Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Ok - I'm playing catch up with this thread sober with me and this first post. A while back I scored a bargain basement priced, new in the box TRX-4 Bronco. Anyone that's followed my other builds will know that pretty much everything else has been axial based but this was too good a deal to pass up - so it's been sat in my office for a good few months waiting its turn. the traxxas body is simply gorgeous imho with a crazy amount of detail for an RTR truck. But..... I couldn't leave it alone. chucked on some Team DC Wheels with ProLine Hyrax tyres on that I had (after fitting some of my fake Method race wheels hub decals :biggthumpup:) https://i.imgur.com/Xyqvq4il.jpg https://i.imgur.com/3tFrNN6l.jpg The main thing that lets the body down in my eyes is the fully blacked out windows on the hardtop - you know - the bit that should be removable on the 1:1 trucks. So - broke out the sharp thing https://i.imgur.com/wQA8haol.jpg chopped off the roof then chopped off a bit of my finger too. https://i.imgur.com/OSREfzMl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/uWfdkGil.jpg The plan is to do away with the integrated rear inner arches and shock hoops, kick the shock mounts forwards a bit, then do a full size drop bed and make it into a pickup. I recently purchased a Tevo Tornado 3D printer at the suggestion of Harley Designs on youtube, so have been slowly teaching myself 3D design using Fusion360. I carefully took a pile of measurements from the now roofless body and set to drawing this up. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s4wJFNkVyoo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> The idea being that the bed drops down into the aperture and is secured to the body by screwing through from the inside of the drop bed, into the mounting holes that are built into the trx-4 body chrome trim strips - so - no need for glue. Fired up the printer, pressed "print" and 26 hours later had a TRX-4 drop bed ::2thumbs https://i.imgur.com/48xTjdVl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/lGhZBLWl.jpg I'd saved the bi of the roof that I cut off, and that's now been trimmed down and the very back bit of it fitted to the remaining cab roof as a rear screen. Also added a bit of rubber edging strip to finish off nicely the cut lines on the body. All in all, this has resulted in a super stiff lexan shell. For body mounts, I filled in the exiting body pin holes in the front hood and fitted some neodymium magnets GCM Racing style - the rear will be secured with a screw through the bed floor into the chassis cross member, that will be disguised with some scale accessories. https://i.imgur.com/tZpvXJFl.jpg I've also done away with the original front bumper and made up a very simple tube bumper from some solid stainless steel rod https://i.imgur.com/cZUGZhVl.jpg Next up was paint gave the exterior of the shell a quick blast with some Tamiya PS silver paint kind of acting as a primer. Followed by top coats in a variety of colours using Tamiya TS paints with various washes applied and dustings of Vallejo weathering pigments too. https://i.imgur.com/OQZvPVkl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/UDFwg6Ol.jpg Painted in a very similar style to my Chevy truck as you will tell. https://i.imgur.com/wVKc1MNl.jpg details of which can be found here (sorry it's on another forum) http://scalebuildersguild.com/forum/...10ii-Chevy-C10 partly because I had paint left over :laugh: but mainly as I just love that colour scheme and the weathered finish. Printed up some custom decals for the tailgate and rear end to make it just a little bit more different https://i.imgur.com/TeFwNGLl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/rZOO47Vl.jpg and made a reg plate https://i.imgur.com/AntNUXvl.jpg Gave the drop bed a quick blast with some textured paint https://i.imgur.com/rTebzhTl.jpg Fitted an eBay special full light kit (awesome quality for the price!!!) https://i.imgur.com/MNvmb4Gl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/x4eo21Rl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/siD9oHQl.jpg drew on some panel lines using ink, smudged it around a bit then sealed in with some clear coat https://i.imgur.com/FOxm4yYl.jpg made a cover for the drop bed box thingy (the box is there to give a bit of room for the custom shock hoops I'd made) that kind of makes it into a bit of a tool box thingy https://i.imgur.com/0I21Kyzl.jpg designed this scale power tank CO2 bottle on my lunch break - I've got a powers hit DMS of this style on one of my other trucks but seeing as I won't be using a dis on this truck, thought I'd have a go at making my own bottle https://i.imgur.com/4yvh7fkl.jpg then sorted out a sand ladder on the 3d printer to act as the rear body "hold down" https://i.imgur.com/URtOaaTl.jpg so this is where I'm at at the moment https://i.imgur.com/7C74MWll.jpg Next up is to sort out the boring stuff like servo, esc placement, custom battery tray, interior, and see if I can squeeze in some kind of servo winch too. |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build I'm speechless! Great job! Wow, what a transformation. Can't wait to see more! |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
https://www.instagram.com/scalebuilt/ |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Whoa! That's really good looking! One question: How do you fix the body on the car? I see the original posts are gone... |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
On the rear there is a scre that goes through the sand ladder and drop bed and bolts into the chassis rear cross member |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Beautiful!!!!!! Wish i had the paitence to do that kind of work. Awesome job, keep up the great work. Subscribed!!!!! Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Awesome look, love the colours |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Ah, nice, ring magnets, thats a trick i did not come up with. Thanks! |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Awesome build!! Well done. |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Thanks all |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Looks great! Wish I had the time to learn how to do that, I'll be watching this build! |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Awesome job! I’m doing basically the same thing with my Vaterra blazer. Very nice work and the weathering is spot on. Ben |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build What the others all said, you did a good job on it. Hats off to the 3d printing good idea. |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Unreal... absolutely fantastic detail and ingenuity. I'll bet you could sell a few of those beds too. |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Thank You everyone for the support! I'm really pleased with how it's turning out. but it really is an awesome body shell from the factory which helps loads! For those interested the bed was designed by me in Fusion360 which is free to download software and all it took to get the basics was a watching a few hours of tutorials on it that are on YouTube. I found the ones by this guy the most useful https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo2...ziFUZGZ50VKvWA And the printer I used was a Tevo Tornado that I bought on eBay after Harley Designs recommended it on his 3d printing video series. Anyway - I've sorted out an interior - nothing too fancy as you can't see that much of it anyway, especially since I've scuffed up the screens (deliberately) So I got one of those cheapo ebay china universal lexan interiors, worked out how to mount it, painted it, and printed out some vinyl stickers with a plaid pattern on it, glued in a cheap DC comics "Boomerang" figure and hey presto. https://i.imgur.com/na91dK5l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/qrNfsucl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/oX1nDXSl.jpg