Free guides from the Atlanta Hobby staff
110 how-to guides, buying guides and troubleshooting articles for RC cars, airplanes, drones, telescopes, model rockets and robotics. Written by the people who run our repair bench, flight training and VEX classes.
New to a hobby? Start here
One beginner guide per hobby, the best first read before you buy.
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New to RC? Start Here: How to Choose Your First RC Car or Truck
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Best Beginner RC Planes 2026: AeroScout S 2 vs Sport Cub S2 vs Duet S2
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Getting Started with Drones: A Beginner's Roadmap to Camera Drones and FPV
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Best Beginner Telescopes 2026: What You'll Actually See (and What to Buy)
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Model Rocketry for Beginners: Your First Launch, Step by Step
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VEX Robotics for Beginners: VEX IQ vs V5, Starting a Team and Your First VEXcode Program
Latest guides
Astronomy & Telescopes
What's Up in the Night Sky: October 2026 (Saturn, the Orionids and the Hunter's Moon)
Robotics & VEX
VEX vs RECF Explained: What the 2026 Split Means for Parents, Coaches and Teams
Robotics & VEX
What Mechanical Kits Teach: UGears, Tamiya and Solar Kits as Real Engineering Lessons
RC Cars & Trucks
Building the Tamiya 1/10 Porsche 934 50th Anniversary: Build Guide and Tips
Astronomy & Telescopes
Astrophotography for Beginners: From Smartphone to Dedicated Astro Camera
Model Rockets & STEM
Rocketry in the Classroom: How to Run a Safe Model Rocket Launch for a Class or Club
Browse by hobby
🏁 RC Cars & Trucks
23 guides
Setup, tuning, upgrades and repairs for bashers, crawlers and racers.
- Building the Tamiya 1/10 Porsche 934 50th Anniversary: Build Guide and Tips
- RC Drifting for Beginners: RWD vs AWD, Gyros and Drift Tires
- The Best Hobby Tools for RC Cars: Hex Drivers, Ball-Link Pliers and More
✈️ RC Airplanes
19 guides
Learn to fly, set up your radio, fix crash damage and pick your next plane.
- How to Program a Spektrum Transmitter for a New BNF Plane: Bind, AS3X+, SAFE and Forward Programming
- EDF Jets 101: Choosing Your First 70mm, 80mm or 90mm Jet
- Learn to Fly Faster: How to Practice with RealFlight Evolution
🚁 Drones & UAS
15 guides
Rules, airspace, Part 107, camera settings and commercial drone work.
- Best Drones for Roofing Inspections (2026): Matrice 400 vs Matrice 4T vs Mini 5 Pro
- Part 107 Study Guide 2026: What's on the Test and How to Pass
- Best Drones for Kids and Teens (Safe, Legal and Actually Fun)
🔭 Astronomy & Telescopes
15 guides
Choosing, setting up and caring for a telescope, plus what to look at tonight.
- What's Up in the Night Sky: October 2026 (Saturn, the Orionids and the Hunter's Moon)
- Astrophotography for Beginners: From Smartphone to Dedicated Astro Camera
- Eyepieces and Magnification Explained (and Why 600x Is a Lie)
🚀 Model Rockets & STEM
12 guides
First launches, motor codes, safety rules, recovery and Georgia clubs.
- Rocketry in the Classroom: How to Run a Safe Model Rocket Launch for a Class or Club
- How to Build and Paint Your First Estes Rocket Kit: Fins, Glue, Filler and a Pro Finish
- Rocket Engine Codes Explained: What A8-3, C6-5 and E12-6 Mean
🤖 Robotics & VEX
17 guides
VEX competition help, Arduino, servos, soldering and STEM kits.
- VEX vs RECF Explained: What the 2026 Split Means for Parents, Coaches and Teams
- What Mechanical Kits Teach: UGears, Tamiya and Solar Kits as Real Engineering Lessons
- VEX V5 Drivetrains: Tank vs X-Drive vs Mecanum, and How to Choose Your Gear Ratio
🔋 Batteries & Charging
3 guides
LiPo charging, storage, swelling and choosing a charger.
- RC Battery & Charging Guide: LiPo vs. NiMH, C-Ratings and Safe Charging
- LiPo Storage, Swelling and Safe Disposal: What to Do With Your Packs
- How to Choose a LiPo Charger: Watts, Amps, AC/DC and Balance Charging
🛒 Buying Guides
6 guides
Where to start if you are new to a hobby or shopping for a gift.
- Getting Started with Robotics: A Beginner's Roadmap to STEM Kits, Combat Bots and Smart Machines
- Getting Started with Drones: A Beginner's Roadmap to Camera Drones and FPV
- The Best RC Cars for Every Driver Level: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Picks
Browse by topic
The questions we answer most at the counter.
