The RC Deep Dive

There are a lot of thoughts about what the future radio controlled model vehicle battery type might be with something that is even more powerful than LiPo (Lithium-Polymer) batteries and safer than LiFe (Lithium-Phosphate) batteries. We dig into the chemistry and physics behind the future contenders, both SSB (Solid-State Batteries) and Li-S (Lithium Sulphur) in this episode of the RC Deep Dive po...

The need for speed sometimes comes along with a need for cooling. You can get fans for your motors, ESC (electronic speed controller), and servo, but what is the best way to install them and power these active forced convection cooling fans? We blow past the fluff and get right to the coolest info in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.  [NOTE: We are aware that there is a tiny glitch in the...

Onisiki is a favorite battery brand among many vintage and rere (rerelease) 1/10th scale radio-controlled model vehicle racers, speed runners, drifters, crawlers, and bashers. Why is this, especially when their batteries are smaller than similar Traxxas, Venom, and Gens Ace NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries while also weighing less than most of their competitors as well? We dig into the chemis...

In Japan, LiFe (Lithium Phosphate) batteries are popular amongst many in the vintage, classic, rere (re-release), and modern R/C hobbyist community, while globally NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries are popular among the vintage, classic, and rere radio control enthusiasts even though LiPo (Lithium Polymer) reigns supreme among modern radio controlled model vehicle fans. We ask why and find the...

There has been a long debate in the radio control hobbyist community about which direction the fins go on the CRP and Parma Nerf Wing. We dig into the aerodynamics, geometry, material science, and physics and explain why there is only one correct way that makes sense for your need wings and while the other way can actually hurt your ORV Chassis radio controlled car, truck, or buggy on this episode...

"Boys Will Be Girls" is an iconic 2nd season episode of the original Punky Brewster television series that gets watched a lot by those in the radio control model hobbyist community via the Peacock streaming app. In this episode, Tamiya USA provided a large number of popular radio controlled buggies, cars, trucks, and jeeps. We identify all of those R/C model vehicles and their hop-ups, and who was...

Tamiya is known for scale accuracy and being number one in quality around the world. However, they went SD (super deformed) with their comical series of 2WD (two wheel drive) and 4WD (four wheel drive) versions of their iconic 1/10th scale radio controlled buggies in an effort to engage young children and families with these easier to build model kits. We turn back time to look at this series and...

Do the otaku, waifu, weeb, and itasha community have anything to do with the Japanese radio control hobbyist and enthusiasts communities? If so, what are the connections besides Tamiya and Kyosho R/C model cars, trucks, buggies, vans, jeeps, and busses being from Japan? We take a deep look into psychology and philosophy and uncover any hidden or visible radio-controlled micro vehicle hobbyist comm...

Aerated oil-filled dampers need a different cSt (centistokes) of oil than that which you put in your stock shocks or CVA oil-filled dampers. Why is this and what should you use when replacing your stock shocks with these TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) hop-up options? We measure the oil and give you all the whats, whys, and hows in this shocking episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

If you want to upgrade your front end suspension on your Tamiya ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis R/C model car, buggy, or truck like the Subaru BRAT, the Lancia 037 Rally, or the Frogfrom a horizontal spring and plungers damper to full oil-filled shocks you have many options from Parma to CRP (Custom Racing Products) to RC Channel to Tamiya. We spring into action and compare and contrast all these o...

This comprehensive guide to R/C bead lock wheels examines their mechanical principles, weighs their pros and cons against traditional glue-on alternatives, and analyzes their specific suitability for diverse applications including rock crawling, bashing, high-speed racing, and drifting, to help radio-controlled model vehicle enthusiasts make an informed choice in this episode of the RC Deep Dive p...

When applying a CRP (Custom Racing Products) rear bumper on a ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis gearbox with a gearbox support gear tensioner, like the ones from Skibby's Performance Mods, depending on the direction you place the metal pieces, your white dyeable nylon bumper will either bend outward or inward. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we check all perspectives to see which of these...

