Scale Technics RAV4 / RAD4 Crawler

[technics 3161]

RC has taken a pause for me since basically a year ago but I´m back with a new project to kick start the motivation again. Others are on hold once the inspiration returns. And a few dozen are being planned in the background.

It´s my first 1:10 crawler build. I was inspired by the Motortrend "RAD4" project they did a while back where they cut up and made a beast out of a little 3door Rav4. I loved the look of it and wanted to do something along those lines, perhaps a bit more OCD and cleaner..  .

 

I started off by pulling off anything unnecessary on the used roller chassis I secured and brushing most of the filth off.

I did a preliminary body cut and worked on the stance a bit. I´ve since adjusted the body to sit lower. It sits very nicely on magnetic body posts by Absima which i used to mount on the stock trimmed Axial posts. They sit securly with simply a bodypin to the chassis.

 

It isn´t 100% Tamiya per se, but the spirit and passion is always Tamiya for me anyway.

 

Project Start: 2023/02

Axial SCX10.2 Used Roller - 313mm Wheelbase

Kyosho Rav4 Bodyset ( feels like a 1/9th or 1/8th scale body. )

Electrics - Holmes Hobbies 1800kv Outrunner V3 / Sidewinder 3

Paint - PS17 Metallic Green / PS63 Bright Gunmetal  / PS41 Bright Silver

 

Ambitions  - 

Simply a cool looking Crawler / Pre Runner inspired Rav4

Auxiliary front and rear lighting

 

 

 

IG - @scale_technics

https://www.instagram.com/scale_technics/

[technics 3161]

[Mad Ax 10024]

Looks like this could be a cool project - already off to a great start  

[ChrisRx718 4599]

Never knew anyone made that series of RAV4 body, pretty cool. With so much cut away, I presume you'll need to do wheel wells / arch liners?

 

[technics 3161]

Thank you!

@ChrisRx718

Yes! For the mud guards I will use " INJORA Black Plastic Mud Flaps Inner Fenders for Original Axial SCX10 II 90046 90047 "  We’ll see how much will be left of the liners with that much cut away everywhere  haha. I agree ! 

[technics 3161]

So it’s been a long while.

Between getting it to operate the way that I want to waiting for parts this is the bulk of the reason why the project progress has been slow.

No luck with running the Castle Creations Sidewinder 3, I went as far as getting a full warranty replacement sent to me by Castle but the same problem exists with the new one I received at which point I just give up and scrap that direction. In short the problem - no throttle modulation, 1% throttle = shoot up directly to 50% motor speed. I tried different batteries, motors, remotes, receivers nothing changes this. I bought the programming usb link making the curve essentially flatline, doesn’t matter esc does not react to programming. My theory is it’s the older model which no one buys anymore and they switched suppliers / don’t do any quality control / care. I have dozens of complete electrified rc’s I’ve never had any issues like this.

 

So with that behind us I put the outrunner motor aside for now and went with someone that would give me immediate results. Hobbywing 1200kv Fusion SE  This neat little motor is an all in one esc/motor so it cleans up nicely when mounted in the chassis. Immediately worked just as I expected but even better! The throttle modulation is incredible and the slow start / crawl speed / full torque from 0rpm is amazing. That’s before any programming or tweaking at all. I’m very happy and would recommend it for anyone looking to crawl at a snails pace. It has so much torque if I trigger full throttle the front wheels lift And this isn’t a light chassis by any means, is made up of heavy steel rails.

I made a tidy esc / battery connector I am quite proud of ( I’m 3-4 years into owning a soldering station ) zero experience before this. 

The body has been trimmed, sanded and cleaned to where I began with the paint areas in PS-63 gunmetal backed with black. I will later semi gloss / flat clear coat from the outside as I’d like to have a plastic look that minicks the 1:1 vehicle. 

The inner wheel fenders took some brutal trimming to fit but I think they’ll help keep daylight out when looking low down on the truck. No perfect but it’s a start.

Overall I’m happy it’s moving forward now.

 

[technics 3161]

 

[technics 3161]

[technics 3161]

I think the stance is great, the grungy tires this roller came with really give it some attitude. The protective lexan overspray film is peeling around the edges and the passenger side right mudguard sags down a bit we’ll see how / if I solve that. This will be taking all sorts of tumbles down cliffsides 😃. 
 

[technics 3161]

No window masks were included in the bodyset. Nor any window trim type decals. Not that I ever really liked them. They’re ok but usually looks cartoony instead of realistic like painting the window trim / rubber / plastic areas on a body.

Quiet a job this was but I’m motivated. It was  taped same day as first coats are sprayed. Find it has to be as fresh as possible to ensure a sharp lines. Hope it works out.
 

 

[technics 3161]

I am very pleased, tape came off beautifully. Big success today. Next up will be cleaning up and detailing.

It feels like an oem colour that is period correct. It will be weathered over time with use nicely. 
 

I will take my time deciding on the auxiliary lighting I want to use.
 

PS17 Metallic Green backed with black

PS63 Bright Gunmetal backed with black

[technics 3161]

[technics 3161]

Not the sexiest update but its honest work I brush painted over the bright red differential covers with Tamiya XF Semi Gloss black to remove any attention from the mechanical bits.

Bizzare stock colour choice for a category of rc that is very focused on scale and realism that they are bright red from factory. 

[OldSchoolRC1 1065]

Love the color combo, build is coming along well! 

[technics 3161]

@OldSchoolRC1 Thank you, I really love it. Feels period correct. Tamiya makes the best paints!

[technics 3161]

A little love goes a long way. I outlined and opened up the front grill, added mesh and a photo etched logo.  Here’s the body mated to the chassis for the first time post paint. I’m very happy with the result.

[technics 3161]

I wanted a unique lighting setup which reminded me of ultra 4 / class 5 / pre runners. Usually some lamps are yellow and they have a sleek mounting position on chassis or body.
 

Found in my electronics drawer I had some rectangular lamps with nice looking lenses. I used window tint film to cover the two center lamps in transparent orange.

For installing onto the chassis I had a stack of plastic sheets with a decent looking grain that can be easily manipulated to use directly or go to a thicker gauge or material. I made some basic brackets and adhered them together.

I wanted the lamps to be able to be toggled separately the two orange ones / the two white ones.  Layed out is the wiring of how i made this work.

- Two pairs of 5mm lamps, two multi ( physical button ) toggle switches, 3 into 1 wire coupler to finally a CH3 toggle switch that allows me to toggle everything on and off via transmitter.

[technics 3161]

It’s not perfect by any means. But it’s by far the nicest off the shelf “built” lighting I’ve done.

There’s some light bleed which I’ll address with black paint and more coverage with black plastic.

[technics 3161]

Importantly it looks cool when not lit too. 😃

[technics 3161]

I continued detailing and the exterior today. I took the extra risk of masking off the exterior again in order to spray the remaining lower side door trim PS57flatclear. It adds another layer of detail by creating contrasting surface finishes.

The roof was the largest change which really made the exterior look great. I have a collection fabric samples that I’ve kept embarrassingly 20 years now but it’s exactly what the roof needed. I added a thin layer of textile fabric with 3M spray mount to the roof. The 1:1 Toyota has a large cab area right in this place. I think it looks both to scale and interesting to the eye. Wing mirrors were included in the bodyset with self adhesive mirror inserts. Excellent!

 

 

[Grumpy pants 5170]

There is so much to like about this project and thread 👏

[technics 3161]

Finally got it out in the woods!

I’ll try to do it regularly. It functions as it should and looks the part. I’m content. My first and only 1:10 crawler. 

As this came as a roller complete with the shabby looking tires and wheels I do not know their origin but I think they absolutely make it. They’re worn and have the right look. I’m very happy with how everything turned out. The box stock scx10.2 crawls very impressively in my opinion.

 

 

[ChrisRx718 4599]

Very cool looking rig. IMO needs a few more accessories, but I know how much these just become instant casualties when you run them! Mirrors and a snorkel might be strong enough to survive a few tumbles?!

[JimBear 792]

Such a great colour on it, and you've done a really fine job with the RAV (I think they're fugly, but this one shines) body. All thumbs (two in my case) up!

[technics 3161]

@ChrisRx718 Yes! Actually I forgot I have the original and correct mirrors for it, I just had them off during storage. Hehe. If I use it consistently I’ll want to add more gear. Mainly lights… 😁👌 The reduced overal look came from the main inspiration though, just a cut up hollowed out Rav from MotorTrend.

 

@JimBear Thank You! The original Rav 4 is so bizarre I love it haha. It’s one of those ugly ducklings, there were a few of those in the 90s across several marques.. I love to see it done into something off-road like this.