Build it. Tune it. Run it.
Practical guides to RC cars, airplanes, helicopters, drones and boats, written by a hobbyist with 20 years at the lake, the track and the flying field. How to choose a model, set it up, fix it and get more out of it.
Pick your hobby
Each guide covers the essentials of one kind of model and links to every detailed article on it.
RC CarsVehicle types, scales, electric vs. nitro vs. gas, radios and maintenance.
RC AirplanesYour first plane, building in foam or balsa, learning to fly and the rules.
RC HelicoptersTypes, sizes, setup and a step-by-step plan for learning to hover.
RC DronesToy, camera and FPV drones, connecting and registration rules.
RC BoatsHull types, drive systems, waterproofing, building and racing.
RC BasicsLiPo batteries, brushless motors, ESCs, servos and binding.
New to RC? Three steps
Learn the parts
Every model runs on a battery, a motor, a speed controller, servos and a radio. RC Basics explains them in ten minutes.
Choose for your space
A lake, a field or a driveway decides more than the price tag. Each guide has a "choosing your first" section.
Start slow
Calm weather, half throttle, short runs and a simulator for anything that flies. Speed is easy to add later.
Popular how-to articles
- How to bind an RC transmitter and receiverRC Basics
- How to build an RC boat hullRC Boats
- How to size an electric motor for an RC airplaneRC Airplanes
- How to wire an RC boatRC Boats
- Can you fly a DJI drone without cell service?RC Drones
- Traxxas ESC blinking red: causes and fixesRC Cars
- How to make an RC helicopterRC Helicopters
- How to program a remote control to an RC carRC Cars
Kyle Hilson, 20 years in RC
Most of my hobby time is spent on the water with boats of the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, and I make many of the parts for my boats myself. Next to the boats there is a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes I have flown, and an RC helicopter. Where an article draws on that experience, it says so; where it doesn't, for example on drones, it relies on manufacturers' documentation and official sources.
More about SwellRCCommon questions
What is the best RC model for a beginner?
The one that suits the space you have. With a lake nearby, a deep-V electric boat; with a park or garden, a 4WD short course truck; with a club field and patience, a foam trainer plane. The guides explain each choice.
Hobby grade or toy grade?
Toy-grade models are fine as gifts for small children. Hobby-grade models have spare parts, proportional control and replaceable electronics, so they can be repaired instead of thrown away.
Do I need a licence for RC models?
For cars and boats usually not, though lakes and parks have their own rules. Planes, helicopters and drones count as unmanned aircraft in many countries, so registration and a short online test may be required. See the drone guide for where to check.
How are the guides written?
By one hobbyist, Kyle Hilson. Personal experience is marked as such; everything else is based on manufacturers' documentation and official sources. Corrections are welcome through the contact page.