Best Workbench Podcasts (2025)

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Workbench Edition 390- Victorious return for Britain’s final V-Bomber kit 32:41

Play Pause

4d ago32:41

32:41

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. Our subject for this latest edition of Workbench is the heavily requested re-introduction of an incredibly popular kit, one which has to be regarded as one of the most impressive to have ever graced the Airf…

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November 17 2025 #277 - Overland Wireless and APRS Bots | W3GMS Workbench 1:23:19

7d ago1:23:19

1:23:19

chaired by Jim AF3Z, delivers the full 985 experience: lively check-ins, deep technical dives, and the kind of friendly on-air camaraderie you only get from a seasoned group of operators. The night opens with repeater housekeeping, intermod warnings, and digital-mode clarifications before rolling into a long, rich round of station updates — everyth…

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207 - Should all table saws have Sawstop technology? 1:27:34

21h ago1:27:34

1:27:34

Join our Podcast Community on Patreon!! - www.patreon.com/ThreeSplintersPodcastFor your chance to win awesome prizes every month, be sure to become a Patron. Our giveaways are specifically for our Patrons, and they are automatically enrolled every month. This is our way of saying thank you to all those that support us!Find more of Jason's content h…

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Which Direction Should the Fins Go on CRP and Parma Nerf Wings? 6:23

23h ago6:23

6:23

There has been a long debate in the radio control hobbyist community about which direction the fins go on the CRP and Parma Nerf Wing. We dig into the aerodynamics, geometry, material science, and physics and explain why there is only one correct way that makes sense for your need wings and while the other way can actually hurt your ORV Chassis rad…

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Identifying All of the Tamiya R/C Model Vehicles in "Boys Will Be Girls" 5:33

2d ago5:33

5:33

"Boys Will Be Girls" is an iconic 2nd season episode of the original Punky Brewster television series that gets watched a lot by those in the radio control model hobbyist community via the Peacock streaming app. In this episode, Tamiya USA provided a large number of popular radio controlled buggies, cars, trucks, and jeeps. We identify all of those…

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Why Did Tamiya Make the Comical Series of R/C Buggies? 4:46

3d ago4:46

4:46

Tamiya is known for scale accuracy and being number one in quality around the world. However, they went SD (super deformed) with their comical series of 2WD (two wheel drive) and 4WD (four wheel drive) versions of their iconic 1/10th scale radio controlled buggies in an effort to engage young children and families with these easier to build model k…

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Is There Any Connection Between R/C Hobbyist Culture and Otakus? 4:46

4d ago4:46

4:46

Do the otaku, waifu, weeb, and itasha community have anything to do with the Japanese radio control hobbyist and enthusiasts communities? If so, what are the connections besides Tamiya and Kyosho R/C model cars, trucks, buggies, vans, jeeps, and busses being from Japan? We take a deep look into psychology and philosophy and uncover any hidden or vi…

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HOW-TO: Choose the Right Damper Oil for Aeration Oil-Filled Dampers 7:04

5d ago7:04

7:04

Aerated oil-filled dampers need a different cSt (centistokes) of oil than that which you put in your stock shocks or CVA oil-filled dampers. Why is this and what should you use when replacing your stock shocks with these TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) hop-up options? We measure the oil and give you all the whats, whys, and hows in this shocking episod…

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HOW-TO: Upgrade the Front Suspension of Your Frog to Oil-Filled Shocks 6:36

6d ago6:36

6:36

If you want to upgrade your front end suspension on your Tamiya ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis R/C model car, buggy, or truck like the Subaru BRAT, the Lancia 037 Rally, or the Frogfrom a horizontal spring and plungers damper to full oil-filled shocks you have many options from Parma to CRP (Custom Racing Products) to RC Channel to Tamiya. We sprin…

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What are R/C Beadlock Wheels and Tires and How Do They Work? 6:46

