Wild Willy M38 Hard Top

[simensays 380]

I haven't posted in a long time, but seeing all these WW thread going on atm, it inspired me to make a project thread on some WW work I have been doing.

After restoring and building several WW M38 over the last few years, one with a soft top - I have planned a hardtop one for a long time. Late last year I finally got around to actually designing one, based on some pics found on the net, and had it printed on Shapeways. I made it as 4 parts that screw together, with frames ready on the inside for fitting clear lexan for windows (not in the pics yet). I didn't want to have doors, as I want to see Willy himself, as he is such an important part of this model. The hardtop clips onto the rollbar (just flip the spot lights backwards) and fits both the WW1 and WW2 bodies.

I've been busy with several multirotor projects over the last year, but dedicate some more time for the Tamiya collection again. I've orimed and painted the HT, installed windows and have planned on weathering the whole car now.

Original hardtop

CAD dumps

Test fitting on a WW2

WW1

I will take more pics as the works continue in the upcoming days.

[mongoose1983 3362]

That is absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

[WillyChang 1820]

Nice job!

Makes it look more like a LandRover though, like the devil in "The Gods Must Be Crazy"

[simensays 380]

WillyChangTheman, Yeaj, it does kinda give it a Landy look, especially now that the spare wheel isn't mounted. That is a well know looking car, but very few has ever seen a Willys with a hard top. It does look a lot better with the spare wheel mounted, and details added - which is in the paint booth now. I've made a roof rack, with wooden boards for it also, and will soon take some new pics.

[bromvw 744]

OMG . That's very cool . I can see the forums are going to be full of Hard WIlly's now . I see just see this with a custom Sandy driver figure ( See Mr Crispy's post ) .

[simensays 380]

I am planning on using ModMax very cool Psycho Mike head on the driver figure in this,

[mr crispy 2297]

I'm didn't think I'd like a hardtop WW but that looks very good, and that head looks fantastic simensays!

[simensays 380]

I'm didn't think I'd like a hardtop WW but that looks very good, and that head looks fantastic simensays!

A hard top Willys Jeep was not on top of my list either at first, but after restoring & building a lot of Wild Willys over the last 12 years, I needed to come up with something new. As I had already done a soft top, the hard top seemed like a cool challenge to do.

Yeah, ModMax is an artist, and his Wild Willy head sculpts are fantastic!

[JennyMo 3642]

Wow! - I LOVE this...

Oh dear, I can see myself buying the GF-01 chassis... a WW2 body, and one of these hard-top kits... please say you will be making them available on Shapeways?

Jx

[IBIFTKH 1374]

They are on Shapeways. I nearly bought one after Xmas but price and circumstances conspired against me

[simensays 380]

Yes, the hardtop is available on my page on Shapeways.

[pleiku68 24]

This is just too cool my friend...I remember you doing designs back in the day but this 3-D stuff is beyond beyond...Do have a 3-D printer?? I want one!!

Now I will have to vacuum metalize A Willy in Gold...And do a pimp Willy driver..LOL

Great work and so innovative..Regards Jerry..

[simensays 380]

Thanks Jerry! You remember correct, I have been working as an art director and designer for about 15 years now. 3D engineering and modelling is so great when doing this hobby, and with the quality of some of the 3D printers available now, you can make pretty much any custom bit you want or need. I've been developing a bunch of parts and modular systems for multirotors and GoPro the last year. I have a list of parts I have started working on for the Wild Willy, and the hardtop is just the first one out.

LOL, that will be a PimpMyRide Wild Willy! Are you still doing all that metal plating work? Great to have you back