Review: FMS FCX24M Land Rover Camel Trophy Edition
One of the many reasons I love the R/C hobby is that I can collect several replicas of 1:1 vehicles without incurring crushing debt. The small-scale side of the radio-controlled universe is even more affordable than their larger, 1/10-scale cousins, making collecting various cars and trucks that much easier.
Along that same vein, I often find myself digging into the history of the 1:1 counterparts of the vehicles I collect. Such is the case with the FMS FCX24M lineup of Land Rover Camel Trophy edition machines.
With their hard-to-miss yellow color schemes and decked-out overland setups, these rugged Land Rover replicas are somewhat of an automotive time capsule. Having a new line of 1/24-scale R/C crawler replicas emblazoned with the Camel Trophy colors and liveries, I found myself down the rabbit hole of research once again. But that's a story for another day. For now, let's talk about the FCX24M and take a closer look at this new small-scale crawling platform.
Thank you to the folks at FMS for providing me with two FCX24M Land Rover Camel Trophy models to test and review.
What's Included with the FMS FCX24M Land Rover Camel Trophy Edition:
- 1 1/24-scale Land Rover Camel Trophy Edition Discovery, Range Rover, Defender 90, or Defender 110
- 1 2.4GHz Radio Transmitter
- 1 Tire/multi-tool
- 1 Trailer Hitch
- 1 2S 7.4V 380mAh Battery
- 1 USB Battery Charger
- 1 Instruction Manual
The Body and Body Details:
From my point of view, FMS did their homework on the styling of each of these vehicles. Depending on the model (or models) you select, they may have more or fewer included scale details, but they all have a rugged appearance despite their showroom shine. Each FCX24M Camel Trophy Edition Land Rover features off-road, adventure-styled bumpers, brush guards, roof racks, and a spare tire that can be mounted to the vehicle's rear.
The clear windows provide a view into the vehicle's interior, which includes a molded polycarbonate tray. FMS recently released an updated version of this interior that includes a driver mold, which is a nice addition if you want to add even more scale realism to your off-road ride.
The Discovery and Range Rover bodies include more accents and details than the Defender 90 and 110. While these out-of-the-box details are great, all these models are easy to customize.
Like other FMS models, the FCX24M features an ABS plastic hard body, but it differs slightly as it's not painted. I haven't encountered many instances of light leaking through the solid yellow body, but you could always remove the body and paint the interior if you felt that was an issue.
The hard plastic used on the body is also receptive to washes and paints, making weathering this rig an exciting form of customization.
It did take me a moment to figure out how to access the chassis and the internal electronics. I'm used to FMS models with opening hoods or plastic-tab-connected bodies, so the rear-hinged, front hook-and-loop body mount took me by surprise. I hope the hook-and-loop material holds up over time and doesn't lose its grip (which is very secure), but if it does eventually start to fade, it should be an easy and inexpensive fix.
The Electronics (Motor, Servos, Battery, and ESC):
I've always found the electronics on FMS models to be solid. Their two-in-one radio/ESC setup on their small-scale models is reliable, and their motor choices are always appropriate for each vehicle's scale (and purpose). The FCX24M is no different in this regard. The radio system and ESC are very responsive, with plenty of range for a 1/24-scale vehicle.
The two-speed, remote-shiftable transmission is always a nice bonus as there are always situations where these vehicles can benefit from more torque or wheel speed, depending on the terrain. While the motor is powerful enough, I'd love to see (or possibly upgrade to) a larger motor or perhaps one with a bit more torque. I'll admit that the FCX18 Land Cruiser 80 stock motor has ruined me a bit (and so too have some aftermarket motors), but for its size and intended use, the Power Dash 050 motor holds its own and provides plenty of low-to-high-end power.
The Chassis:
There aren't any significant differences between the chassis setup on the FCX24M and what you'd find in other 1/24-scale trail trucks. It features a ladder-frame chassis design with metal c-channel rails, which provide improved durability than its cousin, the FCX24. The suspension links (upper and lower) and steering links) are all made of nylon, which is lightweight, but durability may be an issue depending on how hard you drive these vehicles. FMS does offer an aluminum link upgrade that includes four lower suspension links and the main steering link, all in black-finished aluminum. If you plan to take the FCX24M on serious off-road expeditions, that upgrade might be worth looking into.
I was surprised (pleasantly, I might add) to see the FCX24M use straight axles rather than portal axles. Yes, you lose some ground clearance when dealing with higher obstacles and ruts, but from a scale and visual standpoint, it just looks right on these machines.
FMS states that the FCX24M has oil-filled shocks, but it's hard to tell, given how much wobble and bobble they have. There may be a small amount of oil in the shocks, but it's enough to keep the body relatively stable when trail driving and crawling. The Defender D90 doesn't have much suspension travel compared to the Discovery, but it's enough to help the truck crawl over obstacles and handle inclines and declines.
Performance:
The FCX24M is a machine that can do it all. While it's mainly a trail-style vehicle, it had no problem crawling over some light obstacles in my front yard course.
The motor and two-speed transmission offered plenty of power to get up and over whatever lay in its path, but I did notice a difference in performance characteristics between the Discovery and the Defender 90.
With its smaller wheels and longer wheelbase, the Discovery got hung up on obstacles a few times, while the D90 was able to maintain grip over most of the course. The Defender did run into some issues, however, specifically during the initial climb, when it found itself back on its rear wheels with one or both front wheels in the air.
Even with those challenges, both FCX24M rigs performed better, if not better, than I'd expected. They even surpassed the stock performance of other well-known models that I've run in the past.
These vehicles aren't just great performers outdoors, either. I had a blast wheeling them inside, even challenging my kids to a test of driving skills as we set up an obstacle course in our basement. No matter where you choose to run, the FCX24 is a powerful performer.
How Does it Stack Up to the Competition?
Based on size and features, the FCX24M is a direct competitor of the Axial SCX24. Despite the "FCX24" in its name, it's much smaller than the earlier FCX24 models.
While the SCX24 has been around for a while, the FCX24M can give it a run for its money. While it doesn't have the same amount of aftermarket support as some of its competitors, there are plenty of ways you can improve the performance of this rig. If you're a fan of scale-appearing trail machines, the FCX24 is an attractive package.
What's the Verdict?
The Land Rover Camel Trophy Edition FCX24M lineup combines visual detail and solid performance. Well-detailed inside and out, these tiny trucks have plenty of performance under the hood to keep pace with the competition.
If you love scale detail and are especially smitten with the vehicles used in the Camel Trophy series, then the FCX24M is a must-have R/C model.
FCX24M Land Rover Discovery Specs:
- Length: 232mm
- Width: 105mm
- Height: 133mm
- Wheelbase: 134mm
- Tire F/R: Φ 48*17mm
- Approach Angle: 52°
- Departure Angle: 55°
- Minimum Ground Clearance: 28mm
- Motor: 050 Motor Set
- Battery: 7.4v 380mAh
- Price: $119.99
FCX24M Land Rover Defender 90 Specs:
- Length: 214mm
- Width: 107mm
- Height: 128mm
- Wheelbase: 111mm
- Tire F/R: Φ 50*20mm
- Approach Angle: 55°
- Departure Angle: 51°
- Minimum Ground Clearance: 24mm
- Motor: 050 Motor Set
- Battery: 7.4v 380mAh
- Price: $119.99
