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View Full Version : **Project Forest Rubi: A Scale Build**


ZachXJ1993
04-28-2014, 04:27 PM
Well here we go. I haven't started a thread on :xjtalk: before, but I decided I'd have a crack at it. I find that build threads are my favorite to read.

So here is my build thread. At this time I don't have the means or ability to purchase a Jeep, but I want to build one anyway. I found a 1/25 scale '03 Wrangler Rubicon model at a local hobby shop. I love Forest Service Green, hence the name of the project. I figured that it would be plenty entertaining for me to build, and hopefully fun for y'all to see and read about. There will be lots of pictures and the build is going to take some time.

My plans are to make it custom instead of just building like the instructions say. Besides aren't Jeeps supposed to custom and one-off.

Enough talk here are some pictures.

This is the box the kit came in as well as the first page of destructions.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/img3.jpg

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/FEC7151F-24F2-4837-8447-A6FA05A50869.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/FEC7151F-24F2-4837-8447-A6FA05A50869.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/EAD3A050-E1A1-445E-B787-3DE74457308E_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/EAD3A050-E1A1-445E-B787-3DE74457308E_1.jpg.html)


Here are all the parts trees laid out for all to see.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/1CA0BFFE-DD55-4A60-85FB-7D70C5B0897E.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/1CA0BFFE-DD55-4A60-85FB-7D70C5B0897E.jpg.html)


The tires seem to be modeled after the Mickey Thompson Baja Claw radial. The wheels look like M.T. Classic bead-locks.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/A4C86BA2-CD43-4C30-8245-B080CAD12E89.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/A4C86BA2-CD43-4C30-8245-B080CAD12E89.jpg.html)[/IMG]

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/55A1E5D8-1422-4391-8209-9351D7164B9C.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/55A1E5D8-1422-4391-8209-9351D7164B9C.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/46789C99-F965-4336-916F-8AFBC8D9BAEF.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/46789C99-F965-4336-916F-8AFBC8D9BAEF.jpg.html)


One of the tires is a little squashed. I think I may be able to fix that later.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/25AE84A8-F556-48BC-8266-941715B5E563.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/25AE84A8-F556-48BC-8266-941715B5E563.jpg.html)


Here are some body-on-tire pictures for reference. I think the tires scale to be about 37" and the wheels around 16".

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/F7BA063D-B254-4FF1-93DB-77B0EF5675D6.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/F7BA063D-B254-4FF1-93DB-77B0EF5675D6.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/4B86657B-D612-4155-B3F6-A7B5A5DBB9F0_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/4B86657B-D612-4155-B3F6-A7B5A5DBB9F0_1.jpg.html)


These are close-ups of the frame and front and rear axles. I was a little disappointed that the 4.0l wasn't a separate piece to build. I may end up cutting it out of the frame and scratch building the top half of the engine and trans.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/BEFBBC9D-A86D-4DBD-BAB7-0DF1790EE625_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/BEFBBC9D-A86D-4DBD-BAB7-0DF1790EE625_1.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/18FCB69A-867C-4064-8099-8E4F65E90394.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/18FCB69A-867C-4064-8099-8E4F65E90394.jpg.html)



I am pleased with the kit from the box. The axles are designed to have some flex. They have metal coil springs that sit on perches and sit over top of posts to keep things simple and aligned. They are secured with screws from the frame side. The lower control arms are solid mounted to the axle at one end, and have hooks that attach to the frame. There is lots of detail, which will make the custom work easier.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/E7D0DAB4-EC4B-4DBE-AAA5-331B36C42990_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/E7D0DAB4-EC4B-4DBE-AAA5-331B36C42990_1.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/D9C6B99A-DE0F-4509-BC6A-981EA3B8C816.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/D9C6B99A-DE0F-4509-BC6A-981EA3B8C816.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/B4408EF6-FC47-4DF6-A9F4-C09C58D27BBF.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/B4408EF6-FC47-4DF6-A9F4-C09C58D27BBF.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/E96DA79E-3141-4203-987D-FB4FA6130938_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/E96DA79E-3141-4203-987D-FB4FA6130938_1.jpg.html)



