Axial SCX10 III Jeep Rubicon Project

The Axial SCX10 version II was one of the first scale trail trucks I ever built and is one of the most iconic chassis in the industry.  When the SCX10 version III came out, I knew I would have to have one.  Axial made a lot of changes.  Like the original this is a ladder frame chassis with solid axles and a 4-link suspension, but portal axles have been added along with a 2-speed transmission and a dig.  There is a scale engine under the hood, molded inner fenders, and a Jeep Rubicon body with hidden mounts so there are no protruding body posts.  There's also a full Lexan interior included with scale driver figure and roll cage.  The steering servo is chassis mounted and two micro servos are used for the other functions.  The wheels are plastic beadlocks.

Interestingly, the kit version was available prior to RTR which is what I wanted anyway.  I like pretty much everything about the truck right out the box.  My only complaint is that even though the chassis is provisioned for rock lights and there are light buckets in the body, Axial did not offer a light kit.  I waited for months assuming it would come out eventually, but the after market beat them.  I got a light set from My Trick RC which works very well.  Axial finally came out with some lights a couple of months later.  I don't know what their marketing department was thinking.

Just like its predecessor this is an extremely capable chassis.  I installed waterproof electronics and this truck will go pretty much anywhere.  I've had zero problems with breakage or damage.  I really have no cause to ever use the dig function (which locks the rear axle and turns it into a land anchor), but it is pretty cool to know it is there.  I do generally like the idea of a 2-speed transmission to allow both rock crawling and trail running, but the difference between high and low gear is so minor that they needn't have bothered.  I'm hoping somebody will release an alternate high speed gear set.

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