7d ago6:46

6:46

This comprehensive guide to R/C bead lock wheels examines their mechanical principles, weighs their pros and cons against traditional glue-on alternatives, and analyzes their specific suitability for diverse applications including rock crawling, bashing, high-speed racing, and drifting, to help radio-controlled model vehicle enthusiasts make an inf…

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Are Concave or Convex Bumpers Better for Protecting Your Chassis and Gearbox? 4:24

8d ago4:24

4:24

When applying a CRP (Custom Racing Products) rear bumper on a ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis gearbox with a gearbox support gear tensioner, like the ones from Skibby's Performance Mods, depending on the direction you place the metal pieces, your white dyeable nylon bumper will either bend outward or inward. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podca…

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HOW-TO: Replace Hollow Faux Headlight Buckets with Working LEDs 5:13

9d ago5:13

5:13

A popular hop-up option is to replace the stock faux headlamp buckets on radion control cars, trucks, buggies, jeeps, busses, and vans with real working LED (Light-Emitting Diode) headlights. There are PnP (Plug-and-Play) hop-up options from companies like Tamiya, but DIY (Do-It-Yourself) options are widely available as well. We unwire and illumina…

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The Mazda K360: The Livery Inspiration for the Tamiya Mighty Frog R/C Buggy 5:19

10d ago5:19

5:19

Tamiya's the (Mighty) Frog radio-controlled 1/10th scale 2WD (Two Wheel Drive) model buggy kit has box art livery and instructions that direct you to paint it like the Mazda K360 three wheeled delivery trucks that were famously called Frog Delivery Trucks in Japan. We drive deep into the swamp, below the lily pads, and get you all the details on th…

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Hobby Grade Radio Controlled Model Vehicles vs. Toy Grade R/C 6:51

11d ago6:51

6:51

On the RC Deep Dive podcast we constantly talk about how Tamiya, AE (Associated Electronics), Kyosho, Schumacher, Losi, Arrma, and Traxxas are hobby-grade R/C cars, trucks, buggies, tanks, busses, vans, and jeeps. But what is the exact fine line between toy-grade radio control vehicles and the superior hobby model kits, and how has this line change…

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Workbench Edition 388- New Gustav ‘Superkit’ makes debut at Scale ModelWorld 2025 30:37

11d ago30:37

30:37

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. Well, what a spectacular weekend that turned out to be. With the latest instalment of the Scale ModelWorld phenomenon now done and dusted, we can confidently confirm that this modelling hobby we all enjoy so…

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SolderSmoke262

12d ago

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SolderSmoke issue 262By Bill Meara

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When and Where Should You Use the Tamiya Electric Handy Router? 7:45

12d ago7:45

7:45

We have covered the Tamiya Electric Handy Drill in a previous episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast, but today we still drill down to the route of when and where you should use another handy tool, the Tamiya Electric Handy Router. They absolutely are not the same and should not be used for a job associated with the other handy craft tools. However, s…

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Why are Toroidal Inductors Important in Radio Control Model Vehicles? 8:17

13d ago8:17

8:17

In this episode of the RC Deep Dive we power up your knowledge of how toroidal inductors, known as ferrite rings in the R/C hobby, serve as a cost-effective and essential solution for suppressing high-frequency EMI (electromagnetic interference) from powerful electronics to prevent control glitches and ensure reliability in high-performance vehicle…

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What are the Most Popular R/C Model Vehicles for Women and Girls 5:11

14d ago5:11

5:11

While women and girls are welcome to participate in the R/C hobby as much as men and boys, there are certain patterns and preferences that are different among the majority of female radio controlled car, truck, buggy, van, and jeep builders, bashers, collectors, crawlers, displayers, drifters, on-road and off-road racers, and speed runners. We iden…

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Ep.10 - S2|E3: From Makers to Hackers – Lessons from Maker Faire Salzburg 12:57

12d ago12:57

12:57

In this new episode of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I take a short break from the deep technical dives into Embedded Linux to explore something more fundamental — curiosity. During my visit to Maker Faire Salzburg, I met passionate creators, young experimenters, and communities that reminded me why I started making in the first place.…

