Lexus Hotrod

[tigeraid]

That is friggin cool.

[blubaja]

Originally Posted by rsxse240

I'd like to have seen it as a full bodied car.

I think you missed the whole point. lol -> http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=106122#8

Ye Will..better and better each time!!

[quadzero]

Originally Posted by tigeraid

That is friggin cool.

I really like how this is coming together. The way you did the subframe and suspension is very practical and elegant. You made it look so easy. Instead of just slapping in plastic and assuming "people won't see it anyway", you have made it like it could be done in real. Looking forward to more.

[willimo]

rsxse240 - I am, in fact, overjoyed with the subject matter. That's why I'm building it. The idea was to build a car like those you see at the oval track, but all Japanese and without a hotrod 350 like everyone else uses; just like the car that inspired it and blubaja linked. Next time, though, I'll be sure to ask you before I do any cutting

quadzero - If it were all under a fender, I'd've been tempted to just half ass it, but it will be hanging out where everyone will be able to see it, after all. So I had to put more thought into it. I had been taking very clear pictures so you could see the progress on the subframe, but I don't know what happened to them. That's the second subframe I built, the first was made of 6 pieces of styrene sheet. They had the same basic shape as the current subframe, flaring out at the frame rails and being thinner under the oil pan. Basically, I cut two trapezoids for the sides that attach to the frame rails, and a rectangle in the middle, and glued them in place at angles to clear the bottom of the engine, then repeated with slightly smaller parts to give the look of pressed metal. It looked horrible, though, so I ripped it off and built it using styrene rod. Pretty much everything not primered has been built 2-3 times until I was finally happy with it.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone, it means a lot.

Also, two more things I forgot from my update. This is the trunk open, as you can see and as I alluded to, it doesn't open very much. Also, there isn't a lot of pretty under there. The hinges look miserable. My intent, now, is to add an insert under the trunklid, colored like the interior (ie, covered with the same leather) and with a first aid kit and tool kit set into relief cut out of the insert. And probably also another compartmant with a lid where the driver would store an extra quart of oil, cleaner and some rags or whatnot. Just a little something to hide the hinges and clean it up back there.



And what of that Celsior? Leave it for dead? Maybe. Or maybe this will amount to something:

[slk320]

Looks awesome man. The hinges don't look too bad. In the older cars, the hinges were quite ugly and visible. If you use putty to blend in the receiving tube a little, it may look factory correct... The idea of first aid kit is also great. May I suggest a fuel cell? or perhaps a battery? I scratchbuilt both before, and the yellow top ultima battery came out quite good - I could post a photo and a how-to on it...if you want.

[Risko]

Wow, awesome work and very sweet idea!
Looking forward for more

[rsxse240]

wait a second! you cut up that celsior and didn't consult me first!?!? hahaha

I like it. I haven't to come across a limo on here, until now

the hinges on the deck lid look ok, may I suggest using square tubing for the reciever next time? it mounts better, and has a bit more of an OEM look.

please don't think I was being fecitious about the subject matter thing. I was just voicing my opinion. and that particular body style has to be one of if not the best looking toyotas out there to date. to me it's just a shame to see one get hacked.

you are doing an excellent job! I'm looking foreward to more.

[tonioseven]

Will, this is Uber-cool! I look forward to seeing the progress on this one!

[willimo]

Doing some interior work. I wanted an interesting texture in the interior, so I have replaced a lot of stuff with a quilted pattern. The material I'm using is actually Plastruct molded tile, turned 45 degrees to make a quilted fabric looking insert for the door panels and seats.

First, I cut out the stock door panel centers:



Then some magic happened, and the interior was pretty much fleshed out. I ground the centers out of the seats with my Dremel and replaced them with the pattern, as well. Messy and hard work! The armrests are bent styrene rod, warmed over a candle and bent to shape. This keeps the plastic from eventually going back straight with time.



Then to the dashboard. I had to rebuild the dash since I had to move the seats back about 6 scale inches to give the little 1:24 people more legroom. So the dash had to be that much deeper, as well. I decided to go ahead and do some fun fabrication, and you can see the fruit of that here.





With most of the interior components in place:





The steering wheel and the center console are still not present because I messed up the center console today while building it, and am not going to work any more on the car lest I mess anything up irreparably. The wheel is not in place because I still need to figure out the steering shaft geometry and the pedals. But this, I thought, was post worthy.

I am now on the fence about what color the car will be, and further confused abut the interior color scheme. Probably a dark gray for the metal bits, and a leathery brown for the inserts - though I wanted a reddish leathery orange brown, I am not sure how that will look.

[blubaja]

That interior is looking so posh. Love it Will!

[tigeraid]

Ow wow, I love the armrest idea. I may have to steal it!

That's a really neat texture too, where di you buy that plating?

[willimo]

I got it from my local hobby shop. It's the the Plastruct display spinner thing; they have several different sizes of the tile for architectural models. $10 buys you two sheets - not a lot, but way more than enough. If you want my second sheet, PM me, once I'm done and sure I don't need it all, I can send it.

[quadzero]

That's some great thinking to come up with the quilted design for the seats and panels. I really like how you styled the dash also, I think it suits this car perfectly.

[tonioseven]

Will, you just keep on adding more coolness to this build! I might have to "borrow" that idea as well!!

[willimo]

Add lightness....
Add coolness....
I can dig!