The RC Deep Dive

It's the 40th anniversary of 7 iconic Tamiya radio-controlled cars, trucks, and buggies and in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we celebrate and break down all seven 1986 hobby grade R/C model vehicle kits: the 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) off-road buggies, the Super Shot, the Boomerang, and the Bigwig; the 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) monster truck and car, the Blackfoot and the Super Beetle, the 2WD...

Gimbals, often called sticks on an R/C radio transmitter are a mystery to people who learned on pistol grip radio transmitters, but in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we explain exactly how legacy gimbals work and how the new modern gimbal sticks work differently, along with how you can upgrade them to work even better for your radio-controlled model vehicles. 

There's only one way to truly get all of the air out of your silicone damper oil in your radio control shock absorbers and it's the Tamiya Extra Long Shock Oil Air Removal Tool, but it only works if you use it right. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we take you through how to use this tool and teach you the physics of how and why it works so well. 

It may look like free weights for curling, but it's a secret weapon for cornering grip on your radio-controlled car, truck, buggy, van, jeep, or bus. Why is the Tamiya Camber Gauge praised over both digital camber gauges other analog camber measurements tools? We get into why and how it works so well in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Cheapest and best aren't always equitable, but when it comes to skateboarding launch ramps that are good for radio-controlled cars, buggies, trucks, jeeps, vans, and busses. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we take the measurements and give you the advice for the best and budget minded options for your air launching needs when bashing your vintage and re-release R/C model vehicles. 

You might think that an elementary or primary schoolyard is a great place to run your radio-controlled model vehicles, but it's actually a really bad idea. Why? We go into the real dangers not only for your R/C car, buggy, truck, jeep, van, bus, or tank, but also for you in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

We had a listener ask about how to properly drain your silicone damper oil out of your R/C buggy's Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers before changing your oil's cSt (centistokes). They asked because the process can be very different on Tamiya's TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers because of the materials used in the manufacturing of these radio control model vehicle racing shocks. So,...

These days a lot and of men and women don't want to have a stag party for their bachelor or bachelorette party the night before they get married. Instead, they want the party to be focused around their hobbies or interests. In this episode of RC Deep Dive podcast we go through multiple great options for making an incredible bachelor /bachelorette or even a birthday party for a radio-controlled mod...

What is the future of the radio-controlled model vehicle hobby and the enthusiast community? Would you believe that self-healing and self-configuring R/C cars, trucks, buggies, vans, jeeps, busses, tanks, planes, boats, helicopters, and drivers may happen in our lifetime? Not to mention the more immediate future of smart predictive robotic telepresence. We get into all of this, looking at the past...

What is JConcepts and who founded them? How did they become a highly respected 3rd party aftermarket hop-up option shop and  manufacturer for both R/C racing and for vintage and rere (re-release) Tamiya radio-controlled model vehicles like the Clodbuster? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dig deep into the successful business model of the iconic JConcepts! 

In many Tamiya's vintage and rere (re-release) radio-controlled model vehicles, open differential gears, there are 3 spider gears to help your wheels spin at different speeds when necessary, like when turning. Tamiya tells you to grease them with their standard Cera (Ceramic) Grease HG (High Grade). However, the R/C hobbyist community had found a better option, Tamiya's AW (Anti-Wear) Grease. In t...

You're sitting down or standing at your R/C workbench to build, restore, hop-up, or repair your vintage or rere (re-release) radio-controlled model vehicle, for some reason 1980's hardcore punk rock or new wave alternative EDM (Electronic Dance Music) just seems right. Why? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we breakdown exactly why this music helps you psychologically focus on the task a...

Radio-controlled model vehicles are featured in many non-fiction books and some great fictional manga series. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we use the Dewey decimal system, dig deep into the card catalogue, search the Library of Congress in the copyright office, and use the national inter-library loan service, and get you the extant R/C novels and pass on whispers about a future seri...

A listener asked us to see if there was a connection between earth-based religions or paganism: Wicca, Nature Worship, Old Gods Worship, Lilithianism, etc., and those in the hobbyist community who build, bash, crawl, drift, race, speed run, and wrench vintage and rere (re-release) radio-controlled model vehicles. So, in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we investigate any perceived or actua...

Beast Wars completely transformed the Transformers but while it was originally hated by many G1 (Generation One) purists, it has been hailed by many in the modern age as some of the best characters and stories ever in the Transformers universe, in both comic books and television shows. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we investigate which of these cybertronic characters with primal beas...

There's nothing that can destroy a community faster or not completely than jealousy. Unfortunately there have been pressures inside the radio-controlled hobbyist community. As such, there can be no tolerating of the predator of competitive jealousy in our community. How do we fight this community crushing fear and anxiety that causes elitism,  gatekeeping, and weaponised misinformation. In this ep...

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dig into the vintage golden age and the modern rere (re-release) age and the very different philosophies that have guided three different radio-controlled model vehicle companies from not only 3 different companies, but 3 unique continents: Asia's Tamiya, Europe's Schumacher, and the Americas' AE (Associated Electronics). 

Radio-controlled model vehicles have become popular as ring bearers with R/C hobbyist, but how do you pull it off? And which radio-controlled car, truck, buggy, van , jeeps, bus, or tank should you choose? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we break it down into tiny steps where each step is of supreme importance to pull this off correctly and safely for everyone! 

In a previous episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we mentioned how R/C Dekotora and Deco 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) has getting some women and girls into the radio-controlled model vehicle hobby. These three disciplines are interesting as they have buying to do with speed or power, but simply have to look with beauty of the customized design. But in this new episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dive...

How do you keep your R/C hobby decals flat, pliable, colorful, and the glue adhesion moist? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we go over how you can keep your radio-controlled model vehicle decals in archival condition even though many aggressive manufacturers say that radio control body shell decals and chassis stickers are only good for 6 months to 2 years maximum! 

We all know staying hydrated is important, but how much water do you actually need when building, bashing, crawling, drifting, racing (off-road or on-road), speed running, and wrenching your radio-controlled car, truck, buggy, van, jeep, bus, or tank? We bypass government suggestions and go straight to the anatomical and material science, signing into physical and chemistry as we help you calculat...

It can be hard to get important cardio exercise when spending all day building a radio-controlled model vehicle kit. But it's important to take the time to stand and walk. Science has called all-day sitting the new smoking and not only does it hurt your physical health, especially your heart and circulatory system, but also your mental health as you age. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast...

If you think you can clean your R/C hobby microfiber cloths in your washing machine and dry them in your electric dryer like any other towel, cloth, or clothing, your going to destroy your microfiber cloths and possible your radio-controlled model vehicle in the process. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we describe exactly how and how not to wash and dry these dispensable part of the ra...

In some places of the world, it has long been considered very rude to wear a hat inside of a home, a business, or a place of worship. So why is it not only accepted but encouraged in many R/C clubs, racetracks, and hobby shops? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we investigate the social norms, changing moralities, and codified rules in radio control racing that answers this question, exp...

To most people the Tamiya Lunchbox 1:12th scale R/C monster van is just a fun wheelie machine, but UK Monsters, the people behind the Clod Shop hop-up options, have dinner the same thing to Vanessa's Lunchbox as they did with the Clod Buster and Super Clod Buster, and fixed every imperfection and by using all the hop-ups they offer, you can actually turn this radio-controlled monster van into a bu...