The RC Newb Podcast

Most of my "hobby time" has been focused on small-scale machines lately. Between weather woes and overall fun, I've found these tiny (tiny) trucks to be a fun distraction from the day-to-day grind. Among my growing collection of 1/18, 1/24, 1/30, and 1/64 radio-controlled vehicles, one platform stands out from the crowd: Axial's SCX30 . Introduced in late 2025, this 1/30-scale micro crawler is ama...

3D printing and the R/C hobby are an incredibly powerful duo. Whether you want to create your own designs for tools, parts, and storage, or you simply want to download neat items to make your R/C experience even better, 3D printing allows you to do just that. While I've been involved in both for several years, it wasn't until late last year that I became re-inspired by 3D printing. Advancements in...

One of the best ways to enjoy the R/C hobby and meet other hobbyists is to attend an R/C event. Whether it's a crawler event, a race, or something else, planning and bringing the right gear will help ensure you have the best time possible. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast, I discuss some must-have items for any R/C gathering. Show Notes: News Redcat Brushless 1/18-scalers: Redcat Ascent-18 B...

"This does not spark joy." Those were the words that were rolling around my head for a good portion of this year…until recently. I've been struggling with disinterest in the hobby and this episode of The RC Newb Podcast focuses on my thoughts during these "blah" times. Thankfully, I've snapped out of whatever funk I was in, and I'm back to working on a handful of R/C-related projects. If the hobby...

It's almost here…the 2024 holiday shopping season. I've always considered this to be one of the best times to get yourself into the hobby, get someone else into the hobby, or stock up on spare parts and accessories for the coming year. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast, I recap a few new models from Vanquish, Axial, Carisma, and FMS while also sharing some of the best Pre-Black Friday R/C dea...

Show Notes: Upgrading and customizing the Redcat COE Custom Hauler & SixtyFour Lowrider Diving into RC Drifting with Redcat's RDS Competition Spec RTR Installing Injora's Purple Viper and MBL32 into a Traxxas TRX-4M and Redcat Ascent-18 Check out my review of the Redcat Ascent-18 on smallscalerc.com Check out my review of the FMS FCX24 Camel Trophy Land Rovers on smallscalerc.com Check out the...

Back at it with another episode of The RC Newb Podcast . For today's topic, I recap several of Redcat's latest releases and share some news on models I'm currently testing out and reviewing from FMS . Show Notes: Redcat's been on a tear with new model releases, notably: 2023 Gen9 International Scout 800A Ascent Custom Hauler Custom Trailer 2024 Vigilante 1/5 Monster Truck Ascent-18 Ascent Fusion W...

If you were hoping to hear a discussion about how to get the most out of attending an R/C event (I'm looking at you, Axialfest…), you'll have to wait a little while longer. I'm dedicating this episode of The RC Newb Podcast to the Traxxas TRX-4M, a small-scale rig that's got me feeling all giddy and excited about the hobby. Show Notes: Traxxas TRX-4M 1/18-scale R/C Crawler Traxxas TRX-4M Upgrades...

Hello again! I'm back in my mobile recording studio to record another episode of The RC Newb Podcast . A lot has happened since episode 74; Axialfest Badlands 2022 came and went (and was awesome), Traxxas released several fun vehicles in various sizes, Element RC dropped a new entry-level crawler, and Carisma showcased its scale detail chops with a few new releases. The topic of this episode is th...

When your dream car (or truck) is available in 1/10-scale, it's hard to pass up the opportunity to park one in your R/C garage. As soon as Traxxas announced its TRX-4 2021 Ford Bronco , I knew I needed that rig in my life. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast , I give an overview of my favorite features from this rig and also showcase some of the upgrades I've performed on it over the past year....

It's been a while…. It occurred to me that I haven't recorded a new episode of the RC Newb Podcast in some time. With that said, I sat down and rattled off some updates on the show and what I've been up to within the world of R/C. As always, thank you for listening, subscribing, and sharing your passion for this great hobby. Show Notes and R/C News: I've been exploring some new R/C models over the...

It's a new year, and what better way to celebrate than by talking about the R/C hobby? I've mentioned CarryAll RC and their lineup of crawling and trail-focused backpacks in the past, so I figured it was time to give an overview of their X-TRA 3 Combo Backpack . In addition to that, I want to find out what your hobby plans are for this new year. Are you a new hobbyist that's just getting started,...

In this episode of the podcast, I'm focusing on two smaller-scale R/C vehicles that I'm currently reviewing. The first is the RGT Adventurer V2 which was provided by the folks at Banggood . This 1/24-scale crawler has been a fun addition to my growing fleet of small crawlers and can hold its own against other heavyweights in this category. The second vehicle that I'll talk about is the XC324 Manga...

Time flies when you're swamped with projects. With quite a few things happening in and around the R/C hobby, I felt it was time to clear the deck. Fair warning, this episode is as random as it gets. New models, R/C news, and a few workbench updates thrown in for good measure. Show Notes: ARRMA's "New Model Extravaganza": Kraton EXB Roller Outcast 8S BLX Infraction 6S BLX V2 Felony 6S BLX Big Rock...

It's not often that I get to chat with folks in the film industry, so when the opportunity arose to chat with the director (Dave Hill) and producer (Trenton Waterson) of the upcoming film, Flying Cars , I knew it was something I couldn't pass up. The R/C hobby isn't often highlighted in mainstream media, which makes Flying Cars unique right from the start.  Throughout our hour-long chat, Dave and...

Small-scale R/C crawlers have come into their own in recent years, and with models such as the Axial SCX24 and Carisma MSA-1E , you can replicate the fun of 1/10-scale crawling just about anywhere you go. When you aren’t able to wheel your tiny truck outside, there are plenty of ways to build your own indoor crawling course or set of obstacles. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I share a fe...

Once you've popped the lid on the R/C kit-building experience, it's hard to turn back. Such has been the case for hobby experience. Following my Tamiya Grasshopper project , I've been on the lookout for new kits to check out. Over the past few months, I've been focusing on an on-road machine from Carisma and an off-road blaster from Pro-Line. In this epiosde of The RC Newb Podcast , I'll share my...

Looking ahead to 2020, let's not forget about two fun, capable small-scale crawlers that arrived on the scene in 2019. Axial's SCX24 Deadbolt was a surprise release and has quickly become one of my favorite 1/24-scale travel companions. In addition to this little rig, Carisma refreshed their MSA-1E with a new motor and gearing setup, making this small-scaler even more impressive than before. Show...

One of the biggest surprises of 2019 has been the rise of Element RC and their lineup of ready-to-run (RTR) and kit trail trucks. The Enduro Sendero RTR has become a favorite of mine, both in terms of performance and overall driving enjoyment. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast , I share my thoughts on this 1/10-scale trail rig, along with a glimpse at what's to come in future episodes. Show n...

Everyone should build a kit. If you haven't experienced building a radio-controlled machine from the ground up, you should add that to your hobby to-do list. For seasoned pros who have assembled more 1/10-scale (or larger) models than they can count, may I introduce you to a different challenge; a small-scale build. Earlier this year, rcmart.com gave me the opportunity to build an Orlandoo Hunter...

I’ve taken the Redcat Racing GEN8 on a number of adventures since it arrived in my R/C garage earlier this year. Between it’s affordability, performance, and appearance, it’s become one of my favorite scale radio-control models to take out on the trail. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I’ll share my thoughts on the GEN8 as well as give a preview of what’s to come on future episodes of the...

This hobby truly has something for everyone. I've found myself spending more time at my workbench on a variety of tune-ups and project than I have actually wheeling an R/C vehicle, but I'll take the calming effects of a hex driver any day of the week. Between upgrading the handling aspects of the Carisma Scale Adventure Lynx to updating the look of my Traxxas TRX-4 Sport , I've had a variety of ve...

Ready-to-Run (RTR) R/C models are great when you want to get rolling as fast as possible. Still, there's something to be said for spending time building a model from scratch. After years of RTR dominance, it appears that radio-controlled model kits are making a comeback. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast , I share a few reasons why building a kit is a great way to get connected to your hobby....

The creativity that flows within the R/C hobby is truly amazing. In fact, the ability to modify any aspect of your vehicle, especially the body, is one of the biggest draws for many hobbyists. If you're new to the hobby or new to customizing radio-control vehicles, there are a few things you should know when it comes to painting a polycarbonate body. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast, I share...

Before we close the book on 2018, I wanted to take a quick look back at the year, from where we started and what we have to look forward to in 2019. As always, thank you for the support over the past year, from the fun conversations to the insight and answers you provide, I greatly appreciate the community that this hobby has created. Here's to an amazing New Year! Show notes: Crawler kits galore...