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Builder of the Month: Darren Hamaoki (June 2026)

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Happy Canada Day! Meet Darren Hamaoki from Vancouver, BC, whose love for scale crawling and eye for realism have turned every RC project into something worth studying. From his early RC roots near Vancouver to discovering Boom Racing’s detail-rich BRX lineup, Darren has built a reputation for creating trucks that look as good as they perform. His builds, community involvement, and creative approach make him a standout figure in the hobby. Read on to see how one builder’s vision, precision, and passion came together in a story that captures the heart of scale RC.

Boom Racing:

It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Boom Racing Builder of the Month. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

Darren Hamaoki:
I grew up in the Vancouver, Canada, area. I have worked in Marine Electronics for 30+ years. The industry, being very electromechanical, is a perfect match for things in the RC Crawlers hobby.

Boom Racing:

How did you first get into RC, and what was your first RC crawling experience like?

Darren Hamaoki:
I have been around radio-controlled vehicles ever since I can remember. My Dad always had planes, cars, helicopters, and boats around the house. My first Hobby grade RC was the Tamiya Hot Shot. I was saving my money for the Frog, but then they released the Hotshot, and I had to have it instead. Spent a few months ripping it around and jumping it off skateboard ramps until my Dad robbed the crystals out of it and it sat on a shelf for months while the plastics rotted from all the acetone and dope my Dad used for his model airplane building. It wasn't till 2012 when the RC bug hit me again, and I bought an Axial Wraith....That sent me on my epic journey with scale RC crawlers.

Boom Racing:

How did you first hear about Boom Racing, and what was your journey to becoming an owner?

Darren Hamaoki:

My RC addict friend was our go-to guy for Asiatees orders and started bringing in Boom Racing products. Seeing more and more Boom Racing products, I noticed that the quality was very good. I remember Aidan and myself testing the Muscle Winch, lifting a full-sized 35" tire 4 feet off the ground, trying to prove its might. It made me realize how good these products were, but still not into the chassis. I am a creator. Every build I try to mimic reality as much as possible and like to build things scale realistic as I can. I avoided chassis that had too many holes in the chassis, giving away the ruse of “is it real or RC”? So I did not buy into the Boom Racing chassis...yet. Until the BRX01 AWB came out! It ticked all my boxes: scale, inline transmission with adjustable wheelbase and no visible extra holes! Also, the options for leaf or linked chassis... this was the ticket.

Boom Racing:

Can you tell us about your Boom Racing vehicles and what makes each one special?

Darren Hamaoki:

My first Kit was the BRX01 AWB leaf. Sticking with the Zil body set, I made a truck similar to a local brewery. My second kit was the linked version...looking for a good livery (I always liked the Gulf Oil liveries but thought it kind of a farce to put a US-originating oil livery on a Russian-built truck), I found the Russian-based Rosneft Oil company, so put that on the Zil Body, and it pops in pictures! My third Kit is WIP, taking the AWB to the next level with a 14.5" WB.

Boom Racing:

When getting a new Boom Racing kit, briefly describe your build workflow from planning to completion. What differentiates your builds from others and your peers?

Darren Hamaoki:

My workflow differs from many as I do not necessarily buy a kit to build the kit. I find a project I would like to achieve and find a kit and parts suitable to achieve the finished product. My latest achievement was to make a 1910 Packard into an RC. This meant pulling parts of the chassis and drivetrain together to suit the build. What it took was Axial rails flipped front to back, a GCM LRT2 Scale transmission, Boom Racing BRX80 axles and leafs, and custom-cut Boom Racing tires that perfectly suited the handmade super-narrow spoked wheels. All that fit under a body designed by me and printed.

Boom Racing:

Is there a “holy grail” build you aspire to undertake using a Boom Racing BRX-based kit? Which vehicle, what theme, and why?

Darren Hamaoki:

My current WIP is a 1980s Ford F-350 Crew Cab Dually. May not be my Holy Grail, but the next adventure using the BRX01 AWB stretched to 14.5" using BRX70 axles. However, after that, the next vision is to build a crawler based on one of my favourite trucks, a 1956 Ford F100... This is where the Zil body comes into play. The lines are so similar between the trucks. With a remodeled grille, hood, and some fender work, I think the Russian classic truck could be made into an American classic truck.

Boom Racing:

LMRCC Scale Crawler Competitions Association traces its roots back to the early 2000s, when crawling was still a grassroots movement organised through local forums under the banner Crawl Canada.

