RCCrawler Forums

zukmike · 08-30-2008, 05:53 AM

after some major procrastination, lots of time, money, and frustration we finally did it. the mold is very basic, but it captures the zuk feel. still have to work out issues with the material thickness and webbing. they're definitely not perfect. approx 8th scale.

starting from the super suzy magazine cutout, to the mold, to the first pull, to three pretty good pulls.

flmudder · 08-30-2008, 06:04 AM

man them things look sweet

rcjeepbuilder · 08-30-2008, 08:28 AM

Can we see one with some paint on it?
Looks really cool!!!!

Bermbuster · 08-30-2008, 05:09 PM

I saw one of the bodies today and it looks sweet.....

zukmike · 08-31-2008, 09:34 AM

Here's one with some paint. Kind of ugly! Mocked up on my sw2 chassis shortened to 10.5" wheelbase.

TwistedCreations · 08-31-2008, 04:00 PM

http://translate.google.com/translat...dNe%26pwst%3D1

noob2crawlin · 08-31-2008, 04:39 PM

that looks awsome great job

frizzen · 09-01-2008, 02:01 AM

It might be mostly just the scale, but your Sammi body looks MUCH better than the production one!

youngblood · 09-01-2008, 06:36 AM

Add some flares, and make the windshield smaller, and you will have nailed it!

Nicely done

zukmike · 09-01-2008, 06:57 AM

Thanks for the compliments guys! I'm reworking the mold to fix some issues that we saw with the first few pulls. We'll see if can add some flares in there. Will probably start up again later this week.

duramax · 09-03-2008, 01:43 AM

awsome work!!!!!!!! its great to see some new bodys getting made! we all had some ideas before but never had the balls to try

keep the great work

OlYelr · 09-03-2008, 02:47 PM

I definitely agree with the fender flares. If you paint the soft top area black, along with a couple other factory black details, I think it would make it look a lot more like a Suzuki too.

Great work!

zukmike · 09-03-2008, 05:56 PM

Great feedback! This mold was intended to be a hardtop, but maybe in the future we can change it up to be a softtop like the one shown above. Still working on the mold, but in the mean time I threw some paint on body #2 and hacked away at it to fit my 2.2. As you can see, we have webbing issues on the rear quarter panels. Also looking for a better option for grille stickers - more research... also have to do some work to remove the suzuki name.

bigflex · 09-05-2008, 08:41 PM

sweet those are looking good! pmed!

I would LOVE to have one of these. I have always wanted a Tin Top and this might be the only way to get one.

pro beater · 09-05-2008, 08:46 PM

try adding a rear bumper , thatt might help with the web issue

Joat · 09-05-2008, 11:57 PM

Saw a 1:1 yesterday at homeuseless ,the flares makes it, think it had 33's on it look to be more of a queen then anything else

bigflex · 09-06-2008, 11:20 PM

I could care less if it has flares or not. Either way is fine with me! Heck only one of mine still has the flares on it.

Phatmac · 09-15-2008, 07:44 AM

Mike,

How are the mold additions coming along? Any updates???

zukmike · 09-15-2008, 10:17 AM

Still working on it... lost some time due to a death in the family, but i'm back on it now.

overlayed most of the mold with bondo. getting it back in line now. harder to shape but stronger. trying to figure out what material to use for the fender flares and the bumpers - any suggestions? dont want to go with foam since it winds up being too fragile. the ultimate plan is to negative cast the mold in plaster, but we were too excited to get some bodies made, so we want to make this mold a little more durable.

got some wood working tools to use on the body lines/doors/vents, etc. we'll see if that will actually show up when we pull a body. want to get some shape in to the grill/light area as well.

fun, fun, fun!

Phatmac · 09-15-2008, 10:47 AM

My condolences on your loss.

If you're adding to the mold, for flares, bumpers, etc. I would start with wood, that you can cut to size and shape--and then epoxy to the buck, start a little undersized, and skim coat with bondo and final shape.

By adding pieces to the buck, you can get the left/right symmetry correct off the mold, making the process faster.

---

Saw this interesting tip when researching mold making: mold vent holes in by putting greased skewers or wires in the plaster, then pulling them out when it's mostly set.
---

Check out Stu's (microgoat's) posts about readying his scratch-built scout for vacuum-forming, I think he was using epoxy and microballoons to get that final, glass-smooth finish.

