The RC Deep Dive

We previously connected WWF/WWE professional wrestlers to their soulmate R/C cars, trucks, vans, jeeps, and buggies, so we also wanted to do the same with the 2nd largest pro wrestling company in the world, AEW (All-Elite Wrestling). But this time we are using both Tamiya radio controlled vehicles and cars from their esteemed competition, Kyosho! Can you pin the wrestlers to their radio control tag team partner before we do in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast? Let the matchup begin!

The Frog, Grasshopper, and Hornet were 3 of the most iconic radio controlled buggies of the R/C golden age or ever. However Tamiya's second wave of 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) radio control buggies, that included the technologically advanced Fox and the new beginners model, the Falcon, weren't nearly as popular. Why? We study the construction, economics, and late 80s competition to get the definitive answer in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

As we get to the end of the Gregorian calendar year, many people start thinking about buying new desk calendars or wall calendars for their home and office. Which brings up the question, does Tamiya, or a licensed 3rd party offer a calendar with Tamiya's iconic radio controlled model vehicles? Why or why not? We flip through the pages of time and answer these timely questions and more in this new daily episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Did you know that Vintage and ReRe (re-release) R/C model vehicles are secretly a master class in CI (continuous improvement) methodologies like Lean Kaizen, Six Sigma DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control), Agile Sprints, and Lean Startup BML (Build-Measure-Learn)? Learning about these process improvement methodologies can make your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and it's run, break, fix, upgrade cycle be even more enjoyable, increasing your runtime. We discuss how in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Why should you throw away your old Phillips crosshead screwdrivers and only use JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screw drivers for all cross head screws now? 99% of the time you should use a JIS cross head screw driver for both JIS screws and Phillips head screws both inside and outside the R/C model vehicle hobby. The ultra rare 1% exception is, in fact, exceptionally unlikely for most. However, we cover even this exceedingly rare exception in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

"First in Quality Around the World", "Toys They're Not", "Smart, Fast, and Accurate", "The Pro Standard", "Developing Better Tires and Wheels", "Toyshop We Are Not", "American Innovators", "Serious About Having Fun", "Champions by Design", and "No RC Car is Safe", are famous foundational mottos in the radio controlled hobbyist community, not just corporate marketing branding slogans. We go beyond these mottos and get you the story behind them in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Welcome to a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) episode made just for you! While what is 'best' is truly subjective, in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we let you know what the strengths are of a variety of R/C car forums that have a focus on Tamiya vintage and rere (re-release) radio-controlled model vehicles. Then, based on your focus, you will be able to create your own list of which radio control forums are best for you and your personal needs as a radio control enthusiast or hobbyist in search of an online community.

The Frog, the Fox, most members of the HotShot family and the Thunder Shot family have horizontal damping on the front of the radio-controlled buggy. However, many R/C model vehicle enthusiasts won't upgrade them to dual upright shocks. Why? We uncover the desire to keep the soul of these vintage and rere (re-release) radio controlled model buggies intact and period correct in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

A listener asked us to investigate what the racial demographics of the radio controlled model vehicle enthusiast community was, as being a European expat in North America, he saw mostly white men involved in the hobby with a smaller amount of Asians, Indians, Africans, and Latin Americans involved. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we took a census not only of the near past and current statistics, but also future projections based on growth patterns seen in the R/C hobby around the world and online, where many diverse voices are growing great followings.

