The RC Deep Dive

Tamiya has a fascinating multi-layered hybrid distribution network that ensures that your radio controlled model vehicles get from the manufacturing to a regional distributor to the national agents and then to your local or online hobby shop. But what exactly are these layers of distribution, and what are each responsible for in reach region and country? We put on our safety vest, hop in our delivery van, and drive into the world of Tamiya's hybrid supply chain and logistics networks. 

There's nothing quite like seeing a radio-controlled monster truck destroy a puddle, a rally car drift through mud spraying it everywhere, or a buggy launching off a huge ramp into a mud puddle. But what does it do to the R/C model vehicle and what preparations need to be made in advance? We splash this knowledge over everyone in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Tamiya has created a lot of products since it's inception, but exactly how many? Of those, how many are radio controlled model vehicles, and how many are R/C hop-ups and other accessories? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we pull out our calculators and give you all the details on the entire Tamiya Ecosystem and show you that in this Empire, radio control is king!

What to radio-controlled model vehicles have to do with compression socks? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we cover exactly how your body is harmed be excessive standing whether at the track, on the cement, off-road, and at your radio controlled model vehicle hobby workbench and how the right compression socks, especially when paired with excellent insoles inside a good R/C shoe like the Osiris D3 2001 skate shoe can help your total health and help you wrench, bash, race, crawl, and drift longer. 

While the box art official paint color of the Tamiya Hornet radio controlled buggy model kit is black, as the instruction manual confirms, however there are a lot of Hornets of other base colors out there. So, in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we list all the other top colors that are very popular in the R/C enthusiast community for Tamiya's Hornet 1/10th scale radio controlled buggy.

This episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast explains how to apply the Kanban method to a R/C model vehicle workbench, using a four-column workflow of Queued, WIP (Work in Process), Waiting, and Completed to visualize and manage all tasks. The system utilizes "nikku no michi" color-coding: red for urgent, yellow for standard, and green for non-essential tasks to effectively prioritize work, limit work-in-progress, and improve the overall radio controlled restoration, hop-up, and build processes.

In the last episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we mentioned that you needed to 5S your R/C workbench and workspace. In this episode, we are going to teach you exactly how to 5S (Seiri/Sort, Seirin/Set in order, Seiso/Shine, Seiketsu/Standardize, and Shitsuke/Sustain) or 6S a.k.a. 5S+Safety and make your radio-controlled model vehicle hobby workbench and work space more efficient, less frustrating, safer, and easier to use. 

What is the perfect way to setup your radio controlled model vehicle hobby space as an economically-aligned, properly-lit, well -organized workbench? From your floors, to your chair or stool, to your desktop, to your walls, and ceiling, we cover how to make the perfect work bench for you, the R/C car, truck, buggy, jeep, van, bus, and tank hobbyist and enthusiast in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

When you upgrade your vintage or rere (rerelease) Grasshopper or Hornet to Tamiya's CVA (Constant Volume Adjustable) Oil-Filled Shocks, the DT-02 Soft Red Coil Over Shock Springs not only look, but also work so well. Why? You might think it's just a matter of opinion, but there's actually a scientific reason that the dampers set up this easy just pops in your mind. We dig into the synthesis of physics, contrast, extension, psychology,  culture, color theory, cookie science, and color study that goes into this hop-up just working on every level in this episode of the RC Deep Dive p...

Carson Motor-Sport debuted in the 1990s, creating super-strong hardened steel pinion gears for Tamiya radio controlled model vehicles and quickly became the favorite among fans and enthusiasts of Tamiya and Kyosho's R/C cars, trucks, buggies, vans, jeeps, busses, and tanks. We break down the details of these amazing perfect-fitting gears in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Tamiya started pumping out reres (re-releases) of is iconic first 150 R/C model vehicles in earnest in 2005. After 20 years of steady re-releases, which R/C cars, trucks, buggies, tanks, jeeps, vans, and buggies are most likely to be released in 2026? Using the pattern and history of Tamiya rere activity, we calculate the most likely re-releases during the next 365 days in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

2026 is approaching quickly, and with it is the 50th anniversary of Tamiya's first radio controlled car, the Porsche Turbo RSR. We step into the driver's seat and explain what made it unique, drive into it's many reres (re-releases) and the best hop-ups available for this first iconic vintage R/C model vehicle of the Golden Age.

After standing on hard packed surfaces and running after crashed R/C vehicles on uneven surfaces, your get really take a pounding! That pain can extend from your feet to your ankles to your knees to your hips and even into your spine. To prevent it, you need some good insoles, even if you have those support popular, comfortable Osiris D3 2001s in a cookie to match your radio controlled car, buggy, truck, van, jeep, bus, or tank. We pull out the stick insults and dig into the physics to find the insult inserts for every radio controlled hobbyist...

