Crawler Canyon Quick(re)view: Axial SCX10 III "Base Camp" RTR (and it doesn't end up stock) 

As we say 'round here, "RTR = ready to replace."

I cleared the windows on my Basecamp with some 1000# sandpaper, plastic. Polish and spray tint after. 100% better than those stickers lol

I feel like the body is a little too small. It’s one of the hardest rigs to “self right” because of the angle of the cab- which is something I genuinely never expected to even consider. But here we are.

Yeah, the TRX-4 is still the benchmark for me. Their front-end geometry is on point. No spoilers, but I feel like I gotta build another TRX-4 based rig soon. Axles at the very least. I should be reasonable and build up a kit with minimal "enhancement," but don't know if I can go against my own nature.

I was just sent a link for a company called 1tenth, who make a variety of SOA adapters, including those for AR45P and TRX-4 axles. Everything is of course out of stock, but I've decided that I'm gonna pick one up when available and simplify my life with regards to the Colonel.

You can, but you also can't. The skid is 3-link, so you're changing parts to make the other parts fit. So yeah it works, but even 1Tenth says, "possible, but the work is up to you." You for instance BTA an F10 axle. Buy parts, put parts on.

I keep feeling like Axial had multiple opportunities to fix the issues with the 10.3 front end, including the panhard foolishness and the placement of the chassis mount for the front upper... and they just didn't. I still see more potential with the 10.3 than the "standard," as the gearbox is a whole lot better, but the front end still makes me long for Element. Or so SSD Diamonds. Or anything. Maybe a Basecamp with TRX-4 axles?

I've never had any issues out of my Capra. Of course, I didn't drive if completely stock very long either lol. I've had a few 10.2 kits and a one RTR 10.2. They are easy to build and simple engineering. But, I feel like when element released the Enduro line, that's what the 10.2 should've been. It's superior in every way. In kit form and RTR form. You just get so much more for the same prices. Axial is still decent rigs, my problem is what they charge vs what you get with their products. The Basecamp is fairly priced I feel, but everything else is just way over priced. The 10.2 RTRs, being a complete ball of plastic in the same price range as element enduros, trx4 sport, gen8 and 9, Basecamp and so on... Just doesn't make sense to me. Whenever Horizon took over, they went to crap.

They've gone downhill since being purchased by Horizon. 10.2 was pure Axial days. 10.3/Capra/etc is Horizon days...they're no longer building for purists or enthusiasts and are building to reach the largest market and are pinching pennies at every turn.

If this were a head-to-head of the Base Camp vs. the comparably priced Enduro, it’s Enduro all the way for me.

Potentially unpopular opinion, but AFAIC, the 10.3 isn’t the move forward from the 10.2 that Axial hoped it would be. The Base Camp is a whole lot better than the “standard” 10.3, but I’d still look at something else first. And like the broken record that I am, I think the perfect rig for that rare, “I only own one crawler” guy is the TRX-4 Sport Kit. Make it into whatever you want, knowing that there’s a well-engineered tank underneath.

@@CrawlerCanyon Agreed. I have a Sport kit in the closet, a RTR Sport, a 2021 Bronco and the new 1/18. Traxxas and Element own the engineering department.

Oops, you were talking wheels. My bad! Carry on…

it is possible, however, you would then end up with a lot of bump steer due to the pan hard rod and drag link being completely different lengths

This would fix the throw issue, but give pretty bad bump steer, as the drag link would be significantly shorter than the panhard. The AR45P makes for some problems with this front end.

I used new shock towers that relocated the pan hard mount.

I use a heat gun, heavy gloves, and Bob Smith Industries Debonder. Warm the tires, apply some BSI to the bead, and heat uniformly until the bead starts to loosen. The debonder will wick into the bead, and the tires will just pop off. I've used just about every method you can think of, from boiling to baking to acetone fuming. This is what I've found to be the quickest, and you get to same all three parts-- tires, foams, and wheels. Some wheels are REALLY glued, and they'll get a little melty on the details (fake lugs etc.) but I haven't yet lost a foam or a tire. I covered the removal process way back in the early days: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bcTY3eHDVp0.html

For RTRs out of the box? That sounds about right. This is of course going "major label only." I might have some others that would sneak in there ahead of the Base Camp (Carisma SCA-1E, for instance) but I do feel that strongly about the potential of the SE. The XF is really good.

I told him that I strongly recommend taking them off. Out of everything here, rear portal weight on one rig: Ironsides the TRX-4 Defender. Because DEFENDER BODY HEAVY

😐 🤔 😂 🤣