08-30-2008, 05:53 AM	#41
zukmike Rock Stacker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jersey Posts: 72	zuk body is here after some major procrastination, lots of time, money, and frustration we finally did it. the mold is very basic, but it captures the zuk feel. still have to work out issues with the material thickness and webbing. they're definitely not perfect. approx 8th scale. starting from the super suzy magazine cutout, to the mold, to the first pull, to three pretty good pulls. Attached Images

08-31-2008, 09:34 AM	#45
zukmike Rock Stacker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jersey Posts: 72	Here's one with some paint. Kind of ugly! Mocked up on my sw2 chassis shortened to 10.5" wheelbase. Attached Images

09-03-2008, 05:56 PM	#53
zukmike Rock Stacker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jersey Posts: 72	Great feedback! This mold was intended to be a hardtop, but maybe in the future we can change it up to be a softtop like the one shown above. Still working on the mold, but in the mean time I threw some paint on body #2 and hacked away at it to fit my 2.2. As you can see, we have webbing issues on the rear quarter panels. Also looking for a better option for grille stickers - more research... also have to do some work to remove the suzuki name. Attached Images

09-05-2008, 08:41 PM	#54
bigflex I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: drillin Holes for the man Posts: 2,736	sweet those are looking good! pmed! I would LOVE to have one of these. I have always wanted a Tin Top and this might be the only way to get one. Last edited by bigflex; 09-05-2008 at 08:48 PM.

09-15-2008, 07:44 AM	#58
Phatmac Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SW of Cleveland Posts: 228	Any Updates Mike, How are the mold additions coming along? Any updates???

08-30-2008, 06:04 AM	#42
flmudder Quarry Creeper Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: sanford Posts: 228	man them things look sweet

08-30-2008, 08:28 AM	#43
rcjeepbuilder I wanna be Dave Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: clarksburg Posts: 2,009	Can we see one with some paint on it? Looks really cool!!!!

08-30-2008, 05:09 PM	#44
Bermbuster Pebble Pounder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Metro NYC Posts: 147	I saw one of the bodies today and it looks sweet.....

08-31-2008, 04:00 PM	#46
TwistedCreations Colt Python/SR9c Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: out in the shop, reloading ammo! Posts: 8,626	http://translate.google.com/translat...dNe%26pwst%3D1

08-31-2008, 04:39 PM	#47
noob2crawlin Pebble Pounder Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nampa Posts: 100	that looks awsome great job

09-01-2008, 02:01 AM	#48
frizzen Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indy Posts: 120	It might be mostly just the scale, but your Sammi body looks MUCH better than the production one!

09-01-2008, 06:36 AM	#49
youngblood RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,255	Add some flares, and make the windshield smaller, and you will have nailed it! Nicely done

09-01-2008, 06:57 AM	#50
zukmike Rock Stacker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jersey Posts: 72	Thanks for the compliments guys! I'm reworking the mold to fix some issues that we saw with the first few pulls. We'll see if can add some flares in there. Will probably start up again later this week.

09-03-2008, 01:43 AM	#51
duramax Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: kona Posts: 18	awsome work!!!!!!!! its great to see some new bodys getting made! we all had some ideas before but never had the balls to try keep the great work

09-03-2008, 02:47 PM	#52
OlYelr Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maryville, TN Posts: 406	I definitely agree with the fender flares. If you paint the soft top area black, along with a couple other factory black details, I think it would make it look a lot more like a Suzuki too. Great work!

Sponsored Links

09-05-2008, 08:46 PM	#55
pro beater Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pueblo West Posts: 250	try adding a rear bumper , thatt might help with the web issue

09-05-2008, 11:57 PM	#56
Joat Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: On the Snap on truck Posts: 736	Saw a 1:1 yesterday at homeuseless ,the flares makes it, think it had 33's on it look to be more of a queen then anything else

09-06-2008, 11:20 PM	#57
bigflex I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: drillin Holes for the man Posts: 2,736	I could care less if it has flares or not. Either way is fine with me! Heck only one of mine still has the flares on it.

09-15-2008, 10:17 AM	#59
zukmike Rock Stacker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jersey Posts: 72	Still working on it... lost some time due to a death in the family, but i'm back on it now. overlayed most of the mold with bondo. getting it back in line now. harder to shape but stronger. trying to figure out what material to use for the fender flares and the bumpers - any suggestions? dont want to go with foam since it winds up being too fragile. the ultimate plan is to negative cast the mold in plaster, but we were too excited to get some bodies made, so we want to make this mold a little more durable. got some wood working tools to use on the body lines/doors/vents, etc. we'll see if that will actually show up when we pull a body. want to get some shape in to the grill/light area as well. fun, fun, fun!

09-15-2008, 10:47 AM	#60
Phatmac Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SW of Cleveland Posts: 228	My condolences on your loss. If you're adding to the mold, for flares, bumpers, etc. I would start with wood, that you can cut to size and shape--and then epoxy to the buck, start a little undersized, and skim coat with bondo and final shape. By adding pieces to the buck, you can get the left/right symmetry correct off the mold, making the process faster. --- Saw this interesting tip when researching mold making: mold vent holes in by putting greased skewers or wires in the plaster, then pulling them out when it's mostly set. --- Check out Stu's (microgoat's) posts about readying his scratch-built scout for vacuum-forming, I think he was using epoxy and microballoons to get that final, glass-smooth finish.

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