2Kind's Gelande II D90

[2kind]

Finally got a round of painting in. Looks much better now, Thanks a bunch 801Ryan!


Another thing that was buggin' me were the door handles. Thought it would be neat, those the only shiny bits. Nope, I was wrong. Way more in line with things painted a flat black. Peeled off the Plasti Dip which was holding up decently and hit all the other bits as well. I now have plans for the grill so I didn't bother with that and next time I'm feeling ambitious I'll paint up the fenders too.


Drilled holes for 3mm driving lights to accompany the headlights.

[2kind]

Normally I wouldn't share this here but given my next project, I feel it is fitting.

Months ago I hacked up the interior and since then have been working out ideas for the rear section of it. Thought I would put up a couple unconventional ideas that manifested. Maybe stir things around for a few of you.

First design I built a frame and two wooden boxes with magnets holding everything together. Magnets aren't always very precise when building and neither am I so I figured the two would make a good combo and allow for the wiggle room I needed while keeping a tight fit at the same time. Turns out, I was right. Nothing special and super rough all around for sure but it sat real well inside the cabin.


All the items are being held in place by magnets. For their size, they are very strong and can be picked up at Home Depot.


Another design was a bit of an evolution of the previous. This one being all wood and glue. A lot more ridged which led to it not fitting properly. This was about as far as it got. I do like where it was headed though.



I have a thing for the wood flooring and haven't completely given up on it just yet.

[2kind]

From the beginning of this build I've wanted to hack open the rear door. Knowing that would send a ripple of change throughout the entire car, I have been avoiding it. Also, I'm still pretty hesitant to do anything to the shell.
I've decided to work on the interior instead and drop the bed. Which means all the electronics need to be relocated away from the rear. Which also means I need new electronics FXR/Hotwire is on the way and in my possession is a Crawlmaster pro 16t, very excited to run this setup!

"Styrene" It's been a fantasy for awhile now. Secretly, I've been amassing all I can find and doing much homework on the issue.


This stuff has been kinda taboo for me. I know it's great and allows you to do things you wouldn't be able to any other way, but I'm so horrible at working with it. The few little things I've made have been very off putting. With the work Mr. Sloski has been posting lately (which I find both intimidating and encouraging ) and the help from others like Mr. DetroitMuscle 59 in Youtube Land, I finally feel ready to tackle my first real Styrene project. Thanks for your work guys

To start, I stripped the rear end down and took some measurements. After cutting up a base and some sides, I taped everything in place to check the fitting.


Can't even build a proper box =(

Just kiddin' I decided I wanted to have open access to the cargo area. So I replaced the back plate with a cross member. Not to only open it up, but to add reinforcement to the structure, a platform to build off, and a way to attach the front section of the interior to the rear.

More attempts at making a box...

That yellow bottle of Tenax 7R is no joke. If you are thinking about playing with Styrene, use that or a similar product like plastruct's plastic weld. Changes the game.

Not super clean but I'll take it.


It was time, so I grabbed some tread and zipped the interior in half.


That worked out well.


Another bit of rectangular tubing underneath in the rear to help stabilize it all.


One thing I happen to over look were the shocks. Not the biggest issue but it does pose a problem with keeping the build clean. As of now, the nuts and bolts for the shocks will be visible from the inside when done. Playing with ideas to incorporate them into some kind of tie downs for cargo. Not sure yet.


So far, I'm happy how things are turning out. Rather simple accomplishment really, though very gratifying.



With the easy part done I'm now faced with the biggest challenge of all, a blank canvas...

[JustMe]

Awesome up dates.
Your helping me sleep better!
My gelende 2 fj comes in on Monday.
I like a lot of your up grades going to have to copy a few of them if you don't mind:-)

[2kind]

Originally Posted by JustMe

Awesome up dates.
Your helping me sleep better!
My gelende 2 fj comes in on Monday.
I like a lot of your up grades going to have to copy a few of them if you don't mind:-)

Thanks! Not the first time my rambling has put folk to sleep
Grats on the Gelande 2! Nice chassis, IMO. The FJ seems like a sweet body to build with a ton of options. Seriously considering it as my next truck. Hope you start a thread for it.

As for copying stuff, please do! The lil gurl in me gets all giddy when I hear things like that. Glad you found some interesting thingies.
Most my inspiration comes from seeing what others before me have done. Using their techniques for one thing and applying it to the ideas or materials I have.

