๐๐ ๐ก๐จ๐๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ ๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐, ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐-๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ข๐ .
I have a real love for older American vehicles that I used to see on TV as a kid. Shows like The Fall Guy, Dukes of Hazzard and Smokey and the Bandit cemented my love for the kind of vehicle you just didn't see in the UK. I first saw the FMS K10 when visiting a small local model shop. I was looking for parts for another rig (they didn't have them) and saw it on the shelf. I loved the scale detail and the fact it pulled on those old American vehicle heartstrings, so I had to have it. I have stuck almost entirely with FMS vehicles now, as I love the possibilities that the hard body gives, as well as the 2-speed transmission and scale details.
When I started thinking about how I wanted to mod it, I fell in love with the FairRC Stepside Bed as soon as I saw it. I used to have a favourite toy as a kid which was a stepside pickup, and this just spoke to me. I found a couple of pictures of a real rig that I loved and wanted to re-create it as closely as I could. My main goal was realism and colour. I'd not seen a painted Fair RC stepside bed at that point and knew it had great potential.
From there, getting the right combination of parts was really important. For me, picking the right wheels and tyres is one of the first things I do, so they were important to get right. Next is adding weight for stability, so the range of BATRAZZI brass upgrades is fantastic. This truck started out as the black and orange K10, so the colour of the cab matched the bed that I was going to give that lovely yellow paint to. The shocks were upgraded to the new BATRAZZI 45mm shocks, with their new design making the springs really easy to change over. I also LOVE the new BATRAZZI metal front brush bar; it really completes the front end.
Of all the changes, though, 100% the biggest difference came from that amazing Stepside Bed. The quality of it is fantastic; it all goes together perfectly, with a good weight so it feels quality without adding too much high up. It also adds a feature that is really hard to find, that awesome roll bar and lights. The whole package just transforms the rig into something amazing.
There were so many parts of the build that I enjoyed, it's hard to pick just one. I think when I took all that masking off and saw that yellow and black stepside bed, I knew it was going to look amazing. Adding the final little details was also a lot of fun, those things that make it stand out. I also really enjoy sharing the build process and final result with others and getting feedback along the way.
The changes aren't just about how it looks, either. The added weight and the soft, sticky Precipice tyres really help it to stay composed on the trails and the rocks. It gives a more planted feel when running over uneven surfaces and climbing obstacles. The stock K10 will tip fairly easily on a side hill, but the low-down brass links and tyre inserts help greatly with that, keeping the tyre in contact with the ground.
For finishing touches, I installed lights to the roll bar. FairRC also made me a custom wheel mount to go on the roll bar, which gives the truck a really cool, adventure-ready look. Some other small details, such as the BATRAZZI wheel centre caps in silver, would be a great next step. And I'm toying with the idea of turning the original K10 bed into a matching yellow trailer. That would be awesome!
For anyone modding their first RC crawler, I'd say pick a rig that really excites you and gives you a vision of what you want to create. Decide if you want to go rock crawler, trail rig or some other direction and base your upgrades around that. I nearly always start with a good, heavy wheel and tyre package, as getting that right really elevates the rig in both looks and performance. Next is to replace plastic parts of the drivetrain with metal where possible for durability, especially as you are adding weight. Most of all, enjoy it and make it your own.
FMS FCX18 S K10:ย FMS 1/18 FCX18S Chevrolet K10 S RTR RC Truck
Fair RC Stepside Mod: FairRC 1/18 FCX18S K10 S Stepside Mod RTR
Fair RC 3D-Printed Stepside Bed: FairRC 3D-Printed Stepside Bed for FMS FCX18S K10
#fairrc #FMS #Batrazzi #rcbuild #creativity #rck10 #stepsideย
