But here at WCP we dont just want nice looking shelf models, we want it to work and be used aswell.
So one of our friends tasked us with converting this model into fully RC
I should explain i was sent the chassis parts and lower panel only, so he will be finishing the model. This has made it a little tricky as we dont exactly know where everything sits, so there has been alot of backward and forward.
To start i suppose we need to talk about how we are doing this conversion.
It is what i would call a budget friendly conversion as it takes an already functioning and tried and tested model and adapts it for the purposes of this build.
However there are some bum clenching moments and not everything is ideal straight out of the box.
We used a Tamiya buggy as a basis for this which our friend had already purchased. He built up the model and then i had to make it work.
First off it was too short on wheel base and the track width is wide, which meant a bit of faffing with hub offsets to make it work.
This is by no means a true to scale conversion, but it will end up with a really nice looking model that will function extremely well.
In fact we are going to build a 2nd model just for ourselves as its simplicity is the beauty of this conversion.
So how did we sort the wheelbase i hear you asking....................................
This is where my new band saw came in perfectly handy haha! Yes i cut the model in half(although i did remove the centre shaft beforehand)
Ahhhhh, some tamiya lovers are probably sitting at home crying, but fear not the conversion doesnt really call for much more butchery
Well apart from the front and rear diff centre shaft connections.
I span them up in the lathe and cut off the plastic pieces, then turned the shaft down to remove the mushroom end which the plastic is moulded over.
This was then stuck in the Mill and a D shape was put in on the end for connecting and gripping the driveshaft couplers i purchased.
The centre shaft is now replaced with a solid 4 or 5mm centre shaft depending on coupling choice. I suppose thick walled tube could also be used here, but i didnt have any to hand.
I suppose is someone was doing on more of a budget they could keep as rwd to start and as and when funds become available it can be converted to 4wd. Kubelwagen came in either 2wd or some 4wd versions.
To reinforce the chassis now its cut in half, we designed a chassis spacer which matches the profile of the tamiya chassis piece.
We then used some aluminium extrusion which feeds thru the chassis adaptor spacer and then has little filling pieces which help alignment into the tamiya section. Then lots of screws/bolts to hold it together. It is now strong enough to be driven and is now a longer wheelbase
The next step is to align and screw onto the lower kubelwagen plastic pressing. This also helps to make the structure very strong for its intended use. There is space down there to hide electrics below the floor aswell.
Unfortunately now some more butchery. This comes in the way of lots of cut holes in the Dragon lower panel.
We have made little tempaltes so that we can align them onto the dragon kit and then cut away the parts needed e.g. the area around the motor. It will be under the rear seat, the rear suspension towers to clear the shock units much like the front, the area around the steering servo and steering arms. Pictures show there is alot to take away.
There are tiny little tpu bump stops for the rear suspension to stop the horrible knocking noise of suspension arms on the dragon chassis piece. The dampers up front area converted to have small bump stops on the pistons to limit some travel.
The original shocks are way too soft, but you can get away with spacers in the shock units to pre-tension the springs, which helps provide a stiffer setup.
I am going to update this with pictures in the evening and some video clips.
I really cant wait to see this running complete especially with the extra mods my friend has come up for the occupants etc