🔋 Batteries & Charging
- RC Battery & Charging Guide: LiPo vs. NiMH, C-Ratings and Safe Charging
- How to Choose a LiPo Charger: Watts, Amps, AC/DC and Balance Charging
- LiPo Storage, Swelling and Safe Disposal: What to Do With Your Packs
- LiPo Charging Safety Checklist: The Quick Card for Your Charging Station
- Drone Battery Care: Storage, Heat, Cold Weather and Swelling
- Soldering EC3, EC5, IC5 and XT60 Connectors Without Cold Joints
🔧 Maintenance & Repair
- The 10-Minute Post-Run RC Maintenance Checklist
- How to Rebuild and Re-oil RC Shocks (Without Air Bubbles)
- RC Bearings: How to Check, Clean and Replace Them (Before One Eats Your Hub)
- After the Mud Run: How to Clean, Dry and Protect Your RC Car
- How to Repair a Crashed Foam RC Plane: CA, Epoxy, Hinges and Reinforcement
- Crashed Your Drone? DJI Care Refresh, Repairs and What's Worth Fixing
- Telescope Care: How to Clean Optics, Beat Dew and Store Your Scope in Georgia Humidity
- How to Collimate a Newtonian or Dobsonian Telescope
🎛️ Radios, Setup & Troubleshooting
- How to Program a Traxxas TQi Radio: Binding, Throttle Calibration, Training Mode and the Traxxas Link App
- Programming a Spektrum DX3 Smart or DX5 Pro: Expo, Dual Rate, Throttle Trim and Failsafe
- How to Program a Spektrum Transmitter for a New BNF Plane: Bind, AS3X+, SAFE and Forward Programming
- Why Won't My Spektrum Receiver Bind? 9 Fixes
- Why Is My Traxxas Blinking Red/Green and Won't Move? (ESC & Receiver Troubleshooting)
- Setting Ride Height, Camber and Toe on Your RC Car (The Right Order, the Right Numbers)
- RC Plane First-Flight Checklist: Center of Gravity, Control Throws and Range Check
- Why Does My RC Car Stutter or Cog at Low Speed? Sensored vs Sensorless Explained
📋 Rules, Safety & the Law
- Is It Legal to Fly My RC Plane? AMA, FAA TRUST, Registration and Remote ID
- Part 107 Study Guide 2026: What's on the Test and How to Pass
- Remote ID Explained: Who Needs It, Broadcast Modules and FRIAs
- LAANC and B4UFLY Explained: How to Get Drone Airspace Authorization
- Is DJI Banned in the US? What the FCC Covered List Means for Pilots and Buyers
- Model Rocket Safety and the Law: The NAR Safety Code, FAA Part 101 and Georgia Rules
- Solar Observing Safely: Filters, Eclipses and What Never to Do
⚖️ Comparisons
- Short Course vs Buggy vs Monster Truck vs Truggy: RC Classes Explained
- Brushed vs Brushless and 2S vs 3S vs 6S: Your RC Speed Upgrade Path
- Rock Crawling for Beginners: SCX24 vs SCX30 vs SCX10 III
- Refractor vs Reflector vs Schmidt-Cassegrain: Which Telescope Type Is Right for You?
- Telescope Mounts Explained: Alt-Az vs Equatorial vs GoTo (and Which One You Need)
- Binoculars for Astronomy: Why 8x42 and 10x50 Make a Great First Telescope
- FPV for Beginners: DJI Avata 2 vs Tiny Whoops vs 5-Inch Freestyle Quads
- RC Airplane Propeller Guide: APC vs Xoar vs Master Airscrew
📍 Atlanta & Georgia
- Dark-Sky Stargazing Near Atlanta: Where to Go, Park Hours and the Best Nights in 2026
- Flying Drones Around Atlanta: Class B Airspace, Parks and Georgia Rules
- Model Rocket Clubs and Launches in Georgia: Flying with SoAR and Finding Your Club
- Your First RC Race: Classes, Transponders, Tech and Track Etiquette
Want hands-on help?
🛠️Repair & Upgrade CenterBench repairs for RC cars, planes and drones.
🎓FAA Part 107 Ground SchoolPrep for the commercial drone pilot test.
🚁Flight TrainingHands-on drone flight training.
🤖VEX Robotics ClassesIn-store VEX classes for students and teams. Ask us about the next session.
📍Visit the ShowroomTalk to the staff who wrote these guides.
Learning Center FAQ
Are these guides free?
Yes. Every guide in the Learning Center is free to read, and new guides are added several times a week.
Who writes the guides?
Atlanta Hobby staff from our repair bench, flight desk, telescope desk and robotics classes. Each desk writes under a pen name, such as Pit Lane Pete or Rotor Rae, and every guide lists its sources.
Can I get help in person?
Yes. Visit the showroom or contact us and we can help with setup, binding, repairs, telescopes and choosing your first kit.
Do you sell VEX robots?
No. We teach in-store VEX Robotics classes; contact us for the next session. VEX parts are sold by VEX Robotics.