What did your parents think of your RC interest?

[Saito2]

I was speaking with my mother the other day about our home and some of the renovations I've been working on. She made an offhanded comment about my hobby room (which she considers a wasted room full of "toys"-whatever) and about how I really should make it a spare bedroom. Considering how I've never had a friend of family member over to spend the night in my entire life of home ownership, I told her I didn't see the point. The whole discussion reminded me that my folks never supported my interest in RC and oft times subtly tried to suppress it. I may never really know why at this point. 

I can remember when I first wanted an RC, which wound up being a small, full function Nikko Fiero. From the get-go, the answer was "if you want it, save your money and buy it yourself". I did just that, back at an age where pocket money usually disappeared from a youngster's wallet as soon as they got it. When I'd see something tempt me, they even suggested I spend a little of the money I was saving up, but I was resolute. It was the first of many lessons about earning and saving up money which proved to be a benefit. With it came financial responsibility. The time I asked for a Vanquish on closeout for a Christmas present ($225 reduced to $99) they agreed only if I agreed that would be my only present that year. Again, I was resolute. Then there's the bit I mentioned before about them pitching some of my cars in the trash while I was away at college. despite my still being in the hobby. My folks were great people in many many aspects of my life otherwise but at every turn (and I could go on as there is a story for every RC acquisition I made in my youth) they tried to hinder my RC interest.

I know there have got to be better, more positive stories out there and I'd like to hear them (even the not-so-positive ones too) involving these honestly rather expensive models/toys from our youth that we continue to enjoy today.

[Re-Bugged]

   As most Parents mine's response to pointing out a Tamiya RC or Wedico Truck in the early 80’s with the ever hopeful tone in  the voice was, 

“That’s a pretty penny for that isn’t it. Best try your luck writing to Santa”

Not that I could blame them, but worth a shot. I did get a Sonic Controlled F1 car, forward and turn in reverse only, a standard battery powered full function dune buggy, and Remote controlled (controller hard wired in) Pegaso Truck over time. That was pretty awesome it could just about turn around in the lounge with the trailer on.

    They where more supportive towards Lego and Scalextric in the long term of which I got tremendous enjoyment from and was easier on the bank balance.
    I think it’s what triggered them to start giving my sister and me weekly pocket money, and so followed the ‘save for it’ trend.

   That went well for years, with my new found wealth and working weekends with my Dad as a Builder for a bit extra would then fund a keen interest in Trucks. I accumulated some twenty odd 1/24 Static Truck kits to keep me occupied. This was a more viable option than saving for 5 years for a Super Champ. 
     One day though a comment from my Dad made it abundantly clear that I’d spent enough on ‘piles’ of plastic. Nuts. But the pull of a finished kit was to much and I continued to build Trucks out of sight hiding them under the bed. Some even made it out onto the many shelves in the bedroom unannounced. Safety in numbers as they say.

  On the topic of having things thrown out, 

I used to keep all my Matchbox car boxes, but Mum tossed them all in a clean up. Lesson learnt there keep things tidy or someone might do it for you 😬

And later on in life I went travelling with a mate. While I was away my folks decided to redecorate my room. I think this was more an excuse to dismantle some of the shelves. In the process of stripping my room all the the rubbish was put into black bin bags. Trouble was all my clothes in the Wardrobe was also put into black bags. 
   So when I returned home looking forward to some decent clothes to wear again after living in some fairly thread bare garments by then, it was a bit deflating to discover they had been chucked out with the rubbish 😱 Oh well at least the Wallpaper looked nice.

  I never really knew my Dad had any hobbies outside of fishing, until he got into flying RC plane’s about 10 years ago. He must have seen the potential for storage in my old bedroom as a photo he sent me a couple of years after moving out showed the room that is more akin to an Air Craft hanger than a bedroom. Since then the appreciation of RC knows no bounds and the common interest is a popular topic now when I phone home.

  The fact my Dad bought me an RC Nitro Buggy for my 40th when they visited was a show of a complete turnaround in any previous hang ups. Man I love that Buggy.

Funny how things come around isn’t it.

