NicheRotors :: Original Wild Willy Custom Parts

[Willy iine 12706]

@nicherotors Great to see your new creations!    Very cool.

 

I still haven't made the exterior side mirrors for my M38's.. I need to get back to that.    

[bRIBEGuy 1249]

On 10/1/2022 at 5:11 AM, nicherotors said:

Attention has recently turned to seeing if Wild Willy could get comfortable on the inside of a Bullhead.

The first mock up suggests a tight fit but possible - the sunroof will be keep while the tinted windows will be cut away.  Hoping to squeeze in a roll cage in line with monster trucks of this size.

The first version of parts have just been sent to Shapeways.

This sounds awesome!

[nicherotors 150]

On page 5 of this thread I drew reference to a modern incarnation of the Renault 5. 

This is an another, this time all electric!
 

Amazing colour scheme and provides inspiration for Wheeler projects. 
 

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/renault-5-turbo-3e-374bhp-all-electric-drifter

 

[nicherotors 150]

With operational headlights Wild Willy became a popular choice with my nephew as the sun started to set.  At such times, in conjunction with the bikini roof (which is still work in progress), we had the idea of trying to illuminate the instrument cluster given the interior was dark.

Given there isn’t much space behind the dashboard I knew that a light box made of thin plastic alone would not prevent light escaping and thus making the inside of the engine bay glow.  So, armed with PowerPoint, I designed some brass that, once etched, would wrap around a thin plastic walled light box and sit atop the standard sticker to reduce any stray light escaping - also had a number of US license plates made at the same time.

Hopefully the pictures explain.  The Tamiya sticker is sandwiched between two sheets of brass - I found the whole sticker glowed without the top one in place.  The brass is 6 thou (.15 mm) so when the electrics are off it looks just a regular kit. 

The last picture shows how the rear view mirror, originally designed for the Wheeler, can be used in conjunction with the bikini roof. 
 

 

[nicherotors 150]

The Bullhead interior is starting to take shape.  The seat is already hollowed out to accommodate a servo to animate the head.  With the success of the illuminated dashboard on the Wild Willy we will copy that idea across for this project too.

Onwards with the design of a rollcage. 

[Willy iine 12706]

Very cool idea with the cluster lights @nicherotors!!!   

 

[nicherotors 150]

Have been distracted with a new little project - that of augmenting the GF-01 chassis to accommodate Wild Willy but with a smaller number of 3d printed parts - albeit with some compromises. 
 

I’m calling it GF-02 given it feels like a Stage 2 set of modifications - leaving the completely redesigned chassis to be called GF-03.  Seems appropriate to think of my original conversion using only Tamiya parts as a Stage 1 modification (https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=137457&id=18923).

 

Here are a few pictures of some prototype Shapeways parts (shown in white to help identification):

 

- four body posts that push the body back 3mm so that the front axle is correctly positioned under the body

- two rear uprights that shorten the wheelbase by 2mm and place the rear axle in the correct location under the body (as per the original SWB)

- two parts that allow for a straight battery pack to be used (in conjunction with WR-01 e parts to retain the battery)

 

I’m pleased that the straight battery pack can be removed while keeping the Wild Willy body on which will reduce hangar rash and speed up changeovers.

 

Not too many compromises:

- the footwell can’t be sealed off like the original and the GF-03

- 5mm of the bottom right boot needs to be trimmed off 

- the chassis sits 4mm too high (which can be lowered by reducing the damper throw but that then eats into ground clearance)

 

The original two battery retaining posts need to be cut off and due to a preference for the chassis rails then the rear two body posts are also removed - this conversion is a one-way trip. 

 

A few tweaks still required - with the addition of a box that sits on top of the battery to hold the ESC and receiver while concealing many of the wires.

[nicherotors 150]

... plenty of space for all the electronics to sit above the battery.

[Willy iine 12706]

Awesome stuff @nicherotors!! 

[GeeWings 2370]

Yes, this is excellent as always @nicherotors. Please do keep us updated. I will be ready to pull the trigger as soon as available on Shapeways!

