FMS Smasher V2: Not Just a Monster Truck!

Late is better than never, right? The new FMS 1:24 FCX24 Chevrolet K5 Blazer RTR is all the rage right now, but here in Australia we tend to get things a little later than elsewhere. So, today we have the FMS 1:24 FCX24 Smasher V2 Monster Truck RTR.
It's a monster truck, obviously. But what isn't necessarily immediately obvious is how well this thing goes in the general outdoors. Come and explore its off-road chops with us around a little lake. Oh yes, there's mud, too! Woohoo!
Let's test!
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Get yours here: amzn.to/3XUQ79t
Epic Brushless Upgrade:
Motor & Trans: asiate.es/aff?l=210265&i=76070
Brushless ESC: asiate.es/aff?l=188322&i=76070
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Chapters:
0:00 FMS Smasher V2
0:20 In The Box
1:09 V2 Radio
1:32 Big Tires Small Body
1:58 Jumps & Water
2:15 2-Speed Transmission
2:57 Diff Options
3:34 Shock Tuning
3:58 Servos
4:16 Wet Running
4:29 Hard Body
5:00 Chassis & Links
5:27 Electronics
5:48 Bearings & Bushings
6:10 How It Drives
7:40 Trail Smasher
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Articles:
What's the Best RC Car? rc-tnt.com/guides/best-rc-car/
Best RC Crawler? rc-tnt.com/manufacturer/multi...
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#rccrawling, #rcreview, #fmssmasherv2, #fmsreview, #rcmonstertruck,

[@RCRoads]

Nice job covering the FMS FCX24 Max Smasher. I cant believe they packed so much into this truck at this price. Very nice. Thanks for sharing it with us. 🏆

[@RCTNT]

Thank you! And yes, agreed. It still gets regular use here. What a great little machine!

[@DurpVonFronz]

MAX SMASHER!!! Its one deadly lil rig, this thing is made for kickass!!!

[@RCTNT]

They nailed it with this one, didn't they!

[@scottjlambert]

Haha I always love seeing the kangaroos! They just fascinate me endlessly.

[@RCTNT]

They're interesting creatures. Unlikely, from a certain point of view. I think they're pretty great.

[@scottjlambert]

@@RCTNT I do as well. I know I’ve talked about it before but there’s nothing like them here. Amazing creatures.

[@michaeldorich4485]

This is an excellent review. I haven't found anyone who doesn't like this little truck.

[@RCTNT]

Thanks, it's a very capable little machine. Fun!

[@Waldkriecher]

First review I have seen for the smasher that is also looking at the trailing capability. It does make quite a lot of sense to use the smasher for trails. 2 speed transmission alone gives you power but also wheel speed where you need it. Big tires and portals lets you go where scx24 would already struggle (grass, rocks etc.). Great job showing that side of the smasher. I am very tempted to get the silver one, really love that design!

[@RCTNT]

Thanks. The car really lends itself to trail use, it's just endlessly fun. And another thing I like is that you really don't need to do any upgrades to have it just ready to go be fun, durable and capable. It's great!

[@zonegamma8197]

cool video thanks

[@YoShImUrA53]

Loved the roos and ducks footage! I believe all the transmission gears have bearings, but it's the small sized pinion on the portals that are bushings vs V1. In my V2 it was the case. Btw mine came with grease inside the portals, which some reviews said they don't. I also locked the rear axle and fitted the o-rings with literally a drop of oil of very light oil (sunflower oil does great, apparently), and it transforms the reactions, and makes it super scale! I have also applied the water decals on my white body, and afterwards applied Tamiya clear coat to protect them, both in the chassis rails (has a few stickers there), as well as the body. I even painted the headlight tulips in black, as the real '79 F100 that it's based on was.😊

[@RCTNT]

Very nice, thanks for the detail on bushings and bearings. In the moment I found I couldn't quite recall but yes, I think you're right on that. I'm liking the approach to some-but-minimal oil in the shocks and I think I'll also lock that rear axle. Seems like a good plan. (I wonder whether sunflower oil would turn rancid like olive oil would? I think I'll stick with silicon oil in any case!). Clear coat over the decals seems wise. I've seen your photos on IG with those white lettered tires and I think you've got a mean machine there! (Would you run it in muddy puddles now? hehe)

[@YoShImUrA53]

@@RCTNT actually, I only had silicon myself and went with that instead. Nice to know about the sunflower going bad not being maybe such a good idea. If I had muddy puddles, as we're entering spring and haven't had any rain for a few weeks already, absolutely!!! That's what it's for! Btw, are you sure the K5 body will fit? I got the feeling this has a longer wheelbase. But I didn't check

[@RCTNT]

No idea yet. We'll find out sooner or later!

