Project "Sahara Survivor" D90

[Oddman102]

Oddly inspired by a Matchbox car my cousin's kids were fighting over, I decided to make something up with one of my favorite British vehicles... The Land Rover Defender 90...

Although my inspiration wasn't a "true" Defender, the references pointed me in the right direction...

Inspiration:

Real Life Version: (British Military Land Rover Defender D110 "Wolf")

So, that's the rough plan...

Now, to make a D110 I'd have to either find a D90 and extend it, find a used D110 body on here, or shell out $250 for a new one off RC4WD...

Being a college student, I went the cheaper route, the D90...

Thanks to 4x4 Freak, I received an excellent D90 body shell complete, for a reasonable price... "thumbsup"

The Beginning:

Originally, I was intending to use a Tamiya Hih Lift chassis and 3-speed, but found the modified tranny I have would interfere with the interior too much. So, that was tossed aside...

Here's what I have set aside for this:

RC4WD Defender 90 Shell (roof removed)
RC4WD Prowler XS Tires
RC4WD Stamped Steel Internal Beadlocks (Black)
Tamiya High Lift Chassis
Axial Axles with Hardened Steel Lockers
Axial GCR Roll Cage
Unknown Hi-Torque Metal Gear servo
Traxxas Driveshafts x3
Traxxas Steel Yokes x4
Traxxas Plastic Yokes x2
Traxxas Transmission (Transfer Case)

Have some fabrication to do for the chassis, but I got to work on the body rather quickly...

Sorry for no serious progress pics, but I was on a roll...

First, the chassis... Motor is temporary

Body Shots:

Overall:

All in all, a great start...

The bed is made of sheet styrene, and an extra Hilux bed I had bouncing around... Hope you like!!

 

[bent]

Great start you have there. SUBSCRIBED

 

[will16]

Looks great so far! Cant wait to see it finished, as I love the army defenders!! Subscribed!!

 

[redjones]

Great Start!

 

[Oddman102]

Sitting at work tonight, so I brought the Defender with me so I can get the LED positions set...

4x Sub-miniature red LEDs (Brake Lights)
2x Yellow LEDs (Rear Markers)
2x High Intensity White LEDs (Headlights)

To start...

 

[TwistedXT]

looks like a good start - but are you going to be extending that bodie at all to match the first pics above? as it sits right now it kinda looks like an axial dingo.

 

[Oddman102]

No, I don't trust my fab work enough to extend the body to a D110 length...

So, I'm matching the look of the inspiration on the D90 body...

And yes... It does look like a Dingo... for now

 

[TwistedXT]

And yes... It does look like a Dingo... for now

Makin it sound like i just challenged you "thumbsup"


remember bro - its just plastic. Grip it, rip it and stick it! Youll be amazed at what you can build if you try! Your doing great so far!

 

[Oddman102]

Small Update... with a teaser for another side project...

Interior finished off... Not happy with the center rise... will redo it

Mystery---

All together now!!

 

[Oddman102]

Again, the Dingo look is temporary... The GCR cage is nice, but if possible I'd like to try and ge a better cage brazed up... Especially if I want to have a similar look to the reference...

Still debating extending the body out to 110 proportions... But I'll see how it looks at the 90 length.

Want to fab up some of the storage boxes for the back of the rig, even though I simulated a pair in the bed already so my suspension would clear...

 

[Oddman102]

Ok, back to the Tamiya 3-speed, Axial axles, Integy 1.9 Plastic Landie rims with stretched 1.55 Mud Thrashers

 

[bent]

Now thats cool man. Keep up the great work.

 

[Oddman102]

Need some help guys... I'm new to leaf springs...

TF2 shackles and leafs, High-lift chassis... uhmm... HELP!! X_X