LSXGMC's Trail Finder 2 - Chevy Blazer

[LSXGMC]

I never really cared for the TF2. Not sure if it was because I'm not a 'Yota guy, or I didn't fully appreciate scale leaf springs and was enamored with the flex of my Vaterra Ascender. A buddy of mine has one, and they started to grow on me, as his is very well built. However, when RC4WD came out with the Blazer body, and their promo picture had one mounted on a TF2 chassis, I knew I had to have one. So i found a new-in-box TF2 for about 2/3 the price of a new one, and jumped on it. I immediately went to the hobby shop to purchase a Blazer body. And, of course, being a hardcore GM guy, can't run a Chevy on Yota axles, so bought the K44's to go along with it.

Build list:
RC4WD Trail Finder 2 RTR
RC4WD Chevy Blazer body
RC4WD K44 axles w/ steering links
RC4WD Gelande II front shock hoops
SSD 1.55 Black stamped steel D-hole wheels
RC4WD Rock Stomper tires
Holmes Hobbies BRXL (waterproof) ESC
Holmes Hobbies HV500 Servo (AMAZING)
Holmes Hobbies Torquemaster Expert 35T motor
Castle Creations 10A BEC
RC4WD Punisher steel driveshafts
RC4WD Blazer body LED kit
Spektrum DX2E radio system
RC4WD Warn scale hubs
G-Made hubs (rear)
BowHouse low-profile skid

Token NIB pic:

Fresh outta the box. Looking at this thing close up, can really start to appreciate all the love people have for them

Could hardly wait to see what the Blazer body looked like on it:

Was really hoping to use my SSD D-Hole / Rock Beast / Deuces Wild combo on it, as it was all brand new and sitting around. But, was too big for the look I was going for:

So I went with Black RC4WD Wagon's and Rock Stompers. Perfect.

K44 axles. All I can say is wow, they are so scale. Because the shock mounting locations are different than the Yota axles, and combined with the Gelande II front hoops, I switched the stock shocks around and they worked perfectly

Sanded all the molding lines off, roughed up the plastic, and applied some primer:

Wet sanding in between coats:

Applying color:

Absolutely love the way this blue looks on this truck:

Gelande II front shock hoops. Comparison pics for guys who haven't done this yet:

Was originally going for a nice, shiny paint job (hence the wet sanding), until I read this post:
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/paint-body/514314-3-stages-hardbody-paint-weathering.html

Using those techniques here:

Dash painted:

Seats done:

Interior installed:

I love SSD stuff, so I wanted their 1.55 D-hole wheels for this truck. Wasn't a fan of the gold beadlock screws, so switched them our for black LURC scale bolts:

Got the 3D printed low-profile skid. Couple comparison shots:

RC4WD light kit for the Blazer body installed:

All mounted up and ready to rock:

Springs are stiff as hell, but I actually am really impressed with how capable this truck is

Comparison shot against my Ascender. Notice the difference in size of the pumpkins (Ascender runs SSD D60's):

Needed a driver and a passenger, so why not Arnold and Sly? GET TO DA CHOPPA!!!!

Thanks for looking!

A special shout out to grubbybuz, who's green Blazer build inspired me to build my own "thumbsup". Very awesome truck, check out his build if you haven't already!!
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/rc4wd-trail-finder-2/566978-blazer-project.html

 

[William Kline]

That looks amazing. What size are the action figures? I need to get some for mine.

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[LSXGMC]

They're the 6 inch versions

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[William Kline]

Ok. Thanks man.

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[new2rocks]

Very nicely done, and glad to see you're enjoying the TF2. Your weathering looks spot on. No matter what I build, I always come back to it as one of my favorite trucks to wheel. "thumbsup"

 

[LSXGMC]

I am so glad I built this. It's such a different experience than my Ascender. They're both cool, but this is more fun to me.

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[lilws6]

I am so glad I built this. It's such a different experience than my Ascender. They're both cool, but this is more fun to me.

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Thats the same way i felt after i built mine. My scx10 is a great truck performance wise. But after i built my tf2 i love them both in there own way.

 

[LSXGMC]

I have been enjoying this truck. It's so much fun, I love how it reacts on the trail. I ended up selling my SCX10 II as I always reach for this truck!

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[rustneversleeps]

I am so glad I built this. It's such a different experience than my Ascender. They're both cool, but this is more fun to me.

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X2 for me too...i like the way you weather your truck well done....Looks scale...

Thats the same way i felt after i built mine. My scx10 is a great truck performance wise. But after i built my tf2 i love them both in there own way.

X2..I'm thinking of selling a couple of my axial to finance the new L70.

 

[Natedog]

Great looking truck, super detail, love it! Is this the TF2 that you did the motor drop on? Shame about all the older pictures because of Photbucket fiasco, where's this sweet Blazer crawling around at today?

 

[LSXGMC]

Great looking truck, super detail, love it! Is this the TF2 that you did the motor drop on? Shame about all the older pictures because of Photbucket fiasco, where's this sweet Blazer crawling around at today?

This truck was sold quite a while ago. The motor drop truck was a different TF2 which was also sold (to the same guy, ironically). They both sit on a shelf in a massive collection.