Shows / The RC Deep Dive
The RC Deep Dive
Welcome to The RC Deep Dive podcast, your daily masterclass in the world of Tamiya radio-controlled model vehicles in under 30 minutes.
This is the ultimate anti-fluff resource for Tamiya RC builders, bashers, crawlers, collectors, drifters, racers, and speed runners. We publish a new, concise episode every day, focusing on the vintage, classic, and rere (re-release) models that have defined the radio control hobby.
We go beyond the RC hobby workbench. One day we're detailing HOW-TO guides for…
Episodes
The RC Deep DiveThe Tamiya Rookie Rabbit: Why was it so Important?
The Tamiya Rookie Rabbit, the first RTR (Ready-To-Run) R/C buggy on the DT-01 (DT stands for Dirt Two-Wheel-Drive) chassis was a very important radio…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Size Matters When it Comes to Body Clips
Cotter pins or body clips used to be small and straight. However, over time the pull ring angle and the size of these clips or pins have increased. Why has the…
The RC Deep DiveHow Tamiya and Kyosho use (and Have Failed to Use) Lean and the TPS
Tamiya and Kyosho each use Lean and the TPS (Toyota Production System) in their R/C model vehicle factories. We explain how this helps get a perfect vehicle to…
The RC Deep DiveWhich Oil Should be Used in Buggy Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers on the ORV Chassis?
While the TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers come with yellow #400 damper oil, if you upgrade them with softer shock springs when…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Mask the Hornet's Driver Window Antenna Bump
If you don't have the rere (re-release) Hornet decals packed with window masks; and honestly, even if you do; masking that window bump for the antenna can be…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Differences Between the Wild Willy and the WW2?
The Wild Willy and the later WW2 (Wild Willy 2) may look similar at first glance, but they are actually very different radio controlled model vehicles. Let's…
The RC Deep DiveHow Exactly Do Barrel Springs Improve Damping on the CC-01 Chassis?
Cross-country barrel shock springs work differently than your standard damper spring. Why are they so good for some TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) aeration…
The RC Deep DiveWho has the Easiest to Cut Lexan Polycarbonate Body Shells?
In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dig into the material measurements of Tamiya, Pro-Line, Parma PSE, and TBG (Team Blue Groove) Lexan…
The RC Deep DiveWhat Soft Shock Springs are Available for the TRF Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers?
If you upgraded to TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) aeration oil-filled dampers for your radio-controlled car, truck, buggy, jeep, or van, but find that you want…
The RC Deep DiveWhat's the Difference Between Willy's Wheeler and the Honda City Turbo?
The vintage Tamiya radio-controlled Willy's Wheeler was recently rereleased as the Honda City Turbo and while on the surface they look quite similar, there are…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Does it Matter: Genuine Deans Ultra Plugs vs. Generic T-Plug Clones
If you are using generic T-Plug Clones rather than the genuine Dean's Ultra Plugs, you could be setting yourself up for a major R/C electrical disaster. We…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Do R/C Hobbyists Choose Modern TRF Shocks on the Vintage and ReRe Frog?
A popular hop-up for the Tamiya Frog 1:10th scale R/C buggy are the TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) Buggy Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers. Why is this combination of…
The RC Deep DiveAn Absolute Legend: The Tamiya Clodbuster and Super Clodbuster
The Clodbuster and the Super Clodbuster The monster truck of monster trucks, that would be called The King if it wasn't for the King Blackfoot. The radio…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Mask Large Surfaces on R/C Lexan Body Shells
When you have a large amount of surface area to mask when painting your R/C model vehicle's Lexan polycarbonate body shell, it can be a pain to layer so many…
- The RC Deep Dive
How Do the Right Tools and Ergonomics Reduce Wrenching Pain and Fatigue
What is the physical science between using the highest quality told with good ergonomic design and the reduction in wrenching pain, fatigue, and injuries? We…
The RC Deep DiveWhy are There Multiple Lines on Lexan R/C Car Body Shells?
You've completed building your radio controlled model vehicle and are ready to cut your Lexan polycarbonate body shell so it will fit on your chassis. But…
The RC Deep DiveAre R/C Battery Plug Adapters Dangerous When Charging?
Using an adapter to charge your radio controlled model vehicle's battery is very convenient, but could it be destroying your battery and making your runtime…
The RC Deep DiveA Saint Valentine's Day Automotive R/C Romance Story
I'm this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we combine something rarely connected, which we are calling R/C automotive romance: sainthood by martyrdom…
- The RC Deep Dive
What is the Best Trailing Arm Stiffener Material?
You can now get rear trailing arm stiffeners made it of plastic, nylon, carbon fiber, and a variety of metals. Which of these options is the best and which of…
The RC Deep DiveRCer vs. R/C Hobbyist vs. RC Enthusiast: What's the Difference?
There are three different names for fans of radio controlled vehicles, but what's the difference? We open the hobbyist community dictionary and thesaurus and…
The RC Deep DiveR/C Cars and Their Adventures Through the Looking Glass in Wonderland
"Curiouser and curiouser," Alice said, as she saw the vintage R/C model vehicles in front of the denizens of Wonderland. There was one for the Queen of Hearts…
The RC Deep DiveThe Effect Humidity and Temperature Have on J-B Weld
Many R/C hobbyists will use J-B Weld to repair their radio controlled vehicles when they break, such as a broken axle on a Tamiya BRAT or Frog. However…
The RC Deep DiveThe 1:16th Scale M4 Sherman Tank: The First RC Model Vehicle by Tamiya
Many people think that the 1976 Porsche 934 Turbo RSR was the first radio controlled model vehicle created by Tamiya. However that title actually belongs to…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Charge RC Vehicle Batteries with a Full-Sized Automobile
Did you know that you can charge your R/C model vehicles batteries using your personal automobile? While it is possible, there are some important precautions…
- The RC Deep Dive
HOW-TO: Build a Grasshopper II Side Wheelie Machine
Have you ever seen a Tamiya Grasshopper 2 just rolling around on its two left tires or it's two right tires and wondered how in the world did they do that?…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Repair, Replace, Fix, or Upgrade GH2 and Super Hornet Body Mount Posts
If you've ever taken a lot of tumbles on the concrete with your Grasshopper II or Super Hornet, you may have cracked, broken, or friction rubbed off the…
The RC Deep DiveBBX vs. Fighter NX Gen: The Vintage-Inspired Modern R/C Buggies
Both the BBX and the Fighter NX Gen are modern R/C buggies, yet definitely vintage inspired. While on the surface, the two radio controlled cars may look very…
The RC Deep DiveThe Wild Willy Dynasty of R/C Model Jeeps and On-RoadCars
Wild Willy has had many radio controlled model vehicles from the Wild Willy Jeep, the Willy's Wheeler car, the WW2 Jeep, and now the rere car, the Honda City…
The RC Deep DiveThe Sailor Scouts and their R/C Cars, Buggies, and Trucks
What R/C Model Vehicle matches up with Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Saturn, Chibi Moon, Sailor…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Get a Perfect Metallic Sky Blue Paint Job on Your R/C Body Shell
If you want a spectacular metallic sky blue color on your Lexan polycarbonate body of your radio controlled model car, truck, vehicle, jeep, or van, it is…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Do Some R/C Buggies Race with Unpainted Tail Wings?
Sometimes you will see a meticulously painted radio controlled buggy racing on the track, but it has a clear unpainted tail wing that looks completely out of…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Make Tamiya's Fluorescent Polycarbonate Spray Paints Glow!
When you paint your radio controlled model kit's Lexan polycarbonate body shell with a fluorescent color like PS-28 Fluorescent Green, how can you make it glow…
The RC Deep DiveMatching Fantasy TTRPG Archetypes and Their Vintage R/C Model Vehicles
Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, Goblins, Orcs, Half-Dragons, and Succubi are all standards in the fantasy fiction novel and movie genre as well as popular TTRPGs…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are Tamiya's Iridescent Color Changing Paints and How Do They Work?
Have you ever seen a radio-controlled model car, car, truck, or buggy go by and it seems to change colors as your viewing angle changes? These are due to the…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Do Some R/C Hobbyists Keep Their Body Posts Extremely Long?
Have you ever seen a radio controlled car, truck, or buggy with super long body posts sticking far outside the the body shell? Have you ever wondered why they…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Replicate TS-52 Candy Lime Green on Lexan R/C Bodies
If you want to replicate that TS-52 Candy Lime Green paint for plastics color from the Tamiya Grasshopper Candy Green Edition on a clear Lexan polycarbonate…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Fix Problematic R/C Shock Mount Ball Joints
How do you fix a shock mount ball joint that keeps throwing your oil-filled damper off? It seems like there should be a simple fix, but for the bulletproof…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are Tamiya Powerchamp RX Batteries and What are they Good For?
Tamiya makes some AA batteries branded as Powerchamp RX that have some very powerful and interesting features. This might make you wonder if they are are a…
The RC Deep DiveWhat Vintage R/C Model Vehicles Can Use TRF Shocks?
Previously on the RC Deep Dive podcast we discussed how you can used TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) Buggy Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers to replace the shocks on the…
The RC Deep DiveThe AI Revolution Taking Place in the R/C Racing Hobby
These days, AI (artificial intelligence) is taking over many pre-existing and new positions in the competitive world of radio controlled vehicle racing, many…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are R/C Vehicle Race Turn Marshalls and What Do They Do?
The radio-controlled vehicle racing hobby has a unique part of it called turn marshals it just marshals. Except on the highest levels, these are R/C car…
The RC Deep DiveWhy is a Low Profile Servo the Best Choice for the HotShot Family of 4WD R/C Buggies?
Why are low profile servos so highly recommended for the Tamiya HotShot Family (HotShot, SuperShot/Super HotShot, HotShot II/Hotshot 2 Blockhead Motors…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Restore, Upgrade, and Preserve Your R/C Model Vehicle Chassis
We've covered how to restore, upgrade, and reserve nylon hop-up parts for your R/C model vehicle previously on an episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, but how…
The RC Deep DiveThe Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix Television Show
This episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast details the history of the Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix, a weekly Japanese television show that ran for fifteen years from…
The RC Deep DiveThe RC 10 Talk Workshop vs. the Tamiya Club Museum
With a name like RC10TALK, you'd expect the forums at this site to be solely enthusiasts talking about AE (Associated Electronics) radio controlled model…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Find the Best Tamiya R/C Model Vehicle Kit for Beginners
For someone new to the radio control model vehicle hobby, it might be hard to pick the right R/C that matched their interest. To help resolve this, in this…
The RC Deep DiveSolved: The Frog Reinforcement Plate Mystery
The rere (re-release) Tamiya Frog has a reinforcing plate the strengthens the connection between the stock front bumper and the bumper mount. The reinforcement…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Most Popular Paint Colors for the Tamiya Grasshopper R/C Buggy?
The Tamiya Grasshopper 1/10th scale R/C buggy officially comes in three different body shell colors, original white, candy lime green, and brilliant black…
The RC Deep DiveWhat was the First R/C Boat, Airplane, Car, Helicopter, and Motorcycle?
Did you know that the first radio controlled vehicle was the Telautomaton boat back in 1898? Did you know that R/C airplanes were made in the 1910s well before…
The RC Deep DiveR/C Gyros: What are They, How Do You Install Them, and How Do They Work?
First, to be crystal clear, when we are taking about radio-controlled model vehicle gyros (JAI-rohs) as in gyroscopes, not the delicious Greek pita sandwich…
The RC Deep DiveRemote Control vs. Radio Control: What's the Real Difference?
What is remote control and what is radio control? Is it true that all radio controlled model vehicles are remote controlled, but not all remote controlled…
The RC Deep DiveWho Were the Youngest and Oldest R/C Model Vehicle Race Winners?
From youthful prodigies to seasoned veterans the age range of big-time racers, including the winners in the radio controlled hobbyist community is amazingly…
The RC Deep DiveHow Do Tamiya R/C Model Kits Make it From Cebu to You?
Tamiya has a fascinating multi-layered hybrid distribution network that ensures that your radio controlled model vehicles get from the manufacturing to a…
The RC Deep DiveR/C Mudding: Precautions to Take When Racing, Bashing, Crawling, and Drifting in Wet Conditions
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…
The RC Deep DiveHow Many Products Has Tamiya Created and How Many of Them are R/C?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHow Compression Socks Help You Race, Bash, Crawl, Drift, and Build Longer
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Top Paint Colors for the Tamiya Hornet R/C Buggy?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Setup and Use a Kanban Board to Make Your R/C Projects Go Smoothly
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: 5S/6S Your R/C Hobby Workbench for Maximum Efficiency
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Perfectly Set-Up an Ergonomic, Organized, Well-Lit R/C Hobby Workbench
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…