RC Hobby Blogs

The Tamiya Lamborghini Cheetah 58754 is much more than a retro body on a new chassis. Forty-eight years after the original 58007 appeared, Tamiya has revived the unusual duralumin frame, rear-motor 2WD layout, torsion-bar suspension and hard styrene body that defined one of its earliest off-road R/C experiments. This guide explores the original model, its XR311 connection, the real Lamborghini Cheetah, the key changes made for 2026, and what modern hobbyists should know about batteries and setup.

The 2026 Traction Hobby 1/8 Ford Bronco Raptor combines an officially licensed Ford body with a scale-focused chassis featuring front independent suspension, a rear four-link solid axle, selectable drive modes, two-speed gearing and front and rear differential locks. This guide breaks down the chassis, lighting, brushed and brushless configurations, battery setup and the details that make this large-scale Bronco Raptor different from a conventional RC crawler.

The Proboat Blackjack 42 is more than a large 8S catamaran with impressive straight-line speed. Battery capacity, pack weight and fore-aft position all affect how the hull behaves. This guide looks at the 4685/160A power system, 5000–8200mAh battery choices, real-world runtime, high-speed stability, EC5/IC5 compatibility and the setup details that matter before pushing the boat harder.

The Freewing F-35C Lightning II 110mm is a major step beyond the usual 80–90mm EDF class. This review looks at how its 12S power system, broad C-model wing, retractable landing gear, thrust reverse, EG01 gyro and nearly 7kg flying weight come together in the air—and what experienced EDF pilots should know before buying one.

The Skynetic P-12E 1100mm brings an uncommon early-1930s pursuit biplane to the modern foam RC field. This guide looks beyond the specification sheet to cover its 4S flight character, assembly details, CG setup, aerobatic capability, battery considerations and the reasons this unusual Golden Age subject has attracted so much attention.

Charging a LiPo battery correctly requires more than selecting the right plug. You need to confirm battery chemistry and cell count, calculate an appropriate charge current, choose a charger with enough output power, connect both the main lead and balance lead, and select the correct charging program. This guide brings together charger selection, 1C and 2C calculations, Balance Charge, AC and DC power, parallel charging, Storage mode and common troubleshooting steps.

A dual-channel charger controls two batteries independently, allowing each pack to use its own chemistry, cell count, current and charging mode. A parallel charging board combines several compatible packs into one electrical group, so they must share the same chemistry and S count and have closely matched starting voltages. Parallel charging can handle several similar batteries through one powerful channel, while independent channels are usually easier for mixed battery collections and make abnormal packs easier to identify.

A LiPo battery often charges quickly during the main constant-current stage and slows dramatically near full voltage because the charger must reduce current and correct individual cell differences. Long balance times may be caused by normal final-stage tapering, limited charger balance current, an aging or drifting cell, a damaged balance lead, incorrect settings or insufficient charger power. Repeatedly slow balancing—especially when the same cell remains lower or higher—should be investigated rather than bypassed with Fast Charge.

The Avios Albatross V2 remains one of the more distinctive twin-engine RC flying boats, now joined by a new USAF Search & Rescue scheme. This guide explains what really changed from V1 to V2, why the USAF release is not a true V3, how 4S and 3S battery setups differ, and what real-world flying experience reveals about CG, water handling, stall behavior and radio setup.