Well I have been working on this project every day this week, after letting the frame sit around since I first finished it last fall.
I started out by taking the frame drawings from the FSM, and printing them to scale. Then I cut down a length of half inch square tubing for the frame rails, and tach welded it back together every few inches. With the frame drawing, I heated up the tubing and made the first bend, then followed along until the tubing lined up with the print. The first attempt was perfect, ground the welds off and I had my rails.
With the frame rails complete, I then measured and cut the front and rear cross members. Made the bends in the middle of the rails, and welded in the cross members.
Welded in the rear shock bar
For those of you familiar with the Tamiya TLT axles, they are the same front and rear. So the rear axle has the full knuckle assembly, not very scale for a rear axle. So I welded up a piece that replaced the entire knuckle assembly, then had a company machine them from aluminum. I got a few free sets out of the deal, and do not have to deal with customer support
Now we fast forward to this week, several months later..... Monday night I cut out and bent up all 4 spring hangers.
Tuesday night I cut out 8 shackle sides, a little on the long side. I might make them a little shorter, but I will try them as they are first.
And tonight was a good night, the axles were mounted to the leaf springs. I also mounted the tranny, steering servo, and the back of the body.
I still need to modify some larger tires to fit the rims, the final tires will be taller. Some parts of the frame need to be boxed, such as around the front shackles and the tranny. Also need to fab a trac bar for the rear axle. And a list of other little things I still have to do.
Still deciding on the color.... Might just go with john deer green.
I started out by taking the frame drawings from the FSM, and printing them to scale. Then I cut down a length of half inch square tubing for the frame rails, and tach welded it back together every few inches. With the frame drawing, I heated up the tubing and made the first bend, then followed along until the tubing lined up with the print. The first attempt was perfect, ground the welds off and I had my rails.
With the frame rails complete, I then measured and cut the front and rear cross members. Made the bends in the middle of the rails, and welded in the cross members.
Welded in the rear shock bar
For those of you familiar with the Tamiya TLT axles, they are the same front and rear. So the rear axle has the full knuckle assembly, not very scale for a rear axle. So I welded up a piece that replaced the entire knuckle assembly, then had a company machine them from aluminum. I got a few free sets out of the deal, and do not have to deal with customer support
Now we fast forward to this week, several months later..... Monday night I cut out and bent up all 4 spring hangers.
Tuesday night I cut out 8 shackle sides, a little on the long side. I might make them a little shorter, but I will try them as they are first.
And tonight was a good night, the axles were mounted to the leaf springs. I also mounted the tranny, steering servo, and the back of the body.
I still need to modify some larger tires to fit the rims, the final tires will be taller. Some parts of the frame need to be boxed, such as around the front shackles and the tranny. Also need to fab a trac bar for the rear axle. And a list of other little things I still have to do.
Still deciding on the color.... Might just go with john deer green.
