The RC Newb Podcast

It's fun to kick around ideas and dream up ways to make the R/C hobby better, even if some of those ideas are a bit "far-fetched". In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I give an update on what's been going on in my R/C garage and share some unique ideas that have popped into my head. Show Notes: Hands-on with Carisma Scale Adventure's new MSA-1E Coyote Pup. Updating the Traxxas TRX-4 Sport wit...

Time for a quiz! What's the most important part of your R/C vehicle? While that question can have multiple answers, I'm in the camp who believe tires have a major hand in how a vehicle performs and handles. Over the past few months, I've been testing out a number of scale R/C tires, swapping out a variety of ready-to-run (RTR) sets with aftermarket options from Pro-Line and Duratrax . No matter wh...

Chatting about the hobby never gets old. When an on-road R/C question came my way, I had one person in mind to help provide some information. Josh Howard, my first guest on the podcast, was eager to share his on-road racing knowledge and bring me up to speed on what he's been up to throughout the past two years. It was a great catch-up chat and it sounds like Josh has some fun and challenging plan...

This episode of the podcast features a guest that I've known online for quite a while and have been a big fan of his photography work and approach to the hobby. Nick Coward (aka The Toy Car Creative) captures R/C action through the lens of his camera and also hits the track with his own radio-controlled machines. The images that he creates are simply stunning and they encapsulate the energy that i...

I love it when a plan comes together, even if the plan takes a while to come to fruition. I'd been hoping to chat with J. Scott Curlin (aka AceofAxe) for quite a while. After a bit of planning and an early morning wakeup call, I sat down for a virtual chat with the man himself. As a longtime hobbyist, Scott has seen (and done) just about everything in the hobby. He's currently a team driver for Ca...

No R/C vehicle is perfect and there are times when our expectations far exceed what these models can do. That said, there are some radio-controlled cars and trucks that can surprise us. Show notes: Horizon Hobby has purchased select assets of Hobbico, including the Axial , ARRMA , and Tower Hobbies brands. Axial has launched a revamped SCX10 Deadbolt , now running on the SCX10 II platform. AMain H...

When it comes to picking out a new R/C vehicle, the possibilities are almost endless. For those of you looking to save some money on your next radio-controlled model, you may find the allure of off-brand machines too great to resist. While you can save money on some of these models, there are a few items you should keep in mind. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I share some pros and cons c...

Wow, Traxxas is really going all-out with their model releases and updates. Not only have they added new branches to their TRX-4 lineup, but they've also revamped bashing classics such as the E-Revo and Summit (1/16-scale). In this episode, I run down some of their latest releases, along with a few new models from Team Associated. In addition to that, I'm thrilled to announce a new podcast project...

The fun of the R/C hobby doesn't stop once you've bought your first vehicle. Making sure you have the right tools and accessories to repair, upgrade, and tinker with your radio-controlled machines is a crucial aspect of the hobby. During this episode of the podcast, I share my "must-have" tools and gear for any hobbyists workspace. Show notes: WPL C14 "Hercules" 1/16-scale R/C Trail Truck - $33.99...

As 2017 draws to a close, I wanted to share some thoughts on a few of the R/C models I'm playing with (and reviewing) as well as taking a look at what 2018 has in store. Show notes: ARRMA's Voltage lineup offers a unique twist on battery compatibility in entry-level bashing machines. So far, I like what I've seen from this approach . The ECX Barrage lineup has grown over the past year, including t...

2017 has been a banner year for the "scale R/C" scene. With new models being introduced from Redcat Racing , HPI , Traxxas , and Carisma Scale Adventure , there are more rigs to choose from than ever before. Two of these options sit on opposite ends of the spectrum, both in price and features. Redcat Racing's Everest GEN7 carries the budget-friendly, no-frills banner while the Traxxas TRX-4 brings...

The Redcat Racing Everest GEN7 has arrived and I've got one sitting in my R/C garage. Will this vehicle become a gateway rig for introducing people to the hobby and to the R/C scaler scene? Only time will tell. For now, I know that this is a fun machine to drive, while not obliterating my budget. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I share my initial thoughts on this 1/10-scale trail machine...

As the FPV craze sweeps the aircraft side of the radio-control hobby, it hasn’t hit full stride when it comes to R/C cars and trucks. After watching folks mount FPV cameras and gear to their machines (and have an amazing time with the experience), I decided to jump in and see what all of the fuss was about. Not only has FPV provided a new set of challenges, but it’s opened up an entirely new world...