  Now A homeowner myself I’ve added a dedicated hobby space bench area to a spare bedroom too. I told my wife it is a shared space that she’s more than welcome to use, once I’ve finished the Knight Hauler that is 😉 After all a house is more of a home when it’s tailored to your own needs and lifestyle. 

  

  

[87lc2]

I had the opposite experience, without my dad I probably wouldn't be into RC at all.  My dad is (and always was) a big hobbyist, RC, trains, cars, etc.  When I was younger he had all of the cool Tamiyas of the 80s; Clod, Blackfoot, Grasshopper, Hot Shot, King Tiger, among others.  For my 13th birthday he bought me an RC10 Championship Edition that I built at night over a week's time.  It is still one of the best memories of my life, not only RC but memories in general.  

I raced the RC10 for a while (my father had one too), but my life was mostly consumed with sports and 1:1 cars through high school/college.  In the past few years we have both gotten heavily into RC again and it's a great way for us to spend time together.  We go out on local trails nearly every weekend and it's always a good time.  

It's funny, because my father was into RC when I was younger I feel like I took it for granted, and only now that I'm older am I truly appreciating it.  I guess for you guys RC consumed you when you were younger because it was not looked upon kindly by your parents. Funny how that works.

[Dakratfink]

2 minutes ago, 87lc2 said:

I had the opposite experience, without my dad I probably wouldn't be into RC at all.  My dad is (and always was) a big hobbyist, RC, trains, cars, etc.  When I was younger he had all of the cool Tamiyas of the 80s; Clod, Blackfoot, Grasshopper, Hot Shot, King Tiger, among others.  For my 13th birthday he bought me an RC10 Championship Edition that I built at night over a week's time.  It is still one of the best memories of my life, not only RC but memories in general.  

I raced the RC10 for a while (my father had one too), but my life was mostly consumed with sports and 1:1 cars through high school/college.  In the past few years we have both gotten heavily into RC again and it's a great way for us to spend time together.  We go out on local trails nearly every weekend and it's always a good time.  

It's funny, because my father was into RC when I was younger I feel like I took it for granted, and only now that I'm older am I truly appreciating it.  I guess for you guys RC consumed you when you were younger because it was not looked upon kindly by your parents. Funny how that works.

My experience was much like yours. 
I got a Nikko Turbo Oanther one year for Christmas. After I drove it a few months when it started to break. Dad started looking toward a hobby grade replacement. 
He had always been into trains, slot cars , static models etc. He got a Kyosho Optima Mid for “our” first hobby grade car and he always enjoyed the build on any subsequent RCs we shared. He didn’t drive nearly as much as me.  

[SupraChrgd82]

It’s an expensive hobby that does not afford me drugs or contraband.  I think that on some level, the parents approve.

[Juggular]

2 hours ago, SupraChrgd82 said:

It’s an expensive hobby that does not afford me drugs or contraband.  I think that on some level, the parents approve.

That's funny how my parents thought the same. They thought it was a silly waste of time. But they figured it's better than weeds, so they figured it's alright.  They always knew that I loved rally cars, so I don't think they were surprised that I picked it up again from age 26.  They way I see it, many of us are born with it.  We just can't be too far away from motors and wheels so we just keep coming back to them.  

 

[ACCEL]

6 minutes ago, Juggular said:

We just can't be too far away from motors and wheels so we just keep coming back to them.  

 

Yes in fact i drink motor oil for healthier skin

My Dad thinks it's neat after all he introduced me to slot cars.

My mom, well she said this "You're Nuts!"

[Tamiyabigstuff]

My 1st Tamiya R/C was a 58028 Toyota Hilux 4x4.

In total, with the Acoms AP-427 radio gear, NiCad batteries & chargers it cost in total more than a months salary - bear in mind this was early 1980's.

My dad said I needed my head examined...

[Grumpy pants]

6 minutes ago, Tamiyabigstuff said:

My 1st Tamiya R/C was a 58028 Toyota Hilux 4x4.

In total, with the Acoms AP-427 radio gear, NiCad batteries & chargers it cost in total more than a months salary - bear in mind this was early 1980's.

My dad said I needed my head examined...

This was my 1st RC as well @ 15, my dad would have said the same thing and probably a bit more besides 😂

[Ministrone]

2 hours ago, ACCEL said:

 

My mom, well she said this "You're Nuts!"

