Custom truck and SUV

Spanky · #1 01-09-2003, 05:00 AM

OK, here is my attempt at body making.

I started with a hot wheels truck. Hotwheels have a much longer wheelbase than compared to a bit, so it needed to be chopped. i basically needed to take 10mm from the center of this thing. luckly the bed was the perfect place to do my chopping.

so i chopped in half, removed all pieces exvept for the body. i then kinda glued them back together with bondo. which is nice because its sandable and if you want to etch things in it with an exacto its easy... as you can see in the picture i also had to add a bit to the sides of the truck as it was not as wide as the bit.

i also added about 10 mm to the base of this body. The reason for this is for the vaccum mold.... I am having this body vacum molded so i can get a clear plastic replica of it which will allow me to do a nice paint job, and it will also keep the weight down on this thing. I will be planning on lowering this truck, so the extra height of the body will allow me to mount it at the same height as a normal one, with the appearance of ground effects

this truck has already been sent off for the molding, hopefully next week i will get a sheet of these bodys (approximately 15-20) which will be very simmilar to those lexan slot car bodys.. i am thinking when i get back the body i will add some fender flares to it and give it the appearance of a prerunner.

and you can see that i also have a SUV in the works. i am particullary excited for this one because it will allow for one to store 3 batteries inside the car if my calculations are correct. after these two i am planning on making a Tiberon rally car, and a 911 carrera.

payaso · #2 01-09-2003, 12:23 PM

Very nice so far... Keep us posted on how it turns out. Are you going to sell any of the bodies? If so, I'd buy one.

silla

Spanky · #3 01-09-2003, 12:51 PM

yea. i do plan on selling some of them or possiby trading. i just want to get them looking good first. I want to make sure that i have enough detail... thats all.

Spanky · #4 01-09-2003, 02:30 PM

the poll will help me decide what car i will make after these. so please vote in it... thanks or maybe post a body that you would like to see.

Sgt Fox · #5 01-09-2003, 07:33 PM

Austin Healy Sprite (Bug eyed, or frogeye sprite)

MicroManiac1 · #6 01-09-2003, 08:49 PM

Dude, u need to make a good ol American muscle car!!!!!!

dabigpig · #7 01-09-2003, 08:52 PM

heres an idea

Spanky · #8 01-09-2003, 10:15 PM

hey dabigpig

we cant see your attachment, as for the muscle car. i am looking into making a dodge charger. the General Lee. and possibly a Chevelle. what hot rod were you thinking about???

dabigpig · #9 01-09-2003, 10:21 PM

it worked for a little while but here is the link for more pics (stupid geocities)
1968 mustang fastback

http://www.geocities.com/coolfords2002/Mustang_68.html

dabigpig · #10 01-09-2003, 10:24 PM

Im never going to link a pic from a geocities site again

Here is the original pic off the website

Spanky · #11 01-09-2003, 11:02 PM

ahh yes.. that is sweet. i will see what i can do.i just finished the SUV. it was a suburban, but after shortening it it kinda looks like bmw x5 or a mercedes suv. im not to impressed with it right now, but it still has some work to be done on it. the next car after this one will be a tiberon.. and then i plan on doing the charger.. i also want a Mini cooper.

Atomic77 · #12 01-09-2003, 11:31 PM

Hey, i'd definetly be interested in a Charger if you get those made. I'm planning on making a copy of my full size 1970 Dart out of a Gloria body. Going to be a lot of work but will be worth it to have a real American Musclecar bit. I'll post some pics when i get started (gotta finish my ranger first).

rallger · #13 01-10-2003, 10:24 PM

hey
you said somthing about vacum molding. i dont know if im stupid but iv never seen any thing on this. can u explain or send me to a good link? thanks.

Spanky · #14 01-10-2003, 11:19 PM

vaccum molding is basically what is done for the lexan slot car bodys and larger r/c bodys. the way it works is there is a flat sheet of plastic which is heated up. and then placed over the object that you want to mold and then the vaccum sucks all the air out forcing the soft plastic/lexan/poly material around the object you are trying to form. once it cools you just pop it off and BAMM you have a body for a car. so basically these bodys will be very durable very lightweight, and you will paint on the inside of them. painting on the inside will allow you to have a glossy finish no matter what kinda paint you use. however you should get paint that was designed for this kinda application. any hobby store will have it. it will be the same kind used for the larger r/c bodys... you just want it to be somewhat flexable, so that if you do fly your car off the table, the paint wont crack when the body flexes.

as far as information on this such as a website, i looked and didnt find much. but i can tell you that we cannot do bodys for larger 1/10 cars because our machine will not allow for that depth of mold. i believe 4" is our max. anyway i hope i answered this for you. oh we can also do colored plastics too..

Spanky · #15 01-10-2003, 11:20 PM

these machines are pretty damm expensive just incase you were wondering.