CJ5 scratch build

[RAMJETT]

Hello guys, I have been long looking for a Jeep CJ 5 body ,it's my favorite body and I just can't seem to find one worth building . So I had an Idea ,build my own . here is what I have so far . I've made the plugs for all the body parts . I will be doing it as a muli piece body that bolts together . I am going to try the first body by vacuum forming ,if I don't like the results I will make molds and do a fiberglass body . building just from eye no drawings but I think I have it pretty close . it has the same wheel base as a axial scx 10 but being a Jeep CJ5 it looks more like a 1/8 scale when you see it beside my trailfinder . anyway let me know what you think , any input is welcome . cheers

 

[watertrucker]

Welcome to RCT. Looks great! Please keep us posted on your project.

 

[RAMJETT]

This is a second TFL build that I've done this one will be using a Toyan gas engine and a HPI savage reverse module mated to a Axial aluminum 2 speed trasnfercase . It all worked out pretty slick , just doing the brakes now . I have a second Toyan engine I would like to put in my CJ5 . It would be great to have a scale class of gas crawlers ..

 

[NCNitro]

Looking good, I always enjoy a jeep build

 

[RAMJETT]

have the vacuum formed parts pulled , looks nice . lost a little detail but still looks fine to me . I used .060 inch material so the body is very rigid .sorry the white parts don't show well in the pictures they are actually quite detailed . very excited about the results because it's very fast to vacuum parts .

 

[RAMJETT]

body is all assembled . goes together very easy . I propped it up on some superswampers just like my real CJ5 , looks just like my jeep on 39.5" . you can see the scale looks a bit bigger sitting beside the trailfinder

 

[NCNitro]

Looking really good so far

 

[RAMJETT]

just machined up some headlight pots and cut some lenses from lexan . next I will do the signal lights and vacuum from some tail light housings . I've decided the best way to mount the body is to use the factory located mounts .The body is very close to scale so all I have to do is add some crossers under the body and some mounts to the side of the frame rails . I will put some big body lift blocks just like my real jeep has and side pipes that exit in front of the back wheel . My only fear is all the guys at the club are going to want one LOL. just for fun I pulled some more body parts , it's actually lots of fun , you start with nothing but some plastic sheet and in a few seconds you have a jeep part .

 

[RAMJETT]

A few more steps today, made the window hinges that include the soft door hinge pivots . also made the hood hinges , made the turn signal pots and lenses , also cut out the grill and finished it off . really starting to look like my CJ

 

[RAMJETT]

did a little work on the dash yesterday . also did the heater vent, it will be functional because the drive battery will be located in that cavity . I will be using a paralleled 6000mah 4 cell lion battery that will be placed under the dash panel . the dash panel opens when you remove the 2 windshield fold down screws and lifts out of the way . the gauges are resized pictures from my full sized CJ5 with a bit of epoxy poured over them for lenses

 

[RAMJETT]

made the roll bar out of 5/16" brake line , soldered together with mounting flanges welded on the ends and mounted to the floor just like the real thing . It will join to a cross member that attaches to the frame ,so it will be quite functional . I am sure just like the real jeep I should be dropping the windshield down when crawling so it does not get destroyed in a roll over

 

[RAMJETT]

bit more work on the jeep . wheel flairs and built the seats , could not find seats to fit so I made some and covered them in leather .

 

[RAMJETT]

little more work ,made up some tail lights, even made the little tiny side markers light up LOL . also built the tail gate , not much point vacuum forming the tail gate as it would need to be filled with wood to hold all the hinges and locks . set the body over a cou

ple sets of tires , leaning toward the super swampers .

 

[HPIguy]

Very nice work so far. I really liked the Swamper TSLs on my SCX 10 Rubi.

 

[RAMJETT]

I also like the swampers but like the blue bead locks rims more , just 5 million bead lock screws to change them over LOL. what a tedious job .

 

[hamz9561]

Only 32 screws per beadlock on my SCX-10/JK project:

 

[RAMJETT]

Nice jeep , thanks for posting .

 

[hamz9561]

Nice jeep , thanks for posting .

Thanks. I built it several years ago. I'm in the process of getting my 3d printer working right to start on a new scaler project.

 

[RAMJETT]

Be sure to post your new build when you get it started . I swear the kit I ordered for parts was sent my row boat LOL. I started my scratch build the same day I ordered the kit and the body is near finished .

 

[RAMJETT]