Show Notes: Upgrading and customizing the Redcat COE Custom Hauler & SixtyFour Lowrider Diving into RC Drifting with Redcat's RDS Competition Spec RTR Installing Injora's Purple Viper and MBL32 into a Traxxas TRX-4M and Redcat Ascent-18 Check out my review of the Redcat Ascent-18 on smallscalerc.com Check out my review of the FMS FCX24 Camel Trophy…

Back at it with another episode of The RC Newb Podcast. For today's topic, I recap several of Redcat's latest releases and share some news on models I'm currently testing out and reviewing from FMS. Show Notes: Redcat's been on a tear with new model releases, notably: 2023 Gen9 International Scout 800A Ascent Custom Hauler Custom Trailer 2024 Vigil…

If you were hoping to hear a discussion about how to get the most out of attending an R/C event (I'm looking at you, Axialfest…), you'll have to wait a little while longer. I'm dedicating this episode of The RC Newb Podcast to the Traxxas TRX-4M, a small-scale rig that's got me feeling all giddy and excited about the hobby. Show Notes: Traxxas TRX-…

Hello again! I'm back in my mobile recording studio to record another episode of The RC Newb Podcast. A lot has happened since episode 74; Axialfest Badlands 2022 came and went (and was awesome), Traxxas released several fun vehicles in various sizes, Element RC dropped a new entry-level crawler, and Carisma showcased its scale detail chops with a …

When your dream car (or truck) is available in 1/10-scale, it's hard to pass up the opportunity to park one in your R/C garage. As soon as Traxxas announced its TRX-4 2021 Ford Bronco, I knew I needed that rig in my life. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast, I give an overview of my favorite features from this rig and also showcase some of the u…

It's been a while…. It occurred to me that I haven't recorded a new episode of the RC Newb Podcast in some time. With that said, I sat down and rattled off some updates on the show and what I've been up to within the world of R/C. As always, thank you for listening, subscribing, and sharing your passion for this great hobby. Show Notes and R/C News…

It's a new year, and what better way to celebrate than by talking about the R/C hobby? I've mentioned CarryAll RC and their lineup of crawling and trail-focused backpacks in the past, so I figured it was time to give an overview of their X-TRA 3 Combo Backpack. In addition to that, I want to find out what your hobby plans are for this new year. Are…

In this episode of the podcast, I'm focusing on two smaller-scale R/C vehicles that I'm currently reviewing. The first is the RGT Adventurer V2 which was provided by the folks at Banggood. This 1/24-scale crawler has been a fun addition to my growing fleet of small crawlers and can hold its own against other heavyweights in this category. The secon…

Time flies when you're swamped with projects. With quite a few things happening in and around the R/C hobby, I felt it was time to clear the deck. Fair warning, this episode is as random as it gets. New models, R/C news, and a few workbench updates thrown in for good measure. Show Notes: ARRMA's "New Model Extravaganza": Kraton EXB Roller Outcast 8…

It's not often that I get to chat with folks in the film industry, so when the opportunity arose to chat with the director (Dave Hill) and producer (Trenton Waterson) of the upcoming film, Flying Cars, I knew it was something I couldn't pass up. The R/C hobby isn't often highlighted in mainstream media, which makes Flying Cars unique right from the…

Small-scale R/C crawlers have come into their own in recent years, and with models such as the Axial SCX24 and Carisma MSA-1E, you can replicate the fun of 1/10-scale crawling just about anywhere you go. When you aren’t able to wheel your tiny truck outside, there are plenty of ways to build your own indoor crawling course or set of obstacles. In t…

Once you've popped the lid on the R/C kit-building experience, it's hard to turn back. Such has been the case for hobby experience. Following my Tamiya Grasshopper project, I've been on the lookout for new kits to check out. Over the past few months, I've been focusing on an on-road machine from Carisma and an off-road blaster from Pro-Line. In thi…

Looking ahead to 2020, let's not forget about two fun, capable small-scale crawlers that arrived on the scene in 2019. Axial's SCX24 Deadbolt was a surprise release and has quickly become one of my favorite 1/24-scale travel companions. In addition to this little rig, Carisma refreshed their MSA-1E with a new motor and gearing setup, making this sm…

One of the biggest surprises of 2019 has been the rise of Element RC and their lineup of ready-to-run (RTR) and kit trail trucks. The Enduro Sendero RTR has become a favorite of mine, both in terms of performance and overall driving enjoyment. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast, I share my thoughts on this 1/10-scale trail rig, along with a gli…

Everyone should build a kit. If you haven't experienced building a radio-controlled machine from the ground up, you should add that to your hobby to-do list. For seasoned pros who have assembled more 1/10-scale (or larger) models than they can count, may I introduce you to a different challenge; a small-scale build. Earlier this year, rcmart.com ga…

I’ve taken the Redcat Racing GEN8 on a number of adventures since it arrived in my R/C garage earlier this year. Between it’s affordability, performance, and appearance, it’s become one of my favorite scale radio-control models to take out on the trail. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast, I’ll share my thoughts on the GEN8 as well as give a pre…

