Overview
The FTX Banzai Carbon Upper Plate is a premium upgrade component designed specifically for the FTX Banzai 1/10th Scale 4WD RC car, one of the most popular electric street drift and touring cars in the UK RC hobby market. This single-piece carbon fibre upper plate replaces the standard chassis component, delivering enhanced rigidity, reduced weight, and improved overall performance characteristics. Whether you're a seasoned RC enthusiast looking to optimise your drift car setup or a keen hobbyist seeking to upgrade your ready-to-run RC car in the UK, this carbon upper plate represents a significant step towards competition-grade performance.
Built from genuine carbon fibre material, this upper plate is engineered to provide superior stiffness compared to standard plastic alternatives, which directly translates to more responsive handling, improved chassis flex management, and better energy transfer during acceleration and cornering. The FTX Banzai range has established itself as a reliable entry point into the world of 1/10th scale RC cars, offering brilliant value and impressive out-of-the-box performance. By adding this carbon upper plate upgrade to your existing Banzai, you're making a targeted investment in the single component that has the greatest impact on handling dynamics and overall chassis rigidity.
This is a genuine FTX product, manufactured to OEM specifications and fully compatible with the FTX Banzai and related chassis variants. It comes as a single piece, making installation straightforward for owners with basic mechanical knowledge. Available now at RC Model Shop, this carbon fibre upgrade is the perfect choice for UK-based RC enthusiasts who want to elevate their Banzai's performance without replacing the entire vehicle.
Key Features
- Carbon Fibre Construction — Crafted from premium carbon fibre material, this upper plate delivers exceptional strength-to-weight ratio that dramatically improves chassis performance compared to standard plastic or composite alternatives, ensuring better handling response and reduced flex during high-speed driving.
- Single-Piece Design — The unified construction means there are no weak points or separation issues, providing uniform rigidity across the entire upper structure of your RC car's chassis and eliminating potential failure points that can occur with multi-piece designs.
- Direct Compatibility — This component is engineered to fit the FTX Banzai 1/10th Scale 4WD RTR RC car range, including both the standard red and green variants, as well as the FTX Banzai roller chassis, ensuring a perfect fit without modification or adjustment.
- Enhanced Chassis Dynamics — By upgrading to a carbon fibre upper plate, you'll experience noticeably improved steering response, better weight distribution, and reduced chassis twist during cornering, which are critical advantages in both street driving and drift competitions.
- Lightweight Performance Upgrade — Carbon fibre is significantly lighter than alternative materials whilst maintaining superior rigidity, which lowers your car's centre of gravity and improves overall handling balance and acceleration characteristics.
- Professional-Grade Materials — This is a genuine FTX component manufactured to original equipment manufacturer standards, ensuring reliability, durability, and long-term performance under demanding driving conditions.
Technical Performance
The FTX Banzai Carbon Upper Plate represents a focused engineering solution for drivers seeking to optimise their 1/10th scale electric RC car performance. Carbon fibre's inherent properties—exceptional rigidity combined with minimal weight addition—make it the ideal material for chassis components on high-performance drift and touring cars. The upper plate is a critical structural element that affects how well your Banzai handles lateral forces during cornering and the responsiveness of the entire chassis under acceleration. By replacing a potentially flexible plastic or composite upper plate with a rigid carbon fibre alternative, you're directly addressing one of the most common performance limitations in entry to mid-level RC cars. The single-piece construction eliminates vibration and flex that can occur at component joints, resulting in more predictable handling characteristics and improved consistency lap after lap. This upgrade is particularly beneficial for UK-based drivers who are progressing from casual backyard bashing to more serious driving, drift events, or competitive touring car racing. The material's durability ensures long service life even under aggressive driving conditions, making it an excellent investment in your RC car's longevity and performance envelope.
What's in the Box
- FTX Banzai Carbon Upper Plate (single piece)
What You Need to Complete
- Your existing FTX Banzai 1/10th Scale 4WD RTR RC car or roller chassis
- Basic mechanical tools for component removal and installation (hex keys, screwdrivers)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the FTX Banzai Carbon Upper Plate a direct replacement for the standard plastic plate? — Yes, this carbon upper plate is designed as a direct bolt-on upgrade for the FTX Banzai 1/10th scale 4WD RTR cars. It is fully compatible with all FTX Banzai variants, including the standard red and green RTR models and the FTX Banzai roller chassis. Installation requires basic mechanical skills and standard hex key tools.
