Hello group,

Started a project based on the MAN Military truck on my broken down Red cat Crawler.
The original crawler was a 1:24 in scale. This one has been stretched to be as scale as possible.

Will start posting images later today.

Just to get an idea of what I am trying to achieve is attached.


CF

Progress as of yesterday..

Last night I completely dismantled the redcat and cleaned all the parts.
Remved the springs from the shocks as they were brushing with the servo mount, provided better articulation, but as this is a truck, I will not need much articulation.
So probably will put the springs back after some modification on the servo mounts.

Will post pictures as I progress, currently aquired the aluminum rectangle hollow beams which will be the main chasis

CF

Modified the drive shafts to make them longer.
That, is a ball point pen..I guess..

Second and third picture, Made in Japan..ha ha..
Tested the drive unit and seems to be aligned and holding strong..

Tonight's progress will be addition of wheels, drilling the chassis and cutting notches to accommodate the shock absorbers.

Regards,

CF

Subbed. Should be fun to watch. All the best.

Dorwin, with your attention to detail, this will turn out to be another masterpiece. All the best!

Ok here I go..
Filing with a mini file is one heck of a task..
Got the chassis up to the mark, drilled the main holes to accommodate the ball links for the shocks and the linkages.
I also made custom cut linkage rods out of CF, this gives me an advantage to keep maximum ground clearance in terms of the trucks scale..
Some things I cannot explain, maybe will make sense as the build progresses..

-screwed the ball links
-filed the notches
-refitted the shock springs..

Ordered my 1.5mm styrene sheets for the body works..

Good night guys!!

CF

late last night made a mock up of the fittings to check the articulation on my failed chassis..
looks promising..

Difference between the old and the new setup.

Second Picture, New setup mock up.

chassis works almost completed, waiting for the styrene sheets..


CF

Testing..

How do I change the Topic of this thread?

This is the plan..
The build will progress with this design as a base.

CF

seems like the styrene sheet will take a while to arrive, just got off the phone, they saying, its on its way.
Will post a video of a test run today, did run it last night, but the lead strips in the wheels seemed to wobble at the rear, opened the wheels apart and realigned and fixed them. Runs better now!
Lastly, decided that I will not be using any springs on the shocks, a little non scale look on that part I must guess! but whatever
the outcome on the chassis, the body is gonna be super awesome..stay tuned!!!

Cheers!!

CF

Ok, sometimes, scaling down a project is just not fun without putting on your own touches..
see for yourself..


CF

I had a bit of Styrene left in the tool box..
One thing about styrene is that it is so easy to work on.

CF..

Its been 2 weeks and the styrene has still not arrived, hopefully today could be a good day!!

Cheers!!

Amazing .. I find the small small details very impressive, Neat and Very nicely Executed.
Bravo !

My styrene finally arrived last night, but cannot work on it till Saturday, being a weekend, gotta take the Mrs to her parents.
Am all set to start this build, and I already have the reference pictures needed..
will keep you guys posted!


CF

Good Morning members,

The styrene that I received was a bit thicker then expected, its the best material to work with..
Finished on the body last night, I used the styrene and rubber foam board sheet of 6mm.
I really don't know what to say, but the outcome is just marvelous


CF

and some more...

and some more..

Team Subaru was more then happy to let their car on our truck..Who knows, maybe they'll meet at Dakar..

CF

Today's plan is to finish with the front grill, mirrors and fuel and utility tanks.

Finally finished most of the build..
Last night completed the rear view mirrors, fuel tank and utility boxes etc..
Today late afternoon, completed the front grill, the step ladders, brackets..feels like its coming to what I was expecting..
Hope you guys like the build log..
I am shooting every step and posting here so someone else wanting to build one has a database of ideas..
Not sure which paint scheme to go with?
The Olive drab or the desert camo.
I have been seeing these trucks almost every week returning from Iraq, and almost all that I've seen are the Desert Camo's,(maybe because they fighting in the desert) and this paint scheme is what I think I will go with.
enough of talk, here's the progress..


