Scope This

This six channel, twin propeller submarine is available from Jack & Hao. Using a science called radio waves, you can not only make the sub move forwards and back but also “levorotate”, which we think means dive and surface, and “dextorotate,” which probably means turn left and right. Turning is accomplished by running the props one at a time, or in opposite directions for an extra sharp turn to evade missiles, nightmare ducks and what have you. The sub runs on a six AA battery-powered charger, which it sups from before it dives.

Price: RMB 80. Jack & Hao, 2F, Shop 29, 580 Nanjing Xi Lu. Tel: 136 4171 4488

Proper Chopper

Perhaps the most awesome remote control (RC) vehicle in Shanghai is the gas-powered T-Rex Nitro 600. It operates on nine different channels, can be controlled from up to a kilometre away and has a top speed of 200km/h. It can even fly downside up. You can practice flying it on a computer simulator that Derek has set up at his stall. The T-Rex is pretty spensy, but you can buy four channel helicopters for as little as RMB 450 in Derek’s store.

Price: RMB 12,000. Derek Industry and Commerce Co. Ltd., 2F Modern Mansion, 218 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Fuxing Lu. Tel: 139 1650 1601. Email: [email protected]

Car Kit

Derek says the most popular item in his store is this Kyosho “Monster” 1:8 scale off-road RC racer. The thing goes up to 70km/h, which is faster than those fake vespas people ride here in Shanghai. Like many youthful pleasures, it runs on nitrous. The Monster has some springy looking suspension, oversized grippy wheels, and an exposed engine for going “mreeeeeh, mreeeeh.” Come to think of it, it’s probably more like one long “mreeeeeeeh” – it’s not like these things have gears.

Price: RMB 1,800. Derek Industry and Commerce Co. Ltd., 2F Modern Mansion, 218 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Fuxing Lu. Tel: 139 1650 1601. Email: [email protected]

Float Your Boat

Derek says the RC vehicles you can buy in other places around Shanghai are just toys. He stocks grownup diversions like this four channel electric motorboat, which is about a metre long, made of carbon fibre, has a four stroke engine and can reach speeds of up to 50km/h. Boat lovers on a budget can purchase similarly sized vessels with plastic hulls for just RMB 300.

Price: RMB 3,000. Derek Industry and Commerce Co. Ltd., 2F Modern Mansion, 218 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Fuxing Lu. Tel: 139 1650 1601. Email: [email protected]

Kwik Karts

Next City on Wujiang Lu has a great range of Takara-Tomy micro racers, including a box set that includes both Mario and Luigi cars, controllers, some light landscaping and obstacles. The set runs on eight LR44 button batteries, small enough to fit in the matchbox-sized cars. You can buy other cars for RMB 129 each including a controller, or RMB 88 for a car alone. Next City also has a little Lancer Evo VIII that would look great parked outside Bar 88.

Price: RMB 349. Next City, 1C, 267 Wujiang Lu, near Maoming Lu. Tel: 6136 1418

 Model Trains

Take the chaos and speed out of RC vehicles and you get trains. These are the very models of a modern major anal retentive, and they’re as glorious as they are predictable. Shanghai’s two Bachmann China stores sell kit sets from RMB 650. Bought separately, engines start from RMB 400, but many cost RMB 700 to 1,500. Most individual passenger cars cost around RMB 250, while cars for transporting livestock, coal, etc are around RMB 50. Miniature miscellanea starts at RMB 3 and goes way up. Thomas and Friends trains cost RMB 1,000 per tank engine and RMB 300 per car. Ringo Starr impersonations are gratis.

Bachmann China. Room 120, 595 Wuding Lu, near Xikang Lu. Tel: 6256 5012. 100 Xiangyang Lu near Xinle Lu, Tel: 5403 1701. Web: www.bachmanchina.com.cn