, or pay the outstanding amount and keep the car. This is an excellent way of being able to afford a car which would otherwise be too expensive. The final option for financing a car is simply to rent it, known as Personal Leasing or Personal Contract Hire. In this case you agree to rent the car from the dealer for a fixed period of time, which includes all maintenance costs. This is an excellent choice if you only require a car for a set period of time, such as 6 months. It eliminates the hassle of buying a selling a car and is simply fixed cost motoring.
To decide exactly what car finance deal you should choose you can fill out a questionnaire on financingyourcar.org.uk it ll then recommend the type of finance deal that will suit you best, potentially saving you hundreds of pounds.

Getting More For Your Car On Ebay Motors

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

Listing a car on eBay Motors has become one of the most popular ways of selling a car. With over 3 million unique visitors to eBay Motors UK each month, a car is sold every two minutes. eBay Motors has a number of distinct advantages over straightforward classified ads, not least the space to fully describe the car, add multiple photos, and the reduced hassle of only having to deal with one buyer, the buyer that wins the auction. Clare Gilmartin, the head of eBay Motors UK, reaffirmed this by saying, The beauty of eBay Motors is that there s no need for negotiation and you see the buyers bidding up the price, with sellers often getting more than they expected. In actual fact, many buyers go on eBay in search for a bargain. Therefore the following guide has been put together to ensure that your car doesn t become one of those bargains.The first step is to do your homework. Find out the trade-in value of the car through getting an instant valuation from a website such as wewillbuyyourcar.com. Then use the excellent used car valuation tool on parkers.co.uk. Use these two valuations to identify a fair price for your car. Be sure not to set the reserve price to high, as this will scare off many potential buyers. Often products and cars with lower reserve prices will end up receiving higher bids and a higher final sales price.
Perhaps the most important aspect of selling your car on eBay Motors is the description of the car. There s a wide choice of cars for sale on eBay so a poor description or missing details will result in people bidding for other cars. Firstly, a picture says a thousand words. Several pictures say even more so be sure to include photos of the tyres and the inside of the car as well. Mention that you have all the relevant documents the V5 Registration Document, MOT Certificate, and Service History. Also explain your payment terms and whether you offer delivery or collection only.
Aside from the eBay description there are other steps that can be taken to help buyers feel more confident. Consider purchasing an AA Car Data Check. This will provide details of whether the car has been written off, if it has a finance agreement against it, along with a full description of the car, including details such as engine size, fuel type and date of first registration. Mentioning that the AA Car Data Check can be viewed will really help to instill confidence into potential buyers.
Once the auction has begun stay involved in the process of selling your vehicle. Assuming that you ve accurately described the car and added various photos, only serious buyers will get in contact. Respond to any questions quickly and accurately. Finally, once the auction has been finalised payment must be made. Many people choose to use Escrow.com, eBay Motor s finance partner, which acts as a secure third party to protect both the buyer and the seller. The buyer pays escrow.com, the car is then collected or delivered, the buyer then checks over the car, after which point Escrow pays the seller.
Generally, making a successful and satisfactory sale on eBay Motors is all about establishing credibility. The feedback score helps but a detailed description, multiple photos, an AA Car Data Check and the use of escrow.com all help greatly to make buyers feel more secure, ultimately encouraging them to bid higher.

Questions To Ask Your Engineer Before Converting To Lpg

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

1) Is my car suitable- Not all cars are suitable for an LPG conversion and this should therefore be the first question you ask. Also, only petrol cars possibly can be converted.
2) Will LPG save me money-
Well, in the long run it should. LPG is currently less than half the price of petrol and depending on your mileage it should pay itself back within a few years or sooner.
3) Is it safe-
As long as it is installed by a qualified LPGA authorised fitter it is and has been found to be safer than petrol due to toughened tanks.
4) How will my engine be affected-
It shouldn t be affected as LPG reduces engine wear and makes the car run more smoothly.
5) Where is the tank fitted-
Mostly in the spare wheel well but it can be installed in other places if your engineer agrees.
6) How long will the conversion take-
Normally about 5 days, during which you should be supplied with a courtesy car.
7) Once installed, what happens to the petrol tank-
The petrol tank remains connected as LPG cars normally start up by using petrol then switch automatically to LPG when the engine warms up. Also, if you run out of LPG you can drive on petrol until you get to the LPG station and fill up, both of which mean it is important to have petrol in the tank all the time. 8) Where can I refuel my LPG car and how easily accessible is it-
There are now over 1200 LPG stations in the UK and this figure is constantly growing making it quite easily accessible.
9) Can I accidentally fill my LPG tank with petrol or diesel-
No, you can t because a diesel or petrol nozzle won t fit into an LPG tank as the LPG tank has a special nozzle.
10) How often will I have to get my LPG system serviced-
Normally annually or every 12000 miles and is very important in order to retain the quality of the conversion.
11) How is my insurance affected-
It shouldn t be affected as long as the LPG conversion is performed by an LPGA authorised fitter.
12) What will happen to the resale value of my car-
Fuelture says it should retain more value compared with petrol or diesel as you have more to offer to the buyer but only if it is performed by an LPGA authorised fitter, as quality counts.
Another important factor to consider when converting to LPG, is to make sure that you choose an LPGA authorised dealer as this will ensure that the quality of the conversion is extremely high.

