THE LEARNING LAB

Small cars.
Big lightbulb moments.

Change one thing. See what happens. Eight learning stations explain the ideas behind your next build, from gearing to the final paint scheme.

Follow the power

Turn the gears. Trace 2WD and 4WD. Find out why a differential lets two wheels turn at different speeds.

Match a tread to a surface, explore compound trade-offs, and see why tire diameter changes rollout.

Put 1:8 beside 1:10, then explore the spectrum from 1:5 to 1:32 using the same reference vehicle.

Release a spring, change the damping, and watch the difference between bouncing and settling.

Try colors, stripes and a race number. Then plan the real shell, paint and decal work.

Compare 2S to 6S. Separate voltage, energy and ideal motor RPM, then follow the path from pack to tires.

See the piston and oil path. Explore why viscosity, openings and temperature belong in the same setup conversation.

Brushed or brushless? Crawling or speed? Explore commutation and the speed-versus-torque trade-off of two gear ratios.