Get Inspired By Enthusiasts Story

Larry Wittman

About Larry

My name is Larry Wittman, and I'm from Southern Colorado. I work as a Field Service Engineer for an automotive manufacturer. In my spare time, I build and restore full-size (1:1) trucks, primarily older Chevrolet models such as K5 Blazers, K10 pickups, and Suburbans…and of course build RCs!

My favorite RC builds are realistic off-road trail trucks. While I enjoy capable rigs, I'm not necessarily focused on extreme crawlers. Instead, I prefer well-built off-road trail trucks with scale realism, functional details, and a true-to-life appearance.

What first pulled you into modifying RC cars?

Not being able to leave things alone is just how I'm wired. It doesn't matter whether it's a real truck, a 1:64 die-cast car, or an RC vehicle—I always feel the need to make it my own. Since I've always been a hands-on builder and modifier, modifying RC vehicles felt like a natural extension of my passion for building and restoring full-size trucks.
What really hooked me was the ability to take a stock RC truck and transform it into something unique and realistic. Many of my RC builds are inspired by real trucks that I've owned, worked on, or simply admired over the years. I enjoy recreating those vehicles in scale form while adding my own touches and improvements along the way. For me, the fun is in the building, problem-solving, and creating miniature versions of the kinds of trucks I've always loved.

What’s a build you’re especially proud of and why?

There are a few builds that I’m especially proud of, but one stands out above the rest because it was my first 1:10-scale build when I was still completely new to the platform. It started as a ground-up FMS FCX10 K5 project. Rather than buying a complete kit, I sourced individual parts from the FCX10 K10 and LC80 from Fair RC to create a unique K5 that was unlike any other 1:10-scale Blazer I had seen.

I’ve been an avid scale modeler my entire life, and my goal was to build a 1:10-scale version of a full-size K5 Blazer that I’m currently restoring. Trimming and painting a complete Lexan body for the first time was intimidating because I had no idea what I was doing. To make matters even riskier, I wasn’t using the typical paint recommended for Lexan bodies but rather farm tractor oil-based implement plant. Even so, I felt it was worth the gamble to create a small-scale, rolling representation of what the real truck will eventually become.  In the end, the build turned out even better than I had imagined. Not only is it one of my favorite projects, but it also gets more trail time than any other RC in my collection by a wide margin.

What’s the most frustrating or challenging moment you’ve had while building?

One of the most frustrating aspects of building RCs isn't necessarily the build itself—it's waiting for parts. There's nothing worse than waiting two or three weeks for a package to arrive, only to discover the product wasn't exactly what you expected because of vague descriptions, missing details, incomplete hardware, or a complete lack of installation instructions. When you're working on a custom build, those setbacks can bring progress to a halt and force you to spend additional time researching solutions or ordering replacement parts. That's one area where Batrazzi has consistently stood out to me. Their product descriptions are detailed, compatibility information is clearly documented, and many of their more complex upgrade parts include instructions. That extra attention to detail removes a lot of the guesswork and helps builders spend more time enjoying the hobby and less time troubleshooting avoidable issues.

What did it feel like the first time you drove an RC car you’d put a lot of work into?

The first feeling was honestly amazement that it all came together and actually worked. When you spend countless hours planning, sourcing parts, modifying components, and assembling everything, there’s always that little bit of doubt in the back of your mind wondering if it will perform the way you envisioned. 

That excitement is usually followed by a healthy dose of fear. The first few minutes behind the wheel can be nerve-racking because you're worried about crashing it or damaging something you've invested so much time into building. But those emotions fade pretty quickly. Before long, you're focused on enjoying the vehicle and using it for exactly what it was built to do.

I've learned to look at RCs the same way I look at real vehicles—they're meant to be driven, and things occasionally break. If something gets damaged, it can be repaired or improved. Once I remind myself of that, I'm able to stop worrying and start having fun.

What are your top three tips for someone new to RC modding?

My biggest tip is to not be afraid to work on your RC. Every experienced builder started somewhere, and there are countless resources available when you get stuck, whether it's a Facebook group, RC forum, or YouTube tutorial. The RC community is generally very helpful and always willing to lend a hand.

Second, invest in the proper tools and some good parts storage containers. Staying organized makes a huge difference, especially when a project is spread out over several days. Keeping screws and small parts sorted will save a lot of frustration during reassembly.

Lastly, if you're new to a particular RC platform, take lots of pictures as you disassemble it. Those photos can be invaluable when it's time to put everything back together, and they'll help you remember the routing of wires, placement of hardware, and orientation of parts.

What keeps you motivated when a build doesn’t go as planned?

So far, I’ve been lucky enough not to run into a build that didn’t go as planned, except for one in particular: an FCX18 K10 flatbed that I intended to paint a specific copper color. Somewhere during the painting process, the copper paint didn’t adhere to the primer correctly. At first, I was disappointed because I had planned for it to be a showpiece. However, that botched paint job ended up creating the most awesome patina I’ve ever achieved on any scale vehicle build.  In the end, the Flatbed Mod Beater Farm Truck became one of my favorite builds. It looked completely unique, and I wasn’t afraid to run it hard because I didn’t have to worry about damaging a pristine paint job. It already looked like an old junkyard dog.  The lesson learned was that even when something doesn’t go according to plan, it can sometimes turn out even better than what you originally envisioned. And in the end, I still built a separate Copper K10 flatbed show truck anyway and ended up with 2 unique K10 flatbeds.

Where do you usually find inspiration for your builds?

I find inspiration everywhere.  Trucks that I’ve owned, currently own or wish I owned.

Have you ever brought one of your builds to a meetup, trail event, or competition? What did it feel like?

I have not had the opportunity to attend any RC specific events although Traxxas hosted a RC Adventure area at an Overland Expo that I attended last year.  A buddy and I proudly ran our 1:10 FMS FCX10 K5s on their course and got many strange looks.  People unfamiliar with RC’s kept asking us what model of Traxxas trucks we had while the onsite Traxxas representatives gave us the stinkeye.

Is there anything you’d like to say to the Batrazzi community?

I feel Batrazzi is still an infant brand with many years of growth ahead of it, but it has all the ingredients to become a very strong player in the RC industry. It's backed by people with great ideas, individuals who aren't afraid to ask questions, and talented, creative engineers who can turn those ideas into reality.

Personally, I'd like to see the company address known design deficiencies on popular platforms. For example, stronger bumper brackets for the FCX10 LC80 that don't break as easily, or a side mirror solution for the FCX18 K10 and FCX24 K5 that can withstand rollovers without snapping off.  Things of that nature. 
I'd also love to see high-quality metal bumpers and accessories for the larger-scale rigs such as the FCX10 series LC80 and Land Rover series. Beyond vehicle parts, there are opportunities in specialized tools and accessories as well—things like premium maintenance stands for the FCX18 and FCX24 platforms.

The possibilities are endless.

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