The RC Deep Dive

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Urban Drainage Ditches: An Amazing Place to Race, Bash, Crawl, and Drift Your R/C Cars

2026-04-1305:44

Large urban drainage ditches were designed to let excess rain water flow away. However, they also, by their very design, make for an excellent place to run your radio controlled model vehicles whether you are bashing, racing, drifting, or crawling. In this episode we unlock what skateboarders have long known but but RC enthusiasts are just beginning to discover, the amazing urban drainage ditch as a recreational utopia.

What Body Shells are Available for the Grasshopper, Hornet, and Super Storm Dragon

2026-04-1205:44

The Tamiya GH1 (Grasshopper), Hornet, and Super Storm Dragon 1:10th scale 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) R/C buggies can swap bodies with one another, but what other bodies are available for these three vintage and rere (re-release) legends? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we uncover the connections that expands your options of both Lexan polycarbonate and styrene plastic body shells for your Grasshopper, Hornet, and Super Storm Dragon radio controlled buggies.

What are Tamiya's EVO R/C Model Vehicles?

2026-04-1104:41

Tamiya have a variety of EVO or Evolved/Evolution R/C model vehicles, but what exactly does this mean? The Hornet EVO and the Top Force EVO are evolved versions of their namesakes, but exactly how they evolved due each model is completely different. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dig into the three different types of EVO model buggies that Tamiya has and compare them to one another. NOTE: We do not have the new Lunchbox EVO yet, so we did not compare this at the time of recording this daily podcast episode.

Tamiya's Dirt Four-Wheel Driver Series: The DF-01, DF-02, and DF-03

2026-04-1006:12

What makes Tamiya's dirt four-wheel drive series so special in the hearts and minds of many R/C model vehicle enthusiast? What are the difference between the different generations of the DF-01, DF-02, and the DF-03 chassis? Why will there never be a DT-04? Which radio-controlled model vehicle kit was the first on each chassis and which was the most popular? And which hop-up parts can fit multiple generations of the DF (Dirt Four-Wheel Drive) series? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we get dirty, and get you these generational answers.

Why are Empty Parking Garages so Great for R/C Races?

2026-04-0907:30

Why are the downtown multilevel parking garages such good places to hold R/C model vehicle races and other radio controlled hobbyist community events like bashing, crawling, and drifting on weekends and evenings when they are empty? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we answer the question of what is it about these structures, exactly, that makes them perfect for all of this?

Tamiya's R/C Model Mascots: Moko-Chan and Rabbi-Kun

2026-04-0806:04

During the golden age of R/C, the 1980s, Tamiya's two plastic model mascots, Moko-Chan and Rabbi-Kun guided builders on novice to advanced techniques from painting to proper tool usage to electronics. Who created these two mascots for Tamiya and what products were made staring this uber popular pair? We open the manga and give you all the details in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

HOW-TO: Build the Essential R/C Field Repair Kit

2026-04-0706:23

What tools, parts, and supplies should you pack in your radio-controlled model vehicle field repair tool kit? Which tools, plays, and supplies should you not bring to the field? What items belong only in your field box or bag and not on the home R/C workbench or workshop? We give you a packing list for bashers and crawlers in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

HOW-TO: Build a First Aid Kit for the R/C Workbench, Bashing, and Crawling

2026-04-0605:46

You usually don't think of what is in your first aid kit until you need it. But what you need in your R/C hobby workshop, out bashing or crawling is different for each place. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast We go over at the horrible injuries some people have suffered and what first aid kit items could have helped to them at the time of their injuries. With this knowledge, we hope to help you prepare a proper first aid kit for the workbench, bashing, and crawling.

How Many Calories Burned and Steps Taken Running R/C Model Vehicles?

2026-04-0505:43

How many calories do you burn building, bashing, and crawling your radio-controlled model vehicle? How many steps per hour does a typical basher and crawler get from running their R/C car, truck, buggy, van, or jeep get? We measure the distance, clock the speed, do the physical science, and get you these answers and bite in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

Functional R/C Enthusiast Gear for Building, Bashing, Racing, Crawling, and Drifting

2026-04-0405:30

It's not only fashion but function that matters when you are building, bashing, racing, crawling, drifting, or just running your radio-controlled model vehicle. So what type of clothing marks of both boxes for each genre of the R/C hobby? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dug deep into modern fashion and fabrics and pick out the items you need in your closet for both only style, but also comfort and functionality.

