neverfollow 599 Posted September 20, 2014 I've been working on my Clod project for some time now, adding some goodies here and there, and now it's pretty much complete. I had been using a Sand Scorcher driver, and he looked fine in there, but the interior was definitely lacking something. He looked great in the cabin from afar, but up close..not seeing his lower half, and just floating in there..it just wasn't pleasing to me anymore, especially in the days of scale RC 4x4's. With some research, I found an interior that could fit in a Clod with some modification. So i took a chance, and took some photos along the way. The interior I picked up was from an Axial Spyder. Here it is as I received it. Looks pretty good, but it definitely needed some originality and modification to be at home in my Clod. It came with a pair of beautiful Corbeau racing seats, that really look the part, especially with the supplied decals applied. Some trimming of the floor, moving the dashboard a little closer to the seats, and moving the seats a little towards the dashboard is all it took to make a snug fit. I made some mounts out of roll bar spot lamps, and attached them to the front of the interior to help secure/support the interior to the body. I added some paint to the steering wheel and gear levers, and removed some of the Axial decals, like the radio and speakers. Besides, who could listen to music with such a fire breathing engine in there anyway? Added some Tamiya decals to cover up some of the removed Axial logos and decals. Another angle. Test fitting..I also noticed that for some reason this interior had one too many gear levers. In the previous pictures you can see that there is a selector for an automatic transmission, as well as the shifters for a manual transmission, and 4x4 transfer case. I chose to go with the manual gear box, and moved them over closer to the driver. I must say, it fits really well in there. I am very pleased. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 20, 2014 The next step was to try to fill the voids behind the seats, and in front of the interior-like a firewall. Here you can see the empty opening. A template I made from cardboard. Roughly cut from aluminum. Fitted to the chassis. It is cut to fit snug against the chassis, but I also secured it with some double sided tape. And decorated. On to the backside, I did the same with more aluminum. And on to a driver..which was a challenge that was bigger than I thought. My first instinct was to get Willy in there. Especially since I wanted to make the interior more Tamiya, and that I enjoy painting the figure. To me painting the driver brings them to life, the face..eyes..and so on. I ordered him, he arrived, I assembled him, and then realized he was way too big...strike 1. Next idea was to pick up the Tamiya 4x4 driver figure, again..to keep it Tamiya. Same story, too big. I starting shaving and sanding him down, and once I got his body to fit the seat, his arms and legs looked awkward when reaching for the steering wheel and gear lever. Strike 2. Here's a picture of the 2nd driver, along with some scale accessories that I picked up. 3rd and final attempt for a driver was a home run. Perfect fit. And comes in the form of Han Solo, and a half naked Princess Leia I removed some items off of the figures, added some cable ties to replicate racing seat belt harnesses, and attached a scale fire extinguisher. The figures are poseable, ideal for fitting in the interior properly. Test fitting again. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 20, 2014 And finally, some scale accessories. I mounted some tow hooks to the front bumper, and wrapped a tow chain around it. Originally I wanted to leave the roll bar without lights for a clean look, but I also did want to add more lights to the vehicle. I had no choice but to use the roll bar, and was still happy with the outcome. I used a 5 spot light bar from 3Racing, removing 2 lamps, removing the chrome finish and painting the entire set up matte black. For some reason I didn't take a picture of the light set before modifying it. It's a very nice light set, I believe made for some Traxxas vehicle. It comes with LED bulbs (which I did not use), lamp lenses, grilles, and mounting hardware. Here they are primed, painted and mounted. Another close up of Han and Leia. For the lights, I decided to not use the provided LEDs, they didn't seem too bright. I had a front/rear light set in my parts bin, and the front lights had more of a blue-ish hue, which I liked. I wasn't too sure what to do with the red LEDs, especially since the Clod body doesn't have light buckets in the rear. I considered using one of the removed roll bar lamp housings, and attaching it to the rear bumper, but decided against it, in thoughts that it wouldn't look right. I chose to mount them inside the cockpit for some ambiance lighting You can't really tell with the room's lights on. But with the room's lights off, they stand out well. And that's it for now. I have some ideas for some more scale accessories, as this body has now become less and less what it was intended for. It was supposed to be a runner body to preserve the original red body, but that's out the window now. Maybe a lexan body is in my future Thanks for viewing! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emory70 153 Posted September 20, 2014 Good stuff. Way more effort than I'd put into it. Bravo. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InsaneJim69 1584 Posted September 20, 2014 That looks amazing. IMO loose the receiver with the huge antenna. Get a 2.4ghz system to get that more scale look as the antenna can just sit under the body. And possible proper headlight and tail light kit would really set it off perfectly.# Awesome work though James 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 20, 2014 Thanks for the kind words... James, it is 2.4ghz and you do make a good point. I just didn't want to have a hole in the bed so I used an antennae tube. I probably should have filled the hole before painting it. Maybe I can lose the tube and cover the hole with a scale fuel cell. I haven't seen any tail light kits available for a Clod, nor for the headlights, being that it's a grille from CPE. But anything is possible with some research, a hobby knife, and some creativity Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikef350 10 Posted September 20, 2014 Wow that looks the mutts nuts mate well done 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wez-li 1790 Posted September 20, 2014 Great work mate! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 21, 2014 thank you all very much! