Enthusiasm for RC Models has exploded in recent years. There are many new models on the market including some incredible RC helicopters, rc tanks and even a range of UFOs.

And RC models are no longer considered toys, although there are still plenty that are aimed at the younger market. The most typica RC model enthusiast these days is likely to be a middle aged man with a keen interest in vehicles and engineering.

To get the most from an RC model it’s useful to have an understanding of how they operate. Every radio control system has the same basic components. These are the transmitter, generally held in the hands; the receiver, which is contained within the model; the drive motor which powers the wheels or propeller; and the steering system which may be a rudder or control of a vehicles wheels or tracks.

The transmitter or controller is the handheld device that you hold. It usually provides one or two joysticks which are used for control of the speed and the steering. This device transmits radio waves over a relatively short range. An antenna mounted on the vehicle or craft picks up the radio signals. The radio signals are modulated with control information that is decoded by the receiver and used to tell the motor how fast it should be running and the steering mechanism (rudder or wheels) which way the vehicle should be going.

All of these electrical components need power and this is generally provided using rechargeable batteries. Of course RC aircraft need to be light weight so the batteries will tend to be small and therefore need to be recharged often. RC Cars can sometimes use tiny nitro powered engines, rather than electric motors, but they still need batteries to power the electrical circuits.

Although RC models are very simple there is a lot that can be done to tweak their performance. It is this aspect of the hobby that can make it very engrossing as hobbyists attempt to get the most from their systems by customised engineering.