1/6 G.I. Joe Jeep
#101
Thread Starter
Ya, I was looking at some 1/6 trailer builds on RCCrawler, one uses an A-frame suspension, and the other a leaf spring suspension. I think the leaf spring would give a bit bouncier ride, but I'll take a look at parts needed for each style and go from there. I think running a spring/shock type suspension, similar to what's under the Jeep, would require at least lower links to keep the axle in place.
#103
Thread Starter
I've been working on some tines from a leaf rake, trying to see if I can bend them into leaf springs, I don't have any pics yet as I'm trying to work the metal right now. Trying to bend the eyes without heat, so I don't ruin the temper on the steel, but I think I'll have to use a little heat to get them to stay looped. It's hit and miss right now, if it doesn't work, I'll purchase a set of leafs from RC4WD or RPP, and I'll need shackles too.
#105
Like the leaf rake tine idea mike. if that works out it'll save you some cash and could be the next top DIY leaf spring setup. throw in some light hammer work with the little bit of heat. might help work the metal easier.
Suck to hear about the shocks man
Suck to hear about the shocks man
#109
Thread Starter
,This is what I started with, tried to bend with just a pair of needlenose, and the metal snapped. Trick here to keep the temper, is don't heat the metal to cherry red, just enough to get a slight red, you only want to bend the metal. Each loop, with trial and error took about 15 minutes to do, and retained it's temper. I had a little cup of water though that I dipped the pieces in to reinforce it. Still trying different pipe and threaded rod for an axle, and still have to make the u-bolts and plates, and shackles for the springs, although, I may look into a set of RC4WD shackles.
#110
Wow mike that looks awesome. they turned out sweet. looks like you bought them.
if you notice that they seem brittle or tend to break easier than they should. try cooling them in motor oil. it should add some flex.
i just had a thought. for the bushings, if there the same size. how about the rubber stoppers on the bottom of stock scx10 shocks. they might work. again mike great job on those leafs.
if you notice that they seem brittle or tend to break easier than they should. try cooling them in motor oil. it should add some flex.
i just had a thought. for the bushings, if there the same size. how about the rubber stoppers on the bottom of stock scx10 shocks. they might work. again mike great job on those leafs.
#113
Thread Starter
Okay, have to get back to the Jeep trailer. I took an extra couple days off this past weekend,(Thurs & Fri), to get the trailer done, up and functioning, but that didn't happen. The wife wanted me to expand the outdoor train layout.
I added an extra 104 sq ft of benchwork, and reinforced the old benchwork, so she can continue making structures for the layout. It's in the shape of a lazy dogbone, and runs 40 ft along the fence, 16ft near the house, 10ft along the patio, and another 10ft back toward the fence. Still have to lay the track back down, but I told her I want to work on the trailer this weekend.....we'll see how that goes, LOL!
I added an extra 104 sq ft of benchwork, and reinforced the old benchwork, so she can continue making structures for the layout. It's in the shape of a lazy dogbone, and runs 40 ft along the fence, 16ft near the house, 10ft along the patio, and another 10ft back toward the fence. Still have to lay the track back down, but I told her I want to work on the trailer this weekend.....we'll see how that goes, LOL!
#115
Thread Starter
I've been into model railroading since I was 10 yrs old, I had an "N" scale layout that I built on a 5' x 9' ping pong table in my parents basement. After my wife and I were married, we lived in her Mother's house for a couple years, and built an "HO" scale layout on another 5' x 9' ping pong table in the basement. When her Mother passed, we moved into our own house, but unfortunately, at the time, we couldn't afford a house with a basement, so we sold off all the HO stuff. However, the house we moved into had a huge back yard, so we decided to build a garden railroad.
The original layout was laid on the ground, a simple double oval, around a pond, about 12' wide by 17' long, sorry , no pics. Then the wife wanted a vegetable garden, so we decided to run the train around that. That worked for a while, and as the years passed, I found I was having problems getting down and up from working on the ground, so she suggested we make a benchwork, and raise the layout up, for ease of maintenance, and I had a landscaper friend come in and build us raised garden beds. The pics that follow are how the layout looked before the new addition. The pond had been taken out, filled in, and a greenhouse built on that spot maybe 7-8 yrs ago. I'll get pics of the new layout after I get the track re-laid.
The original layout was laid on the ground, a simple double oval, around a pond, about 12' wide by 17' long, sorry , no pics. Then the wife wanted a vegetable garden, so we decided to run the train around that. That worked for a while, and as the years passed, I found I was having problems getting down and up from working on the ground, so she suggested we make a benchwork, and raise the layout up, for ease of maintenance, and I had a landscaper friend come in and build us raised garden beds. The pics that follow are how the layout looked before the new addition. The pond had been taken out, filled in, and a greenhouse built on that spot maybe 7-8 yrs ago. I'll get pics of the new layout after I get the track re-laid.
#116
Thread Starter
The greenhouse came down last year, which is why she wanted to make use of the newly gained space. She loves to craft things, and since we need structures on the layout, she jumped right in and started building. We've been doing the "G" scale railroad for the last 20 yrs. I have a couple radio controlled engines now and hope to get them all off of track power eventually.
#117
Thread Starter
Been working on a frame for the bottom of the trailer, 1, to have something sturdy to mount the shackles to, and 2, to help protect the 50 yr old plastic from breaking off.
As soon as I can, I'll get some pics up of the trailer, and the new railroad layout, Halloween got in the way last weekend, lol.
As soon as I can, I'll get some pics up of the trailer, and the new railroad layout, Halloween got in the way last weekend, lol.
#119
Thread Starter
Now here's with the additional framework added. All I really did was pull it away from the house to make the central AC more accessible, but added a few more square feet for a rail yard.
Back to the trailer, I reinforced the bottom of the body with some styrene and some brass stock. I'm in the process now of making a framework for the bottom of the trailer to have something sturdier to mount the shackles to.
Back to the trailer, I reinforced the bottom of the body with some styrene and some brass stock. I'm in the process now of making a framework for the bottom of the trailer to have something sturdier to mount the shackles to.
#121
Thread Starter
Added a kick plate to the inside back of the trailer, to protect the plastic also, a pic of the axle I made. It's a length of 10/24 allthread inside a length of 3/16 brakeline, that's inside a length of 1/4" brakeline, couple of washers secured with nylocks, just tight enough to keep side to side movement to a minimum with out stopping the allthread from rotating inside the tubing.
#125
Thread Starter
This trailer is starting to kick me, soooo, I'm heading in a different direction with the subframe. I purchase a piece of 1/2" x 3/4" aluminum angle. Going to cut a couple lengths, fasten it to the underside of the trailer to give me a mounting point for the custom springs. Got me a piece of 1/4" diameter hose for bushings, make a couple plates to mount the axle to the springs, & some u-bolts. Need to hit the lhs for some screws and nuts, and hopefully this dang thing will be operational in the next week or 2. ......or so I hope, lol