What are the maximum and minimum temperatures that your radio controlled model vehicles' greases can withstand? The chemistry and physics behind these lubricants is fascinating. We put the most popular greases from Tamiya, Hudy, MIP (Moore's Ideal Parts) and AE (Associated Electronics) FT (Factory Team) lubes to the test and share our results with you in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

The rere (re-release) Tamiya HotShot 1/10th scale 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) radio controlled buggy has two dummy heat sinks, while the vintage original's heatsinks were functional and served a purpose more than good stylistic looks. Why? We go into the philosophy of this rare fashion over function decision when Tamiya rereleased their first ever 1:10th scale 4WD R/C car in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Tamiya discontinued it's tubes and pots of it's standard ceramic grease and replaced them with Cera Grease HG. Many R/C model vehicle hobbyists in the community and in club forums claimed it was the same thing just now in a bigger 10 oz. tube rather than the previous 1, 3, and 5 ounce containers just to charge more money. However, these uniformed rumors are not accurate. We mind the knowledge gap and get inside the tube and explain the chemistry differences and why this new grease is far superior to the old standard in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Mirage RC makes craft bespoke aluminum hop-up parts for many vintage and rere (re-released) Radio Controlled model vehicle kits, most famously for the HotShot, HotShot II, and SuperShot/Super HotShot 1/10th 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) R/C buggies. If you aren't in the UK (United Kingdom) or EU (European Union), is it worth the very long time and extremely high cost to have these made to order and to then ship these items internationally when communication from the company can be more miss than hit with one review saying there was 4 months between email sent about not receiving their product and replies? We break the bank's balance sheets open and uncover the true value in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Do you love your Tamiya 1/10th scale Grasshopper and/or Grasshopper II radio controlled buggy but hate how serious bashing can break the hard ABS body shells? In today's episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dig deep into how to convert your GH1 to body clips and cotter pins and how to get clear Lexan polycarbonate bodies for both your original Grasshopper and Grasshopper 2 R/C model vehicle kits.

Punky Brewster was played by actress Soleil Moon Frye who helped normalize girls building, collecting, bashing, and racing radio controlled cars, trucks, buggies, jeeps, and vans. But does Soleil Moon Frye still drive R/C model vehicles? How did her joining the radio control hobbyist community affect her life? We dig into her biography and give you these answers s and more in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

There have been many complaints online that the old heads in the radio control hobbyist community from Generation X are implementing new age divisions in vintage and rere (re-release) radio-controlled car, buggy, and truck races because they are tired of the younger generations like Gen Z and the Alpha Generation smoking them in races. While this is a rumor, it isn't actually factual at most R/C racetracks. We break out the rulebooks and give you the generational knowledge on why these age divisions exist in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 podcast.

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 audio at one point in this episode, but it's placement was very fitting, we thought, so we kept it in and didn't re-record this daily episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. Please let us know what you think in the comments below.]

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 chemistry and physics that makes this brand the Goldilocks battery for your vintage and rere radio control cars, buggies, trucks, vans, busses, jeeps, and tanks in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 unique answers in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

"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 their owner and driver in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 the decisions that made them come to life in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 community connections in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 options in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. [NOTE: While this hop-up option is a popular choice, we at the RC Deep Dive podcast feel that adding dual vertical shocks to either the Frog or HotShot takes away the soul of those radio controlled buggies from Tamiya. However we wanted to provide you with a HOW-TO in case it's a modification you covet for your R/C buggy.]

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 podcast.

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 options, convex or concave, is best for your Subaru BRAT, vintage Lancia 037 Rally, Mighty Frog, Blackfoot, Super Beetle, etc. by using material science and the laws of physics and geometry to give you the best bump for your buck.

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 and install these enlightening hop-ups in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 off-road R/C buggy race winner in this mighty episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 define this moving point of hobby-grade and toy grade radio-controlled model vehicle separation.

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 applicable to both tools. Let's take a deep dive together!

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 point of view on radio control in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 RC Deep Dive podcast.

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, merit badges, and other awards that radio control enthusiast Scouts and Guides can earn for their participation in the diverse R/C hobbyist community.

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 girls and women in the Japanese radio controlled model vehicle hobbyist community in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 for your vintage or rere Tamiya ORV radio control car, truck, or buggy? We break down the engineering of both amazing products in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 (Associated Electronics), and eventually MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) JConcepts, and Tamiya started making them for themselves and others as well. We slip into the history of Schumacher and radio control diff gears in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

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 RC Deep Dive podcast.