[@inthedogghouse86]

Best review of the truck ive seen. Spoke about whats in the package, including the ahock o rings and how to lock the diffs

[@RCTNT]

It's such a fun little truck! Still using it regularly here 😊

[@HellaNorCal916]

Locking the rear diff makes a big difference. It hardly gets stuck anymore and definitely helps it climb better.

[@RCTNT]

Nice one, that's the next thing I'll do!

[@andrewrichey7374]

Yeah I have three Max smashers they are lotta fun for sure, I cut the back window out of mine the glass is already there looks 100% better

[@RCTNT]

That's a great idea!

[@Captain_Tool_Vicarious]

Did you use a dremmel, Woodburn er, or just cut it out with an exacto knife?

[@VS666]

These things are a lot of fun my nephew loves the stock one I got for him and then of course I put a 3S Furitek system in mine haha

[@RCTNT]

Heh yes of course you did. Power! I've got an old micro brushless system here I'm considering trying.. But in stock form it's already so good, I've hesitated so far!

[@Captain_Tool_Vicarious]

​@@RCTNT I agree most definitely. If you want it to react like an older 70s-80s monster truck(namely Bigfoot) the stock motor can pop these front tires straight to the sky off a good 1/24th scale model body... Motor is perfect to replicate how much heavier these trucks were back then. They weren't doing any back flips anytime soon in 83...lol

[@RCTNT]

Haha for sure, she's overpowered as it is. ...but is that really a reason to stop there?

[@ejlucas93]

I absolutely love mine!

[@RCTNT]

Understandable. I'm loving mine too!

[@stefanhofstetter54]

Convert the shocks in oil shocks and install the high speed motor and it will be a monster 😁

[@RCTNT]

I've got a system I want to test fit in it and the shocks are getting oil soon. But I wanted to emphasise just how excellent this car is in stock form first. Truly a great machine.

[@ck7777]

They are awesome. I've got V1 set up with locked metal gear diffs, aluminum axles, stock tires with added foams on 1" scx24 alloy wheels, RCAwd shocks, FMS speed motor, and a bit of brass. It's a tiny trailing beast.

[@RCTNT]

Geez I don't doubt it, reading that list! I might have to try all that at some point, but I kinda want to leave one stock. They're brilliant cars, aren't they

[@ck7777]

@@RCTNT super fun stock for sure. Try adding a bit of oil into the diffs -1M weight works great to really improve climbing, but still allow slippage for monster trucking around.

[@RCTNT]

Thanks, I was considering doing that. Have just been looking into the upgrades you've got here, but for their newer car instead. I kinda want to keep this one light for monster jumping fun. Will probably stick the 180 size motor in though!

[@TrokaRC]

Nice view.

[@doubledome2076]

Cool fms‼️👍👍🦾🦾

[@Happily_retired]

2:40 Well that's not something I run into here in Florida, USA! Hahaha That was great! However, I do encounter alligators fishing the local ponds.

[@RCTNT]

Ooh I think I'll take the roos over the gators, lol!

[@thejeepinrealtor5742]

Absolutely love mine. Like my v1 better than my v2 - but that’s ok. It’s still awesome. I have one with speed motor and one without it. Both fun and different!

[@RCTNT]

I bet they are! We're sure lucky to have such incredible choice in RC these days, it feels like a golden age for the hobby.

[@randall4411]

I'm into 10th scale and up . But ! I love my smasher .

[@RCTNT]

This feels different to the other small cars, doesn't it. It's just a really fun little model!