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Workbench Edition 387 | Airfix unleash large scale Me 109 ‘Gustav’ at Scale ModelWorld 39:36

15d ago39:36

39:36

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. You will have noticed that we have a slightly later publication timing for this latest edition of our Workbench blog this week, but for very good reason. By now, the Airfix events team will be hard at work s…

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206 - Are the trades angry at creators? 1:15:36

15d ago1:15:36

1:15:36

Join our Podcast Community on Patreon!! - www.patreon.com/ThreeSplintersPodcastFor your chance to win awesome prizes every month, be sure to become a Patron. Our giveaways are specifically for our Patrons, and they are automatically enrolled every month. This is our way of saying thank you to all those that support us!Find more of Jason's content h…

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R/C Cars, Trucks, and Buggies in Professional Music Videos 5:20

15d ago5:20

5:20

Did you know that whether you see them on the screen or not, that R/C cars, trucks, and buggies have long been an important part of professionally made music videos like the ones that used to be played on MTV (Music Television) and VH1 (Video Hits One)? You may want your MTV or want it off the air now, but we pump up the volume and give you the jam…

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R/C Model Vehicles Merit Badges in Boy Scouts and Girl Guides 5:25

16d ago5:25

5:25

Did you know that Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and Girl Scouts around the world can earn merit badges and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) awards by building, repairing, and hopping-up their radio controlled model vehicles? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we take a hike into the depths of the twin international Scout…

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The Slow Acceptance of Women and Girls in the R/C Hobbyist Community in Japan 6:10

17d ago6:10

6:10

The acceptance of female R/C hobbyists in Japan evolved from a male-dominated beginning, sparked by media representation in the 1980s and 90s, that normalized their interest. This has culminated in the modern era where dedicated "Girls Class" races and nationally recognized female competitors are now a visible part of the hobby. We dig into the div…

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Which is Better? Thorp Dirt Burners' Ball Differential or the MIP Super Ball Diff? 6:19

18d ago6:19

6:19

During the golden age of R/C, for the ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis radio controlled model vehicles, Thorp Manufacturing a.k.a. Dirt Burners was the solution for putting a bulletproof Ball Differential in your gearbox. In the rere (re-release) era, the answer is the MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) Super Ball Diff plus UJs (Universal Joints) or CVDs (…

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Let's Get Into Schumacher: Inventor of the R/C Racer Ball Diff 6:22

19d ago6:22

6:22

Schumacher R/C Racing was sparked by the invention by Cecil Schumacher of a ball differential for his son, Robin. Then, when his Robin Schumacher started winning all of his radio controlled car races, local hobby shops started asking for ball diffs to sell and Schumacher R/C Racing Cars was born. Cecil's ball differentials would prove unpatentable …

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How Popular Were American R/C Hop-Ups in Japan? 6:21

20d ago6:21

6:21

American Hop-Up manufacturers like CRP (Custom Racing Products), Pro-Line, Parma, and Thorp Dirt Burners were wildly popular in the Western world, especially for Tamiya radio-controlled model vehicles, but how popular were they in Japan and the Far East during the radio control golden age? What about now? We stamp your passports and take you on a g…

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HOW-TO: Find R/C Gear Wear That Actually Fits Right 4:31

21d ago4:31

4:31

This episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast tackles the frustrating search for plus-size R/C hobby apparel, a common problem for enthusiasts seeking to represent their favorite brands in sizes 3XL, 4XL, and larger. We provides a comprehensive roadmap, detailing specific products and purchasing strategies from major retailers, niche specialists, and on…

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November 3 2025 #275 - CW Wisdom & 10m Magic | W3GMS Workbench 1:23:01

21d ago1:23:01

1:23:01

On this week’s 985 Workbench, Chuck (NA3CW) hosts a packed session with a full house of check-ins and a healthy dose of radio tech, CW training strategies, repeater updates, and automotive chaos. Operators share their week’s activity—from 10-meter DX bursts and attic antenna installs, to general-class classes, POTA activations, and prepping classic…

