After buying a Lexus GX460 for offroading, I began spending a lot of time in the online GXOR (GX Off-Road) communities. That is where I came across the Axial GX470 SCX24 RC car. I wanted one just for the fun of having a toy version of my fun truck, but man, oh man, was I not ready for what this little thing would do.
The Size
First off, these things are tiny! I played with a remote-controlled car in the 80s and 90s that was way bigger than this. These cars are 1/24th life-size. Think of putting two water bottles side by side. The dimensions are something like 4 wide x 4 tall x 9 long inches.
The Speed
Until using a 1/24th scale car, all of my RC toy playing entailed full-throttle fun. Slide it in the grass, slam it into a curb to see how many flips it does, and you get the picture of the destructive nature of playing with the bigger RC cars. The SCX24 version is the most fun going slow! Yeah, slow. Like my big boy truck is made for crawling over rocks on a technical trail, these little ones are also crawlers. Except, at this miniature size, everyday objects become fun obstacles to conquer. It is slow enough to roll over mice and keyboards during boring meetings.
The Size + The Speed
This is indoor friendly! If the weather is bad, no problem. Grab the transmitter and truck… and a beer, find a cozy spot on the couch, and start seeing how well your crawler can summit Mt. Pillow.
Bonus: the kids
These are hobby-grade toys that can be beaten. As long as your four-year-old daughter doesn’t use her hand to push the car on the floor, the kids may have a tough time breaking one. Ask me how I know about four-year-old daughters doing this.
The kids love playing with the remote car. It has become a nightly activity we all do together. While they were waiting for me to finish work, they grabbed two empty Amazon boxes, some tape, and scissors to build an obstacle course. That was a fun night, taking turns to see who could get through without flipping the truck.
What’s next?
I bought each one because the kids are having so much fun, and this is a fantastic family activity. Hopefully, Mr. UPS man will drop off a white Bronco (OJ style) and a pink Pickup truck later today. We will be playing “Follow the Leader” on the kids’ cardboard box obstacle course tonight. And I’m sure a little bumper car action will happen soon after.
What about mods?
Oh yes! I am a modding fiend in everything I do, and this will be no exception. As someone who likes to mod big boy trucks, these mods are cheap! $15 in brass weights can completely change the performance. $30 for sticker wheels and wider tires. You’re getting bananas if you break $100 on a brushless motor. Bigger and louder brushed motors start around $12.
I’ve got big plans for the GX470 with oil shocks, tires, wheels, motor, transmission, axles, etc. The body, frame, and ESC are the only things that will stay stock on that one. My daughter’s pink Base Camp pickup will get an upgraded steering servo, some extra-weight add-ons, and pink wheels. Hers will be the lightest modded of the bunch.
This all sounds a little light for you, Alex
Okay, you caught me. Yeah, I have something bigger planned for another build. I’m very close to pulling the trigger on a complete overhaul on a 4-wheel steer crawler that Axial calls the AX24. I mean, c’mon, it is an AX. It must be done!
Stay tuned…