Just tell her “Being Nuts is Neat” 😆

[Krustybus]

I was lucky in having parents that supported me in whatever I was doing. Started with RC cars and then mountain bikes (back in the late 80's/early 90's). My Dad would give up his Sunday mornings to take me to the odd local race.

Now I'm middle aged with a house and a family my RC cars (only got a 3) sit on the top of my desk quite happily (mrs krusty...not sure she'd like being called that :-P) is fine with it (so she says, I think she just puts up with it), the kids love it and my folks, well I don't think they have even noticed the appearance of a Grasshopper (my 1st hobby RC that me and my Dad built, this one is a re-re, not the original) sitting on a shelf in the corner of the kitchen. I don't think I'd get away with many more cars in that space so if I want another it'll have to be 'one out, one in'

I'm more self conscious of the neighbours when I'm having a cheeky drive in the back lane behind my house :-P 

[Mad Ax]

I think my parents were a bit take-it-or-leave-it with RC.  My first proper RC was a Nikko Turbo Panther which I got for Christmas and drove for years, my first hobby-grade was a Tamiya King Cab which I got (very) used from my cousin with my own pocket money, although it required near-continual borrowing of my mum's credit card to keep it running.  They bought my a Mud Blaster as an early Christmas present when I put a bit of my own money towards it, but that was the only hobby-grade RC that was bought for me.  I later got "long-term loaned" a completely trashed Hotshot and a well-used Grasshopper from a friend of the family, I inherited a non-functional 3-speed Hilux from an aunt after it was left at her place by a tenant who owed money, and when I was 16 I bought an entry-level Kyosho nitro buggy, which would have been the last RC of my childhood years before a 10 year hiatus.

In fairness, my parents did buy me two RC planes.  For my 13th Christmas I got a Nikko Sky Ace, an RTR 2ch electric plane, which I never fully developed the confidence to fly.  Actually I only flew it four times: the second flight of Christmas Day ended in collision with power cables and a lengthy wait for new parts.  It actually hit those cables two more times during its lifetime.

My second plane was a Precedent High Boy, a balsa high-wing trainer.  I got the radio and motor and everything, but never finished building it as I needed help from my dad for the more technical bits, and he was always busy.  He worked nights and slept all day for most of my childhood.

In fairness, when I was racing motocross bikes he was always there, I think he loved playing with the bike so he made the time.  He'd had dirt bikes when he was younger and a variety of cars and bikes as a young adult, before mortgage, kids and endless work took over.

I think that's something my generation often forgets.  I was born in 1980, in the tail end of the Cold War.  I was too young to remember the Falklands, too young to understand the 1987 stock market crash, I didn't know what the miners were striking about and I was only aware enough to be vaguely excited by the Gulf War.  Until 2020, we never realised how easy we had it or how quickly things could get bad, but recently I've been watching a show about Britain since 1945 and I never knew how bad things had been before I was born.  A lot of Brits are losing the plot and throwing their teddies out of the pram over the restrictions around the pandemic but you don't have to wind the clock back that far to find the bad stuff that our parents and grandparents lived through.

I think that shaped them.  My parents never had hobbies when I was growing up.  My dad played football for a local team for a while when I was very little, but he was self-employed in a a physical job, and when he injured his knee he couldn't work for months, and that was that.  Mostly he just worked and slept - we would get in trouble for making noise at home because he slept all day.  I've grown up to be a very quiet person who detests domestic noise in all its forms.

For a time he was restoring an old tractor, but it was too much of a millstone so once they moved to a smaller home it got sold.  Now both parents pretty much spend all their time on DIY and gardening.  That's all they do.  They were OK during LD1.0 because it was spring and there was loads to do in the garden, but they were utterly miserable in LD2.0 and still are in LD2.1 because they've literally got nothing to do.  Having hobbies was always seen as an extravagance, and when they come to my place they're stunned by how much stuff I have, basically for failing collage and falling into a 9-5 desk job.  Especially as my sister (who was always the mature and frugal one) and her husband work flat out to run a vet surgery, have to deal with late nights, early starts, long weeks, staff shortages and awkward clients, after studying for years at uni, and have very little time left to enjoy life.