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205 - Is having too many ways good or bad? 1:11:50

22d ago1:11:50

1:11:50

Join our Podcast Community on Patreon!! - www.patreon.com/ThreeSplintersPodcastFor your chance to win awesome prizes every month, be sure to become a Patron. Our giveaways are specifically for our Patrons, and they are automatically enrolled every month. This is our way of saying thank you to all those that support us!Find more of Jason's content h…

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sXe: The Straightedge Connection to the R/C Hobbyist Community 8:22

22d ago8:22

8:22

The unlikely cultural overlap between the straight edge hardcore punk scene (often shortened to sXe, XXX, or just X) and vintage Tamiya RC car enthusiasts is rooted in their shared 1980s origins, a mutual devotion to a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ethos, and strikingly similar visual aesthetics. We clean up this connection that provides a constructive and …

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What Aftermarket 540 Motors are Good for Your Tamiya R/C Model Vehicles? 5:58

23d ago5:58

5:58

Beyond Tamiya's own 540 motors like the Tuned and Super Stock hop-up options, there is a wide array of 3rd party aftermarket 540 motors you can use to hop-up your site and torque. But which ones are any good? Which ones should you avoid? We rev our engines loud and dig deep into all of your motor hop-up options for your radio controlled cars, buggi…

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Why Did Tamiya Prefer the Volkswagen Modified Type 1 Baja Buggy Over the Standard Bug? 7:32

24d ago7:32

7:32

Tamiya, during the golden age of R/C completely ignored the standard type 1 Volkswagen Bug, instead focusing solely on the modified Type One Beetle, the Baja Beetle. Why is this, and do the body shells of on-road Beetles fit on these off-road Baja Beetles? We get inside the people's wagon and put our coleopterologist hats on to answer all of your m…

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Workbench Edition 387 | Workbench celebrates Avro Week 46:45

25d ago46:45

46:45

Our blog title for this week was intentionally selected to possess a little more intrigue than usual, as we want to do something a little different with this latest edition. As far as we know, there’s never actually been an ‘Avro Week’ commemoration event, and certainly never here on the Workbench blog, but as we find ourselves on the cusp of the s…

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Tamiya's Halloween Themed Radio Controlled Monster Trucks and Cars 5:06

25d ago5:06

5:06

This episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast brings out the spooky and analyzes the best Halloween-themed Tamiya R/C monster trucks and cars, comparing the nostalgic charm and delightfully chaotic handling of iconic classics like the Midnight Pumpkin and Monster Beetle against the superior all-terrain performance of their more modern radio controlled c…

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#87 - N scale modeling discussion 40:52

21d ago40:52

40:52

We talk about some of the N scale layouts in our group. Ken Borowski MMR discusses his amazing Clinchfield Blue Ridge Division. This layout fills a few rooms in the basement and has been featured in magazines. Greg Terhaar takes us to the other end of the operations spectrum with his San Pedro packing district showing what can be done with N scale …

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Explaining the Gen Z and Alpha Generation Love of Vintage and ReRe R/C Model Kits 5:37

26d ago5:37

5:37

What is causing Gen Z and the Alpha Generation to get into vintage and rere (re-release) Tamiya R/C buggies, vans, jeeps , trucks, cars, and busses? It's not just Gen X parents introducing radio controlled model kits to their kids, but also from their peers on TikTok. Maybe not too surprisingly to a veteran radio control hobbyist, there's a digital…

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Is Tamiya's E-Ring Tool Really That Good And Worth the Cost? 6:18

27d ago6:18

6:18

We all know the pain of installing or removing the e-ring or e-clip, often called the Jesus clip or Jesus ring. Normally, R/C hobbyist pliers and a flathead screwdriver are used to attach and uninstall this pesky shoulder clip. However, Tamiya has made an E-Ring Tool that promises to make installing and removing e-rings a breeze. Sure it really wor…

