Dorkstar Productions #2: The Dark Rider
 

The hard working team at Dorkstar Metalwerks has begun our 2nd "for sale" chassis, this one a direct Wraith boltup. For those who missed the first "for sale" build, it was the Race Bronco: http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showt...ht=race+bronco

Please stay tuned for build progress early this week!

Here's what I hope to accomplish with this build:

1) Lower center of gravity, front bias
2) Front mounted full-sized battery tray
3) Chassis mounted steering
4) Winch mount
5) Retain stock LEDS and light buckets, stock skid and tranny
6) Create a durable tube chassis that looks cool and works well

Thanks,
RYan

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UPDATE! 7/24/11 The Chassis is currently on Ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_500wt_1156

Good luck and thanks for the replies!
-Ryan

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/...b9f690ee_b.jpg

How much did the last custom body go for? I know a lot of people are going to be bidding on this

Well, this one will be a bit different and might have more or less hours into it, so its finishing price of the Bronco might not be relevant. I'll try to find the price. :)

The bronco is awesome, and i was also just wondering what that went for cause if i had had a bronco id of bid on it.

Let's begin:

My Wraith as it sits (RHD version)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/...eb35f3c1_b.jpg

Apart, fabbing up the rails that bolt to the stock skid:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/...b87f26da_b.jpg

Cut down the interior to create a single seater, and moved it forward a bit.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/...66f57758_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/...5f97d521_b.jpg

Battery tray will sit in the front for better vertical performance:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/...27fbc0fc_b.jpg

More tomorrow, as I have the day off to work on this. :)

This is the first Gut job I've seen on a wraith. I'm really excited! Subscribed!"thumbsup"

i cant wait to see what you come up with buddy

Im sure that this thing will turn out like all of your other trucks. Nothing but incredible!!!! Cant wait to see what you come up with!

I put in about 7 hours today!

Shock mounts:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/...3bb141aa_b.jpg

Frame planning and battery/servo location:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/...ea0a790f_b.jpg

Chassis mounted steering:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/...82d6a510_b.jpg

I designed it to fit a full-sized battery pack or smaller, and the battery sits as low as possible: (That's a 4200 11.1v)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/...97b912fa_b.jpg

FYI, the Shortcourse bodies are the perfect width for Wraiths! Here's my hood donor:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6125/...ac9a9586_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/...73e3f49f_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/...366012af_b.jpg

Mocked up steering:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/...0a753014_b.jpg

Starting the fender work:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/...38034b3b_b.jpg

Winch option:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/...36ab3860_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/...3a9b8072_b.jpg

Roofline:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6125/...46bd3554_b.jpg

Roof support, body mounts, hood placement, roof panel are all on, and that's all I got for today!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/...96251cb2_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/...f41f102d_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/...59484788_b.jpg

Thanks for looking! I'll make a little more progress each morning this week...
Ryan

Looking good so far Ryan "thumbsup"


The way the running gear unbolts makes the wraith a great platform for custom chassis.

Thanks! Yeah, it's a pleasure to build from. No link mounts needed on the chassis, and easy to remove. :)

This is going to be freaking sweet! Cant wait to see the finished result, and to get a wraith of my own too!!

Got the main hoop on, and finished up the windshield. Added the rear shock mounts and the electronics tray, and the front bumper hoop. I also put a few braces in. More tomorrow!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/...8635e19b_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/...03e9cae5_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/...9c430773_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/...1b17712f_z.jpg

Going from plastic to steel, I would think the weight thing is going to be the hardest to achieve.

Looks like a great start so far. What roof is that? Almost looks like you did some lexan heating/forming. If so, good job "thumbsup"

Interesting indeed.

Oh yeah, I canned that objective almost immediately! Once I start playing with tube, I just keep going and going. It's so fun! No way to keep it light and look neat. ;)

The roof is a hood from an E-revo Proline Slipstream body.

Is this going to be a one off for sale or are you going to make these by order.

Wow looks really cool so far!8)
I like the choice of the short course body for it,
thats good to know. Nice work

For now It's just a one off, but we'll see how things go!

This going to be Hera's replacement ?

Nope, this one will be for sale. Hera's replacement will come a little later...

Nice progress! There's too many aspects to comment on, but you have a lot of momentum and it all looks great! The cms will be interesting. Keep up the progress!

We're just about done now! I spent 5 or 6 hours on it today, and all that is left to do is a bit of grinding cleanup and paint, as well as front and rear bumpers.

Cut the rollbar to match the roof:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/...b2e2a558_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/...60422f99_b.jpg

Starting the back:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/...5a3cb05f_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/...9e28eb95_b.jpg

Lots of bracing, added the rear lights:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/...c82737ab_b.jpg

Got the roof nuts on and the roof bolted down properly:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/...b3e0b551_b.jpg

Bunch of bracing. She'll hopefully hold up to Wraith-like abuse!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/...8e32f6de_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/...f03fc7f2_b.jpg

Trimmed the hood a bit more:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/...d2aa3e4c_b.jpg

Monted the light buckets. The new owner will supply the LEDS, but it'll come with the buckets.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/...079c2245_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/...93fcd9a7_b.jpg

Side panels:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/...e1967cf3_b.jpg

Light guard. (Removable)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/...31f5afe1_b.jpg

Intake / Electronics Cooling system:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/...2f445d0e_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/...3a10ae69_b.jpg

And that's how she sits for now! More tomorrow.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/...a1cd706e_b.jpg

Thanks!

man thats sexy.

Very nice! I like!

That thing looks mean! I don't know if I missed it or it wasn't there but what are you using for tubing? Doesn't look like brakeline...

Shipped to 85541? :mrgreen:

Damn, I love that roof in there... it just belongs!

That is some Awsome tube work, the roof scoop really makes it look like an all out dessert or KOH rig.

That is just sick! As always great FAB work

Nice fab work! "thumbsup"

Thanks! It's 3/16 .035 wall steel tube, hydraulic tube I think. All the 1/8 is solid. I hate brakeline! ;)

A work of art!!

but then again everything you do is.. :ror:

This is pretty sweet! Nice work.

Sick build! Man, the plan came together!!! The lines of the chassis look really great and that roof is sharp. I can't wait to see it mounted up!!! 2.2 bajas please!"thumbsup"

OK that is just SICK.... Can't wait to see this done...

I envy the lucky SOB that ends up with this badass rig. :twisted:

I see... it's real nice being welded over soldered. If you don't mind telling me where do you source something like that? I found some at McMaster but it's on the expensive side there. That would probably make some nice links too.

Try your local steel place- maybe call around and see which of them carry the small stuff. I got mine from an ORCRC member who works with it.

So what color should I paint the panels? I'm thinking metallic red. The chassis is black.

Green!!!!! Like either bright or dark but that's only because I like the color green lol

Wow man, this is just 666 pounds of sexxy....nice job. The scoop, air flow and light cage set this the Fu(k off for sure. I really love this design, can't wait to see her painted up and in her best lingere....really nice.

Paul"thumbsup"