Cut 'n' Shut Landcruiser 45

[shannwah]

After toying around with a few different ideas, I finally made up my mind. This thread may turn out to be spread out over time while I save up the cash for parts but I thought I'd start it now to show you what I've done so far.

Unlike most builds, I've started with the body first. I attacked a perfectly good Tamiya LC40 body with scissors....on with the pics!!











I used Shoe Goo.



















Still wasn't 100% happy with the join across the roof, so covered it with spare decal strips from the decal sheet and painted it on the outside. The result is much better IMO.







Then came the rust weathering powder and a couple of coats of flat clear to seal it.











Still needs a couple of finishing details, but the body is mostly done...for now. It may end up having an interior later.

It's going to sit on an SCX10 chassis, which is in the mail with a transmission as well. I already have a set of Tamiya high lift leafs. I'm going to use RC4WD scale yota axles when I save up some more $$ and I haven't yet decided what shocks to use. I'm planning to build the bed with plywood and give it a similar weathering treatment.

Thanks for looking guys and I welcome all comments.

[STANG KILLA SS]

info and link on this weathering powder?

kick ass job btw

[sweli]

Really nice job!
What rust powder did you use?

[shannwah]

It's a weathering powder from Bar Mills I got it from a LHS that specialises in model railway stuff.

Here's their site:

www.barmillsmodels.com

Thanks for the comments too.

[shannwah]

Started work on the bed. I've been able to do all this work by taking measurements from my other SCX10, which has been really handy!

http://thecrawlpit.com/forum/viewtop...rover+defender

I'm using a combination of styrene, plywood and probably brass. I know what you're all thinking......."styrene?...It's not strong enough". However, this is not going to be a rollbar, but merely a rack/screen on the back wall of the cab to simulate the sort of aluminium ones you'd see on a 1:1. Plus I've put in plenty of bracing in all the right places and when styrene is joined and glued properly, it can be quite strong.

[rustykaos]

Are you going to do the drop sides as well. Looking really awesome.

[Lobonyc]

I really like this!

gets my imagination going; makes me we to break out the styrene and balsa wood.

Nice build, watching for more

[skinner]

this is a interesting build--like the way body is done

[PontiacGT201]

this thing is looking Good. cant wait to see it finished

[joeyf]

looks real good the best thing about a 45 besides it being a truck, is you can take the top off. are you going to try and do that?

[shannwah]

Originally Posted by joeyf

looks real good the best thing about a 45 besides it being a truck, is you can take the top off. are you going to try and do that?

Thanks for the comments guys. And no...........with the amount of work that went into joining it all together, I'm not about to cut half of it off! Would look good though.

[shannwah]

Originally Posted by rustykaos

Are you going to do the drop sides as well. Looking really awesome.

No, probably just going to keep it flat.

[octigonwallrus]

people underestimate the toughness of styrene if done correctly. my buddy did and fi 45 and he made the entire bed and headache rack like yours out of styrene. he has been beating on it for at least three years now.
great work so far.

[dealwithit]

thats gonna be nice old school setup when done what color you doing the headache rack, and you gonna put any bars around the side of the box?

[shannwah]

Thanks, the rack will be either black or bare aluminium. I'm going to put an edging around the tray, but not any bars.

The chassis and transmission arrived in the mail yesterday and I started mounting the leafs.




Tyres arrived too, I've gone with RC4WD Mud Thrashers. I love the tread pattern on these, just like a real set of BFG's. They will not be staying on these wheels, that's just while it's getting built. I'll end up getting a set of RC4WD OEM Steelies.

[shannwah]

I now have the rear leafs on, mostly. The wheelbase was much too short and where I was going to mount the leafs was already as far back as they could go. So I've extended the chassis by about 30mm. I had some brass section that just happen to fit perfectly into the C channel rails. As you see from the pics I've inserted a fair bit inside the rails with only a short part sticking out the rear for the leafs to hang from, so I'm hoping it holds up strength wise. If not, I'll just change it later. It feels pretty sturdy though. I'm going to make up my own cross braces as well, but am going to wait for the rear axle that's arriving soon as I'm pretty sure I'll have to narrow the chassis to line up with the leaf perches on the axle.

[shannwah]

Started getting the frame of the tray ready for mounting. Have cut out a section for the shock hoops to fit into. Btw, those washers I've got on the leaf hangers acting as spacers against the chassis are only temporary. The propper Tamiya parts are on their way!




And here's something I've been working on while I've not had any other jobs to do. Made some scale bits and pieces to go on the back. Instead of using the method of building a hollow box that I've seen a lot of, I glued a whole pile of styrene sheets together to form a block and then filed and sanded it to shape. Uses a bit more of your styrene supply, but I'm rather happy with the result......




















And I also did the same thing with the esky.....

[shannwah]

Did the cut out for the shock hoop on the other side and glued on the top sheet across the frame. This has strengthened it up quite a bit. A sheet of plywood will then sit on top of that to form the actual flatbed tray.

The next step is to start working on the mounts for this frame to the chassis. It's going to have brass plates that will be bolted to the sides of the chassis rails and they'll be mounted to the frame of the bed in the same way.

[FreeWheel]

what axles are you running??

[shannwah]

Ultimate Scale Yota axles from RC4WD.