FMS FCX10 LC80 Review — Realistic, Tough & Trail‑Ready
If you saw last week’s unboxing of the FMS FCX10 LC80, you’ll know I’ve been excited to get this one out on the trails. The FMS FCX10 LC80 (brushed version) promises realism, capability, and clever engineering. After indoor crawling, a woods run, and a fair bit of bashing, here’s the full breakdown.
First Impressions — Realism Straight Out of the Box
The LC80 looks fantastic. The polycarbonate body is strong, detailed, and packed with scale features:
- Snorkel
- Bullbar with spotlights
- Full roof rack
- Rear ladder
- Clean, realistic lines
Inside, you get a proper scale interior with a driver figure, detailed seats, steering wheel, gear selector and 4×4 changer. It genuinely looks the part.
Tyres, Underside & Chassis Setup
Underneath, the LC80 continues to impress:
- Chunky tread tyres with a soft, sticky compound
- Metal links all round
- Plastic driveshafts with reinforced ends
- Two‑speed gearbox with a compact footprint
- Oil‑filled spring shocks with thicker oil for smooth return
The suspension feels refined for a brushed RTR — no bouncing, no harsh rebound, just predictable crawling behaviour.
Axles & Ground Clearance
The LC80 uses straight axles, no diff lock, and no portal axles. For trail crawling, that’s absolutely fine.
Surprisingly, it actually had slightly more ground clearance than my WL Toys crawler with portals. Solid axles keep things simple and strong.
The FMS FCX10 LC80 Magnetic Body Mount System — A Brilliant Touch
Additionally, one of the standout features is the magnetised lighting system.
Remove the body: no wires. Refit the body: lights reconnect automatically.
Three magnets on the chassis and three on the body conduct power straight to the lighting system. It’s tidy, clever, and makes maintenance easy.
Electronics & Power Setup
The LC80 takes 2S or 3S LiPo with an XT60 connector. I ran a 3S with a Deans‑to‑XT60 adapter without issue.
Inside you’ll find:
- All‑in‑one ESC/receiver
- 32T brushed 550 motor
- Servo‑on‑axle layout for improved steering clearance
The motor is quiet, smooth, and has decent low‑end control. Not brushless‑smooth, but impressive for a brushed RTR.
Two‑Speed Gearbox & Lighting System
The two‑speed gearbox works well:
- Low gear: slow, controlled crawling
- High gear: a decent turn of speed
The lighting system includes:
- Headlights
- Indicators
- Brake lights
- Reverse lights
The indicators stay on permanently, and the rear lights are red for both brake and reverse. I’ll be doing a mod video soon to fix that.
Indoor Crawling Test — Tight Gaps & Surprising Control
In the office foyer, the LC80 handled:
- Tight gaps
- Narrow turns
- Small obstacles
- Controlled low‑gear crawling
It’s a bit top heavy, but that’s expected with a realistic body and roof rack.
Outdoor Woods Run — Real‑World Performance of the FMS FCX10 LC80
Out in the woods, the LC80 showed what it can really do:
- Plenty of power from the 32T motor
- Good modulation
- Strong suspension
- Excellent tyre grip once softened
- Predictable crawling behaviour
It tipped a few times — especially on narrow tracks — but that’s normal for a scale crawler. Weighted wheels or axle weights will help massively.
Durability — Roof Rack Sacrifice
During the infamous “Log of Despair” climb, the LC80 took a tumble. The only casualty?
The roof rack.
Everything else survived perfectly. The body is tough, the chassis is solid, and nothing important broke.
Comparisons — Base Camp, TRX4 & Custom Rigs
Against the Axial Base Camp, TRX4 and custom crawlers:
- The LC80 got over things the others couldn’t
- The others got over things the LC80 couldn’t
- All three managed obstacles the TRX4 and custom rigs struggled with
It’s genuinely swings and roundabouts — depends what you want from your crawler.
Who The FMS FCX10 LC80 Crawler Is For
This is a brilliant starter crawler:
- Around £300
- Realistic
- Tough
- Two‑speed gearbox
- Great tyres
- Great shocks
- Excellent lighting system
- Balanced chassis
- Ready to run (just add a battery)
If you want more features, you can step up to:
- The brushless version (+£100)
- The Pro version (+£150–£200) with portals, diffs, and brushless power
But honestly, this brushed LC80 is a fantastic entry point.
Upgrade Suggestions
To take it further:
- Add weight low down (wheels, axles, knuckles)
- Swap in a brushless system when budget allows
- Mod the rear lights for proper scale behaviour
I’ll be upgrading mine and turning it into something special — keep your eyes open for that.
Final Thoughts on the FMS FCX10 LC80
The FMS FCX10 LC80 is:
- Realistic
- Tough
- Capable
- Fun
- Great value
I had a great time crawling with it in the woods, in the dark, and indoors. It’s a proper scale crawler with loads of character, and I’d happily recommend it as a first crawler for anyone getting into the hobby.
If you enjoyed the review, hit like, subscribe, and keep an eye out for the upgrade videos coming soon.