- What are the real performance benefits of upgrading to carbon fibre? — Carbon fibre offers significantly improved rigidity compared to plastic or standard composite materials, which reduces chassis flex and twist during cornering and acceleration. This translates to more responsive steering input, better weight distribution, improved consistency in handling characteristics, and noticeably sharper overall driving feel. For drift enthusiasts and competitive drivers, these benefits are immediately noticeable.
- Will this upgrade work with my FTX Banzai roller chassis? — Yes, this carbon upper plate is compatible with both fully assembled FTX Banzai RTR cars and the FTX Banzai roller chassis variant. It is a direct fit component that requires no modification to either platform.
- Is this a genuine FTX product? — Absolutely. This is an original FTX component manufactured to OEM specifications and is the genuine upgrade part for the FTX Banzai range. It is not a third-party or aftermarket alternative.
- What tools do I need to install this upper plate? — Installation is straightforward and requires only basic RC car mechanical knowledge and standard tools such as hex keys and screwdrivers. You will need to remove your existing upper plate and bolt on the carbon fibre replacement in its place.
- How durable is carbon fibre for RC cars? — Carbon fibre is extremely durable and is the material of choice for professional and competitive RC vehicles worldwide. It resists impact, remains rigid under stress, and provides excellent long-term reliability. This makes it ideal for both casual driving and intensive use.
- What is the difference between this and other FTX Banzai upgrade plates? — The FTX Banzai Carbon Upper Plate is specifically engineered from premium carbon fibre for maximum rigidity and minimal weight. It is the top-tier upgrade option for the Banzai chassis, offering superior performance compared to aluminium or composite alternatives, though at a higher price point that reflects the premium material quality.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the FTX Banzai Carbon Upper Plate 1pc FTX6491 today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
- Product Type: Carbon Fibre Upper Plate Upgrade
- Compatible Vehicle: FTX Banzai 1/10th Scale 4WD RTR RC Car
- Compatible Models: FTX5529 (FTX Banzai 1/10th Scale 4WD RTR RC Car Brushed Electric Street Drift Car - Red), FTX5536 (FTX 1/10 Touring/Drift Car Roller Chassis Only), FTX5529G (FTX Banzai 1/10th Scale 4WD RTR RC Car Brushed Electric Street Drift Car - Green)
- Material: Carbon Fibre
- Quantity: 1 piece
- Configuration: Single piece design
- Manufacturer: FTX
- Part Number: FTX6491
- EAN: 5055323960123
- Tune-Up Type: Chassis
- Installation: Bolt-on replacement for standard upper plate
We want to make sure your delivery goes smoothly, so here are some important details about our service:
- For orders above £120, we offer delivery to most mainland UK addresses. For orders under £120, we can still deliver to Northern Ireland and the outlying isles, as long as the item can be sent by Royal Mail, weighs less than 30kg, and fits within 61cm × 46cm × 46cm. Some highland and remote areas may carry an extra delivery charge as couriers often apply surcharges in these locations. If you live in one of these areas, feel free to contact us before ordering so we can confirm the delivery options and costs for you.
- Most of our products include delivery in the price. If your order is under £90, a small delivery fee will apply but do not worry this will always be clearly shown at checkout before you complete your purchase.
- Depending on what you choose at checkout, your order will usually be delivered either the next working day or within 2 working days. For next day delivery please place your order before 2:00pm. Orders are dispatched Monday to Friday only. Some items may take a little longer and if that is the case we will always show the expected delivery time on the product page.
- If your order includes items with different dispatch times we will normally wait and send everything together once all items are in stock. If one of the items is going to take a while we will give you the choice either wait for everything to arrive or let us send the available items now and deliver the rest later. It is up to you.
- We use trusted delivery partners to make sure your order gets to you safely and on time. We use DPD for next working day deliveries and Royal Mail for the 2 day option.
- As soon as your order is on its way we will send you a tracking number by email. If you provide your mobile number at checkout we will also send delivery updates straight to your phone so you can keep an eye on progress.
- If a product is marked as "Dispatched within 3 working days" delivery usually takes around 3 to 5 working days from when your order is placed.
- For customers in Inverness and other parts of the Scottish Highlands deliveries can take up to 2 working days even if you select next day delivery as couriers do not currently offer a guaranteed next day service to those areas.
