From the bright red double-deckers synonymous with London transport to the iconic yellow school bus from the United States and Canada, the humble bus is a public transport staple. While most kids will only ever experience being a passenger, the thought of driving one must have crossed the minds of many. And with these remote control models, they can do just that!
Want to learn how to get started in RC? Check out An Introduction to Remote Control Cars in 2020 by Matt Benfield.
The Top-rated Remote Control Buses In 2020
| Type | Size | Model | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Bus | 18″ x 12″ x 6″ | Fisca | 6+ |
| School Bus | 13″ x 4″ x 3″ | Fisca | 6+ |
| VW Microbus | 7″ x 3″ x 2″ | Maistro | 14+ |
RC City Buses & Passenger Coaches
Getting you from A-to-B
If it’s realism you’re after, these inner-city shuttles are the ones for you!
1.Fisca – City Bus
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5
City Bus | 18″ x 12″ x 6” | Ages 6+
Vehicle Type: City Bus
Kit Completeness: Ready-to-run
Size: 18.19″ x 11.5″ x 5.59″
Radio System: Stick style, 2.4GHz (Forward & backward, left & right)
Batteries: Rechargeable, 4.8V 400mAh battery in vehicle recharged from the included USB cable – 2xAA’s (Not Included)
Interactive Features: Remote opening door, Horn, Simulated sound effects & lights
Age: 6+
The Pros:
- Plenty of interactive features
The Cons:
- The battery can be finicky to remove for charging
With a realistic, detailed design, and a host of features all at an affordable price, the Fisca RC city bus is a great buy. With the remote-controlled opening of the doors, realistic lights and sound effects, and space inside to load up with little passengers, this is a great simulation package with looks to impress. With rubber tires giving plenty of grip on both hardwood and carpeted surfaces, there’s a lot of performance for a small price.
2.Haktoys – Passenger Coach
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5
Passenger Coach | 9.5″ x 3″ x 3.5” | Ages 3+
Vehicle Type: Passenger Bus
Kit Completeness: Ready-to-run
Size: 9.5″ x 3″ x 3.5″
Radio System: Stick style, MHz (Forward & backward, left & right)
Batteries: 5xAA’s (Not Included)
Interactive Features: Simulated sound & light effects
Age: 3+
- The Pros: Bargain price with realistic looks
- The Cons: Short signal range
With a sleek coach design, bright LED lights, and loud simulated engine noises, the Haktoys RC coach is a fantastic bargain with reliable performance. Although it’s older 40MHz technology is dated compared to modern equivalents, its signal response is tight, if slightly short-ranged. But its short, grippy wheels offering plenty of torque means it’s speed on short carpets and hardwood is impressive for this price range. As an entry-level option, this is a great pickup for those looking for a bargain!
RC School Buses
Childhood favorites
No list would be complete without the iconic yellow school bus!
1.Fisca – School Bus
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5
School Bus | 13″ x 4″ x 3″ | Ages 6+
Vehicle Type: School Bus
Kit Completeness: Ready-to-run
Size: 13.4″ x 3.5″ x 3.1″
Radio System: Stick style, 2.4GHz
Batteries: Rechargeable, 4.8V 400mAh battery in vehicle recharged from the included USB cable – 2xAA’s (Not Included)
Interactive Features: Remote opening door, Horn, Simulated sound effects & lights
Age: 6+
- The Pros: Plenty of interactive features
- The Cons: Battery can be finicky to remove for charging
If the city bus isn’t for you, Fisca has also faithfully recreated the iconic yellow American school bus. With a folding warning sign along with the remote control door action, the realism here is top-notch. And with the bonus of a mute function along with its quiet operation, usage never becomes an annoyance for others. Its comfortable Stick style transmitter takes the inconvenience away from the controls too!
2.PowerTRC – School Bus
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5
School Bus | 14.49″ x 7.99″ x 7.01″ | Ages 3+
Vehicle Type: School Bus
Kit Completeness: Ready-to-run
Size: 14.49″ x 7.99″ x 7.01″
Radio System: Stick style, MHz (Forward & backward, left & right)
Batteries: 3xAA’s for bus, 1x9V battery for remote control
Interactive Features: Simulated sound effects & working lights
Age: 3+
- The Pros: Fast, small, and cheap!
