Choosing a scale body is one of the most personal decisions in the crawler hobby, but it is easy to get it wrong and end up with a shell that does not fit, warps in the summer heat, or falls apart after a roll. The decisions narrow down quickly once you know your wheelbase, understand the hard plastic versus Lexan trade-off, and have a shortlist of bodies that have been proven on the platform you are running. This guide covers those fundamentals and then goes category by category through the most respected bodies for 313mm SCX10 and TRX-4 builds.
Quick answer
The Pro-Line 2021 Ford Bronco clear body is a licensed scale body sized for 12.3 inch (313mm) wheelbase crawlers like the SCX10 III, delivering a convincing Bronco replica in a clear Lexan shell you paint yourself. For a classic that the community universally respects, the Killerbody Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 remains the default choice for scale builders worldwide.
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Measure your wheelbase first, before anything else
The most common body mistake is ordering before confirming the wheelbase. Wheelbase is the center-to-center distance between the front and rear axles. Most 1/10 scale crawler bodies are designed for either a 313mm or 324mm wheelbase. The Axial SCX10 III and Traxxas TRX-4 both use a 313mm wheelbase in standard configuration, which is why most body listings for these platforms specify 313mm.
Measure from the center of the front axle to the center of the rear axle with the rig sitting level. If you have extended the chassis or are running a non-standard link setup, measure before ordering. Some TRX-4 builds use a 324mm extended configuration, which needs a different body shell. A 313mm body on a 324mm chassis will show wheel openings too far back relative to the wheels.
The Axial Wraith and RR10 Bomber are a different class entirely. They use 2.2 inch wheels and a wider track, so bodies made for 313mm 1.9 rigs do not apply. Check the Wraith-specific body listings separately.
Hard plastic ABS versus Lexan polycarbonate
For most trail and scale builders, hard ABS is the right material: it holds panel detail and takes touch-up paint from the outside, while Lexan flexes instead of cracking on a roll. The Pro-Line Bronco is a clear Lexan shell, while the Killerbody LC70 is hard ABS.
Hard ABS plastic and Lexan polycarbonate are the two materials you will choose between, and they each have a clear use case.
Hard plastic ABS holds detail lines better, resists heat warping in a hot car, and takes paint from the outside so touch-ups are straightforward. It can crack on a hard roll, but it is more rigid and holds scale detail at a higher level than thin Lexan. The Killerbody Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 Hard Body 313mm is an ABS build that illustrates this: crisp panel lines and grille detail that Lexan would not hold as well.
Lexan polycarbonate is lighter and more flexible, which means it is less likely to crack on impact. The paint goes on the inside of the shell, which creates a deep gloss but makes touch-ups after chips nearly impossible. Lexan warps in a hot car faster than ABS. The Pro-Line 1991 Toyota 4Runner Clear Body 313mm (Lexan) is the classic Lexan competition body: lighter weight for competition builds where grams matter, with the flexibility trade-off accepted. The Pro-Line 2021 Ford Bronco Clear Body 313mm Wheelbase is also a clear Lexan shell, sold with paint-then-peel overspray film.
For most trail and scale trail builders, hard ABS is the right choice. For competition crawlers managing weight limits or those who roll frequently, Lexan is the material that does not crack.
Pro-Line 2021 Ford Bronco Clear Body 313mm Wheelbase
A licensed scale crawler body for 12.3 inch (313mm) wheelbase crawlers. Clear Lexan shell with detailed Bronco grille, fender lines, and window frames, sold with paint-then-peel overspray film.
Killerbody Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 Hard Body 313mm
The most beloved classic hard body in the crawler hobby worldwide. Detailed LC70 exterior with accurate window lines and panel shapes. The 313mm base kit is sold unpainted.
Pro-Line 1991 Toyota 4Runner Clear Body 313mm (Lexan)
Clear polycarbonate 4Runner body for 12.3 inch (313mm) wheelbase crawlers, sold with window masks and a decal sheet. Lighter than hard plastic, which suits competition builds where weight matters.
