Real Scale Dynamics: RC Crawler Upgrades for Performance, Looks, Weight Balance and Realism
A good RC crawler build is not only about adding every upgrade available. It is about deciding what kind of realism you want.
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FMS Hobby — RC Rock Crawler Range, Licensed Vehicles and Where to Find Parts
FMS Hobby is a well-established name in RC, producing airplanes, cars and trucks across a wide range of scales and skill levels. For scale RC and crawler enthusiasts, FMS has built a strong catalogue of compact crawlers, trail trucks, licensed bodies, upgrade parts and larger ground vehicles aimed at different types of hobby use.
FMS FCX18 vs FCX24 vs FCX24M — Which Scale RC Crawler Platform Should You Buy?
The FMS FCX range can be confusing at first glance. FCX18, FCX24 and FCX24M all sit in the small-scale crawler world, but they do not always appeal to the same type of builder.
FCX18S Land Cruiser 80 vs — Which 1/18 FMS Crawler Fits Your Build?
If you've settled on the FCX18 platform — and our FCX18 vs FCX24 guide explains why that's often the right call for outdoor trail use — the next decision is which body to put on it. FMS currently offers two officially licensed subjects on the FCX18S chassis: the Toyota Land Cruiser 80 and the Chevrolet K10. Same chassis, same brushless-ready platform, but two very different on-road personalities. View the FMS 1/18 FCX18S Toyota Land Cruiser 80 RTR at FairRC (affiliate link)
How to Set Up Your RC Crawler's Suspension for Rock Crawling
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...
Paints, Tools and Hobby Supplies for Plastic Model Kits and Dioramas
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.
Plastic Model Kits and Gunpla — Where to Buy Kits, Detail Parts and Paints in 2026
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.