- The Cons: Lights stay on draining the battery, Poor performance on carpet
A smaller option for little ones, the Power TRC features a fun, squashed school bus design, with a comfortable and easy wheel-pad that makes it more than accessible for younger drivers. While not including some of the interactive features included on other models on this list, such as the remote opening of doors, for the bargain price, it’s great fun! Its fast handling is excellent on hard floors, able to be drifted around corners with ease, and when given enough space to let it loose, it can pick up some impressive speeds!
Best of the Rest
Something a little different
If you’re after something that’ll stick out from the crowd, these picks are for you!
1.Maistro – Volkswagen Microbus Type 2
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5
VW Microbus | 7″ x 3″ x 2″ | Ages 3+
Vehicle Type: VW Microbus
Kit Completeness: Ready-to-run
Size: 7″ x 3″ x 2″
Radio System: Steer wheel style, MHz (Forward & backward, left & right)
Batteries: 2xAA’s, 2xAAA’s (Not Included)
Interactive Features: N/A
Age: 3+
- The Pros: Detailed design and affordable price
- The Cons: No choice between the various designs available
For an unconventional take on the RC Bus, The Maisto RC Volkswagen Microbus is an impressively detailed miniaturized representation of its real-life counterpart. With a Steer wheel controller with full lock steering and acceleration, control isn’t the most refined, but what you do get is an affordable little runner that’s great for younger children. With various designs available, and assorted frequencies, this is a great buy for siblings.
2.Tamiya G6-01 – 6×6 School Bus
Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5
School Bus | 22″ x 14″ x 6″ | Ages 14+
Vehicle Type: School Bus
Kit Completeness: KIT
Size: 22.8″ x 14.12″ x 6.3″
Radio System: 2-channel radio (Required)
Batteries: 7.2V battery (Required)
Interactive Features: N/A
Age: 14+
- The Pros: Crazy monster truck inspired design
- The Cons: Kit requires work, which will turn off younger drivers
Needed to Complete:
- 2-channel radio
- Servo
- Electronic speed control
- 7.2volt battery
- Compatible charger
- Tamiya PS spray paint
- Tools
What’s in the box?
- (1) 1/18 King Yellow 6×6 G6-01 Kit
- (1) User Manual
If the word subtle isn’t in your vocabulary and money’s no object, Tamiya offers a monster six-wheeler school bus that packs hobbyist grade performance into an imposing form. At 1:18 scale, it’s got plenty of room for all the excellent included electronics. Built on the G6-01 line from Tamiya, it features sturdy double wishbone suspension on every wheel, along with three differential gears, giving it excellent off-road performance when tackling jumps and uneven terrain. While the friction dampers can be upgraded, its standard performance gives a bouncy but stable ride at speed.
It’s Brushed 540 motor offers plenty of speed at stock for use in a garden but can be upgraded to a Brushless system if desired later to really let loose out in the open. As with other Tamiya kits, there is a large choice of optional parts available to swap out and customize the package to precisely the type of experience you want. Opting for a four-wheel steering upgrade for the rear wheels gives a lot tighter control if so desired, however, it’s stock handling is more than capable when used with the stock motors, with satisfying six-wheel drifts on dirt and gravel! While the initial build and set up requires patience, the G6-01 platform is a fantastic introduction to RC car kits.
Buying Advice
- Bus Type
- Size/Weight
- Recommended Age
- Interactive Features
- Toy-Grade vs Hobby-Grade
- RTR vs KITs
- Expandability
- Remote Control Types
- Run-Time & Batteries
- Connectivity
- Size & Scale
Expandability
Looking to expand your RC collection? check out our Curated Buyers Guides.
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Bus Type
While the iconic yellow school bus is what most kids think of when they hear the word bus, there is a range of different models available. From passenger buses to the symbol of 60’s freedom – the VW camper.
Size/Weight
While most models on this list are relatively small, size and weight are important considerations if you plan on taking the bus on the road. While some models fit neatly in a carry bag, others are too big to make it practical to carry with you.
Recommended Age
One important consideration to make when buying an RC Bus is the recommended age. While toddlers will be kept amused for hours by the simple forward/ backward motion of some models on this list, older children will appreciate the extra features and functions that can be found on other models.
Interactive Features
While toddlers will be kept entertained with simple lights & music, for older children, interactive features such as remote opening and closing of doors, realistic lighting, and sounds really help bring the model to life.
