Hot Remote Control Vehicles How-Tos
How To: Install rear steer onto a remote control vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Peter Vieira shows us how to convert your Traxxas TQ3 for rear steer. This will open up new driving and maneuvering possibilities. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to install rear steer into a remote control vehicle.
How To: Properly drill into the metal parts of an RC car
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Kevin Hetmanski shows how to drill holes in any material. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to drill a hole into the metal part of a remote control vehicle.
How To: Set gear mesh on a remote control car
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Matt Higgins shows us some open wheeled modified oval cars and also how to properly set gear mesh. The trick to setting gear mesh is a scrap piece of paper. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to set gear mesh on an RC car.
How To: Use thread lock on wheel nuts for a remote control car
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Kevin Hetmanski shows you how to put thread lock on your wheel nuts. Thread lock will keep the nut from loosening. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to secure nuts with thread lock on a remote control car.
How To: Cut wheel wells in lexan bodies on remote control cars
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Paul Onorato shows us how to cut wheel wells in lexan bodies. Scissors can mar and warp the edge of the lexan plastic body, try an Xacto knife instead. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to cut the wheel wells from the lexan body for a remote control car.
How To: Bend an antenna tube on a remote control vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Peter Vieira show how to properly bend your antenna tube. All you need is a lighter (ask mom and dad first!). Watch this video tutorial and learn how to bend an antenna tube on a remote control car.
How To: Win a race with an RC car
Chris Chianelli beams in from outer space to give you some tips on how to win races. Don't try to be the fastest or best car; be the smoothest driver. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to win a race on a remote control vehicle.
How To: Stop a nitro engine on a remote control car
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Kevin shows you how to stop a nitro engine. Just bump the flywheel with a screwdriver or pinch the fuel line. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to stop a nitro engine on an RC vehicle.
How To: Restore a hex wrench worn out from RC car repairs
Paul Onorato shows you how to get more life out of worn hex wrenches. Don't by a new one, just cut off the worn down edge of the old one. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to repair a worn out hex wrench.
How To: Shorten servo leads on a remote control vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Kevin Hetmanski shows us how the pros shorten servo leads. Sometimes the servo leads come to long, so trimming them better suits the need. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to shorten servo leads on an RC car.
How To: Cut perfect body posts for a remote control vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Paul Onorato shoes a neat tip on cutting perfect body posts. Most cars come with body posts that are too long, but cutting them can warp the post. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to trim body posts for an RC car.
How To: Apply decals to a remote control car
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Kevin Hetmanski shows us how to add decals to your RC vehicle. Decals add a little personalization and decoration to a remote control car. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to affix stickers onto the plastic body of an RC car.
How To: Oil the engine air filter on a remote control vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Paul Onorato shows how to properly oil your RC engine air filter. An un-oiled filter will decrease the life of the engine on the remote control car. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to oil the engine air filter on an RC vehicle.
How To: Keep track of the maintenance on a remote control car
RC Car Action Paul Onorato shows you a simple tip on keeping a tab on your suspension setup. Clean a cap and write the oil and piston used in the shock. Easy, and no more confusion! Watch this video tutorial and learn how to keep track of the maintenance of the shocks on a remote control car.
How To: Remove nitro fuel from the tank of an RC vehicle
Kevin Hetmanski shows you how to remove fuel from your tank the right way. Fuel is highly flammable, and if not fully removed can gum up the fuel system. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to remove the nitro fuel from the tank of an RC vehicle the right way.
How To: Cut body post holes for RC vehicles
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Paul Onorato shows how to properly make equally sized body post holes. All you need is a marker. Watch this video tutorial and learn an easy tip for making even sized post holes on an RC vehicle.
How To: Prep tires on an RC vehicle for gluing
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Kevin Hetmanski shows you how to properly clean you tires before you glue. Glue won't adhere to dirty tires, and can make a giant mess. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to properly prep tires and rims on an RC vehicle for glue.
How To: Modify an antenna cap on an RC vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Matt Higgins explains how to modify your antenna cap for better wire protection. Make sure that antenna cap doesn't go flying off. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to secure the antenna cap on an RC vehicle.
How To: Submit an RC car or truck to be featured in a magazine
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Paul Onorato explains how to submit your RC car or truck to RC Car Action to be featured in Readers' Rides. RC Car Action magazine showcases readers' own cars, but the pictures need to meet certain guidelines. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to submit photographs of your RC car or truck to be featured in RC Car Action magazine.
How To: Fix common rock crawling problems on an RC vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Matt Higgins shows how to fix common rock crawling problems such as body repair and a spun hex. Taking a remote control vehicle off road can often result in some damage, like a cracked body or a spun hex. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to fix common rock crawling problems on an RC vehicle.
How To: Use liquid mask to prep an RC vehicle body for paint
This video tutorial shows tips on applying Liquid Mask to your RC car body prior to painting. Liquid mask takes the place of masking tape while painting. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to easily prep the body of an RC vehicle before painting.
How To: Prepare a RC helicopter body for paint
Radio Control Helicopter Magazine Editor Klaus Ronge shows how to get a helicopter body ready for paint. Paint will add a personalized touch to the remote control helicopter, but does take some prep work. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to get an RC helicopter body ready for paint.
