There has been an RJ Speed Jeep Scrambler body sitting in my shop for a couple of years just waiting for the perfect chassis to come along. I have always loved the scale style and who doesn't like Jeeps? Yes, it would fit some existing kits, like the Stampede or one of the Axial scale rigs that have become popular, but I decided to create my own by repurposing a project from a few years ago.

I cannot think of any other vehicle that got as much attention as the original Traxxas XO-1 when it was released just a couple of years ago. This 1/7-scale on-road monster caught everyone off guard with its unique chassis design and a Castle Creations powered system that could propel this car up to 100 mph in just a few short seconds.

When purchasing a high end radio controlled race machine I usually don’t want to run on out and purchase a handful of option parts to make it competitive.  I just want to assemble it and run it.  Then again, on …

I will never forget the first time I saw an HPI Baja 5B in person. If bigger really is better, the 5B would be my next radio controlled buggy. It could go practically anywhere and ran on 87-octane gas. Once I bought one my excitement was replaced by a need to apologize for its performance to any onlookers. Painfully underpowered, the Baja was “all show” and no go!

The massive Traxxas X-Maxx monster truck is an incredibly fun truck to bash with due to its giant, go anywhere size, unstoppable 4WD drivetrain and gobs of power and speed. Where can you improve on this package? Runtime.

If you missed it the first time around because you weren’t even born yet then you now have a chance to see, build and experience one of the coolest kits that is responsible for getting so many of us old timers hooked back in the mid eighties. With each discontinued kit that Tamiya has re-released over the past few years, Monster Beetle fans have been asking for their turn

The world of RC has many different facets; there’s really something for everybody. One of the areas I’ve set my sights on mastering is the drift segment. It basically goes against everything I’ve learned when it comes to driving sliding is better than grip, more power does not mean a faster vehicle and tire compounds, well, plastic is better than rubber.

Your Local Hobby Store is a great place to check out what’s new in the RC hobby, meet likeminded people, see some great racing (if they have a track) and pick up an inexpensive new basher to tear around the yard and rip up the streets. Most LHS’s have all the new, small-scale bashers right up front for everyone to check out as you walk in. If you are lucky enough to have a Hobbytown near you, you'll find some exciting releases from Helion.

More Cool Stuff from the Editors of RC Driver Magazine: Racing Machined 4-Link Mounts, Western Front & Rear Bumpers, Screw Catcher...More

The entry level radio control segment of this great hobby is rather saturat- ed with really good vehicles at good prices, making it fairly easy for consumers to get a deal when looking for a vehicle. Because of this, it is hard for a vehicle, or manufacturer for that matter, to stand out from the crowd. Then ECX, a division of Horizon Hobby, came out with the AMP MT and AMP DB 2WD off road vehicles and totally changed the playing field.

Rally has been a steady segment of RC for 25 years, and manufacturers have done everything over the years in the 1/10-scale segment of RC. But often the vehicle works either on the dirt or on tarmac. Seldom can a vehicle conquer both types of terrain and still keep going. The HobbyKing Basher RZ-4 has been built like a tank to rule the rally track and take on any challenge you can throw at it.

Bashers and off-road racers across the globe have been waiting with zealous anticipation for Axial to release a trophy truck. Once the early videos of the new Yeti SCORE Trophy Truck hit the internet, that anticipation grew to a fever pitch. Building off of the original Yeti chassis and drivetrain, Axial took the design a step further with a fullblown Trophy Truck body that’s loaded with scale details.

Duratrax certainly hit a home run when they released the 835 and 835E 1/8-scale buggies, these offer near race worthy performance at a budget price. While the buggies perform well against other similarly priced models, I often wondered if this buggy could make it out on the track against these purely race-bred vehicles.

As a racer, I try to keep all my rides in tip-top shape, both on and off the track. Unfortunately, one of the trucks that hasn’t seen much stick time is my 2WD short course truck. I don’t know what it is, but the SC segment just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Well, anymore until I got my hands on Team Associated’s new SC5M.

My first experience with a Yokomo radio controlled car was the YZ-10 back in the late 1980s. This 4wd off road racer was considered one of the absolute best vehicles of the era and in various forms won several IFMAR World Titles. Yokomo has always been competitive and is now to aiming to compete for national and world titles; only this time in the 2wd class with the YZ-2 CA and DT.