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Monday, October 7, 2024

Tony Phalen

Emergency Nuts

RC Tip - Emergency Nuts

If you need a nut in a pinch take a look at your selection of zip ties in your pit box. You may have one that can be used as a nut for low stress applications in an emergency. Tip …

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Disposable Work Surface

RC Tip - Disposable Work Surface

It is easier to work on our vehicles when we don’t have to be too concerned with damaging the work surface. Foam insulation comes in thin sheets folded like an accordion. The panels are about 2 x 4 ft. and …

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Stripe It Up

RC Tip - Stripe It Up

Electrical tape is available in various colors. It can be used to create stripes and other designs on the exterior of your Lexan bodies. You are only limited by your ability to safely and creatively wield a sharp hobby knife. …

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Toothless Alligator (Clips)

RC TIps - Toothless Alligator (Clips)

If you use “Helping Hands” to aid in your soldering jobs you already know that the teeth on the alligator clips can damage the casing on some wires. Eliminate this possibility by crimping the teeth flat with a pair of …

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Easy Diff Ball Install

Easy Diff Ball Install

Ball differentials may be a beneficial upgrade to your RC vehicle but building them can be tedious, at best. A small hex tool with a dab of grease on the tip will let you pick up the ball and drop …

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Transponder Tactic

Transponder Tactic

Many track-supplied transponders are designed to be mounted through a hole in the Lexan body. If you are not in the mood to make a new hole in your custom-painted shell, then try this tip. Cut an approximately 1×2.5-inch strip …

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Baja Tire Mounting

Baja Tire Mounting

Baja 5B tires are among the most difficult to stretch over their rims. Use a technique similar to that used to mount full-size tires, but instead of a machine, you’ll use the flat handle of a spoon. Insert the handle …

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Shrink-Tubing Tip

Shrink-Tubing Tip

When you solder bullet connectors, you can put shrinktubing over the joint when the solder has cooled. If the size of tubing that’s closest to what you need is a very snug fit even before shrinking, try this: most shrink-tubing …

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Small Receiver Security

Small Receiver Security

Certain razors for women (e.g., the Schick Intuition) have spare blades that come in a plastic case that’s the perfect size to hold most small receivers. Cut a slot for the antenna wire and the servo leads, and mount the …

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Easy Window Tinting

Easy Window Tinting

Auto-parts stores usually sell fairly inexpensive rolls of window- tinting film for full-size vehicles, and it works very well on our RC windows, too. Cut a paper template for every window you want to tint, and use it to mark …

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Super Strong Bodyclip Holder

Super Strong Bodyclip Holder

You can find inexpensive, strong, neodymium disc magnets online at sites such as kjmagnetics.com. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and strengths and have many uses, including keeping track of you body clips. Duct tape a disc …

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Make Mudguards

Make Mudguards

Mudguards help to keep the rear axles free of dirt and debris, and they’re increasingly popular with truggy and buggy drivers. If you have an old 1/8- scale buggy wing, its ends may make perfect guards. Carefully cut the ends …

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Marker Beats Memory

Marker Beats Memory

If you need to remove your receiver, it can be tough to trace the servo leads so that you’ll remember which channel each lead goes to. Use a permanent marker to put tick marks on the leads: one tick for …

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Receiver Protection

Receiver Protection

Water is the enemy of your electronic components, and many receiver boxes are not considered waterproof. Kitchen plastic wrap works well to keep moisture out. If your box is large enough, you can put a layer of foam around the …

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Table Protection

Table Protection

If you like to watch TV in the family room or spread out in the kitchen while you wrench on your cars, you risk dropping your tools on nice tables, and that can have certain repercussions. Yoga mats are inexpensive, …

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