I've found a couple of RC cars/kit I think from the 90s. Need to have a proper look at them but presumably the radio gear/batteries at least will need updating to get them going?
One is a Schumacher Club 10 (electric)
The other is an HPI Firestorm 10T (nitro)
Any advice on where to start?
No need to update anything unless it isn't working.
But you're right - batteries, at least, will need replacing if you want to get a half decent run-time from them.
The other is an HPI Firestorm 10T
You might need to replace the fuel lines and free up the piston with some run in oil. Nitro fuel goes sticky after a while and can gum up the fuel lines. You might also want some new Nitro fuel if its been sitting for a long time.
I recently got an old nitro car of mine going after 18 yrs of sitting unused.
Not sure if I needed to, but I replaced the air filter, fuel filter and glow plug and it started up pretty much straight away.
I also swapped the original receiver for a new 2.4GHz transmitter/received set and the 4x AA battery pack thing in the car for a rechargeable "hump pack"
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/christmas-tamiya/page/29/#post-11260864
(You might have more response in that Tamiya thread as that seems to be the general STW RC thread)
(You might have more response in that Tamiya thread as that seems to be the general STW RC thread)
in the 90's anybody who owned a Schumacher or an HPI would find it mildly insulting to be associated with Tamiya!
Which version of the club 10 is it?
The cougar was the buggy, but they also did a truck version called the storm. Later versions came with a fully geared transmission, but the early ones came with a fine pitch belt drive transmission. The belt drive transmission was very temperamental and would often destroy itself. The belt tension needed to be absolutely perfect. The rear of the chassis would often bend and throw the belt out of alignment. The diff balls were also really soft which caused problems with slipping.
Basically if you have club 10 with a belt drive transmission it needs to be run with a very low powered motor or you will kill it.Especially if you have not upgraded it to add a slipper clutch as most people did.
Battery's will need to be replaced. Be aware that if your old charger was designed for nicads then it will overcharge nimh cells and may cause them to go bang. - You may need a new charger.
The nitro will probably need the engine stripping and a good clean to remove internal deposits if it has been sat for years. The glow plug will probably need to be replaced. Same with filters for the fuel and air. If it is a foam air filter and clean then they use a sort of sticky oil which will have dried up.. You will need to figure out what glow plug to use as they have different temperature ratings depending on fuel and engine, etc.