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tamiya1/10 382 Posted September 21, 2014 Never was a fan of the Clod, but your interior work is very good along with the rest of the body works. Would add wheel wells to all 4 corners? BTW, like the side pipes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 23, 2014 Never was a fan of the Clod, but your interior work is very good along with the rest of the body works. Would add wheel wells to all 4 corners? BTW, like the side pipes.I had been working on wheel liners..finished them this evening... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 23, 2014 Also made some scale monster truck brakes. Mounted the rotors to the servo and made a bracket to keep the caliper in a fixed position. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveU30 1011 Posted September 23, 2014 Now you're just showing off! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Percymon 2184 Posted September 23, 2014 Nice customisation The interior from the Axial Yeti is also quite a good fit, just needing some styrene additions at each side.. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 23, 2014 That's a very clean fit from the Yeti...looks a lot less troublesome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveU30 1011 Posted September 23, 2014 Yeah but it hasn't got a full size Han & Leia now has it!?!?!? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 23, 2014 Yeah but it hasn't got a full size Han & Leia now has it!?!?!? Indeed, Steve. A half naked Leia at that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tamiya1/10 382 Posted September 23, 2014 like everything you have done to body. will you paint the wheel wells black? To add the cherry on top is put a rear view mirror and a pair of dice hanging off it.( The lady passenger you have told me to tell you that) Thats a man's truck if i may say so. Also like the lighting up of the interior. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 23, 2014 like everything you have done to body. will you paint the wheel wells black? To add the cherry on top is put a rear view mirror and a pair of dice hanging off it.( The lady passenger you have told me to tell you that) Thats a man's truck if i may say so. Also like the lighting up of the interior. Not sure if I will paint them black. I like the aluminum look, since it matches the wheels and other suspension parts. A rear view mirror is possible, but what could Han see behind him when he's that high up? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emory70 153 Posted September 23, 2014 Not to criticise such a nice build, but a proper bench seat would sure look a lot better that the racing seats. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 23, 2014 Not to criticise such a nice build, but a proper bench seat would sure look a lot better that the racing seats.All comments/suggestions whether positive or negative are always welcomed on any of my builds. The reason why I didn't go with a bench seat (I considered an interior from a Bruiser or Trailfinder) was that I wanted to make this Clod a scale monster truck. You wouldn't find a bench seat in a proper monster truck. One would need to strap in, and hold on tightly. Yes, the interior isn't perfect in scale to a monster truck, but my options were limited. And the driver and passenger should be wearing a helmet I have a few more scale accessories that are on their way, and as soon as they arrive, I will figure a way to get them on. I will take pics shortly after that. Thanks again for all of the comments! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zomboided 374 Posted September 24, 2014 So much cooler than the Millenium Falcon. Great detail, thanks for sharing and shaming us all! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 26, 2014 Well, I think I can say I'm done with this project...for now A few more items arrived between yesterday and today, and I immediately got to work.. An Axial radiator kit, an oil cooler with steel braided lines, a nitrous oxide tank, and Pro-Line dry cell batteries. Also (not pictured), an RC4wd fuel celll. I first started with the oil cooler: I chose to mount it right to the chassis: And run the feed and return lines through the chassis: Next up was the radiator and fan kit. Everything on the parts tree comes in black, and needs painting to give it a true scale look. I used Tamiya flat aluminum for the radiator: And flat red for the fan blades: All together, the red is barely noticeable..as I figured..but I'm ok with that: I drilled 2 holes to mount the radiator in the bed, attached the dry cell batteries with 3M double sided tape, and mounted the nitrous bottle with an old plastic servo mount that keeps the bottle at an angle. I cut some of the excess oil cooler line and used it as a nitrous feed line: The label on the tank was peeling when I opened the package, but I re-adhered it with some glue: The Axial radiator mounts at an angle which I wasn't too thrilled about, so today I cut off the mounts and made my own. I also painted the radiator cap and the Griffin logo. I would really like to find someting suitable for upper and lower radiator hoses though. Hoses would compliment the radiator nicely I think. It still mounts at an angle, but not nearly as pronounced as before: And the RC4wd alloy fuel cell came in today. It's a beauiful piece, and it also doubles as a receiver box: I also used the double sided tape to mount the fuel cell: And that's all for now. I have CPE's stealth body mounts on their way to remove those unsightly body clips. I also picked up a Venom 3s 4000 20c Lipo to replace the Venom 2s 5000 25c hard case I had in there originally. With all these add ons, this vehicle is VERY heavy. Surprisingly, the 3s is smaller than the 2s. Most likely because the 3s isn't a hard case. I'm hoping it will be able to handle the 3s power. If not, I may try an 8.4 NiMh. Once again, thanks for viewing! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shodog 1835 Posted September 26, 2014 Great work so far. I like all the extras you have used. This body is screaming for a rogue elements drop bed kit 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neverfollow 599 Posted September 26, 2014 Great work so far. I like all the extras you have used. This body is screaming for a rogue elements drop bed kitThanks Shodog..unfortunately they're no longer in production. I emailed them today and they responded with the bad news. I never knew of the drop bed kit, and always thought it would of been so much better with one. I guess I built my Clod too late :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites