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 DiveWhy do Red DT-02 Shock Springs Look and Work So Good?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHow Carson-Motor Sport Became R/C Enthusiasts' Favorite Steel Pinions Gear Manufacturer
Carson Motor-Sport debuted in the 1990s, creating super-strong hardened steel pinion gears for Tamiya radio controlled model vehicles and quickly became the…
The RC Deep DivePredicting Tamiya's 2026 R/C Model Vehicle Re-Release Schedule
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…
The RC Deep Dive50 Years of the Porsche Turbo RSR: The First R/C Car of the Golden Age
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Best Shoe Insoles for All-Day R/C Bashing and Off-Road Racing?
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…
The RC Deep DiveThe Argument for Running LiPo Batteries in Vintage and ReRe R/C Model Vehicles
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Safely Run Vintage and ReRe R/C Vehicles in the Snow and Cold
Running radio-controlled model vehicles in the snow and cold presents many challenges, especially for vintage and rere cars, trucks, buggies, vans, jeeps…
The RC Deep DiveThe Changing Pink Color of Tamiya's Box Art Mighty Frogs
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…
The RC Deep DiveThe Hidden Story Behind Tamiya's Anodized Purple Aluminum Paint
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat Was the Parma Positive Drive System for the Frog and HotShot?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Use Larger Pinion Gears With the MIP Super Ball Diff
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…
The RC Deep DiveHow Tamiya R/C Became an Integral Part of STEM and STEAM Learning
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?…
The RC Deep DiveHow the FAV United Military Modelers and R/C Vehicle Hobbyists
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…
The RC Deep DiveDispelling the CRP Softer Shock Springs Myth in the ReRe Frog
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…
The RC Deep DiveMarvel Comics Super-Heroes and Their R/C Model Vehicles
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhy the Tamiya Club Forums and the r/Tamiya Subreddit on Reddit Feel So Different?
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Best Hop-Ups for the Tamiya Fox and Novafox?
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat Do You Need to Know If You are Traveling to Japan for R/C Racing or Tourism?
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Differences Between the Vintage Fox and the ReRe Novafox?
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…
The RC Deep DiveTag Team: AEW Pro Wrestlers and Their R/C Model Vehicles
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Were the Fox and Falcon Not as Popular as the FGH R/C Buggies?
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…
The RC Deep DiveDoes Tamiya Have an Annual Desk or Wall Calendar for R/C Hobbyists?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHow Your R/C Model Vehicle is a Master Class in Continuous Process Improvement
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…
The RC Deep DiveShould You Throw Away Your Old Pointy Phillips Head Screwdrivers?
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?…
The RC Deep DiveThe Hidden Meaning Behind R/C Model Vehicle and Hop-Up Corporate Marketing Slogans
"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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Best Online Vintage and ReRe R/C Forums for You?
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…
The RC Deep DiveReign of the Horizontal Dampers: Why Many R/C Hobbyists Won't Upgrade
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Racial and Ethnic Demographics in the R/C Hobbyist Community?
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…
The RC Deep DiveMinimum and Maximum Temperature for Popular R/C Greases
What are the maximum and minimum temperatures that your radio controlled model vehicles' greases can withstand? The chemistry and physics behind these…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Does the Tamiya ReRe HotShot Have Dummy Heatsinks?
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat is the Difference Between Tamiya Ceramic Grease and Cera Grease HG?
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…
The RC Deep DiveAre Mirage RC Bespoke Craft Aluminum Hop-Up Option Parts Worth the High Cost?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Convert Tamiya Grasshoppers to Lexan Polycarbonate Body Shells
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?…
The RC Deep DivePunky Power: Does Soleil Moon Frye Still Race Tamiya R/C Cars?
Punky Brewster was played by actress Soleil Moon Frye who helped normalize girls building, collecting, bashing, and racing radio controlled cars, trucks…
The RC Deep DiveWhy are Age Divisions Popular in Vintage Off-Road R/C Car Races?
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat is the Future of R/C Battery Power Beyond LiPo, LiFe, and NiMH?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Install and Power Cooling Fans in Your R/C Model Vehicles
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 RC Deep DiveWhy are Onisiki NiMH Batteries the Goldilocks Battery in Vintage and ReRe R/C Model Vehicles?
Onisiki is a favorite battery brand among many vintage and rere (rerelease) 1/10th scale radio-controlled model vehicle racers, speed runners, drifters…
The RC Deep DiveWhy do Vintage R/C Hobbyists and Enthusiasts Prefer NiMH Batteries?
In Japan, LiFe (Lithium Phosphate) batteries are popular amongst many in the vintage, classic, rere (re-release), and modern R/C hobbyist community, while…
The RC Deep DiveWhich Direction Should the Fins Go on CRP and Parma Nerf Wings?
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…
The RC Deep DiveIdentifying All of the Tamiya R/C Model Vehicles in "Boys Will Be Girls"
"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…
The RC Deep DiveWhy Did Tamiya Make the Comical Series of R/C Buggies?
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…
The RC Deep DiveIs There Any Connection Between R/C Hobbyist Culture and Otakus?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Choose the Right Damper Oil for Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Upgrade the Front Suspension of Your Frog to Oil-Filled Shocks
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are R/C Beadlock Wheels and Tires and How Do They Work?
This comprehensive guide to R/C bead lock wheels examines their mechanical principles, weighs their pros and cons against traditional glue-on alternatives, and…
The RC Deep DiveAre Concave or Convex Bumpers Better for Protecting Your Chassis and Gearbox?
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…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Replace Hollow Faux Headlight Buckets with Working LEDs
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…
The RC Deep DiveThe Mazda K360: The Livery Inspiration for the Tamiya Mighty Frog R/C Buggy
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…
The RC Deep DiveHobby Grade Radio Controlled Model Vehicles vs. Toy Grade R/C
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhen and Where Should You Use the Tamiya Electric Handy Router?
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhy are Toroidal Inductors Important in Radio Control Model Vehicles?
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhat are the Most Popular R/C Model Vehicles for Women and Girls
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 RC Deep DiveR/C Cars, Trucks, and Buggies in Professional Music Videos
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…
The RC Deep DiveR/C Model Vehicles Merit Badges in Boy Scouts and Girl Guides
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)…
The RC Deep DiveThe Slow Acceptance of Women and Girls in the R/C Hobbyist Community in Japan
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…
The RC Deep DiveWhich is Better? Thorp Dirt Burners' Ball Differential or the MIP Super Ball Diff?
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…
The RC Deep DiveLet's Get Into Schumacher: Inventor of the R/C Racer Ball Diff
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…
The RC Deep DiveHow Popular Were American R/C Hop-Ups in Japan?
American Hop-Up manufacturers like CRP (Custom Racing Products), Pro-Line, Parma, and Thorp Dirt Burners were wildly popular in the Western world, especially…
The RC Deep DiveHOW-TO: Find R/C Gear Wear That Actually Fits Right
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…