Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build

[kincer]

That thing is sweet! Looks like something I'd see for real around here!

[55ovalcharlie]

Thanks all


Everything’s bolted back together now so took some proper pics

At some point I’m going to have to make some new side bars / sliders out of stainless to go with the rest of the theme I reckon as the black plastic looks a bit out of place.
But all in all - super happy with it.




Will get some more photos up tomorrow

[durok]

That's a completely drool-worthy Bronc, and best of all it won't look worse with some trail wear on it - it'll just add even more character.

That was my lone complaint on the Bronco version of the TRX-4, they are all so damn shiny and nice that I'd be leaving them on the shelf, scared to scuff them up...

You sure put some serious skills to work, incredible job!

(I just remembered some of your older build threads, this is just continuing in that fine tradition - the front bumper is a subtle masterpiece, the rubber edging on the cut-line is a great idea, and your ability to get up and running so quick with a 3D-printer gives me hope that I may be able to someday do somethin' decent with one myself...)

[55ovalcharlie]

Originally Posted by durok

That's a completely drool-worthy Bronc, and best of all it won't look worse with some trail wear on it - it'll just add even more character.

That was my lone complaint on the Bronco version of the TRX-4, they are all so damn shiny and nice that I'd be leaving them on the shelf, scared to scuff them up...

You sure put some serious skills to work, incredible job!

(I just remembered some of your older build threads, this is just continuing in that fine tradition - the front bumper is a subtle masterpiece, the rubber edging on the cut-line is a great idea, and your ability to get up and running so quick with a 3D-printer gives me hope that I may be able to someday do somethin' decent with one myself...)

Thanks Durok - appreciate it


totally agree on the bronco bodies. I've been die hard axial based for the last couple of years but think that this body set on the bronco is just phenomenal. The detail they've gone to with lexan is just awesome, and the way they have built it with the separate plastic parts (such as side trim / grille etc.) made is ideal for the drop bed conversion as the side trim is what the drop bed screws into, sandwiching the body in place.

I've only driven the truck around my garden so far, but it certainly seems like it will be a super capable rig, especially with the low speed control of the holmes motor couples with the over / under drive gears

[55ovalcharlie]

Made some longer steering links out of stainless to take advantage of the GRC ackerman knuckles, added some fake rivets to the Ranger XLT badges on the front qtr panels.
All that's left now is to make some stainless rock sliders as the plastic ones look a bit out of place imho.

Stand by for photo overload

[Topher Builds]

Looks so good dude! Love it.

Can you post a closer pic of the cc hand side emblems? They look killer on there. Keeping the mirrors black?

[indybama]

I showed my boss the last pics u posted. He swore up n down it was a real 1:1 truck lmbo

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[55ovalcharlie]

Originally Posted by Pant Danza

Looks so good dude! Love it.

Can you post a closer pic of the cc hand side emblems? They look killer on there. Keeping the mirrors black?

Will do if I remember
Don’t know if they’re cc hand. Got them from teamdc when they had a sale a few month ago. Dirt cheap!

Mirrors have in fact been “chromed” this evening courtesy of my Molotow pen




Also made another version of the rear body hold down bolt

Designed and printed a 3D beer keg with an m3 bolt embedded in it. Way prettier than a body pin

[55ovalcharlie]

Originally Posted by indybama

I showed my boss the last pics u posted. He swore up n down it was a real 1:1 truck lmbo

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

Hah - awesome

[indybama]

Thats a pretty slick way to hide yhe mount bolt. Plus u dont have to fiddle with a driver to pull the body off. I went with the proline thumb screws. Really didnt wanna got that route, but the magnet mounts werent workin the way i wanted. So went with wat i had to work with lol

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[twentyniner]

Absolutely incredible! Love your Instagram feed. If I may ask, do you have any problems with the TS paints not sticking, or cracking even with PS underneath? Was thinking of repainting my Defender this way, using PS flat clear for a primer and an AS military color on top.

[55ovalcharlie]

Originally Posted by twentyniner

Absolutely incredible! Love your Instagram feed. If I may ask, do you have any problems with the TS paints not sticking, or cracking even with PS underneath? Was thinking of repainting my Defender this way, using PS flat clear for a primer and an AS military color on top.

Thanks

And no problems at all with the paints. My Chevy c10 body is still going strong after a lot of abuse and this was done in the same way



Just make sure you scuff up the lexan plenty with a scotch pad or similar before starting to paint and clean thoroughly

Also, use PS silver as the primer instead of clear, then when you scratch the body the silver aluminium of the defender will show through. Tiny bit more realistic

[twentyniner]

Awesome, thank you. I think I’ll give it a try. So many good colors available in TS and AS.

[55ovalcharlie]

Originally Posted by Pant Danza

Looks so good dude! Love it.

Can you post a closer pic of the cc hand side emblems? They look killer on there. Keeping the mirrors black?

Here you go mate

Ps I added the fake rivets to them - plaques didn’t come with them
And like I say, I didn’t buy them as branded CCHand, so not sure if theirs are exactly the same. These came from the teamdc website

[55ovalcharlie]

Couldn’t leave it alone so knocked up some steel rock rails as the plastic ones stuck out like a sore thumb (to me at least)

[durok]

Ah, the crowning touch!

Seems someone ought to slip you a little somethin' for the designs and put your bumper and side rails into production...

[55ovalcharlie]

Originally Posted by durok

Ah, the crowning touch!

Seems someone ought to slip you a little somethin' for the designs and put your bumper and side rails into production...

Thanks man

As for the design, that would be nice but nah...... that’s not how the rc world works. Everyone just copies these days

[55ovalcharlie]

And now for the obligatory walk around video

[55ovalcharlie]

I had a day off work so took the chance to pop down to Bradgate Park in Leicestershire to give the truck a run.

This is my first TRX-4 based truck and I've got to say I was impressed!

I'm not a huge fan of the lockable diffs to be honest and I just had them permanently locked, but the two speed box was worth having especially for when walking from one spot to another, and for just that little bit of extra wheel speed on certain terrain / obstacles.


enough of the talk - here are some pics.




















And my one made servo winch proved to be a bit of a power house too









video coming soon

[55ovalcharlie]

So I’ve been playing around with the 3D printer and design software this weekend.
Love this stuff! Never ending possibilities, and once you’ve grasped the basics of designing in 3D you can get stuff drawn up relatively quickly

Saw some scale welders on various social media platforms, so drew one up, pressed the print button, bit of paint thrown on and then glued in a mini digital volt meter. This can then be hooked up to the balance plug of the lipo for a battery voltage reading ::2thumbs

Also knocked up a new design of sand ladder and a pile of beer kegs - (don’t worry, it’s not ALL staying in the back of the truck - some of its for a mate)