Popular Post MissT Posted March 2, 2018 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 2, 2018 So, here's the last part of the original bodyshell's renovation saga. I finished it a few days ago but with the kids off this week due to snow I haven't spent much time online these last few days. I don't like to see overspray and a messy interior in my bodies, they don't need to be as good as the outside, just clean and tidy. It isn't much extra effort to finish the whole thing nicely Two views below, one with windows and jerrycan handle fitted, and one without, I have no idea why the green came out as different shades The jerrycan restoration was fiddly and tricky due to the complexity of the moulding and the material of the separate handle. It didn't take too well to the paint stripper that I used on the bodyshell and I had to work quickly to save it from melting. I noticed it was softening so I washed off the paint stripper and scraped it back with a craft knife until it was stable then sanded and filed it carefully a few days later once it was properly hard again. As it is now it's a little bit misshapen but still acceptable. It snaps into place. The rear window of the cab has nothing at all, I glued in some plastic net for the utilitarian lightweight style. Painting the details on the rear luggage boxes took a long time and they're also not perfect but look good from a distance. I just couldn't resist the hay bales when I was buying paint in the model shop! The sidelights and indicators were difficult to paint nicely as well. Too much paint would make the detail disappear and too little left green showing through. I rubbed a little silver paint onto the white sidelights to make them look a bit more greyish and realistic. Cute little stainless nuts and bolts with matching wheelnuts finish off the wheels. I really like the style of the tyres too, just like the real thing. I've fitted a nice springy type antenna just for looks, and cut out the windscreen wipers from the standard Tamiya decal sheet. I have plans to fit tiny scale wipers to the standard shell (when I find time to start on it) The headlights are green to match the Lunchboxes green headlights, and until I do a little photoshoot of them both together I'll reserve judgment on how I feel about the way they look. The John Deere style sticker on the bonnet is just a bit of fun, and if anybody asks, those two deer are just being playful, ok! I tried to paint the Mitsubishi lettering and the little triangular badge on the grille but I just wasn't able to paint such tiny things to a good enough standard. I decided to leave it and have a think, but it's grown on me since. I think a spare wheel would look the part and I'm on the lookout for a set, for this shell and the standard one. The shell is just sat on top of the chassis for these photos. I have big plans for the chassis renovation/modification, which is going to be the next job that I tackle. It's taken me about 20 hours and maybe more but I've learned a lot doing this renovation. It should stand me in good stead for when I do the standard shell. Nikki 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertberr Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 4 minutes ago, MissT said: Painting the details on the rear luggage boxes took a long time and they're also not perfect but look good from a distance. I just couldn't resist the hay bales when I was buying paint in the model shop! When I saw that I thought it was breakfast time again already... Great job though Nikki, you should be rightly proud of your efforts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 2, 2018 Author Share Posted March 2, 2018 1 minute ago, bertberr said: When I saw that I thought it was breakfast time again already... Great job though Nikki, you should be rightly proud of your efforts. Funny you should say that Mike, my little boy thought they were Weetabix too! Thank you, I'm really pleased with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 I thought the same. J 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornet neil Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 Hi Nikki some very nice detailing there love the colour and the bales should look nice with some snow ⛄️ on it Neil 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 2, 2018 Author Share Posted March 2, 2018 Thanks Neil! It's not a runner yet unfortunately, and the snow will be long gone by the time it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only4Fun Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 Excellent job Nikki. All your hard work and effort has really paid off. You have talent my friend. Well done. Big thumbs up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 Thanks Derek! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMaxxDave Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 Gotta admit... thats pretty cool 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 It reminds me of a Bruder model. J 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 6 hours ago, yoodoo said: It reminds me of a Bruder model. J I've seen their farm equipment in the model shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 7, 2018 Author Share Posted March 7, 2018 Now it's time to start part 2 of the Pajero's renovations. When I first started running the car a couple of months ago I realised pretty quickly that it was quite awful in standard form, being too short, too narrow and very top heavy. The suspension consisted of Grasshopper shocks (just springs really) and a Lunchbox style pivoting rear axle. It bounced around so much that the wheels were rarely in contact with the ground, and the mere idea of turning was enough to make it lay on it's side! Obviously it needed oil filled shocks as a starter, but the front ones would need to be just 45mm long. I couldn't find any that small, so I ordered 50mm instead but when they arrived they were 55mm anyway Rear shocks were no problem, just the rear axle with it's fixed front pivot needed something. Hornet axle brackets could be made to fit and give the axle some articulation, I discovered from a well known Tamiya forum. The battery placement was impractical, being on the rear deck of the chassis high and behind the rear wheels. This needs changing to improve stability, and I found this solution- Much Dremelling will be required. I will try to make mine neater and