Best 313mm bodies for SCX10 III and TRX-4
The Pro-Line 2021 Ford Bronco Clear Body 313mm Wheelbase is a licensed Ford Bronco replica with accurate grille and fender lines, sold as a clear 12.3 inch (313mm) wheelbase Lexan body set. It ships clear so you control the color scheme, and Axial Adventure and AMain list it as discontinued while a few shops still show leftover stock, so check stock first. Painting a Lexan body takes time because the color goes on from the inside, but the result is a deep gloss.
The Killerbody Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 Hard Body 313mm is the other community-consensus pick. The LC70 profile is universally recognized and respected in the crawler hobby worldwide, and Killerbody's mold captures the window lines and panel shapes accurately. Killerbody also sells factory-painted LC70 kits, but the ones we found are sized for a 323mm Traxxas TRX-4 chassis, so on a 313mm rig plan on painting the unpainted base kit yourself.
For a detailed Defender, the RC4WD 2015 Land Rover Defender D90 Hard Body Kit has an opening hood and doors plus an opening tailgate and rear door, but it is a 10.8 inch (275mm) wheelbase body, not a 313mm fit, and AMain lists it as discontinued at $165.99. The assembly is more involved than a single-piece shell, but the functional detail it adds for scale competition scoring is significant.
Budget hard body builders should look at the INJORA Hard Plastic Jeep Cherokee Body 313mm, which delivers a clean Cherokee profile in hard plastic at a price that undercuts licensed bodies.
Pro-Line 2021 Ford Bronco Clear Body 313mm Wheelbase
A licensed scale crawler body for 12.3 inch (313mm) wheelbase crawlers. Clear Lexan shell with detailed Bronco grille, fender lines, and window frames, sold with paint-then-peel overspray film.
Killerbody Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 Hard Body 313mm
The most beloved classic hard body in the crawler hobby worldwide. Detailed LC70 exterior with accurate window lines and panel shapes. The 313mm base kit is sold unpainted.
RC4WD 2015 Land Rover Defender D90 Hard Body Kit
A 2015 Land Rover Defender D90 hard plastic body kit with an opening hood and doors plus an opening tailgate and rear door, sized for a 10.8 inch (275mm) wheelbase.
INJORA Hard Plastic Jeep Cherokee Body 313mm
Popular budget-friendly hard plastic Cherokee replica fitting SCX10 II and III at 313mm wheelbase. Clean panel lines and low weight for a crawler body.
Body accessories to complete the build
A finished scale body needs four supporting accessories: a front bumper, roof rack, light bar, and rock sliders, which together run roughly $93 to $134 at real prices. The INJORA metal front bumper with LED mounts is the most common starting point at $22 to $30.
A scale body alone does not complete the look. A metal front bumper like the INJORA Metal Front Bumper with LED Mounts for SCX10 and TRX-4 adds a realistic bumper line with built-in LED bar and winch mount, and costs under $30. It visually grounds the body to the chassis in a way the plastic mounting posts alone never do.
For overhead scale detail and functional lighting, the INJORA Metal Roof Rack with 5 LED Lights for 1/10 Crawlers fits SCX10, TRX-4, and Gen8 body post spacings and adds a metal rack with five pre-installed LEDs in one piece. The metal construction adds roof-level ballast, which is mildly useful for CG.
For the best stand-alone adjustable light bar, the Yeah Racing Aluminum LED Light Bar for 1/10 Crawlers steps up in build quality and adjustability versus plastic alternatives, with an aluminum housing and a bracket that lets you angle the beam forward or down depending on terrain.
Chassis protection that suits most scale builds is the ScalerFab Adjustable Steel Rock Sliders for SCX10 III for SCX10 III, which adds welded steel sliders with adjustable width and a lifetime warranty from a US specialist.
INJORA Metal Front Bumper with LED Mounts for SCX10 and TRX-4
Steel front bumper with integrated LED bar mount and winch mount. The most-reviewed aftermarket bumper in the crawler accessories category on Amazon.
INJORA Metal Roof Rack with 5 LED Lights for 1/10 Crawlers
Metal roof rack with pre-installed 5-LED light bar. Fits SCX10, TRX-4, and Redcat Gen8 body post spacing. One piece that adds both structural scale detail and forward lighting.
