I decided it was about time I attempted a YJ, such a lovely body from Tamiya. I know they're leafers but I thought I'd use this rather lovely chassis from Martin at RCModelex. Wheels and tyres just for mock up for now.
As a bit of a bonus I do believe I've received with it some of the new cast K44 axles from RC4WD.
I've started chopping all the unnecessary bits off of the body. I'm not sure what to do about the fugly rear body mounts. Ideally I'd chop them off but the chassis utilises lugs that sit inside them so I'd need to remove them as well.
The chassis clearance on this thing is pretty incredible.
And with these XVDs in the front it looks as though it's going to turn on a sixpence.
I did some preparation on the body by way of sanding off some of the mould lines and removing the front spot and rear wheel mounts. The front spot mounts had to go to leave room for a winch and there's a spare wheel mount incorporated in the RCModelex chassis.
Used a Ford Mercury Grey for the body and Halford's Kaki camo paint on the hard top.
It's still a bit rough around the edges, literally, but should clean up. It's difficult getting a tyre that performs and looks the part on these, I borrowed the wheels with Mud Thrashers from the Baja Chevy which are still a little large.
I continued with the detailing with the aid of some Tamiya paints and some Sharpies. On the front faux indicators/turn lights I first painted with Tamiya titanium silver and then went over with clear orange, I think it works pretty well.
Martin sent me some pucker rear lights in clear plastic so they've been painted with Tamiya clear red, I also added some plate to the rear quarters. The Baja Chebbie wanted its wheels back so I dug out some more Mud Thrashers and mounted them on these blingtastic 1.55s I already had.
I've put in this dash that I got from Loops RC, quite pleased with how it has come out, although I probably should have painted it with my glasses on, these close up don't do my edges any favours :blush:
I also added in some mirrors and wipers from Loops.
Popped the roof rack on from RCModelex, I haven't attached it yet but I think I will, I like it and need somewhere to carry my sand ladders and ground anchor.
I decided to cut out the side windows as I intend to make my first real foray into styrene work and create an interior for this.
Knocked up a rudimentary interior with floor, seats and transmission tunnel. Unfortunately I couldn't drop the footwells as the already quite small batteries will be under there.
Also made up some door cards and after my first attempts at styrene work I have to say my already very high levels of respect for all the custom builders are now stratospheric.
I struggle with fiddly.
I won't be going in to a great deal of detail for the area behind the seats as I've opted for the smoked rear windows, translation, I'm too lazy.
Door cards fitted:-
and spare wheel and tyre.
Inner fenders are in, the only thing I'm waiting on is some of the new 1.55 Goodyear Wranglers from RC4WD, I'm hoping when mounted they'll come out a little smaller that the Thrashers in both width and diameter.
The new tyres arrived, I think I erroneously referred to them as the 1.55 Ground Hawgs earlier in the thread when they are in fact the RC4WD Goodyear Wrangler MT/R 1.55s.
I fitted them up, they're a little smaller than the Thrashers and they mounted on to the wheels with relative ease, the beads located really cleanly. The foams are also stiffer than those I've previously had with RC4WD tyres. Overall I'm really pleased with them, a nice addition to the RC4WD line up.
As a bit of a bonus I do believe I've received with it some of the new cast K44 axles from RC4WD.
I've started chopping all the unnecessary bits off of the body. I'm not sure what to do about the fugly rear body mounts. Ideally I'd chop them off but the chassis utilises lugs that sit inside them so I'd need to remove them as well.
The chassis clearance on this thing is pretty incredible.
And with these XVDs in the front it looks as though it's going to turn on a sixpence.
I did some preparation on the body by way of sanding off some of the mould lines and removing the front spot and rear wheel mounts. The front spot mounts had to go to leave room for a winch and there's a spare wheel mount incorporated in the RCModelex chassis.
Used a Ford Mercury Grey for the body and Halford's Kaki camo paint on the hard top.
It's still a bit rough around the edges, literally, but should clean up. It's difficult getting a tyre that performs and looks the part on these, I borrowed the wheels with Mud Thrashers from the Baja Chevy which are still a little large.
I continued with the detailing with the aid of some Tamiya paints and some Sharpies. On the front faux indicators/turn lights I first painted with Tamiya titanium silver and then went over with clear orange, I think it works pretty well.
Martin sent me some pucker rear lights in clear plastic so they've been painted with Tamiya clear red, I also added some plate to the rear quarters. The Baja Chebbie wanted its wheels back so I dug out some more Mud Thrashers and mounted them on these blingtastic 1.55s I already had.
I've put in this dash that I got from Loops RC, quite pleased with how it has come out, although I probably should have painted it with my glasses on, these close up don't do my edges any favours :blush:
I also added in some mirrors and wipers from Loops.
Popped the roof rack on from RCModelex, I haven't attached it yet but I think I will, I like it and need somewhere to carry my sand ladders and ground anchor.
I decided to cut out the side windows as I intend to make my first real foray into styrene work and create an interior for this.
Knocked up a rudimentary interior with floor, seats and transmission tunnel. Unfortunately I couldn't drop the footwells as the already quite small batteries will be under there.
Also made up some door cards and after my first attempts at styrene work I have to say my already very high levels of respect for all the custom builders are now stratospheric.
I struggle with fiddly.
I won't be going in to a great deal of detail for the area behind the seats as I've opted for the smoked rear windows, translation, I'm too lazy.
Door cards fitted:-
and spare wheel and tyre.
Inner fenders are in, the only thing I'm waiting on is some of the new 1.55 Goodyear Wranglers from RC4WD, I'm hoping when mounted they'll come out a little smaller that the Thrashers in both width and diameter.
The new tyres arrived, I think I erroneously referred to them as the 1.55 Ground Hawgs earlier in the thread when they are in fact the RC4WD Goodyear Wrangler MT/R 1.55s.
I fitted them up, they're a little smaller than the Thrashers and they mounted on to the wheels with relative ease, the beads located really cleanly. The foams are also stiffer than those I've previously had with RC4WD tyres. Overall I'm really pleased with them, a nice addition to the RC4WD line up.