After looking at the axles closer I noticed that the coil perches are in the wrong spot. I pointed out that on both front and rear Dana44's, the perches are in front of the axle. I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure the perches are supposed to be centered on-top of the axle tubes.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/3F3888F8-7CB5-4862-9153-BB3EBE127A4A.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/3F3888F8-7CB5-4862-9153-BB3EBE127A4A.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/75A1DED3-4C4C-44A8-854D-AB818711C4B3_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/75A1DED3-4C4C-44A8-854D-AB818711C4B3_1.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/8AB7E108-7598-4190-A611-B5BF1C34DED5_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/8AB7E108-7598-4190-A611-B5BF1C34DED5_1.jpg.html)


So I decided that I would cut the perches and posts off the axles in order to make it more realistic. I used an old modeler's trick to cut the plastic. Sewing thread works great. All your doing us lightly sawing back and forth keeping the thread tight.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/AB96454E-8455-47D4-9872-810B167675AC.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/AB96454E-8455-47D4-9872-810B167675AC.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5D0D6F99-4399-42A4-A943-4F9EF84069D2_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5D0D6F99-4399-42A4-A943-4F9EF84069D2_1.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/65817894-08E4-4E37-BE36-DB5C1AB65B78.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/65817894-08E4-4E37-BE36-DB5C1AB65B78.jpg.html)


After cutting the perches off, I used my hobby knife to trim and shave the plastic to match the contour of the axle tubes and lower control arm mounts. Working around the track bar, drag link, and tie rod was tricky but it's all trimmed out and looks good.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/0EA2CE60-0F3D-41EE-82CF-444FE9AF3FA8_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/0EA2CE60-0F3D-41EE-82CF-444FE9AF3FA8_1.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/921C0B8C-ED26-4864-897A-2F7379F9CA65.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/921C0B8C-ED26-4864-897A-2F7379F9CA65.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/437F0B8C-5896-40D6-8CF6-C57E2F922962_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/437F0B8C-5896-40D6-8CF6-C57E2F922962_1.jpg.html)


I attached the rear axle to the frame after removing the perches to see how much flex the control arms would allow. The flex was okay, but the solid molded parts were restrictive to articulation and travel. I decided that to get some real flex I was going to convert the suspension to a front and rear long arm setup. So that meant removing the solid lower control arms while preserving the mounts. I started by cutting off the arms and then shaving the mounts to get the correct profile. I then hollowed out the center between the mount plates and drilled holes through the sides.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/7F0FB1C1-E612-4744-A0CF-2F4B0910F367.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/7F0FB1C1-E612-4744-A0CF-2F4B0910F367.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/9385DE23-0040-4B09-8E1B-5D48BFABE0FD_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/9385DE23-0040-4B09-8E1B-5D48BFABE0FD_1.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/57FAFB77-AD87-421A-B25A-44C58EB40EF5.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/57FAFB77-AD87-421A-B25A-44C58EB40EF5.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2BEF4F9F-92C1-43D0-9DF1-AF878A1875FE.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2BEF4F9F-92C1-43D0-9DF1-AF878A1875FE.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/CE77F85F-0991-4611-9C71-6C735E2E3055.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/CE77F85F-0991-4611-9C71-6C735E2E3055.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/62E25B1F-F1D1-4603-BFD6-55831437D679.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/62E25B1F-F1D1-4603-BFD6-55831437D679.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/B573311F-3990-4272-B363-CF9FC35245B4.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/B573311F-3990-4272-B363-CF9FC35245B4.jpg.html)


The front axle got the same treatment.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/E27AED50-84CD-4B1E-BB71-BD6D00A56201.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/E27AED50-84CD-4B1E-BB71-BD6D00A56201.jpg.html)



Because the axles we going to be able to flex more the driveshafts were going to limit travel. And I could not leave "well enough" alone..... I just had to make it so the driveshafts were somewhat movable. I started by drilling the holes through where the u-joint caps go. Then using the string method I cut the driveshaft off the axle yoke.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/DBD2814A-A877-40EC-90AC-6FEF451C73CA.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/DBD2814A-A877-40EC-90AC-6FEF451C73CA.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/91E83BDA-980B-42EB-BFA0-7F6C7A321DB7.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/91E83BDA-980B-42EB-BFA0-7F6C7A321DB7.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/4E20A718-6003-48D8-9DA6-930189B12408_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/4E20A718-6003-48D8-9DA6-930189B12408_1.jpg.html)