How did you first get involved with LMRCC?

Darren Hamaoki:

After getting the Wraith, I started getting into the competition crawling that LMRCC was doing. After a few years of volunteering and attrition of the group administration, I found myself as the acting president of the club in 2017. Since then, LMRCC has become an official registered not-for-profit association. With a goal to grow and help the local RC community gain notoriety and bigger and better venues to run our tiny trucks!

Boom Racing:

Back in the early 2000s, what rigs were you running? Was scale a consideration then? And how does that compare with the Boom Racing rigs you build and run today?

Darren Hamaoki:
When I started with the Wraith, I thought it comical to put action figures into the rig for scale appearance. But then there I was, taking a Power Ranger action figure and remodeling it to look like the "Stig" from Top Gear. In 2018, I took a 3D printed body and challenged myself to make it as scale as I could. Receiving top awards locally for the build really set the scale bug alight. Now, with Boom Racing Chassis, the scale aspect is really taking off, making it easy for builders to build a scale, realistic truck with the backbone of good performance.

Boom Racing:

How would you describe the RC community in Canada, and specifically in the Lower Mainland, BC?

Darren Hamaoki:

The RC Community is thriving in the Lower Mainland with Scale trails, Scale competitions, and events. Dirt track racing, carpet racing, drift racing, neighbourhood get-together on a weekly basis. There is so much going on, it's hard to decide what to do on your RC days!

Boom Racing:

The Rock Den is a purpose-built outdoor space for scale crawling located in Mission, BC. What do you think makes a truly great RC scale trail? From terrain variety to technical challenges and realism, what elements matter most to you?

Darren Hamaoki:

When looking for a location for an RC venue for us, the primary feature was rocks. How can you have a rock crawler without rocks? Not just a pile of boulders, but great mono rock formations. Next on the list was space, lots of space to create a network of trails weaving in and between obstacles and Rock formations. We found a spot where everything from a 1:24 scale truck to the zaniest of rock crawlers can enjoy the terrain and features.

Boom Racing:

What has been the biggest challenge in running LMRCC and The Rock Den, and what do you hope it will grow into in the future?

Darren Hamaoki:

Time, time is the biggest challenge. Joining the Rock Den and the West Coast Scale Trail is a big undertaking. With a group of dedicated volunteers and a hard-working admin team, the goal is to create two world-class crawling venues. And into the future, be a support network and example for other groups in Canada to get support starting their own venues with private, municipal, and provincial land managers.

Boom Racing:

In RC and especially scale, what stands out as a milestone in the hobby, and why? Was it a product or an event you attended? How did it change you?

Darren Hamaoki:
Two milestones stand out. For both me personally and the general it was the introduction to home-based 3D printing. Starting to design my own parts really opened up my creativity to a boundless level. Now, with the availability of body files and aftermarket designers, there really is nothing you cannot create anymore! The other milestone for me personally is attending the former Ultimate Scale Truck Expo in 2020. USTE really showed me the possibilities of the scale truck hobby and introduced me to a network of friends that truly embrace the Tiny Truck nerd in me!

Boom Racing:

What do you see the future for this hobby moving towards, and is there an aspect of it you feel is totally underrated that needs a boost?

Darren Hamaoki:

I see the future of tiny trucks that you could literally take an expanding ray gun to a tiny truck and turn the truck into a full-sized vehicle, and you could not tell the difference. Scale working windows, doors, internal combustion engines, and even functioning dash displays are getting so small and realistic.

Our local Hobby shops need a boost! I realize it is a dying business model. However, they are important to keep them going, to be an access point for support, and to grow the hobby. Nowadays, if someone wants to get into the hobby, they usually see someone else with an RC truck, and they go home and order the cheapest piece of junk from Bezos Bargains. They have no support, no one to give them recommendations, no one to help them repair their RC, which probably broke on the first day or hour of use. Many will end up tossing it in the bin where it belongs, and hate the hobby and never try again.

The very few will try again and maybe get into a hobby-grade RC. However, they still have no support or direction. The local hobby stores are critical for getting those folks properly into the hobby and giving them support in parts and materials needed to keep them interested and thriving in the hobby.

Thank you, Darren, for sharing your story with us! For more, readers can follow Darren’s groups on social media:

Facebook:

LMRCC Scale Crawler Competitions Association

Lower Mainland Radio Control Crawlers

West Coast Scale Trail

Author:Beth Liang & Peter G

Published Date:01 Jul 2026