Class 1 Scout (Another aluminum body!)

[Metal Masher]

This is something i started a while back but just now got to post it.

I had this SCX10 based scaler i acquired some time ago. I'm not sure who built it but it was a good truck and i wheeled it a lot but it was very heavy and fell into class 2. Since I already had my Toy for class 2 I decided I needed something for class 1.

Here is how it sat before i started




Now i had a new body that came with the truck and after placing it i realized the wheelbase was off



After some new links I had the wheelbase i was looking for



I also removed the cage




With a clean chassis i started on the new body.

Of course, me being me, I couldn't just use the lexan body and since I've been wanting to try making molds from a lexan body i gave it a go.

the process is fairly strait forward. pick a section of the body and make a dam



pour the resin right into the body



and pop it out



Then I cut along the hood lines



and after some cleaning made a test panel



Then i repeated the process



I did the side panels in 2 pieces and then trimmed them



I fitted the front to the back



Then trimmed out the door and rocker.



There is still some trimming and sanding to do but it's coming along

Oh and here are the grill and rear tail sections. they came out good as well.



More later

[ScaleDustin]

The master @ work.....

[ScaleFreak93]

This will be amazing......

[jetdog racing]

Very nice start i will be watching this build for sure cant wait to see the panels..

[THX_138]

Two questions if I may...

What is the resin you are using?

How thick is the aluminum that you are forming?

Awesome idea & nice work

[Modbug]

Well, you definitely got my attention.

[rcscaler]

OMG....that is a awesome work.
I would like to see more details...tell us how u made that work

[mgputer]

all i can say is " " speachless!

[DORK VADER]

[17dean]

In extreme awe!

X2 with what THX_138 said!

[Metal Masher]

Originally Posted by THX_138

Two questions if I may...

What is the resin you are using?

How thick is the aluminum that you are forming?

Awesome idea & nice work

The resin is smooth cast 300 from smooth-on Smooth-Cast® 300, 300Q, 305, 310 Product Information | Smooth-On

The material is Tooling foil found at art supply stores like Dickblick Pure Metal Tooling Foil - BLICK art materials

Originally Posted by rcscaler

OMG....that is a awesome work.
I would like to see more details...tell us how u made that work

It was pretty simple, just block off the part you want to mold and pour the liquid plastic in. It pops right out when it cures.


Thanks guys. This project may be a little slow. I'm working on other stuff right now but i did get a little progress.

I started by trimming the front grill

Followed the body line on the side



Then the bottom and top where the hood was



Then i wanted to do a test run but i quickly realized my typical method of forming was not going to work



The draw was so deep i couldn't get it to pull without folding so i had to go a different direction

I started with an impression



then i flipped it over, placed it on a soft surface and began stretching the metal close to the shape of the grill



This allowed me to draw the metal further around the grill



And after some more work i had the look i was after with very little folding



Here is the final result





Then i repeated the process for the rear corners



Oh, and i couldn't resist testing some rock rash



This truck is going to be fun

[Die-Laughing]

Looks great

How fragile exactly is that foil? Are you going to construct a body using just that or ??
How will you attach the pieces of aluminum to each other?

[dezmoon]

Blake,,,I still Dont Believe Your Not a Wizard....

[Modbug]

So far, so awesome.

[pixelnate]

Wow. I am subscribing to this one for sure.

[701 Technique]

thanks for providing the materials list. Might have to tinker with this process myself subscribed

[Metal Masher]

Originally Posted by Die-Laughing

Looks great

How fragile exactly is that foil? Are you going to construct a body using just that or ??
How will you attach the pieces of aluminum to each other?

I wouldn't say it's fragile but it does dent very closely to the real thing. Yes i'm going to construct the whole thing out of the aluminum and i use Goop adhesive to attach them together.

I've already made many trucks with this method and it works file and is very realistic.

Here are just a few

Project true scale - Aluminum Toyota body!

Joe's flatty The revival!

Leo's Willy!

old comp truck turned scale truck (the rebuild!)

Originally Posted by dezmoon

Blake,,,I still Dont Believe Your Not a Wizard....

You never know

Originally Posted by 701 Technique

thanks for providing the materials list. Might have to tinker with this process myself subscribed

Go for it! i always like to see others trying there hand at this

I got a little progress on the body

I finished the grill mold by drilling out the head lights and using a drill press with an X-Y vice and a milling bit to open up the grill opening



Then i drilled out the rear corners for the tail lights



The cool thing is the roll bar light lenses from the high lift fit perfictly



Next i finished shaping the metal



and tested the fit of the lens



Then i test fitted the panels together starting with the rear quarters



Then clamped the rest of the panels together so i can start figuring out how to do the rest of the inner panels




And a quick test fit on the chassis







Not too bad. But i need to do something with the tranny. It's not going to cut it in there



That's next on the list

[BigSki]

Good stuff, as always. Have you considered goop-ing ( new word??) styrene for the inner panels? This would give some rigidity to the panels and leave a surface that would be easy to add details to.

[finishline]

Wow you make this process look so easy Metal body looks really good subscribed to see your progress.

[AxialJeepster]

ha cool!!

I want a aluminum BRAT body

cant wait to see smashing videos!! remember the old jeep vid