The Axial SCX30 is a great little crawler out of the box, but the stock brushed motor is where most owners start to want more: smoother low-speed control, more wheel speed, or both. Furitek makes four different brushless upgrade paths for the SCX30. This guide explains what each one is, who it suits, and what you need to buy, so you can pick the right one the first time.

The short answer

• Want the cheapest, simplest brushless upgrade? Get NANO CORE 30 ($74.99), or NANO CORE 30 SPEED ($84.99) if you want more wheel speed.
• Want to keep your stock SLT2 transmitter? Add the Micro SLT2 Receiver ($29.99) to any of the four systems, or get the NanoModo Stock TX Plug & Play system with the receiver included.
• Want the cleanest install with the fewest wires? Get NANO UNITY, a 2-in-1 FOC ESC and motor that bolts to the stock transmission.
• Want the best crawl-to-speed range and a lower centre of gravity? Get TRI-UNITY30 FULLRANGE DRIVE, which replaces the transmission too.

Comparison at a glance

Prices are current list prices on furitek.com at the time of writing.

1. NANO CORE 30: the easy first step

NANO CORE 30 pairs a compact brushless ESC with the VENOM30 1212 brushless motor. It runs on 2S LiPo, has a 6V/3A integrated BEC, and includes a built-in wireless module so you can tune it from the FuriCar app on iOS or Android.

It is the lowest-cost way to go brushless on the SCX30 and is a clear step up from stock in low-speed smoothness and crawling torque. If you care more about wheel speed than slow crawling, choose NANO CORE 30 SPEED, which uses the VENOM30 1212 SPEED motor.

Best for: first-time brushless upgrades and owners on a budget.

2. NanoModo 2026: the most choice in how you buy it

NanoModo combines the NanoPython brushless ESC (with built-in wireless tuning) and the NanoKomodo brushless motor. It is the next step up from Furitek's popular MicroModo system for the SCX24, shrunk down for the SCX30.

NanoModo comes in three packages, so you only buy what you need:

• Power system only ($99.99): ESC and motor, if you already have a radio you like.
• Stock TX Plug & Play ($119.99): includes a receiver that works with the stock SCX30 transmitter, so you keep the radio you already have.
• Control System ($119.99): adds the Furitek GRIPOR V2 4-channel transmitter and receiver.

There is also a NanoModo SPEED line (NanoPython SPEED + NanoKomodo SPEED) for drivers who want much more wheel speed while keeping smooth low-speed control. Furitek rates the SPEED Stock TX version at up to twice the stock speed on 2S.

Best for: owners who want to keep the stock transmitter, or who want a SPEED option with a complete radio package.

3. NANO UNITY: one unit, almost no wiring

NANO UNITY puts the FOC ESC and the brushless motor into a single 2-in-1 unit. It bolts directly to the stock SCX30 transmission with no adapter or extra mount, which makes for the cleanest install of the four. FOC (field-oriented control) gives very smooth throttle at crawling speed, and it has wireless tuning built in.

Choose between two versions:

• UNITY TORQUE ($99.99): focused on torque and control for technical crawling.
• UNITY SPEED ($119.99): Furitek says it delivers over 1.5x stock speed on 2S while still climbing well.

Both are also sold as a Control System with the GRIPOR V2 TX/RX (TORQUE $119.99, SPEED $139.99).

Best for: clean builds, FOC smoothness, and owners who want the fewest parts to install.

4. TRI-UNITY30 FULLRANGE DRIVE: the full drivetrain upgrade

TRI-UNITY30 goes further than the others: it replaces the stock transmission with a new geared transmission that has the motor and FOC ESC built in. The result is a wider driving range, from ultra-slow FOC crawling to much higher wheel speed, and a lower centre of gravity because more of the weight sits low in the chassis. WiFi tuning is built in.

It comes in two versions: TORQUE for maximum low-speed control (up to 3X stock speed), and SPEED for more wheel speed (up to 4X stock). Each is $139.99, or $149.99 with the Alu Skid. Watch the full install on an SCX30 CJ-7 in our TRI-UNITY30 install video.

Important: TRI-UNITY30 cannot be used with the stock SCX30 skid plate. Either buy a version with the Alu Skid (TORQUE or SPEED, $149.99), or add the FUR-2843 Aluminum Skid Plate ($19.99) to a version without it ($139.99). The version with the skid is the better deal.

Best for: serious crawlers and competition drivers who want the widest speed range and the best weight placement. It is also the drivetrain used in the Furitek KRAWL 30 FULLRANGE COMP ARTR.

