Best Workbench Podcasts (2025)

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Workbench Edition 392 - Return of the RAF’s Defiant turret fighter 33:41

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1d ago33:41

33:41

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. It’s somehow fitting that whilst we still find ourselves just about in the 85th Anniversary year of the Battle of Britain, that our 1/48th scale model tribute to the RAF’s most unusual fighter type to take p…

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December 15 2025 #282 - Solar Numbers, Signal Quality, and Real-World Operating Choices | W3GMS Workbench 1:36:29

10d ago1:36:29

1:36:29

This episode of the W3GMS 985 Workbench blends technical troubleshooting with on-air operating strategy, focusing on two topics every ham eventually wrestles with: signal quality and solar conditions. Hosted by W3MOW, the discussion moves from microphone levels and deviation control into a deeper look at how solar data actually affects HF operation…

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Ep. 56: Tinkers Workbench- Building the Ultimate Squirrel Rifle with Kyle Lankford 1:02:34

20d ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Listen in as my brother and I discuss setting up and building the ultimate squirrel rifle. It may seem overkill for what it is, but at the end of the day I want a nice rifle that does its job as efficient as possible. If that's what you want as well, this episode will help you set it up.By Klankford87

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The Changing Pink Color of Tamiya's Box Art Mighty Frogs 6:39

3h ago6:39

6:39

When the vintage Tamiya Frog 1/10th scale radio-controlled buggy came out in 1983, it's livery displayed on the box art and instructions were white and light floral pink. However when the rere (re-release) first debuted in 2005, you started to see white and fluorescent pink Frogs take over, even though the box art and instructions never changed col…

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The Hidden Story Behind Tamiya's Anodized Purple Aluminum Paint 5:02

2h ago5:02

5:02

Tamiya's anodized purple aluminum paint for Lexan polycarbonate radio-controlled body shells is a beautiful metallic lavender color and is a better match for lavender than their own lavender paint. But why did they make this color? What inspired it? We uncover the popular car and auto parts colors in the 1990s and 2000s Japan and get the answers be…

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What Was the Parma Positive Drive System for the Frog and HotShot? 6:58

1d ago6:58

6:58

eBay has recently been flooded with the ultra-rare Parma Positive Drive Hubs for both the Frog and the HotShot. What was the Parma Positive Drive System and what did it do? We go back in time and breakdown the genius of this hop-up option that would truly turn your Tamiya Frog into a Mighty Frog in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.…

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HOW-TO: Use Larger Pinion Gears With the MIP Super Ball Diff 6:21

3d ago6:21

6:21

When you upgrade your ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis R/C car, buggy, or truck gearbox with the MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) Super Ball Diff, you are limited to only using a 16t pinion gear. However, with an adjustable motor mount made specifically for the vintage or rere (re-release) ORV chassis, you can increase your options. But which options are…

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Workbench edition 391 - Supermarine’s much needed Focke Wulf slayer 27:18

3d ago27:18

27:18

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. It’s been quite a year for Supermarine Spitfire related developments, anniversaries and associated media content. With this year marking the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which was arguably the …

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How Tamiya R/C Became an Integral Part of STEM and STEAM Learning 6:36

3d ago6:36

6:36

Does Tamiya have a history being involved in education? How does R/C fit into all the parts of the new education focuses? Was it intentional or unintentional? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we uncover how Tamiya's radio-controlled model vehicle and tool kits became an integral part of the modern educational focus on STEM (Science, Tech…

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#137. woodworking productivity 26:34

5d ago26:34

26:34

In this podcast, I talk about productivity and being more efficient, and what I plan to do in 2026 to achieve this. NEWSLETTER SIGN UP (FREE) https://the-sawdust-newsletter... support the channel https://www.paypal.me/unplugge... ROMAN WORKBENCH EBOOK (free) https://drive.google.com/file/... PLANS (slot bench *free*) https://drive.google.com/file/.…

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How the FAV United Military Modelers and R/C Vehicle Hobbyists 6:36

