How to find the right RC Vehicle Bodies AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in RC Vehicle Bodies
- Wheelbase match
- Match the body's listed wheelbase to your chassis's axle-to-axle distance in millimetres; small differences can be shimmed, large ones leave wheels off-centre in the wheel arches. Labels like 'tenth-scale' cover chassis of very different lengths, so the scale label alone does not guarantee fit.
- Body post and mount compatibility
- Check that the body is cut for, or can be drilled for, your chassis's body post positions, or uses the same magnetic or clipless mount system. Post holes in the wrong place make the body sit crooked or require new mounts.
- Material for your use
- Clear polycarbonate (lexan) for bashing, racing and trail driving; hard plastic (ABS or injection-moulded) bodies only for scale realism on crawlers and display. Polycarbonate flexes and survives crashes; hard bodies look more realistic but crack and add weight up high.
- Clear vs pre-painted
- Clear bodies must be painted on the inside with paint made for polycarbonate; pre-painted bodies save work but limit colour choice. Ordinary hobby or hardware spray paint flakes off flexible polycarbonate.
- Wall thickness
- Prefer heavier-gauge polycarbonate for bashers and monster trucks, lightweight versions only for racing. Lightweight race bodies tear quickly under rollovers and jumps.
- Wheel and track width
- Confirm your wheel offset and track width fit inside the wheel wells, especially when swapping to wider tyres. Tyres that rub the body cause drag, steering limits and torn wheel wells.
Brands that matter
- Pro-Line: Broad catalogue of clear and pre-painted bodies for crawlers, short course, monster trucks and drag cars, with wheelbase listed clearly.
- JConcepts: Strong in racing buggy, short course and trail bodies, often with aero-focused designs.
- Traxxas: Direct-fit replacement bodies for its own models, the easiest choice when you own a Traxxas vehicle.
- Axial: Replacement and licensed bodies for SCX and Capra crawlers, including micro-scale options.
- Element RC: Team Associated's crawler brand, with bodies matched to its Enduro chassis.
- Killerbody: Hard plastic scale bodies for crawler builders who prioritise realism.
- Tamiya: Licensed on-road and touring bodies, often supplied with detailed decals.
- Protoform: Specialist in touring and on-road racing bodies.
What to avoid
- Buying by scale label alone without checking wheelbase in millimetres.
- Painting polycarbonate with paint not formulated for it.
- Hard plastic bodies on bashers or jumping monster trucks.
- Unbranded bodies that list no wheelbase or mounting details.
Questions
Will any tenth-scale body fit my tenth-scale truck?
No; tenth-scale chassis vary in wheelbase and track width, so compare the body's wheelbase and mount positions to your chassis.
Which side of a clear body do I paint?
The inside, after washing and masking the windows; the clear outer layer protects the paint.