Jethro's Ibex build (Harley's Plans Scaled for 1.9's)

[Jethrobodean]

OK, I'm a previous rc'er that stepped away for several years. (When I was big into it, you had to have nitro to go fast, the hottest new thing was the T-maxx, & the only crawlers were modified clods). These days my free time is spent on the trail in a 1:1 trail rig with the family. A good buddy got an Ax10, & ended up with a few cheap crawlers for his boys which prompted me buying out another buddies AX10 so I could play along.

Nothing special, just a beater AX that's been around the block a few times. First things I did were hunt up a pro-line tuber body, & get a 2s lipo on it. I've now thrashed this thing for many hours, & enjoyed it much.



Now my 3yr old is starting to get into it big time. She just loves to watch it climb (& crash). She's pointing out things to crawl, & lets me know when it's time to do something that lands it on it's lid. She loves to flip it back over. First inspecting the situation, deciding on the best route back over, & then a slow push until it rights. (I guess she's spent enough time on the 1:1 trails )

So, starting to get bored with it myself, & having a 3yr old to entertain, I started looking into options that would keep my interest. Admittedly the first thing to come up was to just sell it & buy a Twin Hammers. Loved the Idea of a 2 speed, It was fast, crawled, looked good, & would cover all of my wants in a RC. But, being a primarily 1:1 wheeler, it was a little too "desert buggy" for my tastes. Then A solid axle car won KOH again this year & I'd made up my mind, I'm building a scale ultra 4 type rig.

First thoughts were to replicate a bomber chassis:



I even started drawing it up, but that quickly proved to be a major hurdle for someone who's never done a true scale build. Then I remembered a post by Harley on Pirate 4x4 about a build he did on the Ibex chassis. I thought it ironic, as the Ibex is a serious buggy for the guy who can build, but may not be able to lay out his own chassis very well, seemed suiting. So, here I go.

Inspiration:

[Jethrobodean]

The first thing I did was download the plans. The plans are very nice, & relatively easy to figure out. I only found one missing detail, & it wasn't at all hard to wing it. Knowing they were centered around the wraith, I knew the chassis would be a bit big. I had about 30 ft of surface rusting .250 round stock on my steel rack that was destined for the scrap pile next garage clean-out, so I just started building a chassis out of it, at full plan scale.

A shot of my "wasted" chassis build:



Also took the time in that process to build me a bender:



Left room for up to a 1" sleeve in case I want a larger radius for something later.

[Jethrobodean]

Once I had it built, & could do some real world measuring & looking, I came to the conclusion that I wanted a .9 scale from Harley's plans. This put me at right at a 1:9 real world scale, which seemed to suit my axle width, tire height choice, & everything else. So I printed off the set scaled to 90%, & got to work.



Knowing I liked the idea of the 2 speed on the TH, I ordered up an RC4WD 2 speed. (Threw it into the old chassis for a quick romp around the yard. This thing's going to be a whole new level of fun)



Sub-frame is built to mimic the AX-10 skid



Added some body mount tabs:



Then got it sitting as a roller:

[Jethrobodean]

At this height the upper links started hitting the frame cross-members. It was right at the rod end, so a little grinding & I got the full bump I was looking for.






Then I realized the rear lower link mounts were trying to occupy the same space as the tranny. So, I added on new lower frame mounts & shortened the lower links.



I actually really like this look, & may end up going ahead & doing on the front also.

Got the transmission in, & you can see the steering clearances F&R (keeping my 4WS, I like it).

Really want to put the battery here, but my current pack won't fit cross-ways. (nor will most of the 2s packs I'm finding) Looking into different battery options now. Wanting to stay 2s to keep things from going snap, & limp my el-cheapo ESC along. Suggestions more than appreciated.

[Jethrobodean]

A couple quick shots of my plan B battery location. Not my favorite choice, higher than I'd really like to see it.

[Jethrobodean]

That brings me up to speed. It's a budget build, so upgrading pretty much only as things present themselves with little other option.

Current upgrade list:

Hacked GT3B radio
keeping my crappy XL-5 ESC until theory is proven & funds allow upgrade
Same story with my dirt cheap stock Wraith motors (bought a couple from fleabay)
Going to stock SCX10 wheels until budget will allow Aluminum
1.9 trepadors (have to, running them on the 1:1 )
F&R slash powerstrokes
lexan body panels, hopefully eventually a custom landcruiser style buggy hood.
Putting a wraith sway bar in the front for now, going to go ahead & build in mounts for a rear in case wanted or needed later.