Toy-Grade vs Hobby-Grade
Volume & Mute switches
While sound effects and music might be great fun for those playing, sometimes others around might not appreciate the noise. In those instances, you’ll appreciate the addition of features like volume controls and mute switches, that’ll allow the action to continue without all the racket. A lifesaver for parents!
Construction & Build Quality
While shopping for a new model, it’s essential to consider where you will be using it. If you plan on off-road bashing over high jumps with hard landings, the build materials have to be durable enough to withstand that level of impact. If you plan on keeping things close to the ground, either indoor or on-road, this becomes less of a problem.
With cheaper models relying more on plastic pieces, this brings the cost and weight down, at the expense of durability. More expensive models will typically use more metal in the construction, usually consisting of steel or aluminum on the chassis plate, suspension assembly, wheelbases, and drivetrain.
These upgrades both increase the strength and amount of stress the parts can withstand before breaking. While metal is usually more durable than plastic, you can often find polymer plastics that are just as durable as metal, but without the added weight. When purchasing models that contain moving parts, such as RC construction equipment, you can typically find more expensive models using metal on load-bearing stress points.
Air-Filled Shocks VS Oil-filled shocks
One of the most common differences between toy-grade models and something approaching more hobby-grade is the use of oil-filled shock towers. Also known as dampers, these, as their name suggests, dampen the movements of the suspension’s spring to provide a more consistent and predictable driving experience.
Oil-filled shocks consist of a piston within a sealed tube supplying counter pressure when the weight of the car depresses on the piston and spring.
Cheaper toy-grade products will typically use a chamber, piston, and cap made of plastic, and sometimes even the central shaft too will also be constructed from plastic. The chambers will usually only be filled with air, providing little resistance when in use. The use of plastic materials also severely reduces the durability of parts, with wear and tear from friction across parts becoming a much more significant issue.
In Hobby-grade models, the shock shaft, springs, and caps will usually be constructed from Aluminium, with some going as far as to include an Aluminum built shock body chamber casing. These upgrades, as well as filling the chamber with different weight shock oils, can dramatically change the performance and handling of a vehicle when compared to air-filled shocks.
The use of different weight shock oils also provides a chance to tune your suspension to your liking, using lighter oils on bumpier tracks for a faster response, or thicker oils on smooth tracks for consistent downforce. Thicker oils are also great for taking big jumps without bottoming out the suspension.
Pistons, consisting of a small circular disc, typically can be adjusted with more (or less) holes to improve responsiveness by limiting the amount of oil that can pass through with any single compression and rebound. These adjustments are all appealing for those who want to fine-tune exactly how their car performs on any one surface.
For casual owners, kids, or beginners new to RC Cars, many higher-end RTR models will come with pre-assembled and pre-filled shocks, allowing you to jump straight into the fun with the option for tuning later.
Linear Vs Proportional Steering
With linear steering, your options are somewhat limited. A left turn will always push your wheels as far left as they can go, resulting in limited control and maneuverability. Many toy-grade products tend to stick with linear steering as it’s cheaper for both the transmitter and receiver.
Mid-tier and hobby-grade RTR’s, and most kits will have support for proportional steering. Typically with the use of a Steer wheel controller for increased control, these allow for the wheels to turn proportionally to how much you turn the wheel. This unquestionably gives more fine control at higher speeds, allowing for slight steering corrections.
Linear Vs Proportional Acceleration
Proportional acceleration works in much the same way as steering, giving much more control to the driver over throttle control. Proportional acceleration offers much more flexibility and control with the power output for the motor being able to be directly scaled by how hard you push the accelerator. This is another option typical with Steer wheel controllers, with the use of its trigger providing smooth dialing in of power with a broader range of motion when compared to a dual-stick transmitter.
Differential Differences – Gear Diff Vs Ball Diff
Unless you’re buying the very cheapest toy-grade models on the market, which will typically only drive a single locked axle, nearly all RC vehicles will come with some form of differential.
A differential is a set of gears that control the number of rotations going to either side of an axle, and thus the wheels, at any one time. It works to split the difference in speed between both wheels while cornering, to provide simultaneous power to each side, while accounting for the difference in speed needed between each wheel to turn without slipping.
In a straight line, the motor and differential will be supplying an equal amount of power. However, while steering, the differential ensures both wheels turn with enough speed to take the vehicle around a corner, all from the single motor.
