u/RollingSwede

I’ve had this for a while with intentions of converting to a SCX24 base but never did.
All I’ve added are tires/rims to the stock build, pretty solid.
Is there a decent Unimog body kit for the SCX24 base?

Ran the Bronco through the course this morning until it was just too f’ing hot. Will cool off and hit it again later.
Forgot about a FCX24 Unimog I got a while ago. My SCX24 rigs are dialed in for the course so I may bring the Mog up to spec as well.

Hello everyone. I’m a 1/24 outdoor course guy. Here’s some vids of my course. I usually post on SCX24 but got an invite here to the local group so I figured I’d say hello.
Happy long weekend everyone.

Different views of a course run.
How’s everyone else’s courses filling in?

Adding to the new area of development. Decided to make it more of an open rock area so there will be many options for lines and approaches. It’s a water drain area so all of the rocks will be loose and ever-changing. Too hot to go rock hunting in the yard today so I settled for this. Vids of the first few runs. New areas = New lines and challenges.

Course is peak, rig is tuned, let’s go.
And… Rover needs a new transmission so the Power Wagon gets more use.

I'm posting this with a courses flair as that is what this is ultimately based on, I can't really say anything new about the SCX30 format that hasn't been said, so a quick pro list of items important to me, and then on to the cons that have me ultimately sticking with the SCX24 format.

Pros:

• Detail is amazing on the bodies - something that I highly value.
• You can customize everything, same as the SCX24, parts are out there and expanding rapidly, you can turn the Timex into a Rolex very easily to suit whatever type of crawling you do.
• Biggest PRO is that due to the size, any existing course is now almost double the size. My course seemed so much larger when I ran the 30, seriously, it is a vast difference between the 24 and the 30 when you're in the field.
• I am going to say "yadda yadda yadda" on performance - in scale. The 30 can be just as "built" as any 24, brushless motors, etc, they can be a powerhouse. But I stress, "in scale." An ant can lift how many times its body weight?
• Side note. They are light, at least my stock one is. When I wrecked, which I do quite a bit, it didn't take the hits that a heavy bigger rig takes. I felt like I cringed less when I dropped the 30 off the top of a climb than I do with the 24s.

Cons [and conclusion]:

• Size. I am 55 years old. The screws on a 24 are small. The screws on the 30 are ridiculous, I can barely see them. This is a major issue, but not one that can't be overcome with passion. Young eyes will be able to work on these better than I can. I admit it is my age driving this one.
• Rear shock setup. The rear shocks are set up like an FCX24 [at least like my Unimog] with the shocks connecting directly to the rear link and attached to the axle. I'm not a fan of this. I don't have a viable reason why, but there you go.
• My course is relatively scaled for 24 scale. It's outside and to say it's "scaled" is sort of funny, but I have based it off of what my 24s can do and have upgraded it as I have gone along, it can be both easy and challenging. I would have to change a lot of areas as the 30 is small and simply can't handle some areas [large stones, steep approaches, etc]. Again, not insurmountable but it made me think about how "small" I wanted to go with things. See above on size. I can double my real estate driving the 30, but at a cost of losing 25% of the action. Again, not insurmountable but something to think of if you have an established course.
• Visuals. For me the hobby is 33% build the rig, 34% build a course for it, and 33% drive it. When I drive my rigs I want to see it "working", see the flex of the suspension, the pinch of the tires, the spray of the mud. I want to see my rig get progressively dirty when I drive it when it's wet, and dusty when it's dry. The scratches I get are not damage, they're the cost of doing business and worn with pride. Which brings me to my conclusion.

The SCX30 format is sweet and capable. For me, it will be a novelty, something to take out once in a while to rip around and then put back on the shelf, similar to my RC excavator. If I was an indoor track guy I would gravitate to this format only as it can add real estate to a course where real estate may be at a premium. But for me a greater part of the fun is in the running of the build, watching real time as I do things that I would never do IRL, tires pinching, suspension flexing, I want to see it. The 30 did not really allow me this pleasure on my course, it was too small, the same things were there [flexing, etc] but at a scale that, sitting on my bucket, driving my course, I couldn't see it in a way I want to. There are aalso number of natural conditions that happen on my course, plants come up, rocks get loose, leaves fall in it. animals dig in it, rain reshapes it, etc., my 24s have no issue with any of the natural issues and I don't have to "clean" the course every time I run it, to me, these things just add another level of challenge. The 30 did not respond well to these same things, getting hung up in leaves, larger rocks, etc. simply due to it's size, which was the biggest issue for me. I have time to run the course when I can sneak it in sometimes, I need everything to be "grab and go" which the 24 scale allows me. The 30 would require cleanup almost every run. And that is probably the main reason that I will stick with the 24 scale.

Again, no diss to the 30, it is a capable and fun size but the size of the screws and the general size of my course and it's natural obstacles ultimately make it something that I will not highly invest in. Again, if I ran rigs inside, where you have a smaller area and are generally closer to your rigs, 30 would be a logical choice to me, but again, this whole thing is my opinion, hardly worth the paper it's written on.

**Edit - some spelling corrections***

My brother gave me a SCX30 yesterday.
I ran it this morning, it’s stock.
What do I think?
I joined the SCX30 Reddit and this may be my last post here for some time. That’s how it went.

I just got my first SCX30 today. I’ve been exclusive 24 for a few years but after running the 30 on my course today I think I’m hooked.

My youngest kid graduated High School this week so party Saturday. Won’t be any time for crawling.
But I turned the Power Wagon back in to a flat bed this week and had to get some runs in.

Haven’t driven the Power Wagon in a while. Raspberries soon.

As the earlier “trails” weather out the lines change, discovered a part I haven’t run in a while that connects to a redeveloped part up top. Weekly trimming is necessary at this point. Looks like my raspberry bush in the middle is going to produce some berries this year.

Had the time so I expanded the new area a little bit. We’ll see how it developed. I use a lot of dirt when I place the larger rocks, most of it will was out after the first rain. I do like ripping in the dirt to be honest.

Got inspired today. Water runs off the yard under the pipe bridge so erosion should be interesting. Still more to do but rain is threatening.

*** Edit - The area under the bush/wire bridge isn’t new but it’s filling in so nicely, thought you folks would like it ***

Had to get some runs in before the rain started.
Have to admit I’m a little psyched about doing some muddy trail runs once it stops raining. Cleaning the rigs after mudding is a pain, but so worth it.

Maybe few will get that reference but the road takes you back to your abode.
Messing around with tires on my rigs lately. Trying these out for now, performance so far is great.

Weather was good, time was right.
Changed the tires on the Bronco to OGRC 54mm Rock and Trail with soft foam (not 2 stage awfulness) inserts. work great, was getting tired of the limitations of the scale and harder tires.

It’s prime course time and I couldn’t be happier. Everything is filling in nicely. Going to add some climbs and obstacles in to the center level until inspiration strikes me.
How are everyone else’s courses coming along?

Is there any interest in a Western Connecticut 1/24 group?

Took the Power Wagon out after work today. Plantings are coming in nice, my wineberry vine/bush over the metal “broken bridge” is filing in so nicely, should be cavelike soon.
Have some ideas to fill the course out a bit if free time and good weather would match up.

Some say Christmas, i say it’s when the weather becomes temperate and the course starts to green up.
Snuck in some time this morning with the Rover, really liking that build so far, we’ll see what breaks first.
Still visualizing the next phase of construction for the course, I’m sure inspiration will arrive soon.