A vibrant community of people who share a love for remote-controlled trucks reignite childhood magic through Little Big Rigs Sydney.
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A small group of truck enthusiasts began gathering in a car park or scout hall back in 2009 and before long, they picked up speed and invitations to events and truck shows began to roll in.
Group organiser James Sligar’s journey into the world of remote-controlled trucks began with a childhood fascination.
“Growing up in Wollongong, I had always wanted to be part of the Illawarra Convoy,” he says.
“But then I started building trucks myself and I’d put photos of them up on my socials.
“A member of the group tagged the organiser of the event at the time, and he contacted me.
“So, since 2007, I’ve been part of Little Big Rigs.”
Today, Little Big Rigs boasts a diverse membership of 50 people, ranging from James’s son, who is just five years old, to retirees who share their knowledge and passion.
These truck models are bought in a kit or customised to the member’s liking, adding a personal touch.
On average, completing a full customised build of a truck could take three to four weeks.
“It takes a couple of days to build the chassis, and from there you start painting all the bits and pieces like the guard, fenders and cab,” he says.
“That might take about a week, and then you put the cab together.”
James’s Scania 770 took him nearly three
months to build, because there were so many bits and pieces that needed to be glued together, and he did some customisation too.
“I added flashing lights, and you can get a sound system for them,” he explains.
“One guy in the club built a model that took him 18 months.
“He has an SD card that he puts into the truck to play music and chatter, making it sound like people are talking.
“It’s just unbelievable what people can do these days!”
Among James’s collection of 17 model trucks, including an Actros and Volvo FH16, it’s his Kenworth tipper that has stolen his heart.
“It’s a one of a kind, especially with all the airbrushing that’s been done,” he says.
The group has a packed schedule of truck shows ahead of it, including the Sydney Truck Fest and the Fairfield Easter Fair.
At the shows, they set up an elaborate display, including a 20 by 20 road network, complete with a BP fuel station and bridges.
“Depending on the venue, we bring about 20 trucks at minimum,” he says.
James is active on social media, sharing the group’s adventures through his YouTube channel, ‘RC Trucking with Jimmy’ and TikTok @JamesSligar, showcasing the trucks and enjoyment that comes with the hobby.
“Editing it all together can get really frustrating, but you end up pretty amazed with the end result, so it’s worth it.”
For James, being part of Little Big Rigs isn’t all about the trucks, but the community and friendships made along the way.
“The social side is great, and seeing the looks on the kids’ faces as they come up to us thinking what we do is pretty cool.
“You can see it blows their mind what we can do with trucks these days.”
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