My First Build... 1983 Dodge D-250 Stepside!

[83dodged250]

Ok so here it goes, I have an scx 10 with a honcho and dingo body but I really wanted to do something different and unique. The inspiration for this build is my 1:1, a 1983 Dodge Ram D-250 with an 8ft Stepside bed! I've seen a lot of 6 foot stepsides so if you have any pictures of an 8ft stepside Post em up! So to start off I decided to start with the trail finder 2 for several reasons, it has leaf springs all the way around and the 2 speed tranny, as well as the metal axles. I never have worked with hardbodies or styrene before this so if you have any input pleaase let me know! I didn't think I was good enough to start from scratch with styrene so after hours of searching I decided on the Tamiya Blackfoot 3 body. Tamiya says its a 1/10 scale but after a lot of measuring and math I determined that compared to my truck and the RC4WD chassis that I will be making a 1/11 Ram. So after a lot of measuring and re measuring I have determined that I will have to add 2 inches to the wheelbase and 0.5 inches to the width, and I am still contemplating adding 0.25" to the height. That will come later. So Now onto some Pictures of the real truck and the progress!!

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How it starts for every TF2 Builder!



Renderings








The First Big CUT!


Prepping the bed for reshaped Fenders with 3mm styrene to fill some space



Filling the Cutout on the cab


Cut out the small square in the corner


Continuing the bed post all the way down


Thats all for now I started to Bondo up the fenders but don't have any pictures yet Stay tuned for an awesome truck!!

[crawl33oh]

Subscribed. I love old Dodges


Sent using magic

[Got TF2]

Beautiful 1:1 dodge. I love those classic ones. Stuff just isn't made like that anymore.

Subbed! Very interested to see how it comes out.

[83dodged250]

Ok so Here we go with some more progress, LOTS of Pictures!






did another big cut, this time its right down the middle! Put spacers in to start filling the gaps



Got the front gaps pretty much filled in and I decided to do a Drop- bed so hacked the bedsides all up too!





Workin on the bed now!


So The bedsides went on and I did a little miscalculation and the wheelbase ended up .25" short. Not to fear!

Cut it down the middle added .25" on another layer and now the layers line up the the actual bedsides!

Structural members.


Moved the receiver box location to underneath the rod instead of on top so it is in line with the shocks


And finally I got the bed floor in!




Looking Good!!!



Loving this glue!

Bed Rails installed



And the Required Flex Shot..


Not too shabby for the top of a dresser workbench


More To Come!! Stay Tuned

[Jeckler]

It'll be interesting to see how you transform it from a Ford into a Dodge.
We used to have a '78 Club Cab longbed. It was a bitch to park, but was a great truck. Looked like this...

[Got TF2]

Looks great so far! The patience you must have for all that body work. It will be so worth it in the end though.

[83dodged250]

Its Been awhile but here is just a little bit more progress I got some electronics installed on her and Found out I needed to cut a slot out for the shifter servo.
And I ordered an AE-5 esc for it so hopefully that comes soon. But I just threw an xl-5 in just to see how it runs and I have a question. Should you be able to shift on the fly if you get your servo endpoints set correctly or do you have to come to a complete stop?




I also got some airplane hinges glued up for the working tailgate and started on the tailgate. It still needs an outer layer to hide the hinges






Then I started working on the rear bumper by cutting a long strip and using a lighter to heat it up and bend it to shape.

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Thats all for now. I should be working more on it tomorrow and Friday. dreading that front grill but we shall see how it goes!

[83dodged250]

Ok I did some more work before class today, so here is the progress!
I wrapped all the servo wires with electrical tape to get a cleaner look...


Then I started on the interior with bending up a seat.. still needs a lot of work but its a start


Cut and molded a piece for the floorpan. Heated it up with a lighter and pressed it down over a tamiya spray can to get the transmission hump.


Had to cut out a spot for the shift servo.


But the seat will cover it all nicely


Then I decided to give a go at the toolbox in the bed that I am going to use to hold the esc and the battery for easy access.



More Airplane hinges




Didn't glue the toolbox in yet because I am going to be making a balsa wood bed strips.

Thats all for now. Let me know what you think!

[OSRC]

Excellent work so far!

[oklamopar]

Looks good. I am thinking about doing one of my truck.
I like the utiline beds, anyone can build a standard wide bed, But the dodge utiline fenders are by far more round.
Not trying to be @$$. Stepside is Chevy term, Flairside Ford.
Utiline is all MOPAR.

[Sevastra]

Pretty impressive build so far. Nice work! Looking forward to more.

[slow1500]

Ohhh I'm liking this! I miss my 88 Power Ram 4x4.

[Crutch]

I'm digging the build. Any updates? I have thought about building a toolbox for my TF2 and after seeing yours I think I will.

[83dodged250]

Here is some more progress of the truck! I did some more bondo work, filling in the body lines of the ford and gonna start to add the door panel shapes of the dodge. It has been a ton of work but it starting to come together, really debating whether or not to do an interior. Does anyone know what/ where I can get a trail finder interior?



Chopped off the front angled piece to match the flat front of a dodge










Got her a little scratched up!


Stay tuned and spread the word please!

[Sevastra]

Subscribed

[83dodged250]

It has been awhile since I replied. but here is some more progress of the truck. Got all the bondo work done and sanded nice and smooth





Then I got impatient and wanted to put paint on it...so I did primer



More sanding, sanding, sanding... and small gap filler


and then i forgot I needed to add a few more detail parts bedsides and tailgate details





Then more primer on after that but I don't have a picture of that yet


Almost ready for paint...and Summer!

Let me know what you think!

[83dodged250]

Almost Ready for paint!





I scrapped the first interior and gave my best shot at another one. Not the best but it will get the job done









Blocks to align it right in the cab












Came up with some reverse body posts that I think came out pretty good

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Getting ready to be done with this project and get some running footage!

Let me know what you think!