Axial SCX10 II Jeep Cherokee Project

The Axial SCX10 is a legend is the scale truck community.  This is the kit that everyone else compares theirs to.  Of course I didn't know that when I stumbled blindly into the kit building hobby at about the same time as the updated Version II came out.  I had heard of it and figured it would make a good first project.  Problem was, nobody had it available due to production problems at Axial so I backordered it.  Somehow I got my copy in the mail before my Local Hobby Store could get one so I ended up showing them what it was like!

The SCX10 II is a ladder frame scale truck.  The chassis rails are metal with plastic cross members.  Rear suspension is 4-link and front is 3-link with a panhard bar.  Steering servo is chassis mounted.  Front and rear axles are solid and locked with hypoid gears.  This means the drive shaft exits the pumpkin above the centerline which gives you more ground clearance and a smaller u-joint angle.  The Version II comes with a new style transmission that is more scale looking and includes a transfer case that lowers the drive shaft exit point.  The tires are nice, but the wheels are plastic and without beadlock rings so you need to use glue.  That's probably my only complaint about this truck out of the box.

The Jeep Cherokee XJ version I got is available both as a kit and an RTR.  I wasn't fully aware of all the differences at the time; I just knew I wanted to build it myself.  Among other differences, it has metal suspension links and a more complex transmission than the RTR.  The polycarbonate body is better than most because it includes molded details like a grille, light buckets, wipers, mirrors, and a roof rack.

The list of upgrades available for this chassis is nearly endless.  However, it is so excellent that I drove it basically stock for about a year with  the exception of adding a winch.  Later I went a bit more crazy installing inner fenders, a dig, a light system, and finally even a hard body.  No matter the configuration, this remains one of the most capable trucks in my arsenal.  I've never broken anything and it just keeps on working.

Update:  This model was destroyed in the 2022 fire.  It has not been replaced.