RCCrawler Forums

Basicbilly · 12-09-2016, 10:02 PM

I've already posted some photos of this rig, but I wanted to create a separate post to chronicle the work I do on this little guy.

I have been wanting to build a 1/25 rig for a while, the discontinued Losi stuff is a bit pricey and everything else was never enticing enough to make me jump on board. I saw one of these guys in the LHS that just happens to sell static kits as well. I was on the fence about the leaf spring setup, but after reading about the electronics that come with the RC4WD 1/18 I figured this would be the least costly of the 2 setups. The RC4WD is a bit wider as well, it may not fit the 1/25 stuff quite as well. So I picked up the Ambush and one of the larger static truck bodies I could find. It happened to be a 77 Ford Ranger.

I didnt run the truck stock at all. When I brought it home I immediately pulled it apart and realized that my .050 driver was garbage. It was just rounding all my bolts off, so back to a different LHS for a set of MPI drivers. They work perfect.

The frame rails being 4 parts made extending the wheelbase pretty simple. Cut in two different places and bolt the longer bits together. I filled the gap with a bit of aluminum stock and used some 2mm bolts I had on hand.

I found some 9/16 brass tubes that fit the drive shaft exactly to extend them, simply cut and glue.

I pulled the hard case off the battery to get it to fit under the hood, and soldered longer leads on the connector to use the existing plug and switch.

The RX/ESC fits between the rails without the case, just need to buy some shrink tube to fit over it.

The interior fits nicely over the motor with a bit of trimming. It sits just under the bench seat.

Basicbilly · 12-09-2016, 10:05 PM

The tires from the Ambush were glued pretty solid on the outsides, but the insides of mine were just tacked at 2 points. I was able to peel them back and insert some weights. I put .5 oz on the fronts and .25 oz on the rears.

Basicbilly · 12-09-2016, 10:14 PM

I bought some styrene rod to fab a roll bar out of. At first I built a simple bar in the bed, but I very quickly went overboard and built a full roof rack.

I put some through holes in the bed and made pockets for the mount points. Once I get everything painted it will be securely attached.

I wrapped a bit of the rod in sandpaper to fit the rod together for gluing.

I have some soft white LEDs on order for headlights and some roof lights. I'll need to come up with some light buckets though.

BigChevyTruckin · 12-10-2016, 08:09 AM

Awesome work so far!

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joe122 · 12-10-2016, 10:43 AM

Very well done, F-150 looks awesome so far!

Basicbilly · 12-12-2016, 02:23 PM

Work has been slow, but the mailman dropped off my LEDs today.

And a coat of flat black to removed the shiny bits.

johnnyh66 · 12-12-2016, 10:28 PM

Nice!
How'd you handle the light buckets?

Basicbilly · 12-13-2016, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

Nice!
How'd you handle the light buckets?

The grill came pained chrome and had some really shallow buckets already. I drilled a hole for the LEDs and used shrink tubing to stop the light bleed. I fogged the lenses a bit so it defuses the light well.

Do you have any ideas on KC style light buckets for the roof rack? I was thinking about turning some styrene on my dremel.

BigChevyTruckin · 12-13-2016, 09:56 AM

What scale is this body?

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Basicbilly · 12-13-2016, 10:10 AM

Its a 1/24 scale. I never figured out why some of these static kits are 1/25 and some 1/24.

Revell 1/24 Ford Ranger Pickup Plastic Model Kit

Basicbilly · 12-13-2016, 10:26 AM

I also realized this is supposed to be a 79 Ranger, not a 77

BigChevyTruckin · 12-13-2016, 11:18 AM

So the proline ambush accepts 1/24 bodies really well it looks.!

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Basicbilly · 12-13-2016, 11:55 AM

I would pay attention to the width spec of the static model. I don't think a 1/24 first generation Bronco would fit very well

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Basicbilly · 12-13-2016, 01:52 PM

So I ran with the idea of shrink tube for light buckets. Force the bell shape. I tried hot glue to secure the LEDs and make the lenses at first, but it warped the shrink tube. I went with some 15 min epoxy next. Its a bit yellow, but should add some warmth to the white LEDs.

I'll see how they work once the epoxy cures.

Natedog · 12-13-2016, 02:28 PM

Great hardbody build and very nice headlight bucket with heatshrink and epoxy!

BigChevyTruckin · 12-13-2016, 04:24 PM

That's an awesome idea for the light buckets. Loving it.

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LokisTyro · 12-13-2016, 05:47 PM

The wash on the body looks good. IIRC some epoxies will yellow over time.

Basicbilly · 12-13-2016, 06:14 PM

This epoxy was already pretty old, so it's started pretty yellow lol. I'm going to need to wire them 2s2p, once I figure that out I'll post a photo. I did test one and I was pretty happy with the color.

Once I get the body back together I need to do some more washes, I only have black so far.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Basicbilly · 12-15-2016, 11:33 PM

Got the LEDs soldered and mocked into place. I think the yellow lenses of the epoxy make for a nice touch.

Basicbilly · 12-17-2016, 01:16 AM

I've got it all back together, now I need to find some accessories to throw in it!