I'll fade down the "plaid" a bit to make it look a bit worn in too. Next, needed a winch. I had 2 x NEW Power HD23Kg servos turn up and not work properly out of the box, so hacked up one of them which was originally going to be made into an internal spool servo winch, but ended up working better for this application as an external spool one. So made a sheet steel mounting plate for it and made a spool using an alloy round servo horn, UK 2 pence pieces and a bit of brass tubing. Holds around 4m of line and when the body is on you can't see anything other then the line coming out of the fairlead. https://i.imgur.com/CuwP6KQl.jpg I've also been continuing my 3D printing learning curve and have drawn up a mini PowerTank CO2 tank for the load bed, along with a base for it to sit on 8) https://i.imgur.com/BGaa6rjl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/LMTV7qPl.jpg I've also fitted (but not got pics of yet) a new Holmes 550 can motor, 6 channel radio system, Hobbywing 1080esc, so all that's left now is to sort out the servos etc... and it should be good for a test run pretty soon "thumbsup" |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Holy cow this is amazing! The truck looked great with the stock body and the black Roost wheels, but you really stepped it up 1,000 notches! Incredible work! |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
"thumbsup" Thanks man, glad you like it |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Love it! One of the best bumperstickers, ever. :ror: |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Fitted up a winch line to my home brewed servo winch https://i.imgur.com/yyrxuRdl.jpg Wired it all up to discover one of the diff servos was broken out the box! So a quick trip to my local rc helicopter shop resulted in a savox SH0262MG which can be made to work with a little fettling (NB. You MUST have a radio system where u can adjust the end points to use this!) https://i.imgur.com/E4QBqMOl.jpg Then, hooked everything up, threw in a battery and just time for a quick test before bed! https://i.imgur.com/GmCimySl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TuXMLf4l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/S7NM2A2l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vw9PXbWl.jpg So far so good! Spec wise it’s running quite a few upgrades SSD portal cover / weights at the front Samix portal covers rear GRC Ackerman steering knuckles Traxxas overdrive gears front Traxxas underdrive gears rear Holmes torquemaster expert 550 27T JX Servo 12V 46kg brushless servo (oh so quiet!) eBay China light kit which I am sooooooo impressed with Predator Compound Hyrax with CI foams Team DC roost wheels (bargain of the century) 3D printed lcg battery tray 1080 esc Hacked flysky gt3c 6 channel radio system Still a few more little bits to sort out, but will try and get some decent photos and video once all that’s sorted out |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Awesome job!!!!! Love the look of it. Ive gotta learn to do the petina lol Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build That thing is sweet! Looks like something I'd see for real around here! |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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. https://i.imgur.com/LDwKMnhl.jpg Will get some more photos up tomorrow :) |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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...) |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
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 |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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 :ror: https://i.imgur.com/gnDjAXmh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/FkIKcvPh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/B8ofgQyh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/zelvUHFh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/g7q0bwSh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ONz4ASEh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/lXeYVBkh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/x52gXhDh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/LDwKMnhh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/D5JA5Zdh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/tTFFr9gh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/cRAVrpjh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/3OHhp1Gh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/aWapda3h.jpg https://i.imgur.com/6fKIsvRh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/SEhUj3yh.jpg |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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? |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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 |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
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 "thumbsup" https://i.imgur.com/GoYwEFIl.jpg 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 :) https://i.imgur.com/owEYk5pl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/WNNDdGRl.jpg |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
|
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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 Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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. |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
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 https://i.imgur.com/M3cmpQvl.jpg 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 |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Awesome, thank you. I think I’ll give it a try. So many good colors available in TS and AS. |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
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 https://i.imgur.com/TPqt6IXl.jpg |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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) https://i.imgur.com/ihIMaxCh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/BRsVMpEh.jpg |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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... |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build Quote:
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 :lmao: |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build And now for the obligatory walk around video <iframe width="1008" height="568" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/28oobYgjfyA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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. https://i.imgur.com/cYemTpIh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/57OBIG9h.jpg https://i.imgur.com/JY25NGuh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/lnSjDwmh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/5xnFltDh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/GWRWD14h.jpg https://i.imgur.com/2YZzZEBh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/aCJEEFPh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/kvFRxZUh.jpg And my one made servo winch proved to be a bit of a power house too https://i.imgur.com/6AvgIwHh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/L5tHykzh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/A8wDhU6h.jpg video coming soon |
Re: Full Drop Bed TRX-4 Bronco Project Build 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) https://i.imgur.com/uYDurVXh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/9CHoENoh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/dVJuxs9h.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Nmb5nPqh.jpg https://i.imgur.com/yh1cl5Gh.jpg |
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:53 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.
Copyright 2004-2014 RCCrawler.com