Joona's Ääsbender to Unimog project

[Joonatin]

Finally decided to start a thread about my little Ascender project. I started with the Kit version, put it together, experimented with a sway bar, didn't really like it though. In the end flipping the battery tray mount to use it as link raiser and outboarding the rear shocks was enough for me to fix twisting.

I also experimented a little with link lengths and increased the caster angle a little for the front wheels, lengthened the panhard a few millimeters and drilled the shock piston holes to 2mm size and used 350cst shock oil. Seems quite good now, comparable in performance to most of the local guys cars.

Things to do still are total overhaul of the body to a Loops Models Unimog hardbody, exocage, flat bed etc. and waterproofing the receiver box.

Here's some pics from driving around

[Joonatin]

And here's some pics from when I was trying to figure out how fit the Unimog body on the Ascender. The stock tires will have to go, I'll probably get some 1.55" steelies with RC4WD DC Fun Countries or a similar setup, as the mini Rock Beasts aren't available yet.





I made some body mounts at went for a little drive too, managed to durdle badly and rolled the car a couple of feet down a rocky hill and heard some nasty cracks from the body Nothing a little super glue and shoe goo wouldn't fix though.

[Joonatin]

I also started work on the exocage yesterday. For a first timer the all those finer curves were a real pain in the ass. Managed it on third try, the other side went a lot better. The body has to be dropped a bit more too, it seems too high now and will look really bad after I get the smaller wheels. That's easy to do though, just have to drill a few holes.



The upper part wasn't that bad, first one worked fine but I was a little tired when cutting the second one and managed to cut it a centimeter short and decided to stop after that.

[Joonatin]

A bit more progress. I might add a few tubes for rigidity. Then I'll start working on bumpers etc. Didn't have much time for welding, had to look after kids and do some housework.

I also put RC4WD Flashpoints on order along some Gmade steel wheels. That'll give this some extra weight down low Hopefully the axles can take it...

[Natedog]

Congratulations on your new Ascender and welcome to RCC! Blazer looks good, Unimog is off to a great start, solder joints look good! Is that a Bruder toys or what Unimog cab?

[Joonatin]

It's a Loops Models Unimog body. Comes with fenders, wipers, mirrors etc. Shop page here. I just realized there's no way to get the cage off if I glue the mirrors on.. have to figure out something... Maybe I'll attach the body to the cage with magnets

[Joonatin]

Extremely slow progress but it's still progress. Had a bit of work to do, real work...

The cage is now somewhat finished, just some minor tweaking to do, still it's a bit nonsymmetrical but without any real plans, that's no surprise. Bumper was brazed straight to the bumper. The hardbody is attached straight to the cage too, I brazed four M3 nuts to the cage and the hardbody is screwed on. I made some extensions to the body rails and brazed some of the same profile behind the bumper. I still have to solder on some more nuts so that the cage can easily be removed along with the body.

[Natedog]

Coming along very nicely and looks straight and square from here.

[Joonatin]

Teensy weensy little bit of progress again. I welded together the flatbed. Also, RC4WD Flashpoints with Gmade steel wheels, selfmade CI-like foams inside. The tires seem good and are exactly 106mm to fit in Class 1. Altogether the rims and tires weight about 780g, the whole car is about 3kg, plus whatever the interior, accessories and flatbed cover will be. I think it should be under 3,5kg.

Now, if only I could get my hands on some Mad Moose portals...

[Joonatin]

Something along the lines of progress again. Flatbed covered with sticks, glued on 0.5mm aluminum plate. I'll probably have to swap the stock shocks to something shorter, these stick a lot into the cabin. I'll never be able to fit the seats inside. Maybe I'll try the 93mm Gmades...



Next up, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, painting, swearing, sanding, filling, sanding etc.

[JatoTheRipper]

I like the name Ääsbender.

[Joonatin]

Wood parts painted/stained. Some grey wax and oil paints. Also have he paint ready for the metal parts but I'll have to do some sanding first.

[Joonatin]

Got a bit of painting done. Primers mostly, though the cage and bed will stay black. It's starting to look like I might finish it at some point too. (Cage and body not connected at the moment, hence the huge gap.)

[Joonatin]

Finally, real paint! Not final though...

[Natedog]

Unimog is looking great, love your color choice too!

[Joonatin]

Somewhat closer to finished. I've lost the bloody door handles...

[Joonatin]

I got some driving done today. We had a bit of a longer safari, about twelve hours. I had to stop ar four as I had arranged some quality time with my missus, but the car was nice to drive. The exocage makes it a tad top heavy but nothing too bad. I did break both my mirrors though. The route was a little bit harsh and it was meant to be hard to drive even with the better C2 cars and this is C1.

I limited my shocks by 12mm, and it was better on sidehills than before. I'll still have to do some testing with different shocks and springs.

[Natedog]

Sounds like a great fun drive, thanks for the picture, anymore pictures of the area with more background? Mirrors look great, but they can be difficult to keep from getting torn off.

[rs10man]

looks awesome, liking the colour choice

[daign]

lovin the mog! some rear fenders and use tamiya PS paint cans as gas tanks?