mir4dor's Hilux (exploring that styreen thing)

[mir4dor]

First off, I'm a slow builder and don't work or have the time to build as fast as some of the guy's on here.

Seeing all those awesome O.G. (where does O.G. stands for other than OriGinal ?) Hilux builds here on RCC I decided to buy the kit wich is more than a year ago now. I do have an O.G Bruiser but for now I'll practice with the new one ...

The reason I didn't post before is that I'm a bit shy to show my work seeing all those really cool builds by some of the members here. I'm far from building a scaler at the level you'll building.

Why I'm posting here after all ? Well, I pm'ed Chris (51WillysJeep) to tell him that I "stole" his rear firewall design and the no doors from Clampy to use it on my HL and asked if that was okay with him. Story short: he said: "it's okay etc. show me some pics" So here it is Oh and this will not be a Clampy clone btw ...


Specs for now:

- RC4WD Bruiser chassis
- HL axles
- RC4WD Killer T-case
- EZ (?) rear axletruss
- alu knuckles ( I really don't know where I got 'm atm)
- home made links rear
- RC4WD white scale shocks rear
- turneddown TLT shocks front
- FXR-PRO
- Integy55T
- Rims: they will be 1.9 for sure. I have RC4WD Pythons, 2 sets of CAC's here and RC4WD stamped beadlocks coming in. I decide on wich I'll use later ...

I't will have links rear and leafs front with the shackles upfront. Still fighting the drive train, R2 is too slow, AX10 tranny too big. I've ordered the RC4WD 4:1 GRU but waiting to arrive so then I can play with that.

Onto some pics. Months ago I did the dropped bed:






I also made a dash, midconsole and floor. I made those 3 pieces so that it could be easely bolted togheter, this however was before I got the Killer t-case:



The midconsole and floor where designed after the R2 I had installed back than:



Since the t-case came in the floor is useless and I've to redo the midconsole.

This is in short what i've done sofar. If you like other pics or explanation just ask.

With the fresh memory of Mike's Chino-clone and the awesome Clampy build from Chris (there are few others but forgive me, I don't know all the names) I just focus on the cab for now.
On one evening I just took my X-acto and start cutting:



That wasn't too much of a job, 40 mins or something ...

Started the cab thing where the doors close (sorry, don't know how to call that)




.... Have to walk the dog now... more in a moment sorry ...

[bigdodge88]

Nice work on that center console and bed.

[Jester666]

Outstanding start! Very clean work,I look forward to seeing more updates.

[mir4dor]

Thanks

Okay, the walk the dog thingy was cheap but oh so true. Here she is back in the day I upgraded the TXT:





Okay, inner cab-door thingy glued:



First load of filler, I use 2- component polyester repair stuff:



Then came to the point where I "stole" Clampy's rear firewall. Remember we don't have real rockcrawlers here in Holland cause we don't even have rocks here. I even don't have 1:1 reference material but the day I saw that firewall I knew I wanted to build such a thing myself. The beginning:



Glued to the cab:



Closeup:



As you can see it's not exactly the same as Clampy and that was not my goal really. It misses the ( I used halfround 100"/ 2.5mm from "StripStyrene) rod on both far sides of the wall. Ofcourse I don't know the exact measurements of the 4 squire holes that are in it but by looking closely I came to this result and I just think it's fine.

As you can see there is a close escape on the rear driveshaft and toplinks too, just enough room for it.

Right now I'm focusing on the inside of the cab, mainly the floor. My intension was to make 80% of the floor in one piece but that was just to complex. The framerails going up and to the inside inside(?) of the cab made it a bit to difficault.



While I was at it I strenghten the inside cab connected to the firewall with some 1.5mm styrene (vertical red line) and cleared the rear driveshaft & T-case ...

Then I decided to make a tunnel for the shaft and a box for the T-case so that I could cut the front section off of the floor.



Before this the rear section of the floor where two halves actually by looking at the pic (does that make sence :-()

Well, those last pics is where I am on this moment. The filler isn't final and so are the inner door openings, it all has to be trimmed later. I just roughly install all components and will finetune thing at a later stage.

Link setup is also changed in a better config as you see here, pics later. Added a fuelcell that will hold the spektrum RX:



That's it for now. I'm far, far from done but hope to update every now and then.

Thanks to all that inspired me on my build

[slither302]

nice work so far

[gyrene]

Your styrene work looks outstanding. I'm looking forward to the updates.

[mir4dor]

Thanks. Like I said: slow build but here's a tiny update.

Tonight I cut the mounting lips from the bed that normally connects it to the cab just to see how it lines up to the cab ...





Sorry for the crappy pics but you can see what I'm trying to show: the front and rear sections doesn't line-up quite right. The cab is how I like it attached to the chassis, so it's the dropped bed that I'll have to redo ...

For now I want to stay with the bed cause that's the only place to hide the stickpack, warpig-style is an option but I don't know ....

[51WillysJeep]

Hey Bro - Your off to an Awesome start so far..! I remember being at that EXACT stage with "Clampy" ( MANY moons ago..) .. The doorjambs and rear firewall came out SWEET, as well as the rest of the bodywork..! Great Job..! Looking forward to more progress..!!!

[pantablo]

looking great for a first try. great for a seasoned expert too-very nicely done. should be something to be very proud of when done!

[caymin last]

Excellent work, all I can say is "Het is Fijn!"