This hobby truly has something for everyone. I've found myself spending more time at my workbench on a variety of tune-ups and project than I have actually wheeling an R/C vehicle, but I'll take the calming effects of a hex driver any day of the week. Between upgrading the handling aspects of the Carisma Scale Adventure Lynx to updating the look of…

Ready-to-Run (RTR) R/C models are great when you want to get rolling as fast as possible. Still, there's something to be said for spending time building a model from scratch. After years of RTR dominance, it appears that radio-controlled model kits are making a comeback. In this episode of The RC Newb Podcast, I share a few reasons why building a k…

The creativity that flows within the R/C hobby is truly amazing. In fact, the ability to modify any aspect of your vehicle, especially the body, is one of the biggest draws for many hobbyists. If you're new to the hobby or new to customizing radio-control vehicles, there are a few things you should know when it comes to painting a polycarbonate bod…

Before we close the book on 2018, I wanted to take a quick look back at the year, from where we started and what we have to look forward to in 2019. As always, thank you for the support over the past year, from the fun conversations to the insight and answers you provide, I greatly appreciate the community that this hobby has created. Here's to an …

It's fun to kick around ideas and dream up ways to make the R/C hobby better, even if some of those ideas are a bit "far-fetched". In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast, I give an update on what's been going on in my R/C garage and share some unique ideas that have popped into my head. Show Notes: Hands-on with Carisma Scale Adventure's new MSA-1E…

Time for a quiz! What's the most important part of your R/C vehicle? While that question can have multiple answers, I'm in the camp who believe tires have a major hand in how a vehicle performs and handles. Over the past few months, I've been testing out a number of scale R/C tires, swapping out a variety of ready-to-run (RTR) sets with aftermarket…

Chatting about the hobby never gets old. When an on-road R/C question came my way, I had one person in mind to help provide some information. Josh Howard, my first guest on the podcast, was eager to share his on-road racing knowledge and bring me up to speed on what he's been up to throughout the past two years. It was a great catch-up chat and it …

This episode of the podcast features a guest that I've known online for quite a while and have been a big fan of his photography work and approach to the hobby. Nick Coward (aka The Toy Car Creative) captures R/C action through the lens of his camera and also hits the track with his own radio-controlled machines. The images that he creates are simp…

I love it when a plan comes together, even if the plan takes a while to come to fruition. I'd been hoping to chat with J. Scott Curlin (aka AceofAxe) for quite a while. After a bit of planning and an early morning wakeup call, I sat down for a virtual chat with the man himself. As a longtime hobbyist, Scott has seen (and done) just about everything…

No R/C vehicle is perfect and there are times when our expectations far exceed what these models can do. That said, there are some radio-controlled cars and trucks that can surprise us. Show notes: Horizon Hobby has purchased select assets of Hobbico, including the Axial, ARRMA, and Tower Hobbies brands. Axial has launched a revamped SCX10 Deadbolt…

When it comes to picking out a new R/C vehicle, the possibilities are almost endless. For those of you looking to save some money on your next radio-controlled model, you may find the allure of off-brand machines too great to resist. While you can save money on some of these models, there are a few items you should keep in mind. In this episode of …

Wow, Traxxas is really going all-out with their model releases and updates. Not only have they added new branches to their TRX-4 lineup, but they've also revamped bashing classics such as the E-Revo and Summit (1/16-scale). In this episode, I run down some of their latest releases, along with a few new models from Team Associated. In addition to th…

The fun of the R/C hobby doesn't stop once you've bought your first vehicle. Making sure you have the right tools and accessories to repair, upgrade, and tinker with your radio-controlled machines is a crucial aspect of the hobby. During this episode of the podcast, I share my "must-have" tools and gear for any hobbyists workspace. Show notes: WPL …

As 2017 draws to a close, I wanted to share some thoughts on a few of the R/C models I'm playing with (and reviewing) as well as taking a look at what 2018 has in store. Show notes: ARRMA's Voltage lineup offers a unique twist on battery compatibility in entry-level bashing machines. So far, I like what I've seen from this approach. The ECX Barrage…

2017 has been a banner year for the "scale R/C" scene. With new models being introduced from Redcat Racing, HPI, Traxxas, and Carisma Scale Adventure, there are more rigs to choose from than ever before. Two of these options sit on opposite ends of the spectrum, both in price and features. Redcat Racing's Everest GEN7 carries the budget-friendly, n…

The Redcat Racing Everest GEN7 has arrived and I've got one sitting in my R/C garage. Will this vehicle become a gateway rig for introducing people to the hobby and to the R/C scaler scene? Only time will tell. For now, I know that this is a fun machine to drive, while not obliterating my budget. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast, I share my i…

As the FPV craze sweeps the aircraft side of the radio-control hobby, it hasn’t hit full stride when it comes to R/C cars and trucks. After watching folks mount FPV cameras and gear to their machines (and have an amazing time with the experience), I decided to jump in and see what all of the fuss was about. Not only has FPV provided a new set of ch…

