Customizing my SSD Pro44 axle

[Stollenritter]

Hi all!
I got my Pro44 axle a few days ago and I really love the scale look and apperance! It looks a lot like the Salisbury axle on my old LandRover, so I had to buy one

That`s how it looks like after tearing the box appart:


and, of course, some extra love:


So far, nothing new here. But I wanted to detail the axle a little bit more to the looks of the real one. I like the small end caps on the Pro44 over the standard lockouts of the AR44 axle, but I think we can get a step further and mask the end cap / bearing holder as a brake drum.

That`s what the original looks like:






And this is what I came up with:
Brake drum assembly:


Drum dismantled:


Hub carrier and brake pads:


Hub and carrier w/o brake pads (this is the replacement for the end cap / bearing holder):


Brake pads:


Fast forward to today: delivery from shapeways!

[SCREAMER]

Very cool.

[ElChupacabra]

That's awesome. One day I'll learn 3D modeling. It has so many uses in my daily life. Can't wait to see these assembled on the axles.

[number9]

I'd suggest looking into a 1:1 jack and maybe jack stands

or at least a chunk of 6x6.

[Stollenritter]

Originally Posted by SCREAMER

Very cool.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by ElChupacabra

That's awesome. One day I'll learn 3D modeling. It has so many uses in my daily life. Can't wait to see these assembled on the axles.

Thank you! 3D moddeling is a lot of fun, but best of all is when your designed parts get real
You will see pics of the assembled axle, of course, but you have to be patient

Originally Posted by Teng

It is time to look for 3D machines now. Yes, I am interested in these projects

Indeed, it is!

Originally Posted by number9

I'd suggest looking into a 1:1 jack and maybe jack stands

or at least a chunk of 6x6.

You are right, safety first! I will forward your suggestions to my wife. Maybe it isn`t to late for a christmas present

[Stollenritter]

Time for some close-ups and a rough mock-up
brake pads and zylinder:






redrilling and tapping for better fitment of the hardware (as the holes are not perfectly true):


It is a tight fit, I had to remove some paint from the axle


End cap with holes for the (SSD) hardware:


Also tapped the flange / hub:






The hardware for attaching the brakepads to the carrier and for attaching the drum to the carrier is the hardware (M2x5) which came with the axle and was meant to hold the diff cover. The diff cover will be fixed to the housing by using the extra scale hardware.

[Ditchrat]

Really cool design and idea. Is there something that can be done about the plastic used? It looks fake and toyish. Is it sandable or paintable with a filling primer?

[Stollenritter]

Originally Posted by Ditchrat

Really cool design and idea. Is there something that can be done about the plastic used? It looks fake and toyish. Is it sandable or paintable with a filling primer?

Thank you, happy you like it! The plastic of the drum and carrier is a laser sintered Nylon, which shapeways calls "strong and flexible", the brake pads are made from "frosted ultra detail", which is more detailed, but also more brittle. Both can be sanded and painted.

I did some sanding, but not to the point where the grainy surface is gone. Paint is from Revell (brush) and Tamiya (rattle can):

[number9]

Dang, that's cool

[Ghonda99]

Well I'm impressed. The detailing of the brake shoes is spot on. very nice work.

[Stollenritter]

Originally Posted by number9

Dang, that's cool

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Ghonda99

Well I'm impressed. The detailing of the brake shoes is spot on. very nice work.

Thank you Sir! It worked out better than expected

Drilled an oil peep hole for propper maintenance




Axle assembled:


And with wheels on:




For reference: wheels are RC4WD Tango Down 1.9, tires are RC4WD 1.7 Atturo Trail Blade M/T.

[durok]

Dass ist wirklich toll! Es seht ganz ehrlich aus...

(practicing my German)

Seriously awesome job.

[JatoTheRipper]

This is so awesome! Great work!

[Stollenritter]

Originally Posted by durok

Dass ist wirklich toll! Es seht ganz ehrlich aus...

(practicing my German)

Seriously awesome job.

Vielen Dank! I feel honored getting a compliment in my first language

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

This is so awesome! Great work!

Thank you, I am doing my best!


Maybe I am getting lost in details, but I had to do some brake lining:


1mm welding rod




... and some clips made from 0.5mm aluminium sheet and some M1,5 left over bolts from a Losi Micro Crawler:

[Ditchrat]

Your project is coming out most excellent.

And no you are not getting lost in the details. I have brass brake drums and rotors sitting in packages waiting for my pro44 internal, I plan on following your lead on the brake lines and fine details.

[calcagno45]

As I was scrolling through in awe, I was curious if there would be brake lines as well... Bravo! Great job here!

[Stollenritter]

Originally Posted by Teng

I am speechless. Impressive and thanks for the update

Thank you! I am happy to share my build and even more happy you folks like it!

Originally Posted by redemon

Good God.
Thats fantastic.
I miss our old Series truck. Such simple mechanics.

Thank you! And yes, they are simple, a bit noisy, but (mostly) reliable

Originally Posted by Ditchrat

Your project is coming out most excellent.
And no you are not getting lost in the details. I have brass brake drums and rotors sitting in packages waiting for my pro44 internal, I plan on following your lead on the brake lines and fine details.

Thank you, Sir! I would love to do my drums in brass! Feel free to post some pics!

Originally Posted by calcagno45

As I was scrolling through in awe, I was curious if there would be brake lines as well... Bravo! Great job here!

Thank you very much! To be honest, it looked naked without brake lines, so I gave it a try.

[powder4breakfast]

This is really cool. Not much more to say than that... really cool.

It would be awesome if we could get these axle shafts with built-in link/shock mounts. If SSD or a third party would make this and rid us of the two bolts on each side, it would be an awesome final touch to what you have done.

Great job!

[Stollenritter]

Originally Posted by powder4breakfast

This is really cool. Not much more to say than that... really cool.

It would be awesome if we could get these axle shafts with built-in link/shock mounts. If SSD or a third party would make this and rid us of the two bolts on each side, it would be an awesome final touch to what you have done.

Great job!

Thank you! Yes, it is cool and it is even more cool to get all those nice comments from you guys!

Order of today: bits of paint for the brake line to hide the shiny stainless steel:




Added a diff guard:




The diff guard is printed in "HP Nylon" using multi fusion technology, which should offer higher quality and lesser wall thickness over the standard "strong and flexible". I am not sold on that. This part has a few issues.

[Stollenritter]

I . could . not . resist .

Little voices in my head told me: that brake will not work properly without return spring.

So back to pliers and (florist) wire:








Now it is time to find a nice chassis to put this axle under ...