Brightening Christmas with an SCX24 is part RC build, part Christmas reflection, and part memory lane. After a neighbor repeatedly stepped in to help with major home projects, I wanted to say thank you in a way that couldn’t be repaid with cash. I am willing to step out in the darkside of Jeep to say thanks.

Along the way, the project sparked memories of childhood, family, old Jeeps, and stories passed down from my dad’s time driving Jeeps in the military. What began as a simple RC body paint job became a reminder that working with your hands has a way of opening the door to gratitude, nostalgia, and meaning.

This post walks through the build process, the painting and masking techniques, and the lessons learned—most of all, that hobbies can be powerful tools for generosity. Sometimes the best Christmas gifts aren’t expensive; they’re personal.