SWB Tamiya Wrangler for the Wife

[rngrchad]

RPP pulled through again and I've got my kit and hardbody Jeep just in time to get it built for my wife as a Valentines day gift. Yes, she's awesome and really does want one although she isn't expecting it. She's been bugging me to get her a Jeep and her only requests for it were to have a 'baby on board' sticker and that it be yellow.

Between this and the Bouncer chassis I'm working on I'm betting the next week is gonna have some late nights.

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[rngrchad]

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[rngrchad]

Excited about the Yota2 axles. I forgot this kit came with these. The housings are a bit thinner and more scale looking, and its nice the front is a solid housing not two piece, like those on my TF2, but upon inspection the front axle is still the dog bone style so it will have to go, I don't want the ears on the axle end breaking off then shattering the axle birfield joint rendering the housing useless.

[rngrchad]

Running into some issues with the frame cross members. The tapped threaded length holes in all of them weren't run to to the bottom, causing the m3x8 screws to stop prematurely and not allow them to snug up tight. Had to use m3x6 screws not included in the kit. If I had a bottoming tap in m3 I would have been gtg. Just a little something to note.

[rngrchad]

Greased up the single speed trans.

[rngrchad]

Leafs on. I thought the "leaf spring helpers" are a clever little piece of kit for strengthening the mounting location.

uploading pictures

[rngrchad]

Driveshaft coupler ID had to be clearanced to fit on the outputs. I used a 3/16" drill bit to Hone them out. They will Not fit without doing this. I even tried gently pounding them on. Other than that issue these shafts looks awesome.

[rngrchad]

Just waterproofed the rx'er
Should have chassis and electronics done in an hour. Then I have to make a trip for some paint to start the body.


Also cut off the ESC on/off switch and soldered them together so it is always 'on'.

[JatoTheRipper]

This looks like a fun build.

[rngrchad]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

This looks like a fun build.

JTR, Oh yeh. The weather is pretty drabby and cold so I'm chilling out inside having fun with this. It's really hard getting much done with a 1.5 year old prancing around your feet though and reaching up grabbing the 2.0 driver all the time. Soon as she gets it she takes off down the hall laughing

[rngrchad]

Chassis is done. Im loving the stocky short stance of this. Getting pretty excited now to finish the body.



And here is a comparison pic of it next to my scx10ii just for fun.


I've always wondered how these bodies mount to the swb tf2 chassis. I'm happy to see that it's got four excellent hard body attachments to keep it locked down in a rollover. Very pleased with the design of that. Here she sits.

[1tonblazer]

Lookin good! The swb tf2 is one of my favorites in my collection.

[rngrchad]

Originally Posted by 1tonblazer

Lookin good! The swb tf2 is one of my favorites in my collection.

Thanks 1-ton! I came across a pic of your hobby room in another thread. You have a right mess of RC rigs for sure, so that's really saying something of the SWB Tf2.

[rngrchad]

Quick question; these axles have the replaceable diff covers right? So I should be able to get some sort of Dana style diff cover that is more scale to the Jeep?

[whitrzac]

Yes


Replace the stock transfercase mount with the TF2 one or similar.

You can also flip the transfer case and bolt directly to the battery tray, it takes a little engineering, but it works amazingly well.

[rngrchad]

Hey Whitz, thanks but i currently dont think I want to do all that. Just want to know if there are any Dana looking differential covers.

Update; got the body mold lines sanded down, and went over the rest of it with 800grit. Washed it in soapy water and primed it. I have little patience for painting so I'm speeding up the process with my shop heater lol.

[rngrchad]

Fenders and bumper and topper painted up. Taping the them now to lay down the Yellow. Shout out to 1tonblazer for his great tf2 build. I'm pretty much copying his Wrangler.

[1tonblazer]

Originally Posted by rngrchad

Quick question; these axles have the replaceable diff covers right? So I should be able to get some sort of Dana style diff cover that is more scale to the Jeep?

Something like this? Yota II Scale Diff Cover There's a few options on RC4WD's website...

[1tonblazer]

I used the K44 axles on my Wrangler. Not only do they look better to me with the YJ body, but also have a left side diff like 1:1 Jeeps do...

[rngrchad]

I'm up WAY too late but I wasn't sure if I'd get anytime to work on this thing this week. Happy to get it to this point. I found this body to be pretty challenging to paint. Lots of technical tape work that I haven't done much of.