This Tiny Ford F-100 RC Truck Just Got a Brushless Upgrade—And It’s Way Faster and More CapableMotorBiscuitAlex HarringtonThu, September 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleThis Tiny Ford F-100 RC Truck Just Got a Brushless Upgrade—And It’s Way Faster and More CapableThe FMS FCX18 Ford F-100 was already a charming little crawler. Now it has enough motor to make the charming part a little more optional. The FCX18 II Ford F-100 RTR Brushless is a 1:18 scale model of the iconic pickup truck. It is equipped with a 1312 2600KV brushless motor, a two-speed gearbox, and supports full-time four-wheel drive. FMS prices it at $239.95 in the U.S.The black truck shown in the field test by RCDriver_Online wears a murdered out matte finish, black wheels, and bright chrome trim. That gives it a very different personality from the glossy red brushed version. The hard body is packed with scale details, including a roll bar, clear glazing, a molded dashboard, mirrors, Lexan bench seat, steering-wheel detail, and LED-equipped headlights, taillights, turn signals, and roof spotlights. FMS says the lighting functions are controlled through the transmitter.Beneath its attractive exterior lies a rather smart design. The body attaches to the chassis using magnets, complemented by guides that ensure proper alignment. Magnetic contacts handle the lights, so removing the shell does not involve wrestling with a bundle of tiny wires. FMS says compatible painted bodies can be swapped in roughly two seconds, and I can believe it.What Changed Under the BedThe brushless edition uses FMS's second-generation FCX18 II low-center-of-gravity chassis. Its hardware includes metal chassis rails, metal links, metal gears, bearings, oil-filled shocks, straight solid axles, slider driveshafts, front CVs, and permanent four-wheel drive. The suspension uses a four-link arrangement up front and a rear Y-link, while the truck also gets metal pivot balls, metal steering links, shock towers with multiple mounting positions, and a servo saver.AdvertisementAdvertisementPower comes from a 2S, 7.4-volt, 900mAh LiPo battery. The separate 10A brushless ESC and FMS-R6B-B receiver replace the brushed model's combined electronics, and FMS says that separation makes future component replacement or upgrades easier. The kit includes a USB charger, radio system, decal sheet, tools, refrigerator magnet, and a first-run yellow surfboard – because of course. The transmitter is powered by four AAA batteries.The gearbox offers a 94.2:1 low range and 17.7:1 high range, and it has a top speed of 11 km/h, an approximate 80-meter radio range, and 40 to 60 minutes of running time. The truck measures 330 mm long, 145 mm wide, and 147 mm tall, with a 199-mm wheelbase, 31 mm of ground clearance, and approach and departure angles of 59 and 53 degrees.The video test added a few optional parts: a green-and-white drop-on body, Batrazzi 1.2-inch Rogue aluminum beadlock wheels with brass inserts, 1.0-inch Stellar Racing classic-style wheels, and Batrazzi Outrider tires. The right combination came to the Rogue wheels and Outrider tires, whose brass weight helps keep the truck planted.On rocks, the F-100's low range delivers smooth crawling, substantial suspension flex, and steady forward progress. Despite its extended wheelbase, the vehicle maintains a tight and helpful turning radius, though the larger tires rubbed a little on the body. In loose dirt and sand, high range turns the tiny pickup into a really fun little trail truck.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere is one big limitation, however. Slow crawling in high range produces "cogging," or motor stuttering. Put it in low range for technical work, then use high range when the surface opens up. That isn't a crazy serious flaw; it's simply the gearbox telling you to use the right gear.The result is a better-rounded FCX18, not just a new body color. The F-100 still has the scale that makes these trucks fun to display, but the brushless system gives it much more purpose once the pavement ends. At this size, that is a serious upgrade indeed.