Yeah Racing Aluminum LED Light Bar for 1/10 Crawlers
Adjustable aluminum housing LED light bar with bracket for SCX10 and TRX-4 roofs. A step up in build quality and adjustability from plastic budget alternatives.
ScalerFab Adjustable Steel Rock Sliders for SCX10 III
Welded steel adjustable rock sliders with a lifetime warranty from a US-based specialist. Mounts to the SCX10 III chassis rails with no cutting. Adjustable in width to clear different tire widths.
Painting hard plastic ABS bodies: what to know before you start
Hard ABS plastic is painted from the outside, which means scratch and chip repair is straightforward but the paint layer is also the first thing to contact rocks. Primer is not optional: spray a thin coat of plastic-compatible primer and let it cure fully before applying color, otherwise the paint layer will chip at first contact.
Masking is where most first-time painters lose time. Plan the color zones before spraying anything. Use low-tack automotive tape for panel lines and let each color layer dry completely before pulling tape or adding the next color. Trim window edges with a sharp knife after the final color coat.
The key practical difference from Lexan: with a Lexan body you spray colors in reverse order from the inside, darkest detail colors first. With ABS you paint in normal visual order from the outside. If you have ever painted a Lexan body, reset that habit before you start.
Pro-Line 2021 Ford Bronco Clear Body 313mm Wheelbase
A licensed scale crawler body for 12.3 inch (313mm) wheelbase crawlers. Clear Lexan shell with detailed Bronco grille, fender lines, and window frames, sold with paint-then-peel overspray film.
Killerbody Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 Hard Body 313mm
The most beloved classic hard body in the crawler hobby worldwide. Detailed LC70 exterior with accurate window lines and panel shapes. The 313mm base kit is sold unpainted.
RC4WD 2015 Land Rover Defender D90 Hard Body Kit
A 2015 Land Rover Defender D90 hard plastic body kit with an opening hood and doors plus an opening tailgate and rear door, sized for a 10.8 inch (275mm) wheelbase.
INJORA Metal Front Bumper with LED Mounts for SCX10 and TRX-4
Steel front bumper with integrated LED bar mount and winch mount. The most-reviewed aftermarket bumper in the crawler accessories category on Amazon.
ScalerFab Adjustable Steel Rock Sliders for SCX10 III
Welded steel adjustable rock sliders with a lifetime warranty from a US-based specialist. Mounts to the SCX10 III chassis rails with no cutting. Adjustable in width to clear different tire widths.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What wheelbase body fits an Axial SCX10 III?+
The SCX10 III uses a 313mm wheelbase in standard configuration, measured center-to-center between the front and rear axles. Most body listings for the SCX10 III specify 313mm explicitly. Measure your actual wheelbase before ordering, since modified link setups or extended chassis configurations can change the number.
Is hard plastic better than Lexan for a scale crawler body?+
For most trail and scale trail use, yes. Hard ABS holds detail lines better, resists heat warping, and takes paint from the outside so touch-ups are easy. Lexan is lighter and flexes rather than cracking on impact, which makes it better for competition builds managing weight limits or rigs that roll frequently. The trade-off is that Lexan paint is inside the shell and cannot be touched up after chips.
Do I need to paint a scale crawler body myself?+
It depends on the product. Killerbody sells pre-painted versions at a higher price, but the ones we found fit a 323mm TRX-4 chassis. INJORA hard bodies typically ship unpainted. Pro-Line Lexan bodies always ship clear and require your own paint. Read the listing carefully. Unpainted bodies cost less but add significant hobby time for a quality finish, particularly for multi-color scale finishes with panel line masking.
What bumper should I add to a Bronco or LC70 body?+
The INJORA metal front bumper with LED mounts fits both SCX10 and TRX-4 patterns and is the most common first bumper buy for both platforms. It adds a realistic steel bumper with LED bar and winch mount holes for under $30. For a higher detail competition build, the RC4WD Tough Armor front bumper adds a purpose-built winch cradle and scale shackle tabs.