RCCrawler Forums

surya.prash17 · 09-13-2009, 11:17 AM

Hi All ,
This my first attempt at a scale build. I have always had a infatuation for the land cruisers especially the FJ40. I have spent hours staring at pics of so many great builds here on RCC. Finally decided to build one but even after spending enough time on the net I was never able to find the super rare FJ40 hardbody

.
So I decided to build my self a Hardbody

. I started with pictures i found online. Spent almost a couple of weeks just drawing a sketch on google sketchup. I then realized that this was a lot more hard than I thought:?. The body has too many curves and angle changes to achive it right with styrene.So I decided to make a FJ45

cab which will be less amount of work compared to a complete body. Well I will stop yapping and post some pics. Please give me some comments.

First started out with the Grille which took me almost 405 hours of painstaking labour. But I think it turned out

. Tell me what you think

danielk · 09-13-2009, 05:31 PM

yes.

eddievedder · 09-13-2009, 06:13 PM

Nice start!

Offroader5 · 09-13-2009, 06:49 PM

Well, it's a good sign for a start of one of these builds when it looks as though the bezel will be right side up.

surya.prash17 · 09-14-2009, 09:17 AM

I have got a lot done over the weekend. at least more than I expected.will post the pics up pretty soon.

surya.prash17 · 09-14-2009, 12:30 PM

Here are some more pics of what I was able to complete this weekend. The toughest part was to stick the side panels to the grille.and I realized bending styrene is a real bitch. My fingers are still sore from the hot water burns.
I would sure like to know if there is a better way to bend styrene?

Aussie Nerd · 09-14-2009, 08:38 PM

Not sure why everyone forgets tamiya produces an awesome fj40 body. Looks absolutely incredible though

looking forward to more updates.

Keiren

surya.prash17 · 09-14-2009, 11:42 PM

I have the tamiya FJ40 body and it has good details. But it has a way shorter wheelbase for the bruiser chassis ? So instead of cutting up the body and hacking up a FJ45 cab I thought why not go an extra mile and make a hardbody. Actually now it does seem like a 1000 miles.But since I have aldready started I think I will see how it turns out. I always have the tamiya FJ40 body if it dsnt turn out good.

66sprint6 · 09-15-2009, 01:48 PM

Lookin good, keep it up! Ide be proud as hell to be able to produce a body all myself and it look even half-way decent! Keep us updated!
Matt

surya.prash17 · 09-15-2009, 03:03 PM

Added up some fender supports with styrene strips.I was at the LHS yesterdy to see if there were some special tools for working on styrene. I was looking for some tools to cut out circles of different diameters. A tool to cut groves would be awsum. For the fender supports I had to use small files you can see in the pics. I mean they are great but take a loooooooong time to achieve the final result. I also tried using deremel but it requires a very steady hand. Let me know if guys can give me some links to specialized tools for styrene or anything u use to make it easier to work with styrene.

pardonmyn00b · 09-15-2009, 04:30 PM

I use an awl for some body lines. It's Excel model #30604.

For larger cuts, a worn out # 11 blade works well. (used that for door lines)

Use tape as a guide, or a ruler on flat spots.

Keep up the good work.

surya.prash17 · 09-18-2009, 09:30 AM

Got the fenders done

.I think the body is now getting some character. Although I dont if you guys can notice from the pics but the fenders will need some trimming down. They some how seem a bit wider to me.I know the fenders are flat right now but I will work on them later adding some more panels and sanding to give it that scale look. I hope you guys can imagine what I am talking about. Still thinking of ways to do that.

62PYRO · 09-18-2009, 09:41 AM

Looking good so far.

You might check out Micro-mark for tools.They have all sorts of different tools for small scale work.

DonsATV · 09-18-2009, 09:49 AM

You're making good progress.

surya.prash17 · 09-18-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62PYRO

Looking good so far.

You might check out Micro-mark for tools.They have all sorts of different tools for small scale work.

that micromark has some really cool stuff ...thanx

surya.prash17 · 09-19-2009, 09:59 AM

I think I am out of control.I cant get myself to do anything else other than work on completing this body.Thanx for all the motivation guys.Here are some more updates. I have cut out the doors and welded the the center arc for the windshield.

Knytemare · 09-20-2009, 09:47 AM

Wow that is awesome work there! WIsh I had the patience to do that.

romulus22 · 09-20-2009, 10:48 AM

looking very good

Aussie Nerd · 09-20-2009, 06:37 PM

I need one of those

Wish I had the patience to do something like that. I think I will have to stick with my cut up tamiya body. I can't wait to see it finished

. Tamiya needs to make a FJ45 hard body

.

Kieren

DonsATV · 09-20-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surya.prash17

I think I am out of control.I cant get myself to do anything else other than work on completing this body.

I hate when that happens!! But I don't mind watching.

