2Kind's Gelande II D90

[2kind]

Nevah, Evah, Leaving anything to that sultry one we call, Chance. I double up always...

Occam's Razor
My subscribed dumb down version:
"when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better."

Half Panel Take Two:

Quick and Simple... I cut out and sanded snug a couple half panels to fit in the stock windows.


With one dab of glue holding them in the middle I hit all corners of the half panels with some Tenax-7R to help secure them.


All painted up and sitting in place. Not quite as aggressive as the first version but much more solid and a lot cleaner looking, IMO. LoS with interior is a huge plus. Most likely end up using MK II. Trying to figure out how to hinge them now...
Version 2.



Version 1.

[2kind]

Power lines went down the other night and I got to work on the front seats.
Made a frame for the bottom cushion out of the same foamboard as before. Then I cut a piece of fabric to cover each sidewall.


Chooped up a little square of foam you might find in 1:1 cushions....


With the underside, I started glueing and wrapping.


Up over the topside.


All wrapped.



Took a needle and a bit of black coat thread and put it through one side of the cushion. Cut and retied the other end of the line and put that through the adjacent side. Reppetted two more times.


Pulled tight, tied, and glued from underneith.


Adds a bit more to the look.


Made a thin base of Styrene for the cushion to sit on.
Couple black thingies too...Hinge anchors maybe...


Drilled a hole through both "Anchors" and the seatback. Then slide a piece of Styrene tubing in to be the pin. Yay! Now it folds...


That's as far back as it wants to sit do to the location of the pin.


All but the seat cushion is stand in for the moment but that's the just of it.


Fits where it should.


Not sure if it needs a head rest...

[2kind]

Thanks, WSD. Appreciate the input!
Everything I've tried for a head rest looks a bit wonky. Hopefuly after work today I can get a proper back made up. Maybe that will help...
Still want to add a latch for the seat back and possibly arm rests. After those, they should be done. Then onto the center console.

[C*H*U*D]

Originally Posted by 2kind

...First were the Vermont plates...

Excellent job on all the details!

One question though...why Vermont plates if you're from New Hampshire? It just got my attention since I'm originally from Vermont.

[2kind]

Originally Posted by C*H*U*D

Excellent job on all the details!

One question though...why Vermont plates if you're from New Hampshire? It just got my attention since I'm originally from Vermont.

Thanks for the compliment!
Was born in California but have spent my whole life in a fairly small town called "Fairlee" Only the last two years have I resided in N.H.

Where abouts were you born?

GMB for Always...

[C*H*U*D]

Originally Posted by 2kind

Thanks for the compliment!
Was born in California but have spent my whole life in a fairly small town called "Fairlee" Only the last two years have I resided in N.H.

Where abouts were you born?

GMB for Always...

I was born in New York but grew up just south of you on Route 5...down in Windsor.

[2kind]

Originally Posted by C*H*U*D

I was born in New York but grew up just south of you on Route 5...down in Windsor.

Ah, birthplace of Vermont and second home to the worlds longest double span covered bridge. I know it rather well.

Kind of neat bumping into ya. Thanks for saying, hey

[2kind]

I'm making the seat backs a bit different than the cushions.

Same fabric cut bigger than final product will be.


Again with the foam as my frame. Prolly should use something more ridgid but it's working so I'm going with it. With the fabric folded in half, I rounded off what would be the top two corners. Then took the sewing machine up both sides. You want to do this with your material turn inside out so that your seams don't show.... (Check)


Because after it's sewn, it's turned inside out.


Used more of the thicker foam and glued it to the frame.


Then stuffed it neatly into the fabric pockets.
Made two... Should have made seven...


Rolled up the bag to do one baffle at a time to not have the backside a mess like before. Much harder in practice...



Baffling done.


Backside's nice and clean...


Not super thrilled on how it turned out. Honestly though, much better than the first one (bacground) I made
Putting the thread through like that created some very kool natural creases, IMO.



Still no head rest and not sold on how to mount it all together yet.

[2kind]

Made you a head rest, WSD. Too bad I can't sit it on the damn seat strait...


Some arm rests to go with...


I cut out a notch out down to the pin in one of the Anchors for the latch to stick up though.Ran a small paper clip through the pin and bent one end to be the latch. The pin also helps hold the netting.


I need to paint the latches, finish the other cushion, make another head rest, and glue all of it to a styrene plate. Then they will should be done.


The latch can move back and forth but other than that it's faux.


Goofy...


The netting could be raised a smidge and the whole thing sits a touch off.


All in all...
A really good learning expirence for me. Not overly satisfied with the outcome though. I'm ready to move on, for the time being at least.

[2kind]

Just about finished the center console. Pretty strait forward.

Glueing up my cuts.


Keeping the stock design with a few exceptions.


Front plate and inside bracing.


Proper cup holders.


The Lid.



Hinge for the lid.


Playing with an idea...


A comparison shot of the two main foams I've been using.


Primed.


Blacked.


Dressed.


Where it's all at...

[2kind]

Like the seats and console, this next item is going to change the feel of the interior a bit. So I wanted to get it done before finishing the cargo area.

Started by slicing the window in half.


Put together a simple box out of Styrene. Took me a while to figure out a hinge system that would work. Pretty confident this one will It can slide in and out just a bit allowing clearence of the body when the panel swings open and then returning to a snug position inside the window frame when closed. In Theory...
The other lil dingle berry is supossed to be a piston to hold the panel up while open. Hope it looks better painted.


Better example...


Kinda like the wood backing but it's much thicker than need be and loose 1/3-1/2 shelf width If used.