With 3D printing taking a larger role in the R/C hobby, I was thrilled to be able to chat with two of the men behind Exclusive R/C , a shop specializing in 3D-printed scale accessories. Listen in as Brian Almeida, Mike George, and I discuss the road ahead for "scale radio-control" builds as well as a look at some of the new scale rigs which are coming onto the scene. Show Notes Reviewing Dromida’s...

Well, I did it. After years of watching the action from the sideline, I jumped in and built my first R/C kit . It was a rush and an experience that I won't soon forget. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I recap the build experience as well as an overview of three new scale R/C rigs that will be hitting hobby store shelves soon. Show Notes: Building an R/C Kit: Part 1 Building an R/C Kit: Pa...

 Spring is in the air, snow is on the ground... I have no idea what's going on with the weather, but it's been playing havoc with my R/C plans in a big way. On the bright side, I've been able to spend some time in my shop, working on my machines and dreaming up new accessories to create through 3D printing. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I share my thoughts on Axial's Yeti Jr. Rock Racer...

Rich from 2RCProductions joined me to help kick off the new year with some R/C news and discussion. While we only planned on covering four topics, our conversation quickly took on a life of its own and we ended up talking about a few new models, shared thoughts on creating content to grow the hobby, among other items. Show Notes: Congratulations to Joshua D. the winner of our final giveaway contes...

We have another vehicle review for you with this episode of the RC Newb Podcast . After spending some quality time with one of Carisma’s smaller-scale vehicles, the GT24T , I wanted to share my thoughts on this tiny truck. If you’re a fan of durable, fast, and fun radio-controlled machines, this 1/24-scale model from Carisma might be worth looking at. With the holiday season fast-approaching, it m...

Taking a break from writing and video production, I sat down in the studio to share my thoughts on Pro-Line’s Ambush 4x4, small-scale trail rig. After driving this rig for a while, and with my written review getting wrapped up, I felt an audio overview of this machine was due. In short, this is an incredibly fun machine to drive and I have been carrying it with me on walks and hikes to get my R/C...

Joined once-again by Colton Baquet ( @RCBound ), we discussed an array of R/C topics on this episode of the RC Newb Podcast . Simulators can be an effective way to learn controller basics and sharpen your driving and flying skills without risking damage to your radio-controlled vehicle. I have been using Real Flight Mobile to get acquainted with basic quadcopter controls and maneuvers. We also cha...

During my limited time exploring the world of radio-controlled aircraft, I’ve quickly discovered that the “RC Newb” label is a perfect description of my status. With that in mind, I called on a knowledgeable pilot and R/C enthusiast, Colton Baquet , to join me on this episode of the RC Newb Podcast . Although he’s only been involved in the hobby for a few years, he’s amassed a great deal of experi...

I’m fresh off of a two-week vacation road trip and I’m ready to talK about all things R/C. Joining me for this episode is my good friend, and past RC Newb Podcast guest, Rich from 2RCProductions . We covered an array of topics in just over two hours, from his custom Tamiya “Stretchbox” build for fellow hobbyist, “ Mid Life R/C ”, the upcoming re-release of the Tamiya Blackfoot, radios, quadcopters...

A longtime friend of RC Newb, Andrew Jurcich returns for this episode of the RC Newb Podcast. A variety of topics were covered, from Novak’s announcement that they’re going out of business , to Axial’s two new kits , to 3D printing, to Tamiya’s Blackfoot re-release , and a few items in-between. Show notes: Long-time R/C electronics maker, Novak , announces they are closing their doors after 30+ ye...

In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I am joined by an individual who's not only a R/C enthusiast, but also a talented videographer and visual storyteller. Terry McGee ( RCTrailblazr ) has style for showcasing his various rigs and radio-controlled machines through video. On top of that, he has been doing some amazing work with his sponsor AsiaTees and has some great insight into what sponsors...

In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast , I am joined by Jim Rowe ( @RockNRoweRC ), a fellow "relative newcomer" to the world of radio control. Although he has only been involved in the hobby for a few years, Jim has been able to make some unique connections and participate in a number of amazing events and outings. I had a great time learning about his beginnings in the hobby, discovering what veh...