A popular hop-up option is to replace the stock faux headlamp buckets on radion control cars, trucks, buggies, jeeps, busses, and vans with real working LED (Light-Emitting Diode) headlights. There are PnP (Plug-and-Play) hop-up options from companies like Tamiya, but DIY (Do-It-Yourself) options are widely available as well. We unwire and illuminate the step-by-step directions on how to assemble...

Tamiya's the (Mighty) Frog radio-controlled 1/10th scale 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) model buggy kit has box art livery and instructions that direct you to paint it like the Mazda K360 three wheeled delivery trucks that were famously called Frog Delivery Trucks in Japan. We drive deep into the swamp, below the lily pads, and get you all the details on the correct information for Tamiya's first national...

On the RC Deep Dive podcast we constantly talk about how Tamiya, AE (Associated Electronics), Kyosho, Schumacher, Losi, Arrma, and Traxxas are hobby-grade R/C cars, trucks, buggies, tanks, busses, vans, and jeeps. But what is the exact fine line between toy-grade radio control vehicles and the superior hobby model kits, and how has this line changed over the last half century? In this episode we d...

We have covered the Tamiya Electric Handy Drill in a previous episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, but today we still drill down to the route of when and where you should use another handy tool, the Tamiya Electric Handy Router. They absolutely are not the same and should not be used for a job associated with the other handy craft tools. However, some, but not all of the same suggested hop-ups are...

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive we power up your knowledge of how toroidal inductors, known as ferrite rings in the R/C hobby, serve as a cost-effective and essential solution for suppressing high-frequency EMI (electromagnetic interference) from powerful electronics to prevent control glitches and ensure reliability in high-performance vehicles. 

While women and girls are welcome to participate in the R/C hobby as much as men and boys, there are certain patterns and preferences that are different among the majority of female radio controlled car, truck, buggy, van, and jeep builders, bashers, collectors, crawlers, displayers, drifters, on-road and off-road racers, and speed runners. We identify these differences and lean into the women's p...

Did you know that whether you see them on the screen or not, that R/C cars, trucks, and buggies have long been an important part of professionally made music videos like the ones that used to be played on MTV (Music Television) and VH1 (Video Hits One)? You may want your MTV or want it off the air now, but we pump up the volume and give you the jamming details in this hard rocking episode of the R...

Did you know that Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and Girl Scouts around the world can earn merit badges and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) awards by building, repairing, and hopping-up their radio controlled model vehicles? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we take a hike into the depths of the twin international Scouting and Guiding Movements and explore the badges,...

The acceptance of female R/C hobbyists in Japan evolved from a male-dominated beginning, sparked by media representation in the 1980s and 90s, that normalized their interest. This has culminated in the modern era where dedicated "Girls Class" races and nationally recognized female competitors are now a visible part of the hobby. We dig into the divide and explore the history of the acceptance of g...

During the golden age of R/C, for the ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis radio controlled model vehicles, Thorp Manufacturing a.k.a. Dirt Burners was the solution for putting a bulletproof Ball Differential in your gearbox. In the rere (re-release) era, the answer is the MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) Super Ball Diff plus UJs (Universal Joints) or CVDs (Constant Velocity Drives).Which option is better f...

Schumacher R/C Racing was sparked by the invention by Cecil Schumacher of a ball differential for his son, Robin. Then, when his Robin Schumacher started winning all of his radio controlled car races, local hobby shops started asking for ball diffs to sell and Schumacher R/C Racing Cars was born. Cecil's ball differentials would prove unpatentable and so Thorp Manufacturing Dirt Burners, AE (Assoc...

American Hop-Up manufacturers like CRP (Custom Racing Products), Pro-Line, Parma, and Thorp Dirt Burners were wildly popular in the Western world, especially for Tamiya radio-controlled model vehicles, but how popular were they in Japan and the Far East during the radio control golden age? What about now? We stamp your passports and take you on a global journey of discovery in this episode of the...

This episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast tackles the frustrating search for plus-size R/C hobby apparel, a common problem for enthusiasts seeking to represent their favorite brands in sizes 3XL, 4XL, and larger. We provides a comprehensive roadmap, detailing specific products and purchasing strategies from major retailers, niche specialists, and online marketplaces to help you gear up in your size...