In today’s fast-paced world, there’s no shortage of online retailers ready and willing to sell you the exact same products we carry here at Roger’s Hobby Center. They might have slightly lower prices, free shipping options, and could even be more convenient. So that begs the question: why are we here? What do we have to offer over the modern competition? Why, exactly, do we think you’d be better off buying from us?
Read More2018 was, by any metric I could use, a disappointing year at best. Instead of dwelling on the past, however, let’s put on our rose-colored glasses and look into the future — a bright and prosperous future for the hobby industry as a whole, and our store in particular. What does this utopian future look like? Let’s talk about that.
Read MoreTraxxas has emerged as one of the most influential companies of the hobby industry in the modern era. They tower above all other individual R/C surface manufacturers, and even Horizon Hobby, with its multiple brands and worldwide status, seems to be trailing Traxxas in product innovation and dominance in the world of R/C cars and trucks. With Traxxas’ sizeable influence on the overall hobby market, let’s look at some things Traxxas could do that will further shake up the industry. Whether these hypothetical actions are good or bad is a matter of perspective, but there’s no doubt, if enacted, they would cause quite the stir.
Read MoreEveryone loves lists, right? I'm pretty sure there are entire websites (cough cough Buzzfeed cough cough) built on that concept. Well, we love lists too, and so it's time to go over our Top Ten Products of 2018!
Like every year, the list is devised using margin (profit) dollars, so the list isn't all car parts, glue, and paint — and while the words accompanying the products are opinion, how they placed isn't something we change for editorial purposes or bias, so let’s dive into our top money-makers this year and see what our customers have been demanding throughout the year.
Read MoreWhile 2018 saw our sales decline for the third straight year, it wasn’t as wall-to-wall bad as last year was — meaning we actually have some good things to say about 2018! So sit back, relax, and check out our top hits and misses of 2018.
Read MoreAt the beginning of a new year, I like to look ahead at all the stories I think could be the ones to watch for the hobby industry. It’s a way to focus on the big picture and not let the small, day-to-day stuff obscure the more important long-term issues. Last January, I took a look at four stories I was interested in following for 2018, and now it’s time to look back at that article and see how the year progressed on each subject, and identify other stories that I missed.
Read MoreBack in the distant past of the mid-2000s, our R/C aircraft department was the money-maker. It more than doubled the R/C car department, and was, by far, the department we counted on to allow us to stay in business. Over the last few years, however, R/C cars have been steadily gaining on R/C aircraft, swapping dominance between 2013 and 2014. Since then, R/C aircraft have been falling behind at faster and faster rates in a process that doesn’t seem to have an end point.
Read MoreThis past Friday, Horizon Hobby informed retailers they will no longer be offering Traxxas products, starting the beginning of 2019. Was this Traxxas improving their profit margins by cutting off their last major distribution partner, or was this Horizon ratcheting up the tension between the two companies, between whom there appears to be little love lost?
Read MoreWhen the White House announced it would go around the World Trade Organization and levy tariffs on other countries, it was only a matter of time before the hobby industry was caught in the crossfire. With the Chinese “trade war” ongoing with no end in sight, those tariffs have finally caught up with us, affecting radio systems and related equipment.
Read MoreWhen we took our annual bus trip down to the Toledo Weak Signals Expo this year, I was pretty critical of the show overall, and said I would detail my thoughts on how the show's organizers could best revamp the experience and return the show to its days of former glory. What follows are those thoughts.
Read More10 Must-Have Tools
Repairing and maintaining your equipment is essential to enjoying the R/C hobby. Here’s a list of ten tools we consider must-haves for your hobby workshop.
How to Pick Out the Right R/C Vehicle
It can be tough to decide on what radio control vehicle is right for you. With answers to a few important questions, though, we can guide you toward the right vehicle for your journey into the wonderful world of radio control.
R/C Gearing 101
One of the questions we get asked a lot has to do with gearing; how it works, what happens when I put this gear on that, can I get better runtimes if I change the gearing, etc. It can be a bit of a nightmare to figure out how best to gear your truck, but with a little math and a calculator, you can be a gearing expert in no time — or at least good enough to achieve what you're shooting for.
A Guide to LiPo Batteries
A beginner’s guide to LiPo batteries, how they work, and how to keep safe using them.
A Guide to Traxxas Batteries and Chargers
In this guide, we'll go over Traxxas' batteries — both Nickel-Metal Hydride and Lithium-Polymer — the Traxxas iD technology, and how to use Traxxas' chargers.
Our Collection of Top 10’s
Every year since 2012, we recorded our top ten products for our store by total profit. Here’s a collection of those articles, all in one place!
How to Maximize Your Run Time
One thing that is universal for anyone that runs electric R/C cars and/or trucks is a desire for more run time. It seems like there is no such thing as too much run time, but there is an optimal way to improve the amount of running time you can get with your R/C vehicle. This guide seeks to explain those best practices in an approachable fashion. So let’s get into it!
Castle ESC Troubleshooting
Having a tough time with your Castle Creations ESC? Check out this guide to help figure it out!
One of the biggest issues I have with D&D is that they don’t really explain how magic items work—or magic, for that matter. I mean, what is magic in D&D? How does it function? Where does the energy come from? If these questions have kept you up at night, well, at least you’re in good company. Most GMs likely ignore the question, preferring to posit that magic just, well, is, but I can’t do that. I need to know—so I worked out my own explanation of what magic is and how it works for my homebrew world of Omira.