While we at the RC Deep Dive podcast do not run LiPo (Lithium-Polymer) batteries in our vintage and rere (re-release) 1/10th scale R/C model vehicles and only run NIMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) or LiFe (Lithium Iron Phosphate) in them instead, we had a listener ask us to do a podcasting episode on the advantages of running LiPos in radio controlled cars, trucks, buggies, jeeps, vans, busses , and tanks. So here is that lister-requested episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Running radio-controlled model vehicles in the snow and cold presents many challenges, especially for vintage and rere cars, trucks, buggies, vans, jeeps, tanks, and busses. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we meticulously cover the necessary preparations, variations when running your R/C, and things that you must do immediately after your run. 

When the vintage Tamiya Frog 1/10th scale radio-controlled buggy came out in 1983, it's livery displayed on the box art and instructions were white and light floral pink. However when the rere (re-release) first debuted in 2005, you started to see white and fluorescent pink Frogs take over, even though the box art and instructions never changed colors. Why did the majority of pink and white Frog owners in the R/C hobbyist community decide to make the pink on their Frogs this darker and more intense pink? We unravel this mystery of time and fashion in this episode of the...

Tamiya's anodized purple aluminum paint for Lexan polycarbonate radio-controlled body shells is a beautiful metallic lavender color and is a better match for lavender than their own lavender paint. But why did they make this color? What inspired it? We uncover the popular car and auto parts colors in the 1990s and 2000s Japan and get the answers behind this color choice for R/C cars, trucks, buggies, jeeps, vans, and busses in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

eBay has recently been flooded with the ultra-rare Parma Positive Drive Hubs for both the Frog and the HotShot. What was the Parma Positive Drive System and what did it do? We go back in time and breakdown the genius of this hop-up option that would truly turn your Tamiya Frog into a Mighty Frog in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

When you upgrade your ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis R/C car, buggy, or truck gearbox with the MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) Super Ball Diff, you are limited to only using a 16t pinion gear. However, with an adjustable motor mount made specifically for the vintage or rere (re-release) ORV chassis, you can increase your options. But which options are safe and which one is best for your radio controlled model vehicle? We explain the physics and geometry to help you get the best gearing options in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Does Tamiya have a history being involved in education? How does R/C fit into all the parts of the new education focuses?  Was it intentional or unintentional? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we uncover how Tamiya's radio-controlled model vehicle and tool kits became an integral part of the modern educational focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). 

The Tamiya FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) was a popular 1/10th scale military desert buggy that attracted two very distinct differences to the kit. While it obviously attracted those in the radio control car, truck, and buggy enthusiast community, it also brought in members of the military static modeling hobbyist community too. How did this one R/C buggy to bring two communities together to unite in Tamiya fandom? We uncover the varied reasons in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

One of the myths in the online R/C hobbyist and reseller communities is that the CRP (Custom Racing Products) #1602 rear adjustable coil-overs for the Tamiya Frog, Wild One, and BRAT do not fit the rere (re-release) models. However, this is not true and we prove it with not only physics and geometry but our personal experience. We get out our calipers and get you the measurements of every part on the shock coil-over springs and the dampers that they fit on from both the originals and the rere radio-controlled model vehicles in this episode of the RC Deep...

Excelsior! We have previously identified the radio-controlled model vehicles of the DC Comics Universe's JLA (Justice League of America) and so now we are doing this for the Marvel superheroes. We match not only the looks and the colors of these R/C cars, trucks, vans, buggies, and jeeps, but their shared souls in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast because with great radio control power comes great radio-controlled responsibility and it's clobbering time!

While Tamiya Club is an indispensable well of knowledge and advice on all things Tamiya R/C, some people, especially those from Gen X and the Alpha Generation, find these respected forums to not be as welcoming as the r/Tamiya subreddit on Reddit. Why is this so when Reddit is known for it's snarky trolls and most members at Tamiya Club are heavily invested veterans in the radio-controlled model vehicle hobby? We look into the technology, the procedures, the rules, and the cultures of the 2 very different communities in this episode of the RC Deep Dive and get...