Open to suggestions & ideas for sure. I can fab, but this scale stuff is new territory so there's going to be a learning curve.

[spyder90]

Looks good so far, can't wait to see how it turns out. I'm new to the scale stuff too and just learning as I build lol

[Harley]

Nice work man, I like the scaled down idea for the AX10 axles.

[Jethrobodean]

Wheels came today, impatiently awaiting the tires (fingers crossed that they look & fit as I hope). Obligatory "up on blocks" picture :



Whipped out a skid plate. Overlapped the rockers for the 1:1 look

[Jethrobodean]

Got a few parts in & was able to make it a runner. Needs a major shock/spring tuning session, but overall pretty happy with it. Took the time to do a little wood pile crawling, & a poser shot with the fullsize treps

(excuse the wiring rats nest)



In my mind I'd hoped the tires would be a little bit bigger, but they've grown on me fast, & these things hook better than I could've ever imagined.

I'd told myself it wouldn't need alot more bracing, but a few tumbles in the test drive said otherwise. Actually bent the front end a little in a perfectly executed swan dive off of the wood stack to the concrete floor. So, tore back apart & gave it a proper brace job.





Doing my best to keep lines matching the original. After that I sprayed it in some duplicolor graphite wheel paint & whipped up a battery tray, complete with speed holes.

[Harley]

Looks dead on to a fullsize Ibex

[Jethrobodean]

Thank you, I'm just hoping I can keep it up through the finishing. Researching scale winch, lighting, & window net options now. I figure I'll get it performing decent & add details a little at a time.

Winch seems like money & preferences for deciding factor. Same for Lightbar. I'm not finding any real options for window nets. Anyone have any recommendations? really looking for the small net style:



Any recommendations? Google isn't helping much.




Speaking of details, I did get a wraith swaybar set, but the chassis was just slightly too wide to mount it where I wanted. With them being so noticeable in the front of the Ibex, I wanted it mainly for looks, but having run the pro-lines with no oil, & completely wrong spring rates, I doubt I'll actually want or need it. If I do, I'll have to come up with something custom for a little longer bar, & alot less stiff.

[Jethrobodean]

Started in on body panels.

[Harley]

Whats your plan for the hood? That's always the tricky part to make it look right on a custom chassis.

[Jethrobodean]

I ordered up a few square feet of PETG sheet. Side were easy, get the feel for the material, roof panel was bent with a heat gun over a jig of some scrap steel. Hood will be vacuum formed. I'm in WAY over my head on this one, but I've got an idea, & youtube.

Going for this look:

Basically follow the same lines as the Ibex Jeep hood, but without the whole Jeep thing.







Also, forgot to mention; I have learned a very important scale building lesson. Body tabs with loose nuts on the back side SUCK. Never, ever, ever again. I'll either just weld nuts or drill & tap tabs on anything in the future. Not nearly as easy to hold that nut as it is on full scale.



Edit: If you look real close in background above, you can see my sheet of POP I've poured to start whittling a hood shape out of. Shooting from the hip on this one, but thinking POP for hood shape, glued over wood block, probably attempt to use a grill shape cut out on the plasma table glued to the front of the block.

[Harley]

I have made my initial shape with clay before, then remolded with plaster of paris. This video I used an existing grill that I narrowed down, but a similar idea still.

[Jethrobodean]

Slow motion there is nice, looks like the real fine detail is somewhat lost in the plastic thickness. Good to know, I was contemplating whether it was worth it to try & get the landcruiser hood vents in or not, looks like I'll probably skip that. (Using .060 PETG)

[Richterat83]

Nice build! Attempting the same build but in 2.2 using Harley's templates as well. And nice fabbing! What are you welding with?

[Harley]

Originally Posted by Jethrobodean

Slow motion there is nice, looks like the real fine detail is somewhat lost in the plastic thickness. Good to know, I was contemplating whether it was worth it to try & get the landcruiser hood vents in or not, looks like I'll probably skip that. (Using .060 PETG)

That was partially due to my buck, as it is fairly low on sharp edges to show detail. But the molding does reduce the detail slightly still.

[Jethrobodean]

Older Miller maxstar TIG with lift start. A foot pedal would be ALOT easier, but it's what I've got.