More agile than Grisons ibexes: RC crawlers
8.6.2016
Translation: machine translated
New to our RC range are crawlers and their many accessories. What is a crawler, what is the fascination behind this hobby and how do you get started? Let me introduce you to this unique field.
Crawling is a specific part of the off-road domain. The aim is to carefully "climb" rocks and slopes. Before we begin, the definition of certain terms and some basics are in order.
Definition - what characterises an RC crawler?
What's the difference between an RC crawler and a normal RC car? From a visual point of view, crawlers and monster trucks, for example, are quite similar. Both have high ground clearance and big tyres. Monster trucks often behave slowly. The crawler is also slow - but very slow. A crawler is built to overcome demanding obstacles. Thanks to their low speed and, at the same time, high power, crawlers pass over large stones, roots and other so-called barriers with little or no trouble. What's more, most crawlers are suspended by a rigid axle, unlike some RC cars, which often have independent wheel suspension. Thanks to the rigid axle, the crawler's propulsion is ideally protected.
The vehicles also have a very slow transmission for better acceleration metering. This makes them easy for children to pilot and ideal for learning to drive RC models. The crawler's centre of gravity is deliberately low, with lead fixed to the wheels to help it cope with steep inclines without tipping over. Crawlers are generally fitted with a differential lock to avoid losing too much drive power when a wheel stops touching the ground, for example. To see the obstacles that crawlers have to overcome, watching a few product videos is worthwhile. Here's an example.
Trail and scale
In crawling circles, we differentiate between trail and scale. The aim of trail is to overcome difficult terrain as accurately as possible. The aim of the scale is to equip its RC crawler as faithfully to the original as possible. The name, chassis, axles, bodywork, interior equipment and accessories are all taken into account and must be to scale and as faithful to reality as possible. Sometimes you find photos of crawlers in action and don't even know if it's a real car or a scale model anymore.
Which crawler to choose?
Depending on the model, you receive your Ready-to-Race (RTR) crawler. So all you need to do is charge the battery and you're already off to tackle the steep slopes. For Almost-Ready-to-Race (ARR) vehicles, the battery and charger are not usually included in the delivery. In some cases, the remote control may also not be included. So be sure to always check the contents of the delivery in the specifications. The final category is kits that contain only the model parts. The electronics, colours and glue are not included. These kits allow you to build the RC crawler according to your own needs and desires.
Here is one product from each category as an example:
Of course, you can transform and improve your RTR crawler. As always in model making, part of the hobby also involves tinkering with the model and, for example, changing plastic parts to high-end metal ones. With crawlers, the aim is to make the vehicle even more off-road or even more realistic.
Rc crawler accessories for scaler
Compared to the trail, scalers take certain limitations into account when it comes to off-roading. On the other hand, the model is very realistic. To achieve this, you need a large number of accessories. Here are a few examples of particularly special parts.
Here, you'll find the entire RC crawler assortment. There are no limits to creativity in this area, and the possibilities for outfitting your crawler are endless. Anyone who would like to equip their crawler with accessories that are not available can create them themselves using a 3D printer. This one, for example, lends itself perfectly:
What's the ideal place for crawling?
The possibilities here, too, are almost endless. Some people bring their crawler along when they go hiking so that they can ride in a set-up. But the forest, too, can be great fun with its many roots. When the weather is bad, you can also create a circuit at home and let the crawler "climb" in your living room or cellar.
Header image: Axial Wraith
Oliver Stulz
Product Manager
oliver.stulz@digitecgalaxus.chEver since I was a kid, I’ve been crazy about scale modelling – this enthusiasm has stuck with me to this day. I also love technology, construction and anything I can invent or build. Apart from being a techie, I’m also a true travel fanatic.