Key Takeaways
- Choose useful, model-appropriate gifts: tools and consumables suit almost any modeller; spares and bodyshells need an exact model match.
- Properly sized metric hex drivers help protect fasteners from rounded screw heads.
- A spare part can turn a weekend breakage into a quick repair, provided it fits the model.
- A fresh bodyshell changes a model’s look, while a spare battery and LiPo charge sack add practical value.
- Check the product page for compatibility and current availability before buying.
Shopping for an RC enthusiast this Christmas? The best stocking fillers are things they’ll actually use all year: tools, spares, bodyshells and charging accessories. Get the match right and a small present can mean more time driving, flying and enjoying the hobby.
Tools: hex drivers and workshop basics
What’s the tool an RC modeller reaches for again and again? Often, it’s a hex driver. Many RC models use metric fasteners, and the right driver size sits securely in the screw’s hex recess. A poor fit can slip, damage the recess and leave a rounded screw that’s much harder to remove.
A common starting range is 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3mm, although the exact sizes depend on the model. Colour-coded handles make it easier to pick the right driver at a glance.
- The RC Overhaul coloured hex driver set includes four drivers in those sizes.
- Align hex drivers cover the same four sizes; their listing describes hardened alloy-steel tips and aluminium handles.
- The Fastrax hardened metric driver set also includes four drivers: 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3mm.
Check the live product pages for availability before choosing a set. For more workshop essentials, browse RC tools. Little consumables can be useful gifts too: threadlock helps secure suitable threaded joints when the model instructions call for it, while grease is used for specific lubrication jobs. See the locking and grease range.
Pro tip: Match the driver fully to the screw before turning, and apply steady pressure. If it doesn’t seat properly, stop and check the size rather than forcing it.
Spares: the gift every modeller secretly wants
What’s more useful than a repair part when something breaks on a Sunday? A correctly matched spare can keep a model running instead of leaving it sidelined while its owner works out what to replace. It’s a practical gift for car drivers and helicopter pilots alike.
The important word is matched. A suspension part, gear or linkage can look similar across different versions yet still fail to fit. Before choosing, find out the recipient’s exact model name and revision. Then browse the relevant category:
A model-specific part often makes a better gift than a handful of generic components, because it has a clear purpose and a much better chance of fitting. If you don’t know the precise part number, AT Models’ Parts Finder can help identify the correct listing for the model.
Pro tip: If you’re unsure of the model variant, ask the modeller discreetly for a photo of its label or manual. That small detail can prevent a disappointing fit.
Bodyshells: a fresh look for an existing model
Want to make a familiar RC car feel new again? A fresh bodyshell gives an existing model a different look and can replace a shell that has become worn or damaged. Painted shells make a particularly easy gift choice when you know what the car is.
Browse the RC car bodyshells category to see the range. Here are a few model-specific examples:
- The Arrma Kraton 6S BLX V6 painted bodyshell in blue and orange is listed as a painted, decaled and trimmed 1/8 shell.
- The Traxxas TRX-4M Defender bodyshell in green is a painted shell with scale details, including grille and mirrors.
- For a crawler, the FTX Outback Treka painted bodyshell in blue is listed with a 250mm wheelbase; check its product page for the correct model match and availability.
Check scale and mounting style before buying. A shell needs to align with the model’s body posts or clipless mount, and its wheel arches and shape must clear the tyres and suspension. A good-looking shell that doesn’t fit the chassis won’t be much of a present.
Pro tip: If you’re not certain which model the recipient owns, get the model name or a quick photo before selecting a shell. Product listings are the best place to confirm compatibility.
Batteries and charging accessories
How can you give an RC enthusiast more time on the sticks or trigger? A compatible spare battery means they can swap packs and get back to driving or flying while the first one is recharged. It’s a straightforward way to extend a session, but batteries are not universal.
Browse the batteries category and check the model’s requirements first. A battery needs to suit the vehicle or helicopter’s cell count and voltage, connector, dimensions and electronic speed controller (ESC), which controls power to the motor. Matching just one specification isn’t enough.
For a LiPo user, a charge sack is another practical accessory. It’s intended to help reduce the chance of damage if a LiPo battery fire occurs; it is a sensible extra precaution, not a substitute for following the battery and charger instructions. See the LiPo safety sacks and bags category.
- The GT Power large LiPo bag measures 230mm wide by 295mm long.
- The Voltz LiPo Charge and Store Bag measures 23 by 30cm.
Pro tip: Check the dimensions of the recipient’s largest pack, not just the model they use most often. A bag that’s too small is less useful.
A little present, a lot more hobby time
The strongest stocking fillers are chosen with the modeller’s actual setup in mind. A well-sized driver set will see regular bench use; the right spare can get a model moving again; a fitted shell brings a fresh look; and a compatible battery or charge sack supports more time enjoying the hobby.
Explore the AT Models tools category to find a useful extra for the workbench, and help your modeller unwrap something they can enjoy long after Christmas.
