THE PROTOTYPE
Alec Grossman « Winston-Salem, NC
Alec Grossman must be no stranger to longtime RCCA readers. He is a prolific RC builder that oftentimes finds his creations gracing the Readers Rides pages. Alec tells us about this one-of-a-kind Land Cruiser venture. “This FMS Hobby Toyota Land Cruiser 80 is my prototype,” he says. “This truck is the testbed that I use for modifications for all of my other FMS Hobby vehicles. This was the first truck I converted to portal axles and a two-speed transmission, which was not an easy task and involved a lot of cutting on the underside of the interior. And after a lot of frustration with the top-heaviness of the body, this was the first truck of which I attempted to modify the body. I cut and shut the rear window to convert it from an SUV to a pickup, I added round styrene rod around the bed to reinforce it after being cut, and I filled in the cracks with Miliput before sanding and painting. I also did a snorkel delete, because this truck is electric! It’s a little rough-and-ready, but it does the trick, and the center of gravity is a lot lower and more forward now!” Great work, Alec, we just like the look and your spectacular {custom} work.
BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: FMS Hobby LC80
– Body: FMS Hobby LC80 (extremely modified)
– Motor: FMS Hobby FCX24 2-speed transmission and motor
– Speed Control: FMS Hobby LC80 inventory ESC/receiver combo
– Battery: Stock FMS Hobby LC80
– Wheels & Tires: RCAWD Brass 1.0″ beadlock wheels, Injora 58mm A/T Super King Trekker tires
– Shocks: RCLions 48mm Double Barrel
– Axles: FMS Hobby FCX24 axles with Injora 23g brass outer portal covers in Front, FMS Hobby brass portal axle covers in again
– Paint: Krylon Color Maxx Satin Italian Olive and Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black
– Graphics: RC Plate Shop license plate and stickers
– Lighting: FMS Hobby inventory lights
– Radio System: Stock FMS Hobby
– Other Options: Sleek RC toolbox and cooler, Injora traction boards, Twisted Tree RC antenna, Zica Toys 3 3/4-inch 6 Million Dollar Man Steve Austin determine
Father-Son SMT10 Build
Ethan Stehr « Kalispell, MT
Inspired by RCCA and by going to Monster Jam occasions, Ethan used this inspiration to construct his personal truck. He tells us, “My name is Ethan Stehr and I’m 17 years old! This project began over four years ago in 2020, when I got this SMT10 Raw Builders Kit for Christmas. My interest in solid-axle monster trucks began with the June 2019 issue of RCCA, which contained Kevin Hetmanski’s King of Crushers monster truck, as well as many fond memories of watching Monster Jam in the old Metrodome and US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My father and I built the kit, which was my first ever, over a couple of weeks. The electronics were recommended by my local hobby shop, and everything else was stock when we first built it. I was super excited to drive it for the first time, but when I did, I ended up snapping the stock steering links. I replaced them with some SSD titanium ones. Most of the other upgrade parts on the truck came in the same way, when I broke a part and had to replace it… mostly because I don’t have quite enough money to spend at one time to do everything I want to it! Now that it works well (for the time being) it is super fun to drive! I plan to replace the front axle shafts with ones that match the rear, as well as aluminum OCP axle housings from Vanquish. Throughout this whole process I learned so much, such as the fact that the L-wrenches included with the kit are not ideal for tinkering (so I bought some MIP wrenches), and have had so much fun figuring out how this kit works and enjoying the hobby.” It appears nice, you probably did an ideal job Ethan! We’re thrilled that you just’re having fun with the RC pastime and glad that you just and your father can have enjoyable with it.
BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: Axial SMT10
– Body: Pro-Line 2008 Ford F-250
– Motor: Castle Creations 3800kV brushless motor
– Speed Control: Castle Creations Sidewinder ESC
– Battery: Spektrum 3S Hardcase LiPo
– Wheels & Tires: Jconcepts Tribute wheels with Jconcepts Renegades tires
– Shocks: Pro-Line PowerStrokes XT (5”)
– Axles: Stock Axial housings, Vanquish VXD rear axle shaft, Vanquish Incision 38/13 ring/pinion gears entrance and rear, Vanquish aluminum decrease trailing arms and Incision higher hyperlinks
– Paint: Tamiya Color Brilliant Blue and Tamiya Color Black rattle can paints
– Graphics: Various decals and lettering
– Lighting: Pro-Line 4” Super Bright mild bar
– Radio System: Spektrum DX5 Rugged and SR515 receiver
– Other Options: SSD titanium steering hyperlinks, Vanquish 25-tooth servo horn, Reefs RC servo, Fast Eddy bearings, RCScrewz stainless-steel screw set
Big Red Grim Reaper
Lee Krug « MICHIGAN
This monster truck was submitted by Lee Krug, who shares loads concerning the construct with us: “This is my fully customized second-gen Tamiya TXT-1 that I originally bought used about 10 years ago, right before I had to have double hip replacement surgery. It needed a lot of work to become what it is now. When I got it, it had a dinged-up Ford Bronco body, vertical mounted Cen Genesis 7.7 piggyback coilovers running one 55T brushed modified motor, but I didn’t care; I had dreams for this truck. I got it home and tore it right down to the bare frame. Every screw and bolt on this truck is hand-picked. No screw kits at all. And it’s still not done. It always has been and always will be my absolute favorite truck out of my large and growing RC collection. This truck is built like a rock and she’s my shelf queen, but she does get out about once a month or more to crush Lexan bodies in the yard. She’s not built for speed, but running a 5200mAh LiPo and dual 12T 550 cans, she gets around quick. If you own or ever have driven a TXT-1, then you’ll understand why they’re not made for speed. These are massive, more like a 1/8-1/7 scale truck size, but are classed as a 1/10.” Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Lee! It appears nice!
BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: Tamiya TXT-1
– Body: Jconcepts 1988 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD Long Box
– Motor: Dual Traxxas Titan 550 12T brushed motors.
– Speed Control: Hobbywing Quicrun waterproof 880 twin brushed motor ESC
– Battery: Common Sense RC Lectron Pro 7.4V 2S 5200mAh 35c hardcase LiPo
– Wheels & Tires: Stock Tamiya TXT-1 wheels, RC4WD Mud Slinger tires
– Shocks: RCLions 120mm inner spring struts/dampers
– Axles: Stock Tamiya TXT-1 axles with {custom} top-mounted machined aluminum steering servo mounts/high suspension hyperlink brackets
– Paint: Rust-Oleum 2x paint/primer, Gloss Red
– Graphics: JConcepts manufacturing unit sticker equipment for the 3500 HD Chevy extended-cab physique
– Lighting: Gool RC Ultra Brightz headlight and taillight LED mild combo
– Radio System: Redcat Racing 3CH-24GHz Radio
– Other Options: Custom-made suspension limiting straps created from cotton thread and nylon, custom-made 4-link higher and decrease suspension hyperlinks created from extra-strength hardened steel, 8/32 threaded rod with RPM extra-strength lengthy arm rod ends and steel inserts wrapped in non-bendable high-strength hardened steel, automotive brake line tubing pre-coated in anti-corrosion paint, Spektrum LiPo battery strap, Fast Eddy Bearings high-speed sealed bearing equipment, Dean’s battery connectors, Traxxas Revo electronics and receiver, 4AA battery field used for mild system and Hot Racing twin heatsink-mounted cooling followers, Annimos 25kg steel gear digital waterproof servos entrance and rear, Hot Racing steel aluminum servo savers entrance and rear, custom-made hardened aluminum middle gearbox brace tubes, {custom} motor mount made to suit 550-size motors to maintain the gearbox mounts from twisting and breaking throughout excessive chassis flex
Piggies 6X6 Chevy
RED TIGER « Mantua, OH
This six-wheeled beast involves us from a reader who goes by the identify of Red Tiger. Of his creation, Red says: “I was searching for a 6×6 crawler when I stumbled upon the FMS Chevy Apache 6×6. After I burned up the first motor, A-Main sadly didn’t have any more in stock. After waiting for them to come back into stock, I finally acquired one and it has worked perfectly since then.” Thanks for sharing your Apache, Red, we’re digging the pigs!
BUILD HIGHLIGHTS
– Chassis: FMS Chevrolet Apache 6×6
– Body: FMS Chevrolet Apache 6×6
– Motor: FMS 050
– Speed Control: FMS ESC/receiver combo
– Battery: FMS 380mAh 2S
– Wheels & Tires: FMS Cooper Tire
– Shocks: FMS friction-type
– Paint: Tamiya
– Lighting: FMS 11820 mild set
– Radio System: FMS
– Other Options: Lego pigs and toolbox