Choosing a radio: keep your stock SLT2 transmitter, use a Flysky GT5, or go Furitek

A brushless upgrade replaces the stock ESC and motor, and on the SCX30 and SCX24 the stock receiver is built into that stock electronics board. So when you upgrade, you also need to decide how you will control the car. There are three ways to do it.

Option A: keep the stock Axial SLT2 transmitter

Newer Axial SCX30 and SCX24 RTRs come with the Spektrum SLT2 transmitter. If you like it, you can keep using it with a Furitek receiver or a Furitek plug-and-play (PNP) system.

• The receiver for both cars: the Furitek Micro SLT2 Receiver ($29.99) works with the stock SLT2 transmitter of both the SCX30 and the SCX24. It binds once, with no programming or calibration. It works with all four SCX30 systems in this guide (NANO CORE 30, NanoModo, NANO UNITY and TRI-UNITY30) and with MicroPython-based SCX24 systems (MicroModo, MicroSilk, Crawlmaster). It only works with Furitek ESCs.
• SCX30: pair the Micro SLT2 Receiver with any of the four systems above. For NanoModo, the easiest route is a NanoModo Stock TX Plug & Play or SPEED Stock TX Plug & Play system, which already includes the receiver.
• SCX24: pair the Micro SLT2 Receiver with a MicroPython-based system, or choose an SLT2 PNP system that needs no separate receiver, such as the MicroModo SENSORED 2026 PNP Stock SLT2 ($139.99) or the Mini TRI-UNITY PRO SENSORED SLT2 PNP ($179.99). They work directly with the stock SLT2 transmitter.

Check your transmitter first. SLT2 options only work with a genuine Axial/Spektrum SLT2 transmitter. Some older SCX24 RTRs came with a different, non-SLT2 radio, and those will not work. The SLT2 transmitter is not included with any of these products.

Option B: use a Flysky FS-GT5 transmitter

If you already own a Flysky FS-GT5, or want a full-size pistol-grip radio with more channels, use the Furitek Nano GT5 Receiver ($34.99). It is a tiny 4-channel receiver made for the SCX24 and SCX30, binds once, and works with all Furitek ESCs, so it pairs with any of the four systems in this guide. The extra channels are handy for 4WS, lights or a dig function. The FS-GT5 transmitter is sold separately.

Option C: use a Furitek transmitter

If you are buying a new radio anyway, a Furitek TX/RX set is the simplest choice:

• GRIPOR V2 4CH TX/RX ($39.99): compact, lightweight radio with a very small receiver. It is included in the NanoModo and NANO UNITY Control System packages, which saves you buying it separately.
• MicroFlex 4WS TX/RX ($49.99): adds a dedicated rear-steer knob for 4WS builds, a throttle speed limit for slow crawling, and up to 350 m range.
• MicroFlex PRO 4WS TX/RX ($69.99): the premium version with a CNC aluminum wheel and rear-steer knob, and self-centering rear steer.

Quick radio guide

Which one should you buy?

• Budget under $90: NANO CORE 30 or NANO CORE 30 SPEED.
• Keep the stock radio: any system + Micro SLT2 Receiver, or NanoModo Stock TX Plug & Play (or the SPEED version).
• Need a new radio too: NanoModo Control System or NANO UNITY Control System, both with GRIPOR V2.
• Cleanest install, best FOC smoothness on the stock transmission: NANO UNITY TORQUE.
• Maximum performance, low CG, crawl and speed in one: TRI-UNITY30 with Alu Skid.

FAQ

Do I need a new battery?

These systems are designed around 2S LiPo. Check each product page for the battery and connector it supports before you order.

Can I keep my stock transmitter?

Yes, if it is a genuine Axial SLT2 transmitter. On the SCX30, add the Micro SLT2 Receiver to any of the four systems in this guide, or buy a NanoModo Stock TX Plug & Play system. On the SCX24, use the Micro SLT2 Receiver with a MicroPython ESC, or an SLT2 PNP system. See the radio section above for details.

Do I need to replace the transmission?

Only for TRI-UNITY30. NANO CORE 30, NanoModo and NANO UNITY all use the stock SCX30 transmission.

What is FOC and why does it matter?

FOC (field-oriented control) is a way of driving a brushless motor that gives very smooth, precise power at low speed. For crawling, that means cleaner starts on a climb and more control on descents. NANO UNITY and TRI-UNITY30 both use FOC.

Browse every SCX30 upgrade in one place in our Axial SCX30 collection. Not sure which one fits your build? Contact us and we'll help you choose.