GCM's 1986 M1009 Blazer Build

[Generis]

Thanks, Crusty.
These are all stock axles, and I added some space to the rotors to get the rims to come OUT a bit. I also pulled the body IN a bit using the magnets. There's no rubbing anywhere. The bumpers are solid steel, so that should be fine. The stock bumper mounts are lacking though. I'll be happy to get these in metal sometime, as the plastic reminds me of boneless chicken a bit too much. The long tail on this truck will drag on some climbs, ya, but so did the real thing.

[atf300]

would the magnets work on a lexan painted body on the inside ?

[Crusty Old Shellback]

That's funny that you spaced the rims out some as the stock rims make the tires stick out just a little past the body. I just noticed last night while doing a little work on mine that on the rear, one side sticks out more than the other. So now I need to look at my body alignment.

The steel bumpers should hold up then as long as the mounts hold up. With the stock bumpers, at least it's angled some so it slides more over the rocks. I've got a new little crawling course set up in the back yard and the first big rock, the truck gets up to about 60 degrees with one tire in the air as it crawls over it and the bumper drags big time. But that's a pretty serious angle too.

[Generis]

Driver came in! He's a bit blue, considering he's ex military now, and has nothing to do. It took a while in chains for him to sit properly on his own. He was a bit helter-skelter for a while there.



He was a bit tall actually, so I think I may have the seats mounted a bit high in the truck, but anyway, he fits real well after I took 4 vertebrae out of his back. Speaking of these magnets, there's 3 of them on the bottom of the seat that hold it to the seat mount post, and even with my new driver strapped to the seat, there's no way he's going to fall out. Even on a crash I think it will stay put. These are great, the dude and the seat just pop out whenever you want, so easy to work on stuff!



I also gave the transmission some feedback device, so shifting stuff is now possible. Looks like it's meant to be.

[Generis]

I chopped down an Axial steering wheel, because there was nothing that seemed to match up to the right size. It was a pain.



The good news is that it fits nicely. So that's great.



I made a little steering shaft and blinker thingy also, and attached from behind with a bolt up through the middle of the shaft. It's double lined styrene tubes. T'was easy, actually. I think Larry likes it, but he doesn't smile much.

[4wd4ws]

Is that Hannibal?

Love the build, man.

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Build is looking awesome. Got to get that thing built and out on the trail. I'm interested to see how the magnets hold up on some rough trails.

[Generis]

Thanks, guys.
Currently I can pick up the truck by the body sides, and really toss it around and the body won't come off. You really have to push up at each end separately to get it to un-latch. I'm really happy with the magnet mounts.
I do have a fear though, that with the amount of magnetic forces on this truck, it just might get stuck to a sign as I drive by. HAHAHAHA

[Crusty Old Shellback]

HaHaHaHa!

Thanks for the laugh.

[Generis]

After a full FULL week of actual work, I finally got back to this project today. Drilled out the bumpers and added some steel D rings, welded them through the bumpers in behind, so they don't fall out. I hope. Then of course painted them with a few hard coats of flat Olive.





After seeing it basically 95% done, I agree with Aaron's point of view.. the rear axle needs to go backward another 3mm, so I'll add that spacer into the rear links. He's got a keen eye!



I'm kinda happy with the layout and the look. It's a drab old military truck with a boring interior and a smile-free driver.

[Generis]

A couple of gratuitous flex shots as well. Now on to some other detail work.

[Alpha Male]

Wheel/tire tucks just right. Nice job on the whole build. Looking for another update on the Youtube channel.

[Fatman489]

Maybe I missed it but where did you get those mirrors? They seem to fit perfect. . Great build always loved the military K5s

[offroadace]

Killer build!

Where did you find those mini/micro hinges?

Originally Posted by Generis

[Generis]

Thanks guys for the encouragement!

The hinges came from airplane parts. They are available at any hobby store for ailerons and stuff. Many different sizes available.

[sgl]

Nice attention to detail, really like your solution to the front grill. The truck looks great.
Scott

[350TacoZilla]

Man this thing looks great all together, I love the details inside and the packaging job you did up front. I have 2 questions/suggestions 1. would you ever consider going to a leaf spring setup under it just for that little more scale detail and 2. have you ever thought about doing a 3d printed wheel that mimics the factory Gm 15x8's with 6 lugs? I like the wheel design you have now but I always notice that the bolt patterns rarely match what the 1:1 should have and with the details this thing already has a wheel change could make huge difference.

[Generis]

Thanks for the comments, guys! Yay!
I had missed the wheel thing. For some reason I was so busy keeping it from a Toyota bolt pattern I hadn't realized it should be a 6 bolt! I have those, and will make the change for sure. Good eye!
I will do leafs out back eventually, but I have some link suspension changes to make first. More on that soon.
I'd like to have the factory looking rim also, but my civilian lid already has the polished Detroit rims for the thing, so I'll likely still run the black ones in 6bolt on the MIL body.
Thanks for the feedback!

[350TacoZilla]

Cool deal, I always hate making comments on a build that is so good with so many positive comments since I always feel like I'm being negative lol. I hear you on the wheels and I do like the looks of them with the body, just wasnt sure since the whole 3d printing thing is foreign to me and it seems you are into it along with the details you have done for this thing. Can's wait to see how this thing turns out when you are done with it, I love seeing a lexan rig made into a scale truck or a oddball chassis/brand truck made into a scaler.

[Generis]

I have some good and bad news to show off in pictures here. As I try to finish off the details, and continue making GCM parts, the whole truck had to come apart again. ALL of it.

First of all, my 35t motor was WAY too fast for the truck. In 2nd gear it would rival a slash on 2s brushless. Not kidding!
That came out and a 55t went in. Really smooth, but I miss the raw HP of the 35t (it was a custom massaged unit from my motor builder friend Matt). It's a quick walk now in 1st and still running speed in 2nd. I'm ok with that.



The other reason for the tear down was to finish the engineering on the new rear truss. The suspension geometry on this thing is really SO BAD, I'm not pleased still... but it's way better. I made this to mount as if it was a stock unit, but it's got the 12mm spacers OUT of the top links now, and that helps things a whole bunch. I took stuff apart, removed the spacers, put this back in, and it's done.