The RC Deep Dive

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. 

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.