Just a couple of pages ago in this very issue, we introduced you to Ian Roberts, Product Engineer at Pro-Line Racing. In our Q&A session with him, we found out that he’s big into RC crawlers. That intrigued us enough to ask him about one of his latest builds that we saw at Axialfest. Lo and behold, the Axial SCX10.2 Deadbolt that you see before you.
This isn’t just any regular RC truck; it’s a personal creation that showcases Ian’s love for RC, his knack for building things, and his passion for making things better. Technically this crawler started out as a Deadbolt, but in reality it’s a whole other animal now due to the modifications that Ian did to it. The idea for this this build was to create an ultra-simple crawler that can be affordable to build and upgrade while maintaining excellent reliability.
We were impressed with the combination of this truck’s simplicity and tremendous driving performance.
THE BASE KIT
Starting with the Axial SCX10.2 Deadbolt as a base, Ian set out to make a bulletproof truck that has the capability to go anywhere. The SCX10.2 is well-known for its off-road abilities, making it a solid choice for Ian’s vision of making a simple, reliable crawler that doesn’t break the bank. With reliability at the front of his mind, Ian kept the stock brushed electronics and transmission as well as the rear axle. This was a smart move to keep costs down and ensure the truck would perform well without any fancy upgrades.
UPGRADED
The real magic happened with the upgrades Ian chose. He added Rock Pirates Shock Towers, 7” Rock Sliders, Billet Body Post Mounts, and a Shock Spacer Kit. These may sound like fancy words, but they’re basically parts that make the truck look cooler and perform better. They add strength and style to the truck, making it stand out from the crowd and outperform its peers.
Rock Pirates 7” Rock Sliders add protection while enhancing the truck’s looks.
WIth this build, Ian proves that you don’t always need the most expensive stuff to be competitive. Here, he has standard items such as a Spektrum brushed motor, Dynamite ESC and a SCX10.2 transmission.
For better control and stability, Ian upgraded to Pro-Line Big Bore shocks. These larger shocks help the truck handle rough terrain more smoothly. He also improved the driveshafts with Incision shafts, which help the power flow smoothly and efficiently to the wheels and make sure everything stays robust and reliable.
The truck’s steering got an upgrade too. Ian installed a Spektrum 6250 servo, which helps the truck steer with authority. It helps the truck turn more accurately and stay on the right path. Being a product engineer by trade, it was only natural that Ian designed and 3D-printed his own front and rear bumpers. It’s a great way to add a truly personal touch to his ride. A link to his Thingiverse account can be found in the profile article we did with him in this issue, check it out for some really cool 3D-printable designs for all sorts of RC vehicles.
The chassis layout is simple and balanced. Note the Spektrum 6250 servo, it steers the truck with precision and authority.
“For better control and stability, Ian upgraded to Pro-Line Big Bore shocks. These larger shocks help the truck handle rough terrain more smoothly.”
ADDING WEIGHT
The front of the truck got a makeover in the form of an SSD Front Axle and SSD Heavy Brass Knuckles. This upgrade makes the truck’s front end stronger and heavier, which makes it better at handling trail obstacles. The truck’s shoes, Pro-Line Toyo AT Tires, were chosen for their great grip and traction. They help the truck hold onto different surfaces, making it easier to crawl over rocks and rough ground. And let’s not forget the wheels, which are plastic Pro-Line Holcomb 1.9” Crawler Bead-Loc Wheels in the rear and Pro-Line Holcomb Aluminum 1.9” Crawler Bead-Loc Wheels in the front. The reason he has aluminum wheels in the front is for the added weight.
The truck is decorated with Axialfest’s 2023 graphic motif. Note the matching hood decal and custom paintwork on the body.
LOOKING GOOD
Moving on to the body, Ian opted for a Pro-Line Coyote HP clear body that we hear he helped design. That’s really cool that you get to rock a body that you helped design. Ian even got it custom-painted for Axialfest 2023 with special colors and designs that make it match the Axialfest graphics. That’s a nice touch in our book.
FINAL WORD
What Ian has created isn’t just another crawler. It’s a reflection of his passion to create a simple and affordable competition-level crawler that can go toe-to-toe with much more expensive rigs at the crawler events. Every choice he made, every upgrade he added, turned a regular RC truck into a purposeful trail conqueror. As his custom rig takes on trails and shows off at events like Axialfest 2023, it’s clear that Ian’s creation means it’s more than just a hobby; it’s also his way of showing how fun RC rock crawling can be.
Pro-Line Big Bore shocks are mounted to Rock Pirates Shock Towers. It’s a simple combination that delivers big in the performance department.
Text by James York
Images by Jerry Tsai
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