Two remote control trucks with Santa hats on their roofs, red on the left and green on the right, facing each other, on a green platform on a work table.
Close-up of a small, detailed rubber tire with a central hub, placed on a green cutting mat.
A black box labeled 'FIRMA 550 3-Pole Motor' in front of a red RC car with black tires, positioned on a flat surface.

Welcome to Paulie’s Picks!

Welcome to Paulie's Picks: Hands-on Hobby Reviews & Family Adventure. My goal is to help dads build memories, skills, and courage with their kids through adventure, creativity, and hands-on projects.

Hi, I’m Paul (or Paulie). I grew up in NJ and earned the nickname Paulie. I used to hate the name with a passion, but I have decided to embrace it.

“So, how ya doin’? I’m Paulie. You don’t like my stuff? Well fuhgeddaboudit…. !”

The flavor of this site is light-hearted, but I also hope to leave you thinking about something. Most of all, I really want to teach you a skill that I have learned. Trust me…. I pay a lot of tuition to the school of hard knocks! I have earned many PhDs from that school! I hope to cut your tuition bill to that school.

My goal is to help dads build memories and skills with their kids through RC car projects, motorcycles/cars, and outdoor travel. The blog is going to depend on the season and the opportunities presented to me. This is not really a full business, but a side hustle to hopefully build a business for my kids. The Amazon links are affiliate links. I do get some kickback from it. So, I appreciate you using the links.

Grab a chair, sip some coffee, and enjoy my quirky humor. Who knows, you might even learn something along the way, or give a helpful pointer in the comments! Let’s build an encouraging community.

Featured
Does Tamiya's Quattro Capture the Legend?
Does Tamiya's Quattro Capture the Legend?

It was pushing 8:00 AM, and I'd been at this since 5:30. I needed to get ready for work, but I had to watch one more vintage rally video. Just one more. I was three hours into researching sponsor placement on a UR Audi Quattro. I did all this for a $40 RC body. That's when I realized: I'd become that person.

Audi Quattro: The Rally Car That Changed AWD Forever
Audi Quattro: The Rally Car That Changed AWD Forever

I used to think Audis were just quirky, overpriced Volkswagens. Then I watched rally racing and realized something profound: horsepower doesn’t win races—traction does. The Audi Quattro wasn’t just another AWD car; it was a radical rethink of how power gets to the ground. From frozen test courses in Finland to modern RC builds on my workbench, this car represents innovation, perseverance, and the willingness to try something no one else thought would work.

Tried for 40, but Missed the Mark
Tried for 40, but Missed the Mark

I set out to prove you could hit 40 MPH with a brushed motor Arrma Fury on a budget. Spoiler: I maxed out at 24 MPH in 25-degree weather. After buying a bone stock brushed Fury and another with a burnt-up ESC, I upgraded the brushed motor, replaced brushes, and experimented with different pinion gears. The goal? Hit that furious 40 MPH mark without going brushless.

The takeaway? If you want high speed, buy brushless from the start. The brushless Fury is only $30 more than the brushed. Yes, you'll need batteries and a charger (another $115), but it's worth it if racing is your goal. That said, upgrading a brushed motor is therapeutic and educational. If you can score a brushed Fury under $150, it's a great platform to learn on. Just know what you're getting into.