The Many R/C and Skateboarding Collabs and Connections

2026-04-0306:28

Interestingly, the radio control hobbyist community and the skateboarding community have found many connections and R/C companies have launched collabs with skateboard companies. How many of them do you know? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we go over them and an interesting usage of skate wheels on radio-controlled model vehicles!

Why Do Older RCers Call the Lancia 037 Rally Car Just the Lancia Rally?

2026-04-0205:12

In the 1980s, the vintage Lancia 037 rally car on the ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) Chassis was simply called the "Lancia Rally" by the R/C hobbyist community. Those that were active in the radio control enthusiast communities at that time still call it that today, even though Lancia has made many different rally cars over the last 50 years. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, we answer the question about why this abbreviated nomenclature stuck and why did the 1983 Audi Quattro Rally Car not get a similar shortened name like the "Audi Rally"?

The RC Hobby is Very Disability Friendly

2026-04-0105:23

Many of the pioneers of the golden age of R/C are getting old and some are developing disabilities. Many new devices have been created in recent years too help radio control enthusiasts with disabilities to still be able to build, race, bash, crawl, and drift their beloved radio controlled model vehicles. In today's episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we go into all the details about how those that are differently abled are able to prosper in our beloved hobby thanks to the dedication of nanny in the R/C hobbyist community.

What Body Shells Can You Put on the Frog or any ORV Chassis R/C Car?

2026-03-3106:49

You may already know that on your Tamiya Frog R/C buggy you could put the Subaru BRAT or the Lancia 037 Rally car body on it with included parts that come with your Frog. But Tamiya has other bodies that you can put on your orv chassis as well! Not only that, but a number of third party aftermarket hop-up makers have made similar and wildly different Lexan polycarbonate bodies for the Frog. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, we go over each of these options explaining how easy or difficult each are to purchase and use.

How Many Jeep-Like R/C Model Vehicles has Tamiya Made?

2026-03-3006:44

Everybody knows the 1982 Willy's Wheeler and the 1984 Mitsubishi Pajero R/C short utility vehicle wheelie machines And how tamia had the Mitsubishi Pajero and Montero take a more serious scale look after that. But in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, we look at all of the short utility vehicles that Tamiya has made since those original two classics in the 1980s during the golden age of radio-control.

HOW-TO: Buy and Use a Respirator for R/C Painting, Dyeing, Sanding, and Glueing

2026-03-2906:42

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, we go over the very serious health dangers of not using a respirator when painting dyeing, glueing and sanding your radio-controlled model vehicles on your RC Hobby workbench. We also go over how to find the best respirator that is good for all of these needs to keep you healthy, safe and strong.

Can You Get Aluminium ORV Rear Trailing Arms Domestically?

2026-03-2805:54

Aluminium Rear trailing arms for the ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis like those made by RcAiDong have suddenly gotten harder to find domestically and seem to only be available as shipped direct from China. But in an age of a global trade war and high tariffs what does that mean for you? The RC enthusiast who's trying to hop-up their Frog, Blackfoot, Subaru BRAT, or their vintage 1983 Lancia 037 rally car? We investigate your options in this episode of the RC Deep Dive Dive podcast.

We Have Now Published 365 Episodes of the RC Deep Dive Podcast

2026-03-2700:11

Yesterday was our 365th daily episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast and so as we begin our second year of daily R/C hobby podcasting, we are going to reveal the up-to-now anonymous real persons behind the podcast: Nikko and his daughter, Ai, both from Japan. Ini, originally from Nigeria, and his wife, Gemma, both of the Netherlands. Nik from the USA (United States of America). R.C. from India. We also introduce Ai's creation, our new mascot, Mina Suzuki, who has been in some of our previous RC Deep Dive podcast daily episode thumbnails, but will now feature prominently in most episode thumbnails.

Pro Skaters and their Vintage R/C Model Vehicles

2026-03-2608:16

In the 1980s it was a golden era for both radio controlled cars, trucks, buggies, Jeeps, and vans, but also for skateboarding. Professional skateboarders like Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, Gator, and Rodney Mullen became household names. But what were the golden era R/C cats that hatched their personalities and style? We ride the lines that connect them in this 365th episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

The Most Popular Pro-Line Hop-Ups for the ORV Chassis

2026-03-2505:06

Besides CRP (Custom Racing Products) and Parma PSE (Parma Speed Experts), Pro-Line was also another giant of R/C hop-ups, especially for the Frog and other ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis radio control model vehicles. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, we go back and look to see which of their many hop-up parts for the Frog and ORV chassis radio-controlled model vehicles were the most popular and why.

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RC Deep Dive