1BadJeepBruiser's Ax10 Xtrail Bronco RTR with Videos
 

Figured I would post this in here, we have a lot of new comers on RCC due to the release of the AX10 and I will do my best to show you guys how to build up a nice simple functional scaler.

I picked up an axial a couple weeks back from The Crawler Store along with an Xtrail chassis. I really like the design of the chassis a lot mainly because it reminds me of a Bruiser chassis. Well lets get started....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco006.jpg

Cracked open the box, I love how everything is individually packed.

I got started on the axles, I always used a heavy white lithium grease on my ring and pinion gears. I know there are a lot of people who dont use any grease or barely any at all but I always use it, it will no doubt prolong the life of the gears

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco010.jpg

Got the axles finished up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco012.jpg

For now, they will be stock, down the road I will add some goodies to them.

I went with a Bronco body for this build, and painted in the Tamiya copper color. It was the closest color I could find to match the 73 EB I had. Body choice is important in a scaler and HPIs Bronco is nicely done and detailed with nice stickers and all. I couldnt leave the body just stock, so I hit up Terry/MOCRAWLER and had him make me a soft top for the Bronco, I really think this sets the body off and makes it look much better.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco013.jpg

I then added a rare Kyosho Pathfinder tire carrier with a reduced and narrowed imex claw dawg on a fly wheels I had.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco014.jpg

One detail that is often left out is the body lines, grab yourself a panel pen (can be ordered from Tower or LHS) and draw them in, they make the body pop a lot more

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco015.jpg

I will also be adding head lights and parking lights to the body, which I will show how to do. And if I can find them, I have some Scale Off Road photo etched Bronco emblems as well.

Next up is to start stripping the green anodizing.

Stay tuned for more pics and tech"thumbsup"

-Mike

One of the best looking Bronco bodies I've seen"thumbsup"

That paint color along with terrys soft top make that body look amazing."thumbsup"

What amazing detail. Where did you get the tire carrier? That "soft" top looks great. The Bronco body has got to be the best body on the market. Nice job. Cheers!"thumbsup"

Already in the first post. People who know Mike know he has RARE things all over, if you want something like that you are really going to have to hunt/pay for it!

Awesome thread... And love the colour, so perfect, Im taking notes...

"thumbsup"

That body looks amazing Mike, but I wouldn't expect anything less from you.;-)
Can't wait to see it done."thumbsup"

The body came out great... You are right about the soft top, it really makes the whole look. Can't wait to see what you do next. This one going to have an interior?

Great job on that body.

Uh oh....here we go again. I predict this will be another drooler rig.....but heh...I could be wrong. :-)

Jay

one of the nicest scale bodys ive seen
 

great work man

lookin sweet as usual mike.......hope i can see that thing in person at our first scale event with GSRCRC this spring.

alright man lets see some more... ive kinda wanted to build another scaler for a while now, maybe it'll be a bronco...

Thank you sir

Thanks Ben

I hope some people get something out of it :)

Thanks Rich, I am really siked about this build, I love this Xtrail chassis so I am really motivated on this.

I have 2 brand new recaro racing seats and a RPP hobby dash kit ;-) I am going to keep it simple since I want to be able to wheel it hard :twisted: but it will still be cool

I will make sure you are right "thumbsup"

It'll be there a long with the clone

as you wish

Worked on this some more earlier today after my mountain bike ride with a couple of a friends. I have never stripped anything that was anodized before so after using the SEARCH button here on RCC in the tools and procedures forum I found that Draino does the trick. So I picked up a bottle and got started.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco016.jpg

NOW this is some serious stuff peoples, especially for the youngins that are building here. You need to use caution when using this stuff. I recommend you do it outside in the garage/shop area where its well ventilated. Put on some crappy clothes, and wear gloves! DONT get this stuff on you, you can get a BAD chemical burn. Be careful when pouring it and when mixing it around the parts.

so I grabbed my fresh green axial parts
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco017.jpg

and got one of those old chinese food containers from the cabinet and poured in some draino

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco018.jpg

Within a minute or 2 you can see it starting to work
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco019.jpg

as the anodizing starts to come off, stir it around or agitate the container so the parts move around some and the anodizing doesnt just sit over the parts

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco020.jpg

I noticed that when doing multiple parts at a time the anodizing takes its toll on the Draino and actually turns the Draino a yellowish greenish color and its effectiveness starts to diminish.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco021.jpg

so I dumped it out , and looked at the parts
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco022.jpg

As you can see they need some more, so I added some fresh in, let them sit for a minute then moved them around till they came out nice and clean.

