While the reres (re-releases) of the Tamiya HotShot family of 4WD (four wheel drive) R/C buggies had some serious updates over the iconic vintage originals, there are still a lot of hop-up options available for this entire family of icons, both for the vintage and rere editions. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we rank them and put them in tiers of necessity to build the ultimate 4WD buggy.

[NOTE: We still strongly recommend the MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) Super Ball Diff for the HotShot family even though it is difficult to find since it is currently discontinued]

The HotShot Family of 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) radio-controlled buggies were iconic and each new family member was an improvement upon its previous kin. But when Tamiya re-released these R/C buggies they made massive improvements both family-wide but also to each individual radio control model vehicle too. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we break down each of these major improvements to the reres.

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we look at the chemistry behind the physics and give A to F grades to the big 5 radio-controlled model vehicle hobby lubrication manufacturers, AE (Associated Electronics)/Team Associated/FT (Factory Team), Hudy, JConcepts, 1Up Racing, and Tamiya/TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory). The analysis utilizes a grading system (A-F) based on six distinct vectors: Reputation, Innovation, Affordability, Availability, Durability, and Longevity.

[NOTE: Although new products from most of these companies are now made mostly in buckets rather than squeeze bottles, there are still squeeze bottles in distribution warehouses and in local R/C hobby shops, so some brands still get a minor deduction in their grade for extant leaking containers.]

A listener challenged us to act as the hypothetical General Manager and Head of Scouting for the newly formed "Shizuoka Drivers," American football team. We have been tasked with an unprecedented challenge: building a complete, 11-man starting offense from the Tamiya vintage and rere (re-release) radio-controlled model vehicle catalog. This is not a "dream team" based on aesthetics or popularity; this is a professional roster build that we draft in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.

It's the 40th anniversary of 7 iconic Tamiya radio-controlled cars, trucks, and buggies and in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we celebrate and break down all seven 1986 hobby grade R/C model vehicle kits: the 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) off-road buggies, the Super Shot, the Boomerang, and the Bigwig; the 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) monster truck and car, the Blackfoot and the Super Beetle, the 2WD buggy, the Falcon, and the on-road progeny of the Tamiya F chassis, Road Wizard F1 (Formula One).

Gimbals, often called sticks on an R/C radio transmitter are a mystery to people who learned on pistol grip radio transmitters, but in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we explain exactly how legacy gimbals work and how the new modern gimbal sticks work differently, along with how you can upgrade them to work even better for your radio-controlled model vehicles.

There's only one way to truly get all of the air out of your silicone damper oil in your radio control shock absorbers and it's the Tamiya Extra Long Shock Oil Air Removal Tool, but it only works if you use it right. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we take you through how to use this tool and teach you the physics of how and why it works so well.

It may look like free weights for curling, but it's a secret weapon for cornering grip on your radio-controlled car, truck, buggy, van, jeep, or bus. Why is the Tamiya Camber Gauge praised over both digital camber gauges other analog camber measurements tools? We get into why and how it works so well in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.