Builder of the Month: Carlo Magno (July 2024)

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For the month of July 2024, we are proud to announce Carlo Magno as our Builder of the Month! A talented artist, painter, and sculptor from the Philippines, Carlo is the owner of 4 BRX vehicles. Recently, he organized a meet and greet for BRX owners and friends at his farm. Keep reading to learn more about our friend Carlo.

Boom:

Welcome, Carlo, and thank you for sharing your amazing builds with the Boom community. Can you tell us about yourself and how you got into the hobby?

Carlo Magno:

My name is Carlo Magno. I'm a painter and sculptor and do digital and 3D artwork. I've been in RC hobby since 2009, working on multi-rotors DIY, DIY planes. I have been fascinated by RC electronics and designed my own Flight controllers. But lately, I've gotten interested in Surface RC since Tiny Race drones are more tense and less relaxing, so I opted for a more relaxing RC Crawler. I browsed the internet for the best crawlers available. So I bought a used BRX01 LC70; since it's already an RTR, I never thought that building one was fun, though painstakingly hard.

Boom:

What was your first RC vehicle? Why choose the model you did? (and the level of detail you settled upon?)

Carlo Magno:

In 1994, we had a Ham radio group, DX1PRS, and most members were Hobbyists. We diversified into RC, and most of us bought this Big Foot RC truck, which we played with in mud and dirt. It was fun, but the group went into hibernation. But after the pandemic, these BRXs revived the hobbyist in most of us. These surface RCs are more complicated than RCs before. Their motor type, the ESCs, and the controller itself have come a long way.

Boom:

How did you discover the Boom Racing brand?

Carlo Magno:

I was browsing for the best crawler. I tried a few crawlers but was still not satisfied, so I read some reviews and checked the specs of these BRXs on their website. They're good! They have lots of accessories and mod upgrades too.

Boom:

Can you tell us about your Boom Racing vehicles?

Carlo Magno:

I have a BRX01 LC70, which I removed the bed and replaced with a flatbed tray with two half canopies. I modified it a bit; I intended to make it look like a communication vehicle, like mounting a satellite receiver on top with half-parabolic antennas; it is still unfinished, though. I have another LC70, for which I added an updated utility rack to look more like for recreation. I bought a BRX02 D110 and turned it into a Camel Trophy theme, which made it my heaviest rig. I have BRX02 109 and added a canopy frame and some 3d printed figures I designed.

Boom:

What's the one tip (when building a new kit & rig) you think everyone should follow?

Carlo Magno:

When building a new kit and rig, I suggest taking it slow to enjoy every detail. Research the real vehicle details and have a clean and organized workplace.

Boom:

If you could build any vehicle from any era (that isn't currently being made), what would that vehicle be?

Carlo Magno:

If I could build an Era vehicle, I think it would be a 1958 Buick convertible. I saw these vehicles, though not convertibles when I was a child and was fascinated.

Boom:

Any tips on getting a good paint 'Adhesion' and 'Finish' when painting and detailing hard bodies?

Carlo Magno:

I cleaned my hardbody plastic with soap and water before applying 2 to 3 layers of gray primer and then the actual colors. Sometimes, I used 2 to 3 overlaying colors, especially if the primer is quite dark, to achieve the right one.

Boom:

What do you use for a driver figure and why?

Carlo Magno:

I designed my driver figures using 3 software programs to make them look more Asian. Then, I 3D printed them with a Resin 3D printer, applied hand-painted acrylic colors with a number 1 and 3 pointed bristle brush, and finished them with a matte coating. I like the matte coating to make the figure look real and not toyish.

Boom:

What is your experience with installing LEDs?

Carlo Magno:

Installing LEDs can be messy if you don't plan which route to take before fixing each LED. I recommend planning simple and clean routes. I usually used meshed tapes to fix the wires in line.

Boom:

When fitting LEDs, what tips would you offer to achieve a more scale-looking light with no bleed-through behind them?

Carlo Magno:

For a more scale-looking light, I use LEDs with no circuitry, just plain LEDs. When LEDs are quite bright, I use a resistor between the anode leg of the LED and the positive wire to limit the current, thereby making it a bit dull, especially for park lights and signal lights. For signal lights with no painted lens, I paint them with transparent Marker pens, usually red and yellow. I use opaque light glue at the back of each LED.

Boom:

And finally...What final words of wisdom do you have for the rest of the Boom community to fire them up and inspire them into an epic build of their own?

Carlo Magno:

I suggest picking a theme that suits your environment, location, or even an experience. You can make it more interesting by adding accessories, stickers, and even hand-painted designs. Then, from there, take it slow and enjoy every minute detail.

Author:Beth Liang