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

A good RC crawler build is not only about adding every upgrade available. It is about deciding what kind of realism you want.

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.

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.

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)

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, ...

Ask in any FMS community which 1/24 scale crawler people actually prefer running, and the FCX24M comes up more often than any other variant. It is not the original FCX24, and it is not simply an FCX24S with a different body — the FCX24M is a distinct sub-platform with a new chassis, an extended wheelbase, and a body range that covers some of the most recognisable licensed subjects in the micro crawler segment. This guide covers what the FCX24M actually is, how it differs from the FCX24S, and which specific models in the range are worth your attention. Image Credit: FMS Hobby View the FMS 1/24 FCX24M Land Rover Camel Trophy Edition at FMS Hobby (affiliate link) What the FCX24M Actually Is The "M" in FCX24M stands for the extended wheelbase chassis that FMS developed for wider-cab body subjects — trucks and SUVs where the standard FCX24S wheelbase would produce disproportionate body-to-chassis proportions. The FCX24M Toyota Tacoma, for instance, uses a verified 1...

The question comes up constantly in the FMS community: FCX18 LC80 or FCX24 K5 Blazer? Both run portal axles and a two-speed transmission. Both are officially licensed scale replicas built on the same mechanical philosophy. But put them on actual outdoor terrain — loose gravel, roots, or uneven rock — and the difference becomes clear very quickly. This article explains exactly why, using verified specs from both platforms. Browse both platforms: FCX18 Series at FMS Hobby | FCX24 Series at FMS Hobby Image Credit: FMS Hobby View the FMS 1/24 FCX24M Toyota Tacoma RTR at FMS Hobby (affiliate link) The Specs That Actually Matter Outdoors Both platforms share the same core architecture: a mid-mounted two-speed transmission with a transfer case, portal axles front and rear, universal joint driveshafts, and 4WD. The architecture is identical in principle. What differs is the execution at each scale — and those differences compound significantly on real terrain. The FCX18S LC...

The FMS FCX24S Power Wagon S is currently available in three colour variants — Red, Yellow and Blue — and if you have been considering a 1/24 scale micro crawler, right now is a strong moment to move. The Power Wagon is one of the most capable and well-regarded platforms in the FCX24S range, and the three-colour lineup means there is a version to suit most preferences without any compromise on hardware. This guide covers what the FCX24S Power Wagon S actually is, what separates the three variants, and what you need to know before buying. View the FMS 1/24 FCX24S Power Wagon S at FMS Hobby What Is the FCX24S Power Wagon S? The FCX24S Power Wagon S is the current-generation 1/24 scale crawler built around the classic 1949 Dodge Power Wagon body — one of the most iconic American truck designs ever produced and a natural fit for the scale RC crawler aesthetic. It sits on the FCX24S chassis, which is the revised platform FMS introduced to address the limitations of the original FCX...

Buying an RC crawler is the start of the process, not the end. Whether you are running an FMS FCX24, an FCX18, or a FairRC Mod RTR, the parts and accessories ecosystem around these platforms is where the hobby gets genuinely interesting — and where the visual and performance character of your build becomes your own. FairRC has built one of the most complete accessories catalogues for the FCX24 and FCX18 platforms, covering everything from performance tyres and beadlock wheels through to 3D-printed resin body parts, scale accessories and brushless system upgrades. This guide covers the accessories worth knowing about, organised by category and purpose. Every product is available directly from FairRC's parts catalogue . BATRAZZI Tyres — The Single Most Impactful Upgrade BATRAZZI is FairRC's in-house performance tyre and wheel brand, and it is the first upgrade most FCX18 and FCX24 owners make. The stock tyres on both platforms are capable, but BATRAZZI compounds and tread ...

Image Credit: HobbyZone / Hobbies.co.uk Featured workspace: HobbyZone Ultimate Workstation Modular Unit (affiliate link) Plastic model kits are one of those hobbies that never really goes away. They sit at the intersection of historical interest, fine motor craftsmanship and the quiet satisfaction of building something with your own hands — and then displaying it properly. Whether you are starting out with a straightforward 1/72 scale fighter aircraft or you are deep into a complex 1/35 armour build with full interior detail, the range available today is genuinely extraordinary.

The FairRC 1/24 FCX24M Taco White Truck Mod RTR sits exactly where Scale & Motion is strongest: small-scale RC crawlers, visual realism, practical trail performance, and upgrade potential. It is not a huge 1/10 crawler built for heavy outdoor terrain, and it is not a basic toy-style mini truck either. It is a compact, ready-to-run custom-style Tacoma-based micro crawler with enough scale detail to appeal to collectors and enough mechanical substance to make sense as a usable trail model. For readers already following the FairRC ecosystem, this model is a natural continuation of the wider Mod RTR idea. The FairRC Mod RTR Explained article covers why these modified ready-to-run vehicles matter: they allow buyers to skip part of the research, sourcing, and fitting process by choosing a crawler that already has a more developed visual identity from the start. View the FairRC 1/24 FCX24M Taco White Truck Mod RTR at FairRC (affiliate link) Where This Model Fits in the FairRC Ra...