Review - Axial SCX10 III Trail Truck Kit

Axial's original SCX10 trail truck was released more than ten years ago and has been a great success ever since. It attracted so much attention that numerous other businesses were compelled to produce their own versions.

Fast forward to 2020, and Axial has given us the SCX10 III.

This truck is fantastic! First off, the car does not come like this; the Axial SCX10 III Kit we are examining is an early-release version. All of the electronic parts are offered separately, the body is unpainted, and the kit version is not built. As part of the early release, this vehicle was painted and put together.

Now, what makes the Axial SCX10 III Kit so awesome?

Its appearance surpasses that of any previous SCX10. The body, the wheels, the interior, and the absence of any exposed body clips all contribute to the full-scale experience, even if you're not a Jeep enthusiast. Right out of the box, no extras are required. The exterior Lexan shell is standard. However, the hard-plastic elements are attached from the underside of the body using a body clip or screw.

With grill accents, hood latches, hood cowls, and windshield wipers, the front of this Wrangler JL body is the focal point. The wiper cowling, which spans nearly the whole hood, is a perfect replica of the original Wrangler JL. Furthermore, the body has many more scale pieces than that.

The Axial SCX10 III has hidden body clips.

Have you ever had to work on your rig trailside and unscrew and screw the body back on the chassis? I know some trucks have mounted the body without body posts, using screws instead. It isn't enjoyable. However, they are still doing the job with body clips, which is excellent.

This kit comes with conventional body posts to secure any normal 313mm body you choose if you don't want to use this one.

Axial SCX10 III Kit Realistic Details

Our driver figure is the next crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked. He is the cherry on top. We promise that if you look at it carefully, the tinted window trim decals on all the windows make it appear authentic.

A whole Lexan interior component that you can paint and personalize is affixed to the driver. A full roll bar cage rests on top of the Lexan interior, keeping the somewhat boxy body solid and stiff, giving it a more realistic appearance while driving.

Axial SCX10 III Kit Tires and Wheels

The KMC Machete Beadlock wheels, which have a beadlock on the rear and are satin chrome, look fantastic below the body. They have Nitto Trail Grappler tires and mount up with 12mm hexes. The wheels and tires have valid licenses. This truck's realistic appearance is further enhanced by the wheel wells, which offer us a lovely blacked-out appearance by separating the outside from the interior.

Axial SCX10 III Performance Parts

In terms of realism, the scale and hard-plastic details significantly enhance the SCX10 development. However, how does this new truck perform?

An essential item of the SCX10 III is sitting behind these wheels, and that is the brand-new AR45 Portal Axle. They have been designed to provide more ground clearance on the trail. So you can drive over more terrain that would typically snag on the axle—plus, they look very cool.

Axial SCX10 III Front Axle

Metal gears and front universal driveshafts that allow for up to 45° steering are located inside the axles. Additionally, the front axle has an offset pumpkin that enables the front driveshaft to line up with the gearbox output and is more realistic than real-life axles. Thus, efficiency is increased, wear and tear is reduced, and the angle is reduced.

Axial SCX10 III Link System

Additionally, a CMS Chassis mounted servo with a Panhard bar is located above that front axle. At this point, that is nothing new. However, that results in a three-link system in the front and four links in the rear. The links are made of stainless steel with pillow balls that are 6 mm in diameter. If necessary, those links can be easily adjusted by inserting a tiny Allen driver into their little holes.

Axial SCX10 III 2-Speed Transmission and DIG System

The new transmission and transfer case setup is another crucial component of the SCX10 III kit, which may or may not be advantageous because it increases system complexity. With this updated configuration, the truck has a DIG system and a 2-speed transmission built in. Both of these systems will need the Spektrum SX107 Micro Servo to operate, but you may choose not to use them by locking them fixed when you build the kit.

You can choose to lock the 2-speed transmission in either first or second gear, and locking the dig keeps the transfer case in 4WD. We'll say it's fantastic to have a working DIG system in your truck. It adds a great deal of stability and can be used to execute tight turns or drag the rear end on steep dips. You won't want to utilize the DIG system again after you've used it.

Axial SCX10 III Transmitter

If you decide to use them, the transmission is a powerful arrangement with a lot of functionality. Fortunately, you get to choose how to construct your kit. We decided on the Spektrum DX5 5-Channel transmitter with an SR515 receiver.

Axial SCX10 III Motor Mounts

Additionally, the gearbox incorporates 32P spur and pinion gears and a metal motor mount, which positions the motor low and forward in the chassis to accommodate a 540-sized brushed or brushless motor. To hide the motor and give it a more realistic appearance, Axial has even added a moulded plastic V8 engine.

Axial SCX10 III Shocks

Moving on to the shocks, these are bottom loaders with aluminum bodies and emulsion shocks. They include a bleeder screw in the plastic cap, which is quite helpful when assembling shocks. They have a nice appearance and are smooth. 30wt shock fluid will be included in the kit. They should never fall out on the path because the bottom spring cup is fastened.

Axial SCX10 III Molded Inner Fender and Floor Sides

In order to complete the final appearance and add the right amount of detail when the body is installed, the vehicle also contains a lot of plastic-moulded components underneath the hood. Finding the correct electronics shouldn't be difficult because there are multiple methods to configure your electronics or accommodate LiPos of various sizes.

Summary

In the interim, this project will need a steering servo, a battery pack, a 540-sized motor and speed controller, and a transmitter and receiver system. Additionally, if you decide to make the 2-speed and DIG functional, you will require that Spektrum SX107 micro servo.

The SCX10 III Kit is currently available for $399.99. Given that this truck might be among the most comprehensive, unconventional trail vehicles we've ever seen, the price doesn't seem too bad.

When it comes to trail performance, transmission functionality, and overall scale realism, the SCX10 III Trail Truck boasts one of the best-finished looks on the market.