With 3D printing taking a larger role in the R/C hobby, I was thrilled to be able to chat with two of the men behind Exclusive R/C, a shop specializing in 3D-printed scale accessories. Listen in as Brian Almeida, Mike George, and I discuss the road ahead for "scale radio-control" builds as well as a look at some of the new scale rigs which are comi…

Well, I did it. After years of watching the action from the sideline, I jumped in and built my first R/C kit. It was a rush and an experience that I won't soon forget. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast, I recap the build experience as well as an overview of three new scale R/C rigs that will be hitting hobby store shelves soon. Show Notes: Bui…

Spring is in the air, snow is on the ground... I have no idea what's going on with the weather, but it's been playing havoc with my R/C plans in a big way. On the bright side, I've been able to spend some time in my shop, working on my machines and dreaming up new accessories to create through 3D printing. In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast, I …

Rich from 2RCProductions joined me to help kick off the new year with some R/C news and discussion. While we only planned on covering four topics, our conversation quickly took on a life of its own and we ended up talking about a few new models, shared thoughts on creating content to grow the hobby, among other items. Show Notes: Congratulations to…

We have another vehicle review for you with this episode of the RC Newb Podcast. After spending some quality time with one of Carisma’s smaller-scale vehicles, the GT24T, I wanted to share my thoughts on this tiny truck. If you’re a fan of durable, fast, and fun radio-controlled machines, this 1/24-scale model from Carisma might be worth looking at…

Taking a break from writing and video production, I sat down in the studio to share my thoughts on Pro-Line’s Ambush 4x4, small-scale trail rig. After driving this rig for a while, and with my written review getting wrapped up, I felt an audio overview of this machine was due. In short, this is an incredibly fun machine to drive and I have been car…

Joined once-again by Colton Baquet (@RCBound), we discussed an array of R/C topics on this episode of the RC Newb Podcast. Simulators can be an effective way to learn controller basics and sharpen your driving and flying skills without risking damage to your radio-controlled vehicle. I have been using Real Flight Mobile to get acquainted with basic…

During my limited time exploring the world of radio-controlled aircraft, I’ve quickly discovered that the “RC Newb” label is a perfect description of my status. With that in mind, I called on a knowledgeable pilot and R/C enthusiast, Colton Baquet, to join me on this episode of the RC Newb Podcast. Although he’s only been involved in the hobby for …

I’m fresh off of a two-week vacation road trip and I’m ready to talK about all things R/C. Joining me for this episode is my good friend, and past RC Newb Podcast guest, Rich from 2RCProductions. We covered an array of topics in just over two hours, from his custom Tamiya “Stretchbox” build for fellow hobbyist, “Mid Life R/C”, the upcoming re-relea…

A longtime friend of RC Newb, Andrew Jurcich returns for this episode of the RC Newb Podcast. A variety of topics were covered, from Novak’s announcement that they’re going out of business, to Axial’s two new kits, to 3D printing, to Tamiya’s Blackfoot re-release, and a few items in-between. Show notes: Long-time R/C electronics maker, Novak, annou…

In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast, I am joined by an individual who's not only a R/C enthusiast, but also a talented videographer and visual storyteller. Terry McGee (RCTrailblazr) has style for showcasing his various rigs and radio-controlled machines through video. On top of that, he has been doing some amazing work with his sponsor AsiaTees…

In this episode of the RC Newb Podcast, I am joined by Jim Rowe (@RockNRoweRC), a fellow "relative newcomer" to the world of radio control. Although he has only been involved in the hobby for a few years, Jim has been able to make some unique connections and participate in a number of amazing events and outings. I had a great time learning about hi…

Sometimes you just need to chat about R/C with an old friend. Thankfully, I've gotten to know quite a few folks that have seen, done, and are currently working on some unique aspects of the hobby. One such individual has been on the RC Newb Podcast in the early days of the show, and jumped at the chance to join me for an entertaining discussion abo…

Getting to know the back stories and starting points of fellow hobbyists has become an interesting side-hobby of mine. Taking that inside look to the next level, I was joined by Peter Gray of RCCar.Zone/UKDroneShow Magazine and Ivan Cheung, the Director of Carisma R/C. With a more conversation-based approach, this episode takes a few interesting tu…

If there's one thing that I enjoy in this hobby more than the vehicles, it's the people and the communities that tie it all together. I had the great pleasure of chatting about the R/C hobby with an individual who I have been following the work of for quite some time. Trevor Rushford, a man who is as passionate about the radio-controlled hobby as a…

What’s the first thing many of us want to do with our new, super-quick R/C vehicle? Why, race it, of course! Throwing your radio-controlled buggy on the track and mashing the throttle trigger may seem like a simple task, but the truth is, there is much that goes into the sport and competition end of R/C racing. John Bernard, a seasoned veteran of t…

The conductor of the “G-Train”, Brian Parker, is my guest on this episode of the RC Newb Podcast. I’ve been a fan of what Brian has been doing (and continues to do) with RECON G events, and was curious to see how he got his start in the hobby, what the starting point for the RECON G6 outdoor events was, and what else he’s up to in 2016. Show Notes:…