@gaidong I’m similar to you, I’d been eyeing up crawlers for a few years but resisted buying anything till last week. I was also tempted by the Axial SCX24 but wasn’t quite able to convince myself to buy one. I think that it’s the best of the 1:24 scale though.
Personally I thought the 1:16 and 1:18 scale cars looked a bit more suitable for what I was after. They’re more capable outdoors but can be used indoors. I get the impression the 1:24 can be used outdoors but are at their best indoors.
The FTX Mini X looked OK, I quite liked the Panda Hobby models but they were hard to find in the UK. The FMS Atlas 6×6 and the Roc Hobby Katana Land Cruiser look cool too. I wasn’t sold on the combined ESC/receiver though so I didn’t buy anything.
A few weeks back I discovered the WPL C14 and C24 1:16 scale Hilux trucks. They’re direct from China so you do have to wait for them, mine hasn’t reached me yet. Basically they’re cheap, upgradeable, have a great community supporting them and are easy to modify. They come in three levels:
Ready to Run – Regarded as more of a toy
Kit – Better tyres and motor than the RTR and stronger gears
Kit Metal – Metal axle housings, bigger motor with a two speed gearbox, metal hubs, wheel weights, bearings etc. More expensive by quite a way and the axles look like a bit of a challenge to build but it’s a good smallish crawler when it’s built.
Both the kit and Kit Metal require you to add electronics. WPL do their own kits but I’ve bought mine separately.
WPL also do the C54 which is basically a Land Cruiser hard body for the C14 and C24 chassis.
I’d also take a look at the FTX Ranger XC. It’s another 1:16 scale but it’s a ready to run and comes with decent electronics. It’s the same as the RGT 136161. I was really tempted by this, but like the idea of building the kit and having loads of upgrades available.
Just thought I’d mention the models I’d considered incase you weren’t aware of them.