[moffman]

My parents especially my mother (God rest her soul) did support me my dad was more down the route of supporting how I fund my rc fix with the route of my paper round including sunday papers and milk round (remember getting your milk delivered) and Friday getting paid extra to collect the milk money! He then would subsidise anything which was overly expensive knowing I had saved and done my bit (tough love I think its called) my mom on the other hand was completely different she would go to the ends of the earth to make sure that my hobby was the main thing in my younger days and although she didn't have a clue about anything rc she would really want to take an interest in the whole hobby that I was doing! I think and know she just wanted to make sure I was happy! And that lasted right the way through my life and my children's lives she just wanted to be a big part of all of our lives hobbies and all until the day she passed away🙏

[Fabia130vRS]

Being a parent by myself also, I like when my child can amuse himself instead of always having to play together. May sound rude to people who dont have children but sometimes it is exhausting. 
 

neverless my father bought me my first Tamiya DT01 Fighter Buggy when I was 9. He had to help me with screwing it together. 
 

and I alwys had support from him in terms of buying a digital esc or hotter motor, if there was a legitimate reason for buying

 

before the Tamiya I had a bunch of toy grade rc from Nikko, I liked car in general so this was the way to go.

[Re-Bugged]

3 hours ago, ACCEL said:

Yes in fact i drink motor oil for healthier skin

Another friend of mine is addicted to Brake Fluid, but it’s OK he can stop at anytime. 

[Re-Bugged]

1 hour ago, Ministrone said:

Just tell her “Being Nuts is Neat” 😆

I’d like to nominate ^this^  for quote of the year as I nearly choked on a sarnie waiting to load a truck 😂

[Mad Ax]

39 minutes ago, Fabia130vRS said:

Being a parent by myself also, I like when my child can amuse himself instead of always having to play together. May sound rude to people who dont have children but sometimes it is exhausting. 

as a parent and also with a fresh memory of my own childhood, I think the ability to play alone is very important.  We aren't always surrounded by people (especially in 2020!) and if we can enjoy our own company we are better able to appreciate the company of others instead of depend on it and be resentful if it isn't there.

My daughter will be 4 years old in February and has always enjoyed playing on her own as much as with her family or friends.  Quite often I can leave her playing with her toys while I'm doing something else in the next room, she knows where I am if she needs me and I'm close enough to make sure she's not getting into trouble but she enjoys the time alone and has developed an incredible imagination to narrate her own playtime  

[Badcrumble]

1 hour ago, Mad Ax said:

as a parent and also with a fresh memory of my own childhood, I think the ability to play alone is very important.  We aren't always surrounded by people (especially in 2020!) and if we can enjoy our own company we are better able to appreciate the company of others instead of depend on it and be resentful if it isn't there.

My daughter will be 4 years old in February and has always enjoyed playing on her own as much as with her family or friends.  Quite often I can leave her playing with her toys while I'm doing something else in the next room, she knows where I am if she needs me and I'm close enough to make sure she's not getting into trouble but she enjoys the time alone and has developed an incredible imagination to narrate her own playtime  

Totally agree, I spent a lot of time on my own as a kid (product of a broken home, only child, yadda, yadda) with books and toys (AF, Lego, Transformers). Even just a pencil and a sheet of paper and I’d be fine. Funds didn’t extend to proper RC (Mini Hopper my limit).

Now I have a six year old son who enjoys playing with his friends but also loves his Lego and a bit of RC (he’s just getting into books which is cool).

Mrs BC is also an only child and loves to see el kid’s imagination and building talent which reminds her of her late father - photographer, radio ham, film editor and producer and 1:1 steam enthusiast.

So RC is actively encouraged in our house as a wholesome non-screen based activity for him, his mates and me!

[ACCEL]

and to think all these stories brought us here, Hey! I love you guys

[TwistedxSlayer]

My story started in 1999/2000.