In the end, I took the parts inside, and washed them thoroughly with warm soapy water. The end result was very good, some still have a hint of it, but a lil metal polish and a dremel will take care of that

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco024.jpg
end result.

More to come guys, stay tuned.

-Mike

Looking good man! I'm always game for a good Bronco build. I recently switched my poor beat Bronco body to a K2 chassis after Nats and it's more fun than ever. I'll always have a Bronco in the stable as long as they keep making that body."thumbsup"

Top looks awesome!8)

P.S. Picked up a Hudy. Niiiiiice!"thumbsup"

Nice work keep it up, i always watch your build they are always the best!

ahhhhhhhhh Yes cant beat the Hudy, like I said, its the snap on of the RC industry "thumbsup" Youll notice such a difference in your motors when you have a nice true comm and add good brushes and springs .

Not much more of an update right now, its almost 2:30 am at this point, so its web wheel RCC then bed time, however one thing I did notice is that when people strip the anodizing they never clean up the aluminum... then it looks, well kinda crappy IMO. Scale is all about attention to detail. Now Im not saying you need blinging 4 links cause I know "chrome dont get ya home" but hell "bling dont hurt a thing" "thumbsup"

This took all of 5 minutes if that, you can see a difference and they look cleaner and finished.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco032.jpg

More tomorrow.

-Mike

That was the color my brother and I were planning on painting "The Real Bronco". Looks great though, I really like the soft top. I haven't seen them logo's yet but if Stefan makes them you know they are good."thumbsup"

Man, it must be nice to have random badass stuff sitting around like a very nice tire carrier. :flipoff:

Looks great! As always your attention to detail is second to none. Good choice of color, I did my Scout with the same color and painted the back top black which went really well together. Also, you gotta love MO's handy work, the top looks outstanding on the Bronco!"thumbsup"

I really like this color, I think it looks great on the Bronco bodies. I actually used it once before on my Boyer Bronco
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...o/100_0677.jpg
O and for those who want to know, here is what I am sort of modeling this after... my old 73', sold it to be more involved in RC.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7.../bronco003.jpg

Thats the difference between me and a normal member...I am not just into RC, I am a Collector as well "thumbsup"


Thanks dude, I cant say enough good things about Terry's tops, they are awesome.

-Mike

I saw that Bronco for sale...:oops: :cry:

Nice build

Thanks dude, I cant say enough good things about Terry's tops, they are awesome.

-Mike[/quote]

No problem at all. I always enjoy your builds! I'm actually kind of shocked its not a Yota Build.:lol: Glad to see some deviation. Don't get me wrong I love Toyotas. I drive a 99 Tacoma 4WD Standard Cab Sport edition and love it. I also have a new Hilux still in the box waiting on my damn 1.9 Rock Crushers to get here so I can get it together. Also I am waiting on my other top from Terry which will go on my Lil Orange Courier. It'll be similar to the one I put on my D90 but in black with just the rear window and no side windows which I like personally. Keep up the good work and keep us posted!
Ronzo

Going to be one fine build "thumbsup" I agree with you on the color it's very classic. Nice job so far BadJeep it will be fun to watch you complete this one.

Did you just hit the links with a polishing compound once you stripped them? They turned out really nice. I stripped some Junfac rock rings with some easy off. Not as effective, but it worked. I had to go after them with the dremel afterwards to get all the anodizing off and finished them up with a brushed finish. I like your results a lot better.

one of the best bodies i ever saw. wish i had the talent or patience

looking good Mike, as usually your attention to detail is what makes the project "thumbsup"

I'll be keeping an eye on this project :mrgreen:

Great pics and info. I am in the process of collecting info and part numbers for a scale build and would like a setup like your Axial with the X Trail chassis. Is it better to buy the AX-10 kit and the chassis; or just buy axles, tranny, etc. separate? Will the main components get close to the kit price of $230?

I was thinking that possibly you could save some money and use to buy aluminum beadlocks, mudslinger tires, scale shocks, etc. (other parts that make a rig look more scale). But as was the case with the TLT kit, you were ahead to buy the kit for all the nuts and bolts and misc. stuff instead of buying just the axles.

Thanks for any help.

Saw this late...........That Bronco body is bad ass........great job"thumbsup"

Great job! Looks great and that color is nice, almost as good as the top."thumbsup"


The X-trail is a direct bolt on so it uses the links and mounts and all that. you might as well buy the kit in my opinion. As with the Tlt kits, you get a ton of extra hardware and usable goodies. I cant give you an exact list as I decided not to go with the X-trail but go another route but I know a couple things. You will use the three links, the lower links, trans, axles, skid, maybe some cross braces. Some of the stuff that comes with the kit that are great to have are the aluminum hexes with grub screws, the beadlocks even though they are inferior to say rocksolids or the like. You'll probably spend about the same piecing it together anyways. I have also seen a few ax 10s for sale in the Sale section here recently.

Sorry 1bjb for cluttering your thread, didnt mean to ramble on and on:cry:

Never an issue when legitimately helping another member "thumbsup"

Cembon is correct, I personally would buy the whole kit, whatever you dont use, you could easily sell off.

more to come guys
-Mike

Thanks guys, sorry if I side-tracked the topic.

Agreed, that is the general rule of thumb because if all the little things you would probably need and won't get buying assemblies or parts

Keep up the good work Mike "thumbsup"

Yeup, didnt even use the dremel to polish them... I just soaked them, washed them really well then hit them with some really good metal polish my stepdad has for his harley then buffed them with the pit table rag on the work bench :lol:"thumbsup"

Thank you Will, I need to post up some new stuff on rcmt, I know you wanted to see more on my scout...Need to get some real pictures of that thing.

Anyways back to the build

Finished assembling my links, the upper 3 links came out really nice and shiny the lowers arent as shiny but thats ok... I may paint them blue or red down the road to reassemble a lift kit from the wild horse catalog

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco035.jpg

I built up the shocks, surprisingly they feel pretty good, BUT they are super long and way to big for EB and without any income right now I cant buy any scale shocks :-(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco038.jpg

So I searched around the basement work shop and stumbled across a set of high lifts... they will have to do for now.

I got started on the trans
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco036.jpg

The bearings on the top shaft would NOT slide on, I basically had to beat them on and dropped the stupid pin that the gear sits on and couldnt find it and started freaking out....10 minutes later it was found and the trans got finished up

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco039.jpg

Ahhhhhh yes, finally time to start on the chassis :mrgreen:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco042.jpg

Couple of minutes later we are bolted up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco041.jpg

One thing that has always bugged me is that if you dont have straight axle adapters to get rid of the knuckle on the back then you have the damn linkage showing :x obviously the solution is to get the straight adapters but I have no money :lol: so I did the next best thing... flipped the knuckles "thumbsup"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco047.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco048.jpg

Gives it a cleaner look. Only thing is I dont have a lot of threads into the ball cups so I will have to locate long turn buckles... I think I have a set in my room from the old steering linkage on my 4runner but I was lazy and didnt want to come up from the basement

I stole the tires and wheel off of my pathfinder as a mock up, they arent staying because the track width is super wide and thats NG. a fellow member from here and buddy of mine is donating some extra stock car wheels to me and hopefully I will have a spare set of 1.0 rock stompers...otherwise I will be robbing them from my high lift.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco051.jpg


I then sat the lid on it, made a quick adjustment on the wheel base and looks like it is good to go8)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco050.jpg

well thats it for now, I will leave you with Todays scale trick of the day, if you have a body with flares, get yourself one of these from walmart

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco052.jpg

Then you can add the "rivets" to your flares"thumbsup"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...lBronco053.jpg

Mike...I love it man...but you need to get a job...:shock:

OK DUDE..., I know we have the same tastes in scale trucks,-which is fine... and we both know how to build a super detailed-realistic rig..,and thats fine too.... but when was it OK to copy MY Broncos Paintjob..???:lol::lol::lol::lol:LMFAO..!!! How Ironic is this Mike..!!! "thumbsup""thumbsup" ( check MY flares as well..!!!!!!!!!! :mrgreen::mrgreen: ) 2 great minds think alike I guess..!! TOO FUNNY..!!!!


http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...7/HPIM3166.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t...7/HPIM3159.jpg

:roll: Why are your links set up in different hole positions? won't this make the suspension work diferently for the front and rear?

fo sho "thumbsup"

They are set up differently so that I the wheels are centered in the body and the WB is correct... If you see a reason that it will effect the suspension in a negative matter then feel free to school me Mr. Shenlonco cause I am not seeing how it will matter but thats just me... As they say, you learn something knew everyday right?

-Mike

I thought when you change the rod position and angles like you have it would cause the back and front suspension to work diferently..It probably does a little but I don't think it will matter to much... How you going to mount the body on ?

that rig is lookin great!