Nappy's Class 1 Cherokee build "Frank"

[Nappy]

This is my first ever build. Honestly, I usually buy RTR rigs off classifieds somewhere and just pull them apart, clean em, upgrade them, and bash em. So this was new to me.

The rig is just about finished now. And really, after building a full rig, I see why it's more fun this way. I never wanted to stop adding things. Our local build off is about to end my complete build thread is here. Utah Scale Crawlers Alliance • View topic - Nappy's Class 1 Cherokee build off entry "Frank"
But I will be adding all the details here after I get home so the boss doesn't catch me milkin the clock...
There are things I am proud of and I figure this is where all the info should be for later builders or just pic hunters...

Parts list....

Proline Cherokee body
Locked up full H2 interior for full figures
Axial mirror and wiper tree
custom rear view mirror made from jk passenger mirror I had laying around
MIP driveshafts (3)
Hot Racing steel tranny gears
Tires RC4wd MT 4.19s
Proline beadlocks
GCM front motor mount
GCM Transfer case
GCM Chassis mounted servo plate
STRC rear 4 link truss
TopCad knuckles and steering link
Axial Aluminum shocks
Emeryworx Beef tubes
rtr Honcho base to start
Castle Sidewinder 3 ESC
CC BEC
Servo Hitec 5645
Jc Auto front truss with pan hard mount
Figures Bishop(Aliens), Cato(Hunger Games)
Front Nappybuilt stinger with Rc4wd Bulldog Winch
Custom Nappybuilt rear bumper with hinge down tire basket and hitch
Custom Nappybuilt Slider/steps
Custom fender wells
Axial LED kit
"Blue steel" winch line
TopCad chassis plate and rear links
Custom Nappybuilt panhard
Scale Jerry cans, tarp, 2 sleeping bags, tent, camping gear, etc...
Exo terra buggy radiator with dual fans to keep cool with the slow speeds



How it looks now. Almost complete. Have to buy the MIPs still and a pack of camping gear accessories. Then seal the interior in. Done besides those few minor things. Please don't comment for a minute while I save the next few posts in my thread to keep things clean...

[Nappy]

So I started with a pretty much rtr Honcho. Was a mess when I got it. Hadn't been cleaned in a year after the guy drove it a couple of times and didn't enjoy it.

I cleaned it. Took the excess wire and zipties off....

Cleaned the rig, installed the GCM front motor mount, CMS, and Transfer case...

Checked how the body and interior fit...


Then proceeded to the suspension....

Started with 1/8 and 1/4 inch rod.

[Nappy]

Got the shock mounts fabbed up. Then needed a base for the interior to rest on. And I decided the battery was going to sit under the rear tower.

Added the interior base mount, beefed it up with cross bars. Checked it for fitment again...

Then started up on the sliders. As I was adding them, I reinforced them to the interior base and finished that up...

Made a sheet metal top I had a hell of a time brazing in. Then cut an access hole for transfer case maintenance. Covered it with Velcro to help hold things.

The Cherokee is a unibody design and cannot be body lifted. And I didn't wan a gap looking like this one had a body lift. So I added the higher bars on the sliders...

[Nappy]

Then it was on to the rear bumper with stinger/tire basket....


Placed body on so I knew where to band the bumper up to...

Added some pieces. Made my hitch area, hinge, and basket...

Perfect up to the base bar it connects to...



Then on to paint. Started with Liquid Mask...

While in the booth, I added paint to the beadlock rings as well.

[Nappy]

After paint...

Then on to adding beef tubes. Done.

Placed interior in and on. Then started up on the dreaded thin plates for the steps... Done..


Then on to the front bumper.... I started with 5/16 Grade 8 bolts... Cut and shaved to fit. Then drilled...


Made a straight bumper with outer bends in case I decide to full exocage this rig...

After bumpers added...

[Nappy]

Made a winch plate, cut some mixing cups for inner fender wells, got them all in and done. Put Jerry Can mounts on rear bumper...Got some Tamiya Wrangler light buckets...And then added a stinger and winch protector bars....


Jc Auto front panhard mount and panhard set up....Light buckets in...


Then some people showed up....

Added the small things and the rig is basically done. I'll add small details here and there... Or pics if anyone has any questions in particular....Thanks for checking my build out!!!

[RiderZ]

That's a looker.Liking the wheels.

[WhatsInYourHead]

Those Bumpers look fantastic. I'm really liking the proline body too.