1BadJeepBruiser's RC4WD Gelände II w/Cruiser Body Kit Build

[Reflektr]

I like where this is going! It's too bad about your trip though...and being sick... It's going around like crazy. I had it bad last week and my girlfriend the week before. Tis the season...

On a lighter note, it's good to know the gmade wheels are good stuff! Ordered the silver steelies for my Yota last night :thumbsup:

[Tossedman]

Originally Posted by 1BadJeepBruiser

Ebay is evil !

Hubcaps for RC4WD Land Cruiser FJ40 Scale RC Axial Crawler | eBay

Thank you sir!

[Toykid]

Great build and really appreciate you showing all the wheel/tire options. It's always a big investment to "try" wheels so seeing yours helps me narrow down which ones I am going to put in mine.


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[makaveliks]

Nice! I didn't even know this had come out! Where have I been? I love them FJ's though! Can't wait to see it painted!

[1BadJeepBruiser]

Originally Posted by Toykid

Great build and really appreciate you showing all the wheel/tire options. It's always a big investment to "try" wheels so seeing yours helps me narrow down which ones I am going to put in mine.


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The biggest feedback I noticed was the complaint on the small tires and wheel combo... Figured then people will be changing them out as a first upgrade so I thought that was a good idea to share. Glad it helped you

Originally Posted by makaveliks

Nice! I didn't even know this had come out! Where have I been? I love them FJ's though! Can't wait to see it painted!

Speaking of paint...

Had to do a rear brake job on my mothers 99' ford ranger, was a real PIA... Wheel cylinders were leaking and brake line was frozen on both sides. Plus drum brakes just aren't fun in general. The good thing was I was working in my step fathers 24x48 garage and it has a legit heating system. Was working in t shirt because it was 65*. This also allowed me to get some primer on the cruiser. I tried to duplicolor black primer, it's a filler/sandable primer and I really like the way it laid on the parts.











I used an entire can, everything came out nicely until I discovered what appeared to be a cat hair right in the middle of the hood. Tomorrow I will wet sand that with some 2000 and give a quick re coat.

I changed my mind on the color... Not sure how my new scheme is gonna look to be honest but I am just gonna run with it and hope for the best.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures of the color tomorrow

-Mike

[1BadJeepBruiser]

So I was able to finish up the paint work on this, thanks to my step dads heated garage. I am really happy about the way the color turned out. The paint job isn't flawless as their is some "dust" in it :l but its good enough for a cwarler...



Surprise ! It's brown! What can I say... I like brown Tiyotas. I actually couldn't find they poop green color so why not poop brown. I mean leather brown. Eventually when the body sets are released I'll scoop another one and I'll have my body shop buddy actually spray it that green.







I had to paint over the course of 2 days, I the second day I got the main part of the body painted




Tossed it on the chassis for a quick preview




Now it's on to the details. I used a combination of model paint and the supplied decals to obtain the dash board realism I wanted. I some how how managed to ruin the speedometer decal I trimmed out all carefully to install it and used an exacto blade to peel the paper backing but some how split the film and wrecked it. I was really pissed then I remembered I had an ashioma/skynet dash board and decided to see if I could carefully remove the speedometer decal and re use. It was mostly successful and doesn't look to bad. Hopefully down the road I can buy a decal sheet. I still have to paint the dash pad, gonna tape it off rattle can it so there isn't brush strokes. I am also going to center the steering wheel as well. I might make up so ARB style rocker switches to put in the other holes.




More to come, I am off for 2 days after my shift tonight so I am hoping to get a lot more done

Mike

[fr8cture]

Nice job Mike. I like how the dash turned out so far.

[joe122]

Like the colors, like the dash. These are very cool rigs to build. Like the direction of this one.

[1BadJeepBruiser]

The biggest problem with working midnight tours...Not being able to sleep a normal sleep on your days off

So its time for an update. The good things about Fj40s...TONS of pictures. The BAD thing...TONS of variations through out the years. Honestly, I have no idea what year this is really suppose to be so I am taking from a little bit of everything.

first was detailing the door panels. Found this



Wasn't a fan of all the silver so I did some flat black instead


Fold down window latches


hood latches


This is the type of paint work I like...its tedious and time consuming but I have a pretty steady hand so it usually comes out pretty good.

[Rockatanski]

Nice choice of color!

[Alpha Male]

The good things about Fj40s...TONS of pictures. The BAD thing...TONS of variations through out the years. Honestly, I have no idea what year this is really suppose to be so I am taking from a little bit of everything.

You're not just whistling Dixie! I must have 100 pics on my computer for reference, from 1970 to 1978 alone, and I see characteristics from so many that I think it's hard to make a truly inaccurate decision.

Yours looks great (except for the brown, of course ).

[THUG LIFE]

Looking good Mike. Me likes the color. Thanks for sharing.

[chino63]

Looks really good Mike, that interior looks alot like my '70.

[1BadJeepBruiser]

Now I'm really pissed, not only is mine not rusting like n00bs and Guys but some dick left the top off and now I got freakin snow ankey!!



I'm returning mine immediately !

#follower

[pardonmyn00b]

Yours must be an aluminum or fiberglass reproduction.

[1BadJeepBruiser]

Decided to take a break from the interior... I am upset because I tapped off the dash to paint the dash pad with some flat black and when I peeled the masking tape it ripped off the one cluster decal even worst is that I didn't realize till after I crumpled up the masking tape and through it out... It's a goner... And decal sheet isn't available for a while so that's a bummer.

Instead, I continued to work on some details of the body. I am well aware that the body hinges for the hood, windshield, doors etc are suppose to be body color but the body is rather large and l was looking to help break up the brown a bit so I opted for gloss black on these parts. I also started detailing the molding on the cap. Set the body on the chassis for a few quick pics. So much more to do.











Took care of the body lines as well.

I still need to paint my turn signal housings, wheels, hub caps, side window trim on cap and I also received my interior floor pan kit as well.

Stay tuned

Mike

[imthatguy]

Great stuff Mike.

I'm glad you're a part of the MTZ Club.

[Alpha Male]

I am well aware that the body hinges for the hood, windshield, doors etc are suppose to be body color but the body is rather large and l was looking to help break up the brown a bit so I opted for gloss black on these parts.

It seems that people do paint the hinges and at least some after market hinges are black, so it looks accurate for a restore. I like the contrast.

[pardonmyn00b]

Originally Posted by 1BadJeepBruiser

Instead, I continued to work on some details of the body. I am well aware that the body hinges for the hood, windshield, doors etc are suppose to be body color but the body is rather large and l was looking to help break up the brown a bit so I opted for gloss black on these parts.

I like the black. It's your truck, you can do whatever you want. People will say "it's not scale". Well, that in itself is a stupid thing and isn't even a thing, really. I could rant and rave for hours on the definition of the words "scale" and "realistic" but I'll do that in one of my own threads.

[chino63]

It's only scale if you paint the silver Phillips head screws... with the phillips head slots.