GubernatorFan wrote:Nice work on all the details, and very impressive animated driver.
Thank you, GF. I've always wanted to try it and I'm glad I did.
PureEnergy wrote:All certainly well worth the effort...
Amazing! Fantastic work, brother.
I appreciate that, PE. Took a good several hours to put the plan together, but it worked out OK.
ReverendSpooky wrote:Still just loving this build (and the accompanying commentary from your assistants). The steering wheel looks great (love those type of little details) the chairs are perfect looking, and I dig the animated driver. Does his head turn automatically in the direction he's turning, or does it operate interdependently, with it's own control on the remote?
You're very kind, Rev. Thank you.
Not sure where the idea for the steering wheel came from...just popped into my clouded brain and I started wrapping.
The driver's head operates on its own channel. I started to do it the way you suggested, but had extra channels to play with, so...there you have it. The steering wheel also turns, but it IS wired to go along with the wheels.
Stryker2011 wrote:That. Is. Fantastic! Having his head turn like that is brilliant. Really looking forward to seeing this whole thing in actin (probably have to film in slow motion).
Thank you very much, Stryker.
You're absolutely right about the slow motion. You'll see what I mean.
shazzdan wrote:Heh. Reminds me about the urban myth of the dude who woke up in a bath tub with his kidneys removed.
Animatronics works best when it is subtle. This is a good example.
Many thanks, shazzdan.
I agree with your assessment. Too much of this sort of animation looks jerky and fake. I tried to stay away from that.
BAD WOLF-787 wrote:The jeep's look good and animated driver is very Cool!
Thank you, Mr. Wolf. I've seen it done a couple of times since, but never before. Now, I'm not saying I did it first, but just had never seen it done.
kyekye wrote:impressive engineering overall!
Much appreciated, kyekye. Seat-of-the-pants engineering, but it worked out all right.
Installment XIIIYou guys know about the best laid plans...
I'd hoped to get this one done by Christmas, but with the holiday activity and family visiting, I just didn't get off my sorry ass and do it. 'Nuff said.
I reckon it's about time I wrapped up this build. I've been working on it on-and-off for several month's now, but about three weeks ago, got down to cases.
I didn't like the original cage I'd build for it, so I pulled it apart and remade it. I'm still not much with a torch, but the newer incarnation looks a little better. It probably won't hold up in a "horrendous crash" as they used to say on The Dukes Of Hazard, but it'll do for what I need.
There are a bunch of little bits that have been added. See for yourselves. Roll the pix:
The toys wanted some non-skid texture on the hood, fenders and door steps, so I accommodated them. It's actually some high-quality skateboard deck texture cut to fit. It comes in sheets, so really easy to work with.And, how about a real mirror for that rear view. I found some at Hobby Lobby that were just right.Found the lantern at HL, too.Here's an interesting tidbit. I really wanted some retro looking tail light lens, but something a little different. So, I heisted a couple of peppers from a string of old red-pepper lights we got from somewhere and cut the tips off them. If I cut them at the correct spot, they fit just right inside the light bezel on the factory body molding. I'd already drilled a hole inside the light bezel areas and installed some LED bulbs. The pepper tips fit over the LEDs and inside the bezels so sweet... Turned out rather art deco looking.In the reflector bezels, I put some reflector material. If one uses a regular old paper hole-punch to pop some holes in a strip of reflective tape, the part that pops out fits inside the bezel perfectly. Too easy...And, here's a top view:I believe I'll turn it over to Old Guy to be the tour guide for a while.Well, that about does it. I'm going to try and toss a video out there since I recently took the Jeep and a camera on a bit of a trail ride.
I'm very pleased with all the torque. No problem pulling a pretty steep grade.
Oh yeah, meant to write about it earlier... I had to replace the steering servo. That piece of junk I used for a place holder during the build just wouldn't cut it. It was replaced with a Savox sporting about 300 oz. of torque. Now the steering's nice and true.
The Jeep is fairly devoid of meaningful articulation, though. It's rather like a real Willys, but I'd still like a little something more. Perhaps those leaf springs will soften up some with use.
Thanks for looking all. Feel free to comment, complain, criticize, grouse, demean or whatever...