How To: Remove and install clutch shoes in an RC vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Edito Paul Onorato demonstrates how to remove and install clutch shoes using a DuraTrax clutch shoe tool. The clutch show tool makes the clutch easy to install and remove. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to use the clutch shoe tool on a remote control vehicle.
How To: Secure batteries in an RC vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Paul Onorato uses electrical tape to secure the AA's in your receiver pack. A little bit of electrical tape will keep the batteries in place while off-roading the RC vehicle. Watch this instructional video and learn how to anchor the batteries in the receiver of an RC vehicle.
How To: Understand the mechanics of an RC vehicle engine
Chris Chianelli talks a bit about nitro engines and using the main needle valve. Without knowledge of the vehicle's engine, you won't be able to use the RC vehicle to the max. Watch this video tutorial and learn the inner-workings of an RC vehicle engine.
How To: Make a cleaning solution for RC vehicles
Keeping R/C vehicle clean is essential. Chris Chianelli shows you how to make your own RC cleaner so you can save a few bucks. You will need and empty spray bottle, denatured alcohol, Simple Green, and WD40.
How To: Modify a glow plug wrench for an RC vehicle
Learn how to modify your glow plug wrench so you don't lose your part. Most nitro engine RC vehicles come with a glow plug wrench, but they fall apart so easily. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to modify a glow plug wrench so the individual pieces don't get lost. You will need pliers, shoe glue, and the glow plug wrench.
How To: Effectively paint the body of an RC vehicle
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Matt Higgins shows you how to make painting your RC bodies easier and more effective. Paint can add a personalized touch to your RC vehicle, but there are tips to make the painting easier. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to effectively paint the body of an RC vehicle.
How To: Lock a diff on a rock crawler RC vehicle
This video tutorial shows how to lock a diff on a rock crawler. Just a little bit of epoxy glue will weld the diff into place. Watch and learn how to fix a diff on a rock crawler RC vehicle into a permanent position.
How To: Properly store the nitro engine fuel for an RC vehicle
Chris Chianelli talks a little about how to properly store fuel. The fuel can go bad, aside from obviously being very flammable. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to increase the shelf life of nitro engine fuel for RC vehicles.
How To: Remove a clutch nut and flywheel from a nitro engine
Paul Onorato, senior editor of Radio Control Car Action magazine shows you how to remove a clutch nut and flywheel from a nitro engine. It's difficult because a wrench spins and pliers can pinch. Watch this video tutorial and learn an easy way to remove a clutch nut and flywheel from a nitro engine on an RC engine.
How To: Prevent the body of an RC car from rattling with foam
Rattling doesn't just sound bad, but can create stress cracks in the body of plastic on an RC car. Use foam cutouts around the body posts to stop the body from rattling around. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to prevent the body of an RC car from rattling by softening with scrap foam.
How To: Dispose of shock oil on an RC car safely
RC Car Action Magazine Editor Kevin Hetmanski helps the environment by safely disposing his shock oil and quenches his thirst in the process. An easy way to store the shock oil is in a drink bottle, so the shock oil won't spill out and can be disposed of safely later. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to store RC car shock oil until it can be disposed of in and environmental and safe way.
How To: Turn an RC vehicle on and off
While it seems like nit-picking, there is a proper procedure for turning an RC toy car on and off. Going out of the proper order can result in accidents from runaway cars or even damage to the RC toy. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to turn an RC vehicle on and off while playing the correct way.
How To: Break in a new nitro engine on an RC toy car
Chris Chianelli gives you some tips on breaking in your nitro engine. RC cars require maintenance, just like a real car, and also need to be broken in, just like a real car. Watch this video tutorial and learn the proper steps and precautions to be taken when playing with a new RC toy car in order to not break the nitro engine.
How To: Assemble a Micro Scout R/C model aircraft
Is your hobby remote controlled vehicles, specifically RC airplanes? Well, check out this video tutorial series to see how to assemble the Micro Scout R/C model aircraft from Plantraco. Yes, These planes are small - with a wingspan of only twelve inches, but believe that...
How To: Assemble the Micro Racer P-51 R/C model aircraft
Is your hobby remote controlled vehicles, specifically RC airplanes? Well, check out this video tutorial series to see how to assemble the Micro Racer P-51 R/C model aircraft from Plantraco.
How To: Cut carbon fiber safely for your RC vehicle
This video is on the hazards of cutting carbon fiber (CF), how to be safe with it, and the advantages of the different types of CF. Carbo fiber is great for your RC (radio controlled) vehicle.
How To: Install/remove a clutch bell assembly on an RC vehicle
This video is on how to install and remove a clutch bell assembly for a nitro radio controlled engine, and some simple troubleshooting tips. It will show you the proper way of removing the flywheel, installing and removing clutch shoes, and how to ensure that the clutch bell (CB) spins freely. You can use this on any RC kit, and will also help racers in the pit and bashers alike.
How To: Dye RC vehicle parts
See in these two videos, how to dye your radio controlled vehicle's parts. You'll see how to properly dye many plastic parts on your RC vehicle like Revo 2.5 or 3.3 rockers, high down force Ofna wings, pro-line rims, and many more parts. The project uses RIT dye that comes in many colors to include black, light and dark blue, green, and more. This will allow you to take any color of part (especially white) and make your RC into something that is customized with little effort.