RC Newb

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 options from Pro-Line and Duratrax. No matter what type of radio-controlled vehicle you drive, taking a look at your tires is a great way to get more performance out of your machine. With that in mind, tires are the topic of the day for this episode of the RC Newb Podcast. Show notes: New small-scale R/C vehicles are on the horizon from ECX and Carisma Scale Adventure. Hands-on with Pro-Line's Hyrax G8 Mud Terrain Tires. Upgrades galore on my Axial SCX10, including a set of Pro-Line BFGoodrich KM3 tires. While the stock Traxxas Canyon Trail tires have proven to be quite capable, I'm testing out a set of Duratrax Deep Woods CR tires to see what they bring

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 sounds like Josh has some fun and challenging plans in store for some of his radio-controlled vehicles.

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 simply stunning and they encapsulate the energy that is found on-track at many racing events. This show was a long time in the making (on the part of my schedule) and I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to chat with Nick and learn more about his story. If you're interested in both photography and the R/C hobby, this is a great episode to listen to. Show notes: See what events are scheduled during the 2018 Western Off-Road Racing Series (WORS) Find out more about Nick Coward (The Toy Car Creative) through his R/C Hobbyist Spotlight Follow TheToyCarCreative on Instagram See more of Nick's photography work at thetoycarcreative.com If you're loo

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 in the hobby. He's currently a team driver for Carisma Scale Adventure and Boom Racing and will be helping out at the 2018 UK RECON G6. If that weren't enough, he shares his love for the hobby through his social media channels. An all-around great guy, I hope you'll enjoy listening to this episode as much as I had recording it. Show notes: Carisma's SCA-1E takes on "The Fix" Kronik's R/C YouTube channel Kronik Trail Survival Kit Check out AceofAxe RC on YouTube and Instagram.

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, now running on the SCX10 II platform. AMain Hobbies is running an inventory reduction sale. Many popular radio-controlled models (RTRs and kits) are on sale, along with gear and accessories.  This is a limited-time sale, so visit amain.com to see what's in store. Thanks to Exclusive R/C for sponsoring this episode of The RC Newb Podcast.

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 the RC Newb Podcast, I share some pros and cons concerning off-brand radio-controlled machines. Show notes: Thanks to Joshua Dockins for his support of the RC Newb Podcast (as my latest Patreon patron)! Learn how you can support rcnewb.com and the RC Newb Podcast through Patreon. Thank you to Pro-Line for their support of the RC Newb Podcast. As a "thank you" to listeners, you can save 10% on your next prolineracing.com order with coupon code RCNEWBAP10. If you want to customize the look of your Traxxas, LaTrax, or Redcat Racing controller, check out the line of 3D printed controller wheels that expansionrc.com has to offer. Use coupon code RCNEWB at check

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 that, I'm thrilled to announce a new podcast project that I'm taking part in, as well as giving a shout-out to a Patreon patron. Show notes: Traxxas TRX-4 1979 Ford Bronco Traxxas releases their TRX-4 Kit Traxxas Unlimited Desert Racer Traxxas recharges the E-Revo Traxxas updates the 1/16-scale Summit Team Associated B6.1 Team Kit Team Associated B6.1D Team Kit Team Associated ProSC10 Short Course Trucks Check out fellow R/C hobbyist, Wayne Kibler's YouTube channel (Wayne Kibler's R/C Adventures), filled with entertaining radio-controlled action. Support the RC Newb Podcast via Patreon Big Squid RC will be launching a podcast...and I'll be helpi

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 C14 "Hercules" 1/16-scale R/C Trail Truck - $33.99 (Gearbest.com) WPL B24 1/16-scale Military Truck - $32.99 (Gearbest.com) WLToys 12428 1/12-scale off-road buggy - $72.98 (Gearbest.com) ARRMA Fazon Voltage - $139.99 (arrma-rc.com) Top Tools and Gear for Your R/C Workbench

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 lineup has grown over the past year, including the addition of a 1/24-scale trail truck. Another model line that's seen big growth in 2017 has been Team Associated's 1/28-scale vehicles. With a mixture of modern and retro, they've got something for everyone with these micro radio-controlled machines. Customize the look of your Traxxas or LaTrax radio transmitter with a 3D printed steering wheel from Expansion R/C. Use coupon code RCNEWB and save 10% on your order, too! Visit expansionrc.com to see his entire line of 3D printed R/C accessories. Look for more reviews, videos, and tips on how to get the most out of the radio-controlled hobby as we enter 201

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, no-frills banner while the Traxxas TRX-4 brings features and creature comforts to the party (along with a premium price). I invited past guest, and TRX-4 owner, Mike George (Munster RC) to discuss the scale scene and specifically, these two trucks. It was a great discussion with quite a bit of mutual appreciation for what both brands are attempting to do with these first-time offerings. Show Notes: New Bright has gone brushless with their upcoming 1/10-scale stadium truck, the RC Frenzy. Dromida's two FPV-equipped models have been released and I'll be taking a closer look at the Rally Car option over at smallscalerc.com. Thinking about getting into R/C crawli

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 initial thoughts on this 1/10-scale trail machine along with reviewing some recent news and announcements from around the hobby. Show Notes: In a zombie outbreak, our survival depends on you! Fight to stay alive with the Carisma Scale Adventure Lynx ORV. Traxxas released their second TRX-4-based model, the Tactical Unit R/C crawler. AARMA newness If you’re looking for a new R/C-focused podcast to subscribe to, give a listen to the AceOfAxe RC Podcast. Fellow hobbyist J. Scott Curlin shares his involvement in the hobby, from racing to scale competition, and everything in-between. Hands-on with the Redcat Racing Everest GEN7 Sport. Thank you to Pro-Line for

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 challenges, but it’s opened up an entirely new world of experiences within the hobby. In this episode of the podcast, I’ll share a few of those, as well as providing details around the gear that I’m using as a “starter kit”. Show Notes: Carisma Scale Adventure has launched their first “scale R/C” rig, the SCA-1E Coyote RTR. Traxxas has updated their 1/10-scale Rally car with a new Ford Fiesta ST body. Two new bodiless chassis options for the Traxxas 4-Tec 2.0 have been introduced, delivering brushed and brushless power. Monster truck fans, check out the latest ground-pounder from Losi, the Tenacity MT. A Whole New World: A First-time Experience with FPV an

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 coming onto the scene. Show Notes Reviewing Dromida’s 1/18 BL Monster Truck Add scale detail to your radio-controlled machine with Exclusive R/C accessories Follow Exclusive R/C Facebook Instagram Follow Munster R/C Facebook Follow Brian Almeida Facebook Follow Mike George Facebook See what products are offered by electronics-wizard, Jonathan Baskins at Powershift RC Technologies Support RCNewb.com on Patreon

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: Building an R/C Kit: Part 1 Building an R/C Kit: Part 2 Building an R/C Kit: Part 3 Building an R/C Kit: Part 4 What's next on the Scale R/C Horizon

 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 share my thoughts on Axial's Yeti Jr. Rock Racer, talk about my latest hobby focus (3D printing) and more. Show Notes R/C Hobby News Dromida 1/18 Brushless Monster Truck RECON G6 Schedule Hobbico's HouseRacer Challenge Team Associated RC10 B64 Team Kit R/C Hobbyist Spotlight James Tabar Axial’s Yeti Jr. Rock Racer An easy upgrade for improved steering performance is to swap out the stock servo. I chose the  Savox SH-0263-MG for my upgrade. Check out RC Arsenal and GIOSTEALTHR1 for similar upgrade how-to videos. Additional upgrades for the Yeti Jr. include a brushless motor, ESC, LiPo battery, and a nifty, 3D printed electronics relocation tray.

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 a few years, he’s amassed a great deal of experience in a short amount of time. Between flying a number of aircraft (and finding time to wheel a few off-road vehicles as well), he’s discovered unique aspects of these craft and what makes them tick. Show notes: Tareq Alsaad, “Heli God” Colton has flown and driven a number of vehicles in a short amount of time: Syma S107G Ares Ethos QX130 & QX75 Blade 350 QX2 HorizonHobby Duet Horizon Hobby Beast 3D FliteTest Versa Wing w/ Park 425 1500kV and APC9x6 Ares Nanos FP 75 Ares Ethos FPV Blade Nano QX Axial Yeti RTR running Pro-Line Badlands tires HorizonHobby Sport