I was a huge Subaru Impreza fan at the tender age of 13. And I asked for a remote control car for Christmas. My parents got me a QuickDrive Impreza which I loved and being into real cars massively, I proceeded to pimp said car with a speaker, home made amplifier (that I made in school) and a sony walkman. It was proper ace. I tried ti but some new wheels for it but found none would fit. I took it out of the front street quite alot and ran it until I'd ran out of packs. I loved it. The following year I asked could I have a real remote control car, one that I had to build myself. So my parents took me to the model shop and we spoke with the owner for a while, I knew I wanted another rally car and the TB01 had just been released. We agreeded it would be the only present I would get that year combined birthday and Christmas because of the initial cost of buying it, with the charger and spare packs and the radio gear. The shop owner sold it to us with a Mtroinks ESC and a Traumas steering wheel controller as I preferred that over sticks.

 

Me and my Dad built it over Christmas and my Mum had my Uncle spray it up and sticker it. It was the 2001 Ford Focus.

 

I still own the car now.

 

Overall my parents weren't too concerned or negative towards my spending on the car, I had maybe 1 or 2 comments like... aren't you too old for that now at (18/19).  But they saw it made me happy, kept me out of trouble and give me something to tinker with and I think they were OK with it.

They ask every now and then if I've still got it.... which I have, sat in the cupboard. Ill never get rid of it.

[No Slack]

As a child from the sixties I grew up building Airfix kits and later raced cars on a Faller HO slotrace track (the grey track pieces). My parents always supported the hobbies. RC was expensive in the sixties and seventies. Only somewhere in the eighties I bought my first RC, the mighty Monster Beetle. So I was late at the party but I have enjoyed RC since. My parents still ask me about the the RC hobby. Mrs. NS has a total different opinion though.

[Dakratfink]

22 minutes ago, No Slack said:

As a child from the sixties I grew up building Airfix kits and later raced cars on a Faller HO slotrace track (the grey track pieces). My parents always supported the hobbies. RC was expensive in the sixties and seventies. Only somewhere in the eighties I bought my first RC, the mighty Monster Beetle. So I was late at the party but I have enjoyed RC since. My parents still ask me about the the RC hobby. Mrs. NS has a total different opinion though.

My dad was probably around your generation and had interest in those things. When I was a lad in the 80s he transferred most of those passions to me.  In addition to RCs I also had planets of Afx and tyco slot cars. 

[Super ally]

My dad was great,he bought my brother a second hand falcon and me a second hand fox from a guy in a model plane club i was in back in the 80s.He also got me a hornet kit and blackfoot kit later as well so i was lucky in that regard.Now you should also ask what your other half thinks and that is totally different with mine.

[87lc2]

3 minutes ago, Super ally said:

My dad was great,he bought my brother a second hand falcon and me a second hand fox from a guy in a model plane club i was in back in the 80s.He also got me a hornet kit and blackfoot kit later as well so i was lucky in that regard.Now you should also ask what your other half thinks and that is totally different with mine.

I agree, I'm interested to hear what the wives think about your hobby.  Mine happens to be totally supportive and likes that I keep busy, but I know that's not the case for all...

[Nwc100]

I think I got my first car, my beloved sonic fighter in around 88 or 89, I received it for Christmas and I remember it cost £100 exactly, £50 for the car and £50 for the standard deal!

It was half my Christmas present from my parents and half my Christmas money paid up in advance, my mum always ensured we had stuff to occupy us, be it bikes or a football or in my car my sonic fighter.

Admittedly I didnt do that car many favours there was perhaps a £40 motor that went into it that melted the MSC and then an ESC which melted the tamiya battery connectors, all my earnings went on that little car.

I remember building it in the dead of winter which although part of the house was stone cold all year round, my dad was never really interested in it, and that's the one thing I'll take from my childhood whatever my son is into this week we'll do it together!

Age 22ish I got a nitro Impreza from some shop somewhere, lasted a while but the upkeep was a bit of a pain.

And now this summer age 43 we have a lunchbox, TT02 Yaris and a  TA03R getting wrapped up tonight for our family present, it will provide a few hours of father son building time and also occupies me for a while when he visits his mum. I guess my parents weren't that interested, but that means it's probably much better for me, as stated above things where very different back then, my dad worked 6 days a week, mum went to work when dad came in from work, I've got it pretty easy, I work from home, drop off and pick up my son from school every day, I'm pretty lucky.