A Crawler with Class: Axial's SCX24 Lexus GX 470

When you think of rugged, 1:1 off-road-ready vehicles on which to base a radio-controlled crawler, there are some that come to mind instantly…and others that don't. Jeep, Ford, Chevy, and Toyota all have models that easily fit any "rugged off-road" criteria one might think of, and all have had either small-scale or 1/10-scale R/C replicas produced.

Then there's Lexus. I'll admit that my knowledge of Lexus isn't very deep, but I do know it's a brand known more for luxury than its prowess on the trail. My own ignorance notwithstanding, some Lexus models have made the jump from the lap of luxury to the wilds of the great outdoors. Through overland conversions, these gleaming beacons of the mid-to-upper-crust have been modified to handle the trials and tribulations of the trail.

You might be asking, "Where am I headed with all of that lead-up"? Why, to the introduction of Axial's newest SCX24 model, of course! The SCX24 Lexus GX 470 RTR is not only the last 1/24-scale crawler from Axial but it has received many of the small-scale platform's recent enhancements.

From oil-filled shocks to Spektrum electronics, the SCX24 Lexus GX 470 offers a solid platform for a small-scale crawler and trail vehicle. The SCX24 platform has been around for several years, and during that time, Axial has been tuning and tweaking it to make it more reliable and enjoyable.

While the foundation of the SCX24 Lexus GX 470 has some newness to it, the biggest draw for this new model may be its body. Featuring an ABS plastic hardbody replica of the 1:1 2009 Lexus GX 470, this small-scale luxury rig is outfitted with several overland-inspired scale details.

At first glance, it's easy to spot the Demello Offroad bumper snorkel, roof rack, and assortment of scale goodies affixed to the SCX24 Lexus GX 470's body. Keep working your way to the rear of this rig and you'll spot nylon rock sliders, a rear ladder, and a beefy rear bumper with a hitch receiver for pulling scale-appropriate trailers.

The body may be one of the best I've ever seen from a stock SCX24. While I'm not an immediate fan of the GX 470, this body style has grown on me the more I've looked at it. Axial offers three color options for this SCX24 model: black, silver, and white. The black and white options feature metallic bronze wheels, while the silver-bodied option rolls on metallic gray wheels.

No matter which color you choose, this new SCX24 model is equipped with 1.0" Nitto Trail Grappler tires, which are glue-mounted to the wheels.

My recent interest in small-scale crawlers and trail trucks has revolved around 1/18-scale models, but I can see plenty of potential with this offering. The SCX24 platform has several years of trail time under its belt and with it, a deep collection of aftermarket upgrades. Both aspects should make this an appealing model for R/C crawling enthusiasts to consider.

Specs:

• Scale: 1/24
• Product Length: 8.25" (210 mm)
• Product Height: 4.5" (114 mm)
• Product Width: 3.9" (99 mm)
• Wheelbase: 5" (127 mm)
• Product Weight: With Battery: 10 oz (283g) | Without Battery: 9 oz (257g)
• Max Battery Dimensions: 2.20 x 1.18 x 0.35 in. (56x30x9mm)
• Wheel Hex Size: 7mm
• Body: ABS - Painted
• Chassis: Steel Rail
• Drive Type: Forward/Brake/Reverse
• Drivetrain: 4WD
• Differential: Gear
• Shock Type: Oil-filled (80wt)
• Motor Type: Brushed
• Pinion: 10T
• Spur Gear: 55T
• Power Type: Electric
• Connector Type: PH 2.0 (High-Current Ultra Micro)
• Battery: Included
• Charger: Included
• Radio: Included
• Receiver: Included
• Servos: Included
• Speed Control: Included

Priced at $149.99, the SCX24 Lexus GX 470 is available through Axial, Horizon Hobby, Tower Hobbies, and other Axial dealers. Visit horizonhobby.com to learn more about this 1/24-scale R/C trail rig.

Image credit: Horizon Hobby