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.

The unlikely cultural overlap between the straight edge hardcore punk scene (often shortened to sXe, XXX, or just X) and vintage Tamiya RC car enthusiasts is rooted in their shared 1980s origins, a mutual devotion to a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ethos, and strikingly similar visual aesthetics. We clean up this connection that provides a constructive and sober-minded recreational outlet that aligns with straight edge values, allowing adherents to express the same principles of self-sufficiency and creativity learned in the punk scene through the technical hobby of building and collecting in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Beyond Tamiya's own 540 motors like the Tuned and Super Stock hop-up options, there is a wide array of 3rd party aftermarket 540 motors you can use to hop-up your site and torque. But which ones are any good? Which ones should you avoid? We rev our engines loud and dig deep into all of your motor hop-up options for your radio controlled cars, buggies, trucks, vans, busses, and tanks in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Tamiya, during the golden age of R/C completely ignored the standard type 1 Volkswagen Bug, instead focusing solely on the modified Type One Beetle, the Baja Beetle. Why is this, and do the body shells of on-road Beetles fit on these off-road Baja Beetles? We get inside the people's wagon and put our coleopterologist hats on to answer all of your many questions about the iconic radio controlled bugs in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

This episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast brings out the spooky and analyzes the best Halloween-themed Tamiya R/C monster trucks and cars, comparing the nostalgic charm and delightfully chaotic handling of iconic classics like the Midnight Pumpkin and Monster Beetle against the superior all-terrain performance of their more modern radio controlled counterparts like the Squash Van and the super popular Blackfoot III.

What is causing Gen Z and the Alpha Generation to get into vintage and rere (re-release) Tamiya R/C buggies, vans, jeeps , trucks, cars, and busses? It's not just Gen X parents introducing radio controlled model kits to their kids, but also from their peers on TikTok. Maybe not too surprisingly to a veteran radio control hobbyist, there's a digital detox and psychological or mental health advantage to youth getting into this hobby from the 1980s. We investigate the reasons that these younger generations are embracing vintage and rere Tamiya RC in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

We all know the pain of installing or removing the e-ring or e-clip, often called the Jesus clip or Jesus ring. Normally, R/C hobbyist pliers and a flathead screwdriver are used to attach and uninstall this pesky shoulder clip. However, Tamiya has made an E-Ring Tool that promises to make installing and removing e-rings a breeze. Sure it really work as well as promised, and is it worth the cost? We unclip the hidden knowledge about this eclip tool in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

If the greatest superheroes of the DC comic book universe in the Justice League like Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Firestorm, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow, had vintage R/C cars, which ones would they be? We didn't just look at the color schemes, but the innards down to the soul of each character and their matching radio controlled cars, buggies, trucks, jeeps, and vans in this DCU Superheroes x Tamiya R/C Garage episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. [NOTE: While we love Batman, and think the HotShot II would make a fine Batmobile, we didn't include him because he already has his iconic car. And yes, we know that the GL (Green Lantern) Corps member in our thumbnail (for those if you who are using a podcast aggregator that shows it to you) is Guy Gardner rather than Hal Jordan.]

If you really want to get control of your bouncing rear end on your Tamiya ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis 1/10th scale R/C vehicle like the vintage Lancia 037 Rally (not the rere [rerelease] model), and either the vintage or rere versions of the Subaru BRAT and the (Mighty) Frog you can upgrade your stock shocks to TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) Aeration Dampers. We pump the oil of knowledge into your brain about this expensive but powerful hop-up and what it can do for your ORV chassis radio-controlled model vehicles in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

You are out bashing your off-road buggy and on the process of doing massive jumps off a huge ramp at the lovely skatepark, and you see something horrible. Your oil filled CVA (Constant Volume Adjustable) damper has come loose, your shock spring is missing and you are unable to find it. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we unspring your ability of buying separate spare spring parts or possibly upgrading to TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) hop-up dampers instead.