4d ago6:36

6:36

The Tamiya FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) was a popular 1/10th scale military desert buggy that attracted two very distinct differences to the kit. While it obviously attracted those in the radio control car, truck, and buggy enthusiast community, it also brought in members of the military static modeling hobbyist community too. How did this one R/C bug…

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Dispelling the CRP Softer Shock Springs Myth in the ReRe Frog 6:06

5d ago6:06

6:06

One of the myths in the online R/C hobbyist and reseller communities is that the CRP (Custom Racing Products) #1602 rear adjustable coil-overs for the Tamiya Frog, Wild One, and BRAT do not fit the rere (re-release) models. However, this is not true and we prove it with not only physics and geometry but our personal experience. We get out our calip…

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Ep. 57: OMCBA Jr World Win with Dewayne Knight 59:09

6d ago59:09

59:09

This round were talking dogs with Dewayne Knight after his OMCBA Jr World title win.By Klankford87

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Marvel Comics Super-Heroes and Their R/C Model Vehicles 5:04

6d ago5:04

5:04

Excelsior! We have previously identified the radio-controlled model vehicles of the DC Comics Universe's JLA (Justice League of America) and so now we are doing this for the Marvel superheroes. We match not only the looks and the colors of these R/C cars, trucks, vans, buggies, and jeeps, but their shared souls in this episode of the RC Deep Dive p…

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Workbench Edition 394- Bulldog – the RAF’s classic inter-war interceptor 36:29

7d ago36:29

36:29

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. Well, we’ve managed it – we’ve safely negotiated another hectic year! With this being the final edition of Workbench for 2025, we wanted to go out with a serious cracker of a BANG, so that being the case, wh…

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Why the Tamiya Club Forums and the r/Tamiya Subreddit on Reddit Feel So Different? 5:56

7d ago5:56

5:56

While Tamiya Club is an indispensable well of knowledge and advice on all things Tamiya R/C, some people, especially those from Gen X and the Alpha Generation, find these respected forums to not be as welcoming as the r/Tamiya subreddit on Reddit. Why is this so when Reddit is known for it's snarky trolls and most members at Tamiya Club are heavily…

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What are the Best Hop-Ups for the Tamiya Fox and Novafox? 7:54

8d ago7:54

7:54

What hop-ups are available for the vintage Tamiya Fox and rere (re-release) Nova Fox 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) 1/10th scale racing radio controlled buggies? We go through all the various hop-ups options and rank them in order of importance for making your Fox or Nova Fox freaky fast and fastidious in this foxy episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast.…

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What Do You Need to Know If You are Traveling to Japan for R/C Racing or Tourism? 7:12

9d ago7:12

7:12

For many Europeans and North Americans, going to Japan for R/C car racing, going to the Tamiya Festival, or touring Tamiya HQ (Headquarters) is a lifelong dream come true. But there are many customs and expectations for how you should act that is different than the ROTW (rest of the world). We teach you the Japanese radio-controlled hobby etiquette…

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What are the Differences Between the Vintage Fox and the ReRe Novafox? 8:36

10d ago8:36

8:36

When Tamiya made a rere (re-release) of their vintage 1/10th scale 2WD R/C racing buggy, The Fox, they oddly renamed it the Nova Fox. But this isn't the only thing that they changed about this re-released radio controlled racer. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we disassemble both radio control buggies and tell you all the differences ma…

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Workbench Editon 393 - Fast Attack Craft wreak havoc in coastal waters 25:42

11d ago25:42

25:42

As the Airfix team have been working hard on preparing the 2026 Airfix catalogue over the previous few weeks and the heady modelling nostalgia this always invokes, it could hardly be more appropriate that this week’s edition of Workbench see’s us returning to the world of Vintage Classics, and the latest addition to this popular range. Indeed, we d…

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Tag Team: AEW Pro Wrestlers and Their R/C Model Vehicles 6:08

11d ago6:08

6:08

We previously connected WWF/WWE professional wrestlers to their soulmate R/C cars, trucks, vans, jeeps, and buggies, so we also wanted to do the same with the 2nd largest pro wrestling company in the world, AEW (All-Elite Wrestling). But this time we are using both Tamiya radio controlled vehicles and cars from their esteemed competition, Kyosho! C…