I ended up beefing up the yokes with some extra plastic. I made the pins that hold the driveshaft to the yoke from bread ties with the paper stripped off.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/107857C4-1E76-4BA1-B099-350F3D85BACB.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/107857C4-1E76-4BA1-B099-350F3D85BACB.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/88CDC384-0C79-4966-AEE2-16085011EC8F.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/88CDC384-0C79-4966-AEE2-16085011EC8F.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/28CA951A-B067-4DA4-9EC5-FC20FC4BD7B9_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/28CA951A-B067-4DA4-9EC5-FC20FC4BD7B9_1.jpg.html)


Now the axles and driveshafts move separately.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/16F76953-3846-42BB-95A1-A189F1568ABC.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/16F76953-3846-42BB-95A1-A189F1568ABC.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/D5584430-A1BA-407C-99D3-F601599B10C3.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/D5584430-A1BA-407C-99D3-F601599B10C3.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5D7A19FB-EF9C-44EA-9816-A37A85DFC353.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5D7A19FB-EF9C-44EA-9816-A37A85DFC353.jpg.html)



At the frame side of the control arms I'm going to reuse the frame mounts. I trimmed off the control arms and then hollowed out the mounts just like the ones on the axle.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2DF0DE96-8E7E-4AED-B408-9A077BF83B8C.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2DF0DE96-8E7E-4AED-B408-9A077BF83B8C.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/0F5FA216-3D0A-4135-89AA-23CC0D758FCA_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/0F5FA216-3D0A-4135-89AA-23CC0D758FCA_1.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2126F62A-2F29-4E4D-BB8F-D93DFF721E99.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2126F62A-2F29-4E4D-BB8F-D93DFF721E99.jpg.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/3A33E194-4B79-4858-BAEC-323BF576BB59.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/3A33E194-4B79-4858-BAEC-323BF576BB59.jpg.html)


These are the front mounts mocked up on the frame.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/4866E12F-740B-4E8A-8B2C-D7B452A8E5EA_1.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/4866E12F-740B-4E8A-8B2C-D7B452A8E5EA_1.jpg.html)


And both front and rear mounts made and ready to go on the frame.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/817F46FB-CB73-4A85-A417-8332DF7AD1A3.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/817F46FB-CB73-4A85-A417-8332DF7AD1A3.jpg.html)

Next on the agenda is to create some upper control arm mounts and the start putting together the front long arm y-links.

Let me know what y'all think about the build so far. Thanks for checking out my mini Jeep build. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome and appreciated. Also if anybody has experience with model cars and has any tips that would be great too.

Thanks
- Zach
4.3LXJ
04-28-2014, 04:34 PM
Very nice. You will do well when you do get that Jeep
Rocco83
04-28-2014, 04:56 PM
Haha this thread is going to be awesome. Definitely following this one.
Brasscatz
04-28-2014, 05:54 PM
Love it. I'd probably be doing the same thing!
XJ Wheeler
04-28-2014, 08:17 PM
Very cool man. Never knew they made a TJ model, especially one with mods.

I am a bit of a "modeler", or i was. I did it a lot more before i got my jeep when i was 16 and still have a couple unfinished. I learned a lot from building those and each build took about a year. My last complete one was a '99 chevy 1500. It was body dropped, shaved, panned, smoothed, full custom bed and interior, working suspension with one off front ifs and rear 4 link. I was doing a '56 ford panel truck, first gen S10, and a '69 gt500 when i stopped. All with many handmade parts. I will say paint is something i rarely got right with those.

Very glad to see this build, and will surely enjoy seeing this build continue.

Sent via messenger pigeon - i talk, he types.
ZachXJ1993
05-05-2014, 01:30 PM
Well I've got more work done on the Jeep. The front axle is pretty much squared away. The upper control arm mounts and the spring perches are in place.

Here's the pictures....