What hop-ups are available for the vintage Tamiya Fox and rere (re-release) Nova Fox 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) 1/10th scale racing radio controlled buggies? We go through all the various hop-ups options and rank them in order of importance for making your Fox or Nova Fox freaky fast and fastidious in this foxy episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

For many Europeans and North Americans, going to Japan for R/C car racing, going to the Tamiya Festival, or touring Tamiya HQ (Headquarters) is a lifelong dream come true. But there are many customs and expectations for how you should act that is different than the ROTW (rest of the world). We teach you the Japanese radio-controlled hobby etiquette and culture that you need to know before heading to Japan in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

When Tamiya made a rere (re-release) of their vintage 1/10th scale 2WD R/C racing buggy, The Fox, they oddly renamed it the Nova Fox. But this isn't the only thing that they changed about this re-released radio controlled racer. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we disassemble both radio control buggies and tell you all the differences made in the rere Nova Fox compared to the classic, vintage original Fox. 

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.  Duration: 00:06:37

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...

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 r...

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 a...

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...

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...

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 p...

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 f...

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. 

In most of the world, vintage Tamiya R/C model cars, tanks, buggies, trucks, vans, and busses all included or recommended Futaba servo savers, radio control receivers, and transmitters. Why was this? What was their connection or relationship? Why was it often different in the UK (United Kingdom)? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we look at the contacts and deals and unlock the secrets behind the symbiotic Tamiya- Futaba alliance and why it eventually ended after the end of the R/C golden age. 

Tamiya made so many junior versions of their iconic vintage off-road R/C buggies in their mini 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) on track racer line, but why didn't they ever make a 1/32nd version of the Mighty Frog Jr.? Is the ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis to blame? We look at all of the miniature details in the 1/10th scale radio controlled 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) buggy to 1/32nd mini 4WD racers and get to the bottom of this many-decade long mystery in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Tamiya instructs you to attach the drive shaft joint rubber boots at the gearbox and secure it with a black zip-tie nylon fastener to the out-drives in ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis radio controlled model vehicles. But is there a better way? What about the wheel side of the hex-drives, dog-bones, universal joints, or constant velocity driveshafts? Should they get a zip tie too? We strap on our thinking caps tight and drive you to the answers to these questions and more in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

What is the ultimate tag team if not the pairing of iconic WWE superstars with their legendary Tamiya RC model counterparts, based on shared personas, historical context, and cultural impact? We wrestled with this question, and are ready to tag-in, and roll-up these legends into a pinfall of perfected information that does just this in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. Whatcha gonna do when the RC Deep Dive podcast mania runs wild on you, brother? 

Why were Tamiya's original radio controlled model vehicle decal sheets uncut? And why did they start pre-cutting some (but not all) of the decals in 2005? What are the radio-control hobbyist's options to get precut decals or stickers if you don't like uncut ones, and vice versa? We take a deep slice into the sticky situation of Tamiya's iconic R/C model car, buggy, truck, van, jeep, bus, and tank  decal history in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

How did we get here? 2.4 ghz was a huge increase in technology from AM (Amplitude Modulation) and FM (Frequency Modulation) crystals. But that was a huge technological leap from the previous radio controlled vehicle technology. But what about the future? Will mobile phones control our R/C cars, trucks, buggies, vans, busses, and tanks in the future? We take it to the cellular level and uncover the future of radio control in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

What are the fastest high performance 540 brushed motors for 1/10th scale R/C cars, buggies, trucks, vans, busses, and tanks? What are the differences in the top tier of these radio control motors? What do these rules mean: Red for raw speed, Blue for tight track turn performance, Gun Metal Grey for off-road grip? What electronics and gearing do you need for these super non-stock motors in your radio controlled motor vehicles? We brush off the sources and unspin the knowledge you need to know for maximum speed in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we step into fashion, explaining why the iconic Osiris D3 2001 skate shoe has been unexpectedly adopted by many in the R/C hobbyist community, driven by a unique convergence of its DIY (Do-It-Yourself) construction story, its practical durability, a shared technical design language with these R/C vehicles, powerful Y2K (Year 2000 Era) nostalgia, and the radio-controlled model vehicle hobby's deep-seated culture of personalization through color matching with the shoes' ever-changing colorways.

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we peel the backing off of the vintage Tamiya R/C restoration market by examining how MCI Racing navigates a legal grey area to produce high-quality reproduction decals, and window paint masks which are intentionally designed to fit only aftermarket bodies from their partner, TBG (Team Blue Groove), rather than original Tamiya Lexan polycarbonate body shells. 