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Why Were the Fox and Falcon Not as Popular as the FGH R/C Buggies? 6:02

12d ago6:02

6:02

The Frog, Grasshopper, and Hornet were 3 of the most iconic radio controlled buggies of the R/C golden age or ever. However Tamiya's second wave of 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) radio control buggies, that included the technologically advanced Fox and the new beginners model, the Falcon, weren't nearly as popular. Why? We study the construction, economics,…

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Does Tamiya Have an Annual Desk or Wall Calendar for R/C Hobbyists? 5:57

13d ago5:57

5:57

As we get to the end of the Gregorian calendar year, many people start thinking about buying new desk calendars or wall calendars for their home and office. Which brings up the question, does Tamiya, or a licensed 3rd party offer a calendar with Tamiya's iconic radio controlled model vehicles? Why or why not? We flip through the pages of time and a…

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How Your R/C Model Vehicle is a Master Class in Continuous Process Improvement 6:35

14d ago6:35

6:35

Did you know that Vintage and ReRe (re-release) R/C model vehicles are secretly a master class in CI (continuous improvement) methodologies like Lean Kaizen, Six Sigma DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control), Agile Sprints, and Lean Startup BML (Build-Measure-Learn)? Learning about these process improvement methodologies can make your MVP (M…

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Should You Throw Away Your Old Pointy Phillips Head Screwdrivers? 7:22

15d ago7:22

7:22

Why should you throw away your old Phillips crosshead screwdrivers and only use JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screw drivers for all cross head screws now? 99% of the time you should use a JIS cross head screw driver for both JIS screws and Phillips head screws both inside and outside the R/C model vehicle hobby. The ultra rare 1% exception is,…

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The Hidden Meaning Behind R/C Model Vehicle and Hop-Up Corporate Marketing Slogans 5:49

16d ago5:49

5:49

"First in Quality Around the World", "Toys They're Not", "Smart, Fast, and Accurate", "The Pro Standard", "Developing Better Tires and Wheels", "Toyshop We Are Not", "American Innovators", "Serious About Having Fun", "Champions by Design", and "No RC Car is Safe", are famous foundational mottos in the radio controlled hobbyist community, not just c…

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December 8 2028 #281 - Antenna Matching, Solar Conditions, and Practical HF Decisions | W3GMS Workbench 1:40:24

17d ago1:40:24

1:40:24

This episode of the W3GMS 985 Workbench centers on two core skills every HF operator eventually has to master: antenna matching and understanding propagation. Hosted by KC3NZT, the group works through real-world antenna questions and demystifies solar data that directly affects on-the-air results. The first half of the discussion focuses on non-res…

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What are the Best Online Vintage and ReRe R/C Forums for You? 6:24

17d ago6:24

6:24

Welcome to a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) episode made just for you! While what is 'best' is truly subjective, in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we let you know what the strengths are of a variety of R/C car forums that have a focus on Tamiya vintage and rere (re-release) radio-controlled model vehicles. Then, based on your focus, you will be abl…

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Reign of the Horizontal Dampers: Why Many R/C Hobbyists Won't Upgrade 5:57

18d ago5:57

5:57

The Frog, the Fox, most members of the HotShot family and the Thunder Shot family have horizontal damping on the front of the radio-controlled buggy. However, many R/C model vehicle enthusiasts won't upgrade them to dual upright shocks. Why? We uncover the desire to keep the soul of these vintage and rere (re-release) radio controlled model buggies…

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What are the Racial and Ethnic Demographics in the R/C Hobbyist Community? 4:46

19d ago4:46

4:46

A listener asked us to investigate what the racial demographics of the radio controlled model vehicle enthusiast community was, as being a European expat in North America, he saw mostly white men involved in the hobby with a smaller amount of Asians, Indians, Africans, and Latin Americans involved. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we too…

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Minimum and Maximum Temperature for Popular R/C Greases 6:02

