The $58 Truck Project

[markbt73]

So... remember that Wild Ceptor I scored for $25? Yeah. It doesn't look so much like the Batmobile anymore.

http://picasaweb.google.com/markbt73/RcStu...992662275195298

I had originally bought this $24 Parma Chevy Blazer desert racer body shell for my Grasshopper, but after I got the Ceptor, I realized that a Blazer really ought to be 4WD. With a little wheelbase fudging, the shell fits great, and the styrene roll cage doesn't look bad for an hour's worth of work, and it's strong. It needs some more detail work so it doesn;t look so plasticky, and I might make wheel arches for it to clean up the look a bit. I'm considering going for the beat-up rusted look for this one, but not going so far with the detailing that I'm afraid to go beat on it. For this price, there is no way this thing is going to be a shelf queen.

The chrome 3-spoke wheels weren't doing it for me, so I picked up a set of Hummer wheels for $9 and stretched the Sand Blaster tires over them. The sidewalls bulge out and look a lot like real radial truck tires. I left the wheels black, but later I might "rust" them a bit.

I also hacked off the gigantic front bumper. Eventually I'll make a skidplate to keep the front edge of the chassis from getting hung up in the dirt. I have some square styrene stock that will become bumpers for the front and rear of the body.

As for running gear, it still has the 380 and the bushings, and I'll see them worn down to nothing before I change them. I stuck a receiver and a Futaba S3003 servo and a TEU101BK speed control in it, and I'm trying to figure out a way to waterproof it. I think I'm also going to go in and lock the diffs, for full time traction at both ends. (With no suspension, this thing is going to need all the help it can get.)

I haven't run it yet except in the living room, but I'm really excited to try this one out. I've never turned a brand-new vehicle into such a project before, and it was a little weird hacking up brand new parts. But I think it turned out well, especially for the price of a nice meal out (or a tank of gas in my wife's Pathfinder).

[Mad Ax]

Interesting idea

Can you mount the body any lower? With no suspension it seems a shame to have all that gap above the tyres; and the chassis is visible below the edge shell. Might look better a little lower?

Keep us updated!

[Origineelreclamebord]

Very nice so far Should make a nice truck!

[skip665]

That looks really cool - and for that sort of $$ you can bash the "bad word" out of it

Keep us posted!

[qatmix]

How did you change the wheelbase?

That looks really cool - and for that sort of $$ you can bash the "bad word" out of it

Keep us posted!

[markbt73]

How did you change the wheelbase?

I didn't. The fudging was on the body, not the chassis. I just cut extra-large wheel openings so it looks like it lines up better. The chassis is 100% stock except for the removal of the bumper.

As for the height, yeah, it would be nice if there was a little less chassis exposed, but the extra height hides the wheelbase discrepancy, and it will give me room to install waterproof radio box (meaning: Tupperware).