To pimp myself a bit, I have a scale accessories thread going. Most of which has spawned off this build. You may find a few more things up your alley.
DIY Scale Accessories/Others

[2kind]

A blank canvas allows too many possibilities and finding one I not only like but feel capable of pulling off is proving difficult. Gonna have to truly earn this one as there are not a lot of (complete) documented custom interior builds for the defenders.

I'm wanting to try some things I personally haven't come across yet.
Here are a couple ideas I have in mind.



Possible flooring idea.

[jj650]

Awesome job 2kind!
I'm following along on your interior build. I purposely put off my interior because I don't have a good enough theme to use yet. I am going to cut it off behind the front seats like you did and refab it higher to clear any size battery I want to run. And I have to create a box under the driver's side to clear my servo/linkage beacause I have the 2 spd in mine.
I really like your idea how you mounted it low on the chassis. Thinking this will be better than mounting it to the body.

[2kind]

Hey JJ650
Thanks much for the compliments! I'll try to keep the updates timely. Other than this being a personal rig I've always wanted, I too struggled with a theme, still am...

I'm developing a motto: "Ideas don't stick to ideas"

I have found that once you start putting stuff together and have a physical thing to work with not just an idea, it becomes much easier to visualize the next steps and almost steers you in a direction. Not to say that's always where you want to go. You do walk away with more experience though and most important, you learn what not to do, what doesn't work for you and get a better idea on how to improve it for the next attempt. Almost all the thoughts I had for the interior went out the window once I had the drop bed in hand. New ideas quickly surfaced and the game plan completely changed.

In other words, not having a theme or goal can sometimes be the best way to approach a build.

[2kind]

You got me curious so I grabbed the pack I use on long runs and checked the fitting.


I see light from the other side. A thing that did not occur before.


The plan is still to access the battery through the rear door once opened. Until then it remains under the interior. Currently trying to think up a way to make my battery to ESC cables retractable.
Like these but for 13 GA wire.

[2kind]

I wasn't super thrilled about the lip created by the cross member so I set out to fix that.


Some stuff that came up first.
I was thinking a drainage system out the back using RC4WD sand ladders as grates in the floor. Good for tying things down too.


I have a hard time letting things go...


Not diggin' either one I decided to move on. I was thinking of adding more support and just bringing the floor flush with a simple platform using left over scrap from the cross member.
Started messing around and discovered this. Which triggered the drawer idea.


After thinking about it for a good long bit, I started to put together a frame.
The idea was to build a smaller frame out of the large tubing and and add a bottom to it. Then attach two smaller tubes off one end of the frame. Next, insert the smalls into the larger tubes (dotted lines) allowing the drawer to slide out via some fancy piston action.


Framing done.


Inserted the drawer bottom and got it all in place.



Made a floor to put over top.


After sanding down the smaller tubes they slide very nicely.


It did dawn on me at this point the drawer would need some sort of handle Which wouldn't fit with this current layout. So I removed roughly 5mm off the pistons. Doing so revealed a step up into the cargo area that I really like the looks of. Also provided the extra room for a handle of some kind.


The way the drawer is set up there is a big cavity toward the front. Thought I should utilize the space some how.


Access to concealed storage from both ends


A hinge was needed now but it had a few requirements. First it had to be hidden. Second, it needed a tight fit. Lastly, it had to allow clearance. Being boxed in so tight (not wanting a gap in floor) it had to come strait up then could rotate open. Ended up trixier than I first imagined.
I stumble on Mr. DetroitMuscle 59 on YouTube and learned how to make these puppies. Thanks Man!



Trying out this guy. Works ok. You can see the recessing for the handles as well.


Peeekaboo...



I'd say its decently snug. You can see a recessed handle idea for the cubby. Not sold on it yet.


Handle for the drawer...
Same design as the one for the cubby but I like it used here much more.


At this point nothing but the drop bed is set in stone yet but i like it. Also considering the entire interior Guess we'll see how this turns out first.




While I think about colors and materials to finish it all I get to start on seating possibly or maybe something else.


Lots of room for different possibilities.



Would like to simulate this somehow.


UPS came by for a visit while writing this. Lots of work is what he brought.


Any tips, critiques, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Still very much stumbling through this one piece at a time. My experience with gluing painted bits did not go so well. I'm unsure how to go about applying color to it before adding the final materials.

[2kind]

Haven't seen too many of these half panels before. Neat idea...


With sliding windows...


Could be kool...



So I got to work and popped out both side windows.


Traced then cut out a panel.


Snug.


Now for the window.


Two done! Took a little while with sanding and all. Far from perfect still.


After a bit more sanding, that's about as close as I'm going to get them.