20d ago6:02

6:02

What are the maximum and minimum temperatures that your radio controlled model vehicles' greases can withstand? The chemistry and physics behind these lubricants is fascinating. We put the most popular greases from Tamiya, Hudy, MIP (Moore's Ideal Parts) and AE (Associated Electronics) FT (Factory Team) lubes to the test and share our results with …

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Why Does the Tamiya ReRe HotShot Have Dummy Heatsinks? 5:10

21d ago5:10

5:10

The rere (re-release) Tamiya HotShot 1/10th scale 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) radio controlled buggy has two dummy heat sinks, while the vintage original's heatsinks were functional and served a purpose more than good stylistic looks. Why? We go into the philosophy of this rare fashion over function decision when Tamiya rereleased their first ever 1:10t…

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What is the Difference Between Tamiya Ceramic Grease and Cera Grease HG? 6:37

22d ago6:37

6:37

Tamiya discontinued it's tubes and pots of it's standard ceramic grease and replaced them with Cera Grease HG. Many R/C model vehicle hobbyists in the community and in club forums claimed it was the same thing just now in a bigger 10 oz. tube rather than the previous 1, 3, and 5 ounce containers just to charge more money. However, these uniformed r…

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Are Mirage RC Bespoke Craft Aluminum Hop-Up Option Parts Worth the High Cost? 7:04

23d ago7:04

7:04

Mirage RC makes craft bespoke aluminum hop-up parts for many vintage and rere (re-released) Radio Controlled model vehicle kits, most famously for the HotShot, HotShot II, and SuperShot/Super HotShot 1/10th 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) R/C buggies. If you aren't in the UK (United Kingdom) or EU (European Union), is it worth the very long time and extreme…

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Ep.11 - S2|E4: Redesigning My Maker Journey: HakFabrik and My Homelab Experiments 13:37

23d ago13:37

13:37

In this new episode of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I take a step back to rethink how I share my work — and return to a more honest, conversational format that feels closer to the way I actually build, experiment, and learn. Over the past weeks, I’ve been working on a new hardware-hacking project called HakFabrik, exploring whether re…

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December 1 2025 #280 - Antennas, Amplifiers, and Mobile Radio Reality Checks | W3GMS Workbench 2:07:45

24d ago2:07:45

2:07:45

This edition of the W3GMS 985 Workbench delivers a deep, practical dive into real-world amateur radio problems and solutions, with one of the most active and wide-ranging discussions of the month. Hosted by WA3VE, the group works through antenna theory, amplifier restoration, mobile antenna tradeoffs, and station-building decisions that every ham e…

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HOW-TO: Convert Tamiya Grasshoppers to Lexan Polycarbonate Body Shells 7:01

24d ago7:01

7:01

Do you love your Tamiya 1/10th scale Grasshopper and/or Grasshopper II radio controlled buggy but hate how serious bashing can break the hard ABS body shells? In today's episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we dig deep into how to convert your GH1 to body clips and cotter pins and how to get clear Lexan polycarbonate bodies for both your original Gr…

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Punky Power: Does Soleil Moon Frye Still Race Tamiya R/C Cars? 6:39

25d ago6:39

6:39

Punky Brewster was played by actress Soleil Moon Frye who helped normalize girls building, collecting, bashing, and racing radio controlled cars, trucks, buggies, jeeps, and vans. But does Soleil Moon Frye still drive R/C model vehicles? How did her joining the radio control hobbyist community affect her life? We dig into her biography and give you…

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Why are Age Divisions Popular in Vintage Off-Road R/C Car Races? 5:58

26d ago5:58

5:58

There have been many complaints online that the old heads in the radio control hobbyist community from Generation X are implementing new age divisions in vintage and rere (re-release) radio-controlled car, buggy, and truck races because they are tired of the younger generations like Gen Z and the Alpha Generation smoking them in races. While this i…

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What is the Future of R/C Battery Power Beyond LiPo, LiFe, and NiMH? 7:02

27d ago7:02

7:02

There are a lot of thoughts about what the future radio controlled model vehicle battery type might be with something that is even more powerful than LiPo (Lithium-Polymer) batteries and safer than LiFe (Lithium-Phosphate) batteries. We dig into the chemistry and physics behind the future contenders, both SSB (Solid-State Batteries) and Li-S (Lithi…

