The FCX24 Power Wagon packs a two-speed box and portals
The FCX24 Power Wagon two-speed gearbox is the headline, and it is rare at 1/24 scale. FMS pairs it with portal axles in a ready-to-run micro crawler, so low gear handles precise rock lines and high gear crosses open ground. That drivetrain makes the truck feel like a shrunken 1/10 rig.
Key Takeaways
- A two-speed gearbox is rare on a 1/24 crawler, and this one has it.
- Flip channel 3 on the radio to switch from crawl gear to trail gear.
- Portal axles lift the diffs, so the truck clears rocks like a bigger rig.
- It runs well straight out of the box, then takes upgrades later.
- Start with wheel weight and softer tires, not a motor swap.
What makes the FCX24 Power Wagon different from other 1/24 crawlers?
Most 1/24 coverage stops at “it’s cute and it crawls.” The FMS FCX24S Power Wagon S is a ready-to-run 1/24 crawler that combines a two-speed transmission, portal axles, metal-gear steering, and front and rear differentials in one box. You can see the full spec on the FMS FCX24S Power Wagon S product page .
Scale and Motion, reviewing it independently, singled out the same drivetrain.
The two-speed transmission alone changes the experience. Low gear gives you precise crawling control, while high gear makes backyard trail running actually fun instead of painfully slow.
Many entry-level 1/24 rigs are cheap but limited, or good-looking but mechanically weak, or dependent on upgrades from the first day. The Power Wagon starts balanced. You can run it stock and enjoy it, then upgrade later when you want more.
How the two-speed transmission changes the drive
Low gear gives slow, high-torque control for tight spaces and technical lines. High gear opens up backyard and open-ground speed.
The shift happens on the fly while you drive. You switch speeds with channel 3 on the G3 transmitter, and a variable-speed servo moves a shift lever inside the gearbox to do the actual change. So you can gear down mid-obstacle and gear back up on the flat without stopping.
A low center of gravity backs this up. The mid-mounted power assembly keeps weight down low, so the light truck does not topple easily on off-camber lines. That single feature is the clearest reason the FCX24 drives like a bigger rig.
Compare that with a single-ratio micro. An Axial SCX24 or a stock Traxxas TRX-4M gives you one gear and a compromise between crawl control and trail speed. The FCX24 lets you pick the right ratio for the terrain in front of you.
What portal axles do for ground clearance
Portal axles are the other half of the “feels like a 1/10” claim. Each axle uses wheel-side reducer gears that sit below the axle centerline. That lifts the differential housing up and away from the rock.
The lowest hard point on the axle moves up, so ledges and roots catch it less often. In FMS’s own words, the raised portals help the truck get over rocks like nobody’s business.
The portals are metal-geared and rebuildable. FMS sells the FCX24/FCX18 Portal Axle Metal Gear 14T as a spare, so the wear parts are replaceable when they eventually strip. Paired with the two-speed box, these raised portals are the specific reason the platform reads as a shrunken 1/10.
How it compares to the SCX24 and TRX-4M
The FCX24’s edge is that it ships with both features stock. On rival micros, the same hardware is a paid add-on. Traxxas sells a TRX-4M portal axle kit and a separate high/low two-speed transmission as paid upgrades. The SCX24 runs straight axles and a single ratio out of the box.
| Micro crawler | Scale | Transmission | Axles (stock) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMS FCX24S Power Wagon S | 1/24 | Two-speed | Portal |
| Axial SCX24 | 1/24 | Single-speed | Straight |
| Traxxas TRX-4M | 1/18 | Single-speed | Straight |
What comes in the box on the ready-to-run FCX24
The box holds the 1/24 Power Wagon, a G3 V1 transmitter, an installed R3A V1 receiver, an installed 130 brushed motor, a 7.4V 380mAh 2S battery, a USB charger, a hex wrench, and the manual. You supply four AAA batteries for the transmitter, and that is all.
The chassis keeps weight down without going flimsy. A high-strength integrated nylon frame does the structural work, four-link coil-shock suspension handles the articulation, and the rear linkage is visible from the side. The painted polystyrene body clips off the nylon roll cage fast, so swapping parts is quick.
Grip comes from soft all-terrain tires with a coarse tread that bites on rock, mud, and sand. The G3 transmitter folds its functions into a one-button switch, with sound prompts for steering and throttle plus an idle alarm. Nothing here needs replacing before the truck is fun to drive.
The FCX24 lineup and where to upgrade first
The FCX24 is a whole platform. The Power Wagon ships as the brushed FCX24S and as a factory-brushless version for buyers who want more power from the start. FMS builds its whole 1/24 range around this chassis, with FCX24 and FCX24M sub-lines and a dedicated BATRAZZI upgrade path for brushless systems and metal parts.
When you do upgrade, start where the gains are real. Weighted beadlock wheels drop the center of gravity, and softer-compound tires add grip on slick rock. Brass portal covers or knuckles and metal steering links come next, once you want more precision and a bit more weight down low.
Skip the big swaps at first. A new motor, a full transmission change, or extreme suspension mods rarely help a stock truck on day one. Weight and tires are where the crawling gains happen, and they cost the least.