When cornering, the inside wheel will have less distance to travel when compared to the outside wheel to turn effectively; Thus, the outer wheel requires more RPM to compensate. Without a differential, the inside wheel must slip on the surface.
The differential works to split the difference between the inside and outside wheels automatically. For example, when driving straight with a 200RPM motor, both wheels will receive 100RPM of power. In a left turn, the left wheel would only require 50RPM, with the differential automatically supplying the difference to the outside wheel to compensate, providing it with 150RPM. The diff helps to ensure none of the power from the driving motor is being wasted and improves handling at the same time.
There are two major types of differential, each with its own pros and cons.
Gear diffs use a series of internal moving gears inside a larger gear enclosure and can offer much more power without wearing out. These offer much more adjustability with the use of silicone fluids that can adjust how freely the gears can spin, offering different levels based on your liking. However, adjustments will often require complete removal and disassembly from the vehicle.
Ball diffs use a series of ball bearings against an internal ring, providing a smoother level of output, but requiring much more maintenance. Ball diffs also struggle under higher torque applications such as 4WD cars or higher-speed engines. While some can be adjusted, their range is often much more limited than gear diffs but can be changed much quicker.
Both of the above examples are known as open-differentials. This means that the wheels can spin independently of each other.
In some cases, such as drag racing and off-roading, users may require both the wheels to turn on its axle at the same rate. This is known as a locked differential. While losing the benefit gained in the corners, a locked differential provides equal power to both wheels, regardless of the amount of traction a single wheel has.
With most toy-grade models, you’ll be lucky if you find one with an open differential. Most cheaper RTR’s will eventually require maintenance, especially with ball diffs, to prevent clogging and uneven wear with regular cleaning and re-greasing. Some hobby-grade models may even have multiple differentials, allowing more granular control between each wheel.
RTR vs KITS
A true Ready-To-Run (RTR) will include everything you need to get going included in the box. However, some models may require a battery and compatible charger, allowing you to use your own or purchase one that suits the level of power you require. Almost Ready-To-Runs (ARTR) models usually require body painting, decals applying, and a few other small jobs before they can be used.
A Kit model comes disassembled, with instructions on how to piece together the finished model from the included parts. Kits can either come with all necessary parts to run a functioning vehicle or may require extra investment on some components that are not included. Some barebones kits will also omit pieces such as motors, ESC’s, radios, and servos allowing for buyers to supply their own to personalize their experience.
What will I need To Build A Kit?
While some models will come with tools to help you get going, many will expect you to own a variety of different tools. While this is not a comprehensive list, the most common tools required include:
- Hex drivers and Philips (Size 1 and 2) screwdrivers for general assembly
- Needle nose pliers for inserting pieces in tight spaces, holding pieces, and more
- Flat edge cutters – For removing pieces from plastic sprurs cleanly
- X-Acto Blades (Utility /Hobby Knife) and scissors for both trimming plastics and cutting bodyshells
- Threadlock – Securing screws
- Tire glue
- Shock & differential oil
- Bearing Oil
While this list is by no means extensive, these are the most commonly used tools during the build process. However, plenty more options and devices exist to make building easier, if it’s something you regularly plan to do.
Check out our Best RC Accessories for 2020.
Recommended Age for RC Kits
Depending on the difficulty of the kit, and level of technical skill of the builder, many kits can be attempted either alone, or with help from early teenage years. While some may take some help from an adult when starting at younger ages, it can be a great bonding experience to complete a kit together.
Build Time
Kits can take anywhere from a few hours of solid work to get a moving car, to multiple days to finish and tune the vehicle for peak performance completely. This may also depend on other factors, such as learning curves, quality of the instruction manuals, and experience. Tuning things like arm angles, suspension strength or height, and other tweaks can take a while to perfect but are all part of the experience of kit building. While some builds may seem daunting, there’s often plenty of help and tutorials online to teach you the basics or even follow along builds to help you along the way.
Want to learn more about kits? Check out An Introduction to Remote Control Cars in 2020 by Matt Benfield.
Remote Control Types
Dual Stick
The most common remotes you will find come in 2 distinct styles. One is the more traditional “Dual stick” type transmitter, using a more familiar gamepad style layout, with steering and acceleration placed on individual sticks, with any extra functions placed around these.
