The RC Deep Dive

Tamiya Club: The Online R/C Model Hobbyist Community

Tamiya Club isn't an official part of Tamiya, Incorporated, but it may as well be. It's just that important to the R/C model vehicle hobbyist community, especially Tamiya radio controlled cars, buggies, trucks, vans, and busses. We log in, search, and get you all the important parts of this invaluable online resource in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

True Off-Road vs. Hyper Manicured "Off-Road" R/C Race Tracks

Off-road racing and bashing has really changed and diverged since the golden age of R/C of 1976-1991. So-called "true" off-road is driving in natural sand, dirt, rocks, grass, and roots whereas "off-road" race tracks in some cases may be inside and made of perfectly manicured clay, AstroTurf, or carpet. There's also the third or "middle way" in the homemade backyard racetrack. Which do you prefer and which radio controlled model vehicles are best for each? We get deep in to the weeds about off-road racing, wilderness crawling, and back yard bashing in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Tubes to Pots: The Container Change of the Holy Trinity of R/C Lubricants

Recently, AE (Associated Electronics) changed the containers that its TA (Team Associated) lubricants came in. The so-called holy trinity of radio control model lubricants, FT (Factory Team) Green Slime, Black Grease, and Stealth Diff Lube changed from squeezable tubes to screw-top pots. Why did they do this? We lubricate our minds and dig deep in to the AE/FT container theory of R/C greases in the episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

The Hop-Up Revolution: The History of Grassroot Garage Engineering

When the R/C model vehicle kit hobbyist community quickly decided that they wanted to hop-up their hobby-grade radio controlled vehicles, a grassroots engineering revolution turned into garage companies engineering hop-ups for the test of the radio control hobby community. We take a deep dive into this history of a cottage industry that became big business in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Which MIP and Vessel Driver Handles and Heads Should R/C Model Hobbyists Use?

MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) recently rolled out a new version, Gen 2.0, of it's hex and nut drivers. Is this new version the best choice for radio controlled vehicle hobbyists? Likewise, Vessel drivers come in a variety of handles (Megadora, Ball Grip, Crystalline, etc.) and head types (Impacta, Parallel, etc.). Which combination is the right one for the R/C model hobbyists? We dive into the toolbox of pro radio control tools in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Tamiya Sand Blaster Tires vs. Sweep Racing Square Armor R/C Buggy Tires

What's the difference between 2 similar but very different wheels introduced 40 years apart? Both have square treads, both are popular on the Frog, Grasshopper, and Hornet, plus both have legions of enthusiastic fans. We spin our heads right round to give you the differences between the Tamiya BRAT's Sand Blaster squared tread hard tires and the Sweep Racing pink Square Armour soft tires (made harder by hard foam inserts) and which one is made for the backyard or park and which one is made for perfectly manicured race tracks in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

HOW-TO: Add Headlamps While Respecting Your R/C Buggy's Structural Integrity

The Tamiya SuperShot a.k.a. the Super HotShot famously came without faux headlights. So in the quest to remedy this lack of eyes on this radio controlled buggy, we shine a light in the darkness to find out the best ways and places to add faux and working headlamps to one of the most famous members of the Hot Shot 4WD R/C buggy family in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Which Servo and Saver for the HotShot Family of 1/10th Scale 4WD R/C Buggies?

The Tamiya HotShot family of RC buggies were iconic and groundbreaking, but had a number of flaws, especially in their steering. Getting the right servos and servo savers can help. We precisely turn you to the direction of the best servos and service savers to install in your HotShot, SuperShot, HotShot II, Boomerang, Bigwig, Super Sabre, Super HotShot, and HotShot 2 Blockhead Edition in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Exactly Which Size MIP and Vessel Drivers Do Serious R/C Model Builders Need?

If you've decided that you are serious about being part of the R/C model vehicle hobbyist community and you want to get some pro level tools. Your local hobby shop will likely recommend MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) for hex and nut drivers. Likewise, for Japanese radio controlled model vehicles, like Tamiya and Kyosho, you'll need JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) cross and flathead screw drivers which Vessel is your likely brand recommendation. But what sizes do you need? We pull out our calipers and give you all the details in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Why Can't You Use Power Tools When Building R/C Model Vehicles?

Many things in life are built , repaired, it disassembled exclusively with power tools, but there's one thing that you should never use power tools on, and that's your hobby grade radio controlled car, truck, buggy, jeep, bus, or van. Why? We drive to the core of why no power tools are allowed anywhere in R/C model vehicles in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.