09-13-2009, 11:17 AM	#1
surya.prash17 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 169	FJ45 hardbody Hi All , This my first attempt at a scale build. I have always had a infatuation for the land cruisers especially the FJ40. I have spent hours staring at pics of so many great builds here on RCC. Finally decided to build one but even after spending enough time on the net I was never able to find the super rare FJ40 hardbody. So I decided to build my self a Hardbody. I started with pictures i found online. Spent almost a couple of weeks just drawing a sketch on google sketchup. I then realized that this was a lot more hard than I thought:?. The body has too many curves and angle changes to achive it right with styrene.So I decided to make a FJ45 cab which will be less amount of work compared to a complete body. Well I will stop yapping and post some pics. Please give me some comments. First started out with the Grille which took me almost 405 hours of painstaking labour. But I think it turned out . Tell me what you think Attached Images

09-14-2009, 12:30 PM	#6
surya.prash17 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 169	Here are some more pics of what I was able to complete this weekend. The toughest part was to stick the side panels to the grille.and I realized bending styrene is a real bitch. My fingers are still sore from the hot water burns. I would sure like to know if there is a better way to bend styrene? Attached Images

09-14-2009, 11:42 PM	#8
surya.prash17 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 169	I have the tamiya FJ40 body and it has good details. But it has a way shorter wheelbase for the bruiser chassis ? So instead of cutting up the body and hacking up a FJ45 cab I thought why not go an extra mile and make a hardbody. Actually now it does seem like a 1000 miles.But since I have aldready started I think I will see how it turns out. I always have the tamiya FJ40 body if it dsnt turn out good. Last edited by surya.prash17; 09-14-2009 at 11:45 PM.

09-15-2009, 03:03 PM	#10
surya.prash17 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 169	Added up some fender supports with styrene strips.I was at the LHS yesterdy to see if there were some special tools for working on styrene. I was looking for some tools to cut out circles of different diameters. A tool to cut groves would be awsum. For the fender supports I had to use small files you can see in the pics. I mean they are great but take a loooooooong time to achieve the final result. I also tried using deremel but it requires a very steady hand. Let me know if guys can give me some links to specialized tools for styrene or anything u use to make it easier to work with styrene. Attached Images

09-18-2009, 09:30 AM	#12
surya.prash17 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 169	Got the fenders done.I think the body is now getting some character. Although I dont if you guys can notice from the pics but the fenders will need some trimming down. They some how seem a bit wider to me.I know the fenders are flat right now but I will work on them later adding some more panels and sanding to give it that scale look. I hope you guys can imagine what I am talking about. Still thinking of ways to do that. Attached Images

09-13-2009, 05:31 PM	#2
danielk RCC Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pasadena Posts: 1,118	yes.

09-13-2009, 06:13 PM	#3
eddievedder RCC Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Long Island-Land of one batch of rocks in Sag Harbor and at least one fellow crawler Posts: 1,371	Nice start!

09-13-2009, 06:49 PM	#4
Offroader5 Picky Fab'r/Acetal Junky Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Desert/AJ Posts: 3,073	Well, it's a good sign for a start of one of these builds when it looks as though the bezel will be right side up.

09-14-2009, 09:17 AM	#5
surya.prash17 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 169	I have got a lot done over the weekend. at least more than I expected.will post the pics up pretty soon.

09-14-2009, 08:38 PM	#7
Aussie Nerd RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 1,512	Not sure why everyone forgets tamiya produces an awesome fj40 body. Looks absolutely incredible though looking forward to more updates. Keiren

09-15-2009, 01:48 PM	#9
66sprint6 RCC Addict Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Murfreesboro Posts: 1,537	Lookin good, keep it up! Ide be proud as hell to be able to produce a body all myself and it look even half-way decent! Keep us updated! Matt

09-15-2009, 04:30 PM	#11
pardonmyn00b I wanna be Dave Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Unnecessary Surgery Land Posts: 3,406	I use an awl for some body lines. It's Excel model #30604. For larger cuts, a worn out # 11 blade works well. (used that for door lines) Use tape as a guide, or a ruler on flat spots. Keep up the good work.

09-18-2009, 09:41 AM	#13
62PYRO Built, not bought Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gresham Posts: 4,504	Looking good so far. You might check out Micro-mark for tools.They have all sorts of different tools for small scale work.

09-18-2009, 09:49 AM	#14
DonsATV RCC Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: United States of the Offended Posts: 1,184	You're making good progress.

09-19-2009, 09:59 AM	#16
surya.prash17 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 169	I think I am out of control.I cant get myself to do anything else other than work on completing this body.Thanx for all the motivation guys.Here are some more updates. I have cut out the doors and welded the the center arc for the windshield. Attached Images

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09-20-2009, 09:47 AM	#17
Knytemare Rock Crawler Join Date: May 2005 Location: Fort Wayne Posts: 728	Wow that is awesome work there! WIsh I had the patience to do that.

09-20-2009, 10:48 AM	#18
romulus22 0 0 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: FT. Thomas Posts: 1,830	looking very good

09-20-2009, 06:37 PM	#19
Aussie Nerd RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 1,512	I need one of those Wish I had the patience to do something like that. I think I will have to stick with my cut up tamiya body. I can't wait to see it finished. Tamiya needs to make a FJ45 hard body. Kieren

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