One of the biggest appeals of RC cars is that they are able to offer a detailed and exciting model of a real-life car but in a more portable and compact form. Some vehicles are truly massive, while others are tiny and pocket-sized. In this post we cover exactly how big is a 1/10 scale RC car.
However, most of these RC cars are described as being on some sort of ‘scale’, rather than described as being a specific size, so it can often be difficult to look through RC cars online while trying to determine them by size.
You may have found yourself wondering what certain scales actually mean, such as the 1/10th scale. If so, look no further, because we are going to take you through exactly what the 1/10th scale actually is, and what sort of size it is!
How Big Is 1/10th Scale RC Car?
An RC car that is described as being 1/10th scale tends to usually be around 17 inches to 20 inches in length, provided they are based on more average cars. This is because the 1/10th scale implies that the RC car is actually ‘one tenth’ of the size of the car it is originally based on!
Thus, if you were to take a full car that was, say 15 feet in length, and 6 feet in height, and then convert that into a 1/10th scale RC car, then it would be around 18 inches in length, and 7.2 inches in height.
This means that an average RC car that is 1/10th scale will still be quite sizable, especially when compared to most average RC cars, which tend to be around 1/12th or 1/16th scale!
What Is The Most Popular 1/10 Scale RC Car?
When I think of 1/10 scale RC cars, the Traxxas Slash is on the top of my list. I think it is the most popular 1/10 scale RC car on the market and it will serve as a great baseline to judge how big a 1/10 scale RC car really is.
The table below shows the dimensions of the Traxxas Slash so you can get a feel for how big a 1/10 scale RC car is.
| Specs | Value |
|---|---|
| Length: | 23.36 inches (568mm) |
| Front Track: | 11.65 inches (296mm) |
| Rear Track: | 11.65 inches (296mm) |
| Ground Clearance: | 3.14 inches (80mm) |
| Height: | 7.60 inches (193mm) |
| Wheelbase: | 12.75 inches (324mm) |
| Weight: | 5.818 pounds (2.639kg) |
| Front Shock Length: | Long |
| Rear Shock Length: | XXLong |
| Front Tires: | 2.2 inches (55.88mm) |
| Rear Tires: | 2.2 inches (55.88mm) |
What Is The Largest RC Car In Scale?
One of the largest RC cars that are available is the Primal RC Raminator Monster Truck. This truly impressive RC car is based on a monster truck, and only 1/5th of the scale of the vehicle it is based on.
The Raminator is approximately 32 inches in width, 40 inches in length, and upwards of 24 inches in height, thanks to its large monster truck wheels!
And that’s not it, because the Raminator’s size also means that it weighs around 80 pounds, which is totally impressive, and unlike anything you would expect from an average RC car.
Of course, due to its size, you can also bet that the Raminator has a very considerable price tag. On average, you can expect to see this RC giant selling for around $3,000 to $3,500 at certain retailers. This makes it easily one of the most expensive RC cars on the market. Considering how much power it boasts, it is definitely not surprising!
What Is The Smallest RC Car In Scale?
Some of the smallest functioning RC cars ever built have been scaled at around 1/32 scale, which is truly impressive. This means that such cars come in at around only a few inches, and yet still work perfectly.
While there are definitely smaller model cars available on the market, it is tough to have a functioning RC car at any scale below 1/32, currently, as the components required to allow it to move would take up too much space, and cause the scale to be impacted.
However, there is the chance that, in the future, we could see RC cars even smaller than the 1/32 scale!
Why Are 1/10th Scale RC Cars So Popular?
Most hobby-grade vehicles tend to be around 1/10th scale. This is largely due to the fact that 1/10 scale cars offer the greatest balance between compact design and good detail and function. An RC car that is 1/10th scale of a real-life car is not too big, so it is not unwieldy, or difficult to lift up, which is perfect if you plan to use the car in various locales so that transportation is not too difficult.
1/10th scale also makes it much easier to include plenty of detail into the RC car itself so that it looks similar to the original car. It also makes it much easier to include advanced and useful components, such as more powerful motors, or even features such as Bluetooth modules so that you can control your RC car with a smart device such as a smartphone.
1/10th scale RC cars also often cost slightly less to produce while still offering a high-quality product. As well as this, they can often cost a lot less than larger RC cars while still having all of the requisite power to be a competitive option.
How Big Is 1/10 Scale RC Car Conclusion
Part of the appeal of RC cars is being able to control popular existing car models in a more compact form. Thus, the scale system is very important, as it helps RC enthusiasts to determine just how close to the original vehicle in scale the RC unit actually is. The scale system makes it easy to know what kind of experience you will get with an RC car.
An RC car that is 1/10th scale is around 17 to 20 inches in length, which is still quite large, but without ever being excessive, hence why 1/10th and 1/8th RC cars tend to be so popular!
How Big Is 1/10 Scale RC Car Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Bigger 1/10 Scale Or a 1/16 Scale?
Though 1/16th scale may appear larger on the surface, an RC car that is 1/16th scale will actually be smaller, because it is only a sixteenth of the size of the original car that the RC is modeled after.
How tall is a 1/10 scale RC?
On average, 1/10th scale RCs tend to be around between 5 and 7 inches tall. However, this can vary massively depending on the model and what the RC car is based on.
What Size Is A 1/14 RC Car?
On average, 1/14th scale RC cars tend to be around 13 x 9 x 8 inches.
