Sam's Old Ford Crawler

[sam63]

HI there, so here is my build half way completed. My plan here was to build something different, low, stable and with great approach angle. Im a fullsize pick up guy so it was difficult to find something suitable for a competitive scaler platform without getting too crazy with the body work.

It started out as a Tamiya midnite pumpkin. It was an inch too narrow for class 2 rules so I added 1 1/8" to the center.

All of the running gear and electronics where robbed from my blackfoot. All of the tube is 3/16 and 1/8 ss just like my bug and class 3 buggy. At this point the bumper, front shock towers and cage are complete. Im a bit stuck on what to do with the rear, thinking extended bedsides and an open tube bed for a prerunner look.

Heres what I got, sorry my camera sucks

[hotwheels000]

Nice start !!! Do you have any pics of the widening part ? That is the one thing that bugged me on my C1 pumpkin was the width and I was not looking forward to widening the hood area so I didn't Sure would like to see how you did it.

[sam63]

Thanks Devlin! Here are some pics of the body work the way it sits. The first thing I did was cut it right down the middle. Next I made a filler piece for the skylight that was 1 1/8th wider, it lined every thing up nicely and made it to whereI only had one curve at a time on the roof. The curved pieces were hit and miss. I would bend the piece over something and the hit it with the propane torch so it would keep the shape. It was hard to judge how much heat, usually too much or too little. The hood I got spot on. The cab needed filler pieces, still need to add them to the back of the cab. I filled in the hole back for strength. I plan on cutting out a small back window.

[sam63]

While I am at it here are some pics of the rig with the cab off showing the cage and how the electronics are layed out. I try and keep everything forward, low and centered as much as possible....helps it go places

The electronics consist of a Holmes BRSL, CC BEC for the servo, a Hitec 5955 steering servo. The winch is a Hitec 5945, it is controlled with by a Tekin B1R fed by straight 3s, it scoots! Everything was decased, conformal coated and then dipped in corrosion X. Then they are all mashed up and mounted to a little carbon fiber plate that bolts to the winch servo mounts.

[justinart24]

Dang, looking sick!

[Postclanker]

Really liking the pumpkin body mod....nice job

[hotwheels000]

Thanks Sam, you made it look easy

[sam63]

Thanks guys! Getting fab time has been tough as of late. Got a little done on the back half and better yet finally have a plan in my head on how to finish the tube work off. Its easy for me to get stuck on design issues. Always a constant battle of performance and lightweight vs scale and durability.

[79SCX10]

Awesome build! I love the truck, I cant wait to see it when its done. I always loved the old ford trucks. What are you thinking for paint scheme?

[sam63]

Originally Posted by 79SCX10

Awesome build! I love the truck, I cant wait to see it when its done. I always loved the old ford trucks. What are you thinking for paint scheme?

Thank you! I have always been a Ford guy when in comes to old pick ups. I am leaning towards red but saw a blue and white 64 on the road the other day that has me thinking...

Here are some pics, finally had a few hours to thrash on this the other night.

[War Pig]

Looks cool Sam......BUT, I sure hope you're not calling that a tube bed

[sam63]

Originally Posted by War Pig

Looks cool Sam......BUT, I sure hope you're not calling that a tube bed

Copy that. I do have some more to add to it but don't need the points anyways. Might just have to run a passenger to hit the all mighty 50. You may be happy to know this will end up weighing more than my blackfoot.....by one or two grams

[sam63]

Getting closer, time to tear it all down for welding and paint. I decided to change up the look in rear for something more simple. Hope you all like

[62PYRO]

Looks good.I like the simplicity of the back.

[79SCX10]

Looking good, keep up the good work!

[boosted4lyf]

Badass..

[hotwheels000]

Yep, another great looking rig from you.

[Bananaclip]

Love the design you came up with. Looks the part and it looks like it will preform very well.

[sam63]

Thanks guys, I am really happy with how this is turning out. Batting around paint color right now. My first thought is gunmetal gray for the chassis and a white on top to hide scratches and either blue or red on the bottom. Life is rough, lol!

[sam63]

Got a little side tracked on a buddies car, aka "Big Nasty" to be seen on the rocks soon. I only helped briefly on this and take no real credit, just had to post a pic because Jeremy did such a kick ass job on it


So here is where I am at. Got the chassis painted last night, that part went great other than the fact the paint has some serious metal flake in it that goes everywhere in the garage. The body was a brilliant gloss burgundy but I had some orange peal going on so I wet sanded the piss out of it. On my final coat I must of gone too heavy because it all went to hell, the paint just crinkled up and had cracks all over. I couldn't believe my eyes! So out came the scotchbrite and I knocked off all the shine and gave it a dull uniform finish. I may try it again but not right away.

Final assembly tonight, and a scale comp on Sunday