try to think of a more attractive and better engineered solution to the battery containment problem here! The above car's owner also used Hornet front gearbox pivots. They increase the wheelbase a few millimetres as well, hopefully not enough to look awkward with the body fitted. With the extra movement available I'm hoping to find the room to do the 5th shock upgrade as well. Looking into solutions for the front suspension I did some research and decided to modify the front turrets by cutting and raising them up using nuts and bolts, with fabricated plates at the top to fit the new longer shocks to. Complicated and a lengthy process, minor engineering being new to me as well, it was a slightly daunting thought. I collected other parts together while this idea was gestating, and hoovered the web for modification ideas too. Putting the Pajero next to my Lunchbox made me realise that the only difference in the chassis was the front suspension turrets- There was a sudden click in my brain and I spent £6 on a new Lunchie chassis. Major cutting and fabricating no longer required and I can fit longer front shocks as well The new chassis came with a Lunchie front bumper, which is much stronger than the original Pajero one but looks identical. My kit of parts laid out- So it's not really going to be a proper restoration in the way I originally intended, which makes me feel a bit of a cheat, but my main objective here is to make a fast and fun, reasonably capable basher with the cute retro styling of the original. In the back of my mind is a future restoration using original parts as a shelfie, and somewhere to park the other bodyshell (still waiting) Nikki 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV Pilot Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 I like the idea of a horizontal battery placement low down in the chassis. Judging by how neatly you did the holes for the headlight lenses in the bodyshell, I'm sure you'll be able to make the openings look factory. As for securing the battery, how about using a pair of "wings" from a TL-01 along with the associated clips? The TL-01 tub is narrower than the lunchie one, so the wings would need to be shortened a bit, but again I am sure you could achieve a factory finish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only4Fun Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 "So it's not really going to be a proper restoration in the way I originally intended, which makes me feel a bit of a cheat" Don't be silly Nikki. You're doing an awesome job. It's all about evolution and personalisation, and like you said, "In the back of my mind is a future restoration using original parts as a shelfie, and somewhere to park the other bodyshell" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 16 hours ago, XV Pilot said: I like the idea of a horizontal battery placement low down in the chassis. Judging by how neatly you did the holes for the headlight lenses in the bodyshell, I'm sure you'll be able to make the openings look factory. As for securing the battery, how about using a pair of "wings" from a TL-01 along with the associated clips? The TL-01 tub is narrower than the lunchie one, so the wings would need to be shortened a bit, but again I am sure you could achieve a factory finish. Thanks! This is a great idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 16 hours ago, Only4Fun said: "So it's not really going to be a proper restoration in the way I originally intended, which makes me feel a bit of a cheat" Don't be silly Nikki. You're doing an awesome job. It's all about evolution and personalisation, and like you said, "In the back of my mind is a future restoration using original parts as a shelfie, and somewhere to park the other bodyshell" I'll feel better about it when it's running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoodoo Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 Quote...As for securing the battery, how about using a pair of "wings" from a TL-01 along with the associated clips? Or try this , you said wings ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asXw2a4kQLc J 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavyleftthumb Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 if you got an idea, could surely print you some mounts/tab thingies......the joys of 3d printing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 10, 2018 Author Share Posted March 10, 2018 On 08/03/2018 at 22:50, heavyleftthumb said: if you got an idea, could surely print you some mounts/tab thingies......the joys of 3d printing Thank you! I If I have an idea I'll let you know. I had a go at the rear suspension brackets the other day and sort of hit a dead end before achieving my aim, so I left it to await inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 10, 2018 Author Share Posted March 10, 2018 On 08/03/2018 at 18:23, yoodoo said: Quote...As for securing the battery, how about using a pair of "wings" from a TL-01 along with the associated clips? Or try this , you said wings ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asXw2a4kQLc J I'm not taking the Pajero skydiving! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewbacca Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 If shocks are too long it's possible to shorten them with some fuel tubing or similar. I recently shortened some FTX Viper front shocks by putting 2 spare O rings on each shaft before putting the shafts back in the bodies. Made them the perfect length to raise the front ride height on my DF02 chassis in conjunction with unmodified Viper rear shocks out back. Miper v4x4 now has the stance to match Miper v3.0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted March 26, 2018 Author Share Posted March 26, 2018 On 19/03/2018 at 13:41, chewbacca said: If shocks are too long it's possible to shorten them with some fuel tubing or similar. I recently shortened some FTX Viper front shocks by putting 2 spare O rings on each shaft before putting the shafts back in the bodies. Made them the perfect length to raise the front ride height on my DF02 chassis in conjunction with unmodified Viper rear shocks out back. Miper v4x4 now has the stance to match Miper v3.0. I've seen this method on a different site, or possibly Youtube but thanks anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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