We’re All Here Together: Black, White, Red, Yellow & Bro
If you’re of a certain age, then you probably remember DIY type electronic stores such as Radio Shack and Circuit City, neither of which exists anymore. What made these stores so interesting, decades ago, were the intellectually fascinating “toys” that were available for purchase that were a bit different than what was available in the hobbyist section of conventional box stores such as Sears and Roebuck or Montgomery Wards.
Neither of which exists anymore, either.
The catalogs that would arrive in the mail from the typical DIY electronic stores were the stuff of dreams for a young person in the 60s, 70s or 1980s. Tiny N-gauge electric train sets, electronic circuit boards that lit up and beeped or allowed the user to assemble all kinds of fun electronic project kits, and last but not least, radio-controlled cars, trucks and planes.
These types of toy models were known collectively as RCs. Or just RC for short. All sorts of hobbyist groups and even competitive club leagues were developed around RC culture.