Beginner's Guide
New to RC drift? This is the short version of what you need and what the choices actually mean.
Start with the chassis
RC drift is almost entirely rear-wheel drive. An RWD chassis behaves like a real drift car: it needs throttle control and countersteer, and it's what competitions run. There are still 4WD drift chassis about, which are easier to keep moving but don't behave the same way.
You can buy a kit to build yourself, or a ready-to-run car. Building a kit teaches you where everything is and how to adjust it — which matters, because you'll be adjusting it.
What a running car needs
- Chassis kit — the rolling car, usually without electronics.
- Motor and ESC — brushless, sensored. Sensored matters for drift: smooth control at low speed is the whole point.
- Servo — steering. Fast and strong is worth paying for; a slow servo makes countersteer hopeless.
- Gyro — assists countersteer. Effectively required for RWD drift.
- Radio and receiver — the transmitter in your hands and its receiver in the car.
- Battery and charger — LiPo, usually 2S shorty for drift. A proper balance charger is not optional.
- Body shell and wheels/tyres — drift tyres are hard plastic, not rubber. They're supposed to slide.
Setup basics
Drift setup is mostly about steering angle, weight transfer and gyro gain. Get the car driving in a straight line first, then work on holding a slide. Change one thing at a time and write down what you changed — it's the only way to learn what each adjustment does.
Our Tuning page goes further on gearing and setup sheets.
What to buy first
Spare parts. Specifically, spare suspension arms, knuckles and body mounts for whatever chassis you buy. You will break them, and a snapped arm ends the session if you haven't got a spare.
Not sure where to start?
Email support@rcshopper.com with your budget and whether you want to build or drive straight away, and we'll point you at something sensible.