DT02-N/ Sand Rover into Beach Buggy

[Grumpy pants]

23 hours ago, Aerobert said:

One of the best is the Citroen Mehari along with the Mini Moke. 

I have the Brat tires on my Sand Rover but with modified M-Chassis Beetle wheels. I can't say anything to ORV or SRB wheels unfortunately.

Very cool, very Ibiza 💥

[Busdriver]

Did a bit more when I got home from work. The first Saturday I’ve worked in 8 years!!! ( long story for another day)  To keep @KEV THE REV happy there is now a magnet nestled under the front. Need to adjust slightly but it works. Rear will be posts and clips covered with the magnetic tonneau. Also done a bit on the cockpit.  Dash board, gear linkage tunnel (thanks to my wife’s flower arranging box I have a bead on a pin as a gear lever)  and the windshield frame is bonded and pinned    so will act as a roll bar. Now needs a good clean up , filler primer, rub down and spray. 

[KEV THE REV]

Ah yes , much better . Great work and detailing . I have looked at adjustable magnetic mounts on eBay , lots to choose from . I will try it one day

[KEV THE REV]

43 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

thanks to my wife’s flower arranging box I have a bead on a pin as a gear lever

inspiration comes from the strangest places

[Busdriver]

9 hours ago, KEV THE REV said:

Ah yes , much better . Great work and detailing . I have looked at adjustable magnetic mounts on eBay , lots to choose from . I will try it one day

All I did was cut the post down, drilled a 3mm hole down the centre and then screwed one of the disc magnets from an adjustable set on top. The opposite disc is glued to the piece  of plasticard used to blank off the hole from behind.

 

9 hours ago, KEV THE REV said:

inspiration comes from the strangest places

Yes I just love finding stuff and re purposing it. I think @ACCEL was the master at this!!

Edited April 24, 2022 by Busdriver

[Busdriver]

Now I don’t wish to brag but if I can do this with a hacksaw, a Dremel and a few nuts and bolts then why oh why couldn’t Tamiya!!!

I started with this  and via the journey above have ended up with this . I admit that I have re shaped the front end but I would have allowed them to keep that as long as they filled the holes. All they needed was a new set of front arms and a new tub. Neither of which would be difficult. It’s still a bit of work in progress but you get the idea .   

I was going to order an exhaust from Knight Customs to finish off the rear end but although the price of the item isn’t bad by the time you add all of Shapeways charges and p&p it’s just not worth it. Rethinking!!!!

[Busdriver]

I like the stance with the Titan wheels but I’m not so keen on the look. Thought I’d try and produce a VW style ring that could be stuck in place 

just a thought for the moment. My Maths(Math for you over the pond) failed me and I have forgotten how to draw a pentagon??? Not for 👿 worship I promise, so my example is a little wonky!

[Aerobert]

That's a cool idea. What's the plan for fixing them on the wheel? 

 

[Busdriver]

1 hour ago, Aerobert said:

That's a cool idea. What's the plan for fixing them on the wheel? 

 

Glue?

[Busdriver]

Just realised the hard way that a shortened DT02 with pogo sticks up front being pushed along by a TT motor powered by a 2s lipo doesn’t steer to well or brake either 😫 Hit a metal bird bath, split the front open, shocked the front so much that it made micro cracks all around the filled in shock tower opening!!! Also flipped it which ripped the rollover bar off. So I think in future only wide open spaces with this body on. That got me thinking about what I could use as a bashing body now the chassis has been shortened. I rummaged through my bodypost bag and fixed a couple of posts to the front of the chassis then put the Titan rear post back on, cut the front arches out of the bodyshell and Voilà!!!

will tidy up the buggy and put on a shelf!!!

[Busdriver]

Narrowed the rear end. I only cut the bottom arm and replaced the upper arm with threaded rod so I can alter the camber. It’s only mocked up at the moment as I need some ball nuts to do the upper link. Will do photos of suspension once complete but by doing it I have brought the rear wheels right under the body work.  

it’s not quite as dramatic as the last picture looks!!!

[Busdriver]

So I think I’ve done everything I can to this to make not a Sand Rover. Since the last post I have put in splined gears in the diff with splined outdrives, currently fitted with 50/51 mm dog bones which I think is a fraction short so have ordered some 53mm on a slow boat from China!! Also we have Brat long axles to allow Brat wheels and tyres to be used all round. Front end has F103 CR steering knuckles . I soldered up a luggage rack to fit on the tonneau. It’s now ready for the beach with drinks, food in the ice box , sleeping rolls and a surf board    

[Grumpy pants]

3 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

So I think I’ve done everything I can to this to make not a Sand Rover. Since the last post I have put in splined gears in the diff with splined outdrives, currently fitted with 50/51 mm dog bones which I think is a fraction short so have ordered some 53mm on a slow boat from China!! Also we have Brat long axles to allow Brat wheels and tyres to be used all round. Front end has F103 CR steering knuckles . I soldered up a luggage rack to fit on the tonneau. It’s now ready for the beach with drinks, food in the ice box , sleeping rolls and a surf board    

Superb, I’d say possibly your best so far 👍

[Busdriver]

46 minutes ago, Grumpy pants said:

Superb, I’d say possibly your best so far 👍

I thank you Sir. Without being to big headed I think I agree😁 Big issue now is it’s ( the body that is) just too fragile and pretty. So one idea is to get a second body and do a Steve McQueen cut down racer or get an HB body and chop the roof off and turn it in to a beach roadster???

 

EDIT: HB body + roof/driver etc ordered.