Nitro-powered models

(pic courtesy of HobbyTron.com)

Fuel-powered engines allow model cars to reach moderate speeds unmodified. Maximum power is generally achieved at medium to high speeds, and a slightly slower throttle response than electrically powered vehicles is to be expected. Electric motors effectively produce instantaneous torque, where nitro engines, like full-sized gasoline engines, take time for the engine to spool up and for the clutch to engage. Nitro- (and fuel) powered cars may be refueled and returned to action in a few seconds, as opposed to electrics needing to remove the body shell and battery fasteners to replace a discharged battery. Nitro cars are completely air cooled, and may be run continuously with no need to take breaks for cooling down. Nitro cars tend to be larger than electric cars on average, because affordable high-performance electronics are only generally available in 1:10 scale and smaller. However, scale equivalents do exist in both nitro and electric forms, such as RC 1074 and GT2.
Nitro-powered cars operate like full-sized fuel vehicles more than their electric counterparts do. The sound of the engine and design of the drive train are main selling points to nitro enthusiasts. However, their exhaust contains unburned oil, which usually ends up coating the chassis. This, in turn, requires more cleaning than an electric-powered equivalent. Cleaning is usually achieved by the use of compressed airblowers and solvents. Tuning a fuel-powered vehicle requires learning to maintain optimum performance and fuel economy, and to minimize engine wear and overheating, even in ready-to-run vehicles.