School me on real scale RC trucks

[My wife said no FJ!]

OK, so I've flown RC stand off scale, and have done some worked for some future scale projects, but now I've finally seen exactly what I'd like to do for a scale FJ40.

Check out this video--> YouTube - RC U.S.ARMY DODGE M37 TRUCK "OWN MAKING"- second movies ...the workmanship is really great!! I'd go a step or two farther (assuming I have the talent that is) but this is what I would like to do.

So, where do I start...do I buy a kit, such as a clod buster, or new Tamiya Cruiser, or am I better off buying scale axles, frame, body, wheels...etc, and piece together a cool scale FJ40?

 

[Straightjacket]

That rig is very realistic looking,unfortunately it had about the same suspension as the original. The Tamiya FJ40 is the most realistic looking of the FJ bodies and should wheel pretty good also. You can buy frame rails and leafs,axles,ect. it gets expensive and you don't have anything to drive,while your building. Get a rig thats as close as you can to what you want then detail it as you want,afford. There's alot of guys buildin scalers,that also crawl well.The rig in the video didn't appear to wheel well at all.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

I agree, it has more looks than go, but it is along the lines of what I want to do. I love the scale job Mike did on his scale 40 build up, but I don't know where to source most of the parts..it seems like I might be more than a little bit out of the loop.

I found this stuff...very cool --> RC Rock Crawling - The Ultimate Crawler Store , but I was wondering if anyone can point me to a shop where I can buy the parts individually, and build my own...hopefully it would be a less expensive option What I am looking for are the scale axles, tires, leaf springs...etc. I can make some stuff, like rims, and the interior, frame, but I do not think I have the talent to do it all.

 

[Dirtgypsy]

Building a scaler will run some coin for sure. Your best bet is to buy a kit and go from there. Be aware that by the time you get a kit, radio, batteries and other necessary items you could be well into the $700 plus range. If you are looking for a 40's series scaler then the Tamiya Kit is the way to go.

The hilux hilift, F350 Highlift are similar with exceptions to the body. Axial makes (or is making) a 1.9 scaler that should adapt well to other bodies, Losi makes a mini solid axle crawler. All these can be adapted to a scale frame.

Do spend some time on the scale4x4rc.org website. These guys are very similar to ih8mud. Family atmosphere.

Or go to rccrawler.com for some hardcore rock crawlers. More like the Pirate board.

I have been modifying and building RC's for 15 plus years so please feel free to ask any specific questions.

Clint

 

[steverb]

go to this form and look at the scale trucks and every thing else. its like mud but rc trucks.
RCCrawler.com- Your #1 source for Radio Controlled Rockcrawling!

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

i tried to buy one of those back in august from rc4wd. i just gave up and cancelled the order after over 2 months.i was told over and over it would be shipping the next week, and they almost scrapped the product after i had been charged for it and had gotten nothing from them. from what i have been told their quality is top notch but if its not in stock have fun trying to get it. and as for being into the $700 range, if you go with their parts or other quality products, try the $1200 range after electronics assuming you don't go cheap on some parts. there are multiple companies that make good products and will keep price down a little more.