As the R/C hobby has changed over the decades, how has the average age in the radio control hobbyist community changed? We travel through time, from the beginning of radio controlled model vehicles in the late 1950s and 1960s, to the Golden Age of RC from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, to the RTR revolution of the 1990s to 2000s, back to the modern age of the 2010s to the 2020s to calculate the median, mode, and mean age of radio controlled model enthusiasts in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

The Holiday Buggy is an iconic radio-controlled model vehicle that really captures that 1980s spirit. But what holidays are the buggy's name speaking of, if any, and is it really Crocodile Dundee driving that R/C car as many believe? We break into the true nomenclature and who Tamiya actually designed the driver figure to look like in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

The first Tamiya Mini 4WD Racers were 1/32nd versions of popular 1/10th and 1/12th R/C buggies, cars, trucks, jeeps, and vans. Which radio controlled motor vehicles were chosen to have Junior versions and why? We go small scale and uncover these shrunken 'kids' of iconic vintage Tamiya model vehicles in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

The boxes of Tamiya models, radio control model vehicles, and junior racing mini 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) cars and buggies are more than a marketing image, they are literally works of art displayed in museums. Who are the artists behind the iconic images that have captured the attention, hearts, and minds of generations? We brush away and find the history and philosophies behind Tamiya's classic white boxes in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

What is the fastest motor that you should put in a Tamiya Frog 1/10th scale radio-controlled buggy and what is a line too far? What ESC would such a motor demand? We read the meters and come up with the sane limits and the motors you should never use in your ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) Chassis in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

This episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast details the definitive method for not only repairing but restoring and strengthening cracked hard plastic ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) bodies (such as the Sand Scorcher, Lancia 037 Rally, Subaru BRAT, Blackfoot, Grasshopper, Pajero, Grasshopper II, Rising Fighter, etc.) on vintage, classic, and rere (re-release) Tamiya R/C vehicles to withstand high-impact bashing.

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we analyze the parallel DIY (Do It Yourself) old school resurgences observed in TTRPG (tabletop role-playing games), skateboarding, and R/C model vehicle kits which are not just a simple, nostalgic retreat to the past golden age. This is not a generation (X) attempting to live in the 1980s, but rather a generation actively curating the best of the 80s to live better in the present. This phenomenon is best understood as a profound cultural rebalancing. Participants in these revivals are selectively extracting the most valuable elements from the hobbies...

While the death of print is being eulogized and lamented around the world, there are still a couple of english language radio controlled model vehicle magazines being published monthly and available to purchase and subscribe to in print. We fire up the printing press and thumb through the periodicals rack and tell you about these great resources in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

If you are racing or bashing your Tamiya Subaru BRAT, Lancia 037 Rally, The Frog, or any other ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis radio controlled model vehicle in extreme conditions like a skatepark with huge jump ramps like quarterpipes, even with XTRA Speed G45 Steel CVD (Constant Velocity Drive) Shafts you might have the driveshafts pop-out during a particularly hard landing on cement or metal. How do you fix this? SPOILER-ALERT: You have to downgrade to Tamiya UJs (Universal Joints) and add a gearbox support brace or tensioner. We drive at a continuous velocity to the shaft of this issue to...

[NOTE: There are so many great Tamiya R/C focused YouTube channels that we couldn't name them all, even if we went for an hour, so apologies if we didn't mention your channel or your favorite content creator!]

There are a lot of great channels on YouTube focusing on vintage, classic, modern and rere (released) Tamiya radio controlled cars, buggies, trucks, vans, jeeps, busses, etc.. However each YouTuber is building a unique, different part of the online R/C model vehicle hobbyist community. From Poor Boys RC to Tamiya Legends to Tamiya Talks/OAG to Nordic RC...

CRP (Custom Racing Products) was one of the biggest 3rd party aftermarket hop-up manufacturers of the Golden age of R/C. They made products for Tamiya, Kyosho, AE (Associated Electronics), Schumacher, Futaba, and others. We specifically unpack their wide selection of offerings for Tamiya radio controlled model vehicles in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

There's lots of ways that people store their radio controlled cars, buggies, trucks, vans, jeeps, and busses; some ways being better than others. But what are the best ways to do it, to help your R/C model vehicle to last longer? We put away the fluff and get right to your storage needs in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

Sometimes when building a radio controlled model vehicle you will inadvertently get liquid blue or AG (Anaerobic Gel) red thread lock(er) on your skin and it will kill your skin cells via a nasty chemical burn. What are the first aid steps and how can you prevent from getting burned again? We dig through the chemical safety sheets and get you the diagnosis that you need in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. 

If you've ever attempted to try removing a shock eye from a ball connector on a damper's ball joint, you know just how frustrating that it can be as it is hard to do it without damaging or deforming the shock's eye, especially in vintage radio controlled model vehicles. Checking the R/C forums for advice can be even more frustrating since the advice all seems to be contradictory or flat out wrong. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we pop-off the facts and physics and make this once difficult disassembly process easy for you.