A look from inside.


Decided two more were needed.


Going to work on the windows next. Plan to sandwich them between the two plates. Hopefully creating a runner for the new window using the body's window frame. That's the idea at least

[2kind]

Didn't like how the sliding window was turning out so I 86'ed it. After painting the panels I tinted a piece of clear Styrene and throw it up as backing for the moment.


Not sold on it yet, but it's growing on me. I've got a few other ways to approach this that I want to try before calling it or committing.

[2kind]

Found some fine wire mesh and decided to mock up a new grill while waiting for paint to cure.

The outer frame is made of 2mm thick planks while the two middle beams are 1mm allowing the mesh to fit nicely into it's own little pocket.


Fixed a couple small posts to take advantage of stock mounting holes.


The mesh got hit with a glossy black and the framing took it flat. I bumbed up the driver's side lower corner a bit. Other than that, I like how it turned out.


The truck looks much more aggressive now. So I tossed the Growlers back on....

[2kind]

Think I fixed the rear shock mounting issue.
The stock hoops are recessed from the outside. So in theory, if I swap sides with the hoops, the recessed area will then be on the inside while leaving most all measurements/dimensions unchanged........Thank you Sir, I'll have another....


Careful what you ask for....
The hoops are also recessed where they bolt to the frame rails. It's a bit hard to make out in the picture, but I had to use four 2mm spacers to fill in the gaps. Which brought the hoops slightly off the rails. Which in turn created a gap between the bed and hoop. I think 1 mil. spacers will bring everything back together just right.


I've run outa spacers hence the shock leaning a touch off angle. There's no binding of the shocks as is, but I'm not a fan and plan to correct this at some point. The idea proved solid though.

[new2rocks]

This is coming along great. Little tip -instead of using spacers to move the hoops out, try cutting a piece of Delrin in whatever thickness you need to go between hoop and chassis. It's super strong and will have no play. I did it on my Cruiser, and it worked great. You can catch glimpses of it in the pix in my Gelande leaf conversion thread:

How-to convert from links to leafs on a Gelande chassis

I can get you better pix over the weekend if that would help.

[2kind]

Thanks a ton, New2rocks! You're "lil tips" are sure starting to pile up =)
Great write-up and how-to on leafing the FJ Gelande. That being a serious contender for my next build, it's duly appreciated!
The pics in your thread were enough to understand what you mean. I just need to locate some Delrin to hack up... May take a trip to the LHS and do some browsing later. Pretty good at finding random subjects to do my bidding.

Know I'm not alone when I say, I am grateful for all the work you do. Not only on your own builds, but also the effort you put in to helping all us less experienced chaps along with our builds too. You are verdy encouraging, Thank You Man!

[new2rocks]

Lol. Now I know where your screen name comes from...too kind, indeed. Glad you're finding my write-ups helpful. It's my way of paying forward for all of the helpful stuff I've read and learned from others.

For Delrin, you can also order from McMaster. They have a few different varieties. Here's one variety that works well for things like spacer blocks, bumper mounts, brackets, etc:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-pl...heets/=13lxysp

Very easy to cut and slice to a desired size and thickness using either a Dremel or a hobby miter saw.

Keep the updates coming!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[2kind]

Originally Posted by new2rocks

Lol. Now I know where your screen name comes from...too kind, indeed

Haha! Thanks Bro. You give too much credit though. Unfortunately I'm a Gemini. There's Much Peace , but there's Much Anger as well . I'm just as quick to give a stranger my boot , as my shirt So goes my walk...err..crawl....

Preciate the Link!!

[2kind]

I was trying to figure out how to make this work.....


Then I remembered these guys. From an Axial bumper set, I think....


I opted for the plain ones.


They popped right in nice and snug.


Just sitting in place already a low profile. They can sit deeper a hair farther still.


Much better than what I could have pulled off. If any light shines through the seals I'm sure a brush and some flat black will be an easy fix.

[2kind]

Put together a couple prototypes the other night.

Cut some shapes freestylie.


Made of a 5-6 mm thick sheet of foam.


All glued up.


A bit more refined and slightly different designs.



Thoughts on cushions.


Size shots...



Claims about the same real estate as stock seats.


I concede defeat, and the orphan is back on the street. Trucks on the market now. Taker is interested but have troubles coming up with the funds...
Life's taken a hard turn for the poor guy. So, I'm willing to work with him.


One of my favorite things so far about these changes is the possibility of this random @$$ third seat. It will need to fold up though...


And...
There's room for Maxwell now...!!!
He's pumped too...