Steer Wheel Control
The alternative is the more recent “Steer Wheel” style transmitter. With a trigger for acceleration and braking, and a steering wheel style dial for turning left and right.
App Control
Most camera-enabled RC Cars can be controlled using an included remote. However, you may find some include extra options when paired with a companion smartphone app.
Some may allow for things like Gyroscopic or Touch controlled steering via the app, which may or may not be more responsive than using the included remote.
Run-Time & Batteries
Budget & Toy-Grade Models
While essential for all remote control models, battery power can come in many different forms, shapes, sizes, and standards. While models in the past would often rely on simple disposable batteries, there’s been plenty of developments in the toy and budget price points. In recent years, many toy-grade models have begun shipping with rechargeable batteries included, which will typically come with its USB charging cable.
Some models may be more convenient than others when it comes to charging. Occasionally, this may be accessible in the form of an integrated charging port, though often this is not the case, and the battery will need to be disconnected and removed from the vehicle before connecting to the charger.
Micro Models
With smaller sizes, such as micro size vehicles, come more humble performance. With some vehicles containing rechargeable batteries that are powered from the remote, generally with an integrated cable, playtime may be as short as a few minutes burst at a time. However, those with larger internal batteries, or models that use standard disposable batteries, run time can last much longer, but with a considerable wait for charging. It’s essential to be realistic about the amount of time you expect to run at one time. If longer, uninterrupted play sessions are important, you may wish to invest in a larger model.
Hobby-Grade
When purchasing a KIT or RTR model, it’s essential to check if it comes with its own batteries, or requires separate batteries to be purchased. Models may support a range of different configurations that can depend on several factors, such as the battery pack’s physical size or shape, the number of battery cells it contains, and the maximum power the ESC can handle.
The main three forms of rechargeable batteries found on RC Cars are:
Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) offering powerful output and capacity but can be more volatile and the most expensive, they also require careful management of voltages during storage. They are typically saved for more powerful models. These will typically be displayed with a cell count, such as 2S for two cells, 3S for three, etc.
To learn more about the differences, safe caring, and charging of Lipo batteries, check our beginner’s guide section here.
Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) is a middle of the road option, and most common in mid-range price points, offering a nice balance between price and performance.
Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) is an older form of battery that still sees some use in lower-end models and toys but has the lowest capacity and typically the lowest power output.
Information on different configurations can be found within the model’s specifications. These can consist of options such as individual Ni-Cd packs, or in the case of a LiPo setup, power can be scaled based on cells. For example, A model may support a single 3S or 6S Battery or may support a pair of 3S batteries to provide the same power as a single 6S pack.
Other factors can include the physical connectors that the batteries have, with some manufacturers like Traxxas and Tamiya having their own propriety connectors. While most of the differences between connectors are just the shape and mounting methods, they can also be rated for different maximum amps. To learn more about the differences and applications of each connector, a helpful guide can be found here.
Connectivity
Connectivity is an important factor to consider depending on your use scenario.
MHz Crystals
The oldest and cheapest form of radios used would contain MHz crystals, which would be limited to controlling only devices running with a receiver fitted with the same frequency crystal. This prevents multiple models from being run in close proximity unless they are running a different frequency crystal.
2.4GHz
2.4GHz devices are the most commonly found transmitters and receivers on the market today, eliminating most of the downsides of previous generations with more reliable connections, extended operating range, and allowing multiple devices to work within the same area with no interference.
Bluetooth
Another connection type that is becoming more common is Bluetooth, enabling the model to be controlled using a smartphone via an app. Occasionally a Bluetooth enabled model may have settings or telemetry options available to view via the smartphone itself.
IR
Less common, and generally reserved for toy-grade products, is IR technology, which uses beams of light to communicate to the device. While being cheap, this can often have downsides such as increased latency between commands and responses, requiring a constant line of sight to achieve connection, and can offer varying levels of response depending on conditions.
Size & Scale
RC Models can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. From Mini-Z and small 1:26 scale micro models, 1:14 and 1:16 scale models in the middle ground, to the most popular class of 1:10 scale models. Up to 1:8 scale and larger.
It’s also important to consider that the scale is based on the relative size of the real thing, with models like a monster truck, tanks, or construction equipment being much larger models even at smaller scales. While the scale is not an indication of power, you will generally find more powerful performing hardware on larger scale models.
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