The way the axle is molded, the top of the axle is open. I want to make the axles as real as possible. So I used a subway gift card to close up the top part of the axle tubes and the top of the pumpkin.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2C47DB97-94A6-4D44-839A-825782B6256A.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/2C47DB97-94A6-4D44-839A-825782B6256A.png.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/BA27A4E2-5360-4F7E-B7C6-E156D68D595C.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/BA27A4E2-5360-4F7E-B7C6-E156D68D595C.png.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/92F95E1B-64F8-41D5-A258-9DC8AE7A7A44.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/92F95E1B-64F8-41D5-A258-9DC8AE7A7A44.png.html)


I didn't want the square edges of the card so I filed and sanded them smooth. The result looks good and it feels like the tubes are solid.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5ED2549D-7936-487B-93B7-2E3B14F576A5.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5ED2549D-7936-487B-93B7-2E3B14F576A5.png.html)


I needed to make the upper control arm mounts. So I used some flashing off of some other parts. The pieces had little tabs that help them mount solid to the axle.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/98C103D4-365C-4AE6-BD76-70D7A8904F09.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/98C103D4-365C-4AE6-BD76-70D7A8904F09.png.html)


I trimmed them so they had flat surfaces for the control arms to mount on. I drilled holes and then glued them on. I'm pretty sure they are in the right spot.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/365481DE-0D86-440D-9722-C4582E6CBCC8.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/365481DE-0D86-440D-9722-C4582E6CBCC8.png.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/D82394A3-7323-457F-856E-9040C760792A.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/D82394A3-7323-457F-856E-9040C760792A.png.html)


Earlier in the build I talked about how the spring perches were in the wrong place. I needed to make some new ones. I used a hole punch tool and then I cut down one if the perch posts to make a bump-stop.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/9B41AF7C-030E-47A8-AE9C-66C2A2E075A5.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/9B41AF7C-030E-47A8-AE9C-66C2A2E075A5.png.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/DD62B70B-02F1-479B-AD18-2AC4C7C7167F.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/DD62B70B-02F1-479B-AD18-2AC4C7C7167F.png.html)


They are spaced perfect for where the spring buckets on the Frame will end up.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/35781DE3-9ACB-4292-A459-BADA615DB15B.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/35781DE3-9ACB-4292-A459-BADA615DB15B.png.html)



I stared on the frame coil buckets by attaching the body and finding where I wanted the axles to be positioned. From that mark I knew how far to move the buckets. I used the thread cutting method to cut the buckets off the frame.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/A05A1B4A-7AB9-46E2-A5BE-20F559F2F592.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/A05A1B4A-7AB9-46E2-A5BE-20F559F2F592.png.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/78B50AD0-ABEB-4608-9B70-B80839129E5E.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/78B50AD0-ABEB-4608-9B70-B80839129E5E.png.html)


After checking the fitment of the buckets in the new spot, I noticed that they were a degree or two off of perpendicular with the frame. I remedied this by adding a small piece of gift card to space the bucket off the frame rail.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/0E1D43C5-1B04-4D11-A46F-40C60E0F00BA.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/0E1D43C5-1B04-4D11-A46F-40C60E0F00BA.png.html)


You can see the difference between the stock placement on the right vs the new placement on the left. I'd say the difference is about 1/8th of an inch.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5CD7F671-9580-40BF-8C22-544A577703BA.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/5CD7F671-9580-40BF-8C22-544A577703BA.png.html)


After the glue bonded on the first bucket I cut the second one off the frame. And then added the same size piece to space the bucket away from the frame and glued it on.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/37337E44-79F8-4AEE-B4FF-4CE4E9DF4ADA.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/37337E44-79F8-4AEE-B4FF-4CE4E9DF4ADA.png.html)

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/DF12F45D-0EF9-4D87-8E02-197B4AD41EE4.png (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/DF12F45D-0EF9-4D87-8E02-197B4AD41EE4.png.html)



As a quick side note; I found this at the local hobby shop. It was 40% off so I snagged it. I figure it will make some of the larger parts easier to paint. I've never used an airbrush so I can't wait to try it out and see why everybody loves them. I also picked up some flat black, a color called aluminum, and I found my forest service mint green.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Lil_Z_99/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/48DDC606-4693-4FAD-B840-3E12132D3593.jpg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/Lil_Z_99/media/Project%20Forest%20Rubi/48DDC606-4693-4FAD-B840-3E12132D3593.jpg.html)

Thanks for Reading again and I would love any comments or suggestions.

-Zach