The idea is to have storage for camping supplies, food, tools, what have you. I'm planning on this side being a food nook of sorts seeings the camping tarp hangs overhead on this side as well. Building the driver's side a little differently. Not sure what it's going to house yet.


And if I've done what I'm supposed to, then it should look rather inconspicuous.


The cabnit is actually stuck behind the panel in the above pic so I'm letting things dry a little more before I attempt to fix it all in place.

[1967Typhoon]

Man, what a great thread. Awesome work. I went ahead and voted this 5 stars, I can't believe that hasn't been done already!

Keep it up! I didn't even know I wanted a D90 til I saw this thread!

[2kind]

Originally Posted by 1967Typhoon

Man, what a great thread. Awesome work. I went ahead and voted this 5 stars, I can't believe that hasn't been done already!

Keep it up! I didn't even know I wanted a D90 til I saw this thread!

I keep telling myself, True genius often goes unnoticed


Most of the joking aside, You Honor me, Man and I thank you Much for the very kind words
In all honesty, I have no idea what I'm doing and view this thread a bit unconventional to those that have influenced it. Much like myself, I might add. Feels good to know I may be paying some of that forward though. Thanks again! Dude

[2kind]

After getting the first box fixed to the window, I grew unsatisfied quickly. It felt too messy so I decided to start over. Same design with a few tweaks.
These quarter circle styrene rods to smooth out edges on the inside.


Learned from the first go that some extra support was needed. I add rectangular tubing along the top and bottom of the box for a little more adhesion area.


Beefed up the hinge a bit. Much cleaner, IMO. Much happier.


I waited to do the cargo area until after the window boxes because I knew I'd have no idea what to do with them on the interior. Their just big blocks that stick out. Not sure if I paint them red or leave them black. Do I get little nick'nacks to put on top? Most likely going to strap a first aid kit to one of them. Other than that, I don't know.


I have ideas for the interior roof and rear door, but I'm unsure how to tie in the would be side paneling. The support tubes on the boxes will hopefuly come into play again later. Thinking about applying JB plastic weld or something else around the box.


The boxes are 64mm*56mm*11mm deep, but sit 12mm off the body. Prolly coulda/shoulda made them deeper. They allow much visability into the cabin still, which is nice.


Playing with handle ideas for opening it, but it's more cosmetic at this point. Was messing with magnets for a minute to keep the panel closed. I need smaller magnets.... It sits in place real snug. Kind of pops into place. Not super comfortable with it as is but I can't do much about it for the moment.


Got the finish work done for the exterior side of the box. Well, what I call finish work.... Broke out the ole Colonial Red and hand painted the backside of the panel. Thought, might as well touch up a few spot around the body while I was at it. So I did... Testors flat black for the hinge parts, window/panel frame, and cleaned up the box with it too.
Made a new piston. Same design just smaller. More importantly not crossing the middle shelf this time. The way the body was mold and how the hinge works, the panel will hold itself open against a lip created by the topper, quite well actually. To the point where the pistion is purely for looks. I debated even adding it this go. In the end I feel it adds to the look.


Everything is set to do the driver's side box. Both are the same style this time.


Hopefuly it wont be much longer before I can get the rig out on the trails again. Even if for some light running. Then we'll see how well everything holds together or if it all falls down like a house of cards. I don't see it holding up very well to a real beating but I don't bash or run these trucks too hard anywho.

[2kind]

Originally Posted by IVIaarten

Wow, I'm amazed by everything you managed to pull off. Loads of great ideas. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Thank you, IVIaarten. It's my pleasure! Glad you're enjoying it.
Rather amazed myself. A great big downfall of mine is not knowing when to quite, anything. Something I'm working very hard at being conscious of while tinkering on this truck. I have so many ideas that are not going to make it in this build. Seriously thinking about purchasing another body

[ribaja]

Man this is one awesome thread I just read through the whole thing great job on the build and detail work. I'm thinking of adding a d90 to my collection after the first off the year

[2kind]

Originally Posted by ribaja

Man this is one awesome thread I just read through the whole thing great job on the build and detail work. I'm thinking of adding a d90 to my collection after the first off the year

Real nice to hear you liked it, Ribaja. Thanks a bunch!
It's been a super fun truck to tinker on. My only real regret would be not going with the D110 and would suggest thinking about it, if you can swing it. Either way, I definitely recommend picking one up and hope you do

A few inspirational shots that keep nagging at me....

[ribaja]

Lol 2kind I was thinking about the d110 but working the interior on it has me a little scarred. I have a tr2 that I have build thread on and love it I'm also toying with a beast 2 lol.

[boolean21]

those seats looks really comfy!! nice work on the interiors bro! love it!

[2kind]

Originally Posted by boolean21

those seats looks really comfy!! nice work on the interiors bro! love it!

Haha, Thanks Boolean!

Originally Posted by ribaja
Lol 2kind I was thinking about the d110 but working the interior on it has me a little scarred. I have a tr2 that I have build thread on and love it I'm also toying with a beast 2 lol.

I can definitely relate to being a bit sketched out toward working on these rigs. Monies are always tight in my world. So, before making irreversable changes much debate is done first. Individual interior pieces for the Defenders can be had for relatively cheap. Roughly 35 bucks, so far, and I can have this rig back to stock. That helped motivate me a bunch.

I suggest trying an interior for your (Great looking by the way ) TF2. Much smaller project to handle. One of my first steps was a Hilux interior. Wish I had pics. They'd be worth a good laugh. Gained much needed expirence though. MiteyF has a sweet build of a bench style seat that would look good in the Mojave body How to build a simple upholstered bench seat