Scale & Motion - RC Crawlers, Micro Upgrades, Model Kits & Scale RC Guides

A rock crawler that struggles on the trail almost always has the same underlying issue: the suspension is not set up to keep all four wheels in contact with the terrain. Most RTR crawlers ship with shocks and springs tuned to survive shipping and look correct in photos, rather than to maximise articulation on broken ground. Understanding a handful of suspension fundamentals — droop, preload, shock oil and spring rate — is what separates a crawler that climbs confidently from one that lifts wheels and loses traction at the first uneven section. Image Credit: FairRC / BATRAZZI View the BATRAZZI Oil-filled Aluminium Shocks for FCX24 at FairRC (affiliate link) This guide covers what each of these settings actually does and how to approach tuning them on a typical RTR crawler platform. Why Suspension Tuning Matters More on a Crawler Than a Basher On a basher or short-course truck, shocks exist mainly to absorb impact from jumps and rough terrain at speed. On a crawler, their jo...

Building a plastic model kit is only half the process. The finish — how the model looks once assembled, painted and weathered — is what separates a completed kit from a display piece. This guide covers the paints, tools and hobby supplies worth knowing about for plastic model kits and dioramas, organised by category and sourced from verified retailers.

Building a plastic model kit is only the first part of the process. The kit itself — whether a 1:35 tank, a 1:24 car or a 1:144 Gunpla mobile suit — is the starting point. What separates a finished model from a finished display piece is the detail work: photo-etching, carbon fibre decals, painted interiors, proper tools, and quality paints. This guide covers the specialist retailers whose products make that difference, with verified categories and affiliate links across four partners who cover different parts of the plastic model building ecosystem.

(Reviewed and updated on June 13, 2026) The FMS 1:10 Canyon RS is one of the most ambitious large-scale trail crawlers in the current FMS range. It combines a bold concept-style body, portal axles, selectable differentials, a two-speed transmission and a detailed ready-to-run layout aimed at scale RC drivers who want more than a simple trail truck. Image Credit: FMS Hobby

Introduction The FMS 1/10 Canyon RS is a scale RC crawler aimed at hobbyists who want a larger, more substantial trail truck with realistic proportions, a hard body, portal axles and ready-to-run usability. It sits in a different space from the smaller FCX24 and FCX18 platforms, offering a true 1/10 scale presence for outdoor trail driving, display and scale-focused RC use. This buyer’s guide looks at the Canyon RS as a practical RC crawler: what it offers, where it makes sense, who should consider it and how it compares with smaller FMS crawler platforms.

The FCX18 and FCX24 share enough mechanical DNA that comparing them can seem abstract — both run portal axles, two-speed transmissions and universal joint driveshafts. But the differences between the two platforms are more significant than the spec sheet overlap suggests, and they matter in practice. This article covers the three areas where the platforms diverge most meaningfully: motor class, wheelbase and chassis construction. Browse both platforms: FCX18 Series at FMS Hobby | FCX24 Series at FMS Hobby The Transmission — Same Architecture, Different Execution Both platforms use a mid-mounted two-speed transmission with transfer case, delivering power through universal driveshafts to portal axles front and rear. The architecture is the same. What differs is the physical scale of the components — and physical scale in a drivetrain means torque capacity, heat tolerance and gear wear resistance. The FCX18S transmission integrates with the 1312 brushless motor (on the LC80 V2, ...