Topless Defender D90 Build

[neillarson]

Liking it. Not the fastest build around, but still one of my favorites! Thanks for your service shipmate!

Lol, You are the master of understatement. I made the mistake of posting this while I am also working on a Timberwolf, a HiLift Mud Truck, a Hiluxed Honcho and a tribute to my departed Brother In Law with a rear leafed SCX10 based Hilux. So, I am trying to finish up the D90 so I can make progress on the other.

Here is why I am so slow:

Is there an award for the slowest build? I have to be close.

 

[REVCO]

Great looking Landy! Two questions: 1.) In the 2nd pic down of your first post, next to the D90 body is a bed to another body... what does that go to? From here it looks like you could almost do a 130 High Capacity with that... 2.) How do you like the Gelande?

 

[neillarson]

Great looking Landy! Two questions: 1.) In the 2nd pic down of your first post, next to the D90 body is a bed to another body... what does that go to? From here it looks like you could almost do a 130 High Capacity with that... 2.) How do you like the Gelande?

That is a Hilux bed, waiting for some time to do a drop bed and finish up a replica of my brother in laws hunting truck.

The Gelande is a hell of a truck. Nice suspension geometry, decent travel for what is meant to be a pure scaler. Steering is nice. Love the tranny and xfer case, but not a lot of room for electronics and battery if you use the D90 body.

 

[REVCO]

Dig it. I really wanted the Gelande for my latest build (The Poor-Mans Gelande: Another Defender 90 Hardbody takes shape), but I seriously have way too much R/C stuff in my cave right now as it is. Mind if I just drool over yours? :mrgreen:

 

[neillarson]

Got the front bumper in today, installed it and the winch and a touch of bling, an ARB diff cover.

and one obligatory flex pic

I WILL finish the cage this weekend.

 

[neillarson]

I DID finish the cage this weekend. Put some primer on it and with some of course this showed me some flaws so a little more work before it can get final color. Also still want to find some textured paint to give it the look of some padding.

Also did my first primer coat wet sand and put a second coat of primer on it. At least one more wet sand, maybe 2 to go, then color, rinse and repeat. It will be done for iHobby.

So now that I worked out the keys to Silver Soldering. Just as every one said, Harris paste flux and silver solder is one of the keys, temperature is the other. I am a true amateur and I am using just MAPP gas. You need the metal red, not cherry, but red, then the silver will flow. I need to pick up either a Smith Little Torch or an Oxy-Acetylene set if I am going to do a lot more of this.

 

[REVCO]

Cage looks great and digging the ARB diff cover! Yeah, silver soldering is great fun when it comes together nicely. That's only happened to me once. Ha.

 

[neillarson]

Finally getting close to wrapping this up. Finished painting today, fender flares on, interior in (that was a b*tch) and the roll cage on.

Then i mounted it up and took it out to the back yard and proceeded to scratch the heck out of it. But thats what it is for.

I still need to fix the paint, also have a fit issue with the interior that I have to find a fix for. I had a couple 2S 1300's to use with my winches but this thing is so tight, no room. So I got a 2S 300 that will fit anywhere, looks like i will get a few pulls out of it before it is dead. The i have to make a Ice Chest to hold the light controller and then get all the lights installed. Still not sure of the Chrome, may go black on all the trim and I am thinking of some Diamond Plate on the front fenders then making a snorkel. Also need to get some more steering so gotta play with that.

Some lessons learned so far:

-Use some Bondene and intall the windshield before you cut the top and before you paint. It is an INTEGRAL part of the structrual integrety and I had constant issues with the windshiend bar.
-Need sliders before you get on ANY rocks. I am getting mine in the next week or so I hear.
-A 3S 1800 would fit a lot better than my 3S 2200.

A little video, but I only have a few rocks in the yard but it is all I can do.

 

[campbelj]

love that tune on your video my man. Mr. Trucks, one of the nicest, most humble guys i have ever met... solid rig you got there as well.

 

[neillarson]

love that tune on your video my man. Mr. Trucks, one of the nicest, most humble guys i have ever met... solid rig you got there as well.

Too true about Derek, ran into him and his wife (who plays a mean guitar herself) leaving the House of Blues. He was awesome on the Crossroads Concert in 2009 and 2010. That was where i discovered how good he, his wife and Doyle Bramhall II are on the strings.

 

[neillarson]

Basically finished, at least enough for iHobby Scale event on Saturday.

Added my Scale accessories and my driver, got the lights wired, head, front marker, front rock, tail, rear marker and rear rock lights.

Added my Driver and crawled it enough to scratch it up.

 

[neillarson]

And here is my next project. Been sitting on it for awhile, added some electronics today so tried it in the garden. I think i am going to like the 2.2s. I think I am going to run it in the sportsman class on Sunday.

 

[blukon98]

Love both rigs, I want some trex 60s myself. Those arb diff covers are awesome!

 

[neillarson]

Well, it performed like a pig at i hobby. It was incapable of climbing anything and my Honcho kicked its but.

So I have to redistribute the weight, try to get the battery as far forward as I can, may have to drop the 2200 and go to 1300s. Also getting rid of the Rok Loxs and going to the TSLs, they are lower and much stickier. Also have to figure out a way to water proof my radio as no waterproof box I can find will fit in there.

 

[neillarson]

Took off the light bar, looked a bit stupid.

Got my new Rock Sliders from RC4WD. These are the prototype but they are close. to what the final is going to be.

Next is a full redistribution of weight, Roks are coming off and TSLs on and as ti can't get the TSLs on the Tangos, I will paint the Titus black including the BL ring.

I have to say that the drive train on this thing is AWESOME. The HH 35T handwound with the Disrupter and Killer Transfer case on top of the T-Rex 60s are perfect for scale crawling. Great control, nice speed and great brakes.

 

[Team Tactical Bacon]

Clean vehicles

You sir, have some very clean rigs. "thumbsup"

 

[neillarson]

Well, got the electronics all moved around and the battery to redistribute the weight. Also swapped the tires out for some Dicky C's, much better fit.

RC4WD 1.9 Dick Cepeks

RC4WD 1.9 Rok Lox

In the snow, lost some realism here with the topless body, guess I had better start work on a soft top.

My Ram provides a nice shelter.

 

[LR3]

Looks great"thumbsup". A soft top will look killer on there.

 

[neillarson]

For the life of me, I cannot remember who bought (or traded) this from me. I would love to see some Pics of what it looks like now.

 

[BigBoy]

For the life of me, I cannot remember who bought (or traded) this from me. I would love to see some Pics of what it looks like now.

I bought it from Ghost not long ago, looks like the only changes are now it has rc4wd white scale shocks and 1.55 rockstompers on landy wheels.