Modding A Ford Mustang V6

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 in Auto by admin

So you just got a stock V6 Mustang and you want to make it faster. Well there are a few things you will or should know before you concider this. As im sure a few older gents on here would back me up on this post so here we go.1. What are your long term goals for this new car-
2. What is your current budget to spend on this car-
3. Do you want to make it a daily driver- Trailer queen- or road course-
4. What is you basic knowledge of vehicles and electrical systems-
5. Do you have the time-
Alot of people want the fastest car, the best looking car or the loudest car. That is becuase everyone who owns a mustang gets the itch. And im not talking about down there, im talking about the power itch, the speed itch, the ability to take that corner at 55 and come out running.
With most major bolt on mods, you can do them yourself with some specialty tools and a good set of hand tools. Some require welding, which most places can do for a flat rate of “X” amount of dollars where “X” is the hourly shop rate.
Now were going to get into the specific mods.
CAI- Cold Air intake.
There are many different type of CAI availible on the market. The fenderwell CAI places the air filter in the fenderwell to get cool air as it rushes under the passenger headlight. This is an excellent first mod, becuase all you need are some hand tools and the intructions.
Plastic vs. Metal
These are the two types of materials CAI come in. Some people like the metal chrome brushed ones becuase it adds a nice look under the hood. Unfortunately Metal heats up from outside sources(ie., engine bay) and internal friction of the air passing through it. Plastic on the other hand stays cool becuase it is not a conductor of heat. the engine bay heat or air friction will not cuase this intake to heat up.
Mass Air Sensor and Housing
This is the peice that is inside your stock air box, and is, in my opinion, one of the bottle necks on the intakes today. The Mass Air Sensor, or MAS, measures the amount of air comming into the engine and sends that information to the ECU, where the ECU does its thing and tell Mr. Fuel Injector’s how much fuel to dump in accordance to the Air Fuel mixture. Lets say you have a 3″ (76.1mm) CAI and a stock MAS. Youll be pulling in alot of air fairly quickly @ Wide open Throttle, or WOT.
Lets do a in home test, if you have a cylindrical container about 6-12″ long get it. If it is open on both ends, blow threw it, and what happened- The air came out the otherside with no problems, right- Now cover up 1/3rd of the other end and try again, little harder- Same concept on your intake. Still need convincing- Have you ever tried to vaccum up something to big for the vaccum- kinda struggled didnt it- exactly.
Throttle Body
This is one of those black sheep parts where bigger isnt better. 99+ Stock I think has a 65mm Throttle Body, or TB from now on. If your not turbo, supered or No2′ed this mod shouldn’t be in the future until after a Power Adder, or PA.
Headers
Well, once again this is another mod that doesn’t really do anything for your vehicle unless you have significant mods and are going for a PA in the future, otherwise, youll get some hourse of “Fun”
Exhaust
The second mod most people will do if not the first on their mustang. When concidering an exhaust you have to take into account that a V6 will never sound like a V8, its impossible unless you buy 2 more cylinders. The stock V6 exhaust comes out of each exhaust manifold and “Y”’s into on right after the catalytic converters. When buying a kit, you can either look for one that is complete, meaning comes with the Y adapter and passenger side hangers for the muffler and tailpipe. Or you can piece together one for a few bucks cheaper and hope it all fits. My advice, dont go cheap, becuase you get what you pay for. Which brings me to backpressure. When your choosing your exhaust make sure you dont go over 2.5″ or else youll lose backpressure. without backpressure the V6 will hate you and will not run right at all. You can go bigger then 2.5″ if your Turboed or Supercharged, other then that I wouldnt recommend it.
Exhaust Tips
We can get this one from our axis the ricers. Exhaust tips dont add HP they add noise, it is more of a placebo effect when you add 3.5″ tips on your 2.5″ exhaust, you think it is faster becuase the box says “adds upto 5 RWHP!!!” well it doesnt. But when you get in your car sounds louder then it did before, so you think its faster.
Under Drive Pulleys
There are a few out there some are cheap and some are expensive. What to look for when buying a set is the harware they come with, instructions and a package deal. RPM-Outlet has 42% MotoBlue Underdrive Pulleys, or UDP from now on, for around $208 shipped. If you have a big stereo in your car, I would say 2000-5000Watts, you really want to be carefull of the UDP’s. They will slow your accessories a certain %, and could affect your cooling, charging and Air Condition. They wont affect everycar, but there is a possibility. Steeda and ARP have some 25% UDP which are a little more expensive and, well your paying for the name mostly. Installation is about a 1-2 hour job depending on your mechanical level. Hint: A pulley Puller helps installation.