Builder of the Month: Stephan Braun (May 2026) - Part 2

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?

Stephan Braun:

My name is Stephan, I was born in 1978, and I'm happily married to my wife Claudia. We have a 16-year-old son named Joshua, who sparked my interest in model building about eight years ago. He's also the inspiration for our social media name, Job RC (Joschua Braun). I work as a manager in public administration and juggle numbers. Before I started with RC cars, I raced road bikes as an amateur for over 30 years.

Boom Racing:

What’s your earliest memory of discovering RC cars? What model was it, and do you remember your very first build?

Stephan Braun:

My earliest memory of RC cars dates back to when I was 8 years old, when I received a Nikko Tronic buggy called the Greyhound (RTR) as a gift. Then I started to buy bashers and tuned them with parts. My first truly complete model was a Traxxas TRX4 kit with a self-painted and weathered Chevy Lexan body.

Boom Racing:

How would you describe the RC scene in Germany? What events have you attended, and how do you see the growth of the hobby in Germany?

Stephan Braun:

The scene is very diverse, and depending on the federal state, there are major differences in the density of events and RC groups. North Rhine-Westphalia, the most densely populated state, has the largest number of drivers, but not necessarily the most or biggest events.

I’m familiar with Super Scale, Stöffelpark, Lübeck, Dortmund, and Bochum events. Because I enjoy realistic scalers, I generally don’t attend pure crawler events.

Since COVID, I can’t really say that the scene has continued to grow significantly. The financial pressure in Germany currently leaves people with less room for expensive hobbies. Unfortunately, many beginners also lack the knowledge or opportunity to understand what is actually needed in RC model building.

That’s why I created a highly visited website years ago that provides guidance for building Camel Trophy scalers. Through my small online shop, I also regularly receive requests for advice and support.

Boom Racing:

How did you first hear about Boom Racing, and what was your journey to becoming an owner, multi-rig builder, and fabricator?

Stephan Braun:

After taking the classic route into the RC off-road scene through Traxxas, I quickly realized that Boom Racing offered far more possibilities than, for example, RC4WD or other manufacturers when it came to recreating a wide variety of models from scratch.

Boom Racing:

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

Stephan Braun:

My first real point of contact was the Series III 88. As one of the first model builders, I recreated the 1983 Camel Trophy Team Germany version on this platform in late 2024 with an extremely realistic level of detail.

In earlier projects, I had already become familiar with Team Raffee bodies (Defender 110, Range Rover) and other accessories from the Boom Racing group, which convinced me with their scale realism and quality.

After that came the 1993 Discovery build on a BRX01 chassis with many Boom Racing tuning parts. There are not many Discovery builds with this level of detail that also perform so well off-road.

Boom Racing:

Tell us about your latest build. Why did you choose that theme? What inspired you to recreate the rig, and, if given the chance, would you own the real-life version?

Stephan Braun:

Because of my passion for the Camel Trophy, I eventually became fascinated by the Land Rover Discovery, even if it happened relatively late.

My goal is always to recreate the vehicle of the German participants from a specific Camel Trophy year as accurately to scale as possible. For this, I needed the BRX01 chassis with 80 mm axles as well as the Team Raffee body.

I’m a passionate electric car driver, so a diesel or gasoline-powered vehicle is out of the question in real life.

Boom Racing:

What are your thoughts on the new BRX02 D130?

Stephan Braun:

It’s an interesting platform for a Camel Trophy project. There actually was a Land Rover 127 in the Camel Trophy. Unlike the team vehicles, it was used as a heavy support and workshop vehicle.

Boom Racing:

Do you have a BRX wishlist?

Stephan Braun:

Definitely a Land Rover 88 Series III Station Wagon.

Boom Racing:

Can you tell us about the Camel Trophy RC Team NRW?

Stephan Braun:

The Camel Trophy RC Team NRW is a close group of friends from North Rhine-Westphalia specializing in recreating and participating in events with radio-controlled off-road vehicles inspired by the legendary Camel Trophy. The name “Camel Trophy” is used as a tribute to the original event, as the team recreates similar challenges and off-road elements in its competitions.

The Camel Trophy RC Team NRW mainly focuses on accurately recreating vehicles modeled after the original Camel Trophy vehicles, typically Land Rover models that formed the backbone of the event during the 1980s and 1990s. These vehicles are built with great attention to detail and equipped with specially modified RC technology for off-road use. This includes robust suspension systems, special tires, and custom-built accessories that allow the vehicles to handle difficult terrain.

The team presents itself and the Camel Trophy theme at various events where conditions similar to the original Camel Trophy are recreated. These include trail and off-road driving events that challenge not only the vehicles but also the skills of the drivers. These events are often about more than just technology. They are also about community and adventure, emphasizing teamwork and the joy of model building and shared activities.

In its own small way, the Camel Trophy RC Team NRW helps preserve the legacy of the Camel Trophy by bringing the spirit of off-road adventure and the joy of model building into the present day. It is an example of how fascination with a historic event can be transformed into new and creative forms.

Above all, the focus is always on having fun driving and enjoying the hobby of model building!

Boom Racing:

What is it about the Camel Trophy that inspires you?

Stephan Braun:

Clearly, the team spirit and the sense of unity in achieving something that would not be possible alone. That spirit is unique and legendary, and in today’s society, it is increasingly being forgotten because people often only think about themselves.

Boom Racing:

What is the one piece of equipment you simply could not do without?

Stephan Braun:

Without a winch, a Camel Trophy vehicle is almost unusable. So: definitely a must-have!

Boom Racing:

Are there role models or industry figures who inspire you? Who are they, and why have they had such a significant impact on you?

Stephan Braun:

Sca Guido was one of the first inspiring personalities for me, not only because of his models, but also because of his impressive YouTube videos. His content helped me grow with my own videos and YouTube channel.

After that came MaxceeRC, Darius Cybula, and Scale Garage with their inspiring model-building skills. Christoph Ganzmann from Switzerland is also a very inspiring person when it comes to Camel Trophy topics.

Boom Racing:

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in this hobby, and how did you overcome it?

Stephan Braun:

Since my son Joshua started the hobby around 2019 at the age of about 10, I had to fully immerse myself in the subject.

From bashers to crawlers and finally scalers, without friends and acquaintances from the model-building scene, it would have been almost impossible. Today, I’m able to help others, and that is something very important in this hobby.

Boom Racing:

What would you love to achieve in the hobby?
Is there a specific location where you dream of running your rig for several days?

Stephan Braun:

To experience the Camel Trophy spirit together with like-minded people. I dream of attending a Camel Trophy RC event featuring all the nations that participated back then, ideally at an actual location where the real Camel Trophy once took place.

Boom Racing:

Lastly, name five items you always pack when hitting the trails. Essentials that cover any eventuality and ensure you always complete your run, even if it spans many hours at a Camel Trophy event!

Stephan Braun: