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…