Background My first R/C car. Building a Team Losi XXX-T Aside from a Tyco my parents gave me for Christmas when I was 8, I had no real R/C experience. The very idea of building a car from scratch made me nervous. In addition to R/C, I had almost no construction experience either - unless you count an ill-fated Ertl Lamborghini Diablo that ended up being more glue than plastic. I am intimidated by instructions. My basic philosophy on building was, "If I can't figure it out by just looking at it, it's not worth figuring out." This is a flawed way of thinking and, having no real-world value, has only lead to problems with cooking, electronics, and women. Anyway, having worked in an R/C environment for a few years, I knew that car kits have giant books of instructions and, until recently, didn't even want to attempt one.

The Challenge

I needed to learn more about how R/C cars work. For me, the only way to accomplish that would be to build one. The trick was to do it without reducing it to more pieces than originally given. So, one day I decided to "enlighten" myself. Using only the guidance of the Internet and some high-paid experts I work with, I tried to answer three questions: What type of car do I want to build? What tools should I use? What equipment will I need? After careful thought, I chose to build a (shock) Team Losi XXX-T. Being my first shot at it, I figured electric would be easier to build and maintain. Plus, I can chase my dog around the house without making a mess. Next, I tried to figure out what equipment I would need. What I came up with was that I needed batteries and some divine intervention. The Internet proved to be very helpful, and, after they stopped laughing at me, so did the experts. My finished XXX-T. Here is what I used to build the XXX-T: Needle-nose pliers Regular pliers Hobby knife Tread Lock tire glue Allen wrenches (included with the kit) Phillips screwdriver Here is what I plan to use to make it go: 6-cell battery pack Electric motor Battery charger Transmitter w/receiver and servos Electronic speed control Pinion gear 8 "AA" batteries (for the transmitter) Watch for my next building adventure, "ESC from Alcatraz" or "Short Circuit." So far I have a half-charged battery and probably the wrong sized pinion gear

Building the Car

Losi packs their kits in such a way that you use all of the parts in each individual assembly bag prior to opening the next bag. The manual reflects this organization by having you build bag 'A' first, bag 'B' next, and so on. Opening every bag at once isn't necessary or recommended.

Although time consuming, I found that the XXX-T was not terribly difficult to build. The manual was easy to follow and had helpful tips throughout. My biggest advice to any builder is to follow the directions closely, especially the directional indicator helmet. Assumptions and a "close enough" attitude will only result in a very expensive pile of spare parts.

A testament to the superb engineering that went into the XXX-T is that all the parts fit tightly. Little room for error exists. Occasionally it was difficult to get certain parts together, but a little elbow grease or pliers usually did the job. The real trick will be to see if I can take the car apart to make modifications. With all the screws I stripped, a blowtorch may be necessary.

Overall, building the XXX-T went smoothly. I had all the tools I needed, and all the parts that were supposed to be included were accounted for. After the first few hours, using the Allen wrenches became somewhat painful. It was then I realized the necessity of hex drivers. I did manage to put the whole thing together without hex drivers, but that will be the last time I do that.

With the help of the cutting screw and newly formed calluses, the chassis went together easily. Of course, as with anything in life, there were some mishaps.

• I didn't use the cutting screw a few times, and I somehow broke off a regular screw inside of the front

  Rear differential slip may cause the diff assembly to wear down and/or break at an accelerated rate. Even if your diff is tight prior to your first run, you will need to tighten it once it has been broken in.

   bulkhead. After some disassembly and a new bulkhead, I was back in business. The lesson learned was not to use an excessive amount of force.

• I also managed to lose two e-clips in my carpet. Fortunately, Team Losi includes a few extras in the bags.
• The worst thing I did, according to the manual, was that I allowed my rear differential to slip. I realized this after I put the whole thing together. Apparently, I had stripped the nut that made the diff tight. The solution: a new 4-40 mini locknut. With minimal disassembly, I was able to unscrew the old one and replace it. Now my diff doesn't slip and the manual is happy.

Once you have opened a bag, put the small parts into a little saucer or plastic cup. This will help keep parts organized and ensure that they don't get lost.

If you're into R/C and have never built a car or truck, what are you waiting for? Kits are a lot of fun to build and you get a better understanding of how your vehicle works. If you have any questions or problems with your kit, many resources for help exist. The best way to get assistance is to contact any one or more of the following:

• Hobby shops!
• Other racers
• Manufacturer websites

Lessons Learned: Tips For Other Newbies

Do not over-tighten screws: parts break

Follow the directions: improvisation only leads to ordering replacement parts

Pray for extra "e-clips": an e-clip in the hand is worth two buried in the carpet

Have patience: the faster you work, the slower your progress will be

Use the cutting screw: forcing screws in will strip them and/or break plastic parts

Buy hex drivers: Allen wrenches = blisters

Don't let your rear differential slip: Ok, I have no idea why, but the manual said so

Read the entire manual over before you start: You don't want to go into it cold

Be the car: I'm sure Chevy Chase would agree