[mir4dor]

Originally Posted by 51WillysJeep

Hey Bro - Your off to an Awesome start so far..! I remember being at that EXACT stage with "Clampy" ( MANY moons ago..) .. The doorjambs and rear firewall came out SWEET, as well as the rest of the bodywork..! Great Job..! Looking forward to more progress..!!!

Thanks Chris ! Still browsing project Clampy for inspiration can't get enough of it.

Originally Posted by pantablo

looking great for a first try. great for a seasoned expert too-very nicely done. should be something to be very proud of when done!

Pablo, you really are the one that inspired me the most for cutting up Tamiya body's ! Always enjoy your posts and updates. Very helpfull because all you post is tech, thanks again for that.

One question tough: what does "seasoned expert too" means ? Sorry, this must be the language barrier thing :-(

Originally Posted by caymin last

Excellent work, all I can say is "Het is Fijn!"

Thanks man ! "Het is echt wel fijn" What is your relation to Dutch language ? I think there's just a few people that know some Dutch words arround here, cool


Okay, did some minor things on this build. Installed the RC4WD 4:1 GRU & a GD-600 3.8:1. Temporary motormount.



Did some work on the underside of the floor, just to be shure it stays correct on the chassis:



Build it "arround" the chassis rails:



Side view:



Funny thing is: when I turn the complete rig upside down, the body isn't falling off without installing a bodymount yet, tight fitting here

That's it for the body sofar, still struggling with the rest of the floor but I did start a new mid-console.

Finally RC4WD come with some XVD's for the HL and I just preordered those, thanks for that !
The problem is: I have more steering ability than the dogbones wil allow me to:



More later.

Aart.

[Jester666]

Goed werk. Dat lijkt niet afgewikkeld. bijbenen het grote werk.

[pantablo]

Originally Posted by mir4dor

One question tough: what does "seasoned expert too" means ? Sorry, this must be the language barrier thing :-(

I initially said it was good work for a first try, but the "seasoned expert" refers to the work being good regardless of experience. Its good compared to someone who does it often and has lots of experience with it as well as good for a first try.

[ctrwannabe]

This is a great start I'll be watching this build, I just started messing with styreen as well it's alot of fun to work with.

[mir4dor]

Originally Posted by Jester666

Goed werk. Dat lijkt niet afgewikkeld. bijbenen het grote werk.

Hey Jester, I respect the way you're talking Dutch but to be honest, I don't understand what you mean exactly. Please say it again in English, thanks.

Originally Posted by pantablo

I initially said it was good work for a first try, but the "seasoned expert" refers to the work being good regardless of experience. Its good compared to someone who does it often and has lots of experience with it as well as good for a first try.

Ah okay, that make sense. Thanks for your time to explain that Pablo, appreciate it

Originally Posted by ctrwannabe

This is a great start I'll be watching this build, I just started messing with styreen as well it's alot of fun to work with.

Yes sir ! It is a lot of fun working with that styreen thing All you have to do is measure, cut, file, sand and then gleu it. Easy isn't it ?

Just need some filler at certain points and when it's finally finished, I like to see how it does hold up on the trial ...

Brings me to a question for you guy's: I use a two component polyester repair ... uhmm .. thingy. Have to mix it first, gets all messy and dries rather fast. I see that some people here use the green (one component) stuff ?

Is that easy to work with ? Does it dry fast ? What is the brand name and where can I get it ?

Excuse those questions but I'd like to give it a try, thanks.

[pantablo]

the two part "thingy" you are using, is it used as filler? if so you are using it the same as many use the one part green putty filler. I have used it and think its okay but I prefer (if you use a separate filler) to use Bondo Gap and Spot filler. its red, dries smooth and hard, easier to work with in my opinion and doesnt shrink or crack as easily as the green stuff.
However, my preferred method is to use styrene itself as filler. build it up using the solvent adhesive liberally to melt the styrene together. Build it up higher and sand it down. Solvent I use is Tenax 7R or Plastruct Bondene although unlikely you have access to the same brands. both chemically bond the plastic together, "melting" it together.


For example, here I inserted a peice of the body from elsewhere. this applies to styrene as well.



I did as above and was left with this.


took a file to it quickly to check for low spots that needed more filling. if there are, you can then use the red putty filler or more styrene. I prefer to use the red filler only for the smallest of imperfections


this after final sanding and some red filler



Hope this is helpful.

[ctrwannabe]

Originally Posted by mir4dor

Yes sir ! It is a lot of fun working with that styreen thing All you have to do is measure, cut, file, sand and then gleu it. Easy isn't it ?.

ya easier than I thought it would be. very time consuming tough.

Originally Posted by pantablo

However, my preferred method is to use styrene itself as filler. build it up using the solvent adhesive liberally to melt the styrene together. Build it up higher and sand it down. Solvent I use is Tenax 7R or Plastruct Bondene although unlikely you have access to the same brands. both chemically bond the plastic together, "melting" it together..

i need to get some of that putty as well , but i got a tip from obijuan to just add more styreen and sand it down like you said and I like working with it this way

[Jester666]

Originally Posted by mir4dor

Hey Jester, I respect the way you're talking Dutch but to be honest, I don't understand what you mean exactly. Please say it again in English, thanks.

Sorry my dutch is a bit rusty. I reliezed afterward what i said didnt make sense. What I was trying to say was Good work. Your work is outstanding, keep it up

[4wd4ws]

I like it a lot and hopefully i will get to drive it when it's finished.

[RockEd out]

This is a work of are. I will be watching this one close for updates. Keep up the inspiration for the rest of us.