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The DC Comics' Superheroes of the Justice League and Their R/C Cars 6:09

28d ago6:09

6:09

If the greatest superheroes of the DC comic book universe in the Justice League like Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Firestorm, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow, had vintage R/C cars, which ones would they be? We didn't just look at the color schemes, but the innards down to the soul of each character and their mat…

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Ep.09 - S2|E2: Writing, Debugging & Cross-Compiling My First Linux Character Driver 13:41

28d ago13:41

13:41

In this new episode of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I take the next step into the world of Embedded Linux: writing, debugging, and cross-compiling my very first character driver. After my initial “Hello Kernel” experiment, I wanted to go deeper — to understand how real drivers work, how they register with the kernel, and how data trav…

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204 - Splinters start a new drinking game business 55:02

29d ago55:02

55:02

Join our Podcast Community on Patreon!! - www.patreon.com/ThreeSplintersPodcastFor your chance to win awesome prizes every month, be sure to become a Patron. Our giveaways are specifically for our Patrons, and they are automatically enrolled every month. This is our way of saying thank you to all those that support us!Find more of Jason's content h…

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Upgrading ORV Chassis Cars, Trucks, and Buggies to TRF Aeration Damper Shocks 6:26

29d ago6:26

6:26

If you really want to get control of your bouncing rear end on your Tamiya ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis 1/10th scale R/C vehicle like the vintage Lancia 037 Rally (not the rere [rerelease] model), and either the vintage or rere versions of the Subaru BRAT and the (Mighty) Frog you can upgrade your stock shocks to TRF (Tamiya Racing Factory) Aerat…

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Replacing the Shock Springs in Your CVA Dampers 8:05

1M ago8:05

8:05

You are out bashing your off-road buggy and on the process of doing massive jumps off a huge ramp at the lovely skatepark, and you see something horrible. Your oil filled CVA (Constant Volume Adjustable) damper has come loose, your shock spring is missing and you are unable to find it. In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we unspring your ab…

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The Tamiya and Futaba Connection in the R/C Golden Age 6:05

1M ago6:05

6:05

In most of the world, vintage Tamiya R/C model cars, tanks, buggies, trucks, vans, and busses all included or recommended Futaba servo savers, radio control receivers, and transmitters. Why was this? What was their connection or relationship? Why was it often different in the UK (United Kingdom)? In this episode of the RC Deep Dive podcast we look …

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Why Did Tamiya Never Make a Mighty Frog Jr. 1/32nd Scale Mini 4WD Racer? 4:26

1M ago4:26

4:26

Tamiya made so many junior versions of their iconic vintage off-road R/C buggies in their mini 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) on track racer line, but why didn't they ever make a 1/32nd version of the Mighty Frog Jr.? Is the ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis to blame? We look at all of the miniature details in the 1/10th scale radio controlled 2WD (Two Wheel …

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Workbench Edition 386 | Famous Griffon powered Spitfire is a triple scheme tribute 35:14

1M ago35:14

35:14

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates, and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix. The one thing you have always been able to rely on Airfix to provide the modelling world with is an impressive selection of classic scale aircraft model kits across several different scales, something which …

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Are Zip-Ties the Best Choice for Securing Driveshaft Joint Rubber Boots? 7:23

1M ago7:23

7:23

Tamiya instructs you to attach the drive shaft joint rubber boots at the gearbox and secure it with a black zip-tie nylon fastener to the out-drives in ORV (Off-Road Vehicle) chassis radio controlled model vehicles. But is there a better way? What about the wheel side of the hex-drives, dog-bones, universal joints, or constant velocity driveshafts?…

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Legendary WWF and WWE Superstars and their Iconic R/C Vehicles 6:35

1M ago6:35

6:35

What is the ultimate tag team if not the pairing of iconic WWE superstars with their legendary Tamiya RC model counterparts, based on shared personas, historical context, and cultural impact? We wrestled with this question, and are ready to tag-in, and roll-up these legends into a pinfall of perfected information that does just this in this episode…