Performance has always been the number one building objective in hardcore motor sports and radio controlled rock crawling is certainly no exception. While most of us builders are still turning our focus to capability during a build, many are also combining that capability with accessories that give a crawler that edgy look. It was less than a year ago that you could slap a Lexan body on your rig, chose the right wheel and tire combination, shortened your wheel base to fit the body dimensions and you had a “scale” crawler.

Old School Scaler Crawler

Much like the fabricators that started creating custom chassis’ a few years ago, there was another segment of builder who was thinking of small custom parts that enhanced the looks of a crawler. As the crawler world began to be dominated by scale looking builds, these few guys were making bead lock rings that looked like the real thing, from standard rings, to more intricate pieces that are replicas of a Walker Evans wheel .

This truck has Walker Evans style Rock Rings

While the “Rock Rings”, as they became to be known as, didn’t work like a real bead lock, they did give a crawler that ultra cool look. Thousands were being sold and there were many builders making them from plastics, aluminum and steel.

After seeing how successful the Rock Rings were becoming, some of these fabricators started to make other small parts that are now a must for the scale builder. One of my personal favorites is the Snorkel that is much like the 1:1 ARB unit).

ORCRC Snorkel

Not only is it good looking but also has an ingenious mounting system. Three small, molded plastic tabs slip into holes that you drill in your Lexan body. It’s easy and is a perfect fit every time. RCRock Gear and www.orcrc.com are two leaders in this new trend to be scale. These hardcore Oregonians make some of the coolest parts for the scale enthusiast, with a line up including aluminum D Tow shackles, Jeep mirrors, Intake snorkels, custom roof racks to carry your spare tire, fuel cells, light bars and even a complete flat bed for your Yota Crawler!

Flat bed for any crawler build

There’s more too….so check out their sites!

The newest trend in scale building has got to be the complete competition buggy chassis. Believe it or not, the comp buggy chassis is built from automotive brake line, then brazed together, creating rigs that are unbelievably realistic and perform as well as any other in the rc crawling world. Surprisingly, after the chassis has been brazed together, it is VERY strong and withstands the hardest of hits and tumbles down the slick rock.

An example of a tube chassis rock buggy

After watching some of these little buggies in action at the RC Rock Crawling National Championship in Moab, Utah, I must admit, that I want one too. However, I’m not sure if I’ve got the time and patients to make my own buggy. So…..One call to some of the master builders in Utah is all it takes…along with a small fee of course, to have my own.

The RC Crawling world is changing daily and perhaps the most important part of that change has been the combining of performance and function, with realism and flash. These little, detailed parts, along with complete tube framed, buggy chassis’ are the things that are catching people’s eye inside and outside of the rc world and propelling this sport into the spot light. Look for more of these little pieces in the future by many more new designers and fabricators and crawl with performance and looks! Who says that function has to outweigh flash anyway? And if you believe built is better than bought….well….build your own scale parts. That’s half the fun anyway! Good crawlin to ya!