[@Captain_Tool_Vicarious]

I like it better in a sense. I raced 1/10 Scale monster truck Pro-Mod won points and Freestyle Pro-Mod champion. And In my honest opinion, it's our inner child that was used to playing with our push cars at this scale from Tonka and ERTL. Now, we're all older(47 here), and this feels like what we played with as a kid. Everyone that builds models know this scale well also. Which is perfect for creating a monster truck crushing race extravaganza!! If you got a couple of these, line them up 80s racing style, add a few old model bodies on the track and relive the best monster truck years. The behavior is almost spot on stock. These trucks would have never done a back flip. Just high front wheels to the sky after hitting the cars, and the long smash down. The stock motor is perfect for these scenarios. However, if you want to catch up with today's trucks, you gotta upgrade not only the motor, but the entire drive train to metal. Thanks for reading my experience so far.

[@RCTNT]

I love that. Thanks for sharing - you have some real expertise to share here!

[@jaybarber68]

I’d wager it’s probably better at rock crawling than a 24 scale buggy, too!😊

[@RCTNT]

Lol, better crawling than a buggy? Absolutely!

[@sethgentle7493]

Hello. Can you possibly do a video on the Team Associated MT12 monster truck? I would like to see you do some trailing stuff with it curious about its performance on the trails. Thanks!

[@RCTNT]

Hi Seth, I've looked into this one and unfortunately it doesn't make sense for me to do it. They're rare in Australia and it'll cost about USD$340 to buy - that's more than half again its $219.99 recommended retail cost in the USA. Sorry!

[@Br0rB]

It needs a roo bar, with all the roos around. 😂

[@RCTNT]

Haha hopefully we're not hitting any of them! It's their land! I'm just visiting :)

[@Br0rB]

@@RCTNT yeah, in my experience from going to uni in Perth (many years ago), anywhere outside the city centre belongs to the roos. They loved the chilling in the bunkers when we were golfing, so one more reason not to get your ball stuck in the sand. :D

[@RCTNT]

Haha right, yes! They're everywhere here, too. That's Australia for ya

[@pocketfuloducks1062]

Like, comment, share ✅

[@RCTNT]

SMASH THAT LIKE BUTTON, HIT SUBSCRIBE AND MAKE SURE YOU DEMOLISH THAT BELLLLLLLLLLL Or, you know, just watch and enjoy what I've made. The algo will take care of the rest of it. Thanks for watching :)

[@fishnrc294]

Apparently the New FMS Blazer body snaps right on to the Smasher if so I need to get both🤔

[@RCTNT]

Haha yes, I have read that too. I'm liking their new car, gonna have to add it to the garage!

[@eliobakhos8740]

hello man i wanna ask you is it waterproof ?

[@RCTNT]

Hey, for sure it is! It has the same electronics as the FCX24 Blazer - and I really got that one wet in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6ukeJiqZZdqa9E Check it out!

[@eliobakhos8740]

@@RCTNT thanks for your reply man 😍❤️

[@RCTNT]

No worries at all

[@bandito350]

Theyre great fun and if you have the power wagon, the bodys are interchangeable if you get bored with the look.

[@RCTNT]

Ah very nice. I don't have that one actually, but after giving this one so much trail time already I think we're going to have to get it and the new Chevy too! Amazing value, these little things!

[@ponyboy5947]

How long is the run time the traxxas trx4m goes about 45 minutes

[@RCTNT]

Depends on how you drive it. Battery is less than half the size of the Traxxas unit too - though you can always use a bigger lipo in this. I'd guess at 25 minutes in 1st gear with slow crawling, maybe 15 to 20 minutes trail driving in 1st and 2nd. It varies more than the TRX4m because of that transmission - gives you more driving options 😊

[@ponyboy5947]

Are parts easy to get for this this might be my 1st non traxxas rc?

[@RCTNT]

I've had no problems and I've done a lot with mine, though that's buying from AliExpress and banggood. I can't speak to local hobby shops, but I can tell you that the motor and servos are generic in nature, so they'll be easily replaceable if needed. There are heaps of upgrades for them too. Just search for the truck's model number, you'll see. I love these trucks, they're rad.