[Willy iine 12706]

Shapeways has been trying to get me to buy something with their cyber Monday sale.. 

[GeeWings 2370]

6 hours ago, Willy iine said:

Shapeways has been trying to get me to buy something with their cyber Monday sale.. 

Same! I’ve actually just ordered some of your hubs @nicherotors for my City Turbo build.

[nicherotors 150]

Good luck @GeeWings - every mm seems to help to reduce tyre contact with the body. 
 

I see Shapeways extended their sale - just after I placed a big order the week before and am now on holiday and don’t need anything else!  Will remember to improve my timing next year. 

[nicherotors 150]

Shapeways recently offered a discount on PA12 (MJF) so went ahead and got a few prototype items printed in gray.  Here are a couple of items with some tweaks - best bit is that the battery can still be changed without taking the Wild Willy body off. Only minor adjustments are now required and one final test print before they can be offered via Shapeways. 

[nicherotors 150]

A little while ago I posted a ‘how to’ on opening up the Wild Willy 2 grill so as to utilise the radiator - a leftover on the sprue from the original 1980’s model but not used on the latest release (guide can be found here).  The two holes at the bottom allow for access to the screws holding the winch in place (can’t be seen once the grill has been glued in place).

A couple of parts have just arrived from Shapeways that can be sandwiched behind the opened up grill to add a bit more detail/ interest.

The fan loosely rotates on a 2mm screw.

They have just been added to my nephews basher for a test fit.

[nicherotors 150]

Drawing inspiration from a modified 1949 Willy Jeep, albeit with a lightweight fibreglass body, I wanted to replicate the air filter sticking out of the bonnet/ hood.  Sometimes I think the Tamiya designers used this fibreglass upgrade, which was popular in the 70’s, as their inspiration for the original 1983 model that also lacked surface detail. Note the use of Sand Tires Unlimited front and back on this yellow example. 
 

My first obstacle was getting a clean, perfectly round hole cut that was in the centre.  This was solved with a 3d printed tool we designed that can be bolted from above and below on the bonnet (locked in place through the body mounting holes and the leading edge of the bonnet). In the first instance it allowed for a line to be drawn for an initial rough cut with the Dremel. Then finer grades of sandpaper wrapped around a custom 3d printed sanding stick of the same radius (accommodating the thickness of the sandpaper) was used to get a really clean edge.

Again, I’ve practiced on my nephews basher.

[GeeWings 2370]

21 hours ago, nicherotors said:

Very nice! I like that a lot.

[nicherotors 150]

Thanks - also looks good behind a vintage grill but just noticed that the winch was mounted higher on the old design. 
 

On the military M38 the fan is behind the radiator and unseen from the front - but drawing inspiration from the community that race these vehicles it’s clear than in some hot locations cooling is of paramount importance.

[nicherotors 150]

Some new prototype parts for my GF-02 chassis have arrived in black PA12 - the black makes it hard for me to photograph.  They are close but still a couple of aspects need to be tweaked. 

With normal suspension travel the chassis sits about 6/8mm too high when compared to the original 1980’s model (but still lower than the WR-02) - this can be reduced by restricting the damper throws but then you start to eat into ground clearance.

With my custom wheels - painted orange here - the track front and rear replicates that of the original 1980’s model which was narrower at the front than the rear. 

[nicherotors 150]

Painting the miniature K&N air filter didn’t take too long and was a fun little project. 

[nicherotors 150]

My nephews Wild Willy 2, which has turned into my 4x4 development mule, has started to look nicely weathered and battered - but the windscreen remained broadly clean. So, I thought it would be a good experiment to design a 3d printed paint mask that faithfully replicates the sweep of the wiper.  The paint mask was printed in the detailed smooth plastic which is clear - painted white to show up in the pictures. 
 

Both the base and the paint mask have been designed to accommodate four pairs of little magnets that have proven strong enough to keep the paint mask located in the correct position. A light dusting of TS-80 is all that was required.  Once dry it accepted a bit of weathering around the edges. 
 

The final step was to sweep a 3d printed wiper wrapped in fine sandpaper to leave a light a smear.