12-09-2016, 10:02 PM	#1
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Pro-line Ambush 1979 F-150 Scale Rig I've already posted some photos of this rig, but I wanted to create a separate post to chronicle the work I do on this little guy. I have been wanting to build a 1/25 rig for a while, the discontinued Losi stuff is a bit pricey and everything else was never enticing enough to make me jump on board. I saw one of these guys in the LHS that just happens to sell static kits as well. I was on the fence about the leaf spring setup, but after reading about the electronics that come with the RC4WD 1/18 I figured this would be the least costly of the 2 setups. The RC4WD is a bit wider as well, it may not fit the 1/25 stuff quite as well. So I picked up the Ambush and one of the larger static truck bodies I could find. It happened to be a 77 Ford Ranger. I didnt run the truck stock at all. When I brought it home I immediately pulled it apart and realized that my .050 driver was garbage. It was just rounding all my bolts off, so back to a different LHS for a set of MPI drivers. They work perfect. The frame rails being 4 parts made extending the wheelbase pretty simple. Cut in two different places and bolt the longer bits together. I filled the gap with a bit of aluminum stock and used some 2mm bolts I had on hand. I found some 9/16 brass tubes that fit the drive shaft exactly to extend them, simply cut and glue. I pulled the hard case off the battery to get it to fit under the hood, and soldered longer leads on the connector to use the existing plug and switch. The RX/ESC fits between the rails without the case, just need to buy some shrink tube to fit over it. The interior fits nicely over the motor with a bit of trimming. It sits just under the bench seat. Last edited by Basicbilly; 12-13-2016 at 10:25 AM.

12-09-2016, 10:05 PM	#2
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig The tires from the Ambush were glued pretty solid on the outsides, but the insides of mine were just tacked at 2 points. I was able to peel them back and insert some weights. I put .5 oz on the fronts and .25 oz on the rears.

12-09-2016, 10:14 PM	#3
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig I bought some styrene rod to fab a roll bar out of. At first I built a simple bar in the bed, but I very quickly went overboard and built a full roof rack. I put some through holes in the bed and made pockets for the mount points. Once I get everything painted it will be securely attached. I wrapped a bit of the rod in sandpaper to fit the rod together for gluing. I have some soft white LEDs on order for headlights and some roof lights. I'll need to come up with some light buckets though.

12-10-2016, 08:09 AM	#4
BigChevyTruckin Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Athol Posts: 296	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig Awesome work so far! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-10-2016, 10:43 AM	#5
joe122 RCC Addict Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Commerce Township Posts: 1,594	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig Very well done, F-150 looks awesome so far!

12-12-2016, 02:23 PM	#6
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig Work has been slow, but the mailman dropped off my LEDs today. And a coat of flat black to removed the shiny bits.

12-12-2016, 10:28 PM	#7
johnnyh66 Scale Detail Engineering Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Turtle Island Posts: 5,573	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig Nice! How'd you handle the light buckets?

12-13-2016, 09:56 AM	#9
BigChevyTruckin Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Athol Posts: 296	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig What scale is this body? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-13-2016, 10:10 AM	#10
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig Its a 1/24 scale. I never figured out why some of these static kits are 1/25 and some 1/24. Revell 1/24 Ford Ranger Pickup Plastic Model Kit

12-13-2016, 10:26 AM	#11
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig I also realized this is supposed to be a 79 Ranger, not a 77

12-13-2016, 11:18 AM	#12
BigChevyTruckin Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Athol Posts: 296	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1979 F-150 Scale Rig So the proline ambush accepts 1/24 bodies really well it looks.! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-13-2016, 11:55 AM	#13
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1979 F-150 Scale Rig I would pay attention to the width spec of the static model. I don't think a 1/24 first generation Bronco would fit very well Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

12-13-2016, 01:52 PM	#14
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig So I ran with the idea of shrink tube for light buckets. Force the bell shape. I tried hot glue to secure the LEDs and make the lenses at first, but it warped the shrink tube. I went with some 15 min epoxy next. Its a bit yellow, but should add some warmth to the white LEDs. I'll see how they work once the epoxy cures.

12-13-2016, 02:28 PM	#15
Natedog I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Corruptifornia Posts: 12,107	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig Great hardbody build and very nice headlight bucket with heatshrink and epoxy!

12-13-2016, 04:24 PM	#16
BigChevyTruckin Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Athol Posts: 296	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1979 F-150 Scale Rig That's an awesome idea for the light buckets. Loving it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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12-13-2016, 05:47 PM	#17
LokisTyro Rock Stacker Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: E WI Posts: 52	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig The wash on the body looks good. IIRC some epoxies will yellow over time.

12-13-2016, 06:14 PM	#18
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1979 F-150 Scale Rig This epoxy was already pretty old, so it's started pretty yellow lol. I'm going to need to wire them 2s2p, once I figure that out I'll post a photo. I did test one and I was pretty happy with the color. Once I get the body back together I need to do some more washes, I only have black so far. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

12-15-2016, 11:33 PM	#19
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig Got the LEDs soldered and mocked into place. I think the yellow lenses of the epoxy make for a nice touch.

12-17-2016, 01:16 AM	#20
Basicbilly Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 131	Re: Pro-line Ambush 1977 F-150 Scale Rig I've got it all back together, now I need to find some accessories to throw in it!

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