CF

Tonight I am planning to sand all the rough edges, specially on the rubber foam. The styrene is easy to sand, all those rough edges you see wont be there by tomorrow..

some more..

lets not forget picture # 4 = Hobbyking heatshrink exhaust pipe...

Progress as on last night...
Next comes today's progress..


CF

Today's progress...

For the record, the rear view mirrors have been made using 1mm CF rods of around 1" length x 3 nos. and the joints are joined using the rubber casing of a (guessing) 12AWG wire..

Lastly, brackets using 2mm CF rods for the vertical beams and 2mm CF rods cut in half for the horizontal beam support bracing..

CF..

Hope you guys like my build as after helicopters, this is my first scale build on a micro crawler..

Ok, Final Update,
Removed the brackets and just kept the carriage.
Reason: the brackets do not make the truck look A+ visually.

One small out of detail I've faced so far is the wheel to body ratio, the wheels are a bit smaller for this kind of heavy looking body, I am thinkin' of ordering the RC4WD http://store.rc4wd.com/Rock-Crusher-Micro-Crawler-Tires_p_737.html

As last night's update, finished with the electronics, (have to still manage to hide the batteries) perhaps, a tool box in the carriage would do the trick.
installed HID lookalike headlights, so the headlight detailing will progress today, went on to do the tail lights but my LED's burnt out.(4 tests, 8 burnt LED's)
Skipped the tail light idea, too much power distribution going there...

Will paint the truck in a couple of days, after I figure out the balance, alignment and electronics.

Looks satisfying!

For my nest build until my "N" gauge parts arrive is converting the Trex 100 to scale, >> M.A.S.H style!! everything is ready except the glass shield or whatever it is called!

CF

This project is nearing its end..
last night finished the painting works on the chassis and the body, the paint scheme looks really amazing.
tonight will try and post some pictures of the completed build and hopefully a trial run on full batteries.

Lastly, weathering will be done for scale looks..
till then have a good day ya'll !!


CF-

Finally some pictures...
I suppose they speak for themselves.

PS: A lot of sanding is balance on the whole body and also the rear view mirrors need a complete paint strip.

something happened,
The "Toyko Drift" generation guys tried some road rage on the highway..the army guy caught them at the diners and look what happened..

The brawl outside the diner's was so bad that one of the cars had to get confiscated by the army!!

Later that night, a helo was spotted being shipped to the nearest base.

MAN! this guy is brutal..

the "dukes of hazard" poser came to the diner to back the "tokyo drifters" but our MAN guy was super stressed after a hard day's work!!


they spoke, he acted!!!

guess not too many members into micro scale trucking..

CF-

Awesome sir 

It doesn't matter if nobody replies
You did one hell of a fantastic job sir 
i really like the paint finish would really like to know from where did you buy that paint as it little luxurious brand i think 

Regards
yash 

Ha, ha! Cool!

Great Job CF! 

Here, there's a stationary shop who deal in all kinds of paints, I really did not bother to see where it was made in. Its rough when you paint and once the paint dries, it tends to creep in the uneven places and produces a smooth surface..

A video before I start with the fine detailing will follow by Saturday..

Happy weekend everyone!!

Dorwin, I am just bored to death with your perfection. First the Heli fuselages, then this. 

I doubt if most of us are even qualified to comment on this kind of scale scratchbuilds.

the trains are waiting for a layout too..under discussion with the Mr's to utilize the space she calls her gym

VC, you too build from scratch man! what do you do? use your imagination right?
I say, everyone can build from scratch or salvaged parts..

As an example, even cartoon characters put the idea in the minds of the young, that, "IMAGINATION" is like your own little universe, you can manipulate it in any way you wish..

Spongebob:when you use your IMAGINATION you can do anything! even the creators imagined him wearing a pair of square pants..

Let your universe evolve..

That is so cool! Thought I was the only one building a car for the '14 sweepstakes.

I love how detailed it is for it's scale, amazing work. Good luck! 

Thank you!
Lately, I've been too busy with my train layout design and weathering of the locos, caboose, cars that I have no time to upload a video, will try to upload one this Sunday.

Dorwin-