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HOW-TO: Install and Power Cooling Fans in Your R/C Model Vehicles 7:26

28d ago7:26

7:26

The need for speed sometimes comes along with a need for cooling. You can get fans for your motors, ESC (electronic speed controller), and servo, but what is the best way to install them and power these active forced convection cooling fans? We blow past the fluff and get right to the coolest info in this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast. [NOTE:…

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Why are Onisiki NiMH Batteries the Goldilocks Battery in Vintage and ReRe R/C Model Vehicles? 6:46

29d ago6:46

6:46

Onisiki is a favorite battery brand among many vintage and rere (rerelease) 1/10th scale radio-controlled model vehicle racers, speed runners, drifters, crawlers, and bashers. Why is this, especially when their batteries are smaller than similar Traxxas, Venom, and Gens Ace NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries while also weighing less than most of…

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Why do Vintage R/C Hobbyists and Enthusiasts Prefer NiMH Batteries? 6:57

1M ago6:57

6:57

In Japan, LiFe (Lithium Phosphate) batteries are popular amongst many in the vintage, classic, rere (re-release), and modern R/C hobbyist community, while globally NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries are popular among the vintage, classic, and rere radio control enthusiasts even though LiPo (Lithium Polymer) reigns supreme among modern radio cont…

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Which Direction Should the Fins Go on CRP and Parma Nerf Wings? 6:23

1M ago6:23

6:23

There has been a long debate in the radio control hobbyist community about which direction the fins go on the CRP and Parma Nerf Wing. We dig into the aerodynamics, geometry, material science, and physics and explain why there is only one correct way that makes sense for your need wings and while the other way can actually hurt your ORV Chassis rad…

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Identifying All of the Tamiya R/C Model Vehicles in "Boys Will Be Girls" 5:33

1M ago5:33

5:33

"Boys Will Be Girls" is an iconic 2nd season episode of the original Punky Brewster television series that gets watched a lot by those in the radio control model hobbyist community via the Peacock streaming app. In this episode, Tamiya USA provided a large number of popular radio controlled buggies, cars, trucks, and jeeps. We identify all of those…

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Why Did Tamiya Make the Comical Series of R/C Buggies? 4:46

1M ago4:46

4:46

Tamiya is known for scale accuracy and being number one in quality around the world. However, they went SD (super deformed) with their comical series of 2WD (two wheel drive) and 4WD (four wheel drive) versions of their iconic 1/10th scale radio controlled buggies in an effort to engage young children and families with these easier to build model k…

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Ep. 55: 2 lb Fox Squirrels- with Kenny Nordyke 59:23

1M ago59:23

59:23

Kenny joins us to keep entertained with some good hunting stories and tells us about how he road hunts his squirrel dogs on big Kansas fox squirrels.By Klankford87

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Is There Any Connection Between R/C Hobbyist Culture and Otakus? 4:46

1M ago4:46

4:46

Do the otaku, waifu, weeb, and itasha community have anything to do with the Japanese radio control hobbyist and enthusiasts communities? If so, what are the connections besides Tamiya and Kyosho R/C model cars, trucks, buggies, vans, jeeps, and busses being from Japan? We take a deep look into psychology and philosophy and uncover any hidden or vi…

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Workbench Edition 390- Victorious return for Britain’s final V-Bomber kit 32:41

1M ago32:41

32:41

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. Our subject for this latest edition of Workbench is the heavily requested re-introduction of an incredibly popular kit, one which has to be regarded as one of the most impressive to have ever graced the Airf…

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HOW-TO: Choose the Right Damper Oil for Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers 7:04

1M ago7:04

7:04

Aerated oil-filled dampers need a different cSt (centistokes) of oil than that which you put in your stock shocks or CVA oil-filled dampers. Why is this and what should you use when replacing your stock shocks with these TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) hop-